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

Author: History of Will County IL, 1878

Col. John B. FITHIAN, of the firm of Fithian & Avery, attorneys at law, Joliet; was born 
in Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 26, 1849; he is a son of Dr. William E. FITHIAN, a physician 
and Presbyterian clergyman; in 1857, the family removed to Iowa and resided in different 
parts of the State until 1862, when his father took charge of the Sanitary Department at 
Helena, Ark., and afterward was appointed Medical Inspector of the Department of the 
Tennessee; during that time John B. was Chief Clerk at Helena, and in 1863, reported to 
the Sanitary Department at Vicksburg, and was present during the siege of that place; 
after the war, he came to Illinois and followed the newspaper business at various points 
until 1873; he then came to Joliet, and was employed in various capacities in the Illinois 
State Penitentiary until the spring of 1876; in the mean time he had been improving his 
spare time in studying law in the offices of Munn & Munn, and C. B. GARNSEY, Esq., of 
Joliet; he was admitted to practice in September, 1876, and in September, 1877, formed a 
partnership with F. D. AVERY, which still continues. He was one of the organizers of the 
Citizens' Corps, and on the organization of the 10th Battalion I. N. G., was appointed 
Adjutant under Lt. Col. PARSONS; in July, 1877, he resigned, but on the breaking-out of 
the Braidwood disturbances, he enlisted as a private, and served during the riot; on the 
organization of the 12th Battalion, Oct. 15, 1877, he was elected Major, and on the 9th 
of February, 1878, was promoted to the rank of Leiut. Colonel, which position he still 
holds. He was married Jan. 18, 1878, to Miss Edna E. WHITTAKER, of   Carlinville, IL.


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