Sons of Leitrim
O'Neill
Charles
Soldier Profile: Charles O’Neill
Co. D, 1st New York Volunteer Infantry
Charles was a veteran of the "Old Guard"—the 1st New York, which was the first regiment to be mustered into service for the Union in 1861. Though he joined later in the war, he entered the ranks just as the unit was prepared for the brutal spring campaigns of 1863.
Early Life and the Railroad
Born: March 24, 1829, in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim.
Parents: Bernard O’Neill and Margaret Kelly.
Emigration: The family arrived in the United States in 1848, escaping the Famine to seek a future in the expanding American West.
The Wabash Road: Charles became a railroad man, a career that took him to Danville, Illinois, in 1858. On May 4, 1861, he married Julia Hagen (1842–1907), just as the first shots of the war were echoing across the country.
Military Service: The Trial of 1863
Charles enlisted on March 3, 1863. Unusually, his residence at the time was listed as the U.S. Navy Yard in Norfolk, Virginia, suggesting his railroad or technical skills may have been utilized by the military before his formal infantry muster.
Chancellorsville: Charles and Company D were thrust into the Battle of Chancellorsville (April 30 – May 6, 1863). It was a savage engagement where the 1st New York faced heavy pressure; the unit ultimately lost 83 men during its service.
Transferred Service: While the 1st New York was mustered out in May 1863, Charles was transferred to another regiment, continuing his service until his final discharge in July 1865.
The Evolution of a Family: 1870–1910
Through the lens of the U.S. Census, we see the O'Neill family grow from a young immigrant household to a prominent fixture of Illinois society.
1870: The Rising Conductor
Living in Springfield, Illinois, Charles (40) is established as a Railroad Conductor. His household is young, with Julia (30) caring for their first four children: Margaret (7), Owen (5), Charles (3), and baby Julia A. (1).
1880: The Full House
Still in Springfield, the household has expanded to its peak. Charles (51) continues his work on the Wabash line. All the children except the eldest, Maggie, are recorded as being in school—a sign of the value Charles placed on education. The children now include:
Maggie (17), Owen (15), Charles (13), Annie (11), John (9), Michael (7), Mary (5), and Katie (3).
1910: The Patriarch in Quincy
Now 81 and a widower following Julia’s death in 1907, Charles lives in Quincy, Illinois. The census reveals the success of the next generation. He lives with five of his adult children, all of whom hold professional roles:
Margaret (Teacher), Katherine (Milliner), John (following his father as a Conductor), Charles J. (involved in Tax), and Mary.
A Legacy of Industry and Service
Charles moved to Quincy in 1874, retiring from the Wabash in 1879 to open a shoe store at 531 Hampshire Street. He later turned his attention to civic duty, serving on the Adams County Board of Supervisors.
Death:
Charles passed away on April 6, 1911, at the home of his son. He was mourned by a large family that had transitioned from Famine-era emigrants to respected American professionals.
His children survived to mourn his loss. they were: Owen, Margaret, Charles, John, Michael, Mary, Katherine, and Mrs. John Ernst
He was buried in Saint Peter's Cemetery Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA
Family Vital Records
Relation Name Birth Death
Wife Julia Hagen 1842 - 1907
Daughter Maggie 1863
Son Owen 1865 —
Son Charles 1867 —
Daughter Annie 1869 - 1911
Son John 1871 - 1933
Son Michael 1873 - 1928
Daughter Mary 1875 —
Daughter Katie 1877 - 1945
Service Timeline
Date Event Location / Detail
Mar 24, 1829 Birth Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
Mar 3, 1863 Enlisted Norfolk Navy Yard, VA
May 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville Virginia
July 1865 Honorably Discharged End of War Service
1879 Business Opened Shoe Store, Quincy, IL
Apr 6, 1911 Deceased Quincy, IL
