Joseph Benton Donley

Joseph Benton Donley (October 10, 1838 – January 23, 1917) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Serving one term in Congress during a significant period in American history, he participated in the legislative process as a representative of his Pennsylvania constituents and contributed to the work of the Republican Party in the immediate post–Civil War era.

Donley was born on October 10, 1838, in Mount Morris, Greene County, Pennsylvania. He completed his preparatory studies locally before enrolling at Waynesburg College (now Waynesburg University) in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Waynesburg College in 1859, laying the academic foundation for a career that would span education, military service, law, and politics.

Following his graduation, Donley entered the field of education. From 1860 to 1862 he served as a member of the faculty of Abingdon College in Abingdon, Illinois. His work there as an educator preceded his entry into military service at the outset of the Civil War, reflecting an early commitment to public service and civic engagement.

In 1862, Donley entered the Union Army as a captain in the 83rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He served throughout the Civil War, participating in the Union war effort during one of the most consequential conflicts in American history. His wartime service provided him with leadership experience and a public profile that later supported his transition into legal and political life.

After the war, Donley pursued formal legal training. He graduated from Albany Law School in Albany, New York, in 1866. The following year, in 1867, he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to his private practice, he served as a referee in bankruptcy in 1867 and 1868, a role that involved oversight of financial and legal matters under federal bankruptcy statutes during the Reconstruction period.

Donley entered national politics as a member of the Republican Party, which at the time was the dominant political force in the postwar North and the party of the Union and Reconstruction. He was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress and served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania. During this term, he took part in the democratic process and contributed to the legislative work of Congress at a time when the nation was grappling with the political, social, and economic consequences of the Civil War. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1870, which ended his congressional service after a single term.

Following his departure from Congress, Donley resumed the practice of law in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He continued his professional career there, remaining active in his community and legal practice for many years. Donley died in Waynesburg on January 23, 1917, at the age of 78. He was interred in Green Mount Cemetery, closing a life that encompassed service as an educator, Civil War officer, attorney, and member of the United States House of Representatives.