MCCONKEY, Major G. W.
Veteran of two wars and Justice of the Peace, Oakland, Ill., was born in Washington County, Va., April 18, 1820, the son of John S. and Harriet (Sharp) McConkey, natives of Virginia, who came to Paris, Ill., in 1828. His youth was spent in Edgar County, and there his education was received. For a number of years he was employed on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the capacity of boatman a part of the time and farming the balance. In June, 1846, Mr. McConkey enlisted at Paris, Ill., in Company H, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for the war against Mexico. His regiment was landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor fought its way up the Rio Grande as far as Camargo. From there it marched under the command of Gen. Patterson to victory at the foot of the mountains, and thence to Tampico, where it joined Gen. Scott on his way to Vera Cruz and was among the first troops to land there. After the capture of Vera Cruz it fought at Cerro Gordo, and on the road to the City of Mexico as far as the Castle of Perote, when, the period of enlistment of the regiment having expired, it was sent home, and he was mustered out in June, 1847. In August. 1861, Maj. McConkey organized Company E. Fifth Illinois Cavalry, for service in the army of the Union, and was under the command of Gen. Curtis through Missouri and Arkansas to Helena, in the latter State. In May, 1863, he took part under Gen. Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, and after the fall of that place was under the command of McPherson, Sherman, Custer and others, being mustered out with his regiment October 27, 1865. On October 11, 1849. Mr. McConkey was married to Louisa R., a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Ashmore, of Oakland. Ill., and of this union nine children were born, of whom four are deceased and five living. In his political affiliations Mr. McConkey was a Democrat until 1860, when he allied himself with the Republican party, with which he has been identified ever since. He served as First Supervisor of Oakland Township, has been Collector for two years. Assessor for three years, a Justice of the Peace twenty years and under President Buchanan, was Postmaster for four years. He is Commander of Oakland Post No. 188, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for forty years.
(History of Coles County, Illinois By Charles Edward Wilson, 1905)
October 22, 1861, George enlisted as a captain at Oakland, Illinois, and was commissioned as commander of Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry. He was promoted to Major and transferred to Field & Staff August 8, 1865. Major McConkey was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, October 27, 1865. Three of his brothers also served: Leonidas McConkey enlisted as a private in Coles County, Illinois, September 25, 1861, and was mustered into Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry, October 22. Leonidas drowned at Black River, Mississippi, June 24, 1862; Sidney Edward McConkey served as a sergeant in Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry; and Harvey Milton McConkey served as a private in Company D, 1st California Cavalry.
Veteran of two wars and Justice of the Peace, Oakland, Ill., was born in Washington County, Va., April 18, 1820, the son of John S. and Harriet (Sharp) McConkey, natives of Virginia, who came to Paris, Ill., in 1828. His youth was spent in Edgar County, and there his education was received. For a number of years he was employed on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the capacity of boatman a part of the time and farming the balance. In June, 1846, Mr. McConkey enlisted at Paris, Ill., in Company H, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for the war against Mexico. His regiment was landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor fought its way up the Rio Grande as far as Camargo. From there it marched under the command of Gen. Patterson to victory at the foot of the mountains, and thence to Tampico, where it joined Gen. Scott on his way to Vera Cruz and was among the first troops to land there. After the capture of Vera Cruz it fought at Cerro Gordo, and on the road to the City of Mexico as far as the Castle of Perote, when, the period of enlistment of the regiment having expired, it was sent home, and he was mustered out in June, 1847. In August. 1861, Maj. McConkey organized Company E. Fifth Illinois Cavalry, for service in the army of the Union, and was under the command of Gen. Curtis through Missouri and Arkansas to Helena, in the latter State. In May, 1863, he took part under Gen. Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, and after the fall of that place was under the command of McPherson, Sherman, Custer and others, being mustered out with his regiment October 27, 1865. On October 11, 1849. Mr. McConkey was married to Louisa R., a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Ashmore, of Oakland. Ill., and of this union nine children were born, of whom four are deceased and five living. In his political affiliations Mr. McConkey was a Democrat until 1860, when he allied himself with the Republican party, with which he has been identified ever since. He served as First Supervisor of Oakland Township, has been Collector for two years. Assessor for three years, a Justice of the Peace twenty years and under President Buchanan, was Postmaster for four years. He is Commander of Oakland Post No. 188, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for forty years.
(History of Coles County, Illinois By Charles Edward Wilson, 1905)
October 22, 1861, George enlisted as a captain at Oakland, Illinois, and was commissioned as commander of Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry. He was promoted to Major and transferred to Field & Staff August 8, 1865. Major McConkey was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, October 27, 1865. Three of his brothers also served: Leonidas McConkey enlisted as a private in Coles County, Illinois, September 25, 1861, and was mustered into Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry, October 22. Leonidas drowned at Black River, Mississippi, June 24, 1862; Sidney Edward McConkey served as a sergeant in Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry; and Harvey Milton McConkey served as a private in Company D, 1st California Cavalry.
MCCONKEY, Major G. W.
Veteran of two wars and Justice of the Peace, Oakland, Ill., was born in Washington County, Va., April 18, 1820, the son of John S. and Harriet (Sharp) McConkey, natives of Virginia, who came to Paris, Ill., in 1828. His youth was spent in Edgar County, and there his education was received. For a number of years he was employed on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the capacity of boatman a part of the time and farming the balance. In June, 1846, Mr. McConkey enlisted at Paris, Ill., in Company H, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for the war against Mexico. His regiment was landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor fought its way up the Rio Grande as far as Camargo. From there it marched under the command of Gen. Patterson to victory at the foot of the mountains, and thence to Tampico, where it joined Gen. Scott on his way to Vera Cruz and was among the first troops to land there. After the capture of Vera Cruz it fought at Cerro Gordo, and on the road to the City of Mexico as far as the Castle of Perote, when, the period of enlistment of the regiment having expired, it was sent home, and he was mustered out in June, 1847. In August. 1861, Maj. McConkey organized Company E. Fifth Illinois Cavalry, for service in the army of the Union, and was under the command of Gen. Curtis through Missouri and Arkansas to Helena, in the latter State. In May, 1863, he took part under Gen. Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, and after the fall of that place was under the command of McPherson, Sherman, Custer and others, being mustered out with his regiment October 27, 1865. On October 11, 1849. Mr. McConkey was married to Louisa R., a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Ashmore, of Oakland. Ill., and of this union nine children were born, of whom four are deceased and five living. In his political affiliations Mr. McConkey was a Democrat until 1860, when he allied himself with the Republican party, with which he has been identified ever since. He served as First Supervisor of Oakland Township, has been Collector for two years. Assessor for three years, a Justice of the Peace twenty years and under President Buchanan, was Postmaster for four years. He is Commander of Oakland Post No. 188, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for forty years.
(History of Coles County, Illinois By Charles Edward Wilson, 1905)
October 22, 1861, George enlisted as a captain at Oakland, Illinois, and was commissioned as commander of Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry. He was promoted to Major and transferred to Field & Staff August 8, 1865. Major McConkey was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, October 27, 1865. Three of his brothers also served: Leonidas McConkey enlisted as a private in Coles County, Illinois, September 25, 1861, and was mustered into Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry, October 22. Leonidas drowned at Black River, Mississippi, June 24, 1862; Sidney Edward McConkey served as a sergeant in Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry; and Harvey Milton McConkey served as a private in Company D, 1st California Cavalry.
Veteran of two wars and Justice of the Peace, Oakland, Ill., was born in Washington County, Va., April 18, 1820, the son of John S. and Harriet (Sharp) McConkey, natives of Virginia, who came to Paris, Ill., in 1828. His youth was spent in Edgar County, and there his education was received. For a number of years he was employed on the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the capacity of boatman a part of the time and farming the balance. In June, 1846, Mr. McConkey enlisted at Paris, Ill., in Company H, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for the war against Mexico. His regiment was landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor fought its way up the Rio Grande as far as Camargo. From there it marched under the command of Gen. Patterson to victory at the foot of the mountains, and thence to Tampico, where it joined Gen. Scott on his way to Vera Cruz and was among the first troops to land there. After the capture of Vera Cruz it fought at Cerro Gordo, and on the road to the City of Mexico as far as the Castle of Perote, when, the period of enlistment of the regiment having expired, it was sent home, and he was mustered out in June, 1847. In August. 1861, Maj. McConkey organized Company E. Fifth Illinois Cavalry, for service in the army of the Union, and was under the command of Gen. Curtis through Missouri and Arkansas to Helena, in the latter State. In May, 1863, he took part under Gen. Grant in the siege of Vicksburg, and after the fall of that place was under the command of McPherson, Sherman, Custer and others, being mustered out with his regiment October 27, 1865. On October 11, 1849. Mr. McConkey was married to Louisa R., a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Ashmore, of Oakland. Ill., and of this union nine children were born, of whom four are deceased and five living. In his political affiliations Mr. McConkey was a Democrat until 1860, when he allied himself with the Republican party, with which he has been identified ever since. He served as First Supervisor of Oakland Township, has been Collector for two years. Assessor for three years, a Justice of the Peace twenty years and under President Buchanan, was Postmaster for four years. He is Commander of Oakland Post No. 188, G. A. R., and he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected for forty years.
(History of Coles County, Illinois By Charles Edward Wilson, 1905)
October 22, 1861, George enlisted as a captain at Oakland, Illinois, and was commissioned as commander of Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry. He was promoted to Major and transferred to Field & Staff August 8, 1865. Major McConkey was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, October 27, 1865. Three of his brothers also served: Leonidas McConkey enlisted as a private in Coles County, Illinois, September 25, 1861, and was mustered into Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry, October 22. Leonidas drowned at Black River, Mississippi, June 24, 1862; Sidney Edward McConkey served as a sergeant in Company E, 5th Illinois Cavalry; and Harvey Milton McConkey served as a private in Company D, 1st California Cavalry.
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