Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 576-577; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Alexander Maranville. One of the prosperous farmers of
Lewistown Township, is the gentleman above named, who was born on the
farm he now occupies, on the 6th of March, 1841. He is a direct
descendant of Louis DeMaranville, a native of France, and a member of
the French army. He emigrated to America, locating on the coast
of Maine, and following a seafaring life until his last years.
His son, Lewis Maranville, (the name having been Anglicized), was born
in the Pine Tree State, and reared to agricultural pursuits.
About 1802 he removed to Ohio, making the entire trip with teams.
Locating at Ashtabula, he purchased a tract of timber land, cleared a
farm from the wilderness, and resided there until death. He was
drowned while attempting to cross a stream. The maiden name of
his wife was Mary Maranville, she also being of French ancestry.
The next in the direct line of descent was a second Lewis
Maranville, a son of the couple above mentioned, and a native of
Ashtabula, Ohio. He learned the trade of a carpenter and Joiner,
following it in his native State until 1830, when he removed to this
county, making the journey by team and being six weeks on the
road. At that time the county was very sparsely settled, and a
portion of the land was still owned by the Government, and for sale at
$1.25 per acre. Deer, turkeys, and other kinds of wild game were
plentiful. After following his trade a few years, Mr. Maranville
bought a tract of timber land in Lewistown Township, built a dwelling,
began to clear the farm, and has since devoted his attention to
agricultural pursuits. With his son he still occupies the old
homestead which now ranks among the good farms of the section, and he
has lived to see the surrounding country develop from a wilderness to a
well-settled and wealthy region.
The mother of our subject was known in her maindenhood as
Melinda Huff. Her father, John Huff, a native of Virginia, was
reared to agricultural pursuits in his native State, and about 1812
removed by team to Hancock County, Ky., of which he was a
pioneer. At that time Indians were numerous and hostile, and the
few settlers were obliged to live in a fort, or stockade. He
cleared a farm upon which he resided until his death. His father,
William Huff, a native of Maryland, and of Scotch ancestry, removed to
Virginia, and thence to Kentucky, where he spent his last years.
Mrs. Maranville was born in the Old Dominion, and died on the homestead
here in 1886. She reared tow sons, he of whom we write, and
Charles. The latter served in the One Hundred and Third Illinois
Infantry, Company A, and was killed before Atlanta, August 19, 1864.
Our subject resided with his parents until seventeen years old,
when in April, 1858, he started with a company for Pike’s Peak.
The entire journey was made with teams, the Missouri river being
crossed from Council Bluffs to Omaha, which was then a hamlet.
Nebraska contained but few white settlers except along the streams,
while the plains abounded with deer, antelope and buffalo, and Indians
were numerous. On the 25th of June the party arrived at Denver,
then a village of about two hundred inhabitants mostly living in log
houses. Thence Mr. Maranville went to the mountains where he was
occupied in prospecting about four months, after which he again crossed
the plains and reaching Waverly, Iowa, remained there seven months.
At the expiration of that time the young man returned to his
home, where he engaged in farming until 1862. August 9 of that
year he became a member of Company A, One Hundred and Third Illinois
Infantry, was mustered in at Peoria, and in November sent to
Tennessee. The regiment spent the winter in that State, going to
Vicksburg in the spring, and during the noted siege forming a part of
the rear guard of the Federal Army, whose office was to prevent
Johnston’s forces from reinforcing those in the city. The
regiment subsequently participated in the battles of Jackson, Miss.,
and Missionary Ridge, and accompanied Sherman on the march through
Georgia, taking part in all the battles of the campaign, including the
siege and capture of Atlanta. From that city they marched to the
sea, thence by the Carolinas and Richmond to Washington to participate
in the Grand Review, after which they went to Louisville, Ky., where
they were mustered out in July, 1865.
Mr. Maranville was mustered into the service as Corporal, and
served as such until August, 1863, when he became a band leader,
continuing to act as a musician until his discharge. While
assisting in carrying back the wounded from the field, he was himself
wounded three times. The first occasion was at Missionary Ridge,
where he was struck by a piece of shell, being thereby laid up about a
month. His second wound was from a spent minie ball at Atlanta,
and the third from a piece of shell which passed through his right hand
when at Savannah, Ga.
After his discharge from the volunteer service, Mr. Maranville
enlisted in the regular army, and was first assigned to duty in
Savannah. Thence he was sent to Governor’s Island, subsequently
transferred to Annapolis, and finally assigned to Alexandria, Va.,
where he received his discharge in August, 1866. He then returned
to his home and resumed farming, remaining in this county until 1873,
when he removed to Benton County, Kan. After tilling the soil
there for a year, he removed to Arkansas, and receiving the appointment
of Deputy Marshal for the Northern district, was stationed at Ft. Smith
for two years. He then resigned, returned to this county, and has
since occupied and operated the old homestead.
The marriage of Alexander Maranville and Celia Piper was
solemnized on August 19, 1862. The bride, a native of the
Keystone State, is a lady of intelligence and estimable character, who
worthily fills her place at the head of the household. Her family
consists of three children – Annie, Katie, and Blanche. Mr.
Maranville is a believer in, and supporter of the principles of the
Republican party. His army life is commemorated through his
identification with Thomas Layton Post, No. 121, G. G. R. He also
belongs to Kenneth Lodge No. 146, K. P., and to Lewistown Camp No. 280,
M. W. A.
