Calvin T. Bruce, who engages in general farming on section 21,
Staunton township, was born on the farm where he now resides on the 25th
of September, 1878. His father, Wallace Bruce, when a boy emigrated from
Scotland with his parents, who were among the pioneers of southern
Illinois. They located on a farm in Staunton township and there they
spent the remainder of their lives. When old enough to begin work for
himself Wallace Bruce bought an uncultivated and unimproved farm on
section 21, Staunton township. Upon completing the necessary
improvements he immediately began breaking the prairie, placing it under
cultivation as he was able. Hard-working, thrifty Scot that he was he
met with success in the intelligent direction of his affairs, and at the
time of his death owned a homestead of three hundred and twenty acres,
well improved and in a high state of cultivation. In addition to this
land he had acquired four hundred acres in Madison county. He passed
away on his homestead in 1905. For his wife Mr. Bruce chose Miss
Elizabeth Jane Clarke, also a native of Scotland, whom he married in
Macoupin county. She is still living and continues to make her home in
Staunton township, but is now a resident of the village of that name. To
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce were born eleven children: Charles, who is residing
in the vicinity of Hornsby, Illinois; Lizzie, who is unmarried and lives
with her mother; Thomas, a resident of New Douglas, Illinois; Wallace,
who lives in the vicinity of Gillespie, Illinois; Belle, the wife of
James Earley, of New Douglas, Illinois; Edward, who is living in
Staunton; Agnes, the wife of August Kroger, of Staunton; William, who is
also a resident of Staunton; Robert, living in New Douglas, Illinois;
Calvin T., who is our subject; and May, the wife of Richard Cox, of
Mount Olive, Illinois.
Calvin T. Bruce always lived upon the
farm where he was born, having pursued his education in the district
schools of the vicinity where he mastered the common branches. He
remained under the parental roof until the death of his father following
which he purchased one-half of the homestead and here he has ever since
resided. He has wrought many improvements in the place during the period
of his occupancy, having erected new barns and outbuildings, all of
which he keeps in a good state of repair. His fields are devoted to
general farming and in addition to the cultivation of these he is
operating an eighty acre tract adjoining. One of the special features of
interest on his farm are the full blooded Shorthorn cattle he is so
successfully breeding and which promise to be a most gratifying source
of revenue.
In 1907 Mr. Bruce established a home of his own by
his marriage to Miss Mollie Russell, and to them has been born one
child, Elmer.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce are devoted members of the
Presbyterian church and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America,
being identified with the Staunton camp. His political support he has
always given to the democratic party. Mr. Bruce takes much pride in his
farm, which, having been the playground of his boyhood and the training
school of his youth, is endeared to him by its association with all of
the deepest and greatest experiences of his life.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 662-663.
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