Will County ILGenWeb 
The History of Joliet – Chapter 8 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo City ready to jump to conclusions over mysterious death David Richardson was arrested and charged with the murder. He was guarded in the county jail because there was lots of talk about hanging him … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 7 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo City’s first mayor nearly hanged by citizens The excitement was intense and the public opinion divided,” Woodruff wrote. “And in the excitement and division of sentiment, many were ready to hang Van Horne without … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 6 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Despite the risks, residents clamored for fast transportation As railroads expanded across the country, people in Joliet desired the faster method of travel. There were public hearings on the need, and newspapers called for … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 5 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo MATTESON once was the most influential man in town Matteson, a Democrat, avoided the slavery dilemma. By taking the middle ground on this controversial issue, he became an enemy of Abraham Lincoln. By John … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 4 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Posse drives off rioting canal workers As the residents prepared to celebrate the national holiday, word arrived that Irish workers digging the canal near Romeoville were rioting. They were supposedly killing each other and … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 3 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Joliet’s first taste of politics turns out to be a circus Almost from the very beginning, there was a rivalry between the East and West sides of Juliet. First, there was a communication problem. … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 2 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Sisters’ kidnapping the beginning of Joliet Although they never lived here, Sylvia and Rachel Hall could be thought of as the mothers of Joliet. Or rather, the mothers of Juliet. By John WHITESIDE of … Read more
The History of Joliet – Chapter 1 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Native American tribes hunted and fished here for hundreds of years The most numerous tribe were the Illinois, from which this state eventually would take its name. In their native tongue, Illinois meant ‘superior … Read more
The History of Joliet – Introduction By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo Did you know? City’s vibrant story leaps off page Our city’s founders were just plain people with the same kind of worries and concerns we often have today. But in living their lives here, they … Read more
Christopher Warren Submitted by Nancy Robinson Brandon Christopher Warren: born May 18, 1834 at Ponsworthy, Widecombe in the Moor, Devon, England Married: Susan Elinor Mann 12-23-1856 at Chicago, Cook Co., IL Died: November 12, 1893 Peotone, Will County, IL Buried: Wilton Center Cemetery Father: John Warren Mother: Jane Stidston Susan Elinor Mann: born March 29, … Read more