Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

37
MRS. JOHN C.
BOND
(Nancy Green St ice)
Nancy Green Stice, daughter <strong>of</strong> Nancy Wilson and
Andrew Stice, <strong>of</strong> Revolutionary stock, was born in Bowling
Green, Kentucky, September 23, 1807, and died in
Warren County, Illinois, May 14, 1906.
In 1816 her family removed to Madison county, Illinois
Territory, and <strong>the</strong>re she married Andrew Terry.
After his death in 1836 she removed to Warren county,
Illinois. In 1844 she married Major John C. Bond, an
<strong>of</strong>ficer in <strong>the</strong> Black Hawk War, also <strong>of</strong> Revolutionary
blood.
Mrs. Bond came to Illinois on horseback, <strong>the</strong> family
possessions being conveyed in a covered wagon, drawn by
an ox team, when <strong>the</strong>re was not a railroad in <strong>the</strong> state,
and she lived to see <strong>the</strong> automobile and <strong>the</strong> airplane.
As a pioneer woman she placated <strong>the</strong> Indians, nursed
<strong>the</strong> sick, mo<strong>the</strong>red <strong>the</strong> orphans, laid out <strong>the</strong> dead. She
and her husband at different periods cared for forty
children besides <strong>the</strong>ir own. Many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se were clo<strong>the</strong>d
from <strong>the</strong> raw material.
She spun and wove, carded <strong>the</strong> wool and did <strong>the</strong> sewing.
Their home was noted, even in those pioneer days,
for its bountiful hospitality. A letter is in existence
telling <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir Christmas dinner in 1859 when sixty-five
relatives and friends were present.
At Camp Meeting
times, nothing was thought <strong>of</strong> having thirty-five or forty
for dinner.
Born during <strong>the</strong> administration <strong>of</strong> Thomas Jefferson,
living under that <strong>of</strong> Theodore Roosevelt, <strong>the</strong> life <strong>of</strong> Mrs.
Bond spanned a marvelous period <strong>of</strong> our state and national
history.