Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Brockway, Jesse W 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 4:12 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Jesse W. Brockway is now filling the responsible position of general foreman 
of the machine shops of the Illinois Steel Company, at Joliet. His connection 
with this company covers a period of seventeen years, during which time he has 
made rapid and substantial advancement, having won promotion until he now 
fills a prominent place in the industrial interests of this city. Mr. Brockway 
was born in Lee county, Iowa, in 1859, a son of James and Catherine (Flint) 
Brockway, both of whom were born in Ohio. The father followed general 
agricultural pursuits in Iowa until 1886, when he removed to South Dakota, 
where he purchased considerable land and lived for a decade, subsequent to 
which time he went to Florida, where he died in 1903 at the age of sixty-six 
years. The son was reared to farming pursuits, assisting his father in the 
various tasks of the fields, and in the common schools he acquired his 
education. He then learned the blacksmith trade at Kingston, Iowa, where he 
served a two years' apprenticeship after which he was employed in the Murray 
Iron Works, Burlington, Iowa, serving a three years' apprenticeship as a 
machinist. Later he worked in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy shops, where he 
was employed as machinist for two years subsequent to learning the trade. 
Coming to Joliet, he worked as a journeyman in the machine shops of the 
Illinois Steel Company for fourteen years, during which time he was promoted 
from one position to another, while eleven years ago he was made night foreman 
of the machine shop. He has charge of the entire department, which employs 
about one hundred and forty men, many of whom are among the most expert 
machinists of the country. The plant is equipped with most modern machinery 
for the manufacture of tools for the splice mill, merchant mill, etc., and in 
addition a general repair work is done in connection with the machinery of the 
shops. The building is eighty by one hundred and forty feet and is equipped 
with two electric cranes running the entire length of the building. The long 
experience of Mr. Brockway in connection with the machinist's trade well 
qualifies him for the arduous and responsible duties which devolve upon him 
and he is discharging his duties with entire satisfaction to the company. Mr. 
Brockway was married in Chicago, in 1892, to Miss Katy Jenkins, who was born 
in Quincy, Illinois, and they have become the parents of five children: Edna, 
Ruth, Esther, Elmer and Mildred. Mr. Brockway is a republican in his political 
views and affiliations and is identified with the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge, chapter and 
council, and in these connections commands the good will and esteem of his 
fraternal brethren.

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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