Du BOIS, Reuben D. - 1890 Bio (1842-1922)

DU BOIS, DILL, HARRIS, WELCH, CHASE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/4/2007 at 16:07:34

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 280-281

Reuben D. DU BOIS.

Among the pioneer families of Jefferson County is one well known and highly esteemed -- that of the Du BOIS family. In a well-preserved geneological (sic) record, this family traces its origin back to the Huguenots who fled from France into Holland on account of religious persecution. The progenitor of the family, Geoffroi Du BOIS, was a knight banneret under William the Conqueror, whom he accompanied to the conquest of England. The first to cross the briny deep were two pious, noble men, Jacques and Louis Du BOIS, who were born near La Basse, in the Province of Artois, France. Thence they emigrated to Holland, and the former married in Leyden and the latter in Manheim. About the middle of the seventeenth century they braved the dangers of an ocean voyage and settled in the New York Colony. Jacques died about a year after their arrival, leaving three sons, while Louis was a resident of this country thirty-six years and left at death seven sons.

Reuben D. Du BOIS, whose name heads this sketch, is a lineal descendant of the above Jacques. His father, John W. Du BOIS, was born in New York City, October 9, 1817, and at an early age was forced to begin life for himself. When he was a lad of eleven years the death of his father occurred, and he was bound out to a preacher of the Society of Friends, with whom he remained until fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., with whom he worked until having attained his majority. The year 1838 witnessed his removal to the West. A short time he spent in Chicago, and was offered eighty acres now included in the heart of the city for $400, but he told the would-be seller that he had not come West to raise frogs. Late in the same year he went to McDonough County, Ill., and being the only cabinet-maker in that section was called upon to make the furniture and burial caskets for the early settlers. In that county, on the 2nd of February, 1840, he married Elizabeth DILL, who was born in White County, Tenn., July 12, 1818. Her parents, Stephen and Catherine (HARRIS) DILL, were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. In early life her father went to Tennessee, married Miss HARRIS, and removed to McDonough County, Ill., in 1830. The Indians, then numerous in the neighborhood, frequently committed depredations which proved to be very annoying, and on reaching his destination, Mr. DILL, leaving his family tenting in a wagon, joined a company of men ready to start forth against the savages. On his return he found his wife and family living in an improvised shanty of her own construction. In 1842 they came to this county, but subsequently returned to McDonough County, where they lived to be octogenarians. They were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters.

In 1843 John W. Du BOIS removed with his family to Jefferson County, Iowa, reaching Fairfield on the 15th day of January. Having purchased a claim, one-half mile west of the city, he lived thereon two years, and then obtained possession of a claim adjoining Fairfield, now known as the Du BOIS farm, on which he lived until his death. He entered two hundred and forty acres of land, and it was his desire to secure another forty-acre tract, as he believed a vein of coal was underlying the surface, but as he had "broken" one eighty acres he could not lawfully enter the other, but his wife had the privilege and did secure it. On that tract was opened the first coal mine in Jefferson County, and such was the excellence of its quality that blacksmiths from afar, even from Burlington, sent to him for their supplies. Mr. Du BOIS was a successful business man and one of the most extensive stock-dealers in the county. His entire life was marked by the strictest honesty and fairness in dealing. So highly was he regarded that when he made a contract for purchasing stock his offer was at once accepted by the farmers, who felt fully satisfied that it was as near the market price as one could afford to give.

Politically, Mr. Du BOIS was a life-long Democrat. He served as the first Assessor of Jefferson County, and at that time could call every man in the county by name. He was nominated by his party for the position of Representative, but owing to the fact that his party was in the minority he failed at the election. In earlier life he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but after his marriage united with the Christian Church, to which his wife had belonged from girlhood. They were both earnest workers and liberal contributors to the cause, and made their religion a part of their daily life.

On the 7th of July, 1881, the wife was called to her final rest, and on the 12th of March, 1882, Mr. Du BOIS married Jennie Du BOIS, a lineal descendent of Louis Du BOIS, who was mentioned at the beginning of this sketch. His death occurred on the 6th of July, 1888. By the former marriage there were born nine children: Thomas K., who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Reuben D.; Theodore P., a farmer of Fairfield Township; Dr. J. W., a practicing physician of Batavia, Iowa; Nathanial S., a resident farmer of Fairfield Township; Mary M.; Sarah C.; Cornelius S., who resides in Omaha, Neb.; and Charlotte, who died at the age of two years.

The second child of the family, Reuben D. Du BOIS, the extensive stock-dealer, was born in McDonough County, Ill., on Christmas Day of 1842, and was brought to this county during his infancy. His education was acquired in the common schools of the neighborhood, and as soon as he was old enough to ride a horse he commenced to drive stock, and it has been his life work to deal therein. On attaining his majority he commenced buying stock as agent for the firm of Onderdonk & Redfield, of Galesburg, Ill., with whom he remained two years, the last year receiving $100 per month and expenses. In 1865 he began operations in the same line in his own interests, and has continued the business to the present time with marked success. Other enterprises have also occupied his attention. He has also engaged in farming and in furnishing building materials under contract, and for the last ten years has carried on a meat market.

On the 21st of December, 1865, Mr. Du BOIS led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah WELCH, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 26, 1845, and is a daughter of John and Clarissa (CHASE) WELCH, whose sketch appears on another page of this work. One child has been born unto them, a daughter, Charlotte A. Both Mr. Du BOIS and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and socially he is an Odd Fellow. Unlike his father and brothers, he is an advocate of Republican principles, and was elected by that party as Alderman of the Second Ward for one term. Mr. Du BOIS is a self-made man, having by his own efforts acquired his possessions, including one hundred and seventy acres of farm land beside his stock and town property. Though comparatively a young man he is an old settler and one who stands high in the community.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.