USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 1
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Gc 977.301 W66s v.2 1214646
M. L ..
GENEALOS. - ECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00893 6020
PAST AND PRESENT
OF
WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS
By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association
Assisted by an Advisory Board, consisting of Hon. James G. Elwood, James H. Ferriss, William Grinton, Mrs. Kate Henderson and A. C. Clement
Hc 977. 301 W660 V.2
ILLUSTRATED
v. 2
Chicago The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1907
1214646
C
Courteously your Das G, Elwood
BIOGRAPHICAL
HON. JAMES G. ELWOOD.
The business interests of James G. Elwood have been so varied and of such magnitude that his su- perior ability and foresight are at once indicated thereby and his labors have been of a character proving directly beneficial to the city in the pro- motion of its commercial and industrial activity. In official circles, too, he has rendered no incon- siderable aid to Joliet, filling various positions of public honor and trust, and in military and fra- ternal circles he has gained equal prominence. A resident of Joliet from the age of four years, or since 1843, he was born in Lockport, Will county, a son of Nelson D. and Juliet L. (Parks) Elwood. His father, the pioneer railroad builder of north- ern Illinois, left the impress of his individuality upon the history of Will county and his influence has not ceased to be felt in those departments of activity where he labored to goodly ends. Born in Otsego county, New York, in 1818, he was a son of Daniel Elwood and a nephew of Isaac L. Elwood, at one time secretary of and a promoter of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He represented the fourth generation in America, the family having been founded in this country by a native of Essex county, England, who settled on the Hudson river during the colonial epoch in the history of the United States.
When eight years of age Nelson D. Elwood was left an orphan and at the age of fifteen he entered upon a clerkship in Lockport, New York. In 183; he removed to Lockport, Illinois, securing employment as an engineer on the Illinois and Michigan canal, to which labor he devoted the
summer months, while in the winter seasons he engaged in teaching school, being one of the pio- neer educators of this part of the state. His abil- ity and public spirit led to his election to the office of county clerk in 1843 and to his removal to Joliet, where he took up the study of law while discharging his official duties. Admitted to the bar on his retirement from the office of clerk, he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, Judge Parks, under the firm style of Parks & Elwood, and afterward managed the real-estate business of the firm, while his partner had charge of the law practice. The effect of his labors in connection with railroad construction in northern Illinois can not he overestimated, for the world acknowledges that no other agency has so greatly promoted civilization as railroad building. He became secretary of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company upon its organization and also acted as one of its directors until the completion of the line into Iowa. Governor Joel A. Matteson was the originator of the road, which was opened to Joliet in 1852. At a later date Governor Mat- teson and Mr. Elwood were associated in the con- struction of the division of the Chicago & Missis- sippi Railroad between Joliet and Alton, and this line, under its subsequent name of Chicago & Alton, has since become one of the most success- ful railroads of the state. In 1856 the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, which connects with the Michigan Central Railroad at Lake Station, Indiana, was built by Governor Matteson and Mr. Elwood. Until 1859 the Chicago & Alton ran to Chicago on the Rock Island tracks, but in that year its road bed was extended and the road was
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known as the Joliet & Chicago Railroad. Manifold duties connected with railroad building were under the direct supervision and control of Mr. Elwood and at the same time he supported and controlled important business and public interests in Joliet. He erected the first business house on Jefferson street, on the site of the building recently vacated as a postoffice, and in that same frame structure were for a time the offices of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, and there the building of that road was planned. He was for three terms alderman of Joliet and for two terms mayor, while for many years he served as a mem- ber of the board of school inspectors, the cause of public education finding in him a stalwart champion and helpful friend. Well fitted by nature for leadership and molding publie thought and opinion by reason of his comprehensive un- derstanding of public conditions and requirements, together with a devotion to the public good that was ever unquestioned, Mr. Elwood was called to public office and in 1848 was chosen secretary of the state senate. Although a strong democrat, he was in 1861 reappointed by Governor Yates as one of the penitentiary commissioners chosen to locate the state penitentiary, and filled that posi- tion until his death, which occurred February 24, 1861, when he was but forty-two years of age. Although it seemed that he was taken off in the midst of a most useful career when in the very prime of life, a review of his history shows that he had accomplished within the twenty-one years of his manhood much more than many men accom- plish in an entire lifetime covering the Psalm- ist's allotted span of three score years and ten. Extensive business interests and political honors did not shut him out from active participation in those things which relate to the higher and holier duties of life and concern man in his relations with his fellowmen. On the contrary he was for years a member of the vestry of Christ's Episcopal church and was also connected with the Odd Fel- lows and the Masons, being very prominent in the latter fraternity. He was grand high priest of the grand chapter of Illinois and at the time of his death deputy grand commander of the grand com- mandery of Illinois, an officer in the grand lodge and a thirty-third degree Mason.
Nelson D. Elwood married Miss Juliet L. Parks, of Lockport, New York, who survived him
for almost forty years, passing away in Chicago, May 6, 1900. Her father, Joel M. Parks, was postmaster aud a merchaut of Lockport, New York, and in 1837 removed to Lockport, Illinois, where he also engaged in merchandising and filled the position of postmaster. His last days were spent in Joliet. His daughter, Mrs. Elwood, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, New York, Sep- tember 16, 1819, and on the 30th of February, 1837, gave her hand in marriage to Nelson D. Elwood. Her strong and salient characteristics were no less admirable than those of her husband and the number of her friends was only limited by the number of her acquaintances.
In early boyhood a student in the public and private schools in Joliet, James G. Elwood after- ward attended the collegiate and commercial mil- itary school in New Haven, Connecticut, from which he was graduated with the class of 1857. While there he served as first sergeant for three months and later held the rank of captain. He decided to go abroad for further educational dis- cipline when a choice of that or a Yale course was given him, and for a year he studied under a tutor at Geneva, Switzerland. He had completed the first year's studies in Frederick William Uni- versity at Berlin when the death of his only brother left him the sole survivor of six sons, and at the request of his parents he returned home. A year was spent in his father's office, after which he further qualified for the duties and responsi- bilities of business life by a course in Bryant & Stratton Commercial College. He then re-entered the law and real-estate office of Parks & Elwood, where he remained until he won his mother's con- sent to his enlistment in the volunteer army in July, 1862.
Captain Elwood's service was one of distinction. Ile had been a deep and discriminating student of the signs of the times and the progress of events in the south and the patriotism of his na- ture was aroused by the unconstitutional attempt of the Confederacy to overthrow the Union. Or- ganizing Company B of the One Hundredth Illi- nois Infantry, he was commissioned its captain by Governor Yates and went at once to the front. One of the first important military movements in which he participated was the engagement of Perryville, subsequent to which time he partici- pated in the five days' fight at Murfreesboro.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY.
Promotion came to him there, when he was made acting assistant adjutant general of the First Brigade, First Division, Twenty-first Corps, through appointment on the field by General George T. Buell. IIis brigade, which was in Wood's division, received an order to move by the left flank in the battle of Chickamauga. The order was unhesitatingly obeyed by fourteen hun- dred and fifty men, but the division lost six hun- dred and forty-eight men in its heroic effort to hold its position. In response to his mother's appeal to General Rosecranz that her son might return home, the General granted the request and Cap- tain Elwood accordingly resigned in November, 1863, and again made his way to Joliet.
His business and political service have since closely connected him with the history of the city, although for a brief period he operated else- where along business lines, becoming a broker on the Chicago board of trade in 1866, while soon afterward he established a milling business at Matteson, Illinois. In 1870, however, he returned to Joliet and has since conducted a real-estate business, which in volume and importance has placed him foremost among the representatives of property interests here. His resourceful ability has also enabled him to extend his labors into vari- ous other fields of activity which have had a di- rect bearing upon the material development and permanent improvement of the city. In 1880 he built the telephone exchange, the first telephone in Joliet, in connection with ex-Mayor Paige, and three years later they sold out to the Chicago Tele- phone Company, although Mr. Elwood was re- tained as manager through the four succeeding years. He was instrumental in establishing the water works as treasurer, general manager and one of the directors of the company organized for this purpose and continued in those offices until the purchase of the plant by the city after four years. He became connected with the Joliet Gas Company in 1861, was its secretary for twenty years, and from 1888 until 1896 was its manager. In 1877, in partnership with Judge Parks, he erected the First National Bank building of Joliet. He is a director in the Will County Na- tional Bank and as promoter or financial sup- porter has contributed to the growth and pros- perity of many local enterprises which have been of the utmost value to the city. In 1862 he was
chosen a director of Oakwood cemetery and has been its superintendent since 1871.
Captain Elwood ranks with the distinguished representatives of Masonry in Illinois, affiliating with Matteson lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Joliet chap- ter, R. A. M .; Joliet Council, R. & S. M .; and Joliet Commandery, No. 4, K. T. In all he has held office and in 1884 he was elected grand com- mander of the grand commandery of Illinois, while for twelve years he was the representative of the grand commandery of New York in the commandery of this state. He belongs to Illi- nois commandery of the Loyal Legion and to Bartleson post, No. 6, G. A. R., of Joliet, and has been honored with election to the office of senior vice commander of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of Illinois, and twice as chief of staff, department of Illinois, G. A. R. He is present commander of Bartleson post.
His position upon political questions is never an equivocal one and yet Mr. Elwood is never ag- gressively partisan, his support of any measure arising from investigation thereof and a firm con- viction concerning the value of its adoption. Reared in the democratic faith, he was a supporter of Douglas in the campaign of 1860, but during his military service announced his allegiance to the republican party, of which he has since been a stalwart and unfaltering advocate. His first political office came to him in 1872, when he was elected alderman from his ward, to be followed by re-election two years later. In 1877 he was a successful candidate for mayor of Joliet and was the first to hold the office under the present city charter. As chairman of the board of county supervisors for two years, he proved an efficient worker for the benefit of the people, not only de- voting his salary to the benefit of the public work, but making personal contributions beside. From 1892 until 1894, embracing the period when the financial panic of 1893 caused many to be thrown out of employment, he acted as superintendent of the poor, during which period he had charge of feeding and helping forty-four hundred and fifty persons. He gave much of his time to the work, prompted not only by a sense of official duty, but also by a broad humanitarian spirit. His four years' service as postmaster, beginning on the 4th of July, 1898. was also equally creditable to the
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city by the efficiency of the work done in the office under his direction.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. El- wood was married in 1868 to Miss Margaret Pearce, who was born in Seneca county, New York, a daughter of William L. Pearce, who in 1852 removed to Chicago and opened the Matteson House at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets. Mr. and Mrs. Elwood are the parents of two sons and two daughters. Ward Pearce, edu- cated in Faribault, Minnesota, and in Chicago Manual Training School, is conducting a plumb- ing business in Joliet, while William Nelson El- wood is manager of the Western Broom Company. Louise Maynette Elwood was educated in Lasell Seminary at Auburndale, Massachusetts, and Elsie Parks, the younger daughter, was graduated with honors from the Joliet high and training schools.
The family spend the winters in Joliet and dur- ing the summer months occupy their country home, Elwood Terrace, on the St. Clair river in Michigan. They are communicants of Christ's Episcopal church, of which Mr. Elwood served as vestryman and warden for a long period. He took an active part in financing the interests of the church and aided actively in the erection of the house of worship. While he has gained a goodly competence he has not amassed a princely for- tune, for his energies have not been concentrated solely upon that purpose. On the contrary, he has divided his time between his business affairs and those interests which effect local progress and im- provement, which strive to ameliorate the hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and which affect man in his fraternal and social relations. Withal he has manifested a spirit of cordiality and genuine appreciation of character worth in others until it is said that no other man in the county is more widely known or has more friends than Captain James G. Elwood.
JAMES W. MCINTYRE.
Among the leading citizens of Florence township the name of Mr. McIntyre is one deserving of men- tion in the history of Will county. He is an active and enterprising farmer, owning and operating the old homestead farm, comprising one hundred and
sixty acres, which constitutes a valuable and well improved tract of land. Mr. McIntyre was born in Fulton county, at Perth Center, New York, October 11, 1853, a son of Duncan and Lucinda (Hadsell) MeIntyre, both natives of the Empire state, the former born at Perth, December 13, 1807, and the latter in Orleans county, November 2. 1827. The father came to Will county at a very early date in the history of its development, finally locating in Florence township in 1837, where he purchased a farm on section 28. He further made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in Wesley township, in 1840, to Miss Hadsell, the daughter of J. Hadsell. He took his bride to his home in Florence town- ship, where they remained until after the birth of two of their children, when, in 1844, he and his family went to his native state, where he bought a farm, situated in Fulton county, and there he followed farming until 1855, when he once more came to Will county, settling in Flor- ence township, but his residence here covered a brief period, for his death occurred November 3, 1858. Of their family of seven children, three still survive, the two brothers of our subject being John D., a resident of New York, and Archibald, who resides in Wilmington, Illinois.
James W. MeIntyre was but two years of age when he was brought by his parents to Illinois, and in Will county he was reared to the age of eleven years, when, in 1867, he returned to the Empire state, where he was for seven years a stu- dent in Fairfield Seminary. Returning home he engaged in farming on his own account and is now operating the old homestead farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Florence township, owned by his brother Archibald, this place having become endeared to him through the associations of his boyhood and youth as well as those of his later manhood. He was formerly engaged quite extensively in feeding and shipping cattle and hogs, but is now renting a portion of his land and is not carrying on business interests to any great extent, although he still farms a part of his land. Ile owns two tracts, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, in Wihnington township, and also owns two residences on Benton street, Joliet.
On the 4th of December, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. MeIntyre and Miss Ida Wayne, an estimable lady, who has indeed proved to her
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husband a faithful companion and helpmate. They have five children, namely: John Wayne, who was born March 18, 1887, and is now attending the Metropolitan Business College; Lucinda Hadsell, who was born January 23, 1889, and is attending high school; George Filmore, born November 12, 1893; James Brower, born February 1, 1896; and Margaret L., born November 9, 1897.
While Mr. McIntyre keeps abreast of the times through reading and observation in regard to mat- ters concerning the republican party, which he has always supported, he has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private business affairs. He is identified by membership relations with the Pres- byterian church, at Elwood, while he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to Jackson camp, of that city. He has been identified with the agricultural development of Will county through a period of almost four decades, so that he is widely and favorably known, being classed among the most prominent and prosperous resi- dents of his section of the state ..
SAMUEL S. CHAMBERLIN.
In those traits of character which endear man to his fellowmen Samuel S. Chamberlin was royally endowed. A residence of fifty-three years in Will county made him widely kuown among its citi- zens and as time passed and his life history un- folded there were found upon its pages the in- delible impress of business acumen combined with business honor ; an understanding of life's oppor- tunities and needs combined with an exemplifica- tion of its higher ethical purposes ; an appreciation of all that is just, good and true combined with a most kindly spirit and consideration for others.
Samuel S. Chamberlin was born in Henrietta, Monroe county, New York, August 19, 1817. His father, Luther Chamberlin, was proprietor of the old fashioned tavern, known as the Henrietta House, located near Rochester, in the midst of some of the fine farming land that has made the Genesee valley famous. At an early age he entered Monroe Academy, where he acquired his early edu- cation. At the age of sixteen years he left New York with his father and brother, Lewis L. Cham-
berlin, for the state of Illinois. That was before the era of railroad travel. They started in Janu- ary, 1833, and Mr. Chamberlin rode the entire distance on an Indian pony. They reached Chi- cago, the only Indian trading station along the route, and there remained for a few days, after which they proceeded southward, making a settle- ment near the head of Hickory creek. The jour- ney had been a long and cold one and had covered nearly an entire month. Luther Chamberlin made a claim on government land, remaining there until 183%, when he removed to Peoria county.
Samuel S. Chamberlin continued his education as a student in Jubilee College near Peoria, and in due time was graduated. From Peoria county the family removed to Lockport, Illinois, in 1844 and there he began business as an architect and builder, also taking contracts for the erection of warehouses and buildings. He erected the large warehouse for Norton & Company of Lockport, whose business became one of the most extensive in this section of the county. This, however, was not to be his life work, for in 1847 he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, erect- ing new buildings for his purpose. He had ad- vanced ideas in regard to his work and may be said to have been the pioneer in raising it to the standard of professional excellence in this portion of Illinois. During the cholera siege in 1854 Mr. Chamberlin was compelled to work day and night for nearly a month. Although the course involved great personal danger he conducted the funeral of nearly all in that section who fell vic- tims to the awful pestilence, there being some- times as many as ten or twelve per day. In 1873 Mr. Chamberlin removed from Lockport to Joliet and admitted his son, George N. Chamberlin, to partnership, while in Lockport his son, Charles G. Chamberlin, was associated with him. About 1885 the furniture department of the business was dis- continued, but they continued in the business of funeral furnishings.
Mr. Chamberlin was married in 1839, in Homer, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth Gray, who died April 11, 1889, after a happy married life of more than a half century. Mr. Chamberlin exhibited throughout his long business career remarkable tact and keen insight. He never sought office of any kind, although various positions of honor, trust and political preferment were tendered him.
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He preferred to concentrate his undivided atten- tion upon his business and therein he met merited success. His personal life was of the highest type. During his business career of more than half a century his dealings were so honest, his acts so kind, his devotion to truth, honor and right so unswerving that his more intimate ac- quaintances learned to love him in a way that few men are loved. He was ever prompt and reliable in business and he also kept in touch with the trend of modern progress. He took great pride in the fine undertaking establishment which was erected in Joliet in 1890 and which is one of the best appointed of the kind in the state. He made the broad creed of humanity, love, truth and char- ity his social doctrine. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft in all of his relations with his fellowmen. He died December 4, 1897, at his home in Lockport, leaving two children-his sons, George N. and Charles G. Chamberlin.
The business has not suffered since the death of Mr. Chamberlin, who left a worthy successor in his son and former partner, George N. Chamber- lin, who is well known throughout this section of the state. Hle was born December 20, 1851, in Lockport, Illinois, and entering the public schools passed through successive grades until he had completed the course in Lockport high school. Subsequently he learned telegraphy on the old Caton lines of the Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company. which controlled and operated the first telegraph lines in this state. After abont three years he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company in the tele- graphic department, being located at what is now Englewood, then Chicago Junction, as night opera- tor. He remained there for three years, when he was transferred to the city offices under the Sher- man House in the general freight department, his uncle, Charles M. Gray. being assistant general freight agent at that time. Mr. Chamberlin after- ward returned to Lockport and was with Norton & Company in the milling and commission busi- ness for four years, but in the meantime his father's business had grown to be so extensive that in 1875 he joined him in its conduct and has since continued in the same.
In his fraternal relations George N. Chamberlin is also a Mason, belonging to Matteson lodge, No.
175, A. F. & A. M., at Joliet. He likewise holds membership with the Woodmen, the Maccabees and the Commercial Club. On the 5th of Decem- ber, 1876, he was married to Miss Ellen E. Mun- ger, a daughter of Charles E. Munger an old resident and prominent citizen of Will county. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin have two children, Fred M. and Jessie F.
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