Family History - His father was also named John McKinley

John McKinley was the next settler in Orange Township. He was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., September 23, 1801, and in 1804 his parents, William and Hannah McKinley, removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, where John grew to manhood. On the 13th of March, 1823, he married Miss Mary Marshall, a native of Trumbull County, Ohio, born in 1806. In September, 1835, he entered about 300 acres of land on Section 1, Orange Township, and in the summer of 1836 started with his family for Hancock County, arriving at his destination in September, and being compelled to cut out a road through the forest to the farm in the southwest quarter of Section 1, upon which he built his cabin. He was one of the two first justices elected in Orange Township, and was re-elected three times, serving a continuous period of twelve years. In 1855 ho was elected county commissioner, and re-elected to the same office. Mr. McKinley was the father of ten children, all of whom were the fruits of his first marriage. His first wife, Mary, died in 1850, and his second wife, Rebecca, in 1878. Only two of his children are residents of Hancock, viz.: Hon. William M. McKinley, of Orange, and Mrs. Elizabeth Vermillion, of Van Buren Township. The Plainfield Society of the Seceder Church was organized at John McKinley's cabin, in October, 1836, and he adhered to the Presbyterian faith until his death; he died March 20, 1882, in his eighty-first year. His father, William, an Irishman, came with his wife, Hannah, to the township at a much later date, and both died here in 1861 and 1859 respectively. The mother "was in her eightyfirst year, and the father more than one hundred years old, at the time of their decease. John McKinley was a fitting representative of those hardy, industrious, honest pioneers to whom Hancock County owes so much for its past success and present prosperity.

Report of Lieut. Col. Samuel R. Mott, Fifty-seventh Ohio Infantry, including operations since May 4.
Hdqrs. Fifty-seventh Regiment Ohio Vol. Infantry,
In Bivouac before the Vicksburg Works, May 24, 1863.
Captain: In obedience to Col. T. K. Smith's circular of to-day, calling for a report of the movements of the Fifty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry since it left Milliken's Bend, La., I have the honor, in the absence of Lieut. Col. A. V. Rice, then commanding the regiment (since wounded in an assault upon the enemy's works before Vicksburg on the 22d instant), to submit the following report:
On the morning of the 4th instant, while in camp at Milliken's Bend, the colonel received an order from Col. T. K. Smith, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, to move to Richmond, La., a distance of 12 miles, with two days' cooked rations in haversacks and three days' rations in wagons, there to await orders.
On the afternoon of the 7th, at 3 o'clock, the brigade coming up, we were ordered to move forward to New Carthage, and on the road we received orders to leave New Carthage to our left and proceed to Hard Times Landing, on the Mississippi River, at which place we arrived on the evening of the 10th, having marched a distance of 51 miles in three days and a half.
On the evening of the 11th, we crossed the Mississippi River to Grand Gulf on the steamer Forest Queen. Laid in bivouac that night.
The next morning we were again on the march to Auburn; from thence we marched to Raymond, Miss., arriving at the latter place on the afternoon of the 15th instant, having marched 53 miles in three days and a half.
On the morning of the 16th, we were ordered to follow Captain Barrett's battery on the road leading to Bolton. Between 8 and 9 a. m. we heard heavy skirmishing in front, and soon after the discharge of artillery.
About 12 m. we were ordered to form line of battle, with the right resting on the Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
At 1 p. m. the regiment was ordered to march by the left flank, file right, and move perpendicular from the line of battle. Having moved half a mile, we came in contact with a masked battery of the enemy's.
•Nominal list, omitted, embodied in revised statements.
We were then ordered to fall back to where our line of battle bad previously been, and support Captain Barrett's battery, in which position we remained until sundown, when we were ordered to rejoin the brigade, which we did, our left resting on the One hundred and twentyseventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, where we bivouacked for the night, the men lying on their arms, the enemy retiring from our front during the night.
On the morning of the 17th, we resumed our march for Big Black River. About 10 a. m. we crossed the Jackson Railroad at Edwards Station, and took the road to Bridgeport, where we arrived at 12 m.
At 8 p. m. we crossed Big Black River on the pontoon bridge, marched 2 miles on the Vicksburg road, and bivouacked for the night.
On the morning of the 18th, at 4 a. m., we resumed our march, following the Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and arrived in front of the enemy's works about 3 p. m.; formed line of battle to the left of the road, and were ordered to send out one company as skirmishers, to ascertain the position of the enemy. The skirmishers advanced within easy musket range of the enemy's works, driving in the enemy's skirmishers.
On the morning of the 19th, we received orders to assault the enemy's works, which was promptly executed at 2 p. m., Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry leading, followed by Fifty-fourth and Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteers. The charge was made over steep hills and deep ravines, which are difficult to pass under the most auspicious circumstances. The line halted under the brow of a hill 100 or 150 yards from the enemy's works. The Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteers having expended their ammunition, we were ordered to relieve them, which was immediately done, and kept up a brisk fire upon the enemy's parapets for some time, when the firing subsided into mere skirmishing.
At 2 a. m. of the morning of the 20th, we received an order to retire to the position we had advanced from to make the assault. This order was obeyed by sending out one company at a time. The regiment lost, in the engagement of the 19th, 5 killed and 12 wounded.
After retaking our position of the previous morning, we again formed line, our right resting on the Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, where we remained until the morning of the 22d instant, receiving an order that there was to be a second attack on the enemy's works, and with the order a call for 9 men, volunteers, to go with.a storming party in advance of the attacking force. Fourteen men at once responded to the call. As but 9 men could be taken, the first that reported were accepted until the number was completed. I believe it to be prudent in me to give the names of these men, and but an act of justice to them that it should be done. Their names are as follows:
Company A, Sergt. David Ayers and Private Marion D. Tate; Company D, Privates Joseph Mitchell and David Day; Company I, Sergt. Peter N. Gabriel; Company K, Sergt. William Notestine and Corpl. Joseph I. Smith; Company G, Sergt. Ezra Hipsher and Corpl. John H. McKinley. Of the number which accompanied the storming party, 2 were killed and 2 wounded. Sergt. Peter K Gabriel and Private Marion D. Tate were killed. Sergt. Ezra Hipsher and Corpl. John H. McKinley were wounded. The other five, by the aid of Divine Providence, returned to their comrades and regiment.
At 10 a. m. we were ordered to fall in and follow the Eighty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, marching by the flank left in front, which was done promptly. When we had advanced 50 yards we were compelled to halt for a moment, the ravine through which we had to pass being blocked up by the troops in our front. While here, the gallant Colonel Rice received a severe wound from one of the enemy's sharpshooters. He was in a half sitting position at the time he was struck, the ball entering below the knee and passing through the leg, entering a second time above the knee, ranging upward, lodging near the abdomen, thereby rendering it impossible for him longer to command his regiment; consequently I assumed the command of the same. We were again ordered forward, moving as before, the enemy pouring into us a most terrific fire of shot and shell. When within easy range of the works, we were halted and ordered to return the fire of the enemy, which we did; remaining there in line until the following morning, when we were ordered into the position we now hold.
The regiment lost in this assault 15 in killed and wounded—3 killed and 12 wounded.
Of the conduct of officers and men I can but say they did all that officers and soldiers could do—their whole duty.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. E. MOTT,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Fifty-seventh Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry.