Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Bovee, Harper 1825 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 7:24 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

HARPER BOVEE, of Wilmington Township, came to this section of country about 
the year 1870, and in due time purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
on section 14, Wilmington Township, where he has since given his attention to 
the various pursuits of farm life. His land is mostly prairie, easily tilled 
and highly productive, and there is an air of comfort about the premises which 
gives indication of the oversight of a man enterprising and industrious—one 
who has surrounded himself and his family with all of the comforts of life, 
and who has accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to insure him 
against want in his old age. A native of Wyoming County, N.Y., the subject of 
this notice was born June 25, 1825, and is a son of Harper and Lydia (Nichols) 
Bovee, who were natives of New England and the father a farmer by occupation. 
The latter emigrated to New York State early in life, where he spent many 
years as a resident of Wyoming County, coming West about 1850. He died of 
cholera in St. Louis, Mo., in 1852. Although not a money-getter, he provided 
comfortably for his family and was a man esteemed in his community, being 
prominent in local affairs, and holding the minor offices. After his death the 
family removed to Rockville, Kankakee County, this State, and the mother came 
to Wilmington with her family and died there. The parental family of our 
subject comprised the following children: The two eldest, Roby and Norman, 
both died after marriage and left families; Mary is the wife of Solon 
Billings, of Springfield, Erie County, Pa.; Harmon is farming in Washington; 
Harper, our subject, was the fifth child; Olivia died in childhood: Alexander 
is farming in Union County, Dak.; John is farming in Wilmington Township, this 
county; Charles died after his marriage in Peoria. Harper, our subject, was 
reared to man's estate in his native county, whence he removed with his 
parents to Chautauqua County, and later to Erie County, Pa. His early years 
were spent uneventfully under the home roof, obtaining such education as was 
afforded in the common school and assisting his father and brothers around the 
farm. He lived in Pennsylvania until 1870, coming that year to this county. 
New Year's Day, 1873, was appropriately celebrated by Mr. Bovee in his 
marriage with Miss Lora Tilden, who was then a resident of Custer, this 
county. Mrs. Bovee was born March 5, 1839, in Williamstown, Orange County, 
Vt., and is a daughter of Martin F. and Sarah A. (Kimball) Tilden, who were 
likewise natives of the Green Mountain State. They emigrated to St. Lawrence 
County, N. Y., in 1840, where they lived nine years, then moved on further 
westward to this county, settling in Custer Township. The father secured a 
farm and is still living there. The mother died at the homestead about 1883. 
The six children of the parental family were named respectively: Lora, the 
wife of our subject; Sarah, who is a widow and living at home with her father; 
Martha; Lewis and Hannah deceased; Martha (2d), also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bovee have no children. This is the second marriage of our subject, his first 
wife having been Miss Marietta Linn, a native of Crawford County, Pa. Of that 
union there was born one child, a son, Odel, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Marietta Bovee died about 1856 or 1857, in Pennsylvania.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 

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