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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Rufus K. BOHANNON 

Pages 373-374, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: BOHANNON, BYRD, CATTRON, SMITH] 

    
RUFUS K. BOHANNON. Among the men who are actively advancing the stock-raising interests of Illinois, stands our subject, who occupies a leading position among the farmers and stock-growers of Bernadotte Township. He has some horses, cattle and hogs of standard grade that are as fine as are to be found in the State. He is a son of James E. Bohannon, who was born in Tennessee, in the year 1818. He married there Eliza H. Byrd, who was also a native of that State, and was born in 1814. She is now dead; her death occurring in the month of September, 1867, near Lebanon, Mo. The father is still living in his old home in Tennessee. 
    
Our subject was the sixth son of ten children, and was born January 7, 1852. He began life for himself in 1871, as a farmer in middle Georgia. He resided there one year and then took up his residence in middle Tennessee, where he lived about eight months. During his stay there he suffered a severe fracture of the ankle. He subsequently came to Fulton County, and resided with his brother, T. O. Bohannon, three months. At the expiration of that time he established himself on a farm near Table Grove, and remained there two months. His next venture was to engage with J. B. Cattron in farming in Pleasant Township. He was with him about eleven months when he married his daughter, Rachael T. She was born December 5, 1854. The maiden name of her mother was Nancy Smith. 
    
Immediately after his marriage, our subject rented the old homestead of his father-in-law, Mr. Cattron, and was actively engaged in its management three years. At the end of that time he rented a farm of one hundred and twenty acres near Ipava, for one year. He next rented a farm of his father-in-law, and carried it on two years. 
    
After that our subject tried ranching it in Texas, near Dallas--his father-in-law having made him and his wife a present of a ranch of eight hundred and forty acres, and for one year he was engaged in the stock business there. He made many improvements on the place, building a house and fences, and otherwise putting the ranch in good order. A year later he was obliged to leave there on account of his wife's health, as the climate did not agree with her. On his return he made his father a visit in Tennessee. After he came back here in 1883 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 23, Bernadotte Township, where he has since resided. He has cleared about one hundred acres of heavy brush, doing the most of the work himself. He has built a neat one and one-half story house, 20x26 feet in dimension, with an "L" of the same proportions, and he has erected a large barn 64x48 feet, and 24 feet high on the main corners, with a capacity of forty tons of hay. He has as fine a herd of horses as is to be found in the State. He has four brood mares, two of them one-fourth, and the others three-fourths Percheron Norman. He has also of the same breed a pair of beautiful seven-eights twin colts, three months old, as nearly perfect as can be; two beautiful three-fourths colts, and one seven-eighths, three month old, valued at $100. His favorite breed in cattle is the Durham, and of these he has twenty head of milch cows, one very fine bull, fifteen spring calves, and thirty-two steers, the most of which he raised himself. He has seventy-five Poland-China hogs of high grade, and his farm is one of the best stocked in the vicinity. 
    
Our subject has a pleasant home, and his family consists of himself, his amiable wife, and their three boys, of whom the following is the record: Freddie C., was born January 22, 1876; William K., March 29, 1882; David W., September 16, 1887. 
    
Our subject is a man of high Christian principles and tries to live up to the Golden Rule. He is one of the most consistent and exemplary Christians in the community, is a prominent member of the Free Methodist Church, and is very active in all religious works. He is Class Leader in his church, and is a regular attendant at Sunday-school. He sets an example as to how a true Christian should act in his daily walk and conversation. About eight years ago he adopted the principle of giving one-tenth of his income to the cause of Christ, and still continues the practice. He is a Prohibitionist in politics and principles, is temperate in all things, and is rearing his children to be the same. In all the relations of life he has been true to himself and others. He was filial and obedient toward his parents, never giving them a rude or unkind word: and as a husband and father he is devoted and tender.