Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Francis, John ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 10:04 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County JOHN FRANCIS was born in New Lenox Township, Will County, Ill., January 8, 1843. His father, the well-known Abraham Francis, was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and his mother, Mary A. J. (Davison) Francis, was a native of Adams County, Ohio. The subject of this notice was the fifth child of his parents under whose careful training he developed into manhood, becoming familiar with the various employments of farm life, and pursuing his early studies in the common schools. When approaching manhood he took a course of study in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Chicago, then returning to the farm, remained there until his twenty-third year. December 21, 1865, he married Miss Harriet Maria Bliss, daughter of Abel and Lucinda (Blake) Bliss, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Francis was born September 5, 1846, in New Lenox Township, and is the second daughter and third child of a family of two sons and five daughters. Besides the advantages of the common school Mrs. Francis received careful parental training, and remained a member of her father's household until her marriage. She is now the mother of four children, all of whom are living: John E., born August 3, 1868; Howard B., July 3, 1871; Harriet J., September 6, 1877; and Wilbur A., January 7, 1880. Each one of them has graduated from the Joliet high school in the following classes, respectively, '87, '90, '97, '99. All but the eldest son remain at home. He married Miss Adeline L. Walz, daughter of John J. and Henrietta (Streicher) Walz, January 31, 1895. To them were born two children, Helen Adeline and a son who died in infancy. Mr. Francis is a Republican and has held many positions of honor and trust at the hands of his friends and fellow- citizens. He was collector two years, school trustee nine years, school treasurer twelve years, and supervisor twenty-three years. The fact that he filled that office twenty-one years in succession (being chairman two terms) indicates forcibly the high place he holds in the regard of his fellow- citizens. At the time of the erection of the Will County court house, the soldier's and sailor's monument, and the administration building or sheriff's residence, he was a member of the building committees, and to such men as he is due the credit for the erection of public buildings so substantial and so well adapted to their needs. In 1894 he was elected sheriff of Will County, which position he held for four years. Aside from these duties Mr. Francis has followed farming all his life. The farms which he owns have been placed under the best improvements. Substantial buildings, well cultivated land, modern machinery, bear witness to his successful management. He has been especially successful in the breeding and care of live stock. For fourteen years he exhibited Berkshire hogs at the state fairs with unusual success. Later his attention has been turned toward cattle, and he now owns one of the finest herds in Will County. His landed possessions aggregate nine hundred acres, divided into four tracts, the one upon which he lives being acknowledged the best farm in New Lenox Township. Mr. and Mrs. Francis are both active members of the New Lenox Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a trustee and steward for many years. When the new church was erected in 1899, he was chosen a member of the building committee, and probably no man deserves more credit than he for such a complete, magnificent, and well-appointed edifice. Personally Mr. Francis is looked upon as one of the leading men of the county. He is a man of progressive ideas, liberal and public spirited, and his career is indicative of the esteem and confidence with which he is regarded by his fellow-citizens. His amiable wife has been an efficient helpmate, and has contributed her full quota toward sustaining the reputation of the family. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/francis1109gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb