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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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