Joseph B. Broadway
from pages 128 & 131
Joseph B. Broadway is numbered among the early settlers of Pope County, and has made his own way in the world from his early years. He is truly a self-made man, and it is to his native characteristics of industry and well-directed effort that he has acquired his present postition as one of the prosperous and well-to-do farmers of township 12. He owns a well-improved and highly cultivated farm, comprising four hundred and ten acres on sectin 13, and has made almost all the improvements on his place, having himself erected all his comfortable buildings and his pleasant farm residence. He is engaged in general farming, and also raises horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep.
Our subject was born in Tennessee, November 8,1827, and is the son of Royal B. and Nancy (O'Neil) Broadway. The father was a native Virginian, while his wife was born in Tennessee. Our subject's paternal grandfather, John B. Broadway, was likewise a native of Virginia, where he carried on extensive farms, but later removing to Tennessee, made that State his home until his death. Our subject's father emigrated to Illinois at an early day, and became the owner of some raw land in Pope County. He made the journey to this State in wagons, camping out and cooking on the way, the trip consuming some three weeks.
Joseph Broadway was one in a family of nine children, and attended school a few months in his native State and a short time after coming to Illinois. However, his attendance at school, all told, did not cover more than a year, and therefore he has been largely self-educated since arriving at mature years and becoming sensible of his needs in that direction. In those pioneer days the early settlers had a great many difficulties to overcome, and his mother used to card, weave and spin the cloth for the garments of her whole family, and until our subject was twenty years of age, he had never posessed anything but homespun clothes. The schoolhouse which he attended for a short time was built of logs, and was of the most primitive description in regard to furnishings. Wild game was still very plentiful, and wolves often annoyed the settlers, sometimes creating havoc in their flocks and herds.
When seventeen years of age, Mr. Broadway started out to make his own way in the world, working for four years with a neighbor and receiving his board and clothes in compensation for his services. At the end of the four years his employer gave him a horse, a heifer and a few hogs, but he concluded to remain for two years longer, and engaged in farming on shares at the same place. He then entered land at $1.25 per acre, and has been engaged in farming ever since on his original purchase.
On the 14th of November, 1850, a marriage ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Mr. Broadway and Miss Elizabeth Frieze, who was born in Greene County, Tenn., April 14, 1826, and whose parents were among the early and honored pioneers of Illinois. The home of our worthy subject and his amiable wife has been blessed with a daughter, who was born November 8,1862, and whose name if Mary Elizabeth. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at New Liberty, and are active in the various branches of its work. For ten years Mr. Broadway has been a School Director, and is one of the warm advocates of good schools and teachers. He casts his ballot in favor of the principles and nominees of the Republican party, and can always be found using his influence for the promotion of all good measures, and on the side of right and justice. He has made it one of his chief objects in life to leave to his descendants and honorable name, untarnished and without blemish.