1894 Necrologist Report
(Transcribed and copyrighted March 15, 2001, by Lawrence B. Peet, Joliet, Illinois. Permission granted to copy for non-commercial use only. All in Italics and upper case surnames are added to or modified from the original by the transcriber.)
(1894 Old Settlers’ Association, Necrology Report, by H. N. Marsh, as Printed in The Joliet Daily Republican, September 6, 1894, and Transcribed by Lawrence B. Peet.)
Passing Away. — The Old Settlers Slowly Going Over The River. — The Necrologist of The Old Settlers’ Society Gives a Long List of the Deceased of the Year – Many Well Known Names in The List. —
On Wednesday afternoon Mr. H. N. Marsh, necrologist of the Old Settlers’ society, read his annual report, as follows:
Mr. President and Members of the Society of Old Settlers of Will County:
The undersigned, by your courtesy, begs leave to submit the following report for the year1893 – 4.
As we have stated on former occasions, both time and space forbid anything but the most megre record of those of our number who, in the year now closed, have been called to pass on before us to the “Great Beyond.” Such details as we have been able to obtain are given in the briefest possible manner, beginning with the date of death. Many, we feel sure, will be pained that their friends could not have had a more fitting memorial, but a moment’s reflection will show that this could not be done under the circumstances.
Sept. ’93 – Thos. CLOW, of Wheatland, aged 77 years, born in Scotland, and bringing to his adopted country the sterling qualities of his race, he located in this county more than fifty years ago.
Sept. 7, ’93 – Frederic BUCKHOLZ, of Frankfort, aged 72, born in Germany, and came to this county in 1850, where he has since resided. He lost his life by a railroad accident.
Sept. 25, ’93 – James MORRISSEY, of Joliet, aged 60 years, born in Ireland, and a citizen of Joliet since 1853.
Sept. 29, ’93 – Mrs. Harriot M. SISSON, of Lockport, aged 77 years. She was the widow of Allen SISSON, son of one of the earliest settlers of the county and one of its first county commissioners, elected in 1836.
Oct. 10, ’93 – Mrs. Cordelia Wilcox CLEMENT, of Joliet, aged 68 years, born in Onandago county, New York. She came to Joliet in 1844 and became the wife of the late Chas. CLEMENT, one of Joliet’s earliest citizens.
Oct. 10, ’93 – Patrick REARDON, of Troy, aged 79 years, born in Ireland and settled on the farm where he died.
Oct. 13, ’93 – Mrs. Malinda SAVAGE, of Homer, aged 94 years. She was a native of the state of New York, and one of the earliest settlers in Will county, having located in Homer with her husband in 1835.
Oct. 13, ’93 – DR. T. J. SPRAGUE, Jr., of Joliet, aged 38 years, born in Dupage, Will county, where he resided until he came to this city, four years ago.
Oct. 14, ’93 – Mrs. Lucinda M. ARNOLD, of Lockport, aged 78 years, born in Vermont, married to John H. ARNOLD, in 1833, and came with hom to Lockport, in 1855, where she has since resided.
Oct. 18, ’93 – Calvin BROWN, of Joliet, aged 61 years. He has been a resident of Joliet for more than thirty-three years.
Oct. 19, ’93 – Eugene B. ADAMS, of South Bend, Ind., aged 72 years. He was an early settler and for many years a resident of Joliet in his early life.
Oct. 19, ’93 – John HUNTER, Frankfort, aged 76. He was born in Ireland, and came to this country in 1836, settling in Frankfort in 1846, on the farm where he died.
Oct. 22, ’93 – Dr. A. W. HEISE, of Joliet, aged 70 years. He was a native of Germany, where he received a very superior medical education, locating here in 1856. He was surgeon of our 100th regiment, and served his adopted country faithfully during the late war.
Nov. 4, ’93 – J. H. LIMEBARGER (Jonathan H. LINEBARGER, of Kent, Iowa – L. B. Peet), of Elwood, aged 57 years. He was born in the county and has been one of its esteemed residents all his life.
Nov. 7, ’93 – Mrs. Helen HILL, of Joliet, aged 64 years, born in Ireland, and a respected resident of Joliet for more than forty years.
Nov. 7, ’93 – Byron B. BURTON at Milwaukee, Wis., aged 70. Mr. Burton was a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., and a resident of Joliet since 1851.
Nov. 10, ’93 – Joseph YAHN, of Joliet, aged 75 years, born in Germany, and a resident of Joliet since about 50.
Nov. 10, ’93 – Edward WARD, of Lockport, aged 70 years. Mr. Ward was well and favorably known as one of the pioneers of Will county, having located here in 1845.
Nov. 9, ’93 — Wm. E. WAGNER, of St. Louis, aged 57 years. He came to this city from the state of New York in 1857, and long filled with honor a responsible position among our county officials.
Nov. 9, ’93 – Enos BROWN, of Joliet, aged 90 years. He was born in Ulster county, N. Y., and came early to Illinois, where the most of his life has been spent. Though he had lived in this city but a few years he has been well represented here by his descendants.
Nov. 10 ’93 – Wm. COX, of Lockport, aged 79. He was a native of England and has lived in Lockport since 1849.
Nov. 12, ’93, Mrs. Rebecca COX, wife of Wm. COX, aged 63. She was an American by birth and has resided in Lockport for thirty-five years, surviving her husband but a few hours.
Nov. 14, ’93, — Mrs. Harriet Newell WALKER, widow of the late D. C. SEARLES, of Troy, at Buffalo Gap, S. D., aged 57 years. She was born in Plainfield and most of her honored life has been spent in this county.
Nov. 27, ’93 – Mrs. Wm. KRONMEYER, of Joliet, aged 61 years, born in Germany, and long an esteemed resident of this city.
Dec. ’93 – Michael SHENK, of Braidwood, aged 78, a native of Pa., and a resident of county since 1858.
Dec. 5, Martin DEVERAUX, at Conway, Ia., aged 85, and early settler and long a resident of this county.
Dec. 6, ’93 – Mrs. Geo. GARDNER, of Lockport, aged 75. She came from Scotland and settled in Homer more than 50 years ago.
Dec. 8, ’93 – A. B. SHARPE, of Joliet, at Englewood, Ills., aged 71 years. He was a native of Connecticut, and has been one of the energetic business men of Joliet for many years.
Dec. 9 ’93 – Mrs. Eliza BEATTIE, of Joliet, aged 74 years. She came from Ireland to Joliet early in the “fifties” where she became the wife of the late Robt. BEATTIE.
Dec. 10, ’93 – Mrs. Lydia RUGG, of New Lenox, aged 84 years. She was born in Vermont, coming to New Lenox in 1835, where she has since resided.
Dec.14, ’93 – Mrs. Abigail PECK, at Russel, Kas., aged 76. She came from Connecticut to Illinois in 1837, and resided many years in this city, removing to Kansas in 1878.
Jan. 4, ’94 – Mrs. Ralph CRAWFORD, at W. Peotone, aged 59. She has resided in the county 43 years.
Jan. 2, ’94 – Mrs. Jemima WHITE, of Joliet, aged 83 years; a native of Essex county, N. Y., and a resident of this city since 1847.
Jan. 3, ’94 – Mrs. Susan BAILEY, of Channahon township, aged 74 years. She came with the family of her father, Reason ZARLEY, to Joilet in 1832, and spent a few days during the “Sac war” in Fort Nonsense, the site of which has long been the home of the writer.
Jan. 3, ’94 – Edison GIFFORD, of Elwood, aged 74 years, long a resident of the county, but dates not accessible.
Jan. 5, ’94 – Mrs. Mary FEHAN, of Wilmington, aged 85, a resident of the county since 1849.
Jan. 5, ’94 – Dr. Ira O. KNAPP, of Channahon, aged 84. Dr. Knapp was one of the earliest settlers in the county, having located at Channahon as early as 1835, and has been one of our most honored and useful citizens.
Jan. 11, ’94 – John McCANNA, of Joliet, aged 80 years. He was a very early settler in the city.
Jan. 14, ’94 – Geo. E. CASWELL, of Plainfield, at Daphen, Ala., aged 79 years. He was an early settler at Plainfield, but we have not been able to obtain dares.
Jan. 16, ’94 – Mrs. Elizabeth MILLER, of Manhattan, aged 80 years, a native of Pa., and a resident of Will county since 1857.
Jan. 25, ’94 – David O. THOMPSON, of Wilmington, aged 73. He was a noble representative of his native Scotland, and a citizen of Wilmington since 1850.
Jan. 25, ’94 – Theobold ZIPF, of Joliet, aged 79 years, a German by birth and a resident of Joliet for fifty years.
Jan. 31, ’94 – Miss Dell MINER, of Joliet, died at Chicago, aged 71 years. She came to Illinois fifty years ago and has long been an esteemed and useful resident of Joliet.
Feb. 7, ’94 – Thos. KEEGAN, of Joliet, aged 91 years, a native of Ireland. He came to America in 1832, and has resided in Joliet since 1840.
Feb. 7, ’94 – Mrs. Mary PAUL, of Joliet, aged 74 years. She was born in Ireland and has been a resident of the county Forty-two years.
Feb. 13, ’94 – Caleb FOWLER, of Channahon, aged 76 years. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and has been a citizen of the county since 1854.
Feb. 17, ’94 – Orrin B. CLEVELAND, in New York, aged 79 years. He was a long and honored citizen of Frankfort. The paper in which we met the notice of his death refers to his wife as “having preceded him to the heavenly land two months,” but we have no other record of it.
Feb. 26, ’94 – John C. BACKUS, of Lockport, aged 70 years, born in Livingston Co. N. Y., and a resident of Lockport since 1859.
March 2, ’94 – Mrs. E. HAWKINS, of Joliet, aged 79 years, born in DeKalb, New York, and a resident of the county since 1855.
March 7, ’94 – R. M. COWHAM, at Joliet, aged __. He was a long a resident of Wilmington.
March 7, ’94 – Mrs. Mary SLOAN, widow of Samuel SLOAN. Mr, and Mrs. Sloan located in this city about 1850.
March 8, ’94 – S. D. GAYLORD, of Plainfield, at Mt. Carroll, Ills., aged 72 years. He was a native of Fulton Co. N. Y., and located at Plainfield about 1864.
March 13, ’94 – Mrs. Mary HASEY, of Joliet, aged 64, years, a native of Wakefield, N. H., and long an esteemed resident of Joliet.
March 13, ’94 – Hon. James L. OWEN, of Joliet, aged 72 years. Mr. Owen was born in Kentucky, and came with his parents to Frankfort, in 1831, where the most of his useful life was spent.
March 19, ’94 – Wm. OSTRANDER, of Joliet, aged 76 years. He came from Greenbush, N. Y., to Joliet township, in 1853, but for several years has resided in the city.
March 19, ’94 – John W. SMITH, of Joliet, aged 69 years. He has long been a resident of the county.
March 19, ’94 – Miss Nancy A. CAGWIN, of Joliet, aged 51 years. She was the daughter of the late Abijah CAGWIN and born in Joliet.
March 19, ’94 – Henry FANNING, of Joliet, aged 54 years, a native of Ireland, and a resident of Joliet forty years.
March 28, ’94 – Mrs. Mary MATTESON, widow of the late Joel A. MATTESON, at Chicago, aged 83 years. She came with her husband to Illinois in 1834, and was long a resident of this city. Her remains rest in Oakwood by the side of those of her husband and sons.
March 31, ’94 – Franklin MITCHELL, of Wilmington, aged 82 years. He came to Joliet in 1836, where he spent many years before removing to Wilmington.
April 15, ’94 – Mrs. Thomas H. HUTCHINS, of Joliet, aged 50 years. She was a native of New Jersey, and came to this county with her parents while quite young.
April 20, ’94 – Patrick LYNCH, of Joliet, aged 70 years. He has been a resident of Joliet more than forty years.
April 21, ’94 – Ansel PARIS, of Joliet, aged 83 years, a native of Washington Co., N. Y., and a resident of Joliet since 1858.
April 28, ’94 – Mrs. Belinda OSTRANDER, widow of the late Wm. OSTRANDER, aged 63 years. She came to this town with her husband in 1853.
May 1, ’94 – Mrs. Elizabeth ALTHOUSE, widow of the late Henry ALTHOUSE, at Albany, Or., aged 94 years. She and her husband were early settlers in Channahon of which town they were long honored residents.
May 7, ’94 – Ira VAN OLINDAR, of Plainfield, aged 72 years, a native of N. Y., and a resident of the county since 1844.
May 8, ’94 – Walter PADDOCK, of Homer, aged 78 years, born in Onandago Co. N. Y., and a useful and respected citizen of the county since 1838.
May 26, ’94 – Henry STRUEKEL, of Homer, aged 81 years, a German by birth and a resident of Homer since 1850.
May 28, ’94 – Jas. M. BARKER, of Elwood, aged 83 years, a resident of the county for forty-four years.
June 16, ’94 – Chas. CLAYES, of Frankfort, aged 75 years, a native of Munroe Co., N. Y. He came with his parents to this county in 1835, and lived on the same farm in Frankfort for more than fifty years.
July 5, ’94 – Mrs. Mattie H. LETTS, of Frankfort, daughter of the late Chas. And Mrs. Eliza CLAYES, aged 38 years. She was born and has always resided in Frankfort.
July 6, ’94 – Mrs. Osmond FOX, of Joliet, aged 57 years. She was a native of N. Y. city and has been a resident of Joliet since 1856.
July 18, ’94 – Mrs. Rodney HOUSE, of Joliet, aged 86 years. She was born in Oneida county, N. Y., and has been a resident of Joliet, living on the same block where she died, since they first settled here in 1835.
July 22, ’94 – Dr. Frank P. PECK, at Joliet, aged 37 years. He was born in Homer, in this county but lived for some time at Mt. Pleasant, Ia.
July 22, ’94 – Major E. SEARLES, of Joliet, aged 56 years. He was a native of Mich., locating in Joliet in 1855. He served his country faithfully in the war of the rebellion.
July 27, ’94 – Joseph DUTTER, of Joliet, aged 54 years. He was a native of Germany, and a resident of Joliet 40 years.
July 29, ’94 – Mrs. Martin BERGEN, of Manhattan, aged 74 years. She and her husband were natives of Ireland and became residents of the county in 1847.
July 30, ’94 – Rev. O. A. WALKER, at Princeton, Ill., aged 87 years. Mr. Walker came to this region as an itenerant (sic.) minister in 1832 and was a long resident of Joliet. He assisted in organizing the Rock River conference and was, we think, one of its presiding elders.
July 31, ’94 – Mrs. Mary VINSON, wife of Joseph VINSON, of Joliet aged 63 years; born in New York state and a resident of the county for 34 years.
Aug. 3, ’94 – Elnathan WALZ, of Plainfield, aged 69 years. He came to Illinois from Orange county, N. Y., in 1856.
Aug. 5, ’94 – Mrs. Adison SPANGLER, of Plainfield, aged 58 years. She was a native of Pennsylvania, residing in Plainfield since 1860.
Aug. 8, ’94 – Mrs. Geo. WHITMAN, of Plainfield, aged 63 years. She was the daughter of the late Holder SISSON, of Lockport, and came with him to Lockport, then an infant, in 1831.
Aug. 6, ’94 – Mrs. Joseph TYRRELL, of Joliet, aged 75 years. She came from Ireland to Joliet in 1840.
Aug. 6, ’94 – Mrs. Anna ASSONMACHER, of Joliet, aged 88. She came from Germany and settled here in 1843.
Aug. 10, ’94 – Richard VANDERVOORT, of Plainfield, aged 76. Born in Clinton county N. Y., and a resident of Plainfield since 1847.
Aug. 16, “94 – Mrs. Rachel STODER, of Joliet, aged 72 years. She was born in Ohio and came to Channahon in 1845, where she resided until 1891.
Aug. 16, ’94 – John SCHREFTLER, of Joliet, aged 60 years. He was a native of Pennsylvania and a resident of Joliet since 1849. He served his country faithfully in the 100th Illinois regiment during the late war.
Aug. 16, ’94 – Mrs. Anna Penn BALCOME, of Plainfield, aged 92 years. She was a direct descendent of Wm. PENN, born in Maryland, married in 1820, and the mother of eight children, only one of whom survive her.
Aug. 19, ’94 – Michael BYRON, of Wilmington, aged 80. He was the first to discover coal in Braidwood. We have not been able to obtain any further details.
Aug. 20, ’94 – Phillip KLIEMAN, of Green Garden, aged 73 years. A German by birth. A resident here since 1854.
Aug. 21, ’94 – Mrs. Amelia Hardy DYER, of Joliet, aged 52 years. A daughter of the late Otis HARDY, born in Joliet, where she has been too well known to require further notice at our hands. “Her record is on high.”
Aug. 28, ’94 – Mrs. Jane SMITH, of Lockport, aged 78. She was the wife of Jacob SMITH, and has resided in Lockport since 1835.
Aug. 31, ’94 – Mrs. Mary KAMMERMAN, of Joliet, aged 74 years. She was a native of Germany, coming to Joliet in 1849, where she has since resided.
There have doubtless been other deaths among the “Old Settlers,” which have escaped our notice, and we here beg to say that these reports cannot be made full and reliable without assistance from our friends living in the vicinity and knowing the history of the deceased. We do not see all the papers in the county, and if we did should be very liable to overlook some obituaries. May we not urge upon the vice presidents and others to forward to the necrologist or secretary, early notice of the death of such old settlers as may occur during the coming year.
Since last we met, those we have named and perhaps many others whose prospects of lengthening days were as bright as ours,
“Have done with all below; We a little longer wait, But how little none may know.”
With us who still remain, the shadows are still lengthening, the sun is fast nearing the horizon. To each of us may that rapidly declining sun, “with golden set, give promise of a good day tomorrow.”
H. N. MARSH