Howdy -
We are trying to confirm that a certain 1st Lt. Byrd McKinney, Co. C, 46th Tenn. Inf. (d. 1881) is indeed buried next to his wife Rebecca H. McKinney (d. 1897) in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Austin, Lonoke Co. AR (see below).
Our goal (Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee SCV historians) is to obtain a CSA vet grave marker from the VA after we collect enough documentation, etc.
His wife Rebecca McKinney has a marker and is on Find A Grave; links to her and additional information is provided below:
Oak Grove Cemetery, Austin, Lonoke County, Arkansas
Found: Rebecca H. McKinney - Birth: Unknown Death: 7 February 1897.
See: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67042298
at: http://www.eturner.com/GED-GEN/grpf02297.html
Husband: Byrd MCKINNEY
Born: 12 DEC 1818 in KY
Married: 16 JAN 1859 in KY
Died: 13 OCT 1881 in , Lonoke, AR
Wife: Rebecca H. BEASLEY
Born: 20 MAR 1837 in TN
Died: 07 FEB 1897 in , Lonoke, AR
Father: Neihemiah Courtney BEASLEY
Mother: Judith B. WOMACK
Spouses: Stephen Allen PINSON
Unfortunately, the caretaker of the Oak Grove Cemetery, Mr. Kevin Hicks indicated to us that all the records of the cemetery were lost in a fire several years ago. We are trying to determine if ANY documentation (Arkansas Gazette obits, Lonoke Co. obits, church records, etc.?) may exist that would confirm that Lt. McKinney is indeed buried in the unmarked plot next to his wife.
Sherryl Miller, Lonoke Museum Historian kindly provided the following 1880 census info:
1880 Caroline township, Lonoke County, AR:
McKinneye, Biryd age 61 born KY. occupation, Minister B.C. (Baptist Church?)
Rebeca age 43 born TN
Dosa age 17 age 17 TN, Betty age 16 TN, Victoria age 15 TN, Isaac age ? TN,
Rebeca age 12 TN, Biryd age 10 born KY, Louise age 9 born TN, Brinion age 2 born AR,
and Carly (male) age 8 months, born AR.
next door
McKinneye, Y. male age 58 born KY
Any and all help, suggestions, contacts, etc. that you might be able to provide us would be VERY greatly appreciated!!!!!! Please contact me if I can answer any questions, etc. that you might have?
sincerely, Kenneth Byrd
http://www.oocities.org/enlistedman/