Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Lott, Lewis P ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 1:53 pm Author: 1883 US Bio Dictionary Lewis P. Lott Morris The subject of this sketch is the son of Zephaniah Lott and Permilla (Phelps) Lott, and was born in Covert, Seneca county, New York, August 5, 1813. His mother was English descent, and his father Holland, or Pennsylvania Dutch. He moved from Pennsylvania into New York, and died at the age of seventy-five, his wife following him at eighty. The Lotts are a long-lived race, his paternal grandsire dying at the age of one hundred and four, and his grandmother at one hundred and six. At the age of thirteen Lewis went into the office of an anti-masonic paper, at Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, called the “Ontario Phoenix”. This was in the spring of 1826, at the time of the great anti-masonic excitement, occasioned by the abduction of Morgan. He remained in Canandaigua for a period of six years, following his occupation very successfully in various newspaper office of the place, but after mastering his trade he went to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1832, and worked two years as journeyman printer there. He then, in company with General A. S. Sanford, bought out the printing office, and for eight years did a thriving business. The style of the firm was Sanford and Lott, and besides doing a general job printing business, book and newspaper work, they dealt largely in books, stationery, printing material, paper, etc., and for several years their business was very successful. In 1842, however, he sold out to his partner, and removed to near Kirtland, Ohio, where he engaged in manufacturing pumps, pails, tubs, household furniture, etc. The change, however, was not a profitable one, as he sunk about all the capital he had before he sold out. He had not, however, seriously impaired his fortune by the venture, and removing to Warren, Trumbull county, he engaged in general merchandising. For two years he kept a large store of a general assortment of goods, and made money, but at the end of that time, in 1846, he was burned out. He was, however, fully insured, and beyond the delay and interruption of business, sustained no special loss. In the summer of that year he moved to Racine, Wisconsin, and for two years more followed the same business. In the spring of 1848, however, he moved once more and for the last time, bringing his goods to Morris, and opening up a general assortment here. That fall and the following summer he erected a plain, substantial residence, in which he has resided with his family up to the present time. In 1860 Mr. Lott sold out his goods to his partner, Horace Hurlburd, and retired from the business with a competence. His life, however, could not be spent in idleness. He was but forty-seven years old, and full of energy and activity, and he accepted the position of deputy clerk of the circuit court of Grundy county, and for eight years managed the affairs of that office with rare skill and success. Mr. Lott possesses unusual business tact and ability, and every business he touches rapidly assumes an orderly, systematic and prosperous condition under his hands. Hence, although busy with his own affairs, he was forced from time to time to serve his fellow citizens in various positions of trust. In 1856 he was elected chairman of the board of supervisors, and served three years. For fourteen or fifteen years he was member of the board of alderman, and in 1870 was elected justice of the peace, and has held the office ever since. As treasurer of the school board he administered the finances successfully for several years. As a Mason Mr. Lott has also been forced to act in almost every official position in the three degrees of Master Mason, Royal Arch and Knight Templar. He served as worshipful master of Cedar Lodge, No. 124, of A.F.A.M.; was high priest of Royal Arch Chapter, and held every office in Blaney Commandery, No. 5, K.T. He was also for some years a prominent Odd- Fellow, but withdrew several years ago. In politics Mr. Lott is a republican, dyed in the wool, having passed through the various preparatory stages of the abolition, whig and free-soil parties, but while active in political matters, and of pronounced opinions upon every question, cannot be called a politician. He has never sought office, and has served only when it was thrust upon him. In 1844 Mr. Lott married Miss Delia Lloyd Clark, in Cleveland, Ohio. The ceremony was performed on Washington’s birth-day, February 22, by Rev. W. Walden, Baptist minister. Four sons were the fruit of that union, three of whom he has had the grief to lay away in death, but his eldest, Edward L. Lott, now a man thirty-six years of age, is engaged in business at Grand Tower, Illinois. In 1874 Mr. Lott took a trip to the western coast, and spent a few months visiting the places of interest in that fascinating region. With this exception the last few years of his life have been spent in the quiet enjoyment of his home in Morris, in the company of his wife, a lady still in the possession of good health. He has long since laid by an ample competence for his declining years; has a portion of it invested in two fine farms south of the river, and amuses himself by an occasional visit to them. Although sixty-nine years old Mr. Lott is straight as an arrow, in full health and vigor, and bids fair to survive many years. page 214-215. Additional Comments: Source: The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Illinois Volume; Chicago and New York: American Biographical Publishing Company, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Company, Proprietors, 1883 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/lott101gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb