USA > Illinois > Will County > Portrait and biographical album of Will County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 35
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The marriage of Mr. Yonker and Miss Anna E. Weyland was celebrated January 7, 1859, at the bride's home near Wilmington. She was born in Switzerland and is the daughter of Benedict Wey- land. Her character and attainments gain the re- speet of those to whom she is known and many friends testify to her worth. The happy union has resulted in the birth of eight sons and daugh- ters, of whom we note the following. Albert mar- ried Miss Isabella Gates and is the father of two children-Alpha and Elmer; he resides with his father and is engaged in farming. George and Frederick are deceased. Mary became the wife of William Grainmeyer, a farmer of JJackson Town- ship. and they have one daughter -- Louisa. Frank is dead. Sarah. Anna and Ollie are still lingering by the parental fireside.
Mr. Yonker is a Republican of the strongest type. Ile and his family belong to the Evangelical Church and endeavor to consistently carry their Christian belief into their daily practice, winning thereby, the respect even of those who disbelieve the grand truths of the Gospel.
ORATIO N. MARSH. This hale and vig- orous old man has spent a long business life in Johet, by whose citizens he is highly honored and respected. Ile came to this city in December, 1835, Mr. Woodruff having been here a little longer time, but no other resident of so early a date now living here. Although nearly four-seore years old he carries on a business in real estate and loans, his office being in Jefferson Street, opposite the Court House. He is a descend-
ant from the Marsh family that settled on the Con- nectieut River in 1635, gradually working up the stream until in 1710 his immediate ancestors lo- cated in Montagne Township, opposite Deerfield.
On a farm there Quartus Marsh, the father of our subject, was born and there the son also opened his eyes to the light on the same farm. After reaching man's estate. Quartus Marsh married Miss Sarah Holt and reared a family of six children. He was employed as a farmer, first in his native State, and from 1828 to 1835 in Monroe County, N. Y. The family then came to Illinois, making the jour- ney in the customary way, by canal and lake to De- troit. Mich., and driving the rest of the way. This county was not then organized, but the father set- tled in what is now Crete Township, where he lived until called from time to eternity in 1850. The mother survived her companion about three years. Of the sons and daughters of this worthy couple, Mary Ann and Jonathan died in this county; Ed- win. Henry and Francis now live in Kansas.
When the Marsh family came to this county Joliet was a village of one hundred inhabitants. Here the subject of this notice engaged in the cab- inet business, having learned that trade in the Em- pire State. He had been born in Franklin County, Mass., November 15, 18:2, and was therefore but little past his majority when he began his career in the city that has known him so long and well.
When the Rock Island Railroad was built in 1852, Mr. Marsh took the position of Ticket and Freight Agent, which he held for thirty-two years, or until 1884, when he considered himself too old for far- ther service in that capacity. For a time he had also transacted the express business. From April, 1863 until 1866, he had been Postmaster, going out under Johnson's administration. When he resigned the position that he had held for more than a quar- ter of a century, he embarked in the business he now carries on, being too active in mind and body to wish to abandon the ranks of workers in some capacity.
In Monroe County, N. Y., Mr. Marsh was united in marriage with Miss Mary Kile of that county, who died in 18-40, leaving one son, William II. The young man gave his life to his country's canse, dying a soklier's death, with his face to the foe, in
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front of Vicksburg, and leaving to his sorrowing father the consolation that comes from a knowledge of duty done even at the cost of life.
The second wife of our subject was in her girl- hood Miss Mary L. Pond, she also being of Monroe County, N. Y. The union has been blessed by the birth of a son, Frank E., who is representing the Fourth Ward in the City Council. Ile married Miss Jennie R. Foster, a native of New York, but whose home was in Delavan, Wis, at the time of their marriage. Young Marsh is a well-known grain dealer of this city.
A man so highly respected as Horatio N. Marsh, could not be without opportunities to fill a public office and he has served as the representative of the Fourth Ward for five years. Ilis legitimate affairs have been sufficient to occupy his time fully and politics have had but little place in his career. Ile belongs to the Presbyterian Church. his probity and life-long honesty are recognized by all, and his genial nature makes him popular wherever he is known.
ANIEL BAILEY and his good wife are among the oldest pioneers now living in Will County. Coming here more than forty years ago, they have witnessed the great change wrought by the hand of man in bringing it from a state of nature to its present condition as one of the richest and most highly developed counties in Northern Illinois, and they may well take pride in what they have done to aid in producing this wonderful result. Mr. Bailey is a farmer and stock-raiser, one of the most pros- perous of that class of people who have had the upbuilding of Channahon. where he has had a home siner he came to this county. and where he has a large farm from whose broad, fertile acres he derives a handsome income.
Mr. Bailey is a native of Pennsylvania, from which State his parents took him to a new home in the wilds of Ohio, near Cincinnati, He was the fifth child in a family of nine, and when still a boy he came to Illinois with his father and
mother, who located twenty-one miles west of Dan- ville, in 1818. In 1850, our subject came to his present place, which then comprised one hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie, which he had purchased of Jasper Wilson. Ile put. that into a fine state of cultivation by hard and persistent labor, and in time bought more land, purchasing some canal land and now has five hundred acres,the most of which was bought in the raw state, and is now under excellent improvement. Mr. Bailey is one of the sub- stantial, moneyed men of Channahon, he having at- tained this position by his extraordinary industry, quick judgment, and in the judicious management of his interests. Ile and his family are well known and greatly respected in this community, which has been their abiding place for so many years, and their kindness, thoughtfulness and genial hos- pitality, have won them a high place in the regard of the many who know them. Mr. Bailey is a Dem- oerat in politics, but votes for the man in the lo- cal elections.
Mr. Bailey has been twice married. He was first wedded to Rebecca Boardman. Her parents were from the East, and Dr. A. Comstock was her stepfather. Mrs. Bailey died, leaving one son, Alexander. He is now living in Missouri and is married, and has three children. two sons and one daughter.
Mr. Bailey was married to Mrs. John Brown, his present estimable wife, forty-two years ago. She was the daughter of Ransom and Sarah Zarley, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Kentucky. They were among the earliest pioneers of the county, coming from Pike County, Ohio, where Mrs. Bailey was born. She was married when very young to Mr. John Brown, of Onondaga County, Y. Y. Her husband came to this State with Maj. Bourland, who had married a Miss Brown, This was in the year of the land sale and he bought land for other members of the family, pur- chasing nine and one-fourth sections in Jackson Township. Her husband died in that place, leav- ing her a widow with three children, Sarah, Mary and William, who are all living in Jackson. Sarah is the widow of Frank Dooley. She lives near her mother and has eight children, tive girls and three boys. Mary is the wife of Seth Gibbon
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and they have three children, two sons and one daughter. William is married and has five chil- dren, four sons and one daughter; he owns and manages the old John Brown homestead, which his father bought at the Government land sale so many years ago. Mrs. Bailey's marriage has been blessed to her and our subject by the birth of two children ; the eldest of whom is Calney, and Ella, wife of Henry Kipp, of whom see sketch. Calney Bailey resides on the homestead and assists his father in the management of his farm land, He is an enterprising, progressive, young man and is well educated. lle first attended the district schools, and then pursued a fine commercial course at Jennings Seminary. He was married in Sep- tember, 1886, to Miss Hattie Barnes, daughter of Mathew and Mary J. (Purdy ) Barnes, natives of New York; they were married there and came here in the winter of 1857, and still make their home in Jackson Township.
Mrs. Bailey's parents located on a farm about two miles southwest of Joliet, and the place is still in the hands of the family. Mrs. Bailey can well remember the incidents of the Sank War when the Indians came through this region and chased them from their homes. This was in the spring of the year when the settlers were putting in their erops with their clumsy tools and ox-teams. While thus working they received word that the Indians were on the war path, and dropping their imple- ments on the field they immediately started with their families and in ox-teams for Danville, all the people in the county leaving excepting three families who were foolhardy enough to stay be- hind and were all killed by the savages, excepting two young girls who were taken captives but were afterwards recovered from the Indians.
Among the families thus leaving their home were the Scotts, Moores and Crutcherfields. Mr. Zarley and his family went as far as Iroquois, where they met the soldiers going in pursuit of the Indians and they returned with them as far as where Jol- it now stands, and the soldiers putting up a block house on the west side of the river, they remained with them there for awhile. When the soldiers were ordered to join Scott, the Zarleys returned to Danville, and stayed there until the following
September, when all the families went back to their homes, the men folks having gone there previously to see that everything was all right. During their stay in the block house in Joliet, they had consid- erable fun over a false alarm which was sent in to try the soldiers, and it found them in a poor con- dition to receive the enemy. At the time Mr. and Mrs. Zarley put their children under the featber bed in the wagons and told them to lie still, and the old gentleman took his gun and awaited the coming of the Indians. Mrs. Bailey and her sis- ters are the only survivors of the scare who took refuge in the block house where Joliet now stands, she being about ten years old at the time and her sister but a baby.
That winter the pioneers of the county suffered with hunger as they neglected to lay in sufficient. supplies. Mr. Zarley went to Danville and got his supplies for the winter, and his neighbors, the Scotts, Moores, Bilsons, and others borrowed of him with the expectation of paying back when they went for their load, but an early snow came and pre- vented them from going, and more severe show storms occurring, no one was able to get to Dan- ville, so that provisions were very scarce. Mrs. Bailey says she can well remember the look of sor- row upon her mother's face as she heard her chil . dren crying for bread, almost starving. They had a little corn which they pounded up and each one was given a small allowance. They also had a few potatoes that were baked in the ashes and distrib- uted amongst the almost starving children, the older ones, Mrs. Bailey and her elder brother, gen- erously allowing the younger ones to have their share. After that winter the pioneers got along very well, as there were plenty of deer, prairie chickens and other game, besides fish of a super- ior quality in the rivers, the settlers catching them with a spear in the old days. The Pottawatomies living in the country then were friendly and John Zarley and his elder brother used to go hunting and fishing with them. While the war was being waged with the Sauks, they kept track of the set- tlers' cattle and helped to get them together on their return, as they were nearly as afraid of the Sauks as the whites were themselves.
The Zarleys were great Methodists going to
any. Einharett
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meeting as often as opportunity offered. often going a long distance. They made a square hos and put it on the two front wheels of an ox wagon. in this they put two split bottom chairs and drove to meeting behind a pair of oxen. One of the young ladies who often accompanied them to the religious services, was a Miss Joliet Brown. for whom the city of Joliet was named.
UGUST EHRHARDT. The leading mer- cantile establishment of Beecher is that of August Ehrhardt. who carries a very full line of goods. well selected for the needs of country trade. The business was begun in 1880, prior to which time Mr. Ehrhardt had been engaged as clerk for August Schiffer of Money. in whose employ he had gained a thorough knowl- edge of the business. Mr. Ehrhardt is also Post- master. having received his appointment under the present administration. He is well and favor- ably known as a man of upright character. more than ordinary intelligence, and an abundance of energy in whatever he undertakes. He is active in local polities, voting the Republican ticket at all times, and his fellow.citizens have called for his services in various local offices. Hle and his 200d wife belong to the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Ehrhardt comes of good old German Tam- ilies, the home of both ancestral lines being in Saxony. Ilis father, Christoph Ehrhardt, was reared as a farmer and after his marriage took up for himself that occupation. Ilis wife was Miss Sophia Werner, who was reared in the same neigh- borhood as himself. To them were born two sons and two daughters, with whom they set sail from Bremerhaven in July. 1851, on the sailing vessel "Susannah." After a tedious voyage of eight weeks landing was made at Baltimore, whence the family came to Chicago. The father chose a location in Monce Township. Cook County, and there the fam- ily lived on a small farm for some years. The parents then settled in Blue Island, where both died. the father passing away in 1872, at the age of seventy-six years and the mother surviving until
1889, she being then seventy-eight years old. Both were life-long members of the Lutheran Church in the tenets of which they reared their children. These all survive. are married and have families.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest member of the parental family and was born in Saxony, Germany. April 30, 1810. He received a good education in his native land during his early boy- hood, and after accompanying his parents to America, attended schools in this State, acquiring an excellent knowledge of the English language. Hle was living in Will County when he became of age and was occupied with agricultural pursuits until after the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1862 he was enrolled in Company D, Eighty-second Illinois Infantry. his company and regiment being under the command of Capt. Miller and Col. Hecker. He was mustered into service at Camp Butler, and in October went to the front, first meeting the enemy at. Chancellorsville. The next heavy engagement in which he participated was at Gettysburg. and he afterwards bore his part in the terrible conflicts of Lookout Mountain and Mis- sionary Ridge. He was one of the gallant sixty thonsund who marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea and back through the Carolinas to Wash- ington, and with other members of Hecker's regi- ment was known to officers and comrades as a faithful and plucky sollier. He escaped injury and was able to report for duty every day until the last gun was fired, when he was honorably dis- charged at Chicago and mustered out. of service at Camp Douglas, Coming at once to Monee, this county. he began his clerkship, which he continued until he established the business in which he is now engaged.
The lady to whose fine character and housewifely skill Mr. Ehrhardt owes the joy and comfort of his home life, was known in her maidenhood as Miss Louisa Klein. She was born June 26, 1813, in Hesse-Dariastadt, Germany, her parents. August and Madeline ( Boehl) Klein, being natives of the some province. In 1816 they left their native land to make a home in the New World, sailing from Bremerhaven accompanied by four children. After some weeks they landed at New York City whence
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they journeyed by river, canal and lakes to Chi- cago. Later they located at Blue Island, and still later settled on a farm in Cooper's Grove, where they remained some years. They then purchased a farm in Monee Township. Will County, where they erected a comfortable dwelling in which they lived until after the death of Mrs. Klein, which vecurred when she was forty-five years old. Mr. Klein subsequently went to Missouri, dying there when about seventy-six years of age. Hle and his wife belonged to the Lutheran Church. Their daughter, now Mrs. Ehrhardt. being scarcely more than an infant when they crossed the briny deep. was reared in Cook County. Ill., and there ob- tained her education. ller happy union with our subject has been blest with the birth of two chil- dren-Arthur and Carl-who have been educated in the public schools and who are still living under the parental roof.
As a representative citizen of Will County, we are pleased to present on another page of the ALBUM a lithographie portrait of Mr. Ehrhardt.
12 OBLE JONES. The tastes of men give rise to varied wants and occupations. Some find their enjoyment in the bustle of the busy haunts of men, and some amid the less ex- citing scenes of rural life. while others combine the two. The latter is the case with the subject of this biographical notice, who spends his days among the bulls and bears of the Chicago Board of Trade and in the turmoil of the great city. while the hours not occupied in efforts to increase his store of worldly goods are given to rural pleasures and domestic joys "far from the madding erowd." Ilis home is in Mokena, whenee he goes to Chicago every morning. returning at night, as regularly as clock work, never having been left in thirteen years. For the past decade he has been a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, and has become the largest receiver among the heavy dealers so prominent there. His shrewdness is unquestioned, and ininor dealers who could get a "tip" from Noble Jones would consider themselves very fortunate.
The Jones family is of Welsh deseent, and the more immediate progenitors of our subject were natives of New England. llis grandfather. Wesley .Tones, was born in Vermont, whence he removed to Connectieut, in which State his son Wesley, the father of our subject, was born in 1800. The same year the elder Jones removed to Canada, making a settlement in Barnstone Township, County Standstead. He owned and operated a large farm, and the son was reared amid rural surroundings. Ile learned the trade of a blacksmith, fotlowing it in Canada until 1837, when he removed to Arca- dia, Wayne County. N. Y., and in that town con- tinned his occupation several years. In 1844 he came to Will County, Ill .. locating in Homer Town- ship, where he sojourned but a year ere removing to Orland Township, Cook County. There he purchased and improved an eighty-acre farm, upon which he resided until his death, in 1880, engaged in the peaceful vocation of a farmer.
The mother of our subject was Abigail. daughter of William Barnes, and was born in Hillsboro, Mass. Her father, who had previously kept an hotel in Boston, removed to Barnstone, Canada, during her early life, and engaged in farming there. The homes of Grandfather Jones and Grandfather Barnes were but a mile apart, and when, in 1882, our subject revisited his birthplace, he was able from the descriptions given him to locate both places. Grandfather Barnes and his wife were brought to Illinois in 1851, and both died at the home of his father. Mrs. Wesley Jones was the mother of six children, he of whom we write being the youngest. Cyrus died in New York; Wesley is now living in Wetmore, Kan .; William is farm- ing in Frankfort Township, this county; Wright lives in Portland, Ore .: Abigail, Mrs. Cross, lives in Wetmore, Kan. The mother passed away in Mokena in 1881. at the advanced age of eighty years.
Noble Jones was born in Barnstone, Canada, November 16, 1831, and was therefore about three years old when he accompanied his parents to Arcadia, N. Y. The journey was accomplished with a team and wagon, and during the few years which followed the little lad enjoyed the privi- lege of attending the common schools. The re-
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moval to Illinois taking place when he was ten years old. is well remembered by him, and the ride on the canal to Buffalo and on a steamer to Chi- cago were enjoyed as none but a hearty boy could enjoy such a trip. The city which is now the scene of Mr. Jones' labors, presented an uninviting appearance when the family reached it. consisting as it did of a few unpretentious dwellings and places of business, around which stretched the low ground which well deserved the name of mud hole. From Chicago the family eame to Will County with teams, and here our subject passed one year.
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Cook County then became the home of the Jones family. and our subject was obliged to go three miles to school. The old-fashioned log schoolhouse with slab benches and puncheon floor was the scene of his educational efforts, and the schools were kept up by subscription. Like other farmers' sons young Jones was early set to work, soon presenting the appearance of the "barefoot boy with check of tan" who may be seen on many a farm. When thirteen years old he began driv- ing a breaking team, consisting of seven yoke of oxen. Three years later he found work as a team- ster for the Rock Island Railroad Company, which was then putting its line to Mokena. He received $1.25 per day for himself and team. a day's work being twelve hours.
In the spring of 1852, when eighteen years old. Noble Jones and his brother Wright rigged up a mule team and started to California. Making their way to Council Bluffs, they joined eighteen others in a caravan which traveled along the north bank of the Platte River to Ft. Laramie, thence along the North Platte, taking Sublet's Cut-off, and thenee through the South Pass to the Golden State. Three times the train was attacked by the Pawnees, who were very hostile at that time. and all considered it wonderful that they escaped being massacred. At Loupe Fork and the two follow- ing camping places. only the bold front they pre- sented to the savages presented so dire a catastro- phe. As their own animals were wild. and gun- shots would have stampeded them, they did not dare shoot, but depended upon their appearance of preparation and fearlessness. which fortunately proved sufficient to save their lives. The only
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weapon possessed by our subjeet during these try- ing scenes was a long range ritle.
The train arrived in Sacramento seventy-three days after leaving Council Bluffs, and Mr. Jones found work upon a farm, beginning his labors at $75 per month, and receiving $125 before he abandoned them. Ilis only experience in mining was during three days. when he was visiting in the mountains. After remaining on the slope two years Mr. Jones returned via the Nicaraugua route, the steamer "Sierra Nevada" carrying him from SanFrancisco to the Isthmus, and the "Star of the West" being his home during the Atlantie voyage. The last-named vessel was the first boat fired at Charleston during the late war. Mr. Jones was working on a farm six miles from Sacramento when that city was burned, and also when it was "drowned " by the overflow of the Sacramento River.
Mr. Jones completed his journey from New York to Mokena by rail, the road to the latter place having been finished in his absence. For a short time he carried on his father's place, then bought eighty acres of raw land in Frankfort Township, upon which he broke ground, made var- ions improvements and settled down to farming. lle devoted himself to that vocation two years, meeting with an ordinary degree of success, and he then built a steam mill in Mokena, and for two years engaged in flour and saw milling as a member of the firm of Cross & Jones. This venture did not prove successful, but on the contrary swal- lowed up all the previous earnings of Mr. Jones, and he therefore abandoned it for another field of labor.
In 1858 Mr. C. Rowley engaged our subject to go with him to Pike's Peak, Colo., to start and carry on a sawmill, agreeing to pay him $50 per month for his services. When the two arrived at Atchison. Kan., Mr. Rowley concluded to start the business on the Missouri River at that point instead of going to the destination which they had had in view. Mr. Jones therefore became Super- intendent of the sawmill at Atchison, having charge of the sawing and rafting of logs and every other detail of the business. He was joined by his wife and child, and continued to reside in the Garden
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