Although Robert Bull never resided in Winnebago county, he has a wide acquaintance here, for he made his home on a farm in Ogle county, near the Winnebago county line, settling thereon more than a half century ago. He was a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, his parents being John and Jane Bull, also natives of the Keystone state. They came to the west at an early day in the development of this section of the state and resided on a farm in Ogle county until called to their final home.
Robert Bull attended the public schools in his youth and assisted his father in the arduous labor of cultivating and improving his land. He thus became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and was well qualified to carry on farming operations on his own account when he married and settled in Byron township, Ogle county. At a later day he purchased another farm in the same township near the Winnebago county line, and to the cultivation of the fields he devoted his energies until his life’s labors were ended. His farm was well improved and he used modern machinery in the care of his crops. Everything about his place was neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the careful supervision of a systematic, practical and progressive owner.
In [sic] was in 1868, in Winnebago county, that Mr. Bull was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Sargent, who was born in Canada, in 1833, and is a daughter of Charles and Ruth (Mansur) Sargent, both of whom were natives of the same country. In an early day they removed by wagon to Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Elgin, and in 1850 they took up their abode in Winnebago county, making their home in Winnebago township, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming until his death. He and his wife were well known and honored pioneer people of this locality, and he assisted in laying broad and deep the foundation upon which has been builded [sic] the present progress of the state. Three of their children are still living in Winnebago county, Mrs. Bull, Izora A., and Daniel M., the brother and sister both living with Mrs. Bull. Only one child was born unto our subject and his wife, Ella J., who has always resided at home and give her time and attention to the care of her mother, who is now an invalid, having been in ill health for the past ten years. She still owns the old home farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Ogle county, and this brings to her a good rental. When they removed to Rockford Mrs. Bull and her brother purchased the residence at No. 827 Ferguson street, and the members of the household at the present time are Mrs. Bull and her daughter, Daniel M. and Izora A. Sargent. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bull held membership in the Presbyterian church and were active in its work, desiring greatly the growth and existence of its influence. Mr. Bull was a republican in his political views and a man of firm convictions, whose position upon any question of moment was never an equivocal one. He was always honest in expressing his views and his influence was ever on the side of justice, truth and right.
Source: Charles A. Church, Past and Present of the City of Rockford and Winnebago County County, Illinois (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1905), p. 533.