James McKellip - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

James McKellip

Born about 1847 in Noble Township to parents, David and Mary Anne McKellip, James was their second child.  His father, born in Vermont, was a farmer, and his mother kept house and raised at least five children.

When he was 18, he decided to enlist in Company F of the 198th Regiment, Ohio Infantry.  This unit was formed in February, 1865, at Camp Chase and James enlisted on February 7 for a one year term.  

However, the war was just about over, and the group never deployed anywhere before the Confederacy surrendered.

The whole unit mustered out on May 8, 1865.

But, James was a veteran and a part of the Bishop Post of the G.A.R.

Pension card for James McKellips

James came home and lived with his parents again, and that's where he was found in the 1870 census of Defiance.  James, 23, was there with his brother, Andrew and sisters, Mariam and Elizabeth, and parents, David and Mary Anne.

Three marriages were a part of James' life.  He first married Julia/Mary? Dixon on February 9, 1871, but they divorced, and, he married Lucinda Frazee on February 8, 1875. Another divorce.  His last marriage was to Emma McKellips, and it was quite a scandal for the times because Emma was the wife of James' brother, Andrew.

This notice appeared in the Defiance Express on April 14, 1898, p. 14:

"Andrew McKellips has filed a petition in probate court for divorce from Emma A. McKellips.  He alleges adultery, sets forth in the petition that the defendant has confessed that two of her children are the offspring of his brother, James McKellip.  Hill and Baker for the plaintiff."

After the divorce was completed, a marriage license was recorded for Emma McKellips, 44, housekeeper and daughter of Erastus Alma and Julia Eseltine, to James McKellips.  The license reported that she had been previously married and divorced and the two were not near kin or second cousins.  They were married on January 10, 1899.  The license apparently made history as it was the first in Defiance following a new law.

In the Defiance Daily Express, January 11, 1899, p. 3: 

"THE FIRST

JAMES MCKELLIP TACKLES THE NEW LICENSE LAW

James McKellip was the first to secure a marriage license under the new law in this county.  The records show that he is 52 years old and that he was born in this county and that he has been twice divorced.  He is a son of David McKellip.

The maiden name of the bride elect was Emma Alma.  She is 44 years old and was born in Seneca county, New York.  She had been married to Andrew McKellip, a brother of James, but secured a divorce from him last summer.  James McKellip has a guardian, Hon. J. F. Deatrick and his consent was given to the marriage.  The application shows that the couple expect to be married by Rev. Rhodes, of East Defiance.  It took Mr. Kellip, his guardian and attorney a good part of the afternoon Tuesday to figure out the records." 

Why James had a guardian is a question not answered. He had been in trouble with the law before.  In May of 1897, he had been locked in jail by the Marshall for being intoxicated and disorderly.  Whether this was a one time event or habitual is a question that will be answered later.

In January, 1902, he had a job sawing logs on the Butler farm, run by J. J. Osborn.  Unfortunately, he had an accident while on the job.

"TWO MEN ARE INJURED

LOG ROLLS ON FEET OF WORKMEN ON BUTLER FARM SOUTH OF TOWN

An accident in which two people had their feet severely mashed, occurred late last evening on the Butler farm south of the city.

James McKellips and a young son of Henry Gherke both living near the place where the accident occurred, were the victims.  They were employed by J. J. Osborn of this city as helpers with his log sawing machine.

Yesterday the men were buzzing wood on the lower end of the Butler farm.  At the time the accident occurred, a heavy log was being cut in two.  As the saw cut the last fiber which held it together, the two heavy pieces fell and struck both men.  McKellip had the bones in his foot crushed.  Whether they were broken is not known, as immediately after the accident, he was taken to his home in a buggy.

The boy's injuries were not as serious, but will keep him limping for a few days to come..."

 (Defiance Crescent News, January 24, 1902, p. 8)

His obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on April 5, 1917:

 

 James McKellip's records show that he was admitted to the hospital at the Sandusky Soldiers' Home on February 21, 1917, with a general disability.  He would have been 62.  His listed next of kin was Ellen McKellip, his daughter, who lived in Defiance.  He was receiving $18 a month in pension money, and he could not read or write. James was brought to Defiance for burial in Soldiers' Circle at Riverside Cemetery.

And Emma?  Emma petitioned to divorce James in August, 1909, as reported in the August 21, 1909, Daily Crescent News.  The grounds?  Habitual drunkeness. But was the divorce finalized?  In July, 1902, he transferred a partial lot 34 to her for $1 and love and affection.  Love - it's complicated!

 Emma lived on until 1939, passing away at the age of 83.  James was named as her husband in the obituary, but not as her next of kin in the Sandusky records...

*This was a lesson in researching as one could not count on the spelling of this surname at all...McKellip, McKellips, McKellep, McKelleps, McKellipes, and so on!

Try every possible spelling.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)