Vermilion county Illinois, HENRY L. BUSHNELL

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p. 198-199

HENRY L. BUSHNELL is one of the leading and successful business men of 
Hoopeston. He is the proprietor of the North Elevator, which has a 
capacity of 75,000 bushels. He also owns several other large elevators 
on the line of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. He is also 
general agent for the Brazil Block Coal Company, handling from 2,500 to 
3,000 cars yearly, besides his local trade.

  Mr. Bushnell was born Oct. 2. 1843, near what is now Dunlap, Ill., 
and there remained with his father until he left school to enter the 
army. He enlisted on July 2, 1862, in Company E, 77th Illinois 
Infantry. This regiment was assigned to the 13th Army Corps, originally 
under Gen. Smith, but which was latterly under the command of Gen. 
Banks, and participated in the battles of Black River, Jackson, 
Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and also in 
the entire campaign which resulted in the opening of the Mississippi 
River. At Vicksburg he was wounded on the 22d of May, 1863, in the left 
knee, after which he was in the field hospital until his recovery. The 
last seventeen months of the service he was Second Lieutenant of his 
company. While on the expedition with Banks up the Red River, he was 
captured at Mansfield, La., April 8, 1864, and taken to Camp Ford, 
Tyler, Tex., and was there held until the close of the war. While a 
prisoner of war he suffered untold hardships, which impaired his 
health, the effects of which he feels to this day. After his release he 
joined his regiment at Mobile, Ala., January, 1865, but remained there 
but a few days when he proceeded to St. Louis, where he was properly 
exchanged. Here he was detailed on Gen. Dodge's staff, remaining on 
this duty until Aug. 1, when he was mustered out of the service having 
served for several months more than his regular enlistment. After 
leaving the army he returned to Peoria, Ill., and engaged in the lumber 
business with his father. In this he continued for some time, having an 
extensive trade, and becoming accustomed to railroad business in the 
mean time, he was appointed Assistant General Freight Agent of the 
Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, with headquarters at Terre Haute. 
He continued in this capacity for five years, when in July 1883, he 
resigned and removed to Hoopeston where he has since been engaged in 
business, and it is not too broad an assertion to state that he 
transacts more business than any other man in Eastern Illinois.

  Mr. Bushnell has served his city as Mayor for two terms and for one 
term has been an Alderman. He has also served five years on the Board 
of Education, of which he is now President. He has never aspired to 
office but his great business talents are always in request by his 
neighbors, and he cannot see his way clear to refuse them. He is a 
hardworking Republican, is recognized as a leader in his party, and can 
be found attending all its conventions and gatherings. He is a member 
of the First Baptist Church and has been a Sunday-school Superintendent 
for twenty years.

  On September 18, 1867, Mr. Bushnell married Miss Hattie A. Littell, 
of Peoria, and they have become the parents of ten children, two of 
whom only are living, six dying of diphtheria. The living are William 
F., who was born Jan. 25, 1872 and Jessie A., April 21, 1883. Mrs. 
Bushnell was born in New York City, March 18, 1844 and is the daughter 
of Isaac Littell, who came West in 1855. In closing this brief sketch, 
it is proper to say that there are no more popular people in this 
section of the country than Mr. and Mrs. Bushnell.