Grundy-Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Dempsey, John J June 24, 1861 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 3:21 am

Author: Gen/Bio Record of Will Co IL 1900

John J. Dempsey, who is engaged in the grocery business at No. 321 Collins 
street, Joliet, was born near Minooka, Grundy County, Ill., June 24, 1861, a 
son of Michael and Julia (Donovan) Dempsey. His father, who was one of the, 
pioneers of Grundy County, carried on a farm near Minooka and was active in 
local affairs. Among the offices he held were those of pathmaster and 
commissioner. His death occurred in i88g, six years after the demise of his 
wife. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters. When our subject 
was five years of age the family removed to Clifton, Iroquois County, and he 
grew to manhood on a farm there, receiving his education in country schools 
and the Chebanse high school. After leaving school he assisted his father on 
the home farm. When he was twenty-four he went to Chicago, where he clerked in 
a mercantile house for a year. During the next five years he was engaged in 
railroading on the Illinois Central road. Resigning that position, he became 
an engineer on the South Side street railroad of Chicago, where he remained 
for a year.

Coming to Joliet, in October, 1889, Mr. Dempsey started in business for 
himself, and has since continued at his present site on Collins street. 
Although he was an entire stranger to the people, it was not long before his 
reliable methods of doing business won their confidence and he was thus 
enabled to build up a good trade. The Democratic party has in him a very 
active and stanch adherent. For seven years he has been a delegate to the 
party conventions, and at this writing he is a precinct committeeman. More 
than once his name has been mentioned as a candidate for the city council; and 
it is certain, should he be chosen for the office, every duty pertaining 
thereto would be honestly and efficiently discharged. In religion he is a 
Roman Catholic, belonging to St. Mary’s Church.

In 1891 Mr. Dempsey built a two-story frame residence at No. 105 Henry avenue, 
Ridgewood. Here he and his family have a comfortable home. He was married, 
October 1, 1887, to Miss Susie Conroy, who was born at Channahon, this county, 
her father, Patrick Conroy, being a farmer and merchant there. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dempsey have three children, Raymond, Marguerite and Florentine.

Source: "Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County, Illinois", 1900, 
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, Pages 353-354


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