My Genealogy Hound

COL. THOMAS T. CLUNEY, the present efficient chief of the Jamestown fire department, who rose from a private in the ranks of the Federal army to the grade of colonel, and who, when the war closed, was in the line of promotion to a generalship and the command of a brigade, was born in Montreal, Canada, October 30, 1838, and is a son of Sergeant John and Mary (McNickel) Cluney. His grandfathers, Cluney and McNickel, were natives and life-long residents of Great Britain, the former of England and the latter of Ireland. His father, Sergeant John Cluney, was born in England, entered the British army, rose to the rank of sergeant, and was stationed with his company at Montreal, Canada, during the War of 1812. He was afterwards honorably discharged from the English service, drew a pension for over a quarter of a century, and died in Toronto, Canada, in 1840. He married Mary McNickel and had six children: Col. Thomas T., Charles, who is superintendent of a coal-wharf at Perth Amboy, N. J.; three who died young, and John, who enlisted in a New York regiment, was wounded in the shoulder at the battle of Chickahominy and taken prisoner by the Confederates, who held him for three months. After being exchanged he died in a hospital in Philadelphia from the effects of his wound, which had never been dressed during the time that he was a prisoner.

Thomas T. Cluney was, about 1849, brought by George Flint to Jamestown, where he received a good practical business education in the schools of that place. In 1859 he went to Pennsylvania, where he was a successful operator in the oil-producing business until the spring of 1861, when the life of the nation was menaced by the most gigantic rebellion of modern history. He immediately raised and equipped, at his own expense, a company of one hundred and five men at Tidioute, Pa., for the Fifth Excelsior regiment of New York volunteers, and forwarded them to Staten Island, N. Y. His colonel then ordered him to Jamestown to recruit more men. He enlisted and forwarded sixty men from that place, and had sixty more secured, when he received notice that his services were not needed any longer and that the command of his company had been given to another. This base treatment had been brought about by a couple of lieutenants in his company. He then enlisted as a private on July 5, 1861, in Co. A, 49th N. Y. vols., took part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Yorktown to Appomattox Court-house, was wounded slightly in five battles but never disabled from duty, and was honorably discharged on July 10, 1865. He was promoted to second lieutenant on August 8, 1861, made first lieutenant November 6, 1861, commissioned captain April 14, 1862, and promoted to major May 16, 1863, for gallant and meritorious conduct on the battlefield of Fredericksburg. In 1864 he received his commission as lieutenant-colonel, and on July 10, 1865, he was mustered out with the rank of colonel. After the war he took charge of the Johnson House at Fredonia, and then went to Mayville, where he had charge successively of the Van Vaulkenburg, Mayville and Chautauqua hotels. From there he came to Jamestown, where he opened and run the Gifford house for six years, then was a hotel clerk for some time. He next opened the Milwaukee bottling works, which he sold in 1888, to become proprietor of the White Elephant hotel and restaurant, which has attained wonderful popularity and immense patronage under his management. In 1867 Col. Cluney connected himself with the fire department of Jamestown. He was foreman of Deluge company. No. 1, for sixteen years, then (1883) was elected assistant chief, and in 1884 he was appointed chief, and has served as such ever since. Under his management the Jamestown fire department, comprising seven companies and two hundred and twenty-five men, is now regarded as one of the best regulated and most efficient volunteer services in the State of New York. Three years’ drilling in the New York militia under Captain James M. Brownwell fitted Col. Cluney for his active service in the late war. His company furnished twenty-two officers, all of whom, except two or three, were killed, or died from effect of wounds or exposure.

On August 28, 1867, he married Hannah P. Benson, daughter of Rev. Henry Benson, a Presbyterian minister of Jamestown, who served as chaplain of the 49th regiment, New York Vols. He was killed near Wilson’s Mills, August 7, 1883.

In politics Col. Cluney has always been a republican, and is a stanch and liberal supporter of his party. He is a member of James M. Brown Post, No. 285, Grand Army of the Republic, and captain-general of Jamestown Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar.