Francis Marion Bruce

BRUCE, CONNOR, FIELD, HERRON, KEITH, NIBLO, RUTH, SAGE, SELLERS, STARK, TEMPLEMAN, UNDERWOOD

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/27/2004 at 16:00:50

Francis M. Bruce, a retired farmer of Winterset, was born in Brown county, Illinois, on the 23d of October, 1843, a son of Richard P. Bruce, whose birth occurred in Garrett county, Kentucky, in 1818. When a young man the father removed to Illinois and engaged in farming in Brown county until 1851, in which year he came to Madison county, Iowa, settling in Lincoln township. He first rented land but by carefully husbanding his resources was at length able to buy a farm. Later he purchased land in Douglas township and held title to four hundred acres in all. He followed general farming and stock-raising and was very successful in those occupations. He eventually sold his holdings and removed to a place a half mile west of Winterset, where he died at the venerable age of ninety-one years and eight months. He was very popular and was familiarly known as Uncle Dicky. In his active life he was quite prominent in public affairs and held a number of township offices and was also a member of the county board for one term. He was well known in local Masonic circles, being one of the organizers and a charter member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A, F. & A. M., at Winterset. He was married in Brown county, Illinois, to Miss Judith A. Keith, whose birth occurred in dark county, Kentucky. She passed away about a quarter of a century ago when about sixty-five years of age. To their union were born the following children: John R., deceased; Francis M.; Mary Jane, the deceased wife of Timothy Conner; Kate, who is now Mrs. William Underwood and resides in the state of Washington; Susan, the wife of John Herron, of Perry, Iowa; Melissa, the deceased wife of Lewis Field; Martha, who married Joseph Ruth and has passed away; Bell, who gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Stark, a resident of South Dakota; Henrietta, who died in childhood; and Clara, the deceased wife of Howard Sellers.

Francis M. Bruce was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county and here he grew to manhood. At the time of the Civil war he felt that all other considerations were insignificant as compared with the need of his country and enlisted in the Union army on the 24th of October, 1861, just one day after his eighteenth birthday. He was enrolled as a member of the company known as The Lancers but later joined Company I, Fourth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry at Mount Pleasant. He was with that regiment during all of the engagements in which it participated and was mustered out at the end of his term of enlistment at Memphis, Tennessee. He returned to Madison county and began farming. His first purchase was an eighty acre tract of raw prairie land in Douglas township and he continued to own it until about a year ago. In time he added eighty acres to his original farm and also became the owner of two other farms in Douglas township, one comprising one hundred acres and the other eighty acres. The latter place is improved with a good set of buildings. He resided upon his original purchase until thirteen years ago, when he retired from active life and took up his residence in a fine home just west of Winterset. He was a thoroughly efficient farmer, keeping his property in excellent condition, conserving the fertility of the soil and using the most approved methods and machinery in his work.

Mr. Bruce married Miss Harriet Templeman, a native of Ohio, who accompanied her mother to this county from Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Bruce have been born the following children: Lillie, who gave her hand in marriage to T. G. Niblo, of Jackson township; R. F., a resident of South Dakota; Annie, who became the wife of R. S. Niblo, of Dallas county; Robert, living in Texas; Edward, a resident of Des Moines; one who died in infancy; Pearl, now Mrs. Ray Sage, of Lincoln township; and Delia, at home.

Mr. Bruce is a republican and has held some township offices, although never an office seeker. He continues his association with his comrades in blue through his connection with John A. Pitzer Post, No. 55, G. A. R., of Winterset. He is entitled to honor as a veteran of the Civil war and in all the relations of life he has proved himself a man of honor and integrity, while his personality is one that attracts and retains friends.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”