John Michael Kearney of Putnam, Livingston County, was wounded in action at the Wilderness on May 7, 1864. He was a Master Blacksmith that had enlisted in Co. B. of the 26th Michigan on August 7, 1862, at the age of 35 and had the honor of being part of the Regimental Color Guard with Cpl. Benjamin Batcheler of Co. E., one of the most valued and vulnerable targets on the field of battle and they bore the scars to prove it. Corporal Kearney was wounded in the shoulder but survived the war. Kearney was present and promoted to Sergeant at Appomattox Court House, while paroling the Army of Northern Virginia. He participated in the Grand Review in Washington D.C. May 23, 1865 and mustered out with the regiment at Alexandria, Virginia on June 4, 1865.

26th Michigan service included: Camp Jackson, Alexandria, Washington, Suffolk, the New York Draft Riots, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg including Deep Bottom, Ream's Station, Cedar Level Station, White Oak Swamp & Hatcher's Run, Fort Fisher, Sayler's Creek & Farmville, Appomattox and The Grand Review.

Skirmish Regiment for the Union 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Corps
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John and Margaret had five children and he was a member of the Howell G.A.R.

CHILDREN:
MARGARET T. KEARNEY MELVIN b. Apr 1849 Livingston, MI, d. 29 Aug 1928 Union, SD
Husband: Fred Melvin

CATHERINE S. KEARNEY BROWN b. 11 Dec 1851 MI, d. 18 Jan 1930 St. John, MT
Married Edward C. Brown

ROBERT EMMET KEARNEY b. 1853 MI, d. 14 Jan 1923 Boulder, CO
Wife: Anna Conklin

MARY ELLEN KEARNEY McKEEVER b. 11 Nov 1855 Livingston, MI, d. 23 Aug 1950 O'Brien, IA
Husband: Hugh Francis Mckeever

EDWARD KEARNEY b. 21 Mar 1861 MI, d. 20 Apr 1937 Jackson, Dakota, NE
Wife: Clara Miner
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1860 Putnam, Livingston, MI
John Kearney 32 Master Blacksmith
Margaret Kearney 31
Margaret Kearney 10
Kate Kearney 8 Catherine S
Emmett Kearney 6 Robert Emmet
Ellen Kearney 4 Mary Ellen
Gertrude Gillson 80
George Clinton 18 Apprentice blacksmith
Patrick Ead 51 Forge de Jour Blacksmith
Thos Ead 6
Daniel Richards 33 Wagon maker

1870 Putnam, Livingston, MI
John Keamey 44
Margaret Keamey 42
Emmet Keamey 17
Mary E Keamey 24
Eddie Keamey 9

1880 Putnam, Livingston, MI
John M. Kearney 53 Blacksmith Parents b. Ireland
Margaret Kearney 52
Edward T. Kearney 19

* On September 3, 1891, he was leaving Ann Arbor, Michigan, after visiting there while "canvassing for the life of John Boyle Reilly." Mr. Kearney was attempting to board a departing train when he slipped, fell beneath a rail car and was killed. The tragic accident was described in the Pinckney Dispatch of Sept. 23, 1891. "The first truck passed over his right leg, cutting it off below the knee. He was seen to raise himself on his hands when the axle box of the second truck of the car struck his head, crushing the skull and squeezing his body between the car and platform." *

Sgt. John Kearney is buried in the St. Mary's Cemetery at Pinckney, Livingston County, Michigan.

* John Michael Kearney (Courtesy Coleman Coyne Genealogy Project)
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MI DEATH & BURIAL INDEX
Name: John Kearney
Birth Date: abt 1828
Birth Place: NY
Death Date: 3 Sep 1891
Death Place: Ann Arbor, Livingston, Michigan
Death Age: 63
Occupation: Blacksmith
Race: White
Marital status: Married
Gender: Male