Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Zarley, James C 1832 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:33 am Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 JAMES C. ZARLEY is the owner and occupant of one of the fine farms of Joliet Township, his home being located on section 28, and comprising three hundred acres of beautiful land, upon which complete and excellent improvements have been made. The place is devoted to the dairy business, from sixty to eighty cows being kept, and three wagons run to Joliet, where the milk is sold. That part of the estate which is under tillage is thoroughly cultivated, and on every hand are to be seen evidences of the thrift and prosperity of the owner. Among the very earliest settlers in this county were the late Reason Zarley and his wife. He was born in Kentucky, and in 1814 was married to Sarah Mustard, a native of Ohio. In Sciota County, of that State, they made their first home, coming to Illinois in 1828, and spending about three years in the vicinity of Danville, Vermilion County. In 1831 they removed to this counly, settling on the farm now owned by our subject. Here they took up the labors of pioneer life, unflinchingly enduring the arduous toils and severe privations to which they were subject, and braving danger and even death in their efforts to subdue nature and develop the resources which she possessed. On at least one occasion they were obliged to leave their home and seek protection from savage foes in a town where some preparation was made to meet and repulse the Indians. This was during the Black Hawk War, when the Sacs and Foxes were terrorizing the settlers upon the frontier. Better times gradually dawned, the country became more thickly settled, the comforts of life more easy to obtain, and the surroundings more pleasant and quiet. Reason Zarley became a highly respected and influential citizen, and when called hence in August, 1859, he left to his descendants that best of all inheritances—an honored name. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in this vicinity, having been elected when what is now Will County was still a part of Cook County. Mrs. Sarah Zarley was a daughter of the Rev. William Mustard, one of the pioneer Methodist preachers in Ohio. She joined the Methodist Church when eighteen years old, and was a member for over seventy-five years. Her death took place August 4, 1887, at the home of her son-in-law, Gabriel Noel, in Jackson Township, this county. Her memory is held in loving remembrance by her descendants, to whom Grandma Zarley was a model of beautiful old age. She had borne her husband twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the tenth. Two of their deceased children were for many years proprietors of the Joliet Signal. These were Calneh and Calvin Zarley, the former of whom was born in Pike County, Ohio, April 21, 1822. In May, 1846, in company with his brother Calvin, whose death occurred many years ago, he began the publication of the Joliet Signal, which he edited for forty years. At the time of his death he was in company with H. S. Brown, the publishing firm being known as Zarley & Brown. Calneh Zarley died August 20, 1886. He is well remembered by the citizens of Joliet, and by many outside this flourishing corporation. The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced, was born August 26, 1832, in Danville, to which place his parents had fled for safety during the Black Hawk War. He grew to manhood on his father's homestead in this county, where the greater part of his life has been spent. In 1804 he went to Montana and engaged in mining for ten years, meeting with varying success, but returning to his native State somewhat better off financially than when he had left it. Since that time he has given his attention entirely to farming, becoming an expert in the business, and particularly in the management of a dairy farm. Personally, Mr. Zarley is well calculated to make friends, being cordial in manner, intelligent in mind, and honorable in his dealings with his fellow- men. He held the office of Supervisor of Joliet Township one term, and has been School Director for a number of years. In the advancement of the cause of education he has always been greatly interested, as well as in other matters which tend to elevate society and increase the prosperity of the country. In politics he is a Democrat. He attends the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a member. In Joliet, October 3, 1876, Mr. Zarley was united in marriage with Miss Ida, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Boss) Patrick. Mrs. Zarley is the youngest in a family of ten children, and was born in Aux Sable, Grundy County, October 6, 1845. She is an educated and refined woman, who looks well to the ways of her household, is devoted to husband and children, and full of kindly deeds to those about her. Her father was a native of New York and her mother of Canada, their first home after marriage being in the latter country. Thence they came to this county in an early day, settling in Joliet Township, but afterward removing to Grundy County. They subsequently returned to this township, in which they breathed their last. Mr. and Mrs. Zarley are the parents of five children—William H., Arthur M., G. Noel, Maud H. and Louie E. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/zarley449gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb