BRUCE, BENJAMIN P., was born May 21, 1826, in Carroll county, Tenn. His parents moved to Morgan county, near Jacksonville, in the spring of 1830. His father died there, of cholera, in 1833. His mother, with six children, moved to Springfield in 1834, and in 1836 moved back to Morgan county, where she was married to George R. McAllister. While she lived in Springfield her son, whose name heads this sketch, was bound to Rev. Joseph Edmondson, of the M. E. Church, and taken to St. Clair county, thence to Bond county. In 1843 he went to Memphis, Tenn., and returned to Springfield in 1852, and was married June 18, 1854, to Ann Gunn, in Morgan county. He enlisted for three years, Aug. 6, 1862, in Co. H, 114 Ill. Inf. He was wounded in the right eye at the battle of Nashville, Dec. 15-16, 1864, recovered, served full term, and was honorably discharged Aug. 3, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce had four children; two died in infancy. SARAH A. died, aged twelve years. WILLIAM T. resides with his parents. Benjamin P. Bruce and wife reside three and a quarter miles northwest of Springfield.

His mother, Mrs. Mary W. McAllister, whose maiden name was Gunn, resides with him.