John Connelly left Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 1862, and headed west towards Indian Territory. He briefly settled in St. Louis Missouri, where he worked in several odd jobs. As a recent Irish immigrant, his wages were low and living conditions were poor.

P. D. Cheney was drafted into service for the Union during the Civil War, in 1864. P.D. was a very wealthy man, married just three years with a newborn son at home (who would die at 3 months of age). Instead of enlisting, he somehow met John and persuaded him to enter the military as his substitute. Besides the money paid to enlistees, John was paid $100. This must have seemed like a fortune to an immigrant worker. On Thursday, July 7, 1864, John enlisted in Company B of the 12th Regiment of the Missouri Cavalry in St. Louis, Missouri. He volunteered to serve for three years, as a substitute for Prentiss D. Cheney. He was mustered in on Saturday, July 16, 1864, in St. Louis Missouri under the command of Captain Arthur J. Develin. He was paid $25, and was credited $75 due in Jerseyville Illinois....(to find out more about the 12th Missouri Cavalry, and what befell John, click here).


Prentiss Dana Cheney
Born: August 2, 1836 in Stockton, Chautauqua County, New York

Died: July 3, 1900 in Jerseyville, Illinois

Buried:  July 5, 1900 in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Jerseyville, Illinois

    Father: Murray Cheney
    Mother: Caroline Pickett

First Wife:

Catherine McEowen D'Arcy

Born: October 31, 1838 in  Jersey County, Illinois

    Married on: July 6, 1859 in Jerseyville, Illinois

    Died: April 23, 1877 in Jacksonville, Florida
    Buried: Jerseyville, Illinois

    Father: Edward Augustus D'Arcy MD
    Mother: Mary McEowen

Children:

Edward D'Arcy Cheney
    Born: April 24, 1862
Died: August 11, 1862

Edward D'Arcy Cheney
  Born: June 28, 1865
Died: April 21, 1868
Buried: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey

Alexander Murray Cheney
    Born: September 18, 1868  Died: Unknown

Caroline Teese Cheney
    Born: October 11, 1875 in Jerseyville, Illinois
    Died: May 26, 1877
    Buried: Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey

P.D. Cheney's Second Wife: Nettie H. (Surname Unknown)
                                            Born: July 1849 in Illinois

P.D. Cheney's Third Wife: Annette Higbee, married about 1887
 
 
 

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