My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BERNARD LONERGAN, an influential farmer of Ruma Precinct, Randolph County, was born on a steamer on the Mississippi River, May 29, 1835, when his parents, Michael and Bridget (O’Reiley) Lonergan, were going from Memphis, Tenn., to St. Louis. His father was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and crossed the Atlantic when a boy. After spending some time in Canada, he came to the States and made his home in Pottsville, Pa., and later in Philadelphia. Subsequently he went to New Orleans, thence to St. Louis, and in 1836 came to Randolph County on a prospecting tour and purchased land, on which it was his intention to locate the following spring. His death during that winter, however, prevented the fruition of his plans. Later, his widow, with the family, settled on a farm in this county, and there resided until her decease, in 1853. Three brothers of our subject’s father accompanied him on his trip to Illinois, and also located in this county, where one is a cooper, another a shoemaker, and the third a gunsmith and engineer. William Lonergan, an uncle of our subject, was very wealthy, and died in St. Louis when seventy-four years of age.

The subject of this sketch was one of three children born to his parents, of whom his brother William resides in Cairo, in this state, and Michael is deceased. He was reared in this county, where he received a limited education. At nineteen years of age he went to Louisiana, Mo., and while there married Miss Jane Williams, the date of their union being October 21, 1860. The following year Mr. Lonergan returned to this county, where his wife died in 1881. The five children of which she became the mother were named, Bridget L., Maggie, Sarah E., Christena and Laura E.

The lady whom our subject chose as his second wife was Miss Eliza Blaiz. She is the daughter of Expedient and Margaret A. Blaiz, and was born August 15, 1847. Five children were born of this union, one of whom, Henry, is deceased. Those living are Julian, Aggie, Josephine and Charles. An industrious man and a reliable citizen, Mr. Lonergan is respected as he deserves by his fellow-citizens. He has held many positions of trust, has done efficient service as a member of the School Board for nine years, and has also been Road Supervisor for four terms. He held the office of Justice of the Peace, and was Constable for four years. In politics he always votes with the Democratic party, casting his first ballot for Stephen A. Douglas. He is known and respected for the honesty and sincerity of his character, and has been administrator for several valuable estates in the county. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Monroe County, this state. This property is occupied by tenants, and has been improved by neat buildings and good fencing.