American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Partially printed pay voucher signed ("Coates Kinney") as US Paymaster. 28 February 1865. 17 x 11 in., creased at folds, minor wear to edges.

Voucher records a total of $153.93 paid by the Union Army for two "private servants" named Susan and Betty, both listed as "Negro."

Autograph copy of a poem entitled Ships Coming In by Coates Kinney. 5 pages, 5 5/8 x 8 7/8 in., creased at folds, with some toning. Accompanied by brown envelope identifying the contents in pencil.

TOGETHER, 2 documents related to Major Coates Kinney.

Coates Kinney was born in Kinney's Corners, New York, though his family moved to Ohio while he was a teenager, settling in Springboro. He became a teacher and studied law, attending Antioch College and practicing law in Cincinnati. He also had a talent and passion for writing from a young age, and he became the editor of the Xenia News in Ohio before enlisting in the US Army in 1861, receiving a commission as Paymaster with the rank of major. He served until 1865, when he was breveted a lieutenant colonel, mustering out in November. 

After the war, he returned to Ohio and became the editor of the Xenia Torchlight, contributing on occasion to other papers and journals. He served as an Ohio senator from 1882-1883, and in 1884 became chief owner and editor of the Globe Republic in Springfield.

Kinney wrote three volumes of poetry, the best known of which is his 1849 poem, Rain On the Roof. Kinney also notably served as poet laureate of Ohio.