Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Barrett, William F ************************************************ 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 November 10, 2007, 9:34 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County WILLIAM F. BARRETT, late of Joliet, now deceased, was born in Lenox, Berkshire County, Mass., January 18, 1818. He was the oldest of three children, who were orphaned by their father's death in early life. When he was fifteen he went to Lyons, N. Y., where he clerked for Chester Yale, a brother of his mother. In 1835 Mr. Yale removed to Jackson, Mich., establishing a hardware store in that city. The young man accompanied him as a clerk and at the age of twenty-one was made a partner in the business, the two continuing together until the uncle died in 1843, after which the nephew gradually closed out the business. Coming to Joliet in July, 1850, he secured work at the tinsmith's trade with W. A. Strong, on the corner of Exchange and Bluff streets. After little more than a year he bought an interest in the business, and the firm title became Strong, Brooks and Barrett. Several years before the war he bought the interest of his partners and continued the business in the same location alone, but finally business reverses came and in 1867 he sold to T. P. Ford. Becoming interested in the stone business, Mr. Barrett purchased Weaver's quarry, but after two years sold it and bought Capt. George R. Dyer's hardware store on Jefferson street. In 1872 he admitted his son, John Onderdonk Barrett, as a partner, the firm title becoming W. F. Barrett & Son, and the two remained together until he died, June 5, 1878. For several terms he represented the fourth ward in the common council, being elected on the Republican ticket. He aided in the organization of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he long served as a trustee, and at the time of the erection of the church he was a member of the building committee. In 1859 he erected, on the corner of Hickory and Oneida streets, the residence where his widow now makes her home. October 31, 1844, Mr. Barrett married Clamana Onderdonk, who was born in Holley, Orleans County, N. Y., September 10, 1823. She was one of seven children, three of whom came to Illinois. Of these, John T., who went to California in 1849, returned to Illinois in poor health and died before the Civil war; a sister, Mrs. Sarah Ganson, died in Idaho Springs, Colo. Her father, John Onderdonk, was a son of Thomas Onderdonk, a soldier in the Revolutionary war and a farmer on the Hudson River. The remote ancestors came from Holland to New York and settled at Nyack, on the west banks of the Hudson. John, who was born in Ramapo, Rockland County, N. Y., became a clothier in New York City, thence removed to Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., where he was married, and then settled in Holley, N. Y. In 1831 the family removed to New York City, but in 1836 settled in Jackson, Mich., where, and in Albion, Mich., he also followed the clothing business. In 1850 he established his home in this county, purchasing a farm three and one-half miles southeast of Joliet, in Joliet Township, and farming the land for a few years, after which he retired. He died at the home of his daughter in Joliet when eighty-four years of age. His wife, Charity, was born in Nyack, N. Y., in 1802, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William F. Barrett, when seventy-six years of age. She was a daughter of John Acker, a farmer near Lyons, N. Y., who in 1831 became a pioneer of Concord, Jackson County, Mich., later removed to Joliet, and died at the home of John Onderdonk when lacking only six months of one hundred years. He was of Holland descent. His son, Henry, became a merchant of Concord, Mich., and represented his district in the Michigan legislature. Mrs. Barrett was educated in private schools in Jackson, Mich., and Haskell's Academy in Ypsilanti. In religion she is a Presbyterian, and her life has been that of an earnest, consistent Christian. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett consists of three daughters and three sons. Of these, Sarah Emily, the eldest, married T. D. Baird, M. D., of Walsenburg, Colo.; Charity is the wife of H. H. Carson, of Joliet; John O., the first-born son, is at the head of the Barrett Hardware Company, in Joliet; William F., Jr., is traveling salesman for D. B. Fisk & Co., of Chicago; Elizabeth Acker resides in Joliet. Edward C, the youngest of the family, was born in Joliet February 16, 1864, and in 1880 entered the Barrett store as an apprentice to the trades of plumber, tinner, and gas-fitter. Since 1883 he has had charge of the manufacturing department. In 1885 he became a member of the firm, and upon the incorporation of the company was chosen secretary and treasurer, which offices he now fills. He married as his first wife Jennie Cullom, a niece of Senator Cullom. His present wife is Antoinette, daughter of Thomas Hobbs, and they have one child, Mary. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/barrett1083gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb