Bio: Capt. James W. Onley, Bossier Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker




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  CAPT. JAMES W. ONLEY was born in Sussex County, Va., in 1827, to John E.
and Elizabeth (Randolph) Onley, who were born in North Carolina and
Virginia, in 1803 and 1802, and died in Bossier Parish, La., in 1875 and
1874, respectively.  They were married in Wake County, N. C., and after a
few years removed to Virginia; in 1834, to Winston County, Miss., and in
1871 to Bossier Parish, La.  The father was a cabinet maker throughout
life, and during the Rebellion was a Union man, being postmaster of Buck
Horn.  He and his wife were Methodists, and he was a son of William Onley,
a native of England, his wife having been born in Ireland.  They came
together to the United States, became acquainted while en route, and were
married soon  landing, settling in North Carolina.  He died at New Orleans
while serving in the War of 1812 under Jackson, his wife's death occurring
in Wake County, N. C.  Peter Randolph, the mother's father, was a Virginian
and died in Columbus, Miss., about 1849.  The subject of this sketch was
the third of eight children, and was reared on a farm, receiving but a
limited education.  In 1843, when but sixteen years of age he left home and
went to Texas, where he joined the United States army and fought for the
independence of the Texans.  He was captured by the Mexicans, and after
being kept a prisoner in Mexico for about seven weeks, he made his escape
and returned to his home, and feeling the need of a better education began
attending school.  During his captivity in Mexico he resolved that if the
opportunity ever presented itself he would retaliate for his capture, and
when the Mexican War broke out he took advantage of the opportunity and
joined the First Mississippi Regiment, commanded by Col. Jeff Davis, and
fought at Palo Alto, Matamoras and Monterey, and was one of the men that
charged the Black Fort.  After the resignation of Gen. Taylor he joined the
Second Mississippi and was with Wood until the close of the war, being
discharged at Vicksburg, Miss.  He once more returned to his home and
entered school, but in 1850 or 1851 was engaged in boating on the Tombigbee
River, after which he spent seven years as an apprentice at engineering in
the city of Louisville, Ky., and in the meantime, in 1856, was admitted as
a first-class engineer.  He then followed his calling on the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers until 1861, having been licensed as a pilot in 1859.  In
1861 he went to Illinois, where he was engaged in saw milling one year,
then returned to Kentucky and farmed until the close of the war, removing
in 1866 to Shreveport, La., where he built the steamer "W. E. Hamilton,"
which he owned and operated on Red River.  In 1868 he was licensed as a
captain, and in 1870 as a pilot on Red River, but the same year he left the
river and removed to his present farm about thirteen miles northeast of
Shreveport, on the Bellevue road, which comprises 881 acres of fine land,
all the result of his own industry.  He was married in 1858, to Susan,
daughter of Elias and Elizabeth Oneal, both of whom were born in McCracken
County, Ky., their marriage also taking place there.  The mother died in
Missouri after the war, and Mr. Oneal was assassinated in Shreveport in
1871, an incident familiar to Northwest Louisianians.  He was a farmer in
early life, but at the time of his death was a merchant of Shreveport.
Mrs. Onley was born in Ballard County, Ky., and she and her husband are
among the first citizens of this community, being kind, neighborly and
generous.