Bone married Sarah Reynolds on August 25, 1842 in Williamson County, Illinois. Sarah was born on February 28, 1822 in Johnson County, Illinois. He was the father of the following children: Cynthia E. (1843-1939), Mary J. (1844-1908), Jerome B. (1846-1904), William W. (1848-1872), Clarissa A. (1850-1860), Eola Rebecca (1854-1917), Edward (1858-1950), Charles (1863), Blanche (1871) and Albert Clark Calvert (1856-1950).
In 1845 Bone was one of the first elders when a Presbyterian Church was organized in Marion. In 1848-1855 Napoleon served as School Commissioner. He was also Postmaster in Marion in 1843 and 1866.
In 1850, Bone 27 and Sarah 27 were living with Cynthia E., Mary J., William W. and Clarissa A. Calvert in Marion. Also living with them were William S. Calvert, a cabinet maker, Daniel Simpson, his apprentice, and Mary Herben, probably a domestic servant. William S. Calvert was Bone’s brother and operated a cabinet shop on West Main Street next to the Edwards steam mill, in which he sold coffins among other things. In this census, Bone claimed a real estate value of $700.
The Calvert family, were early citizens in Marion and occupied the area now named for them in Calvert Street, four blocks north of the square. An old timer from Corinth, in a letter to the editor in 1874, recalled Marion from the 1855 era and stated, “There were but a few buildings north of N.B. Calvert’s residence. All around where the depot (railroad on N. Market) now stands was a low, swampy plat of land, a resort for ducks and plover. Where Hundley’s brick now stands was an old log cabin; that and the building recently moved by M.W. Robertson constituted that block.” Bone’s father, Reverend John N. Calvert was also known to live in that plot of ground and was a pioneer Presbyterian minister in the area. The Hundley mentioned above was Robert M. Hundley and was a neighbor to the Calvert’s in the 1850 census.
In 1858 Bone furnished the newly built county courthouse in Marion for $305.
Bone’s wife, Sarah, passed away on February 18, 1860 at the age of 37, apparently followed shortly by his ten year old daughter Clarissa.
When the 1860 census was taken, three new siblings had been born since 1850: Eola R., Albert C. and Edward B. Calvert. Bone was a carpenter having real estate valued at $5000 and personal property of $300, so they were doing quite well.
Not only had Bone acquired the property around where Calvert Street is now but he was also responsible for at least three additions to the city of Marion with most of the land in the 200 through 400 blocks of N. Mechanic and N. Buchanan to the northwest of the old Logan School property. The development of these additions to the city over time coupled with his building skills were likely the principal source of his monetary gains.
With several children to care for, on June 12, 1861, he remarried to Nancy C. Mulkey Becraft in Williamson County, Illinois. Nancy had previously been married to John Becraft on January 10, 1848 in Franklin County and had at least one child by the name of Florence Becraft.
In June of 1863, N.B. registered for the civil war draft, he was 40 years old and was listed as a carpenter.
In the 1870 census, Bone 48 and Nancy 41 were still living in Marion. Children living at home were their son Jerome B. Calvert, now a 23 year old lawyer, and daughter, Eolia, who was 16. Also, living with the couple was Florence Becraft who was Nancy’s daughter from her previous marriage.
Bone served four terms as Marion city Trustee in 1869, 1870, 1871 and 1872 all under the administration of Marion President, George W. Goddard.
In 1880 Bone 58 and Nancy 51 were living with Edward, Charles, Blanche and Sarah, Edward’s wife. Bone was listed as a carpenter, Edward was a carpenter, and Charles was an apprentice carpenter.
In October 1882, Bone was hurt by a horse as he attempted to mount. The horse became spooked and N.B. was thrown off. He broke several bones and was healing when he developed pneumonia and died on November 2, 1882 at the age of 60. He was buried in the old Marion Cemetery (Aikman).
Notes on the Children:
Cynthia Elizabeth Calvert Jackson was born July 27, 1843. In 1863, she married James C. Jackson who came to Williamson County in 1860. They had five children: Maggie, Minnie A., Earl and Jessie Jackson. James C. Jackson filled many governmental offices: school board, board of alderman, mayor, deputy sheriff, county clerk, and in 1887 entered the furniture and undertaking business. The family belonged to Methodist Episcopal Church. Cynthia died on July 3, 1939 in Marion.
Mary Jane Calvert Holland was born on December 12, 1844. She married Jerome Brice Holland (1837 -1911) on Mar 14, 1864. Marriage performed by John N. Calvert who was her grandfather. He was a minister at the Pleasant Grove and Cross Roads Cumberland Presbyterian Church in May 1843 and Aug 1845 respectively. They had: Byrd Holland; Jesse Calvert Holland, 1865 – 1926; James W. Holland, 1866 – 1946; Sarah Holland 1869 – ; Florence Holland 1870 – ; Hubert Ray Holland 1875 – 1941; Harold May Holland 1878 – ; Earl Brice Holland 1882 – 1944. Mary Jane died in Marion on February 5, 1908.
Jerome Bonaparte Calvert was born in 1846. Jerome was an attorney and on April 23, 1871, Jerome married Sarah Fannie Baird in Williamson County and they had three children; Gracey, William J., and Mary Calvert. Sarah died and Jerome remarried to Mahala Vineyard. They divorced in 1887 after a tumultuous marriage and Jerome left the area for a period of time. He returned about 1902 and died on March 31, 1904. For more info, see the post, Jerome B. Calvert.
William Winslow Calvert, (1848-1872)
Clarissa A. Calvert, (1850-1860)
Eolia Rebecca Calvert was born in 1854. She married Lorenzo Dow Hartwell, a prominent Marion attorney and State’s Attorney, on Apr 30, 1871. They had one son, Edward E. Hartwell born in 1872. Lorenzo married again in 1878 but no divorce record for Eolia could be found in Williamson County. On May 14, 1884, Mrs. Eolia Calvert married William D. McCowan in Williamson County. On July 8, 1899 she married Edward R. Pulley. He already had a daughter named Iva Pulley, born 1896. Eolia died on August 15, 1917 in Marion.
Albert Clark Calvert was born in February of 1856. He married Martha Jane Lee in 1879. In the 1880 census he was 24 and she was 22. They had a son Leroy, 1 month old. Clark was a farmer. In the 1900 census Leroy was no longer living at home, but they had five other children at home: Dora J., Harry L., Fred C., Bert E. and Ray. He was still a farmer. In 1910 they only had one child at home, Clyde (may have been Clyde Ray). They had had 9 children, only 4 of which were still living in 1910. Albert died May 19, 1918.
Edward V. Calvert was born on June 19, 1858. He married, but is unknown. He died in McCracken County Kentucky on March 30, 1950, at the age of 91. His death certificate said he was a widow and had been a carpenter. He was buried in Jamerson Cemetery, Livingston County, Kentucky. He had lived at Burna in Livingston County.
Charles Calvert (1863-xxxx) was the daughter of Nancy Becraft. He married Harriett B. Russell on June 7 1885. They had three children: Scott Bonaparte, Frank and Winnie Calvert. Charles was a carpenter. In 1910 they lived at 201 Burnett Street.
Blanche Calvert (1871) was the daughter of Nancy Becraft. No info found.
(Sources: U.S. Census Records; Illinois death records; Illinois Marriage Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; 1908 Atlas; compiled by Colleen Norman)