Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois. Edited by Newton Bateman and Paul Selby. And History of Carroll County. Edited by Charles L. Hostetter. Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co, 1913 p. 869-70

PULFORD, James Bothwell (deceased), one of the highly respected native sons of Savanna, Ill., was born here November 17, 1852, being a son of the pioneers Charles and Sarah (Bothwell) Pulford. Charles Pulford was born in England, August 10, 1818, while his wife was born in Ireland, May 10, 1814. He and a brother came to America about 1840, and walked from Chicago to Savanna to join an elder brother living here. [The author has confused his Pulfords here. Charles was clearly the first of the brothers to arrive in Savanna.] Mrs. Pulford came here about the same year. At first, Mr. Pulford went to work in a stave mill, but later took up butchering, he having learned the trade in England, continuing in it until his health failed, when he retired. He was a progressive man and assisted materially in the development of Savanna. About 1850, he built a large stone house on the site of the present public library, quarrying the rock himself, as well as hewing all the timber used in the construction of his home. He was a hard-working man who never spared himself, and was noted for his business judgment and ability, and accumulated considerable property. Fraternally, he belonged to the Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Pulford became the parents of five children, of whom James B. was the youngest. Two survive: Elizabeth, Mrs. Dr. G. W. Johnson, of Savanna; and Samuel Pulford, of Chicago. Charles Pulford died October 2, 1887, while his wife died March 24, 1867 [Actually our Sarah died 16 Feb 1872. I have no idea where this date came from.]
        James B. Pulford was educated in the public schools of Savanna, and being very ambitious, when a boy of twelve years he began work ferrying hay and wood across Plum river, using a horse as motive power. Two years later, he entered a drug store as clerk and apprentice, and at sixteen bought out the stock and conducted this store until his death. He built up a very extensive business, and carried a large stock of drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, pianos and musical instruments, jewelry, silverware and similar articles. He was also connected with other business ventures, and at one time served as president of the Commercial State Bank, holding that office at the time of his death. Mr. Pulford bought the first electric light plant built in the city, later installed a larger plant in the opera house building, and still later erected the present plant, which he owned individually when he died. In addition to these activities, Mr. Pulford was an extensive dealer in real estate. He belonged to the city council for a number of years, and was also on the school board. Politically, he was a staunch Republican. Like his father, he was an Odd Fellow, and also belonged to the Modern Woodmen. In early life he was an active church member. About 1892 he built the present Pulford residence, which is one of the finest in Savanna; he also built the opera house, and practically all the houses in the block.
        On January 5, 1884 he was married to Lucinda Wiel, born in Hanover, Jo Daviess county, Ill., August 22, 1861, daughter of Philip and Margaret (Nicodemas) Wiel, natives of Nassau, Germany, who came to America with two sons and located in Madison, Wis. Later, they went to Galena, Ill. In Germany, Mr. Wiel was a carriage maker, but established a vinegar factory at Madison, moving it to Galena later on. Some time later he sold it, moving to Hanover, being one of the first to locate there. Mr. Wiel enlisted in the army during the Civil War, and died at Memphis, Tenn., having contracted smallpox in the service. Mrs. Wiel died at the home of Mrs. Pulford in 1895, aged sixty-seven years. Mrs. Pulford was the youngest of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Pulford became the parents of two children: Pearl B., Mrs. A. D. Shaw, of Savanna, born January 9, 1886; and Hazel Nell, born November 29, 1887, died January 21, 1909. Mr. Pulford died May 25, 1905. Few men were more active than he in Carroll county, and none are more kindly remembered, for his all too short life was filled with deeds of kindness, and he was always public-spirited to the highest degree. It is such men as he who build up a community and advance its best interests.

Savanna Yesterday and Today - This is a little pamphlet, with photographs. I have copied the text - you can see how popular? important? the Pulfords (and perhaps especially James B. Pulford) were.
p. 8 - middle right -
      This frame house on the SW corner of 3rd & Madison was the 1865 home of J Pulford, the streetlamp lighter
p. 8 - middle left - original Congregational church

p. 12 - lower right - young Bothwell Pulford and his dog (1852-1905) - shown here in his early 20s “Bot” Pulford, as he was generally known, was a firm believer in the wisdom of investing your time and money in your own community. A druggist most of his life, he built several of the brick structures on the east side of the 300 block on Main Street. He also owned the 1st electric plant, and was one of the originators of the Commercial State Bank on the NW corner of Main and Madison Streets.

p. 16 - In 1892 McKinney Brothers Store was using the complete ground floor of the building erected by Pulford in 1884 at 322 and 318 Main. The building now houses the Times-Journal Office and the clothing store of Schauer and Nay.

p. 19 - bottom - This was the private residence of Bothwell Pulford on the NW corner of 3rd and Madison Streets. Left to Right: Lucinda [woman] Pearl [child, on horse] Bothwell [man] Hazel [child, on horse]

p. 20 - the lower floors of Pulford’s Opera House were opened for use in mid 1892 and housed Miller’s Clothing Store on the north and Pulford’s Drug Store on the south. Due to the owner’s untimely death, the 3rd floor interior was never completed. [still in Savanna - the building that says Pond’s Extract]

p. 21 - bottom right - 1890s Main Street - A. Pulford’s news depot

Back to James Bothwell Pulford's story