Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Fithian, Col John Barnard 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 7, 2007, 8:12 pm

Author: Genealogical & Biographical Record

COL. JOHN BARNARD FITHIAN. The position which Colonel Fithian has held in 
public and professional affairs since he came to Joliet in 1873 entitles him 
to rank among the leading men of the city.  He was born in Livingston County, 
N. Y., October 26, 1849, and was third in a family of five, his brothers and 
sisters being: W. W., who served in the Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry during the 
Civil war, but is now a resident of Joliet; Edward C., of Minnesota; Frances 
C., who resides in California; and Mrs. Lillian C. Lewis, of New York City.  
His father, Rev. William Fithian, a native of New Jersey, entered the ministry 
of the Presbyterian Church, remaining in the east until 1857, when he settled 
in northwestern Iowa.  In the fall of 1860 he accepted a pastorate in Quincy, 
Ill.  During the Civil war he entered the Union army and was assigned to the 
charge of the sanitary department, afterward making his headquarters in St. 
Louis. In later years he gave his time mostly to lecturing, which work took 
him to the principal cities of the United States.  He died of cholera in 
1874.  His wife, who was a daughter of Dr. Clark, of Dansville, N. Y., died in 
1858.

The schooling of Colonel Fithian was limited to a few years, as since he was 
twelve he has been dependent upon his own efforts for the acquirement of 
knowledge.  In 1869 he secured employment in newspaper work in Carlinville, 
later was reporter on the Jacksonville Journal staff, next went to Belleville 
and from there to Litchfield.  In February, 1873, he came to Joliet, where he 
was employed in connection with the penitentiary, and at the same time studied 
law. In 1875 he assisted in organizing the militia, in which he was 
successively promoted from lower to higher offices, and at the time of his 
resignation in 1883 held the office of colonel of the Fourth Illinois 
Regiment.  September 15, 1876, he was admitted to the bar, at which time he 
discontinued his other work and turned his attention to the building up of a 
general practice. In this he was successful, becoming known as a safe 
counselor and able attorney.  He has since devoted himself to the law, from 
the practice of which he has acquired a neat income as well as an excellent 
reputation.

Politics engages Colonel Fithian's attention to the extent that it deserves of 
every public-spirited citizen. He is a stanch Republican, a believer in all of 
the party principles, but not an active politician.  At this writing he is 
supervisor of the sixth district of Illinois for the census of 1900, his 
district comprising the counties of Will, Kankakee, Iroquois and Vermilion. In 
January, 1878, he married Edna C., daughter of Captain Whitaker, of 
Carlinville, Ill.; they have one child now living, Lillian Clare.

The connection of Colonel Fithian with the Masonic order dates from 1875, when 
he was initiated into the blue lodge and took the first degree of Masonry.  He 
has since been an interested worker in the fraternity.  On the organization of 
the council at Joliet he was one of its charter members.  He has officiated as 
master for six years.  In October, 1893, he 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 at this writing is the 
principal conductor of the work of the Grand Council, R. & S. M., of 
Illinois.  He is connected with the Masonic Veterans' Association of Illinois.

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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