KOCKLEY, JACOB, PRIVATE, 8th Illinois Cavalry Regiment, Comany E
Date of birth: 15 October 1823. Place of Birth: Lutzelbourg, France
Enlisted: 18 September 1861. Re-Enlisted: 1 January 1864
Date of death: 10 August 1864.  Place of Death: Washington, D.C.
Buried at: Arlington National Cemetery, Section 13  Site 7147

Jacob Kochley (also spelled Kochly and Köchly) was born in Lutzelbourg, France on October 15, 1823 as the son of Joseph Kochly and Genevieve Heringer Kochly.

Jacob’s parents were married in 1806 and immigrated to the United States in 1828 with eight children. Records form St. Alphonsus Church, Peru, Ohio and other sources reveal that 110 passengers left Le Harve, France on August 16, 1828 aboard the packet ship Henry IV. The ship arrived in New York harbor on October 2 of that year.  Joseph and Genevieve came from the French region of Lorraine along with Peter Bauer, Joseph Carabin, Clement Baumgartner and their families. Those families settled near the village of Peru, Ohio near Norwalk in Huron County.

Jacob’s father, Joseph, was a carpenter by trade. After arriving in New York, he and his family first settled in Constableville, Lewis County, New York. Eventually they moved to Naperville, Illinois, where Joseph established a general store in partnership with B. J. Slick.

Jacob was married to Elizabeth Hauck (born 12 July 1823) on 7 January 1847 in Constableville, New York. The couple moved to Naperville between 1859 and 1861. The reason for his enlistment is unknown, but records found on the Illinois Historical Society web site show that Jacob first enlisted as a recruit on 18 September 1861, leaving his wife and seven children behind in Naperville. He reenlisted 1 January 1864, just seven months before his death at Judiciary Square Hospital from wounds received in action while the 8th Illinois Cavalry served in the defense of Washington, D.C.