EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH: John C. Bond
JOHN C.BOND
John C. Bond was born in Knox county, Tennessee, December 25, 1799. He was married to Miss Polly Grimsley in 1818. To them were born five children, namely:
William G., born in April, 1823; married Mrs. Elizabeth Henry, January 25, 1844. She died December 22, 1864, at the age of 45 years. William G. Bond enlisted in the army in the war for the union in 1862; in August of that year was mustered in as captain of Co. H, 83rd regiment Illinois Infantry; and was promoted in 1863 to the office of major, which office he held until he was mustered out in 1865. In December, 1874, he was appointed deputy sheriff of Warren county, Illinois; he filled this position for two years and was then elected sheriff three times in succession, closing his services as sheriff in 1882.
His last marriage was to Mrs. Mary E. Moore (nee Taylor). This marriage occurred at Dayton, Ohio, in 1868. He died February 8, 1892.
Major John C. BondŐs first wife died about the year 1828, in Morgan county, Illinois. His second marriage was to Miss Mary Singleton of Morgan county, in May, 1829. To them were born three children-Fielding, Mary, and Evaline-all of whom are deceased.
Fielding was a brilliant young man who graduated from Lombard University at Galesburg, Illinois, with honors, in 1857, and was shortly afterwards admitted to the bar.
He went to Texas and commenced the practice of law. When the war broke out he returned to his fatherŐs house in Greenbush. He was elected county superintendent of schools in Warren county, in 1861. He died April 16, 1862, at the age of 28 years.
Evaline married Joseph Hartford. She died in Neosha county, Kansas, in 1871.
Mary, wife of John C. Bond, died September 1, 1842, at the age of 32 years. She was a woman highly esteemed by those who knew her. One night during her last days, she had a dream in which the words of this text came to her: ŇWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.Ó This dream so disturbed her that she arose from her bed, rekindled the fire in the fireplace to make a light, procured her Bible and read from Ec. 9, 10:ŇWhatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.ŐŐ She closed her Bible and returned to bed, and again dreamed of the same text. Rev. Peter Downey was called to see her, and by her request he administered baptism. After her death he was called to preach her funeral which he did, using the same text.
Major John C. BondŐs third marriage was to Mrs. Nancy C. Terry. Her maiden name was Nancy G. Stice. This marriage occurred in January, 1844. Two children were born of this union:
Mrs. Nancy Green Bond was born in Warren county, Kentucky, September 23, 1807. She was a daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Wilson) Stice. Andrew Stice was born in 1768, and died October 18, 1818. They were married in 1789. Mrs. BondŐs grandfather, Andrew Stice was married to Katran Collins, in Germany, and emigrated to North Carolina before the Revolutionary war. Mrs. BondŐs grandfather Wilson and wife came from Scotland before the Revolutionary war and settled in North Carolina. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war and fought at the battle of Bunker Hill; was wounded in the right knee and made a cripple for life. His brother, James Wilson, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Mrs. Nancy G. BondŐs first marriage was to Andrew Terry, May 10, 1827. He died June 28, 1836. To them were born four children: George, Sarah, Minta, and one dying in infancy.
Mrs. Bond has been blind for over twenty years. She now resides with her daughter, Cordelia Staat.
Major John C. Bond, the subject of this sketch, was a son of Jesse W. and Susanna (Crane) Bond, who were married in Overton county, Tennessee, in 1798. She was born in Georgia, in 1777. Of this union, seven children were born: John Crane, Benjamin, Joel, Ruby, William Barnet, Jesse W., and Nathan.
Jesse W. Bond, the father of Major John C. Bond, moved to Jackson county, Alabama, in 1819; from there he went to Morgan county, Illinois; and in 1834, came to Warren county, Illinois, and settled on section 18 in Greenbush township, and resided here until his death, which occurred February 26, 1840, at the age of 65 years. His wife was blind for many years before her death. She died January 7, 1859, at the age of 85 years.
Major John C. Bond was commissioner in Warren county in an early day, and was appointed with Samuel Hallam and Robert Gilmore to divide the county into townships, which they did in 1853. In 1854, when township organization was adopted, he was elected supervisor in Greenbush township and served in that capacity for fourteen successive years. He was elected justice of the peace in 1835, and held his first court in a smoke-house. He married the first couple in the township-Moses T. Hand to Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford- December 23, 1835. Mr. Bond was assessor in Greenbush township for several years. He received his title as major in the militia, and was major in Col. John ButlerŐs regiment. He was also a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He purchased from the other heirs the old homestead entered by his father on section 18, where he spent his last years. His hearing was very defective for several years before his death, which occurred May 20, 1882. His funeral services were held in the Methodist church in Greenbush, on Sunday afternoon, May 21, 1882, and were conducted by Eld. Isaac N. Van Meter, a minister of the Old-School Baptist church. John C. Bond belonged to the masonic fraternity and was a member of the Christian church. In politics he was a democrat.
