Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Flack, Mortimer A 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 12:48 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

Mortimer A. Flack, deceased, was a representative of a pioneer family of Will 
county, established here in 1845. He was born in Essex county, New York, May 
25, 1825, and was a son of John J. and Elizabeth (Nelson) Flack. The father 
was born in Washington county, New York, May 10, 1799, and on the 24th of 
December, 1818, he married Miss Nelson who was also a native of Washington 
county, born December 15, 1799. In 1819 they removed to Essex county, New 
York, where Mr. Flack was engaged extensively in farming and in the 
manufacture of lumber and iron. He was also a large dealer in horses, cattle, 
sheep and hogs and the extent and importance of his business interests made 
him one of the representative citizens of the county. He was for many years an 
officer in the court there and figured prominently in public life. In 1844 he 
purchased large tracts of land in this part of Illinois and the following year 
removed with his family to Joliet, soon afterward settling on a large farm two 
miles southeast of the city, where he spent his remaining days. He also had 
property interests in Joliet and in Chicago and in control of his business 
interests met with a gratifying measure of prosperity. He served as an officer 
of the court in Will county and was in other ways identified with public 
interests becoming a leading and influential resident of this part of the 
state. He died September 25, 1876, at his residence on Collins street, and his 
widow survived him for but a brief period. They were the parents of eight 
children, Jane A., W. Nelson, J. Alexander, Mortimer A., Maria A., Whallon J., 
Washington J. and Martha J., all of whom are now deceased with the exception 
of Martha J., who is the wife of Harvey Downey, a resident of Joliet. Mortimer 
A. Flack was educated in the country schools of Essex county, New York. He was 
just twenty years of age when his parents removed to Illinois in June, 1845, 
and he at once began work on his fathers farm in Joliet township. After two 
years he removed to Chicago, where he was engaged in the hotel business for 
several years, and on selling out there he went to Michigan City, Indiana, 
where he established and conducted a retail dry-goods store for several years. 
On the expiration of that period he sold out there and returned to Joliet, 
investing his money in city property, after which he lived retired here save 
for the supervision which he gave to his real-estate interests. Mr. Flack was 
first married in Ohio to Miss Jane Wheeler, who died in Joliet, while the two 
children of that marriage died in infancy. In 1870, in this city, Mr. Flack 
was joined in wedlock to Miss Clara Anderson, a native of Kent county, 
Michigan, where her parents spent the greater part of their lives and there 
passed away. There were three children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Flack: Belle E., 
resides with her mother. Harry M., who married Alice Knowlton, is engaged in 
the coal trade as a member of the firm of W. T. Conklin & Company, of Joliet, 
his business being at No. 520 Jefferson street and his residence at No. 308 
Osgood street. They have one child, Mortimer Edward, born August 15, 1905. 
Charlotte is the wife of John J. Allison, who was superintendent of schools at 
Joliet but is now retired. They have one child, Mary Clara, born May 9, 1905. 
The death of Mr. Flack occurred August 19, 1904. He held the offices of 
alderman and supervisor of Joliet for several years and was a member of the 
library board. He took an active and helpful interest in everything pertaining 
to the welfare of the community and gave his political allegiance to the 
democracy, while with the Masonic fraternity he held membership. He also 
belonged to the Universalist church, of which his widow is a member. In his 
varied business interests he was successful and made considerable money from 
his real-estate investments in Joliet. He was widely-known in the city and 
county where he lived for so many years and where his good qualities of heart 
and mind endeared him to a large circle of friends. Mrs. Flack now owns and 
occupies a nice home at No. 111 Second avenue, where she and her children 
reside and she also has other residence property from which she derives a good 
annual rental. 

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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