Benjamin F. Boggs
Submitted by
Robert Kingrey
Source: Edited by Joseph O. Cunningham
Benjamin F. Boggs was born in Lawrence County, Ohio.
His father’s families were residents of southern Ohio. His
ancestors on his mother’s side were of Scottish origin, and came
to America during the Colonial period, settling in Pendleton
County, VA. His great-grandfather, John Nelson, was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War. The grandfather, Benjamin
Nelson, removed with the family to Lawrence County, Ohio,
and it was here that his daughter, Mahala Nelson, mother of
the subject of this sketch, was married to Alexander Boggs.
Having lost his parents at the age of seven years, Mr. Boggs
went to live with his uncle Henry Nelson. Although the
neighborhood had been settled for some time, the inhabitants were
scattering, and educational advantages were exceedingly limited.
Young Boggs attended school two or three months each winter from
the age of ten ears until he was nineteen, at which time he
entered the Academy at Albany, Ohio, remaining there two years.
These scanty opportunities were eagerly improved and thoroughly
enjoyed by his alert mind.
In the spring of 1853 he accompanied his uncle Henry Nelson
to Madison County, Ind. The following autumn he returned to Ohio
where, on December 20, 1853, he was married to Mary J.
Armstrong, who still survives him. Shortly after his marriage,
Mr. Boggs accompanied by his wife, went to Indiana where they
lived for one year. They then returned to Ohio where they stayed
for 6 years, and, on September 15, 1860, he with his family- at
that time consisting of himself, his wife and three children-
removed to Douglas County, Ill. Driving overland in a
canvas covered wagon, taking twelve days for the trip.
Mr. Boggs continued residence on the farm in Douglas or
Champaign Counties until 1899, when he removed to Urbana, where he
resided until his death, which occurred February 25th,
1903.
Eleven children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Boggs, nine of
whom are still living: Elma, wife of Rev. G.W.
Wilson, of Chicago: Harriet, wife of I.A. Love,
a lawyer of Danville, Ill.: Estelle, wife of F. H. Prunk,
a hardware dealer of Indianapolis; Frank H. Boggs, a
lawyer of Urbana and a junior member of the firm of Cunningham &
Boggs of that city; Florence, wife of Dr. Oliver M.
Johnston, Professor of Romance Languages in Leland Stanford
University, California; Cassandra A. Boggs, teacher in the
city schools of Seattle, Washington; F. Stanley Boggs,
real-estate and insurance agent of Urbana, Ill.; L. Pearl Boggs,
a teacher residing at Urbana, and O.Carter Boggs,
real-estate and insurance agent of Urbana, in business with his
brother, F. Stanley Boggs of the same place. Mr. Boggs
was a strong believer in liberal education and gave to all of his
children the advantages offered by our state University, from
which four of them were graduates.
In religion Mr. Boggs was, from his early boyhood, a
Methodist, always holding the interests of his church of first
importance. In politics, first a Whig and then a Republican, yet
never a strong partisan, he always took lively interest in the
political affairs of his county.
For the greater part of his life, Mr. Boggs was
extensively engaged in farming and the feeding of stock, and at
the time of his death was the owner of between 500 and 600 acres
of fine farming land in Champaign and Douglas Counties, and about
2000 acres of wheat and grazing lands in Harper County, Kansas.
Mr. Boggs was possessed of a strong and pronounced
individuality which- although in his intercourse with others was
most facile and suave- invariably ruled and finally determined his
actions. He was unbending in his integrity, his sense of right and
justice being his rule of action. The arguments and persuasions of
friends were listened to with respect and deference, but the
ultimate action would confirm to his convictions. In public
matters, especially those pertaining to his church relations, he
was a liberal giver, and the worthy poor had in him a constant
friend.
