Jacob Marean and Mary Bolender

HEINRICH BOLENDER > MICHAEL BOLENDER > MARY BOLENDER

Jacob Marean & Mary Bolender; Anna,
John (back), William, Edith (front)

AESEBEUS MAREAN > JACOB MAREAN

Two Bolender brothers, Reuben John "John" and Michael, headed west from Snyder County, Pennsylvania in 1840 and would intertwine with northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin families for generations to come.

I recently talked about John's son Levi, who married Sarah Haas, sister of Valentine M Haas, who married WL Cooper's daughter Hannah Cooper. Today, I'm talking about John Bolender's brother, Michael, who had a daughter, Mary, who would marry Jacob Marean, the brother of Anna Christina Marean Lauck, whose son Edward Dietz Lauck married the daughter of Matilda Smull, yet another of my relatives. But try to draw that out - it's just crazy! Suffice it to say, the Bolenders of Pennsylvania and No Illinois/So Wisconsin are part of the great story of our family.

Michael Bolender married Catherine Decker and the couple had at least 12 children; eighth in line was Mary. She was born 24 Mar 1844 on Oneco Township, Stephenson County. She married Jacob Marean, son of Aesebeus Marean in about 1868 in Illinois. Michael died 08 Jun 1882 in Stephenson County and Catherine died 03 Jun 1878.

Aesebeus' father Jacob Marean, came from Germany, settling in Pennsylvania. Aesebeus married Elizabeth Miller in May 1830 in Schuykill, Pennsylvania. Aesebeus was a plasterer by trade and also farmed in Juniata County. In 1847, after they sold the farm at a good price, he, his wife, and seven children moved west to Illinois by canal to the Ohio River, and then overland to Jo Daviess County, Illinois. A team brought their things east to Buckeye Township. Aesebeus purchased 120 acres at $3.50 per acre.The family cared for the farm while Aesebeus plied his plasterer's trade. At his death in 1874, they had acquired a total of 154 acres. His wife Elizabeth died in 1875.

Jacob Marean, Civil War

Jacob was born 17 Aug 1838 in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. Jacob attended school in winter and worked the farm in the summer. At age 22, Jacob enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, when he joined Company A, 11th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated at the battle of Ft Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, and the battle of Vicksburg. He later served in Co B, 8th Illinois Infantry, where he served until the end of the war.

Jacob and his wife Mary resided in Buckeye Township. He operated his father's farm until 1870 and then crossed the Mississippi and bought a tract of land in Pike County, Missouri. They lived there for seven years before returning to the Orangeville area in Stephenson County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Jacob built a beautiful new home on the old property and a large barn.

The couple were Lutherans. They had four children; two boys and two girls. He was active in town affairs and considered a solid citizen. Unfortunately, his entire life change in a moment on the morning of 07 Oct 1906. What started as a normal day ended up being the last day of his life. While on the way back from the stock market with his stock wagon and team, his horses were spooked and did a runaway. In the ensuing chaos, Jacob got his heels caught in the spokes of one of the wheels and ended up being dragged for over a mile, killing him before the horses could be slowed. The corner's inquest declared it an accidental death.

Mary lived for another 20 years, until 05 Sep 1926.