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Note: Tombstone has William Donley Co. H. 25 Ind Inf
From granddaughter of Eva Luella Donnelly:
William lived in Knox Co, OH, west IA. Occupations were Government freighter, farmer, pioneer, Indian Scout
1861/1864 Civil War Co. H 25th Illinois Vol. Infantry July 27, 1861-Sept 1, 1864 Enlisted Civil War July 27, 1861 at Tuscola, Douglas, Ill at Arsenal Park ? Discharged Sept 1, 1864 Springfield, Ill. Promoted to Wagoner October 14, 1862 July 1, 1863 Wagoner, detailed in supply as teamster by order of General Davis Champaign, Co, Ill till 1865. 1865-1867 Prospecting in Montana. 1870 Fremont, Co, IA. Osborne Co, KS until 1872. 1880 Grant Twp, Sedgwich, KS. Nebraska City, Otoe, NE until about 1902. 1902-1912 Fullerton, Nance, NE
Lived since leaving Service Illinois 1 year, Iowa 6 years, Kansas 8 years and Nebraska till death Champagne, Ill, Tuscola,Douglas Co, Ill; Smith Center, KS; Laramie, WY; Fullerton, Nance, NE
William Donnelly Dies in Kearney
News was received in this city on Friday of the death of William Donnelly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Sadie Yotty, at Kearney. Mr. Donnelly resided in this city for many years and had many friends here who extend sympathy to the bereaved family.
William Donnelly was born in New York state August 31, 1837, moving with his parents when but a boy, to Knox County, Ohio. Later coming west to Iowa across the river from Nebraska City.
On August 10, 1871, he was married to Eunice Jane Woods in Fremont country, Iowa. To this union eleven children were born, eight of who still survive: C.F. Donnelly of Petersburg, Neb., Mrs. Kate Roy of Los Angeles, Calif., Ed Donnelly of Albion, Neb., Mrs. Estella Nowotney of Phillips, Wis., Mrs. Eva Hughes of Decatur, Ill., Mrs. Sadie Yotty of Kearney, Neb., Mrs. Mary Cool of Arcadia, Neb., and Mrs. Daisy Hunt of Omaha. His wife departed this life Dec. 11, 1892. Since then Father Donnelly has been both father and mother to the children.
Mr. Donnelly peacefully passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Yotty in Kearney on June 4, 1925, at the age of nearly 88 years. When the first call for volunteers was made in the Civil war he went and followed the old flag entirely thru and was honorably discharged. He was in the Battle of Gettysburg and heard President Lincoln deliver that immortal address at Gettysburgh and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln both dates he was elected. His enlistment dates July 6, 1861. with Co. H. 25th Illinois Infantry, serving four years.
When but a boy of 12, he went with a caravan from Ohio to California in 1849. After the third day out he drove the ox team the entire team trip to California. As a freighter, he made the run several times, freighting across the continent from Omaha west while the Union Pacific was being built. He witnessed General Grant (then President) drive the golden spike at Salt Lake, connecting the two oceans by rail. He scouted among Indians with Buffalo Bill, his brother marrying a cousin of Col. Cody. He was present and helped bury the dead at the Mountain Meadow massacre in Utah, in 1857. He arrived at the scene of the Indian massacre in Hitchcock county, Nebraska, just as it ended--the Indians still having on their war paint. Many of the Indians recognized him coming forward to speak to him. His son, C. F. Donnelly, then a boy, was with him at this scene.
Mr. Donnelly was one of the Government freighters to and from old Fort Kearney, near the city of Kearney. With his family he moved to Fullerton in 1892 and since then this has been his home--here his ashes will rest.
A member of the G.A.R., a pioneer from boyhood, he and men like him opened up the great west--that now helps to feed the world. He loved nature; the trees, the rocks, the rivers, the wild prairies and mountains and the animal life that roamed the plains.
Besides his eight children who survive him, he leaves twenty-three grand children and five great grand children and a multitude of friends in many states.
Funeral services were held at the Donnelly home on South Irwin st. of this city, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 o�clock, conducted by M. B. Carman. The music was given by Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Baldridge and burial was made in Riverside Cem.
Fullerton Paper June 11, 1925 Pg. 1
OLD SETTLER IS LAID TO REST
William Donnely was born in New York state, August 31st 1837, moving with his parents when but a boy to Knox County Ohio, later coming to Iowa across the river from Nebraska City. August 10, 1871 he was married to Eunice Jane Woods in Fremont County, Iowa, and to them 11 children were born. Eight of them still survive, C.F. Donnelly of Petersburg, Nebr., Mrs. Kate Roy of Los Angeles, Calif., Ed Donnelly of Albion, Mrs. Estella Nowotney of Phillips, Wisconsin, Mrs. Eva Hughes of Decatur, Ill., Mrs. Sadie Yotti of Kearney, Nebr., Mrs. Mary Cool Arcadia, Nebr., and Mrs, Daisy Hunt of Omaha. His wife departed from this life Dec 11, 1892. Since then father Donnelly has been both father and mother to the children.
Mr. Donnelly peacefully passed away at the home of his daughter Mrs. Yotti in Kearney June 4th, 1925 at the age of nearly 88 years. When the first call volunteers was made in the Civil War he went and followed the old flag clear through and was honorably discharged. He was in the battle of Gettysburg and heard President Lincoln deliver that immortal address at Gettysburg and cast his vote for Mr. Lincoln both times he was elected. His enlistment dates July 6th, 1861 with Co. H, 25th Illinois Infantry, serving four years.
When but a boy of 12 he went with a caravan from Ohio to California and after the third day out he himself drove the ox team clear through to California. As a freighter he made the trip several times. He freighted clear across the continent from Omaha West where the Union Pacific Railroad was being built, he witnessed General Grant (then President) drive the Golden Spike at Salt Lake City, Utah connecting the two oceans by rail. He scouted among Indians with Buffalo Bill, his brother marrying a cousin of Colonel Cody. He was present and helped bury the dead at the scene of the Indian massacre in Hitchcock County Nebraska just as it ended the Indians still having on their war paint. Many of the Indians recognized him and came forward and spoke to him. His son C. F. Donnelly then a boy was with him at this scene.
He was one of the Government freighters to and from old Fort Kearney near the city of Kearney.
With his family he moved to Fullerton in 1892 and since then this has been his home. Here his ashes will rest.
A member of the G.A.R., a pioneer from boyhood he and men like him opened up the great west that now helps to feed the world. He loved nature, the trees, the rocks, the rivers, the wide prairies, the mountains and the animal life that roamed the plains.
Beside his eight children who survive him he leaves 23 grand-children and 5 great grand-children and a multitude of friends in many states.
Funeral services were held at the Donnelly home on South Irwin St in this city Sunday afternoon at 2 o�clock conducted by Rev. M. B. Carman. The music was given by Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Baldridge and burial was in Riverside Cem.
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