Francis Jefferson Field, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Francis Jefferson Field
FRANCIS JEFFERSON FIELD (Thomas J., Joseph Coles, John, Van W., Samuel, Benjamin, Anthony, Robert, William, William, John, John, William), b. Marcellus, N. Y., Jan. 10, 1830; m. in Ohio, Charlotte E. Selkirk, b. Oct. 5, 1830; d. Nov. 12, 1890. He was a sailor on a whaler out of New Bedford, Mass. ; later a farmer, and is now retired from business. He was born in the State of New York, in 1830. He was six years ot age when his parents moved west. Attended the schools of Porter county, Indiana, until nine years of age, when he returned east to Syracuse, N. Y., and there attended school. He secured an excellent education and remained there until 1845, when he returned home. Two years later he went to Chicago, where he clerked in a store, and later purchased a canal boat and engaged in forwarding on the Illinois and Michigan canal. Was captain of the boat until 1849, and later went to sea, going to the Arctic Ocean on a whaler; was absent for five years, and captured forty-three whales himself. He continued his sea-faring life; was later mate of the ship, and visited Society Islands, Japan, and Honolulu. He has had many interesting experiences. Returning home be was married, but later went to sea as mate of the Caronna, which was wrecked between New York and Cuba in 1859. On his return he engaged in business in Chicago, and when the war broke out enlisted in the 2d Illinois Artillery, and served until the close of the war. After the war he resided in Jefferson county, Illinois, and later moved to Porter county, Indiana. In 1888 he moved to Valparaiso, where he now resides. Res. s. p., Valparaiso, Ind.
Source: Pierce, Frederick Clifton. 1901. Field Genealogy: Being the Record of All the Field Family in America, Whose Ancestors Were in this Country Prior to 1700. Chicago, Illinois: W. B. Conkey Company. 1196 p.
Page(s) in Source: 852
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Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook