McKinstry Family of Van Buren Township
Wayne County, Michigan


This McKinstry family genealogy was submitted to the John F Kennedy Library Branch in Dearborn Hts, Michigan. There was no submitter's name or address listed in the file folder, it is suggested that if you are researching McKinstry family out of Van Buren Township or Wayne County, Michigan, that you use this information as a guide.
The McKinstry family is not part of my personal genealogy, and I do not have any additional information on this line.

In the Fall of 1834, two brothers settled in Van Buren Township, along the Canton Township border, near the village of Sheldon. They were Hugh and Archibald McKinstry from Ireland, the sons of John and Ann (Wilson) McKinstry.
After their mother, Ann passed away in June of 1832 (aged 50 years), Hugh left Ireland for American. He settled for a very short time in Detroit . Hugh apparently wrote home to his family, and encouraged his brother, Archibald to join him in Michigan. Archibald, his wife, and family soon arrived in Michigan, and on October 6, 1834, Hugh McKinstry received a United States Government Land grant, for a parcel of land described as " East one-half of the North East Fractional Quarter of Section Three, Van Buren Township." His brother, Archibald also recieved a U.S. land grant, on the adjoining parcel of land. Today, the approximate locations of their homes would be 5871 Morton-Taylor Road and 5809 Sheldon Road, in Van Buren Township.

Hugh McKINSTRY

Hugh McKinstry, was the older of the two brothers. He was born February 2, 1805 in Ireland, the son of John McKinstry and Ann (Wilson) McKinstry. His father, John was born about 1782 in Ireland and died February 12, 1837. Ann was born in 1782 in Scotland and died June 16, 1832. They were buried in the Glenwhery Cemetery, Ballamany, Antrim County, Ireland.
Hugh married to Elizabeth Townsend in 1824 in Ireland. They had 9 children to their marriage, 2 who, were born in Ireland, and came to America with their parents. The other 7 were born in Van Buren Township. Hugh McKinstry died July 4, 1857, at the age of 52 years, 5 months, and 2 days. He is buried in the Sheldon Cemetery, with his wife, Elizabeth who died in 1885, at the age of 84 years. Below are the 9 children of Hugh and Elizabeth (Townsend) McKinstry:

1. Mary McKinstry: was born May 1, 1825 in Ireland. She married about 1846 to George Collins Padget, of Sheldon Corners. They had 5 children, born to their marriage. Mary died February 25, 1898 and her husband, George died December 16, 1904. They are both buried in the Sheldon Cemetery.

A. John Collins Padget, was the first child born to Mary (McKinstry) and George C. Padget. He was born April 1, 1847 and married January 1, 1868 to Mary Ann Smith. They had 5 children: Mary Elizabeth Padget, who married Francis Johnson ; George Hugh Padget, who was born February 5, 1870 and died in September of 1871 ; Mary Ann Padget, who married in 1901 to Charles Amerhine ; Frank Padget, who was born January 26, 1876 and died March 3, 1876 ; and Frederick Collins Padget, who married to Edna Smith in 1901.

B. Hugh Padget, the second child was born August 3, 1848 and died January 6, 1868, at the age of 19 years.

* the stone in the Sheldon Cemetery states died June 3, 1869, age 19 years and 5 months.*


C. George N. Padget, the third child of Hugh & Elizabeth McKinstry was born July 30, 1853. He was married first to Mary Emma Stone, who died in childbirth on March 8, 1883, at the age of 28 years. He married a second time to Sarah A. Palmer, on December 10, 1884. Sarah was born in 1859 and died in 1933, and is buried at the Sheldon Cemetery. They had 7 children: Rulluff Padget, born December 1, 1885 who married to Margaret Sicklesteel ; Frank Padget, who was born September 23, 1887 and married to Minnie Nass ; Susie Padget who was born December 24, 1889 and married William Allen ; Carrie Padget who was born November 16, 1891 and married William Henry LeFurge ; Emma Padget who was born May 22, 1894 and died November 14, 1908, at the age of 14 years; Clarence Padget who was born August 28, 1896 and died in 1967, he is buried at Sheldon Cemetery ; and George Hershel Padget, who was born August 26, 1902 and married to Ethel Lynn King.

D. Andrew Padget, the fourth child was born May 21, 1858. He died in 1930 and is buried at Sheldon Cemetery. There is no other information listed about Andrew.

E. Elizabeth Ann Padget, the last child was born January 30, 1861 and died September 5, 1866, at the age of 5 years and 8 months.

2. Ann W. McKinstry was the second child born to Hugh and Elizabeth (Townsend) McKinstry. She was born in Ireland in 1827 and came to America with her parents, and to Van Buren Township in 1834. She was married October 5, 1849 to Henry Hopson in Nankin Township, Wayne County, Michigan. The officating Reverend was John S. Kidden. She had one child, Eliza who later married to a man named, Scoville. Ann (McKinstry) Hopson died in 1875. There is no information listed on her burial, or the death of her husband.

3. John McKinstry, the third child and first son born to Hugh and Elizabeth was born in 1830, probably while his parents were still in Detroit. John was active in the community of the village of Sheldon, and served as School Inspector for Fractional School District Number 1. He died in 1904 and is buried in the Sheldon Cemetery. There is no information listed as to whether he married or had any children.

4. Andrew McKinstry, was born September 6, 1836, in Van Buren Township. He married on December 31, 1858 to Maria Spaum born in 1840 of Van Buren Township. The ceremony was performed in Canton Township by Rev Bradshaw Hodgkinson, the local Justice of the Peace. Andrew McKinstry died in 1907. His wife, Maria died June 2, 1915 and they are both buried in Sheldon Cemetery. They had 5 children:

A. Hattie J. McKinstry who was born September 29, 1859. She married a man named Shipton.
B. Mary Eliza McKinstry was born February 1, 1869, in Wyandotte, Wayne County, Michigan. She married on May 7, 1889 to James V. Cozswell and had 3 children: Clarence Merle Cozswell, who was born January 1, 1891 who married Mary J. Chapman ; James Leslie Cozswell, who was born November 12, 1892 and married to Leona Morse ; and Venice May Cozswell, who was born November 19, 1894 and married Charles C. Yager.

C. Louis McKinstry was born July 14, 1872. He married on June 20, 1894 to Grace Post, who was born December 23, 1875. Louis died in 1948 and Grace died in 1954, they are both buried at Sheldon Cemetery. They had 2 children: Ivan McKinstry born June 2, 1895 and Clare McKinstry who was born August 9, 1901 and married to Lois Robinson.

D. Lewis Hugh McKinstry (same name as his brother, however spelled differently) was born June 25, 1877. There is no other information listed on Lewis.

E. Myra McKinstry was born in 1878 and died in 1894 at the age of 16 years. She is buried in Sheldon Cemetery.

5. Nancy J. McKinstry was the fifth child of Hugh and Elizabeth. She was born in 1840 in Van Buren Township. She married to Samuel Lee Lyon on May 3, 1865 in Canton Township. The ceremony was performed by Rev J. Kilpatrick the pastor of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. Her name was listed on the church records as Veiney Jane McKinstry. Nancy died on August 1, 1871. She had one child

A. Edi Lyon who was born in September 1869. He died on the same day as his mother, August 1, 1871 at the age of 1 year and 11 months. Cause of death is not known.

6. William H. McKinstry was the sixth child of Hugh and Elizabeth, born on April 1, 1841 in Van Buren Township. He was married first to Lizzie Artley and second to Fredia. There is no information as to whether he had any children. William died in 1906 and is buried in Sheldon Cemetery.

7. James McKinstry, the seventh child of Hugh and Elizabeth McKinstry was born March 17, 1844 in Van Buren Township. He married April 25, 1868 to Regina Guenther, who was born May 12, 1849. They had 13 children.

A. Eliza Jane McKinstry was born June 13, 1869. She married December 24, 1890 to John LaFrance. They had 6 children: Bessie Belle LaFrance, born July 21, 1893, who married Floyd Morris ; Lutie LaFrance who was born June 2, 1895, and married Donald McClung ; Howard Padget LaFrance, who married Harriet Jobble ; Marjorie C. LaFrance August 23, 1902 ; Bruce M. LaFrance born September 24, 1905 ; and Bernice G. LaFrance, who was born August 2, 1909.

B. Hugh McKinstry was born January 3, 1871, and died January 15, 1871, he was 2 weeks of age.

C. John T. McKinstry was born January 24, 1874 and died December 27, 1893 at the age of 19 years.

D. William H. McKinstry was born January 15, 1872. He married on September 24, 1902 to Katherine Langkam. They had two children: Clifford V., who was born September 25, 1905 and Merrill W. who was born November 20, 1906. William died March 7, 1907 ; a few months after Merrill was born.

E. Mary L. McKinstry was born January 1, 1876. She was married April 21, 1897 to Cornelius Heil, and had four children: Gertrude L. Heil who was born May 1, 1898 and married to Fred Kinsey ; Wesley who was born June 13, 1905 and married Margaret Ida Harris ; Fern C. who was born January 2, 1909 ; and Clola May who was born July 14. 1919.

F. Eva Lena McKinstry was born September 17, 1878. She died October 23, 1919, at the age of 41 years. There is no information listed as to whether or not she married or had any children.

G. Carrie Ellen McKinstry was born March 24, 1880. She married to Fred Jacobs and had four children: Evelyn A. Jacobs, who was born December 19, 1905 ; Brian R. Jacobs, who was born April 11, 1907 ; Ruth R. Jacobs who was born May 11, 1911 ; and Earl Dean Jacobs, who was born September 19, 1917.

H. Hannah Elizabeth McKinstry was born July 24, 1882. She was a missionary in Africa and never married.

I. George McKinstry was born July 9, 1884. There is no information listed regarding a marriage or children.

J. Ann Agnes McKinstry was born April 25, 1886. She married April 25, 1913 to Lee Benzing.

K. Wesley McKinstry was born January 7, 1888. He died Decmber 10, 1896 having never been married.

L. Bessie M. McKinstry was born July 2, 1889. There is no information listed regarding marriage or children.

M. Carl McKinstry was born December 18, 1892. He married in June of 1917 to Byrle Martin and they had two children: Vern James, who was born February 15, 1918 and Lyle Martin McKinstry who was born May 13, 1921.

8. Eliza McKinstry was the 8th child of Hugh & Elizabeth McKinstry. She was born in 1846 in Van Buren Township. She died having never been married on May 10, 1864. She is buried in Sheldon Cemetery, however her stone is broken and unreadable.

9. Robert McKinstry the 9th child born to Hugh & Elizabeth McKinstry. The notes state that Robert has a great deal of conflicting information. Confusion seems to come from the fact that the family has more then one Robert born in each side of their family. Robert is said to have fought in the Civil War and enlisted in Vitres, New York, on December 31, 1863. He was discharged after receiving a gun shot wound in the left leg on May 24, 1864, while on duty near Petersburg, VA. The date of discharge is recorded in Washington DC as August 24, 1865. Robert died in a Soldiers Home in Dayton Ohio on February 27, 1894, and is buried in the Denton Cemetery near Sheldon. His enlistment papers state that he was born in Antrim, Ireland in 1834, however, both his parents were located in Van Buren Township, by that date. While living in the Soldier's Home, a medical record stated that his birth year was 1822, and another document, his discharge paper listed his birth year as 1842. It is known that Robert was never married nor did he have any children.

Archibald McKINSTRY

Archibald McKinstry was born in Ireland in 1812, the son of John McKinstry and Ann (Wilson) McKinstry. He married on September 13, 1831 to Mary Adams, who had been born about 1810 in Scotland. Their first child, Ann Jane had been born in Ireland and accompanied them to America, she was about 1 and half years old. Their second child, John Wesley was said to have been born aboard the vessel while on their way to America, two weeks after it set sail.

During a McKinstry family reunion held in Silver Lake, Michigan in 1926, the following article was read, however the author is not listed, and appears no one can recall who may have written it:

"Archie McKinstry was the third child of John and Ann (Wilson) McKinstry. Archie married Mary Adams on September 13, 1831. Archie and Mary Adams McKinstry sailed for America on January 1, 1834, on the sailing vessel John Thomas. They were six weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean, landing in New York in February, 1834, coming direct to Detroit, where they remained at the home of Uncle Thomas Adams, working in a brick yard at Bloody Run, now known as Hamtramck.
Then coming by horses and wagon over Michigan Avenue, taking four days to make the trip from Detroit to Sheldon, over corduroy and very worst of roads, in many places only able to make a few miles a day, never dreaming that their children and grandchildren would cover the same distance over a beautiful cement road by auto in one hour.
They went direct to their home in the wilderness, one mile and a half southeast of Sheldon, in the Township of Van Buren, Wayne County, building a log cabin and cleaning and improving a large and beautiful home, now known as the James Taylor and LaVerne Sayre farms. In after years,they built substantial and modern homes and barns of wood, which stand today in good condition. There they worked, strived and struggled through a pioneer life, rearing and raising their large family, and living on the same farm until the Master called them home. 'Well done, good and faithful servants; enter thou into rest prepared for His children.' Archie died October 23, 1884, and Mary died May 12, 1885.
To them were born ten children, four daughters and six sons, nine growing to manhood and womanhood. The youngest, a son, died at the age of five years, coming to his death by accident on January 8, 1857. His name was George Washington McKinstry.
The eldest child of this union was my beloved mother, born in Glenwherry, Ireland on June 16, 1832, at the home of her grandparnets, and on the day her grandmother died. Her grandmother laid her hand on the little infant granddaughter, and said, 'God Bless Her ! Name her Ann Jane,' and that was where she derived her given name.


The Wayne County Register of Deeds has a record detailing the governmental land granted to Archibald McKinstry, stating 'McKinstry, Archibald of Wayne County, purchased from the United States (Andrew Jackson, President) Certificate No. 11826. October 15, 1835, 87.76 acres in Wayne County, being the west half of the northwest fractional quarter of Section two. Township three, south, Range eight east. Register: Silas A. Bagg, Recorded September 30, 1843. Date of Sale, October 6, 1834.

1. Ann Jane McKinstry the first child of Archibald and Mary Adams McKinstry was born June 16, 1832 in Ireland. She was married on August 5, 1850 in Wayne County, by Rev. J.S. Kider, a Presbyterian minister, to James Wiles. They settled on the farm of James Wiles, in the Township of Canton. James Wiles had been born in Home, Yorkshire, England, on August 5, 1825 and died suddenly May 26, 1896. They had 7 children:

A. Francis William Wiles who married to Harriet Woodworth
B. Mary Ellen Wiles
C. Sarah Jane Wiles who married to Dr. Walter T. Wright.
D. Betsey Ann Wiles
E. James Albert Wiles
F. George Wiles who married first to Francis Rachel Joslin and had four children: Grace Ellen Wiles who married H. G. Jordan ; James Joslin Wiles who married Lucy Wilkinson ; John Wyman Wiles who married Blanch Estes ; Florence May Wiles. He married second to Mary Haywood and had four additional children: George Henry Wiles ; Louis Bradley Wiles ; Mary Elizabeth Wiles ; and Phyllis Ann Wiles.

G. Edward Ewin Wiles
Ann Jane died May 17, 1912, at the age of 79 years 11 months and 1 day, at her home in Canton Township. She is buried at Shelton Cemetery.

2. John Wesley McKinstry was the second child of Archibald & Mary, born on January 14, 1834, aboard the sailing vessel John Thomas, during their journey to America. John married in 1860 to Ellen Maria Stark, who was born January 16, 1842 in Charleston, West Verginia. John Wesley died June 23, 1895, in Jackson, Michigan and is buried in a family lot in Marshall, Michigan. His wife, Ellen died January 23, 1905 in Hillsdale, Michigan and is buried along side her husband. They had 4 children: Clara Belle McKinstry who married to Edwin Fiske ; Mary Jane McKinstry who married to Andrew Ruddock ; Charles Edward McKinstry ; and Edmon Elsworth McKinstry.

3. Robert Henry McKinstry was the third child of Archibald & Mary McKinstry. He was born August 28, 1836, in Van Buren Township. Robert worked as a carpenter and joiner, along with his farming. He married to Mary Elizabeth Sitlington, who was born December 1, 1845. They had nine children: Henry Robert, who married Henrietta Greenfield ; George ; Fred, who married to May Jackson ; Mary Helen ; Frank, who married to Sophia ; Ira ; Ervin, who married to Helen Amy ; Eliza Elizabeth, who married to Carl C. Sears and Steve McKinstry, who was born August 5, 1884 and died March 8, 1952. He married to Mildred Huston on December 14, 1911.
Robert died May 6, 1915. The local newspaper carried a copy of this obituary: (the newspaper is not named, only a cut out is in the file, with no date)

Robert H. McKinstry, of Van Buren Township, who has been sick for the past six weeks, died Thursday morning. He was a kind father and a kind neighbor and he will be missed by his relatives and friends. McKinstry was born on the farm now owned by James Taylor, on August 28, 1836. He married Elizabeth Sitlington on October 16, 1864, who is left to mourn his loss. Nine children were born to them, three of which had preceded him to their rest.

Mary Elizabeth (Sitlington) McKinstry died July 9, 1917. They are both buried in the Sheldon Cemetery.

4. Martha H. McKinstry was the fourth child of Archibald and Mary McKinstry. She was born October 31, 1838, in Van Buren Township. She married to Henry Prescott Truesdell on January 1, 1861. Their marriage was performed by Rev. Pierce, of the Congregational Church of the United States in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. Henry Truesdell was born July 17, 1836 in Canton Township , the son of Erastus Truesdell and Calestia E. (Merry) Truesdell. Martha died April 5, 1919, at the age of 80 years, 5 months, and four days. Her husband, Henry died September 3, 1923 and is buried near his wife in the Sheldon Cemetery. They had three children bore to their marriage:

A. Elmer Erastus Truesdell who married Margaret Smith and had 3 children: Clarence ; Florence and Charles .

B. William Archibald Truesdell who married Cora May Grace and had five children: Helen ; Mildred ; Josephine ; Henry and William.

C. George Henry Truesdell who married to Edna I. Sterling and had one child : Ione E. Truesdell.

5. Archy Wilson McKinstry, the fifth child of Archibald & Mary McKinstry was born November 30, 1840, in Van Buren Township. He married to Agnes Townsend on July 4, 1869. Agnes was born in New York State. They had 5 children:

A. Edward Andrew, who married to Clarissa Hamontree and had one child: Harold McKinstry

B. Francis W.

C. Alfred Lee, who married to Amelia Bourquin and had three children: Earl Lee ; George A. ; and Agnes Ruth

D. Archy Wilson Jr, who died in infancy

E. Hugh McKinstry

Archy Sr died March 31, 1924. His wife, Agnes died a few years later, however there is no date listed, nor cemetery.

6. Mary Elizabeth McKinstry was the sixth child of Archibald and Mary McKinstry, she was born October 9, 1842. She married to George Smock on April 24, 1864. George had been born June 29, 1841, he died January 1, 1906. His wife, Mary died April 7, 1900. They had five children:

A. Mary Lovina Smock, who married to Wesley C. Richards on November 5, 1884. They had 8 children, of whom 6 are named here: Lois Elizabeth ; Wesley Asher, who married Alice Beckman ; Cora Louvina who married to Edward Pfluge ; Winslow VanRenssalaer Richards who married to Marie May ; John Lloyd who married to Fayette Baker ; and Morris Seward Richards.

B. Cora Ellen Smock, who married to Albert McClaughery on March 26, 1890.

C. Charles Willard Smock who died when he was 2 months of age.

D. George Archie Smock, who married first to Nettie Renton on September 30, 1897. They had one child, Lloyd Wilbur. He married second to Carrie E. Renton on March 25, 1921.

E. Charles Henry Smock, who married on June 17, 1908 to Rachel Stephens. They had one child, not named.

7. Sarah R. McKinstry, the seventh child born to Archibald and Mary McKinstry was born October 4, 1844. She married to Winslow Packard, on October 4, 1865. The ceremony was performed at the home of her eldest sister, Ann J. (McKinstry) Wiles, by Rev. J.D. Pierce of Ypsilanti. Winslow Packard was a soldier in the Civil War. He died September 13, 1875 at the age of 33 years, 7 months, and 15 days, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They had 2 children:

A. Mary Dianth Packard, who married to Alpha Miles.

B. Cynthia Caroline Packard, who married to John Smith.

8. James Adams McKinstry, the eighth child of Archibald and Mary McKinstry was born October 15, 1846. In 1866, he left home to work on the Michigan Central Railroad, where he later met Sarah Maria Seamon. They were married in Burlington, Michigan, on December 26, 1871. They later settled in Jackson, Michigan, where James continued to work for the railroad. In 1882, they moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, and James took up construction work for the Grand Trunk Railroad. He was also employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in Brainard, Minnesota. In the spring of 1886, he was severely injuried on his job, and died in June of 1889. He was 43 years old. James and Sarah McKinstry had two children:

A. Arthur James McKinstry, who married to Anna Marie Burkla and had 4 children: Rachel Margaret ; Gretchen Louise ; Ann Jane ; and Mary Elizabeth.

B. Clarence J. McKinstry. There is no information listed for Clarence.

9. William Thomas McKinstry was the 9th child of Archibald and Mary McKinstry. He was born November 14, 1848 in Van Buren Township. He married July 4, 1872 to Cynthia Packard. They lived in Van Buren Township until October of 1882, when they moved to Jackson, Michigan. They had 3 children:

A. Mark McKinstry, who married to Louisa Stoeckle and had one child: Irene Ethelyn McKinstry.

B. John J. McKinstry. There is no information listed regarding, John.

C. George Howard McKinstry, who married to Corlie Maud Raymond and had 3 children: Beatrice ; Jay ; and Ralph Carlton McKinstry.

10. George Washington McKinstry, the last child born to Archibald and Mary McKinstry and was born in 1851. He died in an accident on January 8, 1857.

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