★ McKean, Thomas J.

Thomas Jefferson McKean​

Born: August 21, 1810

Birthplace: Bradford County, Pennsylvania

Father: Robert McKean 1784 – 1827

(Buried: Old Methodist Church Cemetery, Burlington, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Martha "Polly" Wilson 1786 – 1862

(Buried: Alba Cemetery, Alba, Pennsylvania)​

Wife: Sarah P. Gray 1820 – 1911

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

Children:

Thomas McKean 1849 – 1849​

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

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Louis L. McKean 1850 – 1923​

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

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Robert J. McKean 1853 – 1854​

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

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Helen McKean Shuck 1853 – 1885​

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

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James B. McKean 1858 – 1899​

(Buried: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa)​

Education:

1831: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (19th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1831 – 1833: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1831 – 1832: Garrison Duty at New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1832 – 1833: Garrison Duty at Baton Rouge, Louisiana​

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1833 – 1834: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1833: Garrison Duty at New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1833: Garrison Duty at Bay of St. Louis, Missouri​

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1833 – 1834: Garrison Duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri​

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1834: Resigned from United States Army on March 31st​​

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1834 – 1837: Civil Engineer in Pennsylvania​

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1837 – 1838: Adjutant of 1st​ Pennsylvania Volunteers in Seminole War​

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1838 – 1846: Civil Engineer in Pennsylvania, and Iowa​

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1844: Member of Iowa State Constitution Convention​

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1846: Organizer and Drilled Volunteers for Mexican – American War​

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1846 – 1848: Served as Private in Mexican – American War​

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1847: Wounded at the Battle of Churubusco, Mexico​

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1848: Declined Brevet 2nd​ Lt. U.S. Army, 1st​ Dragoons​

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1848 – 1851: Chief Engineer for Dubuque, and Keokuk Railroad​

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1848 – 1861: Civil Engineer and Farmer in Iowa​

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1851 – 1853: U.S. Deputy Surveyor in Iowa, and Wisconsin​

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1855: Commissioner to locate Seat of Government in Iowa​

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1859: Sheriff of Linn County, Iowa​

Civil War Career:

1861: Paymaster in Washington, D.C.​

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1861: Paymaster in St. Louis, Missouri​

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1861 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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1861 – 1862: Union Army Commander, Central District of Missouri​

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1862: Served in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi​

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1862: Union Army Commander of Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri​

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1862: Union Army Commander of Corinth, Mississippi​

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1862: Served in the Expedition from La Grange, Tennessee to Grenada, Mississippi​

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1863: Union Army Commander of Northeast District of Missouri​

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1863 – 1864: Union Army Commander of District of Nebraska​

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1864: Union Army Commander of District of South Kansas​

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1864: Chief of Cavalry for Union Army, Department of the Gulf​

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1864: On Court Martial Duty​

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1864 – 1865: Union Army Commander of District of West Florida​

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1865: Union Army Commander of District of Morganzia, Louisiana​

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1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the War​

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1865: Union Army Commander of District of Southwest Missouri​

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1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1865: Mayor of Marion, Iowa​

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1866 – 1869: Farmer near Marion, Iowa​

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1868: Iowa Delegate to Republican Party National Convention​

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1869: Declined to be Pension Agent for Eastern District of Iowa​

Died: April 9, 1870

Place of Death: Marion, Iowa

Cause of Death: Softening of the brain and paralysis

Age at time of Death: 60 years old

Burial Place: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Iowa

 

[Pollaco]

He was considered too old for active service, his only major action came as a division commander at Corinth.

 

[Cavalier]

That's kind of strange because, if I am not mistaken, Edwin Sumner was substantially older than this guy. Just a thought.

John

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday (August 20th) Week to Brig. General Thomas J. McKean! Salutes remembering General McKean on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

He was considered too old for active service, his only major action came as a division commander at Corinth.

He couldn't have been too old, at least 6 other classmates of his from West Point were Civil War Generals.