New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-03-21

w.
y; We find in the Brownsville Flag the following
notice of the death of Col. Henry L. Kinney killed
at the siege of Matanoras:
HENRY l.. KINNEY Is DEAp!--The end Of re-:
markabIe record is embraced in the, above fact.
Henry j Kinney was born in Penn ylyaua about
fifty years ago. From thence he removed at
an! early day to one Of she new States OF the
Northwest, where he aspired 10 and was elected
a member of the Legislative. From Indiana
he removed to Texas in 1885, and settled in
Corpus Christi at q time when there were but
white men west q the Nneces. ne purchased
sold for mere trifes by their Mexican owners and
at one time is said to have owned 50 much yalu-
able land, in one tract, near Corpus Christi, that
his eye could not esct tile limits Of his possessions
in any direction from position in the centre Of
his surveys. On the organization Of Nueces coun;
ty he was semitic the Legislature, aud often after
wards represented the same district in the assent
blles of the States3 At the time of his death he
was one of the few remaining members OF the old
Senate of,the Texas Republic; and in many other
respects he was one of tls landmarks OF the coun-
! Insthe1Mexi war Col. Kinney Became a con.
tractor for the army, and the day Of his death
lie held heavy claims against the Uafted States for
transportation furnished to Gen, Taylor's army in
its march from Corpus Christi to Fort Brown. The
claim originated Id the loss of a large train which
was attacked and destroyed by Indians, and which
the Government had delayed to settle, owing to
the destruction of certain Vouchers which the
deceased had but recently replaced. A.5.,.r'
Kinney wosa contractor for Gen. Taylors divi-
sion for o time, but his genius aud his faculty for
trading with Mexicansled him to follow Scott TO
Vera Cruz, where he at once obtained slmmense
acontracts and where he must shaye handled mil
lions Of money, As q matter Of conrse ne maze
large sums, but he was not OF disposition 70
hoard money, aud he generally expended y as fast
as he acquired it,. AT the close df the Mexican
/ war he made one OF the most extensive purchases
of mules, horses and wagons that one man ever
engaged in, and WAS eminenty suecesstni 10 real
izing saready profit from all his purchases.
after the Mexican war was ended, C0f. Kinney
returned to Corpus Christi again, but his stirring
naturesriused to content itself with the dull rou
tins of country town, and he started out Tor nav
adventures and new speeulations. California hat
been discovered, and the various routes TO tia
| golden empire were being discussed and sough
after with avidity. The deceased, with his, nsua
Judgment, selected the most favorable Of all th
trnnsits, and commenced operations on the Mica
ragna route. He procured an Immense grnpt 3
land in Masquita from The pubpe king Of thatd
puted territory, and set to work found ing colon
at the mouth OF the San JuaH river, on lands ina
are peerless for their productive qnaliti "
lheadquarterst were at Biew1elds and GfeyMtoW,,i M Y,
,andsh agents were busy in New Yark ana Csi, s
foruia. Gem. aker's expedition interfeffed WI
Knney,s ans In that part Of the world, ios als
doubted Kinney honesty, and then ne o'd 10 ~. as
Esjre to divide his fortune with any man: htahe.
Il visited Granada at one time, and proposed mag
nificent financial projects TO bnt the iatte
refused all association with the splenatd specua
atter, and ordered him out OF town under gaaEa