Ambrose J. Reardon, one of the leading citizens and representative farmers of Troy township, [Illinois,] has spent his entire life in Will County, being born on the farm where he now resides, on the 2d of April, 1863.

His father, Patrick Reardon, was a native of Ireland, born near Queenstown, County Cork, March 28, 1814, and was seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to New Brunswick, Canada, where he grew to manhood. When a young man he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, and there followed farming until coming to Will County, Illinois, in 1842, being one of the early settlers of Troy township. When he located there, there was only one house between his place and Joliet. As an agriculturist he met with excellent success and became the owner of a valuable and well-improved farm of 440 acres on section 23, Troy township, where he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 10th of October, 1893.

In 1850 he [Patrick] wedded Miss Mary Murphy, also a native of Ireland, and to them were born nine children, but five of the number died in infancy. Those still living are Thomas E., a resident of Denison, Texas; John and Francis B., both farmers of Troy township; and Ambrose J., of this review. The parents were both earnest and consistent members of the Catholic Church.

Ambrose J. Reardon was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys and acquired his education mainly in the district school near his home, though for four months he was a student in the Russell Business College at Joliet. He never left the parental roof and continues to reside on the old home farm, where he now owns 200 acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings.

On the 28th of April, 1897, Mr. Reardon was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Frances Boughan, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Brenock) Boughan, also natives of the Emerald Isle. Her father came to America in the 1850s and for several years resided in Vermont, where he was married. He then lived for a time in Auburn, New York, and in the 1860s removed to Chicago, where he still makes his home. Four children bless this union, namely: Victor A., born January 29, 1898; Paul J., born November 8, 1899; Virginia A., born March 14, 1902; and Arthur, born August 12, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Reardon are communicants of the Catholic Church and are highly esteemed in the community where they reside. Mr. Reardon takes quite an active interest in local affairs and has efficiently served as commissioner, supervisor, and collector of his township.

[Source: Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the Will County Pioneers Association (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907).]