Millard F. Bovard, the editor and proprietor of the Marseilles Register, is one of the representative citizens of LaSalle county. He was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1856, a son of Oliver K. and Mahala (Herin) Bovard. When he was but six years of age our subject's father died, and ten years later the devoted mother was summoned to her reward.
Thus left an orphan at an early age, Millard F. Bovard was thrown upon his own resources, and nobly and manfully he met the new responsibilities of his position. Realizing that the basis of success in after life was a liberal education, he applied himself to his studies with assiduity. Locating in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1871, subsequently to the death of his mother, he attended school there for a period, and during the next year commenced an apprenticeship at the printer's trade in the office of the Bloomington Pantagraph. He devoted his whole attention to journalistic work for the next eight years, after which he taught school for a period, and served as superintendent of city schools in McLean and Livingston counties for about fifteen years. He then conducted a newspaper at Forest, Illinois, for a year or two, and upon disposing of it came to Marseilles, in August, 1895. Here he bought the Register, a six-column quarto, which he has published ever since. The paper, which is issued daily and weekly, enjoys a large local circulation. Republican in politics, it is not offensively partisan, but aims to be conservative and liberal in judgment, and to present to its readers a brief, yet comprehensive digest of the great affairs engrossing the world's attention, and at the same time to chronicle local events of interest.
Mr. Bovard is thoroughly interested in the public schools, and has acted as a member of the Marseilles board of education. For years he has been a member of the Congregational church, and is now chorister, his ability in this direction being quite pronounced.
In April, 1879, Mr. Bovard married Miss Jennie Plank, a daughter of Horace and Louisa Plank, natives of Massachusetts, and now residents of Marseilles. Two sons and two daughters bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bovard, namely: Edna L., who is a successful teacher in the town schools; Horace R.; Mahala Blanche; and Millard F., Jr. It is needless to say that the children are receiving excellent educational advantages, and are thus being fitted in the wisest manner for the future battle of life.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 71-72.
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Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
