1878 History of Will County, Illinois
George ABBOTT, proprietor of the New England Restaurant, Joliet was born in Keene, N.H., Dec. 1, 1829; there he resided until 1853, when he went to Missouri, and remained two years, returning to Keene. He shortly afterward came to Illinois, and after spending one year in Rockford, settled in Joliet, in October, 1857; in 1858, he engaged in the restaurant business, keeping the Rock Island Railroad Restaurant for eight years. He is the oldest restaurant man in the city; in March, 1866, he started the New England Restaurant. He was married in February, 1855, to Miss Eunice A. FOSTER, of Keene, N. H., who died in June, 1861. He was married again on the 12th of December, 1866, to Miss Abbie A. CUTTING, of Joliet; they have six children—Isabel, John M., Lawrence D., George, Lulu M. and Lydia Belle.
Source: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.
1907 History of Will County, Illinois
George Abbott, Sr., is now practically living retired in Joliet, although to some extent he engages in gardening. He was born in Keene, New Hampshire, in 1828 and though he has almost reached the eightieth milestone on life’s journey he has never been confined to his home by illness. This is certainly a remarkable record and is largely due to the fact that he has never abused nature’s laws. His father, Daniel Abbott, was of English parentage and for many years carried on agricultural pursuits in New Hampshire, where he was also prominent in public life, serving for several terms in the state legislature. He married Polly Brown, a native of the old Granite state, and they became the parents of seven sons and two daughters, of which family two died in childhood. Three of the number are now living: Charles Abbott, who, at the age of more than eighty years, resides in New Hampshire; Mary A., also of that state; and George, of this review. Having arrived at years of maturity, George Abbott sought and won as a companion and helpmate for life’s journey Miss Eunice Foster, of Keene, New Hampshire, who died in Joliet in 1861 and was laid to rest in Oakwood cemetery. For his second wife he chose Mrs. Abbie Ann Cutting, who came from Maine to the middle west, and whose father was a tanner by trade. She died more than ten years ago, when about sixty years of age. By her marriage she had become the mother of three sons and three daughters: John, who is a keeper at the Illinois state penitentiary at Joliet; Lawrence, an engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad living at Joliet; George, who resides with his father; Lulu, the wife of James Wroughton of Joliet; Belle, the wife of Frank Shaw, employed at the steel mills in Joliet; and Isabelle, the wife of George East, an engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, residing at Brookfield, Missouri. There was also one child that died in infancy. George Abbott of this review came to the middle west when twenty-three years of age. He first made his way to Missouri and helped get out timber for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, acting for about one year as foreman of a gang of men. He then became overseer on the plantation belonging to General Bolton, in which connection he supervised the labors of a crew of negroes. He then went to the east and married, after which he returned to Illinois and engaged in the cultivation of a large farm in Winnebago county for one year. In 1857 he arrived in Joliet and for eighteen years conducted a restaurant in the Rock Island depot. He afterward spent ten years in the same line of business at the corner of Chicago and Jefferson streets, erecting the building there which he still owns. He afterward bought ten acres of land in the western part of the town on Oneida street and engages to some extent in gardening, although, he is largely living retired. He has led a very busy, useful and active life and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors and perseverance. In all of his business dealings he has been faithful and honorable and in the evening of his days receives the respect and veneration which should always be accorded one of his years. Socially he is connected with Joliet lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of which he is an exemplary member. In politics he has always been a republican, voting for each presidential candidate of the party since he attained his majority.
Source: History of Will County, Illinois. By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association Assisted by an Advisory Board, consisting of Hon. James G. Elwood, James H. Ferriss, William Grinton, Mrs. Kate Henderson and A. C. Clement Illustrated Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. Dedicated to the Pioneers of Will County.