Will County ILGenWeb

These pages are a part of the ILGenWeb Project. They provide a resource for genealogists searching in Will County, Illinois. You can post queries about surnames you are researching, see who else might be researching the same names as yourself, ask volunteers to do reference look-ups, volunteer to do reference look-ups, and get information on searching in Will County. My name is Dennis Partridge, and I am currently the host of Will County, you can contact me here, if you have any questions. I do not live in Will County, nor Illinois, but I will attempt to answer your research questions or point you in the direction of somebody who can.

Steel Baron Welcomed Roosevelt, but W.J. Bryan was Another Story

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 28 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “Each man lifts his head higher when the nation does its duty.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News On a chilly Monday morning in October 1900, a large crowd started gathering in front … Read more

‘Bennitt’s Boys’ Helped Carve A Piece of History

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 26 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “BENNITT’s regiment lost about two dozen men. More soldiers died from exposure and illness than combat.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News Like others who came to Joliet as young men, Fred BENNITT … Read more

Joliet Boasted in 1887: Business was Booming!

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 25 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “Business was booming in Joliet. People were working. And growth was happening rapidly.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News In the summer of 1887, 35 years after the city was incorporated, The Joliet … Read more

Joliet Chief Pegged It: Inside Job

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 24 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “The bandits had killed the express manager and gotten away with $22,000 cash and a bag full of jewelry.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News From the very beginning, Joliet Police Chief Frank … Read more

Joliet Helped Tame West

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 23 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “He was forseeing enough to understand that there would be an immense industry built on barbwire fencing.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News Barbed wire helped to settle the American frontier. And much … Read more

Fire Protection Became Priority

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 21 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “The city had a volunteer fire department, which formed bucket brigades that often arrived too late to save a structure.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News With the rapid growth in Joliet after … Read more

Steel King Woodruff Stood Tall Among Barons

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 20 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “The fatal result sent a shock wave to almost every household in the community. By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News Among the business barons who built Joliet, none walked taller than George WOODRUFF, … Read more

Civil War Veteran John Lambert Became City’s Steel King

by

The History of Joliet – Chapter 19 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo But he was built in a greater mold than that of the skilled workman. By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News After the Civil War, John LAMBERT looked to the west for a new … Read more