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 33
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Charles W. Staehle, bookbindery, established his present
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business in 1859 and is the oldest and largest dealer in this line in Joliet. His name has been prominently identified with the early settlement of Will county, he having served as notary pub- lic for nine years, city collector for one term and as a member of the board of school directors constantly since 1869.
W. A. Steel, born at Blairsville, Pa., October 11, 1836, en- gaged in mercantile business at Cumberland, Md., in 1853, subsequently at Pittsburgh, Pa .; in 1855 visited Joliet en route to Missouri, where he built six miles of the N. M. railroad; settled at Joliet in 1857; was appointed deputy warden at Alton, under Warden Samuel K. Casey; in 1858 managed the penitentiary there until he moved the non-leased convicts to the Joliet prison in July, 1860. During the year ending April, 1861, he completed his law studies and was admitted to the Bar. Dur- ing the year he took part in building the monitors Tuscumbia, Chillicothe, Indianola and Etlah; was organizer and major of the National Iron Works Battalion of 450 men for the defense of St. Louis, in which he served until 1865. From July, 1865, to March, 1871, he was L. P. Sanger's partner in his stone · mining operations and in 1871 became sole owner. About this time his enterprise extended to the Wilmington coal region and he was among the first to develop its resources. In March, 1870, he was admitted to the Bar of the Illinois Supreme Court, in April to that of the Supreme Court of the United States, and to the Court of Claims in January, 1871. To his energy is due, in a great measure, the grant of the bonus to the Joliet Iron and Steel Company toward the building of their shops at this point; nor did his influence cease here-in every department of indus- try, literature, religion, his aid has been felt and appreciated. Like Col. Sanger, whose daughter he married January 16, 1862, his has been a life full of usefulness. (Vide City Official His- tory, sketch of libraries, etc.)
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Sebastian Stephen, born in Alsace, Germany, September 8, 1810; entered the French army in 1832, came to the United States in 1843, and settled at Joliet in 1844. He was married in 1845 to Miss Orte, who died in December, 1852. On July 14, 1853 he was married to Mrs. Magdalene (Wishaar) Blattner, of Madison, Cook county, who came with her parents to Illinois in 1844, and married Michael Blattner in 1851.
John Stephens ownes 250 acres in section 18, Joliet township; was born in France in 1839 and came to Will county in 1847. Was married in Joliet in 1863 to Miss Rachael Schall, daugh- ter of Ignatz Schall, of this county. Has a family of seven children, one son and six daughters; was elected highway com- missioner in April, 1882, and school director in April. 1884.
Joseph Stephen, manufacturer of saddle sand harness and the various articles in that line, 207 Jefferson street, Joliet. Mr. Stephen established his business in 1861 and at present does an
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
annual business of from thirty to forty thousand dollars. He employs an average of ten men the year around.
Mrs. Nancy ( Kercheval ) Stevens, born in Ohio in 1815, settled with her parents near Joliet in 1830; was married to Robert Stevens in 1835.
Robert Stevens, born in Kentucky about the year 1800, settled just east of Joliet Mound in 1831; was married to Miss Lydia A. Pence, who died shortly after the period of his settle- ment here leaving three children; brought his family to Dan- ville in 1832; returned and resided on his farm during the Black Hawk troubles; died January 6, 1864. In 1836 he was elected sheriff of Will county, but refused to qualify, when Fenner Aldrich was elected in August following.
W. W. Stevens, son of B. C. and Esther A. (Lufkin) Stevens, was born at Peru, Oxford county, Maine, July 14, 1832; grad- uated from Andover Academy, New Hampshire in 1854, and coming west in 1855, settled in this county. He was admitted to the Bar of Illinois in March, 1859 and, September 6, the same year, was married to Miss Althea H., daughter of the pioneer Oscar L. Hawley. Mr. Stevens conducted an extensive insur- ance agency, in connection with his law practice until 1873, when A. A. Osgood purchased his interests in the insurance department of his office. His official connection with the city as attorney from 1863 forward is shown in the history of the city. In later years he purchased the Record, which he now edits ( see Press History ).
I. D. Stevens, born at Joliet in 1851, was educated here; entered mercantile life in 1863, in 1868 he, with his brother, W. D. Stevens, purchased the Hardy Lumber Concern; in 1870, was United States Express Agent; a few years later succeeded William N. Moore, founder of the Solar Stove Works as Sec- retary of that company, and served until succeeded by I. M. Cust. His marriage with Miss Kate Flack, of Aurora, Illi- nois, took place in 1872.
W. A. Strong, born at Waterloo, New York, October 3, 1828, came to Joliet in 1850, established his hardware house there, and subsequently joined Wm. Davidson in operating the Wilson quarry. In 1865 he was elected President of the Gas- light Company, founded in 1857, which position he still holds. Mr. Strong's official record is referred to in the history of the city. His real estate and business interests at Joliet are all im- portant and extensive.
Frederick X. Stuffler, born at Wilmington, Will county, April 1, 1848, settled with his parents at Joliet in 1849, was educated here, and in 1877 established his hardware house, which was burned in 1883. Miss Mary A. Barthelme, to whom he was married April 23, 1872, is also a native of this county.
Charles H. Sutphen, born in Cherry Valley, New York,
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
February 15, 1806, is the son of Gilbert Sutphen, who was slain in 1812 by the British and Indians at Lundy's Lane. Mr. Sut- phen located lands at the head of Indian creek, now Earl- ville, LaSalle county, in 1834. In September, 1834, he re- turned, resigned his position in the Paymaster's Department, U. S. A., and, with his wife, settled in his new home, October, 1834. In 1839 he purchased 1,000 acres, which he devoted to stock-raising, until 1859. Miss Eliza H. Dow, of Boston, to whom he was married in 1831, died April 6, 1870, leaving six sons and three daughters. In 1871 Mr. Sutphen moved to Joliet, where he married Mrs. H. D. Higinbotham, nee Miss Rebecca Wheeler, of Westford, New York. Mr. Sutphen's grandfather came from Holland, and his grandmother from Ireland, prior to the Revolutionary War.
William Symington (deceased), born at Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, in January, 1811, settled in Will county in 1387. In 1850-51, he was engaged in the California mines; returning, he located his 150-acre farm on section 19, and took up his resi- dence there in 1852. Mr. S. was married June 12, 1837, to Miss Dorothea Haarer, born in Wurtemburg, Germany, October 8, 1815, whose parents were also old settlers. This lady resides on her farm, section 19, Joliet.
George Thompson, associated in the proprietorship of the Press; has been connected with the newspapers of this State for some years. He was one of the publishers of the Braidwood Siftings, previous to his coming to Joliet. Here he was in charge of the advertising department of the Press for some months, when he acquired an interest in that paper, and is now cashier vice Mr. McDonald resigned.
William Tonner, born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1816; settled on his farm in Plainfield in 1846; visited Cal- ifornia in 1850, returned in 1852; was elected clerk of Will county in 1857 and at the close of that year located at Joliet. He served as county clerk until the close of 1865, when he en- gaged in the real estate and loan business; was elected city clerk in 1877 and served until 1879 (vide Political and City History). He married Miss C. J. Shreffler, of Centre county, Pennsyl- vania, February 5, 1839. His daughter, Miss Mary Alice, is wife of H. A. Sanger (of Sanger & Moody), Joliet.
T. H. Tierney, a native of Kendall county, Illinois, estab- lished his meat market at 321 North Chicago street some years ago. He keeps in stock a full supply of fresh meats, fish and poultry.
Cornelius C. Van Horne, whose history is told in that of the Hickory Creek Settlement, in the Political Chapter, and in the Official History of Joliet, was born in Huntington county, New Jersey, April 13. 1794, came to Hickory Creek early in 1832, and died at Joliet, of cholera, July 7, 1854. Miss Elizabeth
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
Veeder, to whom he was married in 1813, died at Joliet in 1838. In 1842 he was married to Miss Mary M. Richards.
George L. Vance, born in Coledonia, Vermont, March 13, 1840, first engaged in business at Rutland, Vt., from 1864 to 1870; corresponding clerk in International Revenue Bureau, Washington, D. C .; studied law in the meantime and received the degree of B. L. in 1867 from the Columbia College at Washington. He moved to Houston county, Minn., in 1870, came to Joliet in 1873, where he established his extensive furni- ture trade. A reference to society, religious and municipal history will point out Mr. Vance's official record since 1873.
Walker Medicine Company .- See Directory.
Barton Smith Walters, son of William and Mrs. (Smith) Walters, was born at Joliet in 1840 or 1841, entered the 39th Illinois Infantry in 1861, was captured with David Hanson and Andrew Sybert in May, 1863, by the Rebels, interned in Andersonville, where his two comrades died and was him- self released on the point of death in March, 1865. En route home he died at Annapolis, April 1, 1865. His father settled in Joliet in 1836, built a home on Bluff street, and for many years previous to his removal to Channahon carried on the grocery business there.
William Werner, born at Frankfort, Germany, February 5, 1831, settled in Frankfort township, Will county, in October, 1851, and at Joliet in 1852. With his brother, Charles, he erected many of the principal buildings of Joliet. For almost a quarter of a century he was engaged in stone mining in his Joliet quarries. In 1863 he was commissioned one of the draft commissioners, and the same year was first elected president of the Lutheran church. In the official history of the city and township his public record is given. Mr. Werner married Miss Barbara Goeble, December 7, 1853.
Orloff R. Westmann, born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Feb- ruary 18, 1833, entered the German Army in 1848, came to the United States in 1853, to DuPage county in 1855, traveled ex- tensively in the West, settled at Joliet in 1874, where he pur- chased the pioneer photograph establishment of John Edgeworth, and has since been engaged in this work at 219 Jefferson street.
Charles Werner, born at Frankfort, Germany, September 14, 1828, settled at Joliet in July, 1851, worked at the stone masons' trade until 1865, when with his brother, Valentine, he opened Werners' stone quarry. His firm erected St. Mary's church, the jail and sheriff's residence, Union school-building, Werner's Hall, etc., etc. In 1868 Mr. Werner purchased Young's Hall, which was burned in 1874. A year later he expended $20,000 in the erection of Werner Hall, corner of Chicago and Van Buren streets. He was married to Miss Mary A. Goeble, a native of Prussia, July 17, 1853.
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
E. H. Webb, formerly a member of the firm of Chittenden & Co., Joliet, was born in New York State, May 20, 1844, moved with parents to Wisconsin in 1846, enlisted in 1863 in the 36th Wisconsin Infantry, was commissioned first lieutenant after the affair at Cold Harbor, and served in the Missouri department for some time previous to muster out. He was engaged in mer- cantile business in Wisconsin and Dakota until 1871, when he came to Joliet and entered the dry goods trade. Miss Mary Chittenden, to whom he was married May 20, 1874, is a daugh- ter of George N. Chittenden, an old resident of Plainfield township.
Horace Weeks, born in Homer township, Will county, Sep- tember 20, 1837 (son of Doctor Nathaniel Weeks, a pioneer of 1833); entered the Telegraph office at Lockport in 1850; in 1854 took charge of the C. R. I. & P. railroad office at Sheffield, returned to Lockport the same year, was engaged in his father's drug store and again held the position of bookkeeper in McDon- ald's bank until 1859 when he came to Joliet to pursue the study of law. From 1861 to 1868 he was variously employed. In 1868 he was admitted to the Bar, and also appointed deputy clerk of circuit court. In 1872 was appointed internal revenue collector, and in 1877 master-in-chancery. His marriage with Miss Mary Munson took place in 1862.
Mrs. Inez E. White, widow of Samuel S. White, and daughter of the late David Crawford, of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, owns eighty acres in section 14, Joliet township, all under cultivation. Was married to Mr. White in 1851 in Newcastle, Pennsylvania, and removed to Will county five years later. Has a family of two sons and three daughters all living.
S. H. Whited, born in Albany, New York, May 24, 1868, settled at Joliet in 1853, purchased a farm at Twelve Mile Grove in 1855; returned to Joliet in 1857, and in October, 1861, enlisted in the Mechanics' Fusileers under Colonel Wilson. In 1862 he reënlisted in Ford's Cavalry, served to the close of the war and returned to Joliet. He was married to Miss Sarah Hinchman, of Little Falls, New York, in 1832. Charles W., son of Mr. Whited, also settled here in 1853; in 1857 entered the Joliet Republican office; entered Danforth's company 4th Missouri cavalry in June 1861, served in the 53d Illinois Infant- ry, and finally in 13th Illinois Cavalry until 1863. He was married to Miss E. Putnam, Little Falls, New York, June 12, 1871.
George Whittier, born at Sommersworth, N. H., November 27, 1830, settled at Joliet in 1861. He with Joseph Whittier have operated the Bluff street lime-kilns for years. Mrs. Sarah M. Lindsay, to whom he was married February 10, 1854, was born at Chester, Me., January 16, 1832.
Edmund Wilcox, born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Sep-
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
tember 18, 1816, graduated from Hamilton College in 1835; came west in 1836 and settled at Joliet. A few years later he became a partner of Charles Clement, purchased his interest after two years and continued his dry goods store until 1858. From 1858 to 1863 he was superintendent of the Joliet Gas Works. In the latter year he re-entered mercantile life and carried on his store until 1870. His official history is given in that of Joliet city and township. His marriage with Miss Sarah M. Green, of Washington county, N. H., was celebrated March 23, 1845.
Wilcox Brothers .- See Directory.
D. E. Winters, born in Marshall county, W. Va., in 1842, moved to Marshall county, Ill., in 1852; was married February 5, 1862; enlisted in 77th Illinois Infantry, August 12, 1862; was wounded at Jackson, Miss., July 11, 1863, returned to his com- mand and served as hospital steward until the close of the war. He came to Joliet in May, 1870, and established his builders' office. During the last seven years the annual value of business done by him ranged from $20,000 to $50,000, his building opera- tions extending eastward to Englewood.
Francis Woerndle, M. D., born in Austria, April 14, 1817, graduated from the University of Vienna. He located in New York city in 1849 and settled at Joliet in 1857, where he has carried on his drug business up to the present time.
Miss A. J. Wheeler, daughter of David N. and Lydia S. Wheeler, of Shaftsbury, Vermont, came to Crete township with her parents in March, 1853. In 1854 the family settled in Frankfort township and resided there until about four years ago, when they moved to Joliet city. Miss Wheeler, however, has been an important commercial factor in the city since 1874, when she established her dry goods and notion store. Her suc- cess is told by the fact that within the decade she accumulated a well-earned fortune of about $100,000. This accomplished, she disposed of her business interests to Messrs. Nachbour & Nicolaus.
George H. Woodruff, the senior old settler of Joliet, son of Theodore and Chloe Woodruff, was born at Clinton, Oneida county, New York, August 16, 1814, educated at Hamilton college, graduated in 1833; began the study of law at Pompey Hill, New York, and in 1834 came to Joliet with M. H. Dem- mond, Miss Catherine Murray and a hired man named Jenney. At a special election held in 1836 he was elected County Recorder, re-elected in 1839 and resigned the position of Probate Judge to which he was elected in 1838. He established his drug house in 1843, which he has conducted down to the present day. His history of Will county and his historical papers must be considered among the most valuable contri-
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JOLIET TOWNSHIP AND CITY HISTORY.
butions to the history of the West. Mrs. Hannah B. Woodruff died some years ago.
George Woodruff, born in Watertown, New York, December 7, 1812; settled in Joliet in 1836, where he established a grocery store which he carried on until 1841, when he settled on his Plainfield farm. In 1843 he resumed mercantile business which he continued until 1858. In 1852 he erected the Woodruff grain warehouse and continued in the grain trade until 1864. In 1858 he, with others, founded the Joliet Bank, and having acquired sole interest in this bank in 1864, it was reorganized under the title First National Bank. He was president of this the First National until succeeded by his son, Frederick W. Woodruff. Mr. Woodruff is identified with many local man- ufacturing interests, some of which he originated or aided in organizing. His public record is given in the Official History of Joliet township and city. Miss Dorothy Smith, to whom he was married May 9, 1838, was born at Rutland, Jefferson county, New York.
R. M. Woods .- See History of Press, Military Record, etc.
Morrison Worthingham, born in 1814; settled at Joliet in 1836 and carried on the cabinet trade there for years; was 2d Lieutenant Company K, 100th Infantry at organization; fell at Stone river, December 31, 1862. His two sons served in the 20th Illinois Infantry.
John Young, born in Ulster county, New York, July 18, 1798, settled in Manhattan township, Will county, in 1849, when he purchased 560 acres of the public lands. A year later he was one of the ten voters in the township and the proposer of the name; also first supervisor. From 1851 to 1859 he was President of the Will county Agricultural Society, and previous to 1876, when he moved to Joliet, held several township offices. Miss Caroline Thompson, daughter of Rev. James Thompson, of Greene county, New York, to whom he was married in 1825, died in Will county, 1858. Mansfield and Edward Young are residents of Joliet.
Henry Young, born in Lorraine, Germany, November 17, 1825, came to America in 1847, and to Joliet in 1858. In 1874 he established his tobacco store; held a number of city offices ,as recorded in official history. Miss Mary Brack, to whom he was married October 13, 1849, was born in Luxemburg, Ger- many, May 5, 1832. One of his sons-Nicholas-lost his life in the catastrophe of July 31, 1864, at the church of St. John the Baptist. Henry J. Young is a dealer in diamonds, watches, clocks, jewelry, etc., at 325 Jefferson street.
Mansfield Young, born in New York city December 26, 1830, came with his parents to Will county in 1849, and settled at Joliet in 1854. From 1855 to 1864 he was engaged in the man- ufacture of hats in New York city, and from 1864 to 1868 en-
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22
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gaged in the same business at San Francisco, California, and . again in New York city. In 1861 he went into service with the 7th New York National Guard, that command being the first to march. In 1868 he came to reside permanently here. His marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph Walker of New York city, took place May 6, 1863; her death occured May 25, 1876. Edward Young, brother of Mansfield, is extensively en- gaged in the hay business, and operates a hay-press at Joliet.
Reason Zarley, a pioneer of Chillicothe, Ohio, was also one of the first settlers of Will county. He came to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1829, thence crossed the prairie to his Will county homestead in 1831, and resided here, within two miles of Joliet, until his death in 1859. Miss Sarah Mustard, to whom he was married in 1814, and daughter of Rev. Wm. Mustard, a pioneer Methodist preacher of Ohio, was born in Pike county, Ohio, October 25, 1794; Linton, once a member of the Bar of this county; Calvin, once connected with the Signal; W. M., and John W., Lydia and Sarah Zarley are dead.
Calneh Zarley, born in Pike county, Ohio, April 21, 1825, came with his parents to Joliet in 1831; fifteen years later, in company with his brother Calvin, he purchased the Signal from A. O. Stillman and has continued its publication down to the present day. (Vide Press History.) From 1854 to 1861 he was postmaster here, and also held local offices. He was married August 19, 1862, to Miss Annie Keegan.
W. H. Zarley, born in Joliet township Febuary 21, 1837, served as Deputy Postmaster from 1854 to 1863 when he was elected City Clerk. This office he held until 1877, when he was elected County Clerk, which position he still holds. Miss Helen M. Patrick to whom he was married June 30, 1860, is a daughter of Jacob Patrick of Joliet.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
The early settlement of Jackson dates from 1831. In March of that year, Charles Reed who located on the site of Joliet in 1833; Joseph Shoemaker who settled in Channahon in 1831; Eli Shoemaker, his brother, and Charles Koons-Reed's son-in- law and Eli Shoemaker's brother-in-law, arrived from Ohio at the grove known as Reed's Grove. In the summer of that year James Hemphill and George Kirkpatrick came-making up the pioneer circle of 1831. In 1832 Jefferson Ragsdale, Wesley Jenkins, Thomas Underwood and George, Henry and John Line- barger, all from North Carolina, arrived here and made settle- ments with the exception of John Linebarger, who returned to Indiana and did not come to stay until 1850. In 1833 Peter Eib with his sons George, Levi and Augustus, came from Vir- ginia and settled on section 7. Later in the year came Charles Pinneo. Jacob and Joseph Zumalts came from Ohio and re-
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mained a short time. In 1834 came R. J. Boylan the pioneer surveyor, Peter and John Brown, Smith Johnson, Henry Wat- kins and his sons, Henry, Jr., Benjamin and Peter, all from New York. John and Thomas Koon, C. Longmire, Sam. Cat- ron, Theo. Watkins, Robert Watkins, D. Haight, John Catron, Ben. Shanks, Joseph Shanks, A. Crowe and Geo. Young came to the neighborhood in 1834-5; Edward Kirk and wife, Mrs. Sarah (Davis) Kirk, who died in 1843, came to Will county in 1834, and he with William Cotton, made a settlement in Jack- son in 1835. Peter Brown and family settled here the same year. Cyrus Hemphill (native) 1837; Sheldon Young in 1838; James Gager, 1838; John Grant, 1839; W. Z. Brown (native), 1843; Freeman Gay, Joshua Bush, Cicero Kyrk (native) 1847; John Hibner and Robert Spafford, 1848; M. Gonter and Ed- mund B. Crafts in 1851; Henry Snoad and Seth Gibler, 1853; Joseph Partee, Geo. Blair, James Barrett, Wm. Turner and M. Meyer, 1854; William and Sidney Morgan, William Deuchmann and John Mead, 1855; J. C. Harley, Henry Spangler and Jacob Palmer in 1857; Thomas Tait and Peter W. Corbin in 1858. A few others came into the township between 1835 and 1855 whose names are identified with other divisions of the county, or are mentioned in the general history. The organ- ization of Jackson township was effected April 2, 1850, when Smith Johnson was elected Supervisor. The presiding officers of the Board since 1850 were: George Linebarger, 1851-53; E. B. Crafts, 1854-55; S. Johnson, 1856; George Linebarger, 1857; E. B. Crafts, 1858; George Linebarger, 1859; D. D. Pow- less, 1860; S. Johnson, 1861; S. Young, 1862; George Line- barger, 1863; H. Spangler, 1864; George Linebarger, 1865-67; Thomas Tait, 1868; H. Spangler, 1869-75; W. F. Keith, 1876- 77; Henry Spangler, 1878-83; Elias Brown, 1883-84. The officers elected in April 1884, are: Supervisor, E. Brown; Town clerk, J. C. Beatte; Assessor, Charles Gifford; Collector, W. D. Palmer; Highway commissioner, Joseph Theil; School Trustee, D. Richards. The population in 1880 was 1,399, in- cluding Elwood village (312). The equalized assessed valuation in 1883-84 was $406,242, of which $347,115 was for lands, $17,161 for lots, and $41,960 for personal property. The tax levy was $9,971.70, including the school tax. This in district No. 4, was $1.30 on a $1.00 valuation.
The post-office at Jackson creek was established in 1840, with James Gager post-master; and the first church building was erected in 1852, one mile west of Elwood, to which village it was moved in 1866. Henry Watkins, a settler of 1834, opened a school in the township in 1834 with fifteen pupils.
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