Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cagwin, Merritt O 
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Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

MERRITT O. CAGWIN. The name of Cagwin has been associated with the history of 
Joliet from the earliest epoch in its development, Merritt O. Cagwin, then a 
lad of eight years, coming with his father's family to Will county in 1836. He 
was born in Brockport, New York, May 14, 1828, and comes of Scotch ancestry, 
the family being established in America, however, prior to the Revolutionary 
war, in which the great-grandfather of our subject was a soldier. His son, 
Thomas Cagwin, a native of Massachusetts, rendered military aid to his country 
in the war of 1812. He married Eunice Joslyn, who was also of Scotch lineage, 
and from Massachusetts they removed to Oneida county, New York, subsequently 
establishing their home near Brockport in Monroe county, where Thomas Cawgin 
purchased a farm of four hundred acres lying partly within the corporation 
limits of the village. From this land he platted a portion of the town and he 
continued to reside there until his death, which occurred when he was sixty 
years of age. Abijah Cagwin, father of Merritt O. Cagwin, was born in Onedia 
county, New York, May 19, 1807, and spent his youth in that and in Monroe 
county, where he learned the trades of tanning and shoemaking. After reaching 
man's estate he conducted a tannery at Brockport but suffered a severe loss in 
the destruction of his plant by fire in 1834. He then determined to try his 
fortunes in the new but rapidly developing west and in 1835 came to Illinois, 
the following year bringing his family. At the land sale in Chicago he 
purchased a tract of land lying just east of Joliet on Hickory street and then 
again making his way eastward he bought the necessary equipments for a 
sawmill, which he shipped to Chicago and thence conveyed by wagon to Joliet. 
Soon afterward he began the manufacture of hardwood lumber and on the 4th of 
July, 1836, surrounded by a crowd of patriotic citizens who came for more than 
twenty miles, he sawed the first board used in the building of one of the 
first frame houses in Joliet. There were few sawmills in this part of the 
country, so that his new enterprise received a very liberal patronage, and he 
continued successfully in the manufacture of lumber for fifteen years. His 
worth and ability being recognized by his fellow citizens, he was called to 
public office and for eight years served as justice of the peace, during which 
period he also engaged in the purchase, improvement and sale of real estate in 
Joliet. On retiring from the office of justice of the peace he was elected 
county judge and sat upon the bench for a long period, receiving the 
endorsement of both parties at the elections. His decisions were strictly fair 
and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case, and he was 
widely recognized as one of the able county judges of Illinois at an early 
day. Later he engaged in the grain trade and in merchandising on what is now 
North Chicago street near Cass, his being the first business place in that 
section of the city. For many years he was a grain merchant of Joliet and his 
business proved an excellent market for local producers. At the same time he 
improved lands and carried on farming and thus the extent and importance of 
his business interests classed him with the representative men of this part of 
the state. He laid out and named Cagwin and Scribner streets, the latter being 
so called in honor of his wife, and the property still constitutes a portion 
of the family homestead. Moreover, he figured prominently in financial circles 
as one of the organizers of the Will County Bank, continuing as its president 
until he disposed of his stock, while Henry D. Higinbotham was vice-president 
and Benjamin Richardson, cashier. His political allegiance was given to the 
democracy and in fraternal circles he attained the Knight Templar degree in 
Masonry. He was one of the prominent members of the Universalist church, 
aiding in its organization and continuing one of its liberal supporters until 
his death, which occurred October 2, 1890, when he was eighty-four years of 
age. Ere his removal from the east, Abijah Cagwin was united in marriage to 
Hannah Scribner, who was born in Poultney, Vermont, and was a daughter of 
Deacon Peter Scribner, of English birth, who on coming to America, established 
his home in New Hampshire, but afterward removed to Vermont, where he carried 
on farming and sheep-raising. He was accidentally killed by a fall from a tree 
when ninety-four years of age. His brother Samuel, who on coming to America 
settled in New York city, was the founder of Scribner's Magazine, long one of 
the standard periodicals of the country. Mrs. Cagwin died March 30, 1892, when 
eighty-four years of age. Mr. Cagwin had spent his last years in honorable 
retirement from business cares in this city and was widely known as a pioneer 
settler whose labors were of the utmost value in laying broad and deep the 
foundation upon which has since been builded the superstructure of the present 
progress and prosperity of the county. Merritt O. Cagwin was a young lad of 
eight years when the family traveled westward by team and wagon through Canada 
and Michigan to Illinois, reaching Joliet on the 8th of May, 1836, after one 
month spent upon the way. His educational privileges were somewhat meager 
owing to the crude conditions of the schools in the west and to the fact that 
his services were needed by his father upon the farm and in the mill. He 
became his father's active assistant when ten years of age, and between the 
ages of fifteen and eighteen years, was a clerk in the store which his father 
established. Later, he went to Chicago, where he entered the employ of his 
uncle, as auctioneer, and subsequently he traveled for two years. In the 
meantime he had improved his opportunity for judicious investment by purchase 
of eighty acres of state land at a canal sale and upon this tract he began 
dealing in live stock. As his financial resources increased, he added to his 
original holdings, until he owned about four hundred acres lying east of 
Joliet, and in the development of his property he experienced the hard 
conditions incident to opening up a farm on the frontier. Attracted to 
California by the discovery of gold, he journeyed to the Pacific coast by way 
of New York and the Nicaragua route, landing at San Francisco in 1853, and 
thence making his way up the American river to the mines. Not meeting with the 
success that he anticipated, he returned home by way of Panama and New York, 
after a year spent in the Golden state. On again reaching Will county, he 
became connected with the grain trade, which he conducted for four years, when 
he exchanged his business for twelve hundred acres of land in Wilton township, 
whereon he engaged in raising high grade cattle, finding this a very 
profitable venture. During the period of the Civil war he served as town 
supervisor. Intensely patriotic and loyal to the Union, he greatly desired to 
join the army but could not pass the required medical examination. He did 
everything in his power while at home, however, to uphold the Lincoln 
administration and promote the interests of the boys in the field and he 
donated ten dollars to each member of the first company that was organized in 
his vicinity. In the meantime, in January, 1852, Mr. Cagwin was united in 
marriage to Miss Ambrosia Higinbotham, who was born in this county, October 1, 
1834, and is a daughter of Henry D. Higinbotham. The Higinbotham family is of 
English lineage and during an early period in the settlement of America, 
representatives of the name removed to the Barbadoes. Later generations were 
actively identified with the progress of New England, where they prospered in 
the pursuit of such occupations as were then in vogue. Charles Higinbotham. 
who was the son of a captain of a whaling vessel, was born in Rhode Island, 
November 14, 1779, and in youth accompanied his parents to Otsego, New York, 
where he married Gertrude Dumont, of Westford, the daughter of a Revolutionary 
soldier. Sometime afterward, he went to Allegan county, Michigan, and died 
August 18, 1844, while his wife passed away July 17, 1858. Henry D. 
Higinhotham was the second of the four sons of Charles Higinhotham and was 
born in Worcester, New York, January 10, 1806. Reared on a farm, he early 
acquired a thorough knowledge of agriculture and also of blacksmithing. In 
1831 he married Rebecca Wheeler, of Westford, New York, who was a native 
daughter of Canaan, Columbia county, that state. Soon after their marriage 
they settled in Oneida, New York, where Mr. Higinhotham followed 
blacksmithing, but attracted by opportunities of the west he settled on 
Hickory Creek in Will county, Illinois, when it was still a part of Cook 
county, arriving in June, 1834. He entered from the government, one hundred 
and sixty acres of land, two and a half miles east of Joliet, and as the years 
passed, he added to his property, which constantly increased in value. He soon 
became recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of the county, 
thoroughly demonstrated the superiority of diversified farming and through his 
varied interests gained what was in those days a large fortune, placing most 
of his land—three hundred and twenty acres—under cultivation. He also owned 
and successfully operated a gristmill and not only won prosperity, but also an 
honored name in his business life. Socially he became a Knight Templar Mason, 
and religiously was a Universalist. In 1854 he sold his farm and mill and took 
up his abode in Joliet at what is known as the Higinhotham homestead at No. 
1009 Cass street. He became a director of the Will County National Bank, but 
was not active in business life following his removal to the city, where he 
passed away March 13, 1865. Henry D. Higinhotham was married to a daughter of 
Samuel B. Wheeler, a native of New England and a sister of Mansfield Wheeler, 
who settled in Will county in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Higinhotham became the 
parents of the following sons and daughters: Harlow Niles, millionaire 
merchant and business man of Chicago; Albert, who served in Scott's Chicago 
regiment during the entire Civil war and died in Joliet; Mrs. Cagwin; Mrs. Ann 
Eliza Demmond, of this city; Mrs. Gertrude Leddy and Mrs. Ellen Darwin, both 
of whom died in Joliet; and Charles, of Elgin. After his marriage, Mr. Cagwin 
became one of the most extensive grain shippers of this part of the state. He 
purchased a grain elevator on the canal, which he conducted in connection with 
his father and subsequently he devoted three years to the grain trade at 
Wilmington, after which he built the White Cloud mill and manufactured flour. 
He also spent nine years in the grain business in Elwood and when he again 
located in Joliet, he bought the "Jesse" elevator on the west side. This he 
operated for some time and on selling out, he invested in a farm on Spring 
creek in Lockport township, three miles from Joliet, and gave his time to the 
superintendence and management of its one hundred and five acres, until 1891. 
He then again took up his abode in this city, leaving his extensive farming 
interests in the care of his son Harlow. On returning to Joliet, Mr. and Mrs. 
Cagwin took up their abode in the old Higinhotham homestead on Cass street. 
While living in Elwood in 1867, Mr. Cagwin lost his elevator through fire. He 
was, however, for many years one of the most prominent grain merchants of this 
part of the state, conducting his operations in Joliet and other cities and 
handling grain on an extensive scale. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cagwin were born five 
children. Albert E., who married Helen Stephens, resides in Kelso, Washington, 
where he is now mayor of the town. He is also engaged in the lumber business 
there, is editor of the Kelsonian, a successful newspaper, and is very 
prominent and influential in business circles. Almeda is the wife of Winfield 
Pritz, a farmer, residing at La Junta, Colorado. Helen R., makes her home in 
Joliet with her mother. Fred, who married Miss L. Burton and has been 
connected with the railway company at Michigan City, Indiana, until a recent 
date, has now purchased a farm in that locality and intends devoting his 
energies to agricultural pursuits. Harlow T. married D'Etta Lamphere and is 
engaged in farming four miles east of Joliet. Mr. Cagwin gave his early 
political allegiance to the democracy, but in 1860 joined the ranks of the new 
republican party, of which he remained a stalwart advocate until his death. He 
served as highway commissioner at an early day and laid out Cass street as a 
road and also opened up Washington street. He likewise served as collector of 
Joliet township and as supervisor of Wilton township. During his term as 
highway commissioner he made twelve miles of hard gravel road in the township. 
He was ever deeply interested in political questions and issues, as every true 
American citizen should be, and was most loyal in his advocacy of the 
principles of his party. His fraternal relations were with the Odd Fellows, 
and in his religious faith he was a Universalist. Whatever tended to advance 
the city in its material, intellectual, social, political and moral progress 
awakened his attention and received his co-operation. For seventy years he 
remained a resident of Will county, during which period it emerged from 
pioneer conditions and took on all the evidences of an advanced civilization. 
Mr. Cagwin in his various business relations did much to promote public 
progress and to establish that commercial and industrial activity whereon the 
growth and development of a community always depend. He displayed excellent 
ability as a manager, together with keen business discernment and unfaltering 
energy, and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, 
while his methods were such as would bear the closest scrutiny and most rigid 
examination. Thus when he was called from this life, March 30, 1906, at the 
age of seventy-eight years, he left behind him an honorable name and a 
handsome competence—the result of years of active and upright life. Mrs. 
Cagwin now resides at the old Higinbotham home in Joliet, at No. 1009 Cass 
street. The residence was one of the first built in the city and is, 
therefore, one of the old landmarks. Mrs. Cagwin, as a representative of the 
life of Joliet from pioneer times to the present, is deserving of prominent 
mention in this volume, while in cultured social circles she has always been 
accorded a place of prominence.

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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