The biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri By Malcolm G. McGregor

JOHN WESLEY EARLES - Among the well-known citizens of Webb City connected with its mining interests is John W. Earles, who was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, June 13, 1839. His father, William Earles, was a native of Virginia and married Artie Brammer, who was a native of Ohio. They settled on a farm and passed their lives in Lawrence county. The paternal grandfather, Charles Earles, was of English ancestry and lived in Virginia, where he married Mary Ferguson. The maternal grandfather was James Brammer, whose mother was a Lee, and he married Sarah Seamands.

John W. Earles attended the common schools of his locality and later Ewington College, in Gallia county, Ohio, and during the succeeding four winters taught school in his district. On the 24th of October, 1861, Mr. Earles enlisted and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Diamond, Ohio, as a private of Company G, Fifty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Jesse J. Appier and later Colonel Wells S. Jones commanding, while Captain George K. Hosford commanded the company. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Diamond, Jackson county, Ohio, and on February 16th embarked on a steamer at Portsmouth, Ohio, proceeding to Paducah, Kentucky, where it was assigned to the Third Brigade of General W. T. Sherman's Division and moved on transports to Savannah, Tennessee, from which place they started on an expedition to destroy the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, near Iuka, Mississippi, disembarking at Pittsburg Landing. Soon afterward the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, in the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the following engagements: Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, Monterey, Tennessee, siege of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, Mission Ridge, Tennessee, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Ruff's Mills, Atlanta, Ezra Chapel, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, the march to the sea and Fort McAlister, Georgia, besides a number of minor engagements and skirmishes. Mr. Earles was constantly with his command. He never missed a fight or skirmish in which his regiment participated, and performed most faithful and meritorious service, earning high commendation, as is evidenced by his promotion from a private to the rank of captain. He was wounded in the right arm slightly by a gunshot at Pittsburg Landing. April 7, 1862, and at Dallas. Georgia, had his belt plate stove in by a sharpshooter. He received his honorable discharge at Fort McAlister. Georgia, on the 24th of December, 1864. Mr. Earles is a valued member of Logan Post, No. 6, G. A. R., and has a fine record as a soldier, having been promoted for gallantry from a private to second lieutenant, later to first lieutenant and in 1864 was made captain.

Returning to Ohio, Mr. Earles was elected sheriff of Lawrence county in the fall of 1865, on the Republican ticket, and served two years. In 1867 he was appointed United States deputy marshal by General Hikenlooper, in which position he also served for two years. In the latter part of 1869 he went west as far as Kansas, where he was engaged in farming until 1875, when he came to Jasper county, Missouri, and engaged in mining. He became part owner of some very valuable property, which was later sold very advantageously for thirty-five thousand dollars. With his partners he is now engaged in opening up the Maud B. mine, which is proving the most productive of any of the mines on the Conner tract.

In 1871 Mr. Earles was married to Miss Mary J. Hatfield, of Greenfield, Indiana, a daughter of Thomas J. and Elsalee (Williams) Hatfield. Four sons have been born to our subject and wife, namely: George T., William J., Frank J. and Fred C.

Thank you to contributor Webb City Mo for the above information.
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CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
Wednesday, November 26, 1930

CAPT. J. W. EARLES DEAD
WEBB CITY VETERAN SUCCUMBS AT 91

Pioneer Mining Man and Associates Developed Many Famous Properties - Funeral to be Friday

Capt. J. W. Earles, 91 year old Civil War veteran and former prominent mining man of Webb City - resident there 48 years - died at 3:15 o'clock this morning in Jane Chinn Hospital Webb City.
Captain Earles had been in failing health several years and for the last year and had been a patient at the hospital, although not always confined to his bed.
Born in Ironton, Ohio June 13, 1839 Captain Earles grew to young manhood there and enlisted in the 53rd Ohio Infantry, serving three years and nine months. He was with Sherman on the general's famous march to the sea and participated in the battles of Shiloh and Gettysburg and other major conflicts.
After the war, Captain Earles located at Girard, KS., and came to Jasper county in 1875 and moved to Webb City in 1882. He engaged in mining, being associated with Judge David Hoag and R. B. Dodge in early successful mining developments. He and associates opened the Mon B and Midway mines.
The Civil War veteran was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Girard, KS. The Masons at Webb City will conduct the lodge rituals at the funeral.
Services will be held at the First Methodist Episcopal Church at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon. The Rev. L. R. Leaming, pastor, will preach the funeral sermon. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Mr. Earles was married February 14, 1869 and during the 56 years of their married life it was his annual practice of presenting his wife with the finest and newest Valentine that he could obtain. Mrs. Earles died three years ago.
Surviving Captain Earles is one son, George T. Earles of Royal Heights.
(obit bio by NJBrewer)