Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Francis, John 1843 - ************************************************ 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 May 8, 2007, 11:34 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 JOHN FRANCIS. Supervisor of New Lenox Township, and one of its most substantial citizens, is a native of this township, and was born January 8, 1843. His father is the well-known Abraham Francis, a sketch of whom appears in the history of A. Allen Francis, on another page in this volume. The parental household consisted of eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: Margaret L. is the wife of N. P. Cooper, of New Lenox Township; William D. died in this township when a promising young man of twenty years; Mary A. J. is the wife of John S. Blackstone, of Kankakee, Ill.; A. Allen is a farmer of New Lenox Township; John, our subject, was the next in order of birth; Lydia is the wife of W. S. Nichols, of the same township; Clara M. died when about sixteen months old; Charles is farming in the vicinity of the old homestead; Adeline A. is the wife of Jesse Meharry, of Tolono, Ill., a biography of whom appears in the biographical work of Champaign County; George L. is farming in New Lenox Township; Carrie D. died at the age of about thirteen years. 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, then, returning to the farm, remained there until twenty-three years old. In the meantime he was married, in New Lenox Township, December 21, 1865, to Miss H. Maria Bliss. The young couple spent the first few months of their wedded life at the old homestead, and the following year moved upon the farm where they now live. Mrs. Francis was born at her father's old homestead in New Lenox Township, September 5, 1846, and is a daughter of the late Abel and Lucinda (Blake) Bliss. The former was born in Wilbraham, Mass., February 9, 1810. His wife was born at Springfield, that State, October 14, 1816. They were married May 6, 1840, at Springfield, and soon afterward set out for the West, coming to this county, where the father secured a tract of land on section 18, New Lenox Township. He had visited Illinois about 1837, but could not make his arrangements to locate permanently until three years after. He was successful in his farming operations, built up a goodly estate and died December 25, 1883. The mother is still living at the home farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Bliss there was born a family of seven children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary, married John McGee, and died in Michigan; William S. died at the homestead when only twenty-five years old; H. Maria, Mrs. Francis, was the next in order of birth; Ellen J. died at the interesting age of nineteen years; Josephine died when about twenty-six years old; Abel is farming in New Lenox Township; Alice P. is the wife of F. A. Wetherbee, of Buchanan County, Iowa. 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, the eldest of whom, John E., was graduated from the Joliet High School, and is a successful teacher in New Lenox Township; Howard B. was also graduated from the High School at Joliet and remains under the parental roof. The two younger are Hattie J. and Wilbur A. In 1871, Mr. Francis was elected Supervisor of New Lenox Township and, in 1874, was a second time elected to that office, which he has since held continuously. He was formerly a School Trustee, and since 1881 has held the office of School Treasurer and was also Township Collector two years. He is a Republican, and takes an active part in politics, serving as a member of the County Central Committee and occupies other positions of trust and responsibility. Aside from these duties, Mr. Francis has followed farming all his life, and for many years has made a specialty of stock-raising, and also operated as a dairyman, shipping milk to Chicago. Both he and his estimable wife are members, in good standing, of the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Francis formerly held the office of Secretary and Treasurer. His farm property embraces five hundred and thirty-six acres of choice land in New Lenox Township, where he has made fine improvements, being supplied with the requisite buildings, and availing himself of the most approved machinery in the cultivation of his land. Personally, Mr. Francis is looked upon as one of the leading men of his township. 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. They have one of the finest country homes in the township, one which invariably attracts the attention of the passing traveler, who turns a second time to regale his eyes upon its beauty and the air of comfort and plenty which surrounds it. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/francis1437nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb