Dix, Illinois

Hill, was born in Indiana September 27, 1841, to Hugh and Lethe (Reed) Boles. He was of Irish parentage, and was either born in Ireland or soon after his parents came to America. She was of English parents, and is still living. He died in this count}'. Of their family of children, five are still living, and by her second marriage she has one child. Our subject was reared on a farm and mostly in this count}', and also educated here. In 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Jones, Col. Morrison, but served only for about eighteen months, when he was discharged on account of disability, he having contracted rheumatism in the service. In the spring of 1865, he was married to Miss Harriet Breeze, daughter of Owen Breeze, of Centralia, a retired farmer. This union has been blest with six children, viz.; Alice, Owen, Otto, Emmet, and the twins, Maud and Mabel. In 18G7, they moved to their present farm, which contains 336 acres, and in high state of cultivation, and on which he raises stock and grain. He is a member of Walnut Hill Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., No. 710. In politics, he is a Republican. He and wife are members of the Christian Church. M. D. BRUCE, farmer, P. O. Dix, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., March 19, 1812, to Azariah and Patsy (Keeling) Bruce, natives of Virginia, he the son of Michael Bruce, a native of Scotland. In Virginia, Azariah Bruce was married to the mother of our subject, and in 1801 emigrated to Tennessee. During his residence in Tennessee, he enlisted in the army, serving in the war of 1812, being at the battle of New Orleans. In 1823, he emigrated to Jefferson County, 111., and continued to follow his chosen profession of farming, taking quite a pride in keeping his farm in perfect order. He died in this county about 1854, his wife having died a short time before. He had passed his seventy-seventh year of age, and had served a number of terms as County Commissioner. He was the father of thirteen children, eight of whom still survive, six residing in this county. Our subject has resided in this county since 1823, and received his education in the early schools of the county. He served during tlie Black Hawk war, and also in the Mexican war. During the latter, he was engaged in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Vera Cruz. January 12, 1838, he settled on his present farm of 1 00 acres. He entered land from the Government at $1.25 per acre. February 13, 1834. he was married to Jane Brown, a native of Smith County, Tenn., and daughter of James and Sally (Clayborn) Brown, natives of South Carolina. He died in Tennessee a short time before the birth of Mrs. Bruce. About 1828 or 1830, Mrs. Brown moved to this county, and died about 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have had ten children, six of whom are still living - Francis M. (deceased), Charlotte, Sally (deceased), Martha A., James D., Malissa, Mary (deceased), Samantha (deceased), Alice and Azariah. For many years he and wife have been members of the Christian order. He is a i 394, and has represented his. lodge in the Grand Lodge. In politics, he is a Democrat, and takes an active part toward securing the success of his party.

Passage source: History of Jefferson County, Illinois, published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Rome Township - it names this place 7 more 7 times.