USA > Illinois > Will County > Souvenir of settlement and progress of Will County, Ill. A review of the lives of our presidents, political, military and commercial history of the United States and of the state of Illinois Business directory of Joliet Comp. specially for the people of the county > Part 25
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Methodist Episcopal Church (Richards Street). This society was organized out of the original society in 1876. The church building was erected in 1877 at a cost of $5,500, of which sum Otis Hardy contributed $5,000. The Rolling Mill Mission Chapel erected in 1874, cost $2,000. Rev. Isaac Scarritt, successor of Rev. Jesse Walker as Superintendent of the Fox River Mission in 1828, settled in DuPage township in 1832, and was one of the first Methodist preachers who visited the new settlement at Joliet Mound. Stephen R. Beggs and Mr. West were also in the field in 1834.
Colored Methodist Church Society was organized in April, 1884, by Rev. W. F. Alexander of Chicago. The first services of this society were held in a basement on Ottawa street.
The Baptist Church .- Was organized by Elder Ashley. Its history is taken from a sketch written in 1878 for the County History, wherein it is stated that the first meetings of this society were held and their first church organized in the build- ing on the West Side, on Broadway, in recent years used as a school house; and one of the first pastors of this society was Rev. S. Knapp. The original members in 1837 were Elijah Johnson, Mrs. Higginbotham, Mrs. Channery, Mrs. Lagwin, Deacon Green, Mrs. Green and R. B. Ashley. This church seems to have become for a while extinct. The present one on the East Side grew out of it. The latter was fully organized February 16, 1853, a council having been called for that pur- pose, which was presided over by Rev. R. B. Ashley, of Plain- field. The following are the original members: Prudence Bur- dick, J. B. Wait, Jesse Kyrk, Michael Tait, Margaret Tait, Thomas Tait, Eliza Henry, F. Crouch, Eliza Crouch, Henry Watkins, J. C. Williams and Sarah Williams. Their meetings were held in the Court House and other places until July, 1858. It was determined to send a representative east to solicit aid,
17
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and accordingly Mrs. S. F. Savage was chosen. During her six months' travels, she sent the Building Society an average of $500 per month. In this manner, together with what was ob- tained at home, the present elegant church building was erected, and dedicated in 1859. The following are the pastors of this church since its organization: Rev. J. F. Childs, 1853; Rev. W. J. Clarke, 1854; Rev. A. B. Foskett, 1856; Rev. E. P. Savage, 1859 (supply); Rev. E. Button, 1859; Rev. W. P. Pat- terson, 1862; Rev. C. H. Remington, 1864; Rev. A. G. Eber- hart, 1868; Rev. R. Leslie, 1871; Rev. J. P. Phillips, 1874; Rev. H. State, 1877; Rev. Mr. Conely is the present pastor.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Northern Illinois. Was founded in 1838, by Rev. Father Plunkett, who commenced building the church that year. The death of Father Plunkett is remembered still by many of the old members. He had been out on a collecting mission for his church, and was returning home in the midst of a March snow-storm, riding very fast against the wind with his head bowed low to protect his face from the storm, when his head struck the limb of a tree extended over the road, killing him almost instantly. After the death of Father Plunkett, Rev. Father Du Pontdavis, a Frenchman, became the pastor, and remained about four years, and was succeeded by Father Ing- oldsby. He remained also about four years, when Father Ham- ilton took charge, remaining about four years, and was followed by two other clergymen, neither of whom remained long. Father Farley then came, and remained in charge for four- teen years, when he was succeeded by Father Power, the pres- ent pastor. In 1868, for the accommodation of the people, the parish was divided, and another formed on the east side of the river, known as St. Mary's Parish. Efforts were made to obtain the early records of this church, which are said to be in existence, without avail. The above brief sketch is abridged from the work published by Le Baron & Co., in 1878.
St. John the Baptist's Church .- Was founded in 1852, and a stone church building erected in North Joliet at a cost of $12,- 000. Rev. L. Regel, a French ecclesiastic, was the first priest of this German parish church. Within this original German church the tragedy of July 31, 1864, was enacted. During the early mass the spire was struck by the electric fluid, which ran down into the gallery, and there parting in two currents, de- scended into the earth. Mr. Woodruff, describing the scene, says: The smoke or vapor, which followed the report, gave the impression that the church was on fire, and an insane rush was made for the doors and windows, which were broken out and torn from their hinges, and but for the presence of mind of the pastor, a still more frightful loss of life must have resulted. When the terror of the crowd had been calmed, and the fact
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ascertained that the church was not on fire, the killed and wounded were looked after. They were carried out into the open air, and those who were not fatally injured recovered conscious- ness in the falling rain. The following persons were found to be dead: Mrs. Hartman, 35 years old, leaving three children; Mrs. Ingles, aged 56; Nicholas Young, aged 15; Matthias Engle, aged 17, and Samuel Weyman, 18 years. About twenty more were seriously injured. In 1866 the building was razed, and the present beautiful church erected at a cost of over $50,000. Pre- vious to the coming of the Benedictines, the following priests pre- sided successively: Reverends Caspar Mueller, Ranch and Kumin. The Benedictine fathers presided one year, when Father Algeir took charge. He was followed by Rev. F. X. Nolte, who came in 1867-8 and remained until 1876, when the Franciscan fathers, under Rev. Gerard Becher, arrived. They are the priests who attend to Catholic convicts at the penitentiary. The German congregation numbers about 2,000.
St. Mary's Catholic Church was separated from the original parish in 1868, and the new parish formed under the pastorate of Rev. P. W. Riordan, a name afterwards identified with modern Chicago. He had been preceded by Rev. Father Flanagan, the Church Builder, now of St. Anne's, Englewood, who remained about a year, and built a small wooden church near the Alton depot, and must be considered the founder of the parish. Father Riordan remained about two years and was succeeded by Father Mackin, who remained in charge for five years. Father Murphy was the next pastor and in about one year was succeeded by Rev. Maurice F. Burke, the present pastor, who took charge in April, 1878. The corner stone of the present magnificent church of St. Mary, was laid by Rev. Thomas B. Murphy in August, 1877, and the work pushed forward with so much rapidity, that the basement was ready for occupancy a year later, and on the 11th of August, 1878, it was dedicated by the late Bishops Foley and Right Rev. Dr. McMullin, late Bishop of Dubuque. It is built of Joliet limestone; is 70x132 feet, and 202 feet to the cross of the spire which extended 90 feet above the tower.
The entire structure cost about $65,000, and is certainly one of the great church buildings of the west. It is located in the heart of the city. The building was completed and dedicated August 15, 1882. The stone work was done by Charles and Wm. Werner; the wood frame-work by Devine & O'Connell; the plastering by James Beanley, and the spire erected in 1879 by P. R. Bannon, all of Joliet. St. Mary's Total Abstinence and Benevolent So- ciety, composed principally of members of this congregation, was organized in January, 1883. The present membership is forty-five. The first president was David J. Harrington. Patrick Burke presides at present with John J. Smith, secretary.
First German Evangelical Lutheran Church is an offshoot of
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the German Evangelical Church on the West Side, of which Reverend Christian Sans became the pastor in 1860. In 1871, a separation took place, when the more liberal members, with Reverend Mr. Sans, organized a church on the East Side under the above title. The society erected a very elegant church, but only the basement was completed up to 1879, owing to a failure to receive money subscribed by people in Chicago just before the great fire. It was ultimately completed and dedicated under the auspices of the Wartburg Evangelical Synod, of Central and Southern Illinois, to the jurisdiction of which it belongs. The building cost about $9,000.
The German Lutheran Church, from which the First German Evangelical Society separated in 1871, is in the juris- diction of the Missouri Synod. Its membership forms a very important section of the city's population. The house of worship is located in West Joliet.
Joliet Lodge U. D. was organized under dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in November, 1840. A charter was issued to the lodge in October, 1842, making it No. 10, in the Kentucky jurisdiction. Among the thirty-five orginal members were :- Joel A. Matteson, Benjamin Richard- son, David L. Gregg, James Brodie, Charles Wetherbee, Jared Runyon, Henry G. Brown, Jacob Patrick, Norman Hawley, Maurice Murphy, Robert G. Cook, Thomas J. Wade, Aaron Kenney, Fenner Aldrich, and Thomas Williams. In 1846 the Grand Lodge of Illinois annulled the Kentucky charter.
Mt. Joliet Lodge No. 42 was chartered October, 8, 1846 with William E. Little, W. M; Joel George, S. W. and David Par- rish, J. W. The names of Joshua Rucker, Malachi Kennedy, Uri Osgood, Thomas J. Kenney, Daniel Curtiss and William Smith appear in addition to the greater number of names given above as members of Joliet Lodge No. 10. From 1846 to 1877 the record of elections could not be found by the writer. John Gray served as W. M., from 1877 to 1882; R. H. Pierce in 1882; Joseph Davidson in 1883. The secretaries were: John S. Millar, 1877-9; D. G. Wells, 1880; John S. Millar, 1881; C. A. Noble, 1882-3; S. S. Tyler, 1884. The number of present membership is 136. Fred Munch and W. C. Ream are S. W. and J. W. respectively.
Matteson Lodge No. 175 was constituted by warrant, Octo- ber 3, 1855. In October, 1856, it received its charter. The fol- lowing named have held the office of W. M .; William Smith, 1885; Nelson D. Elwood, 1856; William S Brooks, 1857; James T. McDougall, 1858; Edmund Wilcox, 1859-60; Benjamin Rich- ardson, 1861; L. A. Fuller, 1862-3; William Smith, 1864; C. A. Gilbert, 1865; William H. Mosher, 1866; Samuel C. Stearns, 1867-9; H. T. Woodruff, 1870-1; David G. Wells, 1872 and 1877; Charles B. Garnsey, 1873-4; Chanery Puffer, 1875; and
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1881-3; Daniel H. Pierce, 1876; William G. Wilcox, 1878; George C. Raynor, 1879-80; John B. Fithian is the present W. M. with D. G. Wells, Secretary, and E. E. Howard, Tyler. The membership is 124.
Joliet Chapter No. 27, R. A. M. was chartered October 2, 1856, with the following named members: William Smith, Nel- son D. Elwood, Adial S. Jones, William S. Brooks, John Young, Benjamin Foster, Mahlon Ayres, Joel M. Parks, James T. McDougall. A charter was granted October 24, 1872, reconstituting this chapter. The high priests of the chapter since 1856 (each of whom served one year), are given as follows: Wm. Smith, N. D. Elwood, N. D. Elwood, H. W. Hubbard, W. S. Brooks, N. D. Elwood, Geo. R. McGregor, C. E. Munger, C. E. Munger, W. W. Stevens, C. A. Gilbert, C. A. Gilbert, C. A. Gilbert, S. S. White, W. W. Stevens, W. W. Stevens, D. G. Wells, D. G. Wells, T. L. Breckenridge, W. W. Stevens, W. W. Stevens, D. G. Wells, D. Rosenheim, J. G. Elwood, C. Puffer, C. Puffer, C. Puffer, D. G. Wells, and John Woods, the present presiding officer, with W. C. Ream K., and A. E. Cagwin, Scribe. The secretaries of the chapter were Geo. R. McGregor, 1856; O. P. Phillips, 1857-8 and 1863-4; Benjamin Richardson, 1859; S. P. Munger, 1860-1; S. D. Foote, 1862; H. T. Woodruff, 1865-7; H. A. Sanger, 1868; A. A. Osgood, 1869-71; W. F. Saylor, 1872; S. A. Mateer, 1873-6; J. C. Lang, 1877-80; S. E. Pearce, 1881; T. R. Blair, 1882; C. A. Noble, 1883; and D. G. Wells, 1884. There is a membership of 124.
Joliet Commandery, No. 4, K. T. was instituted February 23, 1858, and chartered November 5, 1858, with nine charter mem- bers, viz: N. D. Elwood, Wm. S. Brooks, H. W. Hubbard, W. C. Hunt, H. L. Stewart, H. W. Bigelow, L. P. Hilliard, Reuben Cleveland, James Wadsworth. Among the commanders elected since organization were N. D. Elwood, 1858-60; W. S. Brooks, 1860, 1862 and 1864; Ed. Wilcox, 1861; G. R. McGregor, 1863; C. E. Munger, 1865-8; C. A. Gilbert, 1869; S. C. Stearns, 1870; R. P. Denker, 1871-3. John S. Millar. Wm. Green Wilcox is the present Commander, with D. G. Wells, Recorder. The strength of the command is about 140.
The old Masonic Hall was destroyed by fire in February, 1866, entailing a loss upon the different lodges of over $7,000. In July, 1872, a second fire destroyed and damaged masonic property to the extent of over $8,000 of which sum $6,000 were paid by insurance companies. The present quarters of the masonic circle of Joliet are extensive and elegant, outside the great cities, nothing more complete can be found.
Powhan Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., was chartered July 13, 1847, with the following named members: J. T. McDougall, Abijah Cagwin, Phineas Wheeler, Mansfield Wheeler, S. W. Bowen, A. McIntosh, Harvey Wheeler, and William McDougall.
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The charter was issued by W. W. N. Parke, Grand Master, and S. A. Corneau, Grand Secretary. The first officers were: J. T. McDougall, N. G .; Phineas Wheeler, V. G .; S. W. Bowen, R. S .; A. Cagwin, Treasurer, and William McDougall, P. S. S. O. Simonds was elected Treasurer of this lodge at each election for nineteen years. William Tell Lodge, No. 219, I. O. O. F., was chartered October 13, 1857. The charter members were: Leopold Schwabacher, Adam Werner, Solomon Louer, Gabriel Hauch, J. L. Guirard, and Martin Wagoner. Joliet Encamp- ment, No. 72, I. O. O. F., was chartered October 8, 1867, with the following members: Ed. Cleghorn, A. D. Edgworth, G. H. Uchlman, Isaac S. Watson, Jacob Whitmore, Gabriel Hauch, Isaac Schring, and C. C. Braun. Eagle Encampment, No. 139, I. O. O. F., received its charter October 8, 1872. The charter members were: A. D. Edgworth, Franklin Haines, James Mc- Evoy, F. J. Richards, John Brown, John F. Tarball and George S. Kinney. Pocahontas Lodge, No. 59, Daughters of Rebecca, was chartered October 14, 1873.
Ancient Order of Hibernians .- This society was introduced into Will county in 1872. Division No. 2 was organized at Joliet, and chartered October 1, 1874, with James Boland, Presi- dent; Patrick Kane, Vice-President; Patrick Shanahan, Record- ing Secretary; Peter Mackin, Assistant Secretary, and Henry Fanning, Treasurer. Patrick C .. Haley was President from April, 1875, to April, 1877. Patrick Kane was elected in 1877; John O'Neil, in 1878; John Mason, in 1879; Patrick H. Mc- Sherry, in 1880-1; John T. Donohue, in 1882 and 1883-4. The Secretaries of the division since organization are named as fol- lows: Patrick Shanahan, 1874; P. H. McSherry, 1875; John O'Neil, 1876-7; Thomas Kelly, 1878; Bernard McGann, 1879; John Dougherty, 1880-1; Frank Smith, 1882, and John J. Fos- ter, 1883-4. The county delegates since 1874 have been James Powers, 1874; Edward Hannett, 1875; James Donohue, 1876-7; P. H. McSherry, 1878-80; Edmund Cushing, 1881; Robert T. Kelly, 1882, and Thomas P. Haughton, 1883-4. There are two other divisions of this order established in Joliet. Although every reasonable means was taken to obtain authentic informa- tion regarding these divisions, Nos. 3 and 4, such information was not forthcoming.
Stone City Lodge, No. 26, A. O. U. W., was instituted No- vember 17, 1876, with the following members : Henry Smith, John Davy, John C. Gunlock, John McCowin, Franklin Collins, David Sheldon, Wm. James, John Gregg, Daniel Davis, Geo. Hawkins, Ed. Hillock, Geo. Williams, Chas. I. Dorie, Paul Hopkins, Sam. Hillock, Sam. Mullin, Thos. Lappage, Gus. Weil, Merrit P. Campbell; and Charter officers: James W. Pat- terson, P. M. W .; Wm. B. Frazer, M. W .; John Smith, G. F .; Henry Hardy, O .; John Lowry, R .; John Pettigrew, F .; James
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Morris, R .; John Cox, G., Harry Lumley, J. W .; James Ar- nott, O. W. The present P. M. W. is Chas. Eckert; M. W. Jas. W. Patterson, and Recorder, M. W. Watkins; the member- ship is 26.
Joliet Lodge, No. 89, A. O. U. W. was organized June 4, 1877, with the following members: Albert J. Sanger, David Rosenheim, L. C. Mitchell, L. B. Dewey, Wm. Sandiford, Roger Sandiford, Chas. B. Shouse, Chas. B. Garnsey and Ara E. Brown. L. C. Mitchell was P. M. W. and Roger Sandiford M. W., with C. B. Garnsey, Recorder. Since 1877 the follow- ing Master Workmen have been elected: C. B. Shouse, 1878; W. H. Pacey, 1878; M. F. Hand, 1879; F. P. Fry, 1880; E. D. Avery, 1881; E. H. Young, 1882; M. F. Hand, 1883, and Albert J. Sanger, 1884. The Recorders: E. H. Young, 1878; A. J. Sanger, 1878; A. H. Young, 1879-80; W. Sandiford, 1881-2; Thomas Severn, 1883-4. The number of members is 54; three members of the lodge died, viz: Joseph Stafford, March 24, 1880; Ara E. Brown, January 8, 1882, and E. D. Avery, March 10, 1883.
Knights of Pythias, Holy Grail Lodge, No. 39, was organ- ized in December, 1872. Although a very modern association, it is strong in numbers and influence. The present membership is 140. Franklin Collins is Chancellor, and T. L. Longley K. of R. and S.
Joliet Young Men's Christian Association was organized April 12, 1882, with W. F. Reed President and W. J. LaFavor Executive Secretary. In September, 1883, N. D. Dyer, the present President was elected. J. T. Wyllie was elected Gen- eral Secretary, May 22, 1883. The present officers are N. D. Dyer, President; G. L. Vance, Vice President; J. T. Wyllie, General Secretary; F. Carson, Recording Secretary; W. F. Reed, Treasurer. The Directors are, Wm. Ross, J. Carson, Jr., W. J. McDowell, B. F. Moore, Dr. Hocking, and A. Tonks. The present membership is 167, of whom 121 are young men, 24 ladies, and 22 boys. The reading-room is furnished with forty leading newspapers and magazines, while the library contains 189 volumes. The rooms are located in the Stephens Block, North Chicago street. The C. L. S. C. was organized Novem- ber 7, 1883, since which time studies, under the Chautauqua plan, have been regularly given. The membership is 35; Dorrence Debell is President. The Chinese Sunday-school was instituted October 21, 1883, for the purpose of giving Christian instruc- tion to the five Chinamen now in the city. The names of the scholars are Mon Ho, Moy Hing, Moy Quong, Leo Him Yuen, Moy Tuen, Gim Kuen Dep. A scholar of 1883 left the city in January, 1884.
The Will County Bible Society is a well-organized society. The officers for 1884-5 are: President, Otis Hardy; Secretary,
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Dr. A. Nash; Treasurer, Geo. H. Woodruff. The financial condition of the society is exceedingly good.
Turnverein Joliet .- Was organized April 28, 1873; number of members, 35. The officers for 1884 are, Oscar Weinebrod, President ; C. Oesterte, Secretary ; John Gross, Treasurer; John Cremer, first Turnwart; Ad. Gembitzki, second Turn- wart ; Henry Hassig, Cashier ; D. Marlaner, Janitor.
Bartleson Post No. 6 G. A. R .- Was organized October 25, 1882. The members of this post, who are not noticed in the military chapter owing to their enlistment outside this county, are named in the following list : Names and roster of G. A. R .- R. M. Woods, 64th Illinois Infantry; W. H. Price, served in 2d Kentucky Calvary 3 years; D. J. Woodley, in 8th Pennsylvania Infantry ; John J. Austin, in 82d New York Infantry; Wm. Dougall, M. D., in 15th Indiana Cavalry; W. W. Fithian, 16th Kansas Cavalry; R. J. Morrison, 3d North Carolina Cavalry; 0. Brown, 16th Michigan Infantry; John Butler, 9th Indiana Infantry; John Laskey, 9th Massachusetts Infantry; Sam. Ches- nutt, 26th Ohio Infantry; C. H. Harris, 19th Ohio Infantry; Jonas Seeley, 4th Illinois Cavalry; J. D. McCullis, 2d Iowa Infantry; S. A. Oliver, 8th Massachusetts Infantry; James Mil- ler, U. S. Navy; C. Rost, 20th Massachusetts Cavalry; E. E. Howard, 4th Massachusetts Horse Artilery; Jos. Ebner, 109th New York Infantry; L. Dhuy, 20th New York Infantry; A. H. Goble, 142d Pennsylvania Infantry; Thos. Severn, 25th Pennsyl- vania Infantry; James Wall, 33d New York Infantry; G. W. Beber, 15th Michigan Infantry; Franklin Hebert, 19th Wiscon- sin Infantry; W. D. C. Holmes, 7th Wisconsin Artillery; B. H. King, 5th Wisconsin Battery; James Egan, U. S. Navy; N. D. Dyer, 29th Missouri Infantry ; Chas. S. Cockett, 70th New York Infantry; H. B. Campbell, U. S. A; Jos. L. L. Watson, 5th Pennsylvania V. R. C .; Geo. Potts, U. S. Engineer; Wm. H. C. Kearns, 29th Pennsylvania Infantry ; J. M. Baker, 44th Indiana Infantry ; H. J. Jacobs, 110th Ohio Infantry ; Owen Hester, 1st New York Eng .; Isaac Sawyer, 4th Indiana Cavalry; N. M. Spalding, 15th U. S. Infantry; J. W. Wyss, 15th New York Artillery; W. F. Proctor, 1st California Infantry ; Henry Down, 44th New York Infantry; Conrad Bhrehm, 134th New York Infantry ; Adam Bell, 9th Indiana Infantry ; Jacob R. Bossert, 110th Pennsylvania Infantry ; Wm. Rivers, 22d New York Infantry; James E. Cutting, 4th Iowa Infantry; R. B. Homer, 15th New York Engineers; Matt Bliss, 7th Massachu- setts Infantry; F. H. Walker, 53d Massachusetts Infantry.
Soldiers Buried in Joliet Township .- The soldiers, 1861-5, buried in Oakwood, Joliet, are named in the following list: Lorenzo P. Sanger, A. S. Randall, John Call, Ellis Harwood, S. W. Strong, F. A. Bartleson, Fred. Matthews, Rodney S. Bowen, Newell Pratt, Chas. H. Matthews, Josiah Ingersoll,
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David G. Grover, Geo. D. Dyer, S. G. B. Carpenter, S. B. Nickerson, Sam Nickerson, A. Donnelly, D. Bailey, A. S. Dikeman, Matt. B. Gleen, W. M. Radcliff, E. M. Clark, H. B. Goddard, Walter A. Mallory, Gideon Berneir, Wm. F. Saylor, George A. Carew, Hubert Fellows, George H. Gewman, W. B. Brown, E. Grandy, W. H. Marsh, Jas. H. Reynolds, Harvey Range, Philip Sipple, James E. Haverland, Louis B. Hand,, L. D. Palmer, James Pdoss, John W. Edeel, Wm. Thompson, Wm. A. Steel, Nicholas Shaw, Franklin Nouer, Benj. Ingersoll, N. W. Flack, W. Reynolds, Geo. Johnson, M. W. Stoddard, Robert Stevens, A. H. Howk, Edmund W. Phelps, Wm. Evans, Geo. Johnston. L. S. Charles, of the Mexican War, and John Cook and John J. Flack, of the Revolutionary War, are buried here also. In the Zarley Cemetery are interred: Calvin Service, Henry Law, Aaron Shreffler, Philip Scott, of 1861-5; Reazon Zarley and Wm. Hadsell, of 1812. The soldiers buried in the German Lutheran Cemetery are: John Bissell, Benedick Hoffer and Fred Frout. The Irish and Irish-American soldiers interred in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery are named in the following list: Edward Cunningham, John Noonan, John C. Reilley, Samuel Cuppy, James Bryson, Michael Farrell, John Sullivan, Francis Hebert, James Conway, John Lulius, Frank Green, Bernard Lynch, Jacob Fogel, William McGarr, Thomas Smith, Michael Leahey, James Galligher, Mathew Carnes, John O'Reilly. In St. John's Catholic Cemetery are the bodies of Conrad Gossman, Paul Staehle, Joseph St. Julian, Max Weimer, Mich. Weismantle, Ignatz Dollinger, John Yost.
Public Library .- This completes the list of principal de- partments under the care of the city government. It had its origin in the Pioneer Library Association, which merged into the Joliet Historical Society in -1867. The organization of the Public Library, on its present basis, took place in November, 1875. Its location, on Jefferson street, in the heart of the busi- ness portion of the city ; the number and variety of its collec- tion ; the arrangement and the manner in which it is conducted, all render it one of the most useful public institutions of the kind to be found in the country. The general collection of books and law libraries forming the private libraries of the city, are numerous and valuable. The library of W. A. Steele alone contains about 7,000 volumes, among which are some of the oldest works.
The Joliet Fire Department .- Organized in early days on the voluntary principle, was established as a city organization in 1877. It is well manned and equipped and forms, undoubt- edly, one of the leading departments to be found in the cities of this State outside of Chicago.
Cemeteries .- Oakwood Cemetery, on the north bank of Hick- ory creek, was established as a cemetery in 1854, when it was
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platted. The Cemetery Company was organized in 1857, under a charter granted by the Legislature. Here many of the sol- diers of 1861-65 are buried. St. Patrick's Cemetery, one of the oldest places of interment in Northern Illinois, contains the remains of a few of the troops who served during the War for the Union. St. John's Catholic Cemetery has also its quota of deceased Union troops, while a few are interred in the German Lutheran burial-ground. The order in which these fields of the dead are kept is as creditable as it is just.
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