From the History of Hancock County, Illinois, 1921, Scofield, pp. 1169-1170

CONGDON, John H., a prosperous general farmer and stockraiser, is one of the leading agriculturists of Hancock County, and owns valuable farm land in Montebello Township.  He was born in Cornwall, England, December 2, 1885, a son of John and Mary E. (Huff) [Hoff] Congdon, natives of Cornwall, England.  In the summer of 1886 they came to the United States, and settled at Colchester, Ill., where for eighteen years the father worked, for nine years for the Hicks family and then rented land for nine years.  He then moved to Rocky Run Township, buying a farm, but three years later sold it and moved to Montebello Township, where he bought 120 acres on sections 5 and 8.  He died July 1, 1913, the mother having passed away October 28, 1902. There two children were: John H.; and Bessie, who is Mrs. William Bergmeier, of Nauvoo.

John H. Congdon always lived with his parents, and at the death of his father, he inherited the homestead, where he has since been engaged in farming and raising Duroc-Jersey hogs.  In addition to the homestead, Mr. Congdon rents other farm property and he farms in all 300 acres.  On March 31, 1911, Mr. Congdon was married to Nora Kropp, born at Loraine, Ill., May 4, 1891, a daughter of John and Mary O. (Daniels) Kropp [Mary O'Daniels], natives of Adams County, Ill. They now reside at Hamilton, Ill.  Mrs. Congdon attended the grammar and a high school, while Mr. Congdon's educational training was limited to the district schools.  Mr. and Mrs. Congdon have three children, namely: Orville William, Lawrence Henry, and Raymond Ernest.  The family belongs to the Christian Church.  Mr. Congdon is a Republican.  His fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of American at Hamilton.  His energy and progressive spirit have placed him in the front rank among the farmers of Hancock County.

Census records indicate the family came to the United States before 1886, with jibes with Bessie Congdon's reported birth location.  See: John Henry Congdon and Mary Elizabeth Hoff

John and Nora's children were:

Congdon, John, head, white, male, Feb 1862, 38, married for 16 years, born England, both parents born England, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1885, number of years in the U.S. - 15, naturalized, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, rented his farm home, farm schedule 134

Mary, wife, female, June 1860, 39, married for 16 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born England, both parents born England, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1885, number of years in the U.S. - 15, could read, write and speak English

John Jr, son, white, male, Dec 1883, 16, single, born at sea, both parents born England, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Kropp, John W, head, white, male, Nov 1861, 38, married for 12 years, born IL, born Germany, farmer, months not employed - 2, could read, write and speak English, rented his farm home, farm schedule 108

Mary, wife, white, female, June 1869, 30, married for 12 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, both parents born unknown, could read, write and speak English

Nora, daughter, white, female, May 1891, 9, single, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school for 3 months, could read, write and speak English

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Kropp, Effie, daughter, white, female, Feb 1893, 7, single, born IL, both parents born IL, attended school for 3 months, could read, write and speak English

Congdon, John H, head, male, white, 50, married (2nd) for 3 years, born Eng. English, both parents born Eng. English, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1884, naturalized, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, paying on a mortgage on his farm home, farm schedule 150

Mary H, wife, female, white, 51, married (2nd) for 3 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, father born IN, mother born OH, spoke English, could read and write

John H, son, male, white, 25, single, born Eng. English, both parents born Eng. English, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1884, naturalized, spoke English, farm laborer, home farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write

Hickman, Bessie M, daughter, female, white, 23, widow; mother of 1 child, living; born IL; both parents born Eng. English; spoke English, seamstress, private family, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write

Mary E, granddaughter, female, white, 3, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Kropp, John W, head, male, white, 45, married (1st) for 21 years, born IL, both parents born Ger-German, spoke English, farm laborer, farm, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write, rented his home

Mary, wife, female, white, 40, married (1st) for 21 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, father born MO, mother born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Nora, daughter, female, white, 18, single, born IL, both parents born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, operator, telephone co, working for wages [this entry obviously added later], could read and write

Effie, daughter, female, white, 17, single, born IL, both parents born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, operator, telephone co, working for wages [this entry obviously added later], could read and write

Congdon, John, head, owner, free of mortgage, male, white, 35 [poorly formed 3], married, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1885, naturalized, year of naturalization - 1895, born England, native tongue English; both parents born England, native tongue English; spoke English, farmer, general farm, working on own account, farm schedule 143

Nora, wife, female, white, 28, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Orvile, son, male, white, 9, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Lawrence [poorly written, perhaps Laurence], son, male, white, 5, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, born IL, both parents born IL

Raymond, son, male, white, 3 6/12, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Glenn [poorly written], son, male, white, 1 1/12, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Congdon, John H, head, renter, [no entry for monthly rental], did not own a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 44, married, age at first marriage - 27, could read and write, born England, both parents born England, native tongue English, year of immigration to the U.S. - unknown, naturalized or alien - unknown, spoke English, farmer, gen farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 74

Nora M, wife, female, white, 38, married, age at first marriage - 19, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Orville W, son, male, white, 19, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born England, mother born IL, spoke English, laborer, gen farm

Lawrence H, son, male, white, 16, single, did not attend school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born England, mother born IL, spoke English, laborer, gen farm

Raymond E, son, male, white, 13, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born England, mother born IL, spoke English

Glen E, son, male, white, 11, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born England, mother born IL, spoke English

John Jr, son, male, white, 8, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, father born England, mother born IL

Robert L, son, male, white, 5, single, born IL, father born England, mother born IL

Carl E, son, male, white, 0/12, single, born IL, father born England, mother born IL