Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Calkins, Alfred S 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 3:53 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

ALFRED S. CALKINS, superintendent of streets, and a well-known civil engineer 
of Joliet, is a member of an old eastern family, and a son of Almeron E. and 
Abigail J. (Stone) Calkins. His paternal grandfather, Chauncey W. Calkins, a 
native of New York state, became a pioneer on Gull Prairie, in Barry County, 
Mich., and was for a time engaged as an Indian trader and government agent. 
Later he removed to Allegan, Mich., and carried on a dry-goods business in 
that city, where he is still living, though now retired from business cares. 
Born on Gull Prairie and reared in Allegan, Almeron E. Calkins has been a 
lifelong resident of Michigan. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in 
the Union army, and was chosen captain of Company K, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, 
in which he served until 1865. For two terms he held the office of clerk of 
Allegan County, and he has held all of the city offices, having been the 
incumbent of some local office during almost his entire active life. A leading 
Democrat, he has been a member of the state Democratic central committee. He 
is also active in the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been engaged in the 
milling business much of the time and has operated the Valley mills. His 
marriage united him with Abigail J. Stone, daughter of George W. Stone, whose 
sister was the mother of President Arthur. Mr. Stone was born in Vermont and 
in an early day settled in Allegan County, Mich., where he carried on a 
hardware business. The older of the two sons (of whom the younger, Dwight, is 
a practicing physician of Allegan), the subject of this sketch was born in 
Allegan, Mich., March 10, 1868. In 1884 he graduated from the high school of 
his native town, after which he spent a year in graduate work in the same 
school. In 1887 he matriculated in the University of Michigan, from which he 
graduated in civil engineering in 1891 with the degree of B. S. Returning to 
Allegan, he worked as a civil engineer there until February, 1892, when he 
came to Joliet, accepting a position with the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern 
Railroad, and continuing in construction work with that company until August, 
1893. At the latter date he accepted the position of assistant engineer of 
Joliet, under O. R. Rauchfuss, continuing under the latter's successor, George 
W. Brown, until 1899. In May of the latter year he was appointed 
superintendent of streets by Mayor Mount, which office he has filled with 
efficiency. He also acted as assistant city engineer until September, 1899, 
when a new appointment was made. As superintendent he has been able, though 
with only a small force of men, to keep the streets of the city in excellent 
condition, and has received much praise for his efficient work. He takes an 
interest in fraternal organizations and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of 
America, Knights of Khorissan and Knights of Pythias. In religion he is 
identified with the Episcopal Church. Since coming to Joliet he married Jessie 
G., daughter of Fred M. Howk, a justice of the peace and alderman from the 
seventh ward. They are the parents of one son, Robert Grant Calkins.

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

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