JAMES ERASMUS JOLLIFF (named for his two grandfathers, James Jolliff & Erasmus Nobles), born 1827, IL;
His father died when he was one year old, and his mother died when he was 7. He was raised by his uncle Green DePriest, who took him and his brother Randolph to Oregon Co, Mo in 1841.
He was in the Mexican War (1846-47, 5'10" tall) with his cousin Gilbert Faulkner.
IL State Archives shows him as a Mexican War Vet:
JOLLIFF, JAMES E, PVT Co A, 2 IL INF, enlisted at ALTON

There is a story from the Illinois Jolliffs that "Rasmus" enlisted near Centralia, IL [should be Alton] for the Mexican war [1846-Feb 1848] under Gen. James Shields who joined Scott in Mexico. The story goes that he was [in the battle between Gen Taylor's 4,600-man army against 15,000 Mexicans] at Buena Vista [on Feb 22-23, 1847 in the north of Mexico] and also in all of the hard fighting [from the coastal invasion to Mexico City, Mar-Oct, 1847] at Cerro Gordo [Apr 18], Chapultepec [Sept 13], and that at the storming of Mexico City [Sept 14], Rasmus was the first man on top of the wall.
[Although, all the battles mentioned in this story do line up with actual conflicts, not sure if he could have been in both the northern battle in Feb. and the invasion from the coast in Mar?]

Illinois State Marriage Index shows:
James E. Jolliff & Martha J. Waymon, Washington Co, Feb 26, 1848

In 1850 he was in Washington Co, IL;
"Rasmus" stayed in IL until about 1867, then moved to Missouri.

1870 Shannon Co, Mo, Birch Tree twp, PO Birch Tree, (June 27) p 6
James Jolliff - 43 IL, farmer
Martha - 40 IL
Lucinda - 16 MO
Rachel - 12 IL
William - 4 IL
Willis - 2 IL

James died 1880, West Plains, Mo.

In 1880 Highland township, Oregon Co, Mo.
Martha Jolliff - 40 Mo Mo Mo
Lucinda, dau - 25 Mo Mo MO
William - 12
Willis - 10

• Married: 26 FEB 1848 in Washington Co, IL

1. Randolph C. JOLLIFF b: 1849
2. Mary Elizabeth JOLLIFF b: 8 JUN 1852 in Illinois
3. Lucinda JOLLIFF b: ABT 1854
4. Rachel Ann JOLLIFF b: 1857 in Washington Co, IL
5. William Henry "Bill Muck" JOLLIFF b: FEB 1863 in Illinois
6. Willis Jonas Francis JOLLIFF b: 26 SEP 1867 in Illinois