BOND, Francis H.
Francis H. BOND, one of the representative
attorneys and influential citizens of Wenona, was born in Massachusetts, on the 16th of December, 1821, and belongs
to an old New England family.
His parents, Isaac and Susan (WHITCOMB) BOND, were also natives
of the bay state, where their marriage was celebrated, and they
began their domestic life at Millbury,
Massachusetts. The mother died at
Bolton, that state, in 1827, after which our subject went to
live with his maternal grandfather, Jonathan WHITCOMB, who was a
prominent farmer of
Massachusetts, where his entire life was
passed, and at the time Francis took up his abode with him,
owned the only limekiln in the state. Mr. WHITCOMB also took an
active part in the work of the Unitarian church, of which he was
a leading member.
The education of Mr. BOND was acquired in
the seminaries at Westminster and Stow, Massachusetts, and
he remained in the east until the spring of 1846, when he
emigrated to Illinois. The following
summer he taught school at Chillicothe,
after which he came to Marshall
county, where he followed that profession for two years, and
then began farming in Hopewell township.
In 1849 was celebrated the marriage of Mr.
BOND and Miss Lucy BROADDUS, a daughter of Lunsford BROADDUS,
and a sister of Reuben BROADDUS, of
Hopewell
township, whose sketch appears in another part of this work. The
lady was a native of Virginia,
and came to Marshall county with her
parents. After his marriage, Mr. BOND took his bride to his farm
in Hopewell township, where
she died September 30, 1853, and their only child is also
deceased.
Removing to Wenona, in 1858, Mr. BOND has
since been identified with its interests. Previously he had
commenced reading law, and later took a regular course in the
law department of the University of Chicago, from which he graduated in July,
1862; was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the state
of the following year. For many years he has now been a
successful lawyer of this place, and also dealt in real estate,
still owning a farm in Evans township. Politically he is a
republican, having affiliated with that party since its
organization, and takes an active interest in its success. He
has served as delegate to various conventions, served acceptably
as president of the village board, has been a member of the
school board, for several years was township clerk, and was
elected justice of the peace at Wenona, but not caring for the
office he resigned. He has been the architect of his own fortune
and well deserves the success which has come to him. He is a
courteous, affable gentleman, and, above all, wherever he is
found, whether in public or private life, his integrity is above
question and his honor above reproach. He is a member of no
church, but attends the Liberal association meetings
occasionally.
Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois,
1896.
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