Lewis Publishing Company, 1904

Transcribed from the original book by Kristin J. Vaughn © 2008

James S. Moles Page 581 James S. Moles is numbered among the first settlers of Jefferson county. He secured a homestead claim here in 1869 and for many years has resided in Meriden [Meridian] township, where he has carried on agricultural pursuits and as a public-spirited citizen has contributed to the general welfare, taking deep and helpful interest in everything that has calculated to benefit his community. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1842, a son of Francis Moles, who was a native of Ireland and was reared in that country. After coming to the United States he married Miss Rebecca Fresh, who was born in Germany, but died in Muscatine county, Iowa. Francis Moles departed this life at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious faith his wife was a Methodist. This worthy couple became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Mary A., William, Sarah, John, Margaret, Frank, Eliza, Harriet, James S. and Wilson. Of this number Frank was a soldier of the Thirtieth Ohio Infantry, Wilson was a soldier of the Sixth Ohio Heavy Artillery and James S. Moles was also an advocate of the Union cause, so that the family was well represented in the Union troops, to whom the country owes an unbounded debt of gratitude. James S. Moles was reared in Jackson county, Ohio, upon the home farm, and is indebted to the public schools of that locality for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He enlisted in Jackson county, Ohio, in February, 1862, in response to the president's call for sixty thousand men and was assigned to duty with the boys in blue of Company C, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. The company was commanded by Captain Jacob Davis and the regiment by Colonel Apler, who later was succeeded by Colonel Jones. They were for a time at Camp Diamond, Ohio, and thence were sent to Paducah, Kentucky. Mr. Moles was first under fire at the battle of Shiloh and he later participated in the siege of Corinth and the battles of Memphis and the raid near Vicksburg. The troops afterward returned to the Black River bridge at Jackson, Tennessee, and later aided in besieging Vicksburg until the fall of that city on the 4th of July, 1863. Mr. Moles was also at Chickamauga, and took part in the battle against General Pemberton's division at Scottsville, Alabama. Later he was granted a veteran furlough, which he spent at home, and when his term of rest had ended he returned to the south and took part in the engagements at Lookout Mountain, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory and Resaca. He was also in the battle of Atlanta when General McPherson fell and later he went to Savannah and participated in the capture of Fort McAllister and the battles of Jonesboro and Richmond. He likewise participated in the grand review in Washington D.C., the most celebrated military pageant ever seen on the western hemisphere, and then went to Little Rock, Arkansas, on reconstruction duty. On more than one occasion his clothing was pierced by bullets, and he had many narrow escapes, but was never wounded. He received an honorable discharge and with a most creditable military record returned to his home. Mr. Moles was married on the 1st of March, 1864, to Miss Abigail Hilighass, who was born in Pennsylvania, but spent her girlhood days in Ohio. Her mother died when Mrs. Moles was twenty-seven years of age, leaving four children: William, who was a soldier of Company K, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Sarah E.; and John, deceased. Her father was Jacob Hilighass. In 1866 Mr. Moles removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, where he remained for three years, and in 1869 he came to Jefferson county, Nebraska, where he secured a homestead claim. Upon this he built a house fourteen by twenty feet and later this was supplanted by a better residence. He now has a good two-story dwelling well furnished and situated upon a good building site. There is a grove around the place, and in the rear are substantial barns and sheds for the shelter of grain and stock. There is also a good wooden mill, and the greater part of his farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, is under a high state of cultivation. He keeps both cattle and hogs, and his sale of stock as well as of grain brings to him a good financial return annually. He was for five years in business in Fairbury, after which he returned to the farm and has since made it his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Moles have been born the following children: Mary Frances; Sarah Ellen; William Edward, deceased; James Wilson, who has also passed away; Adrianna; Annette Candace, deceased; Don Pedro; Charles J.; Thomas R.; Roscoe; and C.K. Mr. Moles is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Modern Woodmen of America and he also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. His life has in a way passed uneventfully, yet it has been characterized by many qualities that are worthy of the highest commendation and of emulation. As a soldier he was true and loyal, never faltering in his allegiance to the old flag and the cause it represented, and in business life he has been found reliable, accurate and energetic.