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 March 26, 2006, 1:15 am

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

LEWIS P. LOTT.

The name of Lewis P. Lott well deserves a prominent place in the pages of the 
history of Grundy county, for during the earlier years of his residence in 
Morris he was an active factor in the business life of the city and later held 
many offices to which he was called by his fellow townsmen, who recognized his 
worth and ability and felt that the confidence that they reposed in him would 
never be betrayed. More than fourteen years have passed since his life's 
labors were ended, but his memory is cherished by all who knew him, and the 
record of his career is a credit to the county of his adoption.

Mr. Lott was numbered among the native sons of the Empire state, his birth 
having occurred in Covert, in Seneca county, New York, August 5, 1813. His 
parents were Zephaniah and Permilla (Phelps) Lott, the former of Holland 
lineage and the latter of English descent. The family is noted for longevity, 
the paternal grandfather of our subject having died at the extreme old age of 
one hundred and four years, while his wife passed away at the age of one 
hundred and six years. Zephaniah Lott was born in Pennsylvania in 1775, and in 
early life removed to New York, where he was married. The fondness for home 
and the dislike of removing to a new locality led to his remaining upon one 
farm for sixty years. He died in 1855, at the age of eighty years, and his 
wife, who was born in Connecticut in 1780, died in 1863, at the age of eighty-
three years. This worthy couple were the parents of thirteen children.

In the common schools of his native state Lewis P. Lott pursued his education 
till his fourteenth year, when he went to Canandaigua, New York, where he 
learned the printer's trade, spending six years at that place. At the 
expiration of that period, in 1832, he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and there 
worked for two years as a journeyman printer, after which he formed a 
partnership with his friend A. S. Sanford and opened a general book and 
stationery store and job printing office. For several years they conducted a 
flourishing business, but in 1842 Mr. Lott sold out and removed to Kirkland, 
Ohio, where he engaged in manufacturing pumps, pails, tubs, household 
furniture and other wooden ware. This business was attended with indifferent 
success, and after carrying on his operations along that line for two and a 
half years he sold out and went to Warren, Ohio, where he was engaged in 
general merchandising. In the latter venture he prospered, but in 1846 his 
store was destroyed by fire, which led to his removal to Racine, Wisconsin, 
where he engaged in merchandising for two years.

Mr. Lott removed for the last time in the spring of 1848, when he took up his 
abode in Morris, bringing with him his stock of general merchandise. Here he 
opened a store and successfully conducted the same until 1860, when he sold 
out to his partner, Horace Hulburd. He then retired from business with a 
competency that he had acquired through his own efforts. From an early age he 
depended solely upon his labors for whatever he had and by continuous 
industry, economy and well-directed labor he was enabled to save some money, 
each year augmenting his capital as a result of his earnest labors. Indolence 
and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature, and although he retired from 
the commercial world he was not content to have no care and in consequence 
accepted the position of deputy circuit court clerk, in which capacity he 
efficiently served for eight years, managing the affairs of the office with 
skill and discrimination. Possessed of unusual business tact and ability, 
every business with which he became connected rapidly assumed an orderly, 
systematic and prosperous condition.

He invested his capital from time to time in real estate and thus became an 
extensive owner of farm lands, the management of which largely occupied his 
time through his later years. However, he was frequently forced to serve his 
fellow citizens in various positions of trust. In 1856 he was elected chairman 
of the board of supervisors and served for three years. For about fifteen 
years he served as a member of the board of aldermen and exercised his 
official prerogatives to promote the substantial development and improvement 
of the city. In 1870 he was elected justice of the peace, in which office he 
served until his death, administering its affairs with an impartial hand. As 
the treasurer of the school board he successfully controlled the financial 
interests of education for several years.

In Cleveland, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1844, Mr. Lott was united in 
marriage to Miss Delia Lloyd Clark, who was born in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, September 29, 1821. Her parents removed to Cleveland, Ohio, in 
1839, where they spent the residue of their days. Mrs. Lott survives her 
husband and resides at her home in Morris with her only living son, Edward L. 
Lott. She is still in possession of good health and has always been an active 
worker in the church and in charitable organizations. Her kindly manner has 
won her the love of many friends and all who know her esteem her highly. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Lott were born four sons, two of whom died in infancy, while 
Frank Clark died in his fourteenth year.

The eldest son, Edward L. Lott, is now living with his mother in Morris, and 
for several years has superintended the affairs connected with his father's 
estate. Formerly he was engaged in the drug business, having a store in Grand 
Tower, Illinois, for fourteen years, while for five years he conducted a drug 
store in Morris. His honorable dealing and trustworthiness have gained him an 
enviable position in business circles, and is a valued resident of the 
community.

Mr. Lott, of this sketch, also held a membership in the Masonic order, having 
attained the Knight Templar degree and held almost every office in the lodge, 
chapter and commandery. For several years he was a prominent Odd Fellow, but 
for some time prior to his death was a demitted member. In early life he gave 
his political support to the Whig party, was afterward an Abolitionist and 
Free-soiler, and when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further 
extension of slavery he joined its ranks and was one of its heartiest 
advocates throughout the remainder of his life. Although he held office 
several years they came to him unsought, being given him in recognition of his 
fitness for public trusts. Endowed by nature with sound judgment and an 
accurate, discriminating mind, he never feared that laborious attention to 
business so necessary to achieve success, and this unusual quality was ever 
guided by a sense of moral right which would tolerate the employment only of 
such means as would bear the most rigid examination, and by a fairness of 
intention that neither sought nor required disguise.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p605-607

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/lott89gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 7.6 Kb