Boswell, David bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 394; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
   David Boswell has been a resident of this county since 1855, when he associated himself with its pioneer farmers. His home is in Joshua Township, where he has a good farm, and is actively and successfully engaged in its cultivation. He is a Virginian by birth, born amid the beautiful scenery of Shenandoah County, in 1907.
     When our subject was still a small boy, he left his native State and went to Ohio, where he earned his own living by working on a farm in Champaign County. In 1855, in the prime of stalwart manhood he resolved to try life in Illinois, where he considered he would have a better opportunity for prosecuting his calling as a practical farmer. After his arrival here he located in Buckheart Township, having made the trip hither in a two-horse wagon. He was accompanied by one David Myers, who took up a farm on the same section and is living on it at the present time. Mr. Boswell has prosecuted his calling with good success, placing his estate under good improvements and from its well-cultivated, highly productive fields, reaps rich harvests in compensation for the toil and care expended. He is the oldest man now living in his township, whose growth he has watched with pleasure, promoting it in his capacity of an energetic agriculturalist.
     Mr. Boswell took unto himself a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Nancy Colbert, whose parents were natives of Virginia. She was born in Ohio, April 10, 1809, and in their thirty-five years of wedded life he has been greatly aided by her cheerful co-operation and wise counsel. She is known as an amiable and pious lady, and as an active member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Boswell have had a family of thirteen children, namely: Mary Ann, deceased; Mahala, who is in Ohio; Anna Maria, deceased; Ezekiel, who makes his home in St. David; Barbara, in Cumberland County, Ill.; Stephen, who is a resident of Joshua, where he is engaged in farming; Sarah resides in Joshua; Francis, and Jane, deceased; Oliver lives in Canton, and is occupied in teaming; Lucinda, in Canton; John and Samuel, also deceased. All the children are married, and in their honorable lives reflect credit upon their early training. Mr. Boswell, politically, has been a life-long member of the Democrat party. He is a man of good habits, and is well thought of in the community where he has resided for so many years.