1897 Necrologist Report

1897 Necrologist Report

Transcribed and copyrighted March 11, 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.

(1897 Old Settlers’ Association Necrology Report, by W. W, Stevens, as Printed in the Joliet Daily News, Sept. 1, 1897, and Transcribed by Lawrence B. Peet.)

Old Settlers Meet. — Annual Re-Union Of Will County’s Old Residents. — Necrology Showing Those Who Have Passed Away in the Past Twelve Months Read by W. W. Stevens – Many Faces Missing at This Year’s Re-Union – The Usual Committees Appointed.

About one hundred of the pioneers of Will county met this morning at Masonic Temple and greeted one another cordially and then sat down and told stories of the days before the railroads invaded the county.

No meeting of the year is more interesting than the annual gathering of the early settlers. Those sturdy people who braved the trial and hardships of a new country and have witnessed the growth of our city and county through half a century are always welcome guests.

They commenced coming to town early in the day and at the afternoon session the hall at Masonic Temple was well filled.

The business meeting of the association commenced at 11 a. m. and after the reading of the minutes of the meeting a year ago, the report of the treasurer was read and approved.

The following committee was then appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year:

Moses DEMMOND, Joseph GOUGAR, W. H. LANFEAR, Andrew MURDY and Allen Carpenter.

The meeting then adjourned for dinner.

They came together again at 1:30 o’clock. The first thing on the program was the “necrology” by W. W. STEVENS, who spoke as follows:

Mr. President and Members of the association:

I crave the indulgence of the association for the somewhat incomplete report, for it lacks many items of interest regarding the deceased here recorded that should have been given. It was late in July before I was informed by Judge MARSHALL, that owing to a press of court duties, he would be unable to attend to the matter and requested me to take his place and make the report this year, and hence I was obliged, except in a few instances, to gather my information wholly from newspaper reports, which although doubtless in the main reliable, yet mistakes will sometimes happen – even among the printers.

In this report I have followed the custom of my predecessors and have here entered the names of all I could learn of who resided here in 1870, or before that time and, although the list is a long one, yet there are omissions no doubt of the names of many who should be here recorded, but the time of their residence in the county was unknown to me and hence necessarily omitted.

As I have said the list of names of those who have gone but a little time before us is a long one, and while some here recorded have lived to the full age allotted to man, yet many have been stricken down while still in the very prime of life and usefullness (sic.) and will henceforth be known to us only in memory.

This list of those who have joined the great but silent majority opens with the name of Mathew BARNES, an old resident of Jackson township, who died September 1 last (1896), aged 76 years.

(1896)

September 4, Miss Jessie GRUNDY, aged 32 years. Miss Grundy was born and raised in Joliet. She was for a long time employed as a stenographer at the Rock Island office. She was a bright, energetic worker, and possessed the confidence and esteem of all who knew her.

September 7, Mrs. Jennie R. MARSH, wife of H. N. MARSH, one of the oldest and most respected of Joliet’s old settlers, died at her home on Broadway, in this city, aged 65 years. She was a native of New York and came to Joliet in 1869. She was a true Christian woman.

September 8, Mrs. Louis STAMPER, of Troy, aged 64 years. She was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and settled in Troy in 1868.

September 22, Mrs. Elizabeth COWING, of Peotone, aged 62 years. She was a native of Pennsylvania but came to this county with her husband in 1854, where she had since resided.

September 22, Hugh MONROE, aged 67 years, died at the home of his brother, Daniel (MONROE), in Clifton, Illinois. Deceased was a brother of Mrs. M. E. SEARLES, of this city, and one of Will county’s oldest citizens, having come to the county in 1854, and located near Wilmington.

September 27, Robert H. MAPPS, aged 77 years, a highly respected and worthy citizen of Joliet township. Mr. Mapps was born in Cumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and came to Will county fifty years ago.

(1896)

October 18, Edwin A. BOWEN, of Joliet, aged 73 years. He kept the National Hotel on Bluff street for several years.

October 21, James WARD, aged 54 years. He was an old resident of the county and well and favorably known to a large portion of our citizens. He had been constable for twenty-eight years previous to his death.

October 28, Mrs. McVEY, of Joliet, aged 70 years. She was a resident of the city for nearly forty years.

(1896)

November 2, John BEGLEY, of Lockport, aged 78 years. Deceased had been a resident of the town for more than thirty years, and was a man of much esteem by those who knew him.

November 3, Ann (HICKS), wife of Obediah HICKS, of Joliet, aged 71 years, and a resident of this city for nearly fifty years. Mrs. Hicks was one of the Mothers in Israel and her life was a noble example of love, patience, fidelity and charity, not only in her family but to all who enjoyed her acquaintance and friendship.

November 4, Stephen DeLONG, of Joliet, aged 64 years. Deceased was a native of New York state, and settled near Lockport in this county in 1865. His untimely death was sincerely regretted by a large circle of friends.

November 16, Mrs. Calvin SERVIS, of Joliet, aged 65 years. She had been a resident of Joliet for forty-one years.

November 18, Mrs. Mary A. BERO, of Joliet, aged 76 years. She came from Franklin county, New York, fifty-five years ago and settled on a farm west of the city, where she had ever since resided.

November 20, John FARLEY, a native of Joliet, aged 36 years. He was a man of sterling character and highly esteemed among his associates.

November 22 (possibly 23), Orson BARKER, of Braidwood, aged 52 years. He settled in Braidwood in 1870.

November 24, Mrs. Lewis LOUER, at her home south of the village of Elwood, aged 38 years. She had lived in Jackson township for over thirty years and was a highly respected Christian woman.

November 27, John B. CAMPBELL, at the age of 74 years. Deceased was born in Waldo county, Maine, and came West in 1857, settling in Joliet in 1862, and here he had since resided.

November 28, Mrs. Johanna BURKE, aged 90 years. Deceased was the mother of Bishop M. F. BURKE, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and lived with him here when he was pastor of St. Mary’s church in this city several years ago. She was a woman of noble character, amiable in disposition and much beloved by all.

November 30, Mrs. Desire WADE, aged 78 years. She was one of the oldest residents of Will county, having come to Joliet from Rutland, Vermont, in 1840, and this had been her home ever since. She was a devout member of the First Baptist church and an earnest Christian woman.

November 30, Milo Fred DILLMAN, of Joliet, aged 33 years. He was born in Plainfield and had always resided in the county. He was a young man of excellent character and attainments and many friends mourn his untimely death.

November 30, Joseph RICHARDSON, of Joliet, aged 89 years. He was an old soldier, serving in a Michigan regiment. He came to Joliet soon after the war.

(1896)

December 10, Henry B. CLARK, of Joliet. He was a faithful soldier in the late war serving in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. After the war he settled in Channahon and resided there until his removal to Joliet a few years ago.

December 11, Mrs. Caroline HOLSWORTH, wife of John HOLSWORTH, aged 72 years. Deceased came to Joliet in 1860 and had ever since resided here.

December 15, Michael O’CONNOR, of Wilmington, aged 71 years; an old resident of the town and a very worth(y) citizen.

December 16, Edmund WILCOX, aged 80 years. Deceased was a native of Onondaga county, New York, and came to Joliet sixty years ago and was one of the incorporators of the city. He held many offices in the city, discharging his duties with marked ability and fidelity.

December 18, Mrs. Mary DEEMING, aged 73 years. She had been an active and worthy resident of Lockport for forty-five years.

December 18, Sarah (FINNEY), wife of George FINNEY, aged 62 years, a resident of Joliet for many years.

December 19, D. C. BALDWIN, of Lockport, aged 86 years. He came to Lockport sixty years ago and had ever since resided there.

December 19, Max BRAUN, of Joliet, aged 58 years. Deceased came to Joliet thirty years ago and was an honorable and worthy citizen.

December 28, Horace M. SINGER, formerly of Lockport, aged 73 years. He came to Will county in the ’40s and resided here until a few years ago when he removed to California, where he died.

December 29, Frances BRAUN, wife of Joseph BRAUN, Sr., of Joliet, aged 71 years. She had been a resident of the city for more than forty years. She was a worthy Christian woman.

December 29, Andrew H. SHREFFLER, of Joliet, aged 70 years. He was born on a farm near Potter’s Mills , Center county, Pennsylvania, and came to Joliet in 1846, remaining here a short time, when he removed to Plainfield. He returned here in 1863 and this was his home till his death. He was a member of the Ottawa street Methodist church and a highly respected Christian man and citizen.

Miss Mary CARROLL, in Madras, India, aged 40 years. She was born in Joliet and went out as a missionary to India several years ago where deceased ended her useful Christian life. The date of her death I was unable to ascertain.

(1897)

January 3, Mrs. Ella J. BULKLEY, aged 36 years. She was the daughter of the late Joseph STAFFORD and was born in Joliet.

January 6, Charles WALLACE, of Joliet, aged 60 years; an old and very worthy citizen.

January 6, Senaca SLY, of Plainfield, aged 80 years. He was born in Washington county, New York, in 1816, and came to Will county in 1846, first living in Lockport. Afterwards he removed to Plainfield, where he was an honored, worthy citizen.

January 7, William SHANNAN, of Joliet, aged 47. He was a native of Scotland and came to Joliet in 1867. He was a member of the police force in the city since 1883.

January 9, Samuel J. NEWTON, aged 68 years. He was an old resident of the county.

January 12, Dorothea SCHWARTZ, at the age of 76 years. She had been a resident of Joliet and Will county for nearly forty years.

January 18, Mrs. Prudence Knapp BAILIE, aged 31 years. She was the daughter of Solomon KNAPP, formerly of Homer, and a native of that town.

January 25, Miles GIBBONS, of Joliet, aged 80 years. He had been a resident of this city for more than forty years.

January 26, Mrs. Sarah (DREW), wife of Joseph DREW, of Braidwood, aged 58 years. She was an old resident of that town.

January 27, Mrs, Frances TREAT, in Tucson, Arizona, aged 47 years. She was formerly a resident of this city, having lived here for the most of her life.

January 28, John C. GRANT, of Elwood, aged 45 years. He had been a resident of Jackson township nearly all his life and was a well-known and highly-respected citizen.

January 28, John HUNT, of Joliet, aged 65 years, a resident of the town for many years and a very worthy upright man.

January 30, Ferdinand SCHIEK, of Joliet, aged 64 years. He was one of the old settlers of the county, formerly living in Mokena, where he conducted a hotel.

(1897)

February 4, Mrs. HARVEY, wife of Francis HARVEY, of Joliet, aged 53 years. She had resided in the county since she was a child.

February 8, Joshua P. FRAZIER, of Joliet, aged 82 years. He was a resident of the city for many years and was an honored and worthy citizen.

February 9, Conrad EILKENING, of Crete, aged 41 years. He was a native of that and one of the noblest and most honored citizens.

February 10, James TOOVEY, of Troy township, aged 67 years. He was a resident of the township forty-seven years.

February 12, George SPANGLER, of Lockport, aged 70 years. He was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, and came to Will county, settling in Plainfield where he lived until a few years ago when he removed to Lockport.

February 14, Mrs. Mary E. MOORE, of Homer township, aged 54 years anda resident of the town for fifty-two years. She was born in Germany, but came here with her parents (as) a small child.

February 16, Henry PEARSON, of Peotone, aged 75 years; a resident of the eastern part of the county for forty years.

February 19, Joseph KOPS, of Plainfield, aged 60 years. He had been a worthy resident of the town for over thirty years.

February 24, Asa B. YOUNG, of Brayton, Iowa, aged 54 years. He was a son of Sheldon YOUNG, one of the oldest settlers of the county.

February 28, David NICHOLS, aged 94 years. He was born near Wheeling, West Virginia, and came to Will county in 1852.

(1897)

March 1, Mrs. Sarah B. (BROOKS), wife of Milton BROOKS, formerly of Troy township, where she was born thirty-eight years ago. She died in Russell village, New York.

March 4, Anton SEILER, at the Kankakee insane asylum, at the age of 63 years. Deceased was a resident of the county for over thirty-five years.

March 6, Mrs. Mary A. PIERCE, widow of the late Sanford PIERCE, aged 76 years. She was a resident of Joliet for thirty years.

March 11, John T. BARTON, of Joliet, aged 57 years, He came from Bloomington to Joliet in 1865 and had since resided here. He was an intelligent, worthy man and an honor to his race.

March 13, John DUNCAN, aged 82 years. Deceased was an old and respected citizen of Joliet, coming here in 1864 from Scotland, where he was born.

March 15, Conrad L. STOLL, of Frankfort, one of the early settlers of the town and a much respected citizen.

March 17, Nehemiah H. CUTTER, of Joliet, aged 92 years. Deceased was born in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in 1805, and came to Joliet in 1834, where he afterwards resided. He built the first frame house in town east of the river, and in that home he lived sixty-three years and there he died. He was a man of the strictest honor and integrity, doing his duty at all times and fulfilling every trust imposed on him. His first wife died in 1884 and in 1888 he married Miss Eliza H. GAGE, who survives him.

March 17, George BETTENHAUSEN, of Frankfort, aged 80 years, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of that town.

March 18, Henry M. JOHNSTON, of Joliet, aged 60 years. He was an old resident of Jackson township, where he lived until four years ago, when he removed to Joliet.

March 18, Sheldon HARMON, of Lockport, aged 70 years. He was an old resident of the town, having settled there over forty years ago,

March 23, John CONROY, of Channahon, aged 81 years. He was a native of Mayo county, Ireland. He had resided in Channahon forty-five years and was one its most respected citizens.

March 23, William GEORGE, aged 60 years. Deceased was well-known in the town of Plainfield, where he had resided many years.

March 25, Mrs. Ann WATSON, wife of William WATSON, of Salphur Springs, Iowa, aged 64 years. Mrs. Watson formerly lived in Green Garden township, where she had many friends.

March 26, James McFADDEN, of Joliet, aged 76 years. Deceased was widely known and highly respected as an honest and industrious old man, who had been a resident of Joliet for the past forty-seven years, coming here direct from his birthplace in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. For thirty-five years past he had followed the occupation of drayman.

March 27, Dennis HARTIGAN, aged 85 years. Deceased was an old and respected citizen of Joliet, having lived here for the past forty years or more.

March 28, Engel Maria HINZE, of Crete, aged 68 years; a resident of the town for forty years.

March 29, Mrs. Polly KEENE, aged 95 years. She was the oldest resident of Plainfield at the time of her death and one of the oldest pioneers in this section of the country. She was born in New York state on November 18, 1801, and in company with her husband came to Plainfield in 1843, where she had resided ever since, a period of fifty-four years. Her husband died in 1882.

(1897)

April 11, Charles W. KEITH, of Chicago, aged 67 years. He was one of the early settlers of Wilton township and laid out the village of Wallingford some forty-five years ago. He afterwards removed to Joliet and lived here several years.

April 12, Mrs. Matilda (McGOVNEY), wife of Ozias McGOVNEY, of Frankfort, aged 68 years. She was one of the oldest pioneers of the county, having come here with her parents in 1837. She was a faithful Christian woman.

April 12, John COPPEL, of Mokena, aged 51 years. Deceased was one of Mokena’s best known and most highly respected citizens. He was a native of the county, having been born in Frankfort township in 1846.

April 16, Mrs. Samuel GRUNDY, of Plainfield, aged 61 years. She had resided in the town many years.

April 21, Thomas J. EVERTON, of Plainfield, aged 70 years, an old resident of the township.

April 29, Sarah (HALL), wife of Captain Lambert HALL, deputy warden at the penitentiary. She was a native of Will county and a most amiable and worthy citizen.

April 29, Henry S. HAWLEY, of Kirkman, Iowa, aged 75 years. He was one of the early settlers of Lockport, and resided there almost continuously from the time he settled there in 1835 until 1880, when he removed to Iowa.

(1897)

May 2, Thomas KEIGHER, of Rockville, Kankakee county, aged 80 years. He settled in Wilmington in 1857, residing there several years.

May 2, Alice (DEISS), wife of Paul A. DEISS, of Chicago, aged 40 years. She was reared in Joliet and lived here until a few years ago.

May 2, August HARKEN, of Peotone, aged 63 years. He was a soldier all through the late rebellion, where he performed most efficient service. He settled in Peotone at the close of the war and engaged in trade with good success.

May 4, Mrs. Angela HARDY, widow of the late Otis HARDY, aged 85 years. She was born in Woodstock, Vermont, and came to Joliet in 1835. Mrs. Hardy was a worthy member of the Ottawa St. M. E. church for over fifty years.

May 11, Mrs. John McFADDEN, of Joliet, aged 60 years; an old resident of the city.

May 15, Thomas BANNON, of Joliet, aged 82 years; an old and highly respected citizen.

May 15, Mrs. Francis WELSHAAR (possibly WEISHAAR), in Chicago, aged 82 years. She came to Will county in 1844, and resided here until she removed to Chicago a few years ago.

May 16, John BROWN, of Joliet, aged 71 years. He was a native of the Isle of Man, but settled in Lockport in 1855 and two years later came to Joliet. He was a highly respected and worthy citizen, honest and faithful, discharging life’s duties to the very best of his understanding and ability.

May 17, Sarah Jane NORTON, widow of the late L. S. NORTON, of Lockport. She was born in Chemung county, New York, but removed with her husband to Lockport in 1842, where they resided until their deaths.

May 19, Hiram SPOTTS, of Elwood, aged 53 years. Deceased was one of the prominent residents of Jackson township and was well known as a man of sterling character and integrity.

May 21, Mrs. Ann Eliza GRANT, of Plainfield, aged 65 years. She formerly lived in Lockport.

May 24, Mrs. Bridget SULLIVAN, of Joliet, aged 68 years. She was an old resident of the city.

May 25, Mrs. Elizabeth WATKINS, of Joliet, aged 67 years. She was for many years a resident of New Lenox.

May 29, Mrs. Mary E. HEATH, widow of the late W. J. HEATH, of this city, aged 72 years. She was born in Bethlehem county, New York, and came to Joliet with her husband in 1842, She was a faithful Christian woman, beloved and highly respected.

May 30, Mrs. John H. KRATER, of Morris, aged 55 years. She was formerly a well known resident here.

(1897)

June 1, Mrs. Catherine HARRINGTON, of Lockport, aged 73 years. She had been a resident of the county for the past thirty-five years.

June 2, Louis MYERS, of Lockport, aged 89 years. Deceased was a native of Germany, but came to this country in 1851 and to this county soon afterwards.

June 6, Mrs. Ann CONNORS, of Joliet, aged 69 years. She had lived in Joliet for the past forty years.

June 6, George B. COOK, of Joliet, aged 59 years. He was a native of New York, but came to Will county in 1854 (possibly 1851) where he afterwards lived. He was a highly esteemed and worthy man.

June 12, Dr. E. H. STRONG, of Florence, aged 78 years. Deceased was one of the oldest pioneers of Florence and highly respected citizen.

June 15, D. C. GILLETT, of Joliet, aged 72 years; an old resident of the county.

(1897)

July 2, Mrs. George E. ROCKEY, aged 74 years. She was an old and honored resident of the city.

July 4, Edward E. GURNEY of Wilmington, aged 63 years. Deceased was an old and highly respected resident of Will county, having come here in 1844. He was a native of England and a man of sterling integrity and honor, making the Golden Rule his guide in all his dealings with his fellow man.

July 5, Mrs. Chauncy HIGGINS, of DuPage township, aged 85 years. She was one of the pioneers of the county and a highly respected and worthy woman.

July 9, Hon. Anthony SCHEIDT, of Joliet, aged 70 years. He was a native of Schoenburg, France, but came to this country in 1849 and to this county in 1850, first settling in Homer township. He removed to Joliet in 1852. He was a prominent and worthy citizen.

July 11, James M. PERRY, of Chicago, but formerly of this county, aged 85 years.

July 12, Henry NEWKIRK, of Joliet, aged 49 years. He was a native of Joliet and was a worthy and respected citizen.

July 12, William TONNER, aged 81 years. He was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and came to Will county in 1846, settling in Plainfield. There he resided until 1857, when he was elected county clerk and removed to Joliet. He was ever a prominent character in the politics of the county and was elected to several offices which he filled with marked ability and fidelity.

July 22, John C. McSHANE, aged 53 years. He had lived in Joliet township, north-east of the city, for forty-five years.

July 25, Mrs. Margaret MAHONEY, wife of Jeremiah MAHONEY, of Joliet, aged 80 years. She formerly resided in Mokena, but came to Joliet in 1872.

July 26, Marshall TRUBY, of Troy township aged 78 years. He was an old and highly respected citizen. A native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He came to this county in 1852.

July 26, Mrs. Fred BECKMANN, of Monee, aged 56; one of the oldest residents of the town.

July 26, Mrs. Virginia B. (HUTCHINSON), wife of W. F. HUTCHINSON, of Joliet, aged 61 years. She formerly resided in Monee where she had many friends to mourn her decease. She was a member of the Central Presbyterian church and an earnest Christian woman.

July 27, Joseph ZIBLE, of Monee, aged 55. A resident of the township since 1859.

(1897)

August 1, William FORD, of Chicago, aged 76 years. Deceased was a former well known citizen of Joliet. He enlisted here in the One Hundredth regiment in 1862 and made a good old soldier.

August 1, Joseph BACHMEIR, of Green Garden, aged 78. He was the oldest resident of the town who had resided there continuously, having lived there since 1851.

August 2, Mrs. Amanda A. JONES, widow of the late David Jones, of Wilton Center, died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Thomas HILLER, in Ritchie, aged 79 years. She was born in Madison county, New York, but came to Will county in 1866. She was a member of the Methodist church for nearly fifty years and was a faithful Christian woman.

August 3, George HANNA, of Joliet, aged 57 years. He had been a resident of the city for over thirty years.

August 7, C. B. SEYMOUR, of Oakland, California, aged 65 years. Mr. Seymour lived in Joliet more than thirty years and married Emma (OSGOOD), a daughter of the late Uri OSGOOD.

August 10, William CRAWFORD, of Peotone, aged 68. He was one of the earliest settlers of eastern Will county, having moved there in 1837. He came from the north of Ireland and was one of Peotone’s most prominent and well known citizens.

August 10, James CRUMBY, of Troy township, aged 74 years. He was a native of Scotland but came to Will county in 1844, and settled near Grinton’s mills, where he has ever since resided, an honored and worthy citizen.

August 13, Mrs. John MALONE, of Wilton township, aged 76. Deceased was one of the oldest residents of the township.

August 13, Thomas McCORMICK, of Wilton township, aged 43 years. He was an honored citizen and his untimely death was a sad bereavement to a large circle of friends. Deceased had been a resident of the town since a child.

August 17, Mrs. Annie (JESSEP or JESSEN) wife of C. P. JESSEP (or JESSEN), of Joliet, at the age of 75 years. She came to Joliet thirty years ago.

August 17, Joseph RAUB, aged 30 years. He was born in Joliet, February 9, 1867, and lived here a worthy and exemplary young man.

August 27, Mrs. J. R. VAN HORNE of Lockport; a resident of the town for more than forty years.

August 29, Mrs. A. SEILER of Joliet, aged 63 years. She was the widow of Anton SEILER who died in the Kankakee asylum as above reported on the 4th of March last.

W. W. STEVENS,Necrologist.