Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Alpine, John C 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 11:42 pm

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

John C. Alpine, living retired from active business, was in former years 
closely associated with commercial interests in Joliet. He came to this city 
in July, 185S, when a little lad of about six years, his birth having occurred 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 9, 1852. His parents were John and Frances 
(Gormley) Alpine and the latter is still a resident of Joliet. John C. Alpine 
was reared in this city and attended the public schools to the age of thirteen 
years, after which he spent two years as a student in the school conducted by 
Mrs. Grover. He then started in business life, entering the employ of Augustus 
H. Hawk at No. 75 Jefferson street, on the 5th of September, 1867. He 
continued in that service until December 7, 1867, when James O. Gorman, Jr., 
and his father, J. O. Gorman, purchased the business from Mr. Hawk. Mr. Alpine 
remained in the store as clerk and partner with James O. Gorman and Catherine 
L. Gorman until March 1, 1906, the business being conducted under the firm 
style of J. O. Gorman & Company for some time. On the 10th of January, 1888, 
Mr. Alpine was united in marriage to Miss Catherine L. Gorman, who was with 
the firm from March 25, 1876. She was born in Joliet, June 12, 1861, and was a 
daughter of James O. and Catherine (Furlong) Gorman. She is now the only 
representative of the family in Joliet. The Gormans came to this city in 1852 
and James 0. Gorman, Sr., entered business life here as a machinist and 
engineer. He acted as engineer in the old woolen mill from the time the 
enterprise was established until it was closed and he had formerly been 
engineer at different grain elevators of the town. He followed engineering all 
his life and remained a resident of Joliet until called to his final rest on 
the 20th of June, 1889, when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife had 
died a short time previous, passing away August 19, 1888, at the age of sixty-
eight years. They were members of St. Mary's Catholic church. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. James O. Gorman were born seven children: William, Louis, Richard, James 
O., Jr., John, Nellie and Catherine, all now deceased with the exception of 
Mrs. Alpine. James O. Gorman, Jr., was of the firm of J. O. Gorman & Company 
and died March 5, 1905, at the age of fifty-six years. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Alpine were active in the business until the 1st of March, 1906, when they 
sold their interest to Mrs. Nettie K. Gorman. After she had acquired all the 
business of J. O. Gorman, deceased, the store was incorporated under the name 
of the J. O. Gorman Company with Mrs. Nettie K. Gorman as president. Mr. and 
Mrs. Alpine have one son, John Gorman Alpine, who is fifteen years of age and 
is attending high school. The family home is at No. 210 Union street, where 
they have lived for the past fifteen years. Mr. Alpine exercises his right of 
franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. Becoming 
identified with Masonry, he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter, 
council and commandery at Joliet, and is also identified with Medinah Temple 
of the Mystic Shrine at Chicago. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
fraternity and is a member of the Union League, the Country Club, the 
Commercial Club and various other social organizations. He is a gentlemen of 
genial, courteous manner, always approachable and of kindly spirit. In 
business he has been alert and enterprising and his success is well merited, 
having resulted from careful management and keen discrimination. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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