Class of 1831

Thomas Jefferson McKean: Born Aug. 21, 1810, Burlington, PA.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1827, to July 1, 1831, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut., 4th Infantry, July 1, 1831.

Served: In garrison at New Orleans, La., 1831‑32, — Baton Rouge, La.,

(Second Lieut., 4th Infantry, Sep. 15, 1833)

1832‑33, — New Orleans, La., 1833, — Bay of St. Louis, Mis, 1833, — and Jefferson Barracks, Mo., 1833‑34.

Resigned, Mar. 31, 1834.

Civil History. — Civil Engineer, 1834‑37.

Military History. — Served as Adjutant of 1st Reg. Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Florida War, Nov. 1, 1837, to May, 1838.

Civil History. — Civil Engineer, 1838‑46. Member of the Convention to form the Constitution of the State of Iowa, 1844.

Military History. — Organized and drilled Volunteers for the War with Mexico, 1846; and served in the War with Mexico, 1846‑48, as a private soldier (having failed to obtain a commission) in the Iowa Volunteers, Apr. 12 to May 10, 1847, and as Sergeant-Major, 15th Infantry, May 10, 1847, to Aug. 7, 1848, being engaged in the Battle of Contreras, Aug. 19‑20, 1847, — Battle of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1847, where he was wounded, — Battle of Molino del Rey, Sep. 8, 1847, — Storming of Chapultepec, Sep. 13, 1847, — and Assault and Capture of the City of Mexico, Sep. 13‑14, 1847.

Bvt. Second Lieut., 1st Dragoons, June 28, 1848: Declined.

Civil History. — Chief Engineer of Dubuque and Keokuk Railroad, Io., 1848‑51. U. S. Deputy Surveyor and General Assistant to Surveyor General of Iowa and Wisconsin, 1851‑53. Commissioner to locate the Seat of Government of Iowa, 1855. Sheriff of Linn County, Io., 1859. Civil Engineer and Farmer, 1848‑61.

Military History. — Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑65: in paying troops at Washington, D. C., June 1 to Sep. 11,

(Additional Paymaster, U. S. Volunteers, June 1, 1861)

1861, — and at St. Louis, Mo., Sep. 15 to Nov. 21, 1861; in command at

(Brig.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Nov. 21, 1861)

Jefferson City, and of Central District of Missouri, Dec. 6, 1861, to Mar. 19, 1862; in the Mississippi Campaign, Apr. 9 to July 11, 1862, being engaged in the Advance upon and Siege of Corinth, Apr. 9 to May 30, 1862; in command of Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., July 22 to Sep. 12, 1862; in command of Corinth, Mis., Sep. 16 to Oct. 19, 1862,  p486 being engaged in the Battle of Corinth, Oct. 3‑4, 1862; on Expedition from La Grange, Ten., toward Grenada, Mis., Nov.‑Dec., 1862; in command of the Northeast District of Missouri, Jan. 29 to June 1, 1863, — of District of Nebraska, June 12, 1863, to Mar. 7, 1864, — and of District of South Kansas, Mar. 15 to Aug. 31, 1864; as Chief of Cavalry, Department of the Gulf, Sep. 18 to Oct. 26, 1864; on Court-martial duty, Oct. 26 to Dec. 3, 1864; and in command of the District of West

(Bvt. Maj.‑General, U. S. Volunteers, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion)

Florida, Dec. 7, 1864, to Feb. 15, 1865, — of District of Morganzia, La., Mar. 3 to Apr. 27, 1865, — and of District of S. W. Missouri, June 19 to Aug. 24, 1865.

Mustered out of Volunteer Service, Aug. 24, 1865.

Civil History. — Mayor of Marion, Ia., 1865. Farmer, near Marion, Ia., 1866‑69. Delegate from Iowa to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, Ill., for the nomination of President, 1868. Appointed Pension Agent for the Eastern District of Iowa, 1869: declined.

Died, Apr. 9, 1870, at Marion, Ia.: Aged 60.

Buried, Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, IA.