Vermilion county Illinois, WILLIAM McBROOM ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 216-217 WILLIAM McBROOM occupies a high place among the venerable and honored citizens of Catlin Township, and though not among the earliest settlers of this part of Vermilion County, he may be denominated one of its pioneers. He is still living on the pleasant tract of land on section 35, that at the time of his purchase formed a part of the wild prairie, and which he has since improved into a fine farm. He and his wife are serenely passing their declining years in due of the cosiest and neatest homes in this community, where they are held in respect and affection by the many who know them. Mr. McBroom is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Preston County April 28, 1815, the eldest of the five children of Joseph and Phebe (Young) McBroom, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Chilicothe, Ohio. After their marriage they had settled in Preston County, Ky., and thence they removed to Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1827, becoming early settlers of that place. Mr. McBroom bought a tract of land, and cleared forty acres of it where the city now stands. He was a man of considerable enterprise, and besides engaging in agriculture, he made brick in that locality for four years, operating two brickyards at a time, and making the first brick that was ever made in that county. His useful career was closed in 1841, in the home that he built up there in Montgomery County, and a valued citizen was then lost to the community. His wife survived him several years, but for fourteen years previous to her death, which occurred in Cass County, Neb., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Young, she was an invalid. Our subject was still in his boyhood when his parents took him to Crawfordsville, Ind., and there he grew to maturity, developing into a strong, shrewd, capable man. He learned the trade of wagon-making in that county, and followed it exclusively for a long term of years, finding it quite profitable. He removed to Tippecanoe County, and was engaged in his trade there, manufacturing wagons for some ten years, He then returned to Montgomery County, where he resided until the month of October, 1854, when he came to Vermilion County, and settled in Catlin Township, purposing to give his attention to agriculture on this rich, alluvial soil, and he has ever since made his home here. He owns 120 acres of land that is very fertile and productive, and is supplied with a good set of buildings; everything about the place is orderly, and the farm is under good management. Mr. McBroom has been three times married. The maiden name of the wife of his early manhood was Rhoda Ann Stover, and she was, like himself, a native of Kentucky. She bore him one child, which died in infancy, and, the mother dying also, both were buried in the same grave. Mr. McBroom was married a second time in Montgomery County. Mrs. Elizabeth Boyd becoming his wife; she was a daughter of Joseph Hanks. To them three children were born — Joseph, John and Thomas, the latter dying when about a year old, Mrs. McBroom departed this life in Tippecanoe County, Ind., in 1848. Our subject was married to his present wife in that county March 13, 1851. Her maiden name was Emily Allen. She was the daughter of the late Judge William and Susan (Spurgeon) Allen, and widow of Jacob Snyder. He died in Montgomery County Nov. 17, 1846. She had by her first marriage four children — Sarah, Susan, Ivea Ann, Amanda M. Sarah was the wife of Arthur C. Schocky, and she died in Kansas. Mrs. McBroom's parents were natives of Kentucky, and she was the sixth of their ten children. She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., May 20, 1818. By her marriage with our subject she has had six children, as follows: Phoebe E., Alfred, Franklin, Josephine, William and Eddie J. Phoebe and Franklin are deceased. Although Mr. and Mrs. McBroom are well advanced in years, the snows of age have not yet chilled their hearts or deadened their sympathies towards the needy and suffering. They still take an active interest in the affairs of the day, and keep well posted on topics of general interest. Mr. McBroom's career in life has been a useful one to himself and to the community at large, as he has contributed his quota towards its upbuilding, and has always acted the part of a good citizen. He is decided in his political views, and is a faithful adherent of the Democratic party.