Hi John,
i did a little investigating about the soldier, John Minelly who is buried in Crawford County. He was born in Alleghaney City, Alleghaney County, PA in about 1840. On the 1860 census he is a member of the household of Peter and Kate Minelly. (Family relationships are not shown on this census.) other family members are Ann, age 22; Mary, 15; Catherine, 12; Robert, 9; and Alice, 4.
According to the Pennsylvania Archives, he signed up for the military in August of 1861. His residence is listed as Allegheney City. In appearance he has black hair and eyes and is 5'8 1/2 ". It is noted that he was not accounted for after May 31, 1864. It is further noted that he was a guest of the Confederates at Libby Prison.
In 1870, he was married to Catherine Bowden, age 26. They had two sons, William and Edward., ages 6 and 4, respectively. In 1880, William was 16 but Edward has apparently died. There is a daughter, Alice, age 4. Also in the house hold are his siblings, Robert, 28; Ann, 42 and Mary, 32 and his mother, Catherine.
There is no 1890 census due to the danger to prominent politicians losing some of their power through redistributing. However, there is a record of Civil War soldiers possibly eligible for Pensions. I can't find a pension for him under any reasonable variation of his name. In 1900, the only members of his household are Sarah, a sister five years older and his mother-in-law, Sarah Bowden. John died in October of 1918 in Crawford County. His wife, perhaps a second wife was the informant because she says his parents were John Minelly and Margaret Morton, both of Ireland. This may or may not be correct. John may have been boarding with relatives in 1860. Only he and Peter were employed.
In any case, this is the long story of Private John Minelly, 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Marybeth