Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

John CLARKSON, retired millwright, Joliet; born in Lancashire, England, Oct. 25, 1809, 
where he learned and worked at the millwright trade until 28 years of age, when he 
emigrated to America, landing in New York July 3, 1837; remaining there three months, 
then to Rochester four months; then to Black Rock Dam during the winter of 1837-38, 
returning to Rochester for the summer following; then to Rome, Mich., for eighteen 
months; from there to Chicago, and to Joliet by stage, where he located May 20; 1840; 
he first engaged here in building Jones' Steam Flour-Mill, the first of the kind in 
Joliet; upon its completion, he with Thomas KEEGAN, went to  Marseilles and built the 
first flour mill at that place; from there he went to Chicago and built the first 
elevator erected in that city. His reputation as a workman of superior skill at his 
trade having become generally established, he has been extensively employed in building 
mills and elevators in all the neighboring towns around Joliet up to the time of his 
retiring from active labor. He owns a fine residence on the west side of the river, 
where he resides. He married in England, April 12, 1837, to Alice HODSON; she was 
born in Lancashire, England, May 1, 1816; they are the parents of three children now 
living, viz., Ellen J., Margaret A. and Mary Ann. Mr. C's mother emigrated to America 
and Joliet in 1844, being then upward of 80 years of age, where she lived until her 
death in 1848. Mr. C. has filled, different offices of trust, among them School Trustee 
for eight years and School, Director for three years.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.