LENOIR COUNTY, NC - Obit. - Joseph Kinsey, 1929.

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JOSEPH KINSEY - 1929

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Heritage Place, Lenoir Community College, Vertical File # Kinsey - 11560-5

No notation of paper but probably the Kinston Free Press - 14 January
1929

JOSEPH KINSEY PASSES AT L'GRANGE; BELOVED SCHOOLMASTER NO MORE

Joseph Kinsey, 85, superintendent emeritus of the Lenoir County schools
and the count's grand old man, died shortly before midnight Saturday
night at his LaGrange home.

"Prof. Jose" Kinsey taught three generations of Lenoir and Jones County
children. His career as an educator terminated some years ago when,
after he had served a number of years as superintendent of Lenoir's
rural schools, he begin to get feeble and a grateful people had the
Legislature establish the office of superintendent emeritus so he could
fill it. A salary accompanying the office was a rather comfortable
pension.

The public school at LaGrange is a consolidated institution - the Joseph
Kinsey Schools. It was a happy coincidence that it was erected in the
midst of scores of great oaks, directly in front of the Kinsey home.
From the front porch of his big, pleasant home, Joseph Kinsey could see
the school, a memorial to his service to his people, a scant 150 yards
away.

There have been few such characters. Joseph Kinsey was a small,
energetic man. His step was as springy as a boy's until his last years.
He was very religious but he was very broad, and friends say they cannot
recall harsh criticism of any man from his lips. He called the teachers
and children in the schools "Blessed". "Blessed" was his nickname for
every one of them. Literally, thousands loved the man.

During the Civil War Prof. Kinsey was a lieutenant of Confederate
infantry. At Fort Fisher he was taken prisoner. A burley federal private
engaged him in hand to hand combat and vanquished him. He would not kill
the stripling who had opposed him. The last years of the war saw Kinsey
a prisoner in an island fortress off the Ohio shore.

He Taught Simmons

U. S. Sen. Furnifold M. Simmons was one of Prof. Kinsey's pupils in
Jones County many years ago. The statesman often spoke in terms of deep
affection of the schoolmaster.

Prof. Kinsey is survived by an aged widow and the following sons and
daughters: James H. Kinsey, Carrolton, Ky., J. B. Kinsey, Mamaroneck,
NY., Mrs. B. H. Melton, Washington, DC, Mrs. W. H. Taylor, LaGrange and
Miss Elizabeth Kinsey, LaGrange.

The funeral was held this afternoon. The services were largely attended.
Most of his home community turned out to see the town's most popular
citizen laid to rest. Many were present from Kinston and other places.

Prof. Kinsey had not been in very good health for several years. His
ailments and his years combined to cause his death.