Biography: James Gallagher
James Gallagher was born in Ireland, County Donegal, in about 1780 or 1781. He came with his parents John and Margaret Gallagher to Butler County, Pennsylvania around the turn of the century and lived with them in Muddy Creek township for some years. He subsequently settled on a farm in what became Franklin township where he spent the rest of his life.
His first wife was Sally Forrester, and they had three children, the third being William H. Gallagher, born in 1822. The birth dates for children George and Margaret are not known, but if the three children were born a couple years apart, the wedding date could have been around 1816 - 1818. James would then be in his late thirties.
Sally may have died at William’s birth in 1822. James remarried no later than 1829 when daughter Nancy was born. His second wife, Mary Albright, would have been only 19 to 22 years old in 1829, while James was forty-eight. A birth date is unknown for their oldest son, John; in the 1850 census Nancy is 22, John is no longer at home. If he is older than his sister Nancy, born perhaps in 1826 or 1827, then Mary Albright would have been even younger at marriage. In any case, she immediately became the step-mother of three children, the youngest of whom was seven in 1829.
The 1895 History of Butler County says that by his second marriage James Gallagher became the father of nine children: John, Sarah A., Nancy, James, Robert, Henry, Mahala J., Amelia, and Matilda. However, there is some indication that there may have been additional children.
The 1850 census lists Washington Gallagher, age 8. This child is not on the 1860 census and possibly died young. John T. Wilson’s research included a Jefferson C. Gallagher (possibly the Cous..cy J. present in the 1860 census, age 8). Finally, at the time of James A. Gallagher’s death in California in 1898, his attorney wrote letters to a Harrison Gallagher referring to James as Harrison’s brother. The Butler County Cemetery Inventory for the church at Prospect lists W. Harrison Gallagher (1848 - 1936), and wife Eleanor A. (1848 - 1919).
This W. Harrison & Eleanor A. Gallagher may be the same couple described in the 1883 History of Butler County: (William H. Gallagher commenced farming in 1870 , Worth township, on a farm given him by his father shortly before his death...He married Ellen McCullough...) However, our Harrison’s father died in 1863, and farmed in Franklin township.
James and Mary Gallagher are buried at Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Prospect, along with their son James A. Gallagher. Their stones read: James. Gallagher Sr. died Feb. 21, 1863 aged 82 years Mary wife of J. Gallagher died May 21, 1884 aged 77 years James A. Gallagher died June (16?) 1898 aged 66 years.
