Will County IL Archives Biographies.....COMISKEY, JOHN 
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Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 14, 2007, 1:37 am

Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

JOHN COMISKEY, superintendent of the Joliet chemical works and part owner of 

the plant, was born at Newcastle-on-the-Tyne, England, in 1858.  His father, 

Dennis, who was in the chemical business, remained during most of his life in 

the vicinity of his birth.  By his marriage to Jane Skill he had nine 

children, of whom John is next to the eldest.  In 1882, two years after his 

son had settled in this, country, he came to the United States, but, not 

liking the climate, he returned to England.  He died in Liverpool in 1894.  As 

he attended school only fourteen years in his boyhood, our subject is 

practically self-educated, and his present position and standing may be 

attributed wholly to his unaided efforts.  When eleven years of age he began 

to be self-supporting.  He was employed in chemical works near his home and 

thus acquired a thorough knowledge of the business in which he is still 

engaged.  In 1880 he left England to seek a home in America.  For six years he 

was employed in chemical works in New Jersey, and, being economical, he saved 

a considerable part of his salary.  With this money he came to Joliet and 

started in business, beginning the manufacture of muriatic acid. While he had 

much to contend with he turned out such a superior article that he was assured 

of success from the start.  In order to secure sufficient capital to conduct 

the business he admitted a partner and has since continued steadily at work in 

the same line.  In 1888 the firm bought their present location and since then 

they have erected buildings as needed.  In addition to the manufacture of 

muriatic acid they now make sulphate of soda and sell direct to manufacturers, 

having a contract to dispose of all they can turn out.  Being a practical man, 

thoroughly acquainted with the machinery, he superintends it personally, and 

has met with a success that he well merits.  After the product is manufactured 

he has the refuse ground up and shipped to Chicago, where it is used in the 

manufacture of glass.  Mr. Comiskey is a Republican and has served his party 

as a delegate to conventions, but is not active in politics and does not care 

for office.  In 1897 he built a neat residence at No. 304 South Water street, 

and here he and his wife (formerly Miss Mary Jane McGowan) and their children, 

Mary, J. Vinson and Dorothy, have a pleasant and comfortable home. 


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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