Private EPHRAIM RALPH ECKLEY, Co. E. 86th Illinois

Ephraim Ralph Eckley was born on March 5, 1832, most likely in Van Buren, Ohio in Hancock County, Ohio, the son of John Eckley and Abigail (Henderson) Eckley. It appears that John and Abigail took the family west sometime between 1844 and 1847 to Iowa and then came back east to Illinois in 1849 or very early 1850. At the time of the 1850 census, the family is found in Stark County, Illinois;
John Eckley M 48 Ohio
Abigail Eckley F 38 Pennsylvania
Ephraim R Eckley M 18 Ohio
Esther A Eckley F 20 Ohio
James H Eckley M 16 Ohio
Hannah E Eckley F 14 Ohio
Charity J Eckley F 11 Ohio
Eleanor Eckley F 9 Ohio
Mary M Eckley F 6 Ohio
Adaline L Eckley F 3 Iowa
John S Eckley M 1 Iowa

Several family websites tell us that John Eckley was born May 24, 1802 in Pennsylvania and died May 30, 1882 in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He was the son of Peter Eckley and Esther Ralph. John married Abigail Henderson on August 20, 1828 in Jefferson Co, Ohio. Abigail Henderson was born March 24, 1812 in Pennsylvania and died September 05, 1890 in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. Abigail was the daughter of James Henderson and Elizabeth Miller.

Children of John Eckley and Abigail Henderson are:

1. Esther Ann Eckley, born March 22, 1830 in Ohio; died January 07, 1916 in Creston, IA; married Joseph Eckley on May 10, 1852 in Peoria County, Illinois; This is their family at the time of the 1860 census in Hallock Township of Peoria County, Illinois;
Joseph Eckley M 50 Ohio
Hester Eckley F 30 Ohio
Eliza Eckley F 18 Ills
James Eckley M 16 Ills
Sarah Eckley F 14 Ills
Emily Eckley F 5 Ills
Joseph Eckley M 1 Ills

2. Ephriam Ralph Eckley, born March 5, 1832 in Ohio; died September 05, 1895 in Iowa; married Savannah Hulbert February 16, 1853 in Peoria County, Illinois; See his biography below.

3. James Henderson Eckley, born February 03, 1834 in ?, OH; died April 10, 1910 in Whittier, CA; believed to have been married Jane Greenlee on December 27, 1857; This is believed to be his family at the time of the 1880 census in Gilletts Grove, Clay County, Iowa;
Self James H Eckley M 44 Ohio
Wife Jane Eckley F 44 Pennsylvania
Daughter Grace E Eckley F 12 Missouri
Daughter Elmona A Eckley F 14 Illinois
Son Elisha G Eckley M 16 Illinois
Daughter Mary M Eckley F 8 Illinois

4. Hannah Elizabeth Eckley, born April 23, 1836 in ?, OH; died August 12, 1914 in Peoria, IL.

5. Eleanor Abigail Eckley, born March 7, 1841 in Ohio; died March 24, 1921 in Mount Ayr, Iowa; married Thomas E. Shannon on January 11, 1863 in Knox Co, IL; Eleanor's mortal remains were laid in the Eugene Cemetery in Ringgold County, Iowa; See her Find A Grave site.

6. Mary Melissa Eckley, born January 29, 1844 in ?, OH; died September 04, 1919 in Glidden, IA; married Isaac Edward Hurr March 19, 1868 in Oneida, IL; Mary's mortal remains were laid in the Oneida Cemetery in Oneida, Knox County, Illinois; See her Find A Grave site.

7. Adelaide Lucetta Eckley, born June 21, 1846 in ?, IA; died August 05, 1914 in Azusa, CA; married Maston Parkins October 10, 1867 in Oneida, IL.

8. John Levi Eckley, born January 01, 1849 in ?, IA; died April 24, 1913 in Barnum, MN; married Mary Jane Dubois November 02, 1873 in ?, IA.

9. Catherine Delilah Eckley, born February 10, 1851 in Oneida, IL; died June 05, 1936 in Rochester, NY; married William R Ide July 15, 1872 in Oneida, IL.

10. Martha Savannah Eckley, born April 30, 1853 in Oneida, IL; died October 2, 1936 in Colfax, Whitman County, Wshington; married Thomas C Dodd on March 18, 1871; Her mortal remains were laid in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; See her Find A Grave site for more information about her and her family.

11. Caroline Mildred Eckley, born February 04, 1856 in Oneida, Knox County, Illinois; died March 11, 1862 in Oneida, Illinois; Her mortal remains were laid in the Oneida Cemetery in Oneida, Knox County, Illinois.

12. Charity Jane Eckley, born October 5, 1837 in Ohio; died September 29, 1911 in Storm Lake, Iowa; married Joseph Reuben Hills on March 15, 1862 in Henry County, Illinois; Their mortal remains were laid in the Ivy Hill Cemetery in Malcom, Poweshiek County, Iowa; See her Find A Grave site for more information about their family.

According to The Records of the Eckley Family in America, 1962, by Lizzie Johns, on page 156 it is stated that "John and Abigail (Henderson) Eckley were residents of Ohio and seven of their children were born in that state. In 1845, with their children, they joined other families on a move to the State of Iowa. Here two more children were added to their family and in 1850 they moved to Stark County, Illinois. Later, they moved to Knox County, Illinois, where Mr. Eckley engaged in carpenter work in the now town of Oneida. The family continued residence there until 1869, when, with their unmarried children, they moved to Clay County. Iowa. Their years were spent as loyal, conscientious, Christian citizens, respected and loved by their family, neighbors and friends; their internment was in the Fanny Fern Cemetery, Douglas Township, Clay County, Iowa."

Ephraim Eckley is known to have been married to Savannah Hulbert on February 16, 1853 by William Easton, J.P. in Peoria County, Illinois. This is recorded in Illinois State Records. The Adjutant Generals Report on Ephraim states that he was single when he enlisted. This is just one of many errors found in the Adjutant Generals Reports and may have occurred when they were transcribed.
Ephraim and Savannah are believed to have resided in Peoria County the first few years of their married life, possibly in the northern Peoria County area around Rome and Chillicothe, Illinois, where they Easton family resided. However, in the late 1850's, perhaps in 1858 or 1859, the Eckley's moved a little north into Marshall County, Illinois. Ephraim and Savannah Eckley are found in Saratoga Township of Marshall County, Illinois at the time of the 1860 census;
E R Eckley M 28 Ohio
S Eckley F 25 Ills
T Eckley F 6 Ills
S Eckley F 4 Ills
Chas Eckley M 2 Ills
Danl Mc Vicker M 18 Ills

Ephraim Ralph Eckley and Savannah (Hulbert) Eckley are known to have had the following children;
1. Thorsey Eckley, born c. 1853/54 in Illinois.

2. Savannah Eckley, born c. 1855/56 in Illinois.

3. Charles Ralph Eckley, born c. August 8, 1858 in Illinois, very likely in Peoria County; Charles died October 14, 1927 in Crawford Community Clay Center Kansas; Charles was married to Emma Mary Woodall, who was born on August 23, 1858 in Peoria County, Illinois and who died on April 11, 1954 in Solomon, Kansas; At the time of the 1930 and 1940 census records, Emma and her son, Arthur, are found in Sherman, Clay County, Kansas. Arthur is listed as divorced in the 1930 census, which can be seen below;
Head Arthur Eckley M 35 Missouri
Mother Emma Eckley F 71 Indiana

(Note: Arthur was born on Apr. 2, 1895 and died on Oct. 9, 1951, served as a Private in the U. S. Army during WWI in the 20th Infantry Regiment in the 10th Infantry Division, and his mortal remains were also laid in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Clay County, Kansas.)

Charles Ralph Eckley's mortal remains were laid in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Clay County, Kansas; See his Find A Grave site for more information about his family.

4. Ephraim Eckley, born c. 1860/61 in Illinois; believed to have died young, possibly c. 1863.

5. Laura Eckley, born c. 1862/63 in Illinois.

6. Maria Eckley, born September 24, 1868 in Illinois; died on July 9, 1898 in Oregon, Holt County, Missouri; Her mortal remains were laid in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Oregon, Holt County, Missouri.

On August 14, 1862, Ephraim R. Eckley volunteered in Saratoga Township to serve in a company which was being raised in Marshall, Stark and Bureau Counties by a local well known farmer by the name of Orlando Fountain for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, Ephraim gave his place of residence as Saratoga Township, Marshall County, Illinois.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name ECKLEY, EPHRAIM R
Rank PVT Company E Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence SARATOGA, MARSHALL CO, IL Age 30 Height 6' Hair BROWN
Eyes GRAY Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity VAN BUREN CO, OH

Service Record
Joined When AUG 14, 1862 Joined Where SARATOGA, IL
Joined By Whom O FOUNTAIN Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks DISCHARGED JAN 29, 1863 AT NASHVILLE TENN

When Orlando Fountain had about 100 volunteers, he led the company on a march into Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park.
On August 27, 1862, Fountain and 88 of his volunteers, including now Private Ephraim R. Eckley, were mustered in as Co. E of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Fountain was elected by the men of Co. E to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out of the gates of Camp Lyon, with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. At the depot, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois were in the field in Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops.
On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the next few years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp.
Even before the men of McCook's Brigade had left Camp Joe Holt back in Indiana, the green troops were already having health issues from the change in diet and living conditions, which were not conducive to good health. Many were left behind sick in Army Hospitals in Louisville when McCook's Brigade went on the Kentucky Campaign. After the Battle of Perryville, the men of McCook's Brigade passed through and spent several days in Bowling Green, Kentucky and then Gallatin, Tennessee on their way to Nashville. Many more were left behind sick in makeshift Army Hospitals in Bowling Green and Gallatin when the men of McCook's Brigade moved on toward Nashville.
The men of McCook's Brigade marched into Nashville on November 7, 1862 and they set up their first camp in Edgefield, Tennessee on the outskirts of Nashville.
In Nashville, the troops continued struggling with various diseases and health issues. The hospitals were full to overflowing and today the Nashville National Cemetery contains the earthly remains of hundreds of men who died during that first winter of 1862/63. One of those men known to have been having some serious issues with his health during this time was Private Ephraim R. Eckley, who had made it to Nashville with the 86th.
However, whatever his ailment, nothing the army doctors did seemed to help. So in January of 1863, the doctors decided that the best thing that they could do for Private Eckley was to discharge him from the service and send him home in hopes that with the help of family and some home cooking, he would survive his ailment. So on January 29, 1863, Private Eprhaim R. Eckley was discharged from the service and sent home. With the help of family and that home cooking, Ephraim survived his ailment and went on to live a long life. Years later on December 9, 1884, Private Ephraim R. Eckley was granted an Invalid Pension for his service in the Civil War, which he most likely received for the remainder of his life.
Ephraim died on September 5, 1894 in Holt County, Missouri. His earthly remains were laid to rest in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Oregon, Missouri.

by Baxter B. Fite III and Larry Fisher, whose email address is [email protected]

(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the Eckley family, who might be able to add to the biographical material that we have on Ephraim Ralph Eckley and the Eckley family. Baxter would also love to see copies of any photographs of Ephraim Ralph Eckley that may have survived the years, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)