James Malley

James Malley was born in New York, New York in about 1834. His parents, Francis and Susan Malley, moved to Ash Township, in Monroe County, Michigan sometime between 1834 and 1840. His younger siblings were all born in Monroe County.

On July 11, 1856 James Malley married Jane Jackson, the daughter of John and Margaret Jackson. The Jackson family had also emigrated from New York. One of Jane's brothers, John remained in New York, and Later served in a New York cavalry regiment. James and Jane had three children who survived infancy: Margaret Ann, born in 1858; James Levi (sometimes given as Levi James) 1859-1952; and Mary born in 1862. Another child Hannah was born in June, 1862 and only lived 2 months. Family history relates that the young couple made their home in Ash township on property adjoining the cemetery.

James enlisted as recruit for Company A at Ash on January 29, 1864. His brother-in-law, Stephen Jackson, also enlisted as a recruit for company A on January . He was able to spend several weeks with his wife and family before he was mustered into service on February 22, 1864. His younger brother Charles Malley was an original member of Company G. One can only speculate why James did not enlist in 1862 with his brother, but "answered the call" more than a year later.

James Malley joined the 24th Michigan at Culpepper, Virginia on March 9, 1864. He didn't have much time to integrate into the Regiment. He was wounded at the Wilderness on May 5, 1864 in his first engagement. Early reports indicated that we had been killed. Although not immediately killed, he was gravely wounded. James was sent back to Michigan to recover, and died there of his wounds on June 6, 1864.

Shortly after James Malley was laid to rest, his widow, Jane, learned that her brother, Stephen Jackson, (who was also a member of the 24th) had been wounded at Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor) on June 3, 1864. Like his brother-in-law, Stephen was gravely wounded, and died at City Point (or White House Landing) on July 6, 1864.

There is a marker in Ash cemetery for James, although other records indicate that he is buried in an unmarked grave at Oakwood Cemetery in Wyandotte, Michigan. The family plot also contains markers for his son James Levi and the infant Hannah.

His widow, Jane Jackson Malley, later married another 24th Michigan Veteran, John Parish.

The photograph and some of the information for this biography were obtained from the Monroe County Historical Museum