Boruff - John
JOHN BORUFF
Source: The Biographical Record of Rock Island County, Illinois. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1897, p 417
If one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advance in civilization which the last half century has brought about, he can listen tot he stories that men who are still living can tell of their boyhood. The log cabin in the clearing, the still ruder schoolhouse with its rough seats made of slabs, its limited range of studies and its brief terms arranged on the subscription plan, the routine of work at home unrelieved by any of the modern devices by which machinery is made to do in a short time what formerly occupied the entire year these and many similar descriptions will bring up in sharp contrast the advantages of today. The subject of this sketch, a venerable and highly respected citizen of Drury Twp, whose home in on Section 34, has many reminiscences of this sort. Mr. Boruff was born Oct 4, 1818 in Clairbone Co., Tenn., a son of Valentine Boruff a native of PA where he was reared and married. For some time he made his home in Tenn. and on leaving that state removed to Montgomery County, Indiana where he spent a few years. In 1833 he brought his family to Mercer Co IL where he entered land, improved a farm and continued to reside until called to his final rest. Thus amid pioneer scenes John Boruff spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and until attaining his majority remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in the arduous task of clearing and developing a new farm. In Mercer County he was married in 1841, to MIss Mary McGreer, a native of Union County, Indiana and daughter of William McGreer. also an early settler of Mercer Co. They began their domestic life upon a farm adjoining his father's and there continued to reside until their removal to Drury Twp, Rock Island Co 1847. Here Mr. Boruff purchased 280 acres of wild land and as time advanced he placed acre after acre under the plow until today he has one of the most highly cultivated and valuable farms in the locality. He first built a little log cabin but this has long since given place to a commodious and comfortable frame residence, which is surrounded by good barns and substantial outbuildings. To his original purchase he added until he owned 500 acres of rich and productive land lying in Mercer and Rock Island counties. His property has all been acquired through his own individiual efforts, as he started out in life for himself emptyhanded and has made his own way in the world unaided. Mr. Boruff lost his first wife who died March 15, 1866 leaving 3 sons, namely: WIlliam Mc, an agriculturist of Mercer County who is married and has two sons; Jackson, a farmer of Pottawattomie County Iowa who is married and has two sons and one daughter and Alexander, a farmer of Mercer County who is married and has two daughters.In Cedar county, Iowa, Mr. Boruff was again married March 15, 1868 his second union being with Mrs. Mary A. Doty who was born in Indiana but was reared and educated in Cedar County, Iowa. Her father Samuel Stephenson Smith was a native of Ohio where he wedded Mary Steel and later removed to Park (sic) County, Indiana spending his last years there. Her mother later became the wife of Joseph Lindsay of Cedar county Iowa by whom she had 3 children. Mrs. Boruff was first married in Cedar County and by that union had two sons, Dow Douglas Doty, a ranchman of Wyoming who is married and has one daughter and JR Doty who is also married and has one daughter and is living with his brother in the west. One son has been born of the 2nd marriage, Samuel H. Boruff who now operates the old home place for his father. He is married and has one son, Charles S. Mr. Boruff has been a lifelong supporter of the Democratic party but ha never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He attends the Presbyterian Church of which his wife is a member and contributes to its support, and as a public-spirited citizen has borne his part in promoting those enterprises for the good of the community along various lines. For a half century he has been numbered among the valued and useful man of the county and has the respect and esteem of all who know him. -- typed by kbz