John's parents were TImothy O'Connell and Mary Halloran. When a young teenager, likely to escape the Famine he emigrated to the USA. On November 9, 1855, John enlisted as a musician for Company H of the 2nd Regiment of the US Artillery in New York City for a five year stint. He re-enlisted for another five years on September 9, 1860, at Camp "Wea"K I (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas). From May 21-October 15, 1862, John was captured and imprisoned in Pensacola, Florida, by the Confederate Army. At Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY, he was discharged on July 13, 1864, and re-enlisted the following day for a three year stint (he was transferred with his group from Company I, 78th NY Infantry into Company I, 102nd Infantry Regiment, NY on July 12, 1864.). He was still in New York in 1965 when he married Ellen on January 15 in New York City. He and Ellen had four children: William John, Mary Cecilia, Thomas J., and Emma Frances O'Connell. In 1867 at Fort Point (San Francisco), California, he signed up for another three years on July 14--the day before son William was born. At some point during the next two years, he was stationed in Sitka, Alaska, a garrison for the newly purchased Alaska Territory It was there daughter Mary was born on April 3, 1869 and son Thomas on August 15, 1870. John was discharged on July 14, 1870, and then re-enlisted for five years on August 1, 1870, in Sitka. John and family ended up in Yerba Buena (a.k.a. Goat Island), California, in the latter half of 1870. His youngest child Emma was born in Yerba Buena (San Francisco) April 10, 1872. His next known place of service was in Fort McHenry on the eastern coast of the USA, where he was reported sick in November and December of 1873. On August 1, 1875, he was discharged and promptly re-enlisted for another five years while still at Fort McHenry. John was reported sick in July and August of 1878 while at Fort McHenry, and later at the Washington Arsenal, DC, from January through April, 1879. His military service ended with his death at the Washington Arsenal in June, 1879. His body was shipped by train to New York City to be buried with his maternal uncle John Halloran* at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, NY, USA. * The surname Halloran is misspelled as Hallonan on the tombstone.
