My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE HENRY BOUCHER, a highly respected citizen, who for many years has lived in Murphysboro, is now serving as Police Magistrate, and is also engaged in the collection business. He was born in County Clare, Ireland, on the River Shannon, November 22, 1840, and is of French and Irish descent. His grandfather was born in France, and the name was originally La Bourchier. In 1798 he went with his parents to the Emerald Isle and served with the French army in the war there. He afterward became a merchant of that country.

The father of our subject was also a merchant and farmer, and became well-to-do. In 1851 he came with the Judge to Illinois, locating near Carbondale, where his eldest son followed farming. His death there occurred. He first married Mary Maloney, their union resulting in the birth of five children. After her death he married Mary O’Malley, who was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and died in England. They had six children, of whom the only survivors are Henry and his two sisters, who married English officers and are now in Australia.

Judge Boucher spent the first eleven years of his life in the place of his birth, and in 1851 started for the New World. After a voyage of nine weeks and three days he landed at Quebec, Canada, and by way of the Lakes went to Chicago, thence down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to Grand Tower and crossed the country by foot to Murphysboro. He was accompanied by his father, and they spent the first night with Dr. John Logan. Our subject then made his home with the Doctor until the latter’s death, after which he went to the farm of his half-brother, Thomas Boucher, two miles south of Carbondale, there remaining until he had attained his majority. He was educated in the common schools. Purchasing a farm, he operated it until 1865, when he sold it and came to Murphysboro, where he opened a meat market. Later he carried on a saloon until 1872, when he purchased two farms in Murphysboro Township and began their development.

In 1860 Judge Boucher was married to Miss Mary Davin, who was born in Maryland, but was reared in Cairo, Ill. After her death he wedded Alice McCabe, a native of Ireland. He is a charter member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. In politics a Democrat, he has served as a member of the County Democratic Central Committee and has done much for the advancement of his party. For three years he was acting Marshal, and helped to break up a noted horse thief gang.

In 1875 the Judge was elected Justice of the Peace, which position he filled for four years. He then again engaged in farming until the spring of 1890, when he was elected Police Magistrate of the city. He does all the city business and also engages as collecting agent. His prompt and faithful discharge of public duties has won him high commendation and secured for him the confidence and good will of the community. He now owns an eighty acre farm in Franklin County, besides city property. He is an early settler, and in the long years of his residence here he has ever borne his part in the work of public advancement and improvement.