Joseph Franklin Kaler

GEDCOM Note

Name Suffix:<NSFX> Jr. Walter Helle wrote "Memories of My Life" for his descendants. He wrote about his grandparents: "I remember well my grandmother and grandfather on my mother's side of our family. My grandfather, Joseph Kaler, died when I was ten years old. Grandma taught Grandpa how to read and write after they were married. Grandpa was a preacher for a time of Baptist by faith." SOURCE: 1988 Fulton County Heritage Book, Fulton County, Illinois: "Joseph Kaler Sr. married Mary Bonney (daughter of Jarius and Irena (Larned or Larnard) Bonney) in 1845. They had four children: Henry, Joseph, Oscar and Sarah. Mary Bonney was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Mullen Alden, who came to this country on the Mayflower, so a number of her descendants are members of the Mayflower Society." Joseph Franklin Kaler Jr. married Nancy Bayless Jan 4, 1868. They went to Jasper Co. Missouri in 1869 but soon returned because they were afraid of Indians. Joseph Jr. worked to collect money to build the Buckeye Church in Cass Township in 1868. He was later ordained as a Methodist minister but did not follow this profession as he felt he did not have enough education. He always studied the Bible and became well versed on the scriptures. He was elected a trustee of the church in 1868, an office which he held continuously until his death Feb 4, 1923. Both Nancy and Joseph are buried in the Buckeye Church Yard. Illinois Marriage Records, 1851-1900 KALER, JOSEPH F. Spouse: BAYLESS, NANCY Marriage Date: 5 Jan 1867 County: Fulton State: IL CENSUS: 1870; Fulton Co, IL; Cass Twp; Line 24 Kaler, Joseph age 23 Farmer 800-600 IL Kaler, Nancy age 24 OH Kaler, Henry age 1 IL Note: Joseph Kaler Jr. is now 23 years old, married with a son. 1880 Census; Fulton Co, IL; Deerfield Twp; Line 154 Joseph Kaler, Jr age 33 Farmer IL PA OH Kaler, Nancy age 35 Wife OH OH OH Kaler, Henry age 11 Kaler Allice Dau F S W 8 IL fa: IL Mo: OH Kaler Charles Son M S W 6 IL fa: IL MO: OH Kaler, Ida Dau F S W 1 IL fa: IL Mo: OH BAYLESS, Lodema Mother F S W 74 NY Fa: MA Mo: CT Military: Mustered in a a private Co. K 50th Infantry Illinois from Deerfield, Illinois on October 4 1864. Mustered out July 13 1865 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was part of Sherman's March to the Sea and participated in the Grand Review in Washington DC after the war.