Denison Kinsman

BURNHAM, KINSMAN, MARTIN, OLDS, ROBINSON, TOMKINSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/8/2004 at 10:39:41

D. Kinsman, Douglas twp., farmer, Sec. 27; P.O. Winterset; born in Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, in 1818, and in 1856 emigrated to Bureau county, Illinois, where he remained until his removal to this county in 1867; he owns ninety acres of land; has held various township offices; he married Miss Mary Martin November 24, 1839; she died in Princeton, Illinois, December 12, 1865; he married for his second wife Lora Burnham March 21, 1867; she was born December 26, 1825, and was a native of Vermont; has four children by first marriage: Rosannah, born November 28, 1840; James W., born August 19, 1842; Herman A., born March 25, 1844; Sarah W., born August 26, 1845; lost one son, Jason M.; James W. enlisted in the Ninety-third Illinois infantry in the late war and served three years.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" pages 602, 603
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A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896
Transcribed by Kent G. Transier, 28 Dec 2009

Denison Kinsman

In the subject of this sketch we find another gentleman whose name is found on the list of early settlers of Madison county, Iowa. Mr. Kinsman’s home is on section 27, Douglas township, and he has resided here for nearly thirty years. Following is a brief record of his life and ancestry, which we deem appropriate to insert in this connection and which doubtless will be read with interest by many.

Mr. Kinsman was born in Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, July 6, 1818. James Hall Kinsman, his father, was born and reared in Springfield, New Hampshire, the date of his birth being March 11, 1786. He was a son of Ephraim Kinsman, who was born in New Hampshire in 1761 of English descent. Robert Kinsman, the first of this name who came to America, sailed from Southampton, England, in March, 1634, and landed at Boston the following May.

James H. Kinsman was married at Williamstown, Vermont, December 5, 1813, to Miss Sarah Robinson, a native of Putney, that State, and a daughter of Solomon and Abigail Robinson, both of English origin. After their marriage they located on a farm with his father, where they remained until about 1850, when they came West as far as Illinois, taking up their abode on a farm near Princeton. Here Mr. Kinsman died in 1853. His wife survived him until 1866, when she died, in the came county. They were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely James W., deceased; Emily W., deceased; Denison, the subject of this article; Aaron B., of Kearney, Nebraska; Marhsall C., deceased; Mary L., wife of Robert Tomkinson, of Kearney, Nebraska; Newell, deceased; Martha A., deceased; and Lucius, of Beaver City, Nebraska.

From the reference to his family history, we turn now to the life of Denison Kinsman, second son and third born of the above named children. He was reared at his native place, received his early education in the district schools and later was a student at Randolph Academy, remaining at home and assisting in the farm work, when not in school, until attaining his majority. After this he engaged in farming on his own account, and continued to reside in his native State until 1855, when he too, came west to Princeton, Illinois. He carried on agricultural pursuits at Princeton until 1867.

That year he came to Iowa and took up his residence in Madison county, where he has ever since made his home and where he owns eighty-eight acres of choice land. This land at the time of his settlement here was all in its wild state, and all the improvements upon it have been placed here by him. Having himself passed the age of active toil Mr. Kinsman now rents his farm.

Mr. Kinsman was first married in 1839 to Miss Mary Martin, a native of Williamstown, Vermont, and a daughter of Gurdon and Sarah Martin, natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. She died on the 12th of December, 1865. The children born of their union were five in number, and as follows: Rosannah M.; Jason M. (deceased) and James W., twins; Herman A.; and Sarah W., who died in 1883. For his second wife Mr. Kinsman wedded, in 1867, Miss Lora Burnham, who was born in Williamstown, Vermont, December 26, 1825, daughter of David and Betsy (Olds) Burnham, both natives of that place. She was the second in their family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, and was reared in her native town.

Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been an active supporter for many years and in which he is now an Elder. In early life he was a Whig and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, but when the Republican party was organized he became identified with it and has been in harmony with the principles advocated by it ever since. In a number of local offices he has rendered excellent service. He was Township Trustee nine years, served a number of years as Director of the School Board, and for twenty years as Clerk of the Board.