James' father was Michael Cooney, an immigrant from Ireland, and his mother Mary E (O'Neil) Cooney was from Pennsylvania.

James’ siblings include: John “Jack” Cooney 1866-1984, Mary Ann Cooney 1868-1945 & her twin Catherine Cooney 1868-1945, Thomas B Cooney 1870-1917, Francis “Frank” Henry Cooney 1872-1958, Susan Elizabeth Cooney 1875-1940, Michael D Cooney 1880-unknown, Hugh Cooney 1882-1966, and Peter Cooney 1887-1887. Jack & Frank emigrated to and are buried in Canada.

James married Lillie Jane Staley on 10 November 1917 in Rock Island, Illinois. Lillie was born on 23 January 1897 in Monmouth, Warren County, Illinois to Clarence Walter Staley Sr. and Elnora Rae (Parrish) Staley.

James and Lillie have 9 children, 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, over 14 great-great-grandchildren, and at least 2 great-great-great-grandchildren so far:
1) James Leo Cooney 1917-1984 (single)
2) Lilly Katherine "Katherine" Cooney 1919-1984 (single)
3) John Cooney AKA John Henry Cooney 1920-2002 (wife Mary Ann (Schreiber) Cooney, no children)
4) Mary Louise Cooney 1921-2007 (single)
5) Thomas Edward Cooney 1923-1994 (wife Helen Jean (Showens) Cooney, 3 children, 7 grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren)
6) William Lewis Cooney 1924-1986 (single)
7) Bessie Darline (Cooney) Staley AKA Darlene Elizabeth Staley 1926-2014 (husband Dudley Theodore Staley, 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and unknown # of great-grandchildren)
8) Pauline Nan Etta (Cooney) Marler AKA Pauline Marie Marler (this was her Catholic confirmation name) 1928-2003 (husband James Vincent Marler, 5 children, 9 grandchildren including 1 deceased Matthew Allen Marler, and 2 great-grandchildren)
9) Francis Arthur "Art" Cooney 1930-1996 (single)

James' death record says he is buried in Saint John’s Cemetery in Viola, Mercer County, Illinois, however a headstone cannot be found there. Most of his siblings and parents are buried in Old Cavalry Cemetery in Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois. After James' death, Lillie could not care for the children on her own and their young children were divided up into separate foster homes and orphanages. James Jr. and William lived with their paternal aunts and uncle. Lillie later remarried to Cepheus Zimmerman, and is buried in Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa.

Information was contributed by James' granddaughter Jeanne Sanderson, and great-granddaughter Jennifer Kimbrell. Additional details and members of James' family tree can be found at
familysearch.org.