Private James Cunningham Welsh
6th Pa HA, Co. A

Born: October 5, 1837 in Jefferson Township, Butler Co, Pa
Died: July 8, 1932 in Jefferson Township, Butler Co, Pa

He was the first-born son, and oldest child of Thomas Welsh and Mary Cunningham. Both Thomas and Mary descend from prominent Butler County residents who settled in Butler County in the early 1800's.

Thomas Welsh was a prominent farmer who owned an early Butler County sawmill, and owned about 400 acres of prime farmland in Jefferson Township.

Children of Thomas and Mary Cunningham Welsh were:

James Cunningham Welsh, born October 5, 1837
Mary E. Welsh, born about 1841
Bathia Welsh, born about 1843
Loyal Y. Welsh, born about 1846
William J. Welsh, born about 1848
Sarah Jane Welsh, born August 31, 1849
Nancy Welsh, born about 1851
Thomas M. Welsh, born about 1853
Robert A. Welsh, born about 1856

James received some formal education, as he is reported as having attended school "within the year" on the 1850 census, where he is listed as living at home with his parents and 3 sisters and 2 brothers.

By 1860, at age 23, he is the man of the house. His Father died in 1858, and James is listed on the 1860 census as "Farmer". All 9 Welsh children are listed on the 1860 census, along with their widowed Mother.

James apparently had some time for a social life, as he married Margaret Belle Drake in Pittsburgh on November 7, 1861. It is believed they continued to live on the family farm in Butler County. As his oldest younger brother was only about 15, his services were certainly needed on the farm.

James and Margaret Belle's first child, Thomas E. Welsh was born January 30, 1863. Interestingly, at the time of his enlistment, Margaret was expecting their second child, James A. Welsh, who was born on November 27, 1864.

By August 1864, military service beckoned, and James enlisted as a Private in Captain William Hutchinson's Company, 212th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Heavy Artillery). This organization subsequently became Company A. He was 27 years old, a sawyer, 5 feet 7 ½ inches tall with auburn hair and hazel eyes.

Company A was stationed at Fort Marcy, VA throughout its service. The fort overlooked the Potomac River and Chain Bridge. Portions of Fort Marcy are preserved and are within the National Park Services "Fort Circle Parks System". The National Park Service website provides the following description:

"Fort Marcy is perched 275.4 feet above the Potomac River on the south side of the road leading from Chain Bridge to Langley and McLean, Virginia. The perimeter of the fort is 338 feet. When completed the fort mounted 18 guns, a 10-inch mortar and two 24-pounder Coehorn mortars…The fort was not entirely completed until the fall of 1862. It is a relatively undisturbed fort and was named in honor of a native of Massachusetts, the Honorable Randolph B. Marcy, a distinguished soldier and father-in-law and chief of state to General McClellan."

Company A was mustered out of service with the regiment at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, by mustering officer, Captain D. W. Van Horn. They were transported from Washington by rail car to Camp Reynolds in Pittsburgh, where it was disbanded on June 17, 1865.

Following the war, James returned to the family farm in Jefferson Township, Butler County. Between 1867 and 1882, six more children were born to James and Margaret Belle:

Cora A. Welsh, born July 22, 1867
Charles M. Welsh, born July 30, 1870
Mary J. Welsh, born March 13, 1874
Annie B. Welsh, born April 13, 1877
Nettie F. Welsh, born October 21, 1878 (Married W. H. Say)
Mabel Z. Welsh, born November 26, 1882 (Married Phillip Montag)

A mere 9 ½ years later, in February 1892, James, age 54, applies for an invalid pension under the Pension Act of June 27, 1890. In his notarized statement, James claims that "he is totally unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of Bronchitis and throat trouble". Whether this particular claim was approved or denied is not clear from the available records.

Then, sadly, on June 17, 1897, his beloved Margaret Belle dies. She is buried in the Summit Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

By 1912, at age 75, James' health is apparently deteriorating. In November, he applies for additional pension payments under the Pension Act of May 11, 1912, citing "heart trouble and disease of the respiratory organs - asthma and difficulty breathing". He is subsequently awarded a pension of $22.50 per month.

A similar pension application is filed on his behalf in June 1920. On the 1920 Federal Census, James is listed in the residence of son Charles and his wife Lorinda.

By 1928, James is receiving a pension of $72.00 per month under the provisions of the existing disability act. In July, at age 90, he applies for an increase to $90.00 per month due to his "total physical disability through age by partial paralysis in lower limbs requiring the services of a daily attendant".

The final document in his pension file is dated August 11, 1932 and states simply:

"The name of the above-described pensioner who was last paid at the rate of $100 per month to July 3, 1932, has this day been dropped from the roll because of death July 8, 1932."

The death of James Cunningham Welsh, at age 95, was front page news in Butler County. His obituary appeared in "The Butler Eagle", July 8, 1932, Page 1 and is transcribed here along with an image of the account:

OLDEST RESIDENT OF JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP DIES IN HOME AT 95

James Cunningham Welsh Was Last Survivor of Civil War in District.

James Cunningham Welsh, aged 95, oldest resident of Jefferson Township and the last surviving Civil War veteran of that community, died at his home on Butler R.D. 5, Jefferson Center, at midnight last night. He was born in Jefferson Township and was a lifelong resident there, his active years having been devoted to farming.

Mr. Welsh served with Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, during the War Between the States, and was a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge in Saxonburg and the Thorn Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, Rockdale, Jefferson Township.

Since the death of his wife, Mrs. Margaret Belle Welsh thirty-five years ago, Mr. Welsh had made his home with three of his children on the old homestead.

Surviving him are the following children: James A. Welsh, Miss Cora A. Welsh and Miss Mary J. Welsh, all at the home; Mrs. Phillip Montag and Charles M. Welsh, both of Jefferson Center; Mrs. W. H. Say, Butler R.D. 1, and a brother W. J. Welsh, Jefferson Center. Seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive.

The last Civil War veteran of his township was born October 5, 1837, in Jefferson Township, a son of Thomas and Mary Cunningham Welsh.

Funeral services will be held from the family residence at 2 P.M. Monday, July 11, with the Rev. H. M. Jenkins, pastor of the Thorn Creek Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. Interment will be made in the Summit Presbyterian cemetery, Butler-Saxonburg Road.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Military Service Record, National Archives
Card Numbers - 20361965, 20377682, 20377824, 20377968, 20378124, 20378271, 20378419

Military Pension File, National Archives - Soldier's Certificate Number - 843523

Samuel Bates, "History of Pennsylvania Volunteers" Vol X, pg 771-772

Official Records

National Park Service

Federal Census Records

Biography provided by Scott Shuster