JOSEPH RENCH BOUSLAUGH
Joseph Rench Bouslaugh, youngest son of Sebastian,Jr. and Esther Rench Bouslough
This record is from Donna and our newest record now. THANKS DONNA!
Obituary of Joseph R. Bouslaugh
DIED, at his residence in Center township, Sunday, January 6th, 1895, at 9:35 a. m., Judge Joseph R. Bouslaugh, aged 89 years, 11 months and 21 days.
Joseph R. was the son of Sebastian Bouslaugh jr., a native of Switzerland, and the grandson of Sebastian Bouslaugh sr., who was from the same republic. Joseph R. Bouslaugh was born in that part of Huntingdon county, now forming the county of Blair, Pa., on January 16th, 1805. He was reared in his native state and came west in 1837 and located in Ohio. From there he removed to Indiana and settled in Wayne county but two years later removed to Henry county in the same state. A short time afterward he returned to Ohio, where he made his home for four years, and in the spring of 1846 came to Illinois and located in Hancock county. Nine years later he removed to Polk county, Iowa, and in 1859 to Monona county.
In September of the latter year he entered a tract of sixty acres of land in sections 8 and 9 Center township, upon which he resided at the time of his death. Mr. Bouslaugh was prominently identified with the official life of the county in its early days, and at the October election of 1861 was chosen to fill the office of county judge. He held it for one term, serving at the same time as chairman of the board of supervisors of the county, and representative of the township of Maple. He retained this position on the county board until 1869, and was prominently identified with all the legislation during that period, most of the time filling the office of chairman.
Judge Bouslaugh was united in marriage May 4th, 1826, with Miss Margaret Thomas, a native of Washington county, Md., born Nov. 7th, 1808, and was the parent of eight children, five of whom, together with a loving wife, are left to mourn his demise.
The funeral was held at the residence at two o'clock Monday afternoon, Jan.7th, the Rev. J.W. Plummer officiating, after which a large concourse of relatives and friends followed the remains to their last resting place in Center cemetery.
OBITUARY OF MARGARET THOMAS, wife of Joseph R. Bouslaugh
Thanks Gina!
The Mapleton Press-Advocate, May
"Tuesday, May 6th, at mid-night at the home of her son,
Marion
Bouslaugh in
Center township, Mrs. Margaret Bouslaugh, at the age of 93 years
and
6 months.
"Margaret Thomas was born in Washington County, Maryland,
November 7,
1808,
and married Joseph R. Bouslaugh on the 4th day of May, 1826, at
Greencastle,
Penn., where they resided a number of years. On moving west they
came to
Warsaw, Ill., thence to Polk County, Iowa, and in 1858 came to
Monona
County, where she has since resided, undergoing many of the
hardships
of
pioneer life. She was the mother of eight children, five of whom
survive
her, her husband having departed this life in 1895. Since that
time
she has
often said she was ready and willing to join him. She was a kind
and
faithful wife and mother, and all in her wide acquaintanceship
knew
her
generous nature.
"The funeral occurred at the home Thursday at 10 o'clock,
a.m., Rev.
Empey
of Castana, preached by special request to a large audience of
friends and
relatives. The remains were taken to Center cemetery.
Mapleton Milestones 1878-1978
Judge Bouslaugh Family
Judge Joseph R. Bouslaugh was born at Harrisburg, PA.1/13/1805. He grew to manhood and received his education in the schools of Harrisburg. He was married to Margaret Thomas of Hagerstown, Pa.(I think this is a typo and supposed to be Maryland)in May of 1827.
They came to Warsaw, Il.,by oxen team,in the year 1848. In 1854 they settled in Center Twp.,Monona County, Ia., where they resided continuosly until his death in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Bouslaugh's family was as follows: Theodore, Josephine, Jasper, Elissiff and Marion. When they came to Center Twp. they had 3 covered wagons driven by horses. One wagon contained their winter supply of barreled pork, barreled flour, and all groceries to last through the cold season.
They pitched their tent in the tall prarie grass and proceeded at once to go to the Maple River and cut trees with which to build their log house. Mr's Bouslaugh was obliged to go to the Maple River to do the washings over a campfire until a well could be located.
In the year of 1861, Mr. Bouslaugh was chosen Judge of Monona County, which office he held for 8 years. He was president of the board of supervisors for 12 years.
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