Bruce Township

Bruce Township

town of Bruce embraces that part of T. 31, ? which lies northeast of the Vermillion river. 'More than one-half of the town is timber land, borthe Vermillion, and Otter, Wolf and Prairie creeks, Much of the timber was of superior quality, and the attraction which made this locality one of

George Basore, a native of Virginis, made a farm in the foresis of Alabama, another in the heary timber of Indiana, and from there moved to the prairie, and settled on 8. 24, T. 51, R. 3, in 1831. Mr. Basore had a physical organization and powers of endurance that admirably fitted him for frontier life, and a genius and business capacity that did him good service when living isolated from society on.the frontier. He was a snecessful farmer; his family manufactured all thelr clothing from cotton and wool, when at the South, and of flax and wool at the North, all of their own raising; he made his sngar and molasses from the maples on his farm, and with honey from his apiary, supplied all his wants in that direction; he tanned the hides of his own raising, and from the leather thas produced, made his harness, boots and shoes; he owned a blacksmith shop and tools, did his own blacksmithing, and much for his neighbors. He was more independent of the rest of the world than civilized man often is. This capacity for all kinds of business was, from necessity, to some extent, sequired by all the pioneers. Mr. Basore married, for his second wife, the widow of John Wood; he died in 1860,

Calloway Basore, son of the foregoing, married Sotter's sister, and died of cholera, just after returning from the land sale, in 1835, His widow married William Rainey, and after his death, she married Isaac Painter.

In company with Samuel Mackey, he built a sawmill on Otter creek, He is one of the few residing where he first made his claim, on Government Jand. He married Elizabeth McCormick ; has six children = Libbeus, married Elizabeth Law, is living near theold farm; Charles, married Sarah Morgan, lives at Fairbury; Norton, Jr., married Jane Barnhart; Mary, married Thomas Simykins; Jane, married Samuel Barnhart; Winfield, married Sarah Law.

Rush Mackey, brother of Norton, came from Pennsylvania at the same time; he married Ann Morgan, and has lived on the farm owned by Wm. Morgan, his father-in-law. He has five children: Burton; William; Howard; Rush, Jr. ; Norval, married Christina Morse,

Benjamin Mackey, brother of Rush, from Fayerte County, Pa., came in 1838, and settled on See. 9 He married Mary Shepherd, and still lives where he first settled. He has eight children: Joseph, married Harriet Trout; George, married Mary Morse; James, Rebecca, Jane, Mariette, William, and Bila.

William Donnell, born in Ireland, came to New York in 1835, and to La Salle County in 1837, and settled on Section 4; married Miss T. Mackey, Their childrenare: Agnes, Porter, Margaret, Alice, Mary, and Ross - all at home.

Widow Agnes Mackey, mother of Norton, Samuel, Benjamin and Rush, came from Pennsylvania with her sons in 1888, and lived with them until her death, Deo. 15, 1866.

Reuben Hackett, from Indiana, came in 1836, and settled on Section 9; sold to Samuel D. Wanchope, and removed to Ottawa and then West; served one term as Justice of the Peace.

Sar'! D. Wauchope, from Ireland, bought Esquire Haokett's farm, in 1887; sold his farm, and located on Section 2; soon after, he married Elizabeth Hamar, of Vermillion ; died about 1860, leaving eight children: Sarah, married Winley Stasen, of Farm Ridge; Samuel, married Mary Wilson; William John, married Jane Wilson; Thomas; Joseph, married Olive McCormick ; Arabella, married Mr, Sexton; Jane, married Ward King; Andrew, married Martha Ward.

William Reddick, and wife, Eliza Collins, from Fayette County, Pa., came in 1835, and settled on Section 11. He was elected Sheriff of the county in 1838, and served as Sheriff eight years, since w he has resided in Ottawa. A leading politician - he has been a member of both houses of the State legislature, a successful merchant and farmer. He is wealthy, but hag no children to inherit his estate,

Gaylord Hayes, and wife, came from Barkham- Stead, Litchfield County, Ct., to Hennepin in 1833, and moved on to 8, 4, T. 31, R. 8, in the spring of 1834. He died in 1837; his widow died several years after. He left fire children; Humphrey, married Miss Etisworth and removed to California,now dead; Mary, married Sargeant Commings, they live in Towa; Samuel J., married Sophia Cummings, live

William Bronson came from New Preston, Ct, in 1837 ; he settled on Section 25, where he still lives. He married Eliza Falwilder, has been Justice of the Peace, and has had five children: William, married Miss Walworth, and lives in Streator; Mary, died ; George, is teaching in Streator; Frank and Ida, are at home.

John Fulwilder came from Richland County, Ohio, in 1833, and made a farm on Section 26, He died in 1807, leaving three children: Jackson, married Jane Benedict, of Livingston County; Eliza, married William Bronson; John, deceased.

Geo, L. Densmore, and wife, Maria Bronson, came from Woodbury, Ct., in 1840, lived in Ottawa one year, and then went on to Section 25; he served one term as Justice of the Peace, and died in 1872, His widow oceupies the old farm, with Marius, her only son,

Tsaac Painter came from Columbus, Ohio, in 1887; he murried Nancy Springer; his second wife was Wm. Rainey's widow. He wasa Justice of the Peace for several years, and died about 1870, leaving six children: Andrew, married Miss Quigley ; Sara A., married Adelbert Osbor Uriah, married Sarah Elliott; Jane, married Willis Baldwin; Isaac, married T. L. Freer; Joseph H.