Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fithian, Colonel John Barnard 
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Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Colonel John Barnard Fithian, probate judge of Will county and for many years 
occupying a distinctively representative position at the bar of northern 
Illinois, is a native of Livingston county, New York. He was born October 26, 
1849, of the marriage of Rev. William and Eliza J. (Clark) Fithian. The 
father, a native of New Jersey, entered the ministry of the Presbyterian 
church in early manhood and labored in the interests of that denomination in 
the east until 1857, when he removed to northwestern Iowa. In the fall of 1860 
he accepted a pastorate in Quincy, Illinois, and following the inauguration of 
the Civil war he joined the Union army, being assigned to the charge of the 
sanitary department with headquarters in Helena, Arkansas. In later years he 
was mostly upon the lecture platform and in that way visited the principal 
cities of the United States. He died in 1874, having for a number of years 
survived his wife, who passed away in 1858. Their family numbered five 
children, Judge Fithian being the third in order of birth in the family. Judge 
Fithian of this review was a youth of eight years at the time of the removal 
of the family to the middle west. His educational privileges were somewhat 
meager, for since twelve years of age he has been dependent upon his own 
efforts for the acquirement of knowledge. In 1862, when not quite thirteen 
years of age, he was associated with his father in the sanitary department, 
and although he was never mustered into the United States service was credited 
to the Fifth Illinois Cavalry. Upon that regiment being sent to Vicksburg, he 
followed and was with the regiment at that siege, but owing to severe illness 
contracted there returned north just before the surrender of that stronghold. 
In 1869 Judge Fithian secured employment in newspaper work in Carlinville, 
Illinois, and after acting on the reportorial staff of the Jacksonville 
Journal, he removed to Belleville, Illinois, and subsequently to Litchfield, 
this state. He has resided continuously in Joliet since February, 1873, and 
while an employe at the penitentiary he took up the study of law, being 
admitted to the bar, after thorough preliminary reading, on the 15th of 
September, 1876. Putting aside other work at that time, he concentrated his 
energies upon the practice of his profession. Advancement at the bar is 
proverbially slow, yet his success came comparatively soon because his 
equipment was good. He soon won rank as a safe counsellor and able attorney 
and gained a distinctively representative clientage connecting him with much 
important litigation. The only official honor that he has ever sought or 
desired came in his election to office as the first judge of the probate court 
of Will county, and during his term he administered his duties so. 
satisfactorily that he had no opposition for re-nomination. His record is one 
of painstaking care, fairness and correctness as to detail and condition, and 
his course receives the endorsement of the bar and the general public. In 
January, 1878, Judge Fithian was married to Edna C. Whitaker, of Carlinville, 
Illinois, and they now have one living child, Lillian Clare. The year 1875 was 
a somewhat momentous one in the life of Colonel Fithian, as it witnessed his 
connection with military and Masonic interests, in both of which he was 
destined to gain prominence. In that year he assisted in organizing the 
militia and was advanced through succeeding grades to higher ranks until at 
the time of his resignation, in 1883, he held the office of colonel of the 
Fourth Illinois Regiment. It was also in IS75 that he took the first degrees 
in Masonry in the blue lodge, and he became a charter member of Joliet council 
on its organization. He has served for a number of years as master of the 
lodge and in October, 1893, was appointed district deputy grand master, to 
which position he has since been reappointed each year. For three years he was 
commander of the commandery and was grand master in 1901 of the grand council, 
R. & S. M., of Illinois. He is likewise connected with the Masonic Veterans 
Association of Illinois. Advancing through the force of his own character and 
by reason of his natural and acquired ability. Judge Fithian is today one of 
the foremost residents of Joliet, honored alike in professional, military, 
fraternal, social and political circles. 

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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