Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago - 1886 pgs. 189 - 190 Major JOHN C. BOND, for nearly half a century one of the most prominent and valued citizens of Warren County, was born in Knox County, Tennessee, December 25, 1799. Here he was reared and educated and, in 1818, married to Miss POLLY GRIMSLEY, of the same county, To them were born five children - SUSANNAH JOHNSON, widow of WALTER JOHNSON, deceased; W. G. BOND, ex-Sheriff of this county; JESSE W. BOND, a prominent citizen of Lenox Township; RUBY L. CAYTON, wife of A. J. CAYTON, of Swan Township; and ANNA BOND, all of who are living except the latter, who died when quite young. Sketches of the former may be found elsewhere in this volume. Major BOND removed from Tennessee to Alabama, and from there to Morgan County this State, in 1826, in which county his wife died. In May, 1829, he was married the second time, to Miss MARY SINGLETON, of Morgan county, and by her had three children - FIELDING, MARY and EVELINE, all of whom are deceased. FIELDING was elected school commissioner of Warren County in 1861 or 1862, but died shortly after his election. He was a young man of brilliant promise; graduated from Lombard University with honors in 1857; shortly after was admitted to the Bar, but died April 19, 1862, when only 28 years of age. Mrs. BOND died in September, 1842, and in January, 1844, Major BOND was married to Mrs. NANCY TERRY, by whom he had two children - CANZADA S., the wife of MATHEW CAMPBELL, of Stella, Nebraska; and CORDELIA, the wife of HENRY STAAT, of Berwick Township. ( see sketch) Major BOND was the father of ten children, six of whom survived him, and all of whom were present at his funeral. He lived to behold his fourth generation of children. His funeral services were held in Methodist Episcopal Church, at Greenbush, Sunday afternoon, May 21, 1882, and were conducted by Elder VAN METER, a well known minister of the Regular Baptist Church, of McDonough County. It was attended by an immense concourse of old settlers from the south part of the county, who knew the venerable and esteemed man so long, so intimately and so swell. he was buried in the graveyard laid out by his father on the old home farm many long years ago. Major BOND played an important part in the early history of Warren County. He was one of the Commissioners of the county in 1839, when the affairs of the county were conducted by three men, and in 1853, together with SAMUEL HALLAM and ROBERT GILMORE, was appointed to divide the county into Townships, which they did as they now exist. After the adoption of the township organization system, he was the first Supervisor elected from Greenbush, and served for 14 successive years, and until he became so deaf and bending with age he asked his fellow citizens of Greenbush to relieve him of further discharge of his arduous duties. He served the county on the Board long and well, and his judgment and excellent good sense, as well as public spirit, pervaded the affairs of the county for many years. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the South part of the county, to which position he was elected in 1835, and appointed his own constable to conduct his court and serve his papers. His first court was held in a smoke-house, and the trial was over a steer belonging to some Indianaian. Being his first term the occasion an important one, he ordered his sons to clean out the smoke-house, and set the "court-room" in order. While carrying out the order, they performed some tricks not proper to docket, for which the squire fined them "for contempt of court," and they paid the penalty. In 1844, Major BOND was candidate for the legislature, and was beaten by only three votes. He was Assessor for his township for a number of years. In 1828, he went to Galena and worked in the lead mines. he passed through this county on his way and camped for the first time in the edge of the timer two miles west of what became his own home. At that time, as he surveyed the broad, open prairie, that stretched out for miles before him, he was enraptured with he high rolling mound where the old homestead now stands. he remarked to his companion that "there was where he would settle." He received his title as major under the old militia Law of Illinois, and was, Major of the regiment of this section of the country, of which JOHN BUTLER, deceased, of Green Bush, was Colonel. In 1834, Major BOND settled on the old homestead where he died. The land was entered by his father, and after his death Major BOND purchased from the other heirs their interest in the farm. As a neighbor and friend, he was the most genial and companionable man, and just as true as the needle to the pole. His integrity was as unbending as the oak, and no man more heartily despised a dishonorable action than he. His heart and purse were ever open to the needy, unfortunate and oppressed, and no one was ever turned hungry from his door. His home and its hospitalities were often shared by the early settlers who sought locations in this county, and they never forgot the genuine friendship they received from JOHN C. BOND, and many are the silent tears that will be shed to his memory by those who bore the trials and vicissitudes of the years long gone by in the settlement of the county. Having well and faithfully performed the task set before him, and more than filled out the measure of his four score years with a firm and abiding faith in the mercies of a true and just God, he peacefully closed his eyes and rests from the long journey of life. Thus, on the 20th day of May, 1882, passed away JOHN C. BOND, as good and true a man as ever resided in Warren County, leaving to his descendants a priceless heritage - a spotless name. His widow is still living and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. CAMPBELL, at Stella, Nebraska. His grandson, J. C. BOND, lives on the old farm in Greenbush. ================================================================================