KINNEY, William T.
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 708

William T. KINNEY, ex-soldier and prominent citizen of Lavalle, Sauk County 
[WI], will readily be recognized as one of the leading merchants of that 
village. He is engaged in the furniture business and undertaking, and has 
resided in Lavalle for over 20 years. In that time he has done much to 
promote the interests of the village, and is one of the substantial men of 
Sauk County. Mr. KINNEY was born in Whitby, Ontario, 01 Apr 1843, and was 
the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (STEVENS) KINNEY, natives of Nova Scotia. 
His father was born 08 Aug 1801, and was the son of Samuel KINNEY, who was in 
the U. S. during the Revolutionary war. Thomas KINNEY was a cooper by trade 
and moved to Whitby, Ontario, in 1837, and to New Berlin, Waukesha County, 
WI, in 1850, where he followed his trade. He moved to Richland Center 
[Richland County, WI] in 1855, where he died in Apr 1878.

Our subject stayed home until the breaking out of the Civil war and then 
enlisted in Jan 1862, at the age of 18, in Company F, 2nd WI Cavalry. He saw 
service under General C. C. Washburn, at the siege of Vicksburg, was in the 
expedition under Sherman at Meridian, and was in numerous skirmishes, and 
went to Houston and Austin, TX, under Custer. He was taken prisoner, and 
detained at Vicksburg until paroled about 01 Jan 1863. He was exchanged and 
returned to the service and was mustered out at Austin, TX, 17 Dec 1865. For 
nine years after his return from the war he was engaged in farming in 
Richland County, WI, afterward moving to a farm one mile from the village of 
Lavalle [Sauk County, WI], which he occupied three years. He moved to 
Lavalle in 1878, and engaged in the furniture and undetaking business.

Mr. KINNEY was married 09 Oct 1870 to Emma POTTER, daughter of Elisha and A. 
(CALKINS) POTTER, natives of Madison County, NY, who moved to Lavalle 
Township [Sauk County, WI] in 1852, and engaged in farming. Two children 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. KINNEY: Walter W., born 03 Oct 1871, now U. S. 
railway mail clerk; and Frederic E., born 16 May 1875. He was a tinner by 
trade, and enlisted in the Spanish American war in Company B, 157th IN 
Volunteers, and went to Fernandina [Nassau County], FL, where he died of 
malarial fever 15 Aug 1898, and was laid to rest at Lavalle [Sauk County, 
WI]. He was probably the first victim of the war from Sauk County.

Mr. KINNEY has served as a member of the county board, and is prominent in 
public affairs. He is a member of A. A. Matthews Post, No. 49, G. A. R., of 
Lavalle, and has held all of the offices connected with the post, and is 
present senior vice commander. He is a Republican in political sentiment and 
stands firmly for the principles of his party.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly