BAMBROOK, ALFRED W. , who is extensively interested in the foundry business in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., was born at Windsor Green, Near Birmingham, England, August 10, 1850. He is the son of Joseph and Sophia (Buckley) Bambrook, who were also natives of that place. By trade, Joseph Bambrook was a pattern maker and was in the employ of Bolton & Watts, in Birmingham, where the first steam engines were built. He brought his family to the United States when Alfred was two years old, and located in Boston, Mass., where two years later the mother passed away. The father held the position of foreman of the pattern department of the Loring Iron Ship Yards, where the monitors used in the Civil War were constructed.

In boyhood Alfred W. Bambrook received his mental training in the public schools of Boston. After completing his studies, he served a four years' apprenticeship as a molder in the Fulton Iron Works. At the end of this period, located in Peoria, Ill., but remained only a short time, in 1869 settling in Jacksonville. There he took charge of a foundry for John Fiddler, and remained in that position until the death of his employer in 1879. Mr. Bambrook then entered into partnership with Frank Kaule, under the firm name of Bambrook & Kaule. This relationship continued until 1898, when Mr. Bambrook bought his partner's interest and conducted the concern alone until June 14, 1905, when he sold the business to the Economical Stove and Foundry Company, in which he became a large stockholder and the active manager of the works. On the 19th of the following August Mr. Bambrook repurchased the business. The proprietor is one of the foremost experts in his trade, as well as a capable business man, and his success is the result of these two qualifications, together with his honest dealings and diligent application to the work of the foundry.

On July 10, 1870, Mr. Bambrook was united in marriage with Sarah J. Allington, of Boston, a daughter of John Allington. Seven children resulted form this union, namely: Selvy, Alfred and Katy (deceased), Joe, of Jacksonville, Edward (deceased), Frank and Stella. In politics Mr. Bambrook is a supporter of the Republican party.