1890 Necrologist Report

1890 Necrologist Report

(Transcribed and copyrighted April 8, 2001, by Lawrence B. Peet, Joliet, Illinois. Permission granted to copy for non-commercial use only. All in Italics and upper case surnames are added to or modified from the original by the transcriber.)

(1890 Old Settlers’ Association of Will County, Necrology Report, as compiled by Necrologist George H. Woodruff and printed in the Joliet Republic and Sun, September 4, 1890, including the resignation and farewell of Will County Historian, George H. Woodruff, transcribed by Lawrence B. Peet.)

Auld Acquaintance — From Kane, Kendall, Grundy, Cook aud Will Counties Gather – – Those Who Helped to Make Will County Habitable. —

Wednesday, September third, 1890, was as pleasant a day as the Old Settler’s Society of Will County ever had to meet together. In fact the weather was perfect; the gathering large; and the old ladies and gentlemen in as good humor as one could imagine.

The meeting was held on the old fair grounds, which piece of land, like the circle of old settlers, is gradually being narrowed. The officers of the association were on the ground at 10:30, preparing for the arrival of father, mother, grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

At high noon an announcement was issued that dinner would be partaken of, and under the trees luncheons were spread, “just as they used to do forty years ago all over old Will, when we first landed here in the old ungainly Hoosier wagon,” as a good many observed., “I ain’t eaten such a dinner that I enjoyed in years!” was the common word passed around.

Dinner over, a sort of quilting bee, with “the men invited in,” was had until two o’clock when President Royal E. BARBER called the meeting to order, announcing that the necrological report of Mr. George H. WOODRUFF was in order, and as Mr. Woodruff was too feeble to read the report, although he was present, he (Mr. Barber) would read it, and which is as follows:

Necrological Record

Of the year ending September 3, 1890.

Before entering upon the doings if the Insatiate Archer among the Pioneers of Will County for the past year, it is proper to mention two names the knowledge of whose death last year did not reach me until our anniversary. These were

Steven MORSE
A brother of Curtis MORSE of Homer, who was formerly a blacksmith in the city of Lockport, Ill., and who went to California in 1849. He returned after a year’s absence, but having become enamored of the land of gold, returned thither and became a permanent citizen of that state. At the time of his death (sometime in January 1889) he was the owner and cultivator of a prosperous fruit and vegetable ranch. His death was accidental and caused by a fall from a load of hay. The other omission was that of the

Rev. Wm. SMITH,
a son of the old pioneer Barton SMITH Esq., of Joliet, who came here with his family in 1835. Wm. was born in Jefferson Co., Tennessee, May 31, 1820. He died May 14, 1889. He was for many years a well known circuit rider of the M. E. ch.

The first death we are called upon to notice as occuring after our anniversary is that of Mr.

Isaac REYNOLDS,
who died Sept. 16, 1889 of old age and debility, aged 78 years. He was a native of Champain Co. Ohio, and came to Will Co. in 1833. He settled in New Lenox where he raised a large family who have since been well known in the history of the county and state. Gen. Joseph S. REYNOLDS being one of his sons. He was at the time of his death the owner of 365 acres in the town of New Lenox. These pleasant and fertile acres he was compelled to leave behind him; but I have no doubt he has found a richer inheritance in his new location, for he was one of the salt of the earth, and highly honored and respected. His funeral drew together a large number of Pioneers among them the late Rev. Solomon KNAPP and the venerable Stephen R. BEGGS under whose preaching Mr. Reynolds was converted more than fifty years ago.

Sarah DAVIS,
Widow of the late Rufus I. DAVIS of Channahon, died in Chicago, Oct. 18, 1889. Her funeral occurred in Channahon where she had resided for many years highly respected. She was a native of Sussex Co., New Jersey and was born in 1828. She came to Will co., in 1846 and was married in 1848.

Otis HARDY,
On the 7th day of November 1889, occurred the death of one of the oldest and best known and most highly respected of the citizens of Joliet, Otis Hardy, Esq. We have neither room nor time to record all the good things that have been said of him, and shall not attempt it. His name is so identified with our religious, political, and financial history that there is no need.
Mr. Hardy was a native of Ohio and came to Joliet in 1836, where he has since had his permanent home. He was 79 years of age the September preceding his death.
Having for many years been making friends with the “mammon of uprighteonsness” of which he had so large a supply and also by his personal efforts, no doubt a crowd welcomed him into the “everlasting habitations.”

W. C. WOOD.
Following quickly upon the death of Mr. Hardy was that of another good man, conspicuous in business and social life and religious effort, W. C. Wood. Mr. Wood was born in Stanford, Conn., Nov. 5, 1821, of one of the best of N. E. families, his father being the late Judge WOOD of New Haven, Conn., and his mother the daughter of Chief Justice ELLSWORTH of Conn. The family had settled in New Haven where they built one of the pleasantest of New England homes.
His older brother, Oliver E. WOOD, had become a successful wholesale merchant in New York and W. C. Wood went to learn the same business. It was here that Mr. DEMMOND found him in 1845, and persuaded him to come to Joliet as a partner in merchandising.
Mr. Wood was married in 1846 to Miss Hannah T. LAWRENCE of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they became the parents of two sons and three daughters too well known to need special mention. Mr. Wood’s wife died in 1876 and in 1878 he was again married to Mrs. Frances C. MOORE, widow of Wm. N. MOORE. Mr. Wood was a n am of extensive information, considerable travel, and held the pen of an early writer. Some of his letters, while away from home, to the press would compare favorably with those of Artemus WARD in description and humor.
He was one of the founders of the First Pres. Church, an elder, S. S. Supt., and active in all public religious effort.

Richard JOHNSON
Died at his home, two miles out on the Plainfield road, on the 12th day of Jan. 1890. H was a native of Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and came to Joliet in 1845. He was a carpenter by trade and built some of our early houses and stores, among the best the old Elwood wooden block, the first one built on Jefferson St.
He was seventy years old and in feeble health for some time, although the immediate cause of his death was a fall.

John GOODENOUGH,
Formerly a member of the 100th Regiment, Co. E, died at Hampton, Station, Jan. (illegible, possibly, 19 – L.B. Peet), 1890 at the age of fifty-two. He had
Accumulated a handsome competence, and his loss is mourned by hosts of friends. His funeral was conducted by the Knights Templars.

Orville D. CAGWIN,
Who died in Chicago, Sunday, Feb., 9, 1890, from injuries received from a grip car, at the age of 77 years, was the brother of Abijah (CAGWIN) and Frank L. CAGWIN, of this city, and of Hamden A. CAGWIN, of Nevada. Until a few months before his death, he was a resident of this city, except while a resident of California. He was born Nov. 8, 1813 in Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y., and came to Will County early in the thirties. He had been a man of considerable travel, and was well informed, and had his own opinion on the topics and issues of the day. He was the writer of many interesting letters on the California trip in 1849-50. His trip to California in 1850 was successful and on his return he built the Cagwin Block.

James CLOW,
The model farmer of Will Co., died at his home in Wheatland, Feb. 14, 1890. He was the oldest son of Robert CLOW, Sen., who came to Will Co. in 1845 and purchased a large tract of land in the then unimproved prairie known a Oregon Precinct, since Wheatland. We speak advisedly when we term him the model farmer, for a few years since we called upon him and were immediately struck with the neat and tidy look of his farm and everything about him., and this too, after a visit to his brother Rob’t Clow, who was no sloven in the way of farming. For up on the premises of James Clow, in lawn, meadow, pasture, and grain field there was not to be seen a weed, a cob, or a feather lying loose or growing anywhere, nor a broken rail, or shaky board or picket in any fence. The lawn was as clean shaven as any of our city yards and filled with shrubs and evergreens. The stock was as fat and sleek as if they had been groomed, and the very pigs seemed to have forgotten their swinish nature and to have adopted the cleanly habits of the place. Barn, stable, hen-house, pig-stys were all sweet and clean as constant sweeping and washing could make them. And all this was not done at the sacrifice of good crops or marketable products of dairy or stall or piggery, in all of which Mr. Clow was notably successful. But, Mr. Clow was not only a model farmer in these respects. He was a man of great intelligence, and retired in habits, a valuable and patriotic citizen.
He was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, and died of phneumonia He was never married, and perhaps this accounts for the extraordinary neatness of his premises over his brother, Robert’s adjoining, where the feet of happy children had roamed at will over the fields and through house and barn, and grown up to manhood and womanhood, in the years gone by.

Mr. John HECK,
One of the oldest residents of the city of Lockport, died at his residence, Friday, February 21, at the age of 90 years and 2 months.
Mr. Heck was a native of Augusta, Ontario, and came to Will County in 1838. He has since resided in Lockport, engaging in trade and contracting, one of the most active and useful of the citizens. He had acquired a fine property, which goes to relatives outside, as his wife has been long dead and he had no children.

Mrs. Hannah HUTCHINS,
Widow of the late Wm. H. HUTCHINS, and mother of Thos. H. HUTCHINS of Joliet, died at the house of a daughter in Girard, Kansas, on February 22, 1890.
Mrs. Hutchins was born in Saratoga County, New York, and came to Will County in 1848. She was a member of the Methodist church for many years.

Thomas CREEVY Sen.
On Monday Feb. 24, 1890, died one of our oldest Irish citizens, Thos. Creevy, Sen. At the residence of his son, Thos. Creevy, Jr., on Hickory street. He died from the infirmities of old age, being 88 years old. He came to Will Co. in 1835, and was one of the first to engage in the work of building St. Patrick’s church, from which he was buried. He married the widow of Michael BOYNE, the old time blacksmith on Bluff St. and the father of James and Wm. BOYNE.
In 1850, Mr. Creevy made the trip to California, where he picked up some gold.
Two children of his own survive him, Thos. Creevy, Jr., the well known baker and Mrs. Tressy BROTHERICK (BRODERICK ?).

Samuel HAYWOOD,
An old resident of the town of Lockport, died of paralysis in the 76th year of his age on the 19th day of March, 1890. He was buried at Lockport, a long procession testifying to the respect in which he was held.
He was born March 10, 1814, at Waterville, Maine, and came to Will Co., in 1838.

Mrs. Clarinda M. HAWLEY,
Widow of Capt. N. L. HAWLEY, of the old and famous Lockport Battery, and a sister of Judge Parks of this city, died in Chicago, the 27th day of March, her remains were brought to Lockport for burial. Aged 67 years.

Mrs. Edmund WILCOX,
Wife of our well known citizen and pioneer Justice WILCOX, died after a protracted illness at her home on Marion St., on the 12th day of March, 1890. She was the daughter of the late Dea. Joseph GREEN of Woodstock, Ill., and was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1825.
She came to Joliet in 1844, a young and sprightly girl on a visit to her uncle Orange CHAUNCEY, and as a result of that visit she was married to Mr. Wilcox at her father’s in Woodstock, in 1845. She became connected with the Episcopal church, in which she has since been an active and useful member. She was the mother of our well known citizens, Wm. G. (WILCOX), Fred C. (WILCOX), and Charles WILCOX, and of an older son, Alvin (WILCOX), who died in 1873, leaving a daughter who has been brought up by Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox, and is now the wife of Harry PORTER.

John C. NEWKIRK,

Died suddenly of pneumonia at his home in Hudson, N. Y., April 1, 1890, in the 80th year of his age. Probably not more than a dozen, still liging in our county personally remember him. He came here in 1836 and hung out his lawyer’s shingle. He soon became known as an able lawyer, a valuable citizen, and a true christian. His contemporaries at the bar of Will Co., were Hugh HENDERSON, Uri OSGOOD, Wm. A. BOARDMAN, E. C. FELLOWS, and John M. WILSON. With the last named, he formed a law partnership. He outlived them all. After a few years he returned to the east, married, and settled in Hudson, where he has so lately died.

Austin PAGE,

Came to the town of New Lenox in 1839, where he has since resided, a respected member of the community, until the 20th of April, when he died at the age of 71 years.

Mrs. F. E. SCHEMERHORN,

Who died at the home of her son-in-law, J. H. SACKETT, Sonoma, Cal., was one of the early residents of Channahon, in this county. She was born in New Hartford, N. Y., July, 1817, and came to Channahon in 1837. She went to California in 1863.

Harvey WILCOX,

A brother of Edmund WILCOX, of this city, and of Mrs. CLOMENT (CLEMENT ?), of Scott street, died in California at his beautiful home in Los Gatos, the 10th of May, 1890, at the age of 68 years.

Mr. Wilcox was a resident of Joliet from 1838 to the time he went to California, in 1856. He kept a jeweler’s and notion store on Bluff street, in the store now occupied by MELICK, the auctioneer. He married a daughter of Charles DEMMOND, Esq., and leaves two sons, who are prominent lawyers in California.

Francis L. CAGWIN,

Who has for many years been a prominent citizen and banker in Joliet, and as well known as his brothers in Will county, died at his home, 307 N. Ottawa street, May 15, 1890. He was born in Verona, Oneida county, N. Y., December 7, 1822, and was the youngest of five brothers, the sons of Thomas CAGWIN and Eunice JOSELYN, who were of New England origin. The disease which carried Mr. Cagwin off so early in life (comparatively) had developed suddenly and run to its fatal termination before many of our citizens realized that he was out of health. He came to Joliet in 1838. He leaves a widow, the daughter of the late John YOUNG, Esq., and four children born of a former wife, L. F. (CAGWIN) and H. F. CAGWIN, his sons with him in the bank, and Mrs. U. MACK and Bertha A. CAGWIN.

Wm. WALTERS.

In the death of Wm. Walters, which occurred at his residence on Prairie avenue, May 25, 1890, we lost one of the earliest pioneers of Joliet.

He was a native of Clay county, Kentucky, where he was born in 1813. He came to Chicago in the spring of 1835, but not being well pleased with the mud and water of that then uninteresting locality, he pushed out in the fall for Joliet. Having a little money, he at once invested in the purchase of a lot on northern Bluff Street. On this he at once proceeded to build a two story stone building, in the lower story of which he opened a grocery store. This building is still standing, opposite the gas works, and is a hard looking old rookery now, but it was regarded as a big thing then. He also built a stone dwelling on Broadway which has since been changed into the chapel of the hospital.

In 1837, Mr. Walters married a daughter of Barton SMITH, Esq., whose death we recorded last year. In 1842 Mr. Walters and his family removed to the prairie a few miles west of Channahon, where he opened a valuable farm on which he spent many years of hard labor and accumulated a comfortable competency.

In 1883 he purchased the pleasant residence of Mr. CARTER, to which he moved and where his wife, last year, and now himself, passed to the great beyond.

Mr. Walters had two sons in the war, one of whom, Barton (WALTERS), died in a hospital a few days after his release from a rebel prison. Mr. Walters was a man of strong mind and inflexible integrity. He always gave much thought to political questions. He was a Jackson Democrat, sincere in his convictions, and impatient of all dishonest methods. He has been in feeble health for some years, and was cared for in his decline by a married daughter, Mrs. Jane WOLF.

Rev. Solomon KNAPP.

It next becomes our duty to record the death on June 4th, of one who came to his grave as a shock of corn in his season. Rev. Solomon Knapp, well known as a pioneer missionary of the Baptist church in Will Co. It will be remembered by those present at our last meeting that on that occasion, as in deed often before, he acted as our chaplain.

Mr. Knapp was born in Fulton county, N. Y., March 29, 1803, and was ordained a minister in the Baptist church in 1834. He came to Will County in 1840, and took charge of the Baptist churches in Joliet, Lockport and Homer. He was married first to Miss Eliza E. LANFEAR, in his native town of Mayfield, who died in Homer in 1853, leaving six children. He was again married to Miss Martha M. COOK.

After serving the church in various places, he was obliged by loss of voice and failing health to close a ministry in which he had been largely successful, and he has lived for some years a retired life in Joliet.

Mrs. Martha M. KNAPP

On July 11th, a little more than one month after the death of Elder Knapp, followed that of his widow, Martha M., at the home of the family on Cass street. Her maiden name was Martha M. COOK. She was born in Hadley, Mass. In 1816. She came west, and to Homer in 1840, where she taught school, for which she was in every way highly qualified, and in which she was successful. There are some of her scholars still living in Joliet, who speak of her in terms of the strongest respect and affection.

O. W. STILLMAN.

At one o’clock on the afternoon of June10th, another of our early pioneers closed his eyes on earthly things, after a long illness.

Oliver W. STILLMAN was born in Massachusetts, April 11, 1811. Of his early history we are not informed until the time of his coming to Joliet in 1835, since which time he has been well known to all, early settlers especially. He was a shoemaker by trade and opened a shop on Ottawa streetsomewhere near Mr. HEATH’s. In the same season he came he was elected a justice of the peace, which office he continued to hold under the act creating Will county in 1836. He married the first couple in Will Co.

How long Mr. Stillman continued to work at his trade we do not remember, but we know that in company with M. L. COOK, he ran one of our first livery establishments, occupying at one time the old McGee mill to which they added a lean-to on the west side.

Mr. Stillman was an ardent Universalist, and it was owing to his efforts more than any other person, that the present beautiful church was built. We are glad to see that it was not torn down before a memorial service could be held therein.

Mr. Stillman married Rosan E. McDONALD, in May 1846, who survives him.

He enjoyed the confidence and respect of all who knew him.

J. S. BAKER.

At his home, in Lockport, Monday, June 23, died James S. BAKER, aged 74 years. The deceased had been a resident of Lockport since 1837. He was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1816.

Mrs. Josiah BEAUMONT.

After many years of pain and weariness, death came to the relief of Mrs. Beaumont, relict of the late Josiah BEAUMONT of north Broadway, on the afternoon of the 27th of June, 1890. She hailed him as a minister of mercy.

Mrs. Beaumont’s maiden name was Eliza Ann SEARLES. She was born in Troy, N. Y., March 4, 1803. In 1825 she was married at Champlain, to the late Josiah Beaumont.

Two children, a girl and boy, were the fruit of their union. The girl died early. The son, late R. R. BEAUMONT, came with them at the age of ten years. He was born July 26, 1826, and died of cholera, in Homer, Will county, at the home of his father-in-law, Hiram OLNEY, Esq., leaving a widow, who afterward became the wife of George H. WARD.

Mrs. Beaumont was probably known to but few of the present citizens of Joliet, the few who like herself were pioneers in the settlement of the place. The family came here in the summer of 1836, with their own team, all the way from Hudson. They soon became a prominent family, especially in the neighborhood known as the bluff. Mr. Beaumont built him a pleasant little home on Oneida street, using for some time the lower front room as a shop for building and repairing wagons.

In October 1866, Mrs. Beaumont had a fall which fractured one hip, upon which she never afterwards bore her weight, and she became a helpless cripple. Since that time she has been a constant care to her friends. Deacon Beaumont was her faithful nurse until his sudden death in 1875, since which time she has been cared for by Mr. George H. Ward and wife. And it is only proper to say that the death we record has brought a happy release to them, for the care of Mrs. Beaumont has been increasingly burdensome for many years, during which Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been unremitting in their service.

Mrs. Beaumont was one of the original members of the First Presbyterian church, but owing to her infirmity was seldom an attendant upon its services.

George ERHARD.

One of our early and oldest German citizens, George Erhard, died at the home of his son, Rev. Lawrence ERHARD, in Sononauk, June 28, 1890, at the age of 83 years. Mr. Erhard was born in 1807, in the town of Middle, kingdom of Bavaria. He emigrated to America, in June 1832. In October 1833, he moved to Chicago, and in 1836, came to Joliet with his brother-in-law, John BELZ. Here they started the first brewery in the county. Mr. Erhard and wife were the parents of nine children, five of whom survive him, viz: Joseph, Clem., Lomiss, Rev. Lawrence, and Mrs. J. C. ADLER.

His honest, smiling face which adorns one of the pages of the History of Will County, shows him to be just the man he was.

Anderson POOR

Died in South Dakota, aged 76 years, on the tenth day of July.

We do not unredstand how it is that in the frequent catalogues we have made of the Pioneers of Will County, the name of Anderson Poor has escaped us. We knew and remember his father, Edward POOR. It was from him that we received the first dollar we earned as recorder of Will Co.

Anderson Poor was born near Greenville, Tenn., in August 1814. He came to Will Co., with his father in May 1831, and settled in what is now Homer. He moved to Porter Co., Indiana, in the fall of 18964, and to South Dakota, where he died in 18_6. In 1842 he was married to Charlotte DWIGHT, of this county, who died last January. They had five children, viz.: Mrs. E. A. GILLETT of Spencer, Mrs. A. H. LAING of Joliet, Mrs. C. W. BARTHOLOMEW of Valparaiso, Ind. Lafayette D. (POOR) and Edward E. (POOR) of South Dakota.

His father, Edward Poor died in 1880.

Mrs. Elizabeth NOEL,

After a year of severe suffering, death brought a welcome release to Mrs. Elizabeth Noel of Jackson, a daughter of the late Reason ZARLEY. She died July 22 at the age of sixty years.

A correspondent sends me the following addition to the list.

Mrs. Sarah SHELTON, died in DuPage, Jan., 1890, aged about 84 years.

Mrs. Huldah SMITH formerly of DuPage, died in Michigan in April, aged 91 years.

This concludes the material that I have gathered during the year. No doubt there are omissions. I think that from the present obviously dilapidated condition of my health, all will see the propriety of selecting someone else to discharge this duty hereafter. I am warranted, I think, in making this a sort of farewell leave taking of this society. I have come to regard its membership with strong affection, and say these good bye words with regret. But, good bye to Will County and to earth will soon be the utterance of all pioneers.

I give you in conclusion, a few lines for which I am indebted to Joseph COOK.

The faith expressed in them is the faith that sustains me now; and I hope you will all find strength and comfort in the same to cheer you in the gentle passage to another life.

“On a far shore, my land sank far from sight,
But I could see familiar, native stars;
My home was hid from me by ocean bars
Yet home hung there above me in the night.
Unchanged came down on me Orion’s light;
As always Venus rose and fiery Mars;
My own the Pleiads ye_ and without Jars
In Wonted tones sang all the heavenly height
So when in death, from underneath my feet
Rolls the round world, I then shall see the sky
Of God’s truth burning yet familiarly
My native consyellations I shall grace
I lose the outer to the inner eye,
The landscape, not the soul’s stars, when I die.”

Rev. Mr. Strout, of Elwood, followed with Divine benediction upon the assembled people, and then came to the remarks previously picked up from among the gentlemen in the crowd.

Mr. Barber and Dr. Daggett, of Joliet; J. S. McDonald, of Lockport; and Jabez Harvey of Wilton, each related their part of information of Will county’s early history. Mr. Barber remarked that the people had come to visit, and not to hear long speeches, and as there was business to transact, the people were ready to receive reports.

Upon motion of Alex McINTOSH, the following report was accepted and adopted:

Your committee appointed to report names for the officers of the “Old Settlers'” organization of Will county beg leave to report the following names for your consideration:

President – Royal E. BARBER.

Secretary and Treasurer – W. H. ZARLEY.

Executive committee – Thomas TAIT, Dr. J. F. DAGGART, Samuel REED, G. D. A. PARKS, H. C. CASSIDAY, M. N. M. STEWART, W. H. LANFEAR, and A. M. McINTOSH.

Vice Presidents and Census Takers – Curtis MORSE, Homer; Geo. H. WOODRUFF, Joliet; D. C. BALDWIN, Lockport; Ira G. SMITH, Custer; Steven J. WILLIAMS, DuPage; J. MORILL, Reed; James PATTERSON, Wheatland; _. H. DANIELS, Monee; Deacon GREEN, Plainfield; D. C. SEARLES, Troy; C. C. SMITH, Channahon; John KELLY, Wesley; Selah MOREY, Florence; Jabez HARVEY, Wilton; R. J. BOYLAN, Jackson; Clark BAKER, Manhattan; H. H. STASSEN, Green Garden; Fred WILKIE, Washington; Wm. WOOD, Crete; A. P. LILLEY, Will; D. L. CHRISTIAN, Peotone, Levi DOTY, Frankfort; A. COLLINS, New Lenox; J. D. HENDERSON, Wilmington.

Mrs. A. R. STARR having presented a magnificent bouquet to the association to be given to the first and oldest resident of Will County, it was decided that Mrs. Nancy (STEVENS), widow of Robert STEVENS who came to Joliet in October 1830, was entitled to the offering. The grand old pioneer of sixty years ago was escorted to the front and accepted the souvenir, amid the cheers of the old and young. Mrs. Stevens lives in all the springiness of youth, in her old homestead on east Jackson street where no longer than twenty five was one vast stretch of waste; now filled by thousands houses and people and vast commercial interests.

Mr. Barber informed the audience that the aged and beloved historian, George H. WOODRUFF – had tendered his resignation on account of advanced age and declining health, and he asked what disposition should be taken with the letter of resignation. It was unanimously voted that Mr. Woodruff be continued in his office, with power to select his assistant, and if he found he was still further incapacitated, he is to select his successor as necrologist.

The good and venerable Mr. Woodruff, whose familiar face has been always seen at these annual meetings, was seated near by, and feebly acknowledged his thanks for the honor given him.

Upon motion of Mr. Barber the meeting adjourned until 1891, when he hoped all who were in the flesh, and could be present would attend the next “Old Settlers’ Reunion of Will county,” and in meantime he wanted the 49ers to repair to the amphitheatre, (sic.) where a photographer would take a picture of the group. This latter request was complied with, and along with the old ones a good many youngsters of fifty and sixty years smuggled their faces before the camera. An acceptable negative was obtained and the people dispersed, many not to meet again this side of the River, but with a grand hand shaking, promised to “Be on hand next year if I can.” And the Old Settlers’ Reunion of 1890 was ended.

The following old settlers were present from the different townships:

(The date is that of their arrival in Will County. – L. B. Peet)

Joliet.

Levi PIERCE, 1841; Squire WILSON; 1836; Mr. LOVE, 1836; Clay CASSIDAY, 1850; R. C. BARBER, 1832; F. NICHOLSON, 1836; M. A. NICHOLSON, 1836; John GREEN, 1837; Mrs. C. M. GREEN, 1837; Mrs. R. A. WOODWARD, 1837; S. B. REED, 1844; Mrs. WATSON, 1837; George WOODRUFF, 1834; Alex. McINTOSH, 1845; Mrs. Sophia DEMMOND, 1834; Mrs. Eliza FOLTY, 1834; D. DAGGETT, 1838; Mr. and Mrs. Thos. TAIT, 1840; B. W. HARVEY, 1842; Mrs. B. KEYES, 1839; Daniel KENNEILEY, 1847; Thos. CULBERTSON, 1836; Mrs. M. A. KINNIE, 1834; Mrs. Lydia WOODHILL, 1839; Chas. BAKER, 1848; I. McDONALD, 1836; Horace WEEKS, 1837; Mrs. R. E. SMITH, 1846; D. L. GOUNTAIN, 1838; Aaron PATTERSON, 1847; Chas. H. WEEKS, 1833; Mrs. D. WADE, 1841; Calvin BEARSS1837; Lack THORNTON, 1836; R. HOUSE, 1836; Mrs. Judith HOUSE, 1836; W. FOUND, 1850; Mrs. Mary FOUND, 1850; S. WARREN, 1833; Mr. and Mrs. W. WATKINS, 1844; Dan GOUGAR, 1831; Mrs. Ruth GOUGAR, 1834; Mr. and Mrs. V. RATHBURN, 1845; O. SIMMONS, but now of Petrolis, Canada, 1845.

Plainfield.

Col. GROVE, 1838 (possibly 1835); D. CATCHPOLE, 1837; Mr. and Mrs. Kendrich HYLAND, 1844; Mrs. J. HYLAND, 1844; Z. SPANGLER, 1848; Mr. and Mrs. H. S. GEIST, 1850.

Jackson.

Geo. EIBS, 1833 (possibly 1838); Mrs. Mary EIBS, 1834; Maj. BOYLAN, 1834; Mrs. BOYLAN, 1836.

Homer.

Curtis MORSE, 1846; Levi HARTWELL, 1833; Jas. FRAZER, 1839; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. BARTLETT, 1848; Dorrance DIBELL, 1850; Mrs. D. DIBELL, 1848; Mr. and Mrs. Frank COLLINS, 1833; Mrs. S. A. MUNSON, 1831; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. LANFEAR, 1834; Mrs. Mary FRASER, 1833.

Lockport.

J. S. McDONNELL, 1837; John McSHANE, 1848; Mrs. M. A. McSHANE, 1848; Mrs. J. HUNTER, 1846; J. ROSE, 1850; Mr. E. S. BRUNSON, 1835.

Elwood.

(Jackson Township)

Henry SNOAD, 1843; Mrs. SNOAD, 1852; Geo. F. GURNEY, 1844; W. C. GRANT, 1839; H. H. SPOOR, 1844.

Wheatland.

L. G. COLGROVE, 1838.

Spencer.

M. P. HOLMES, 1835.

Florence.

J. M. WHITE, 1845; W. H. REED, 1840.

Wilmington.

John WHITE, 1845; James WHITE, 1845.

Manhattan.

Clark BAKER, 1850.

Wilton.

Hiram HARVEY, 1838; J. HARVEY, 1838; E. W. HARVEY, 1842; C. G. NELSON, 1846; D. C. THOMPSON, 1850; A. SAVAGE, 1846.

Frankfort.

Joseph HUNTER, 1837.

Channahon.

George B. DAVIS, 1837; Mrs. Charles SMITH, 1835; Mr. and Mrs. Ira O. KNAPP, 1833.

New Lenox.

S. H. HINES, 1836; Mr. and Mrs. W. S. GREENWOOD, 1841; Louis GOUGAR, 1852; Mrs. John GOUGAR, 1830; Mrs. Mary GOUGAR, 1846; Mrs. S. A. MOORE, 1854; Thomas DOIG, 1849; Mrs. A. DOIG, 1840.