Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899

Native of Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army, Fifth Infantry, Company D, during the Mexican War, journalist and editor after the war.

From the description of Papers, 1809-1857, (bulk 1847-1857). (University of Texas at Arlington). WorldCat record id: 32164325

John Franklin Meginness was born July 16, 1827, in Colerain, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Benjamin and Sarah Meginness and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. The family moved to Illinois in 1843. He was a diligent student and was devoted to reading. At sixteen years of age, he left his family and returned to Pennsylvania to continue his education. He lived in Danville, where he was employed by the Montour Iron Works until the war with Mexico began. He enlisted April 9, 1847, joining Company D, Fifth U.S. Infantry, commanded by Captain Randolph B. Marcy.

Because of his excellent penmanship, John Meginness was selected by Captain Marcy as clerk of his company. His company sailed from New York on June 19, 1847, for Vera Cruz, Mexico, where they arrived on July 20, 1847. They joined Major Lally and his 1,000 men who were marching to meet with General Winfield Scott's forces. He was engaged in several battles along the way at National Bridge and Cerro Gordo, where Meginness narrowly escaped a musket ball that passed between his right arm and body. Meginness marched to Pueblo, under the command of General Joseph Lane, where Lieutenant Ridgley, commander of his company, was killed. He entered Mexico City with his column, December 7, 1847. He made the march to Mexico City and back to Vera Cruz, never having been wounded.

In addition to serving as clerk of his company, Meginness also kept journals of his experiences. He was fortunate to be present with his regiment in the court yard of the National Palace when the first installments arrived of three million dollars, of the fifteen million that was to be paid for California. The money was carried from wagons and delivered to the Mexican authorities.

On July 17, 1848, his regiment sailed from Vera Cruz on the Jane Gano, for New Orleans. He was discharged at East Pascagoula, Mississippi, in August, 1848. On October 25, 1849, he was married to Martha Jane King. They lived in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and had ten children.

The achievements of John Meginness were many after his return from the war. He became the editor of the Jersey Shore Republican, a weekly newspaper, on June 9, 1852. He then devoted himself to his new career as a journalist, which began June, 1854. He also saw the importance of preserving the local history of certain sections of Pennsylvania. Meginness undertook the writing of a pioneer history of his state. He became a writer and editor of several papers and was present at the debates between Lincoln and Douglas.

John Meginness served as the managing editor of the daily Lycoming Gazette, the oldest newspaper in Lycoming County, served as city editor of the Gazette and Bulletin and later, its editor in chief. He also founded the monthly magazine, The Historical Journal . He undertook the work of writing an exhaustive biography entitled, Frances Slocum, the Lost Sister of Wyoming . The work was completed and published in December, 1890 and was soon sold out.

John Meginness traveled extensively in addition to his literary and editorial endeavors. He died suddenly in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on November 11, 1899, just weeks after his golden wedding anniversary celebration.

From the guide to the John Franklin Meginness Papers GA119., 1809-1857, 1847-1919, (Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington Library)