The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 77

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Illinois > Will County > The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest > Part 77

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

REV. FATHER M. J. DORNEY, Pastor of St. Dennis' Catholic Church, Lockport ; was born in Springfield, Mass., March 11, 1851; at the age of 9 years, he entered the University of St. Mary's of the Lake, situated in Chicago, in which he remained a student seven years ; leaving there, he entered the college at Suspension Bridge, N. Y .; here he remained three years, completing his literary course, and received the degree of A. B .; one year after, that of A. M .; he next entered up- on his theological course in St. Mary's Seminary, located in Baltimore ; this insti- tution is one among the oldest in our land, the grant of land on which it is situated having been made by Chas. Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence ; he finished the course in December, ber, 1873, and Jan. 27, 1874, was ordained. a priest in the Holy Catholic Church. By appointment from the Bishop, he was sent to St. John's Catholic Church, in Chicago, to assist Father Waldron in the ministra- tions of the Church ; here he remained two and one-half years. Aug. 29, 1876, he came to his charge in Lockport ; under his direct supervision, a splendid stone church is now being erected, at a cost of $30,000, and which when completed will far surpass in size and beauty all other churches in Lockport.

735

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP.

ARTHUR R. DEEMING, foreman grocery store, Lockport; was born in Lie- cestershire, England, May 31, 1843; in 1855, he emigrated to America, and settled in Lockport, Ill. ; he entered the employ of Stephen Dowse as clerk in his grocery store, and remained in his cmploy about nine years ; leaving Lockport, he next located in Ottawa, La Salle Co., remaining, however, but a few months; he next engaged in carpentering for a short time ; in 1865, he engaged with Norton & Co., and at the end of six months took charge of their large grocery and boat stores, which position he now holds. He was married Dec. 26, 1868, to Annic M. Smith, a native of Illinois ; has one child-Lconora M., born Oct. 21, 1869. Mr. Deeming is at present Superintendent of the M. E. Church Sabbath school.

H. G. EDDY, foreman I. & M. Canal yards, Lockport ; was born in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y., March 19, 1829 ; at the age of 9, he came with the family to Lockport, his father having come the year before. His father was a mason by trade, and during the construction of the canal, worked upon it. At the age of 16, H. G. went to his trade, serving an apprentice- ship of five years ; in 1850, he went to California ; engaged in mining a short time ; in the winter of 1850-51, aided in putting up a mill on the North Fork of the Yuba River; he returned to Lockport about the 1st of July, 1851 ; here his home has been ever since. April 19, 1861, he en- listed in the three months service, and on the 22d was in Cairo, where he superin- tended the mounting of all the guns of the battery, under Gen. Wagner, Chief of Artillery. This was the first battery that blockaded the Mississippi and brought to the first rebel boat. Capt. Eddy was most of the time in command of the fort. Novem- ber 22, 1864, he re-enlisted in Coggswell's 1st Ill. Indp. Battery, and served during the war ; was actively engaged in the bat- tles of Jackson, seige of Vicksburg, Mis- sionary Ridge, Cold Water, and went with Sherman through the Atlanta campaign. Since 1865, he has been in the employ of the canal company most of the time. Beginning in 1868, he spent some time in contracting and building bridges on va- rious railroads in the State ; in 1873, he came to the position he now occupies. He

superintended tlic laying of the foundation of the Copperas Creek Lock on the Illinois River, a work of no small moment. He was married Sept. 12, 1852, to Mary J. Eyer, a native of Pennsylvania ; has two children-Lizzie J. (now wife of H. R. Osgood, of Chicago), and Marcia E. M.

H. W. EMERY, lumber merchant, Lockport; the subject of this sketch was born in Ellsworth, Hancock Co., Maine, Dec. 18, 1821 ; at the age of 21, he left home and went to Boston, Mass., where he engaged in the trade of house car- pentering ; in 1846, returned to Maine, and back again to Boston in 1849; in April, 1849, hc went to California, and engaged one year in mining ; he next set- tled in Oregon City, where he engaged in house building ; in 1854, returned to Boston, and in 1855, came West to Illinois, and settled in Lockport; in 1860, he opened a lumber yard, and has continued the business ever since. He was mar- ried in 1860 to Sarah F. Bartlett, a native of Maine; she died without issue. Re- publican ; Congregationalist. Mr. Emcry is a member of the City Council ; he is highly esteemed as a man for his many good qualities, and is strictly upright and honest in all his business transac- tions.

J.J. FOWSER, farmer; P.O. Plainfield; was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1827; he remained with his parents till his majority, attending school winters, and farming summers ; in the spring of 1854, he came West, and settled on the north end of his present farm. He was married April 11, 1848, to Esther Ream, a native of Summit Co., Ohio ; she was born Oct. 16, 1827 ; nine children have been born to them, of which five arc living, and four are deceased-Elmira (now wife of G. W. Waisncr, of South Bend, Ind.), Daniel F., Edwin T., Emma, Clara, living; Solo- mon, Newton, Diana and an infant son deceased ; his present residence on the southern extremity of his farm was erccted in 1856, and occupied. in 1857 ; he owns 186 acres in Scc. 6, Lockport Tp., valued at $70 per acrc. Has held the offices of School Director and Pathmaster. He deals largely in horses, cattle, hogs and mules. Mr. Fowser is the heaviest, if not the largest farmer in his section, and is socially as jolly as he is large, and his presence is-

736

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

a synonym with his neighbors for mirth and jocularity.

JOHN A. FRASER, farmer; P. O. Plainfield ; was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., July 30, 1823; he remained with his parents until his majority, working on the farm summers, and attending school dur- ing the Winter months; in the Fall of 1849, he came West, and settled in Plain- field Tp., and engaged in farming; he erected his present desirable residence in 1854, and in the spring of 1855, occupied the same; here he has lived ever since. He was married March 27, 1855, to Mary A. Van Horn, a native of New Jersey, Orange Co., N. Y .; has four children --- Alice J., Edsel H., Clara B., Wilbur J. Owns 120 acres of land, valued at $8,400. Has held the office of School Director. Mr. Fraser is Republican in politics and a member of the Congregational Church. His well-cultivated farm, adorned with his neat and comfortable residence and out- buildings, breathes a spirit of thrift and enterprise. As an upright, square-dealing, honest and enterprising farmer, Mr. Fraser stands without a peer in his vicinity.

EDWARD P. FARLEY, retired farm- er ; P. O. Lockport; the subject of this sketch was born in Cortland Co., N. Y., Aug. 21, 1816; in 1836, he left New York, stopping a short time in Ohio, and in February, 1837, came to Illinois and set- tled in Lockport; soon after coming to Lock- port, he bought claims in Lake Co., Ind., and after improving them settled there and, and at the Government land sale, at La Porte, bought a quarter-section. He was married in 1845, to Mary A. Lotts, a na- tive of Pennsylvania; he lost his wife by death in the early part of 1873, and No- vember of the same year, contracted his sec- ond marriage with Elizabeth Bartlett, a na- tive of Maine ; had one child by first mar- riage-Henry ; he died at the age of 9. Owned at onc tinie 240 acres. Was Post- master at West Creek, Lake Co., Ind., twenty years; Justice of the Peace twelve years, and County Assessor two years. Republican ; Congregationalist. He has re- tired from active business life to enjoy the honest rewards of a well-spent early life.

JOHN FIDDYMENT, farmer ; P. O. Lockport; was born in Ashwellthorp, Norfolk Co., Eng., July 11, 1809 ; he im- migrated to America in 1837, and settled

some three miles south of Joliet; here he engaged in farming the first year for Es- quire Half; the following year, he rented the farm and managed for himself; in the latter part of 1839, he moved to Joliet and engaged in brewing for Wade & Wood- ruff, remaining in their employ three years ; he then went into the distillery and was thus engaged until 1849, being a part of the time in company with Woodruff ; in 1849, he came to Lockport, bought a dis- tillery and operated it until the spring of 1865. In the fall of 1839, his wife and only son eame over and joined the hus- band and father at Joliet. In 1843, he pur- chased a farm on Flag Creek which he op- erated for some years. He was married in January, 1836, to Sophia Blogg, a native of England. The last years of his life were devoted to superintending his farm. At the time of his decease, Jan. 17, 1874, he owned 280 acres of fine farming land just outside .the corporate limits of the city of Lockport. He held the office of Super- visor three terms.

WALTER J. FIDDYMENT, farmer ; P. O. Lockport; only son of John and Sophia (Blogg) Fiddyment, was born in the parish of Great Milton, England, April 3, 1837 ; he was but 2 years of age when his mother crossed the ocean for America, his father having come the same year in which he was born ; he has always lived with his parents ; since his majority has done business in company with his father. He was married July 3, 1862, to Ellen J. Clarkson, a native of Joliet, Will Co .; has had nine children, eight living, one deceased. At present he is engaged in farm- ing and stock raising. Has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, School Director, etc.

J. E. GIFFIN, farmer ; . P. O. Lock- port ; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., near Carlisle, Aug. 7, 1814; in 1833, he came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, and re- mained two or three ycars ; he next stopped at Oxford, Ohio, a short time; he spent the winter of 1842, at the rapids of Rock River, in Whiteside Co., Ill., engaged in feeding sheep; in the spring of 1843, he purchased a large drove of sheep and brought them to Oswego, and there laid a claim of eighty acres, which he afterward entered and improved. He was married March 11, 1847, to Cynthia C. Rodgers, a

737

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP.

native of Ashtabula, Ohio; she was born Feb. 2, 1828, and came West with the family in 1832. In the Fall of 1850, he settled where he now lives, and opened up his farm. They have had six children born to them-Almira E., Martha I., El- liott R., Mary H., John E. and Cynthia A .; of these John E., died March 17, 1862. Owns eighty acres, valued at $5,6,00. Mrs. Giffin remembers the days of the small beginnings of Joliet, Loek- port, Plainfield and other surrounding vil- lages : she has lived to see the wild, unbroken prairie converted into fertile farms, and thickly studded with fine resi- dences ; vast areas, which, in her girlhood days, yielded naught but wild grass and countless flowers of sweetest perfume, now tecming with the rich golden harvest.

JOHN GEDDES, City Meat Market, Lockport ; was born in Watervliet, N. Y., April 18, 1831; at the age of 12 or 13, he came West to Illinois with the family ; his father settled in Homer Tp., Will Co., and engaged in farming ; he remained at home till 18 years of age, when he com- meneed the trade of carpenter and joiner : this he followed between two and three years ; at the age of 21, he commeneed boating on the I. & M. Canal, and was thus engaged three seasons ; a portion of the time in the employ of a Mr. Fish, of Joliet, and afterward in the employ of D. C. Norton, of Lockport; about 1854, he opened his meat market in Lockport, and has been thus engaged ever sinee. He was married Dee. 24, 1850, to Martha R. Burdiek, a native of New York; has three daughters-Maria, Ada. and Mary E. Owns twenty-two acres, adjoining the town, and a block of lots, together with a fine residence; his is the oldest established meat market in the town; his social quali- ties are excellent, and he has a host of friends.

A. L. GAINES, Foreman George B. Norton's dry goods store, Lockport ; was born in Castleton, Rutland Co., Vt., Sept. 11th, 1843 ; his boyhood days were passed in attendance upon the schools, and his early manhood years either as a student or teacher; about the age of 19, he entered Commercial College at New Haven, Conn., in which he completed a business course ; in 1866, he came West and located in Morris, Grundy Co., Ill., where he engaged

in the sale of dry goods ; in February, 1873, he came to Lockport and entered the employ of George B. Norton as fore- man in his dry goods establishment; a po- sition he still holds. He was married Oct. 21, 1871, to Mary E. Allen, a native of Troy, N. Y .; has two children-Hallie H., born Dee. 11, 1872, and Lula M., born Feb. 4, 1876.

GEORGE GAYLORD, merehant and grain dealer, Loekport; was born Feb. 24, 1820, in Washington Co., N. Y .; he remained at home on the farm until 1839; when he went to Illinois, and stopped at Warrenville, Du Page Co., where he en- gaged in farm work ; during the Winter of 1843-4, he taught school ; in 1845 he com- menced blacksmithing in Warrenville, and continued the business two years ; in 1847, he came to Lockport, and engaged in the sale of dry goods, forming a copartnership with Dennis Smith, under the firm name of Gaylord & Smith ; in the Fall of 1849, the firm was dissolved, Mr. Smith retiring ; Mr. Gaylord conducted the business alone until 1853, when the present firin of Geo. Gaylord & Co, was formed. A. J. Ewen becoming a partner; in 1863, they built their large and commodious ele- vators, and commenced the handling of grain. He was married in May, 1846, to Ann A. Lull, a native of Vermont ; has eight children-Henry G., Frankie A., Albin P., Willard, Edward L., Clarissa J., Laura E. and Robert. In 1868, hc was chosen a member of the Legislature from the 43d District, and was ' made Chairman of the Committee on Canals ; the law authorizing the creetion of a lock and dam aeross the Illinois River at Henry, and one establishing the rolling mills at Joliet, was passed during the session of which he was a member. Republican ; Baptist.

P. N. HARTWELL, architect and builder, Lockport ; born in West- port, Essex Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1825; his education is quite complete, comprising a full academic course in the County Aead- emy; his father was a mechanic, and into the profession the son naturally grew up, spend- ing his vacation at work in the shop so that by the time his education was completed, he was also well advaneed in his trade; in 1855, he came West, and settled in Lock- port, remaining about six months, he then

738

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

moved to Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, where he remained until 1864, when he returned to Loekport, since which time he has been doing business in Loekport and Chicago, his home remaining at Lockport. He was married May 29, 1849, to Elmina Jackson, a native of Vergennes, Vt .: has three sons -John J., Harold W. and Fred W. Held the office of County Superintendent of Schools in Essex Co., N. Y., and served five years as Assessor in Marion, Iowa; was a member of the Board of Education eleven years in Loek port.

WARREN HAWLEY, farmer ; P. O. Lockport; was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., July 8, 1812 ; his father, Lyman Hawley, was born in what is now the State of Ver- mont, Aug. 4, 1782 ; his mother, Althea H. Moore, was born in West Hartford, Conn., Sept. 3, 1787. Lyman Hawley was among the early pioneers of Will Co., having come with his family in the Fall of 1835 ; he settled just south of where his son Warren now resides ; here he led a quiet, useful life until April 29, 1844, when he rested from his labors. Warren Hawley was married in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 14, 1839, to Louisa S. Heath, a native of Connecticut; she came West in 1836; May 13, 1871, she passed peacefully away, leaving a devoted husband, two daughters and a son to mourn her loss-Mary L. (wife of Selah P. North), Harriet L. (wife of Horace Cadwallader, of Dwight, Liv- ingston Co.), and Edward W. (now ship- ping elerk for Ingraham, Corbin & May, of Chicago; Edward married Katie French, of Madison, Wis. Warren, like his father, Lyman, has never changed his residence sinee he came to Illinois ; the land he owns to-day, 130 acres, passed from the Govern- ment into the hands of his father, and from his father to himself; here he has lived to see the "Star of Empire " west- ward take its way, and the wave of emi- gration spread over the fair prairies beyond him, converting them into rich, productive farms, and where now an hundred fine res- idenees adorn as many farms, when he first settled the eye could rest on no habitation of man ; from his home west to Plainfield, a distance of eight or nine miles, not a house was to be seen, but all was a vast stretch of unbroken prairie. He held the office of Assessor one year. He owns 130 acres, valued at $8,000. Though past his

three score years, he bids fair to live many years yet.

HENRY HOPKINS, farmer ; P. O. Lockport ; was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., May 3, 1826; he remained at home till he was 18 years of age ; his early life was that of a farmer's son ; in February, 1×65, he eame West to Illinois and settled near his present residenee ; in December, 1874, he purchased his house, and occupied it the following February. He was married April 12, 1853, to Caroline M. Sly, a native of New York ; has had three children-Irv- ing W., Eugene S., Lillian D .; of these, Irving W. died in November, 1875. Mr. Hopkins has been very successful in his business transactions ; what he possesses. to-day, he has accumulated through honest toil and well-directed energy. In the death of his eldest son he lost a most valuable factor from his working and his aceumu- lating force ; he was a young man of more than ordinary promise. Mr. Hopkins owns 160 aeres, with fine improvements, valued at $15,000. In early life, he worked on the farm during the summer, and engaged in teaching school during the winter for six terms; in this way, he saved about $600, a sum which, when he came West, started him on the road to success and competeney.

FRED. H. JACOBUS, Lockport Meat. Market, Loekport; was born Aug. 18, 1848,. in Kænigsburg, East Prussia; he immi- grated to America April 1, 1871, stopping a short time in Boston, and from thence came to Chicago, where he remained two years, engaged in working in the meat market; subsequently, he was engaged in the same business in Joliet, Wilmington. and Mokena, in Will Co., in the latter place starting for himself; Sept. 15, 1877, he opened his present place of business in Loekport. He was married Nov. 23, 1873, to Julia Seheer, a native of Will Co., Ill .; have two children-Ida and Frank. By giving striet personal attention to business, and furnishing at all times the best the market affords, his is fast becoming the leading market of the town.

M. P. JOHNSON, meat market; Lockport; was born in Loekport, Will Co., Ill., July 14, 1851 ; until 15 years of age, he attended upon the public schools ; after· leaving school he was employed as elerk in the office of the I. & M. Canal at Lockport,.

739

LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP.

for two years; in 1869, he went to the office at Bridgeport and remained about five years; he was next employed in the office of J. J. S. Wilson, General Supcrin- tendent of the Western Union Telegraph Company, and remained about eight months; he next engaged as ticket agent at Lockport, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad; during the winter of 1871-72, he was agent at Dwight, Living- ston Co .; Sept. 20, 1873, he opened the City Meat Market in Lockport. He was married July 20, 1873, to Emma Parks, a native of New York State; has two chil- dren-Mabel, born Aug. 9, 1874, and Bertie, born July 31, 1876.

OTTO JOHNSON, boot and shoe shop, Lockport; was born in Farnabo Co., Sweden, May 8, 1838; he immigrated to America in 1868, and settled in Lock- port, Ill., where he has resided ever since; Mr. Johnson has resided in the same house ever since he came to Lockport, first entering it as a boarder, and, later, pur- chasing it for himself. He was married Nov. 2, 1871, to Lizzie Matthews, a native of England : has two children-Louie G., John H. Republican; member of the Swede Lutheran Church. Besides work of his own manufacture, he keeps on hand a fine assortment of ladies' and children's ready-made wear ; he uses nothing but the best of stock in the manufacture of his boots and shoes, and warrants entire satis- faction.

GEORGE LYNN, mnfr. of boots and shoes, Lockport; was born in Leicester- shirc, Eng., in the early part of February, 1822; in 1832, he came with his family to America, his father settling first at Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; in the fall of 1836, the family moved to Schuylkill Co., Penn., whither George followed in the spring of 1837; in the Fall of 1844, he returned to Poughkeepsie, and in the summer of 1852, came West and located in Lock port, where he has since lived. At the age of 14, he went to Pottsville, Penn., to learn the iron ·molder's trade ; followed it one year, when he met with an accident that dis- abled him from prosecuting the work fur- ther ; he next engaged in boating for two or three summers and finally began the trade of shoemaking, though he never served an apprenticeship. He was married Dec. 28, 1843, to Ann Allison, a native of

England; has eight children-Elizabeth A., Louisa F., Kate A., Emma L., Elmira E., William H., Loyd G. and George H. While Mr. Lynn is not a man of finished education, yet from a course of extensive reading and research he has accumulated a vast amount of valuable information, and writes many and very acceptable articles for the county papers.

GEORGE M. LYND, merchant, Lock- port ; born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 8, 1833; his father, Rev. S. W. Lynd, was a distinguished Baptist minister and held leading positions in the Church in the West, being at one time President of the Western Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Covington, Ky .; afteward removed to Georgetown, Ky., Dr. Lynd still retaining the Presidency; he was Pastor of the Church in Cincinnati nineteen years ; sub- sequently of the Church in St. Louis, and later in Chicago. In 1852, George M. became a student in Georgetown College and remained three years, not, however, completing a full course; in 1856, he came West with his family to Illinois, and settled at Gooding's Grove, Will Co., and engaged in farming; this he pursued for two years, when he took the position of preceptor in the family of George Barnett, of Lockport, and was thus engaged for two years ; in 1860, he entered the employ of S. W. Lull, as clerk in his grocery store. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 100th Regiment I. V. I., and remained in the service till the close of the war; he was mustered in as Orderly Sergeant, but by successive promotions arose to the highest position in his company, that of Captain ; on his return home, he formed a copart- nership with S. W. Lull for the purchase and sale of groceries ; this he continued until June, 1877, when the firm was.dis- solved, Mr. Lull taking the dry goods de- partment, added in 1872, and Mr. Lynd the grocery department. He was married May 4, 1874, to Mary Blount, a native of Illinois ; one child-Carrie. Republican; Baptist. During his term of service as a soldier, he participated in the important battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Look- out Mountain, and in all the engagements in Sherman's march to Atlanta; was at the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and many minor engagements; was present in cvery battle in which the regiment was engaged

740

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :.

during the term of service and escaped being wounded.

JACOB F. LOTZ, receiver and shipper for Norton & Co., Lockport; born in Blair Co., Penn., May 18, 1824; at the age of 17, he worked in the Arch Spring Mills ; in 1846, he worked in the Logan's Valley Mills one year; in 1847, in the Scotch Valley Mills; in 1848, he came West, and settled in West Creek, Lake Co., Ind .; thence to Dixon, Lee Co., Ill .; in 1858, he came to Lockport; entered the employ of Norton & Co., for whom he has labored ever since; he was Foreman in their mills for fifteen years ; for the past five years he has occupied the position of recciver and shipper. He has been mar- ried twice. In July, 1848, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Ramsay, a native of Pennsylvania ; she died Jan. 24, 1866; his second marriage occurred Nov. 13, 1868, to Lucinda Ramsay, also a native of Pennsylvania ; three children were born to him from first wedlock, and four from second. He has been City Alderman two or three terms, and is at present School Trustee.

JOHN H. MILLER, tonsorial artist, Lockport ; was born in Norderdeich, Ger- many, Nov. 1, 1854 ; till he was 14 years of age he attended school most of the time in his native country ; about the first of June, 1868, he immigrated with the family to America, his father settling in Lockport, Will Co., Ill .; immediately after coming, John entered the employ of Louis Braum to learn the trade of barbering; he re- mained with him between three and four years. he next worked for Henry Falken- hagen, of Lockport, and subsequently fol- lowed his trade in Joliet for some months; in February 1874, he formed a copartner- ship with Louis Braum, and carried on the business in Lockport until the following September or October, when he bought out his partner's interest, and has since conducted the business alone ; his shop is well located in the business part of the town, complete in all its appointments; he is polite and obliging, always at his post, and for an easy shave or anything in his line of business, we commend you to John.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 77

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980