MARQUESS-James - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Jamse Marquess, farmer, Fountain (Portland), second son and fourth child of Kidd and Jane (Trussel) Marquess, was born in Louden county Virginia May 8 1805. His birthplace was on the summit of the Blue Ridge, where he passed the first sixteen years of his life. At eighteen he crossed to the east side of the mountains to a little town called Union, where he learned the shoemaker's trade with Thomas James in whose shop he worked three years. In May 1827, he went to Leesburg the county town and engaged in making boots and shoes for the paupers of Louden county. AT Christmas 1828, he went up on the Blue Ridge and embarked in the Coopering business with his brother till September 1831, when he came to Dayton Ohio where he made this his principal employment during his residence in the place. November 21 1833, he was married to Miss Margaret Ann Berry, who was born in Maryland, August 18 1815. In 1835 he purchased sixty acres on Mad river in Clark county Ohio, for $900, and they lived on this until the spring of 1838, when they returned to Dayton. June 1 1841, the departed from that place for the west, and arrived in Rob Roy on the 9th. In the following autumn he bouht from Thomas Bodley the farm which John Stucker, son-in-law of Mr. Marquess now owns and occupies. This was entered in 1822 by George Johnson, who sold it to Bodley. Here Mr. Marquess and his family resided until March 1846,when they moved to his present homestead. He has 190 acres in a body about 150 acres being under the plow and in pasture. This is worth $9,500. Mr. and Mrs. Marquess have reared nine children of their own and three belonging to other parents. Following are the former; Serena Ann, wife of Samuel Smith of Niles Michigan, Delilah Jane, deceased wife of David L. LaBaw, Mary Catherine, wife of Dayton E. Coffing, Nancy Ellen, wife of Jonathon D. Crane, William H., who married Mary daughter of the Rev. Simon Brown, Margaret E.. wife of John Crawford, Sarah A., wife of Simon Houts, Elda, wife of John Stucker, and George, married to Eliza Ferguson. They brought up William Jennison, who was a soldier in the late war, and afterward died, and Samuel F. and George M. LaBaw, grandsons. The father of these grandchildren, David L. LaBaw was a member of the 86th Ind. Vols. and was slightly wounded at the battle of Stone River. He was attacked not long after with typhoid fever and died in hospital at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, April 4 1863. William Marquess belonged to the same regiment and served about six months when he was discharged at Bowling Green Kentucky, on account of disability. Mrs. Marquess is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Marquess cast his first vote for president for Gen. Jackson in 1832. He voted the democratic ticket till 1852, when he cast the only ballot for John P. Hale, that deposited at the polls at Portland. He has been a republican since that party came into existence.