Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Brunson, Elial S 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:56 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Elial S. Brunson, now practically living retired on the southwest corner of 
section 23, Du Page township, has spent his entire life in Will county, being 
the first white child born in West Lockport. His natal day was April 22, 1835, 
and his parents were Cyrus and Harriett E. (Scudder) Brunson, honored pioneers 
of this county. The father was born in Roxbury, Connecticut, September 8, 
1789, and died on the 16th of September, 1857. He was twice married, his first 
wife being Susan Maxwell, who was born in New Jersey, October 19, 1788, and 
died September 2, 1825. By that union there were five children, all born in 
Barrington, New York, namely: Montraville, who was born July 16, 1817, and 
died March 3, 1899, in Downers Grove, Illinois; Phoebe L., born April 1, 1819; 
Cyrus M., April 12, 1821; David H., December 25, 1822; and Susan E., August 
16, 1825. For his second wife Cyrus Brunson married Harriett E. Scudder, who 
was born in New Jersey, January 30, 1810, and died in Du Page township, this 
county, on the 19th of November, 1892. Four children blessed this union: Elial 
S., of this review; Marshall X., born April 18, 1838; Clarissa, November 23, 
1840; and Harriett A., July 25, 1845. They were all born in Lockport, 
Illinois. The father of this family was a soldier of the war of 1812 and at 
the close of the war held a captain's commission. He also served in the state 
troops as colonel and finally reached the rank of brigadier general. His 
father, Thomas Brunson, the grandfather of our subject, fought for the 
independence of his country in the Revolutionary war, as did also his six 
brothers, while the maternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier of the 
war of 1812. Amid pioneer scenes Elial S. Brunson grew to manhood and 
throughout his active business career followed farming, meeting with excellent 
success in his undertakings, so that he is now enabled to lay aside the 
arduous labors of the farm and enjoy the rest and competence which he has 
truly earned and richly deserves. He is the owner of two hundred and ten acres 
of rich and arable land on section 23, Du Page township, where he makes his 
home, but he now rents his farm, deriving a good income from his share of the 
products raised. On the 28th of December, 1859, Mr. Brunson was united in 
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Alden, who was born in New York state, March 15, 
1835, and is the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, of 
whom four are still living. She is a direct descendant of John Alden, of 
Puritan fame. Her father, Simeon Alden, was born in Stafford, Connecticut, 
July 18, 1800, and died in Du Page county, Illinois, August 30, 1889, while 
her mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Campbell, was born in Rome, New 
York, on the 12th of October, 1807, and died in Du Page county, on the 25th of 
July, 1885. In 1846 they brought their family to Illinois and became residents 
of Chicago, where Mr. Alden worked at his trade of a mechanic until 1853, when 
he removed to Du Page county. There he bought a quarter section of land and he 
and his wife continued to reside in that county throughout the remainder of 
their lives. From pioneer days down to the present time the Brunson family 
have been identified with the upbuilding and development of Will county. On 
the removal of our subject's parents to this locality they passed only three 
houses between Chicago and Loekport, so sparsely was the country settled at 
that time. As an influential and prominent, citizen of the community, Mr. 
Brunson has been called upon to serve in a number of official positions, being 
justice of the peace for twelve years, school treasurer for eight years and 
school director for a number of years. He has also been a member of the board 
of auditors and in 1900 was elected towuship supervisors, in which capacity he 
served for two years. The duties of these offices he most capably discharged 
and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed. Fraternally he is a member 
of the Masonic order.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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