He was born in 1843/44 (7 (18 in 1862), 10 [66 in 1910], 17 [26 in 1870], 18 [36 in 1880]). He was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 14 February 1844 (4, 10, 17 [England], 18, 19, 21).
He was educated in Belfast (21).
His parents immigrated to the United States when he was very young (4), in 1857 (10, 19, 21 [about 1858]). They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4). By 1900, he was a naturalized citizen (10, 19).
He received "a fair common school education" (4).
When he enlisted, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7).
The 118th Pennsylvania's regimental history refers to his "honesty and kindliness", which made him popular, and to his "splendid courage" (4). His MOLLUS memorial notice claims that he "was an industrious, conscientious soldier, whose honest and kindly nature made no enemies, and the splendid courage displayed on so many fields challenged admiration and respect" (21).
He enlisted and was mustered into service on 7 August 1862 (1, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 21). He enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was mustered in as a private in company D of the 118th Pennsylvania (5, 7, 11, 12). (According to the pension index card, he also served in company C (11).)
He was promoted to sergeant on 19 January 1864 (4, 12, 13, 21).
He was promoted to first lieutenant on 1 May 1865 (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 21).
On 2 June 1865, he was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania infantry to company H of the 91st Pennsylvania (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 [1 June], 13 [1 June], 21, 22). He was first lieutenant of company H of the 91st PA (1, 22).
On 13 June 1865, he was assigned to company H (3; see 9).
He mustered out on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 2, 4, 7, 12, 13, 21). He was first lieutenant of company H (22).
His father died in 1865 (15).
In 1865/66, he married Julia Fisher (daughter of Daniel Fisher and Julia Ball) (10, 16, 19, 21). In 1910, she had had twelve children, nine of whom were then alive (10; see also 4; 19 [11 in 1900, 10 alive]).
In 1870, he was living in ward 20, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (17). He was living with his wife Julia, children Charles, Anna, and James R, and with Julia Taylor (17). He was a post office clerk (17).
In 1880, he was living at 1713 42nd [?] Street, ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (18). He was living with his wife Julia, children Charles, A, James, L, Harry, Julia, and Alice, and a servant (18). He was a salesman (18).
On 4 May 1887, he was elected to the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (12, 13, 14, 21). He had insignia number 5491 (12, 13, 21).
On 5 September 1889, he applied successfully from Georgia for a pension (8, 11).
In 1900, he was living in Blackhall District, Fulton County, Georgia (19). He was living with his wife Julia, his children James J, harry, John, Samuel, Thomas, Frank, Emmet, and his daughter Annie Connally and granddaughter Alice (19). He was a mincemeat agent (19).
In 1905, he was living in Atlanta, Georgia (4).
In 1910, he was living in Black Hall District 530, Fulton County, Georgia (10). He was living with his wife Julia, and children James, Thomas, Robert, Annie Connally, and Annie's daughter Alice (10). He was a commerical traveler [?] for a wheat house (10).
He was a member of the GAR (21).
He died on 11 June 1911, at Atlanta, Georgia (11 [23 June 1911], 15 [11 June 1911], 21 [23 June 1911]). He was connected with Atmore & Company and Thomas W Sparks, Philadelphia, for more than forty years (21).
On 8 July 1911, his widow, Julia F Donnelly, applied successfully from Georgia for a pension (8, 11, 11).
In 1920, his widow, Julia, was living at 208 Cascade Avenue, Fulton County, Georgia (20). She was living with her daughter Annie Connoly, her granddaughter Julia Hannah [?] and Julia's family (20).
On 22 December 1927, his widow, Julia Donnelly, died, in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia (16). (She was born on 4 May 1849, in England (16).)
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
3 special order 34, HQ 91st PA, 13 June 1865
4 "Sketches", in History of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Corn Exchange Regiment, from their first engagement at Antietam to Appomattox, to which is added a record of its organization and a complete roster. Fully illustrated with maps, portraits, and over one hundred illustrations. With addenda.. By the Survivors' Association 118th (Corn Exchange) Regt., P.V. Philadelphia, PA: J. L. Smith, Map Publisher, 1905. Page 647. (James J Donnelly)
5 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'One hundred and eighteenth regiment'. Page 1324. (In the roster) (James J Donnelly)
6 company H, list of commissioned officers (James J Donnelly)
7 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 13 March 2005 (James J Donnelly)
8 pension index, by name (James J Donnelly)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 13 June 1865 (Lt Donnelly)
10 1910 US census, Georgia, Fulton County, Black Hall District 530, supervisor's district 5, enumeration district 122, microfilm series T624, film 193, page 34 A = 3 handwritten (James J Donnally)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James J Donnelly)
12 Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Register of the Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania from April 15 1865 to May 5 1887. Philadelphia, 1887. (James Joseph Donnelly)
13 Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Register of the Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania April 15, 1865--September 1, 1902. Philadelphia, 1902. (James Joseph Donnelly)
14 Register of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Compiled from the Registers and Circulars of the Various Commanderies by J. Harris Aubin. Boston: Published under the Auspices of the Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, 1 January 1906. (James J Donnelly)
15 e-mail, Barry Donnelly to Harry A Ide, 8 April 2010 (James J Donnelly)
16 Georgia death certificate abstract, Julia Donnelly, 22 Dec 1927, available on LDS pilot site (accessed 27 September 2010)
17 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 20, district 64, microfilm series M593, film 1406, page 336 = 185 handwritten (James J Donnelly)
18 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ward 24, division 24, supervisor's district 1, enumeration district 506, microfilm series T9, film 1183, page 337 = 24 D handwritten (J J Donnelly)
19 1900 US census, Georgia, Fulton County, Blackhall District, supervisor's district 5, enumeration district 30, microfilm series T623, film 197, page 89 = 14 A handwritten (Jas J Donnelly)
20 1920 US census, Georgia, Fulton County, Poole District, supervisor's district 5, enumeration district 173, microfilm series T625, film 253, page 289 = 5 A handwritten (Julia Donnoly)
21 'In memoriam: James Joseph Donnelly', circular 31, series of 1911, whole no. 730, in Memorial circulars, Commandery of Pennsylvania 1907-1911 (James Joseph Donnelly)
22 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (James J Donnelly)
| line | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Dwelling-house number | 1270 | |||||
| Family number | 1399 | |||||
| Name | Donnelly, James J | - Julia | - Charles | - Anna | - James R | Taylor, Julia |
| Age | 26 | 22 | 4 | 2 | 7 [?]/12 | 42 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | P.O. Clerk | Keeping house | At home | |||
| Real estate value | ||||||
| Personal estate value | ||||||
| Birthplace | England | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | England |
| Father foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mother foreign born | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Birth month if born within year | Aug. | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | ||||||
| Attended school past year | ||||||
| Can't read | ||||||
| Can't write | ||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | ||||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| street name | 42 [?] Street | |||||||||
| house number | 1713 | |||||||||
| dwelling visit # | 207 | |||||||||
| family visit # | 236 | |||||||||
| name | Donnelly J J | " Julia | " Chas | " A | " James | " L | " Harry | " Julia | " Alice | Rodger M A |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | F | M | M [?] | M | F | F | F |
| age | 36 | 31 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| month born if born in year | ||||||||||
| relationship | wife | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Son | Daughter | Daughter | Servant | |
| single | ||||||||||
| married | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||||||||
| married during year | ||||||||||
| occupation | Salesman | Housekeeper | At School | At School | At School | Servant | ||||
| months unemployed | ||||||||||
| currently ill? | ||||||||||
| blind | ||||||||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||||||||
| idiotic | ||||||||||
| insane | ||||||||||
| disabled | ||||||||||
| school this year | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| can't read | ||||||||||
| can't write | 1 | |||||||||
| birthplace | Ireland | England | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Delaware |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | England | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | England | England | England | England | England | England | England | England | Delaware |
| line | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| street | |||||||||||
| house number | |||||||||||
| dwelling number | 304 | ||||||||||
| family number | 318 | ||||||||||
| name | Donnelly Jas J | - Julia | - Jas. J. Jr. | - Harry | - John | - Samuel L. | - Thomas I. | - Frank K. | - Emmett | Connally Annie | - Allice [sic] |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Daughter | Son | Son | Son | Son | Daughter | Grand daughter |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | F | M | M | F | M | M | M | M | F | F |
| birth date | Feb 1844 | May 1849 | Aug 1869 | Dec 1874 | July 1877 | Sep 1881 | Nov 1883 | July 1887 | Sep 1890 | Oct 1867 | Sep 1896 |
| age | 56 | 51 | 30 | 25 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 3 |
| married? | M | M | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | M | S |
| # years married | 34 | 34 | 4 | ||||||||
| mother of how many children? | 11 | 1 | |||||||||
| # of children living | 10 | 1 | |||||||||
| birthplace | Ireland | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Georgia |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | England | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Georgia |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | England | England | England | England | England | England | England | England | England | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | 1857 | 1854 | |||||||||
| # years in USA | 43 | 46 | |||||||||
| naturalized citizen? | Na | ||||||||||
| occupation | Mince Meat Agt | Farmer | Undertaker | At school | At school | At school | At school | ||||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| # months in school | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | |||||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | |
| owned/rented | O | ||||||||||
| free or mortgaged | F | ||||||||||
| farm/house | F | ||||||||||
| # of farm schedule | 42 |
| line | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| street | South [?] Town Road | ||||||
| house nr | |||||||
| dwelling nr | 61 | ||||||
| family nr | 61 | ||||||
| name | Donnally, James J | - Julia | - James J | - Thomas F | - Robert E | Connally Mrs Annie D | - Alice |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Son | Daughter | Daughter |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 66 | 61 | 38 | 26 | 19 | 40 | 14 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | S | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | 44 | 44 | |||||
| mother of # children | 12 | ||||||
| mother of # living children | 9 | ||||||
| birthplace | Ireland | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Georgia | Pennsylvania | Georgia |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | England | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | England | England | England | England | England | Georgia |
| immigrated | 1857 [?] | 1857 | |||||
| naturalized/alien | Na | ||||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Commercial Traveler [?] | None | Clerk | Electrician | Plumber | Teacher | None |
| nature of industry etc. | Wheat House [?] | Rail Road | [illegible] | [illegible] | Public chool | ||
| employer etc. | W | W | W | W | W | ||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | Yes | ||||||
| owned/rented | O | ||||||
| owned free or mortagaged | O [sic] | ||||||
| farm/house | H | ||||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||||
| civil war vet | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf & dumb | |||||||
| line | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| street | Cascade Ave | |||||
| house number | 208 | |||||
| dwelling visit number | 80 | |||||
| family visit number | 82 | |||||
| name | Hannah [?] William B | - Julia A | - Julia | - William Jr | Connoly Annie O | -Donnoly [sic] Julia |
| relationship | Head | Wife | daughter | son | Mother in L | Grandmother |
| own/rent | R | |||||
| free/mortgaged (if owned) | ||||||
| sex | M | F | F | M | F | F |
| race | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age at last birthday | 29 | 23 | 4 9/12 | 2 2/12 | 53 | 70 |
| marital status | M | M | S | S | Wd | Wd |
| year of immigration | 1862 | |||||
| naturalized/alien | Na | |||||
| year of naturalization | 1866 | |||||
| attended school since Sept 1919 | ||||||
| can read | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| can write | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| birth place | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | England |
| native language | English | |||||
| father's birthplace | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | England |
| father's native language | English | |||||
| mother's birthplace | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | Georgia | England |
| mother's native language | English | |||||
| can speak English | yes | yes | yes | yes | ||
| occupation | Clerk | none | none | none | Teacher | none |
| industry, business | Railroad | Grammar School | ||||
| employment status | W | W | ||||
| number of farm schedule | ||||||
Private 118th Pennsylvania Infantry August 7, 1862; Sergeant January 19, 1864; discharged for promotion May 1, 1865.
First Lieutenant 118th Pennsylvania Infantry May 1, 1865; transferred to 91st Pennsylvania Infantry June 1, 1865; honorably mustered out July 10, 1865.
Elected May 4, 1887. Class 1. Insignia 5491.
Born February 14, 1844, at Belfast, Ireland.
Died June 23, 1911, at Atlanta, Ga.
Companion James J. Donnelly was a native of Ireland. He was born in Belfast, and received his education in that city. He came to this country with his parents about 1858, and at the outbreak of the War of the Rebellion enlisted as a private in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry, with which he served throughout the Army of the Potomac from the muster in of the regiment in August, 1862. He was promoted Sergeant January 19, 1864; First Lieutenant May 1, 1865; transferred to the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry June 1, 1865, and mustered out July 10, 1865.
He was an industrious, conscientious soldier, whose honest and kindly nature made no enemies, and the splendid courage displayed on so many fields challenged admiration and respect. He was a member of the G.A.R.
For more than forty years he was connected with the houses of Atmore & Company and Thomas W. Sparks, this city, making his residence in Atlanta, Georgia.
Few traveling men were more widely known than he and there were none among his long list of acquaintances who did not love and respect him for his many excellent qualities.
From Atlanta he traveled to the far West and was known by successful men in every walk of life in the many cities he visited.
He is survived by his wife, who was Miss Julia Fisher, of Portsmouth, England, and six sons and three daughters.