| William Innis | 133rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by William Krakomberger |
William Innis was born in Pennsylvania 1839 to Robert Innis Jr. and Mary Webb-Innis.[1] Sometime before 1860 Robert relocated his family to Clinton Township where the family Innis family has extensive land holdings and farms. In 1860, William was twenty-one years old living with his two parents and seven siblings in Clinton Township, Ohio. William along with the majority of his siblings had attended school during the previous year as of 1860.[2] William was also a student in the English college preparatory program at Otterbein College for the year ending on June 12, 1861.[3] William is not listed as returning for any subsequent years to Otterbein College.
William Innis enlisted in the 133rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the age of twenty-three. The regiment was mustered into service at Camp Chase, Ohio on May 6th, 1864 under the command of Colonel Gustavus Innis to serve for one hundred days. William is listed as a private in company F of the 133rd O.V.I. serving with two other family members Jacob and Adam R Innis.[4] The regiment was composed of two companies of the 58th Battalion of the Ohio National Guard, two companies of the 6th Battalion of the Ohio National Guard, and two companies of the 76th Battalion Ohio National Guard and 3rd Ohio National Guard.[5] It is unknown of William Innis was a member of any of these units before being mustered into the 133rd O.V.I, but it is more than likely. The unit served in a supporting role in several engagements and supporting roles before being mustered out on August 20, 1864 at Camp Chase, Ohio.[6]
In 1870, William was thirty-one years old residing in Mifflin Township, Ohio with his wife Sarah and month old child Lovella.[7] William Innis and Sarah E. Wright were most likely married the previous year due to the young age of their child. William is listed as being employed on a farm, but not owning any property in Mifflin Township.
In 1880, William is forty-one and again residing in Clinton Township with his wife Sarah and five children: Lovell age 10, Reine age 8, Albert age 6, May age 4, and Lawrence age 2.[8]William is employed as a farmer, most likely on an Innis family farm in the area since his he is not listed as owning any property. Lovell his oldest child is also known to have attended school with the last year.[9]
It is unknown what happened to William Innis after 1880, but he is likely to have died before 1890 because he is no longer listed on any census after 1880. His wife, Sarah E. Innis, is known to have filed for and received his military pension in 1891.[10] Sarah E. Innis is known to have died on June 25th, 1912. The burial place of both William and Sarah Innis is unknown.[11]
[1] According to the 1880 census William listed his place of birth as both Ohio and Pennsylvania. His wife Sarah’ place of birth was Pennsylvania.
[2] 1860 United States Census, Clinton Township, Franklin County, Ohio, Columbus Metropolitan Library Microfilm.
[3] Otterbein University Annual Catalogue, for the year ending June 12th, 1861. (Dayton, OH: United Brethren Printing 1861). Otterbein College Archives.
[4] Official roster of the soldiers of the state of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Vol. VIII (Cincinnati, Ohio: The Ohio Valley Press, 1888), 594. Columbus Metropolitan Library.
[5] Ibid., 586.
[6] For details on the regiments operation refer to the above page in the Official roster of the soldiers of the state of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Vol. VIII.
[7] 1870 United States Census, Mifflin Township, Franklin County, Ohio; Columbus Metropolitan Library Microfilm.
[8] 1880 United States Census, Clinton Township, Franklin County, Ohio; Columbus Metropolitan Library Microfilm.
[9] Ibid.
[10] National Archives and Records Administration. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000. Accessed through ancestry.com via Columbus Metropolitan Library.
[11] The McKendree M. E. Cemetery in Clinton Township, Ohio is located behind a United Methodist Church of the same name an has a large Innis family plot. Many of the markers have been destroyed or damaged over the years and it is possible one of these markers is William Innis. The church is also located near the former Innis family estate near Innis Rd on Cleveland Ave.