Born ‎ Jul 9, 1842 at Keokuk Co., Iowa ---see notes, died ‎after 1900 at d. Feb 7‎, at least 58 years
he was living with his parents in 1850 & 1860 census's. He enlisted 20 Feb. 1864 at Fairfield, Jefferson Co., IA for three years as a private in Keokuk Company K, 7th Iowa infantry and mustered out on 12 July 1865, Louisville, KY. He was described as a farmer, age 21, blue eyes, light hair, light complexion, and 5'5" tall. He was in the Atlanta campaign, where he was severely injured by a gunshot wound to the head. He lost the sight of one eye, and spent several months in the hospital. He was found fit for duty in the invalid corps then, but not fit for field duty.

It is interesting that all applications for pension by his widow show his name as Charles K. Menefee. The Adjutant General's office states the pensioner was Charles R. Menefee, underlining for emphasis. Doubtless the confusion arose because all the papers bore his mark, not his signature, as was common in those days.

There is a possibility Charles may have had a first marriage. In the Richland Cemetery, Keokuk, IA., is a tombstone bearing the inscription: Hannah E., wife of C.R. Menefee, died 21 years, 10 Mo. She died 30 January 1867. If this were Charles' wife, the marriage must have been very brief, for he was not married when he enlisted nor mustered out in the summer of 1865, and her death was in the winter of1867. His application for military pension does not show a previous marriage, and in one place Matilda [his widow] shows that neither of them had been previously married. On Charles original pension application he also says no when asked if he had been previously married.

Born ‎± 1850, died ‎ Oct 17, 1940 at Iola, Kansas‎, approximately 90 years, buried ‎ at Buried La Harpe, KS.