Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Chidsey, Darwin 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 28, 2008, 11:06 pm

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Darwin Chidsey, who was formerly identified with the commercial interests of 
Lockport and who has continuously acted as secretary of the Lockport Loan & 
Homestead Association since its organization twenty-one years ago, was born in 
Avon, Connecticut, April 30, 1835, and was there reared and educated to the 
age of twenty years. His parents, Zacharias and Rachel (Humphrey) Chidsey, 
were likewise natives of Connecticut, the former born in 1785, and both lived 
and died there, the father passing away in 1850, when he had reached the age 
of sixty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation and gave his political 
support to the whig party, while his religious faith was indicated by his 
membership in the Congregational church. Their family numbered seven children: 
Hiram, who died in Connecticut; Dwight, a resident of Avon, that state; 
Darwin, whose name introduces this review; Mrs. Sarah Wolcott, who died in 
Connecticut; Mrs. Flora Goss, who has been a resident of Lockport for the past 
fifty-five years; Almira, also a resident of this city; and Mrs. Pauline 
Marvin, whose husband was a brother of the wife of our subject. She was 
likewise a resident of this city but is now deceased. As stated, Darwin 
Chidsey was a young man of twenty years when he made his way westward to 
Illinois. He was for fifteen years employed as a clerk in the dry-goods store 
of his brother-in-law, or until the death of the latter, when Mr. Chidsey 
assumed the management of the enterprise, so continuing until 1891, when he 
retired from commercial pursuits. Upon the organization of the Lockport Loan & 
Homestead Association, Mr. Chidsey was made secretary, which has continued to 
be his connection therewith to the present time. This company was incorporated 
in 1886 and has a capital stock of one million dollars. Its officers are: 
Thomas F. Ryan, president; Henry M. Starin, vice-president; Darwin Chidsey, 
secretary; and M .Walter, treasurer, and these with Edward Clark, John Jovy, 
J. H. Cook, Henry Claussen and C. A. Lundahl, form the directorate. Mr. 
Chidsey displays excellent executive force and sound business judgment in the 
management of the affairs of this company, and its success is largely due to 
his untiring efforts, for he is ever watchful of the best interests of the 
enterprise. In 1871 Mr. Chidsey established a home of his own by his marriage 
to Miss Alice Marvin, who is a native of this city, born in December, 1848, a 
daughter of James B. Marvin. She is a member of the Christian Science church. 
Mr. Chidsey is a charter member of the Masonic lodge, No. 538, at Lockport. 
Six times he served as assessor of Lockport township. He and his wife are 
prominent and popular people of this city, occupying a pleasant home, which is 
noted for its gracious hospitality, while in business circles Mr. Chidsey is 
conspicuous, watchful of every opportunity which will eventually lead to 
success, so that he has gained a foremost place among the best citizens of 
Will county. 

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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