Celia Eliza Tillotson Broadfoot, sister of my great-grandfather James Francis Tillotson, was born May 28, 1858 in Duplain, Clinton County, Michigan. Celia was the daughter of Franklin James Tillotson and Jane Ann Sexton .
Celia Eliza Tillotson as a child.
Celia Eliza Tillotson.
Celia Eliza Tillotson in old age.
Celia married Dr. Alexander Broadfoot on September 6, 1885 in Enterprise, Dickinson County, Kansas. They met while Celia was working in a bank in Enterprise, Kansas. Alexander Broadfoot was born November 9, 1854 in on the Mains Farm in Tuckersmith Township, Huron County, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Alexander Broadfoot and Marion McMillan and the grandson of James Broadfoot and Sarah McCririck. Alexander moved to Enterprise, Kansas in 1884. He became a United States citizen on April 6, 1885.
Alexander Broadfoot
Celia and Alexander had the following children:
Marion Jane Broadfoot was born December 6, 1887 in Reed's Landing, Wabasha County, Minnesota. She married Bert William Shryock. Bert was born in 1877 in Nebraska.
Marion taught school in Wisconsin at the young age of sixteen. Later she trained as a nurse and worked in a hospital, which is where Marion and Bert met. Bert had contracted smallpox in Nebraska. He was sent to the hospital in Minneapolis where Marion worked. She nursed Bert back to health and later married him. During the Great Depression, Marion operated a successful tearoom in St. Paul, Minnesota. Bert was a salesman for a bank vault company as well as a pharmacist.
Marion and Bert had two children:
Marion Jane Broadfoot Shryock died March 14, 1949 in Reed's Landing, Wabasha County, Minnesota. Bert William Shryock died in 1959.
Marion Jane Broadfoot.
Grace Louise Broadfoot was born January 19, 1889 in Reed's Landing, Wabasha County, Minnesota She married Frederick Brown Wells on June 17, 1934. Frederick was a wealthy man. He and Grace lived in a huge mansion in Minneapolis. After Frederick died, Grace moved into a fancy apartment in Fort Lauderdale. She lived the latter part of her life in a wheel chair as both her legs were amputated because of poor circulation. This didn't slow her down much -- she even took a vacation in Hawaii with her nurse.
Grace died February 20, 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. Frederick was born April 21, 1873 and died August 3, 1953.
Grace Louise Broadfoot.
James Lyman Broadfoot was born prematurely in April, 1889 in Independence, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. He died shortly after birth.
Roscoe Eugene Broadfoot was born July 20, 1890 in Independence, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. He married Ella Louise Rohrshieb on October 28, 1919 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Ella was born May 9, 1892 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
Roscoe and Ella had three children:
Roscoe died November 12, 1967 in Mount Prospect, Cook County, Illinois. Ella died November 12, 1975 in Arlington Heights, Cook County, Illinois.
Roscoe Eugene Broadfoot (left), Grace Louise Broadfoot (right).
Left to right: Roscoe Eugene Broadfoot, Hibbard Elverton Broadfoot, and Grover Lee Broadfoot.
Grover Lee Broadfoot was born December 27, 1892 in Independence, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. He married Margaret Jacobi on December 29, 1925 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
Grover and Margaret had one child:
Grover was an attorney. He was mayor of Mondovi in the early 1940s. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in the late 1940s. In 1948 he became the state Attorney General of Wisconsin. Grover eventually became Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1962.
Some of Grover's younger relatives remember very well that his black cocker spaniel, Bozo, exhibited bad manners and disliked children.
The following story about Grover appeared in the Wisconsin papers around 1947.
Under the Capitol Dome Broadfoot's Appointment Typical of Mondovi Man's
Political CareerBY JOHN WYNGAARD
MADISON, Wis. -When Grover Broadfoot, country lawyer and banker, was called on the telephone by a spokesman for Gov. Oscar Rennebohm a month ago and told that he was to be appointed chief legal officer of the state government, no person was more surprised than he.
For Broadfoot had not applied for the appointment as attorney general, and his name had not figured among the many who were speculated about in political quarters whrn it became known that Rennebohm would elevate Attorney General John E. Martin to the state supreme court.
The incident was typical of Broadfoot's political career, each step of which was taken somewhat accidentally, and without advance preparation or calculation.
Little Known
Broadfoot today is relatively little known to the Wisconsin public, although he holds one of the chief constitutional offices of the state government, and is a candidate - and a favored candidate - for nomination and election to a full term in his own right in the fall elections.
Now fifty-five years of age, Broadfoot has spent virtually his whole life in the small far western Wisconsin community of Mondovi, in hilly Buffalo county near the Mississippi river. Son of a country doctor who died when Broadfoot was only 11 years of age, he has made his own way since he was a boy.
He worked for three years after finishing high school in order to save enough money to enter the University of Wisconsin. At Madison he worked to pay his way. He early showed his capacity for making friends by being elected editor of the Badger, the university yearbook, which in those days allowed its student managers to reserve to themselves a part of advertising and subscription income as commissions. Among other things, he worked as a member of the old Madison Democrat for two years, taking the press association "pony" telephone report and transcribing it for the printers.
He now recalls that had his father lived, he probably would have studied medicine, and would have devoted his life to a rural practice of ministering to aches and pains instead of drawing up deeds and mortgages. The fatherless boy, however, had been sold a set of correspondence school law-books by a traveling salesman at a tender age, and when the time came to pick a professional career, he chose the law. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin law school, and entered military service for World War I.
Rural Success
More than thirty years of work in his rural community brought Broadfoot a considerable degree of success. He has been one of the Republican leaders of western Wisconsin, and among other things has ventured into the banking business. He is now president of one of the two banks at Mondovi.
Quiet, reserved, without trace of personal ambition, Broadfoot would not be picked as the man to succeed in politics. Nor has he ever planned a political career. It all came quite by accident.
Early in the administration of former Gov. Julius P. Heil, he was invited to come to Madison to sit as a member of the new state board of tax appeals. That happened through the intervention of Elmer Barlow, an old friend of Broadfoot, then Heil's legal counsel and late justice of the supreme court. Broadfoot accepted, with the reservation that he would serve only a few years. In the middle of the war, when his law partner was in military service, he resigned and returned to his Mondovi affairs.
After the war, with his partner returned, the local Republican committee proposed him as a candidate for the legislature to succeed an incumbent who had died. He accepted, was sent to Madison, and was reelected in 1946. Doubtless his record in the legislature, where he quickly won respect and affection from men within and without the legislative chambers, persuaded Rennebohm to consider him for the vacancy in the attorney generalship.
Mature, able, widely esteemed among those who know him, Broadfoot is ranked as one of the best appointments Rennebohm has yet made.
Margaret Jacobi Broadfoot died October 6, 1961 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Grover Lee Broadfoot died May 18, 1962 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
Left to right: Frances Eula Broadfoot, Hibbard Elverton Broadfoot (seated), Grover Lee Broadfoot.
Hibbard Elverton Broadfoot was born April 10, 1894 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
Hibbard Elverton Broadfoot.
During World War I, Hibbard served eighteen months in France with the 169th Aero Squadron. Hibbard married Helen Coates on November 5, 1926 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Helen was born January 17, 1895 in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin. They had two children:
Hibbard died December 5, 1957 in Short Hills, Essex County, New Jersey. Helen died March 24, 1994 in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey.
Grover Lee Broadfoot (left), Hibbard Elverton Broadfoot.
Frances Eula Broadfoot was born on September 28, 1896 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. She was the salutatorian of her high school class in Mondovi. She was also a member of her high school girl's basketball team.
Frances Eula Broadfoot and her high school basketball teammates.
Frances, at the top left, wears the large hair bow.
Frances married Harry Ray MacMartin on August 18, 1920 in Mondovi, Buffalo Couny, Wisconsin. Harry was born October 31, 1889 in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Frances met Harry while living with her sister Grace in Duluth, Minnesota. Frances was training to be a secretary. Harry became a Certified Public Accountant.
Harry and Frances had two children:
Frances Eula Broadfoot MacMartin died April 1, 1982 in Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida. Harry Ray MacMartin died May 30, 1983 in Potomac, Montgomery County, Maryland.
Harry Ray MacMartin and Frances Eula Broadfoot on their wedding day.
Wedding party for Harry Ray MacMartin and Frances Eula Broadfoot.
Celia Eliza Tillotson with her granddaughter Grace Elizabeth MacMartin.
Doris Irene Broadfoot was born April 5, 1901 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. She married William Everett Brobst on September 16, 1922 in Mondovi. William was born to Harrison Franklin Brobst and Margaret Agnes Milan on March 23, 1897 at Gilmanton, Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
Doris and William had four children:
William Everett Brobst grew up on his father's farm located next to a golf course in Naples -- later Mondovi -- Wisconsin. William's father Harrison sold the farm in 1927 after the death of his wife. Harrison moved to Mondovi where he and William opened a flour, feed, and seed store. After Harrison's death, William became a distributor for the Cities Service Oil Company. In 1942 William moved to Milwaukee to work for the war effort with Cutler Hammer. Six months later he went to work for the federal government at an air base in northeastern Canada. After the war, William became a regional distributor for the Pure Oil Company in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
Doris died August 20, 1975 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois. William died January 18, 1976 in Alton, Madison County, Illinois.
Doris Broadfoot Brobst.
Doris Broadfoot Brobst in 1963.
Celia Eliza Tillotson Broadfoot and two of her daughters.
Left to right: Doris Irene Broadfoot, Celia Eliza Tillotson Broadfoot, Frances Eula Broadfoot.
Children of Alexander and Celia Eliza Tillotson Broadfoot.
Back row, left to right: Marion, Grace, Doris, Frances.
Front row, left to right: Roscoe, Hibbard, Grover.
Before her marriage Celia had taught school for eight years in Will County, Illinois. She also taught school in Kansas. Politically she was a Democrat.
Alexander was a successful physician. He studied at the Toronto School of Medicine from which he graduated in 1884. After he married Celia they moved to Reed's Landing in 1887 and then to Independence, Wisconsin where Alexander practiced medicine for six years. In September, 1893 Alexander and Celia moved their family to Mondovi, Wisconsin where Alexander opened an office. In 1894 he and Dr. Charles Hebard established a joint practice under the name Hebard & Broadfoot, Physicians and Surgeons. Four years later Celia and Alexander moved to Gilmanton, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Unfortunately Alexander was a bit too fond of alcohol which probably contributed to his failing health and early demise on February 14, 1904 in Gilmanton (see his obituaries).
Celia lived as a widow for almost thirty years after the death of her husband. During this time she owned a grocery, variety, and ice cream store in Mondovi, Wisconsin. Celia was also a practical nurse.
Celia Tillotson Broadfoot's home in Mondovi, Wisconsin.
Celia took care of the three older Burns children while my father Robert F. Burns, who was born at home, was being delivered. My aunt Grace remembered telling Celia she heard a baby cry as my father was born. Celia responded "no you didn't" to prevent the three young Burns banshees from invading the delivery room. Celia's daughter Doris Broadfoot also lived with the Burns family one summer while a teenager. Celia often "farmed out" her children to relatives after her husband died in order to make ends meet. My aunts recalled Celia as a kind and generous person who was a very hard worker. She was always a welcome visitor.
Celia died February 9, 1933 in Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin. Her obituary appears below.
This obituary for Celia originally appeared in the Mondovi (Wisconsin) Herald News.
Celia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tillotson, was born at Medina, Ohio, on May 28, 1858. The family moved to Elsie, Michigan. Mr. Tillotson was the first Postmaster there and the place was named after his daughter, Elsie, the first child born there. Later, the family moved to Crete, Illinois.
Miss Celia Tillotson taught school in Illinois and Kansas. She obtained employment in a bank in Enterprise, Kansas, where she met Dr. Alexander Broadfoot, whom she married in the year 1885. Dr. and Mrs. Broadfoot made their home in Enterprise, where the Doctor practiced his profession for several years. They then moved to Wisconsin. For a while they were at Reeds Landing and then settled at Independence. In 1894 they came to this city, where the Doctor practiced for four years. The next four years were spent at Gilmanton and then they finally located in this city.
Eight children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Broadfoot. One son, James, died in infancy. The seven who survive their mother are: Marion, Mrs. Bert Shryock, of St. Paul, Minnesota; Grace, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Roscoe, of Wausau; Grover L., of this city; Hibbard E., of New York City; Frances, Mrs. H.R. MacMartin, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Doris, Mrs. W.E. Brobst, of this city.
On February 14, 1904, Dr. Broadfoot died. Left with the care of seven children, Mrs. Broadfoot with undaunted spirit devoted her life to their welfare. In so doing she made many sacrifices of which few were aware. The upbringing and education of her children were her constant thought and her children ever gratefully realize that what of good fortune has been theirs they owe to the care and capacity of their mother.
But Mrs. Broadfoot did not confine her activities to her home and her children, although they had the first place in her heart. So long as her health and strength permitted, she was an active member of the Congregational church, the Eastern Star, the Woman's Club, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Beavers and the Royal Neighbors of America and was welcome wherever she went.
Since last August, Mrs. Broadfoot has been in failing health and since last October has been confined to her bed at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W.E. Brobst, where she made her home. The end came peacefully early Thursday morning, February 9. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon, February 1, at the home of her son, Grover, Rev. William Lodwick officiating. There was a large attendance. All the children were present. Mrs. Hartwell Halverson and Mrs. W.R. Hardy sang "In The Garden". There was a beautiful profusion of floral tributes.
From Mondovi, the funeral cortege went to Gilmanton, where burial was made in the family lot.
Besides the children already mentioned, Mrs. Broadfoot is survived by twelve grandchildren.
These articles and obituaries for Alexander Broadfoot originally appeared in the Mondovi (Wisconsin) Herald.
Alexander Broadfoot, physician and surgeon, was born in Huron County province of Ontario, Canada on the 9th of November, 1854. His early years were spent in the Clinton grammar school one year, the collegiate institute of St. Catherine two years, the science department of the Toronto university two years and in 1880 he entered the Toronto school of Medicine from which institution he graduated in 1884. The same year he began practicing medicine in Enterprise, Kansas, where he remained two years, going from there to Independence, Wisconsin in Jan, 1887. He remained in Independence six years enjoying a good practice. Dr. Broadfoot moved to this city in Sept. 1893 and opened an office in the Peese Block over Luetscher Bros. & Helveg’s store. He soon worked up a good business and in April, 1984, became associated with Dr. Chas. Hebard under the firm name of Hebard & Broadfoot, physicians and surgeons. This partnership was dissolved about three weeks ago and Dr. Broadfoot moved to Gilmanton this week at the earnest solicitation of a large number of people of that community whose flattering propositions to the doctor bespeaks the legend in which his professional qualities are held. In his early years he took four years of hospital practice under Dr. James Stewart, now professor in McGill College, Montreal. In 1873 and ‘74 the Doctor was principal of a school where all of the students were French. The doctor has been camp physician for the Modern Woodmen of this place and Gilmanton for several years.
Alexander Broadfoot was born in Huron County, Province of Ontario, Canada, November 9, 1854. In 1880, he entered the Toronto School of Medicine from which institute he graduated in 1884. The same year he began the practice of medicine in Enterprise, Kansas, where he remained two years going from there to Minnesota where he spent a short time and from there went to Independence, Wisconsin, in 1887. He remained in Independence 6 years, during which time he he had a large practice. In the fall of 1893, he came to Mondovi and in April 1894 entered into partnership with Dr. Hebard in December 1897 he went to Gilmanton where he remained till July 1903 when he moved back to Mondovi. Later he went to Arizona hoping to regain his health, but returned the following April. From this time his health gradually declined till February 14, 1904, when he peacefully passed to the great beyond. His remains were interred in the Gilmanton cemetery, February 16, under the auspices of the M.W.A. Dr. Broadfoot was a man of kindness of heart and a physician of skill and ability.
Alexander Broadfoot, medical doctor and surgeon in Mondovi and Gilmanton, Wisconsin, was born on November 9, 1854 on the Mains Farm in Tuckersmith Township, Huron County, Ontario. He grew up in the Clinton area, attending Clinton Grammar School, an received his secondary education in the Collegiate institute in St. Catherines and further education in Toronto University. In 1873-74, he was principal of a school where all the students spoke French. In 1880, he entered the Toronto School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1884. He decided to move in that year, to Kansas, USA and set up a practice in the town of Enterprise, where he began practising medicine. He was a good doctor and soon had a well-established practice.
On April 6, 1885, he became a citizen of the United States and in that same year, he married Celia Tillotson in Enterprise, Kansas. In 1887, they moved to Reed's Landing and then on to Independence, Wisconsin, where he practiced medicine for six years. In September of 1893, they moved to Mondovi, Wisconsin, where he opened an office in the Peeso Block, over the Luetscher Bros. & Helwig's store.
In April 1894, he became associated with Dr. Charles Hebard under the firm name of Hebard & Broadfoot, Physicians and Surgeons. Four years later, Alexander and his family moved to Gilmanton, Wisconsin.
Alexander Broadfoot died on February 14, 1904, leaving his wife and seven children. He was buried in the family plot in Gilmanton Cemetery, where his infant son was also buried.
Photos of Celia Tillotson courtesy Candace Gale Severson and Susan Linn. Most photos of Broadfoot children courtesy Candace Gale Severson and Thomas Tompkins. Photo of Marion Jane Broadfoot courtesy Susan Linn. Photos of the MacMartins, Alexander Broadfoot, and the Broadfoot home courtesy Candace Gale Severson. Portrait of Hibbard Broadfoot belonged to my grandmother Eva Tillotson Burns, Celia's niece.
My thanks to Candace and William A. Brobst for providing most of the articles and biographical information above. Margaret Roddy provided the death information for Hibbard and Helen's children.
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Last modified by pib on February 14, 2008.