 |
|
 |
|
FRANCIS A. BOMER, retired farmer, is a resident of Belle Plaine. He was born in Beverly, Essex Co., Mass., Feb. 22, 1821, and is the son of John S. and Abigal (Friend) Bomer. His father was a native of Windham, N. H., and is descended from an old New England family, whose ancestors, for several generations, had been residents of New England. His mother was of English descent and was born and died on the old Friend homestead in the town of Wenham, Mass., which had been in the possession of the family since the original grant was made by the English sovereign. Francis A. spent his youth at the old home, and when fourteen years of age was apprenticed to the joiner's trade, which he learned and at which he worked for a livelihood.
He was married at Danvers, Mass., Oct. 3, 1845, to Miss Hannah J. Putnam, a daughter of Eben and Betsey (Webb) Putnam. Mrs. Bomer is a lineal descendant of Gen. Israel Putnam, and was born at Danvers, Mass., Nov. 11, 1820. Her grandfather, Stephen Putnam, was a brother of Israel Putnam, and came from England. Mr. and Mrs. Bomer came West in 1847, making their first home at Cleveland, Ohio. They traveled by rail from Boston to Albany in two days, and were eleven days from Albany to Buffalo by canal. They have had eight children, of whom five are now living: Martha, the eldest, died when sixteen years old; Mary died at the age of two years; Helen died aged eight months; Ella P. is the wife of J. S. McNall and lives in Chelsea, Iowa; Eben P. lives in Tama County, Iowa; John S. married Mary Skyles, and lives in Tama City; Joseph E. married Jennie Showalters and lives in Belle Plaine; Carrie is the wife of Dr. J. H. Dwight, a dentist of Creston, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Bomer moved to Muscatine, Iowa, in February, 1865, and resided there till May, 1870. They then removed to Chelsea, Tama County, where he has a fine farm of 280 acres, which he contracted to his sons. This farm is one of the best improved in Tama County. In August, 1885, he removed to Belle Plaine, where he lives a retired life. Mr. and Mrs. Bomer are members of the Universalist Church, and have been very prominently identified with that society in Iowa. Mr. Bomer has been Treasurer of the State Convention thirteen years.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 347-348.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on February 18th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
 |
