BIOGRAPHY - O. BOSHELL
The confidence and trust reposed in O. K. Boshell by his fellow townsmen is indicated by the fact that he is now serving for the fourth term as supervisor of Peach Orchard township. Here, on section 14, he owns and operates a good farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land, much of which has been reclaimed by him, and the extent of the labor and improvements he has placed upon it is indicated by the fact that while it was worth but eight dollars per acre when it came into his possession, it is today valued at two hundred dollars per acre.
Mr. Boshell is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Magnolia, Putnam county, September 2, 1848, but when he was only three years of age he was taken to Hope township, La Salle county, by his parents, Richard and Mary (Dikes) Boshell, who were natives of Manchester, England, the former born in 1809 and the latter in 1811. They were reared in that country and in 1831 Mrs. Boshell crossed the Atlantic to Pennsylvania, while Mr. Boshell arrived in this country in 1832. They located in Delaware and on leaving the east took up their abode in Richmond, Indiana. In the spring of 1838 they cast in their lot with the early settlers of Putnam county and aided in extending the frontier by reclaiming the wild land for purposes of cultivation and improvement. They continued residents of that county until about 1851, when they took up their abode in La Salle county, where for a long period the father was identified with general agricultural pursuits. He there died when lacking but two months of eighty years, after which his widow came to Ford county and lived with her son, O. K. Boshell, at whose home she passed away at the age of eighty-four years. They were consistent and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, living earnest and faithful Christian lives. Mr. Boshell gave his political allegiance to the republican party but was not an active worker in its ranks, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business pursuits. In the family of this worthy couple were eleven children, but only four reached years of maturity: James, deceased; Mrs. Katharine A. Phillips, deceased; John W., now living in La Salle county; and O. K., of this review.
The early boyhood and youth of O. K. Boshell were passed in Hope township, La Salle county, upon the old homestead farm, and when not busy in acquiring an education in the district schools he devoted his time to the work of the fields. In 1874 he came to Ford county, where he remained until the spring of 1877, when he returned to La Salle county and there spent the succeeding ten years. In 1887 he again came to Ford county and took up his abode upon his present farm, which he purchased from the Illinois Central Railroad in 1867, comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 14, Peach Orchard township. It was largely swamp land when he took possession there being only about seventy or eighty acres that could be farmed, but he has since drained the land, laying many rods of tiling and thus rendering the fields rich and productive. He has also placed many substantial improvements upon the farm and today it is an excellent property, indicating in its well kept appearance the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner, whose labors have transformed it from a comparatively worthless property which he purchased for eight dollars per acre into a splendidly developed tract that is today valued at two hundred dollars per acre.
As companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Boshell, in 1869, chose Miss Jane Bothwell, who was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1852, and came to La Salle county with her parents about 1863. She is a daughter of William and Mary (Burritt) Bothwell, natives of County Antrim, Ireland, whence they crossed the ocean to Canada after their marriage and are now residents of La Salle county, both being about eighty years of age. They had seven children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Boshell have been born six children: Dr. H. N. Boshell, a practicing physician of Melvin; Henry L., at home; Marietta, who is a milliner, of Crowley, Louisiana; Mary Wilma, the wife of Shelby Powell, of Peach Orchard township; Georgiana May and Vera Jane, both at home.
Mr. Boshell was formerly an earnest republican and was elected on that ticket to the office of supervisor in 1893 and in 1895 was reelected as the republican candidate. In 1901 he was chosen to the same office on the people's ticket and reelected in 1907, so he is now serving for the fourth term of two years in that office. He has been road commissioner for six years, has been school trustee and is now serving for the second term as school trustee. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart friend and one who is ever loyal to its interests. He belongs to Melvin Lodge, No. 179, K. P.; and Melvin Lodge, No. 811, A. F. & A. M., while his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church indicates the guiding principles of his life. In business affairs he has always been notably prompt, energetic and trustworthy and by honorable methods has achieved the success, which he is now enjoying.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 648-650.
