James Connelly

Whether it’s linen or tweed or cotton and silks, Philadelphia and Ireland share a “common thread,” and that is textile manufacturing. James Connelly left his homeland and did his part in making Philadelphia the industry leader by 1900. His was not one of the larger mills, but it was one of nearly 1000 firms in the city employing a total of 72,000 clothing and textile workers.

When he arrived isn’t certain, but on June 2, 1853 his wedding ceremony with Anna Campbell took place at the Church of the Redemption in the Spring Garden neighborhood. They began their family nine months later, raising four boys and a girl. All of them lived to adulthood although three of them, each a single adult living at home, wouldn’t live past 33 years old.

James started his business in 1868 in partnership with Anna’s brother, but bought him out in 1880. This news clipping shows two sons were involved, although they were still young; John was 16 and worked there mending looms, while James Jr. was 14 and was a weaver.

Just a few years later the business moved from 21st & Ellsworth to 17th & Dickinson, but still in the Point Breeze section of South Philly. The family home was at 1166 South Broad Street. In 1885 son William died from tuberculosis when he was 24. The oldest son, John, caught it and died the next year when he was 31. Then their mother died in 1887 and the only other woman in the family, Annie Belle, died of chronic kidney disease in 1892 when she was 33. 

After the death of John, the business continued as James Connelly & Sons, with the two remaining sons being James and Andrew. The founder of the business, father James, died of a stroke in 1895. What this item in the paper didn’t divulge was that there were only two family members left and that the appraised value of the estate consisted primarily of the Broad Street home and the textile mill. 

 James Sr. left a cash gift of $10,000 to each son, plus $5,000 to each of James Jr.’s two daughters. Andrew didn’t marry until 1896 and never had children. The will stipulated the boys could continue to operate the business, which they did until 1922 when it was liquidated. Andrew died in 1934, James Jr. in 1935 and were both buried elsewhere.

The other notable aspect of this family’s story is the collection of five cradle graves for James and Anna along with William, John, and Annie. A tree was allowed to grow in the middle of Annie’s grave, or, most likely, it was just neglect. Since it hasn’t yet caused any damager, it makes it one of the  more unique plots in Section 25, midway between the two circles on the Philadelphia side of the cemetery.