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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of Edward McBROOM 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Joan Achille and Alice Stipak. 

[Surnames: BARNES, DANCER, FREEMAN, McBROOM, NELSON, TAYLOR, TURNER] 

[Page 978] 

    
McBROOM, Edward, who is among the prominent and favorably known representative farmers of Fulton County, Ill., and a member of a family long identified with the development of that section of the country, was born in Canton Township, Fulton County, on July 11, 1861. With the exception of five years, during which he was a resident of Canton, Ill., the paternal farm has been his home since that date. Mr. McBroom is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Dancer) McBroom, the former born in Canton Township, January 5, 1837, and the latter in Ohio December 13, 1835. The grandfather, Hewitt M. McBroom, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was born November 14, 1802, and died in 1877, while his wife, Bridget McBroom, was born June 1, 1802, and died in 1892. The former, who was a farmer by occupation, came West in 1834 and settled on the land which is still the family homestead. He diligently applied himself to the task of clearing and breaking the virgin ground, made the necessary improvements thereon and carried on farming during the remainder of his life. In 1848 and 1850 he built the house and barn now standing on the place. He was the father of seven children, namely: Elizabeth, Mary A., Hewitt, Jr.; Jeremiah, Harriet, Olive and Alfred--Harriet and Alfred still surviving. Jeremiah McBroom, father of the subject of this sketch, grew up and continued in the work of cultivating the soil where his sire had begun, the property then consisting of 185 acres of land. He devoted his entire active life to agricultural pursuits. He and his worthy wife became the parents of five children, namely: Caroline L., Edward, Flora B., Lillian May, and Albert J. Edward and Lillian May (McBroom) Taylor are the only surviving children of this family. 
    
In boyhood Edward McBroom made the best use of the advantages afforded by the public schools in his vicinity and since 1885 has been engaged in farming on the home place except for a period of five years, as above mentioned. During his residence in Canton he purchased the City Mills, which he conducted for two years. 
    
Mr. McBroom has been thrice married. On October 14, 1886 he was united in marriage with Carrie A. Turner, who was a native of Illinois, and born in McDonough County. This union resulted in five children, as follows: Lee, born April 14, 1888; Mary, born August 13, 1889; Harley A., born October 13, 1892, died in 1895; Mildred, born October 21, 1894, and William J., born September 16, 1896. The mother of this family passed away October 1, 1899. The second marriage of Mr. McBroom occurred February 27, 1901, when he was united to Mrs. Zananara A. (Nelson) Barnes, who passed away February 15, 1903. On June 7, 1905, he took as his third wife Elva Freeman, who was born in North Carolina. 
    
The political opinions of the subject of this sketch are in harmony with the policies of the Republican party. 
    
For three years he held the office of Road Commissioner of Canton Township, and served two years as Alderman of the city of Canton. In fraternal circles Mr. McBroom is affiliated with the A. F. and A. M., and the K. of P. He is a man of excellent traits of character and is highly esteemed by all who enjoy his acquaintance.