Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Francis, A Allen 1840 - 
************************************************
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, 11:35 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

A. ALLEN FRANCIS. The Francis family is recognized as holding a leading 
position among the best people of Will County. They made their advent here in 
the pioneer days, and have contributed in no small degree to the development 
of its best resources. Their honesty, industry and enterprise proved a 
stimulus to those around them, while likewise gaining for themselves a 
competence. They represent a large amount of property, and pay annually into 
the county treasury a snug sum in the way of taxes. Their homes represent 
taste and culture, for which they have ever been distinguished, and their 
names will go down to posterity among those who have been most honored in 
Northern Illinois. In tracing the lineage of the Francis family we find their 
ancestors were originally from Scotland and England. During the religious 
persecution of 1696, they were driven from those countries and took refuge in 
Ireland, where two generations were born. The immediate progenitor of the 
subject of this sketch was the late Abraham Francis, who was born in County 
Cavan, Ireland, September 29, 1808. As a lad he was more than ordinarily 
bright and intelligent, and at an early age evinced an ambition to do 
something and be somebody in the world. He had come honestly by this trait of 
character, as in 1816 his father had decided that he could better his fortunes 
in America, and accordingly sailed for the New World with his little family. 
They located in Brown County, Ohio, where the father died when Abraham was a 
youth of fifteen years. The paternal grandfather of our subject was William 
Francis, also a native of County Cavan, and a farmer by occupation. His chief 
characteristics have been his honesty and industry, as his advantages were 
limited and he had at an early age come in contact with the sterner side of 
life, and was obliged to make his own way in the world from the time he was 
able to do so. After his death Abraham and his sisters lived together in Brown 
County, until the former had reached his majority. The mother had died in 
Ireland. Early in the spring of 1831 Abraham Francis left the Buckeye State in 
company with a young German who had been in his employe and set out on 
horseback for Shawnee Mound, Tippecanoe County, lnd. Thence they started on 
foot with their knapsacks and axes to explore the region round the headwaters 
of the Kankakee River. After arriving there they made canoes and floated down 
the river to Wilmington, where they again took terra firma and followed the 
Indian trail to this township. This trail led directly by the door-yard of the 
residence now owned by the subject of this sketch. Having finally chosen his 
location, Abraham Francis entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the 
Government, and settled very nearly upon the spot where the residence of A. 
Allen now stands. He also "floated " another one hundred and sixty acres, 
which embraced the north half of the east half of section 9, New Lenox 
Township. Here he built a log cabin and remained until the latter part of 
June, 1831. Then, having business in Brown County, Ohio, he started for that 
region, arriving there early in July, for the purpose of finishing up his 
harvesting and also to take unto himself a wife and helpmate to share his 
pioneer life in Illinois. The wedding occurred October 4 following, the bride 
being Miss Mary A. J. Davison, who was born in Adams County, Ohio, March 17, 
1815. She was thus less than seventeen years old at the time of her marriage. 
Her father, William Davison, was a native of Adams County, and the maiden name 
of his wife was Mary Ingraham. Subsequently they removed to Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., where they died and were buried in the old Meharry graveyard. Soon after 
their marriage Abraham Francis and his bride set out for their new home in 
Illinois, reaching their destination November 16. Upon their arrival they 
found things entirely different from what they expected, and in consequence 
were obliged to send back a part of their stock to Tippecanoe County, Ind., to 
be wintered. Mr. Francis had engaged a man to put up a large quantity of wild 
hay, which he failed to do, and thus there was nothing upon which to feed the 
cattle. The young people began life in true pioneer style; on the day of their 
arrival at their new home snow began to fall, and they did not see the bare 
ground again that winter. The winter of 1831-32 will be recalled as that of 
the great snow, amid which so many perished and which entailed so much 
hardship upon the settlers. In June, 1832, the Black Hawk War broke out, and 
Abraham Francis was one of six men appointed to investigate the report of the 
Indian outrages over on Fox River. When they found that the reports were true, 
Mr. Francis with his comrades returned home and removed his family to Shawnee 
Mound, Ind. This done, he returned and lent a helping hand in the conflict 
which followed, serving as Second Lieutenant under the command of the well-
known Capt. Seissions. After the war was over Mrs. Francis returned, and their 
domestic life thereafter flowed on uninterruptedly. At one time, for three 
weeks during the war, Mr. Francis never saw the face of a white man, and at 
the expiration of this time an intimate friend of his who was stationed at Ft. 
Dearborn, having learned that Mr. Francis was here alone, joined him to keep 
him company. He arrived early one morning, just at the break of day. Mr. 
Francis, on account of danger, slept in the field tied to his horse, and 
hearing footsteps, and supposing an Indian must be near, brought his gun to a 
level, and was about to fire when be discovered that it was a friend instead 
of a foe. Rushing up to him, he clasped him in his arms, and the meeting can 
better be imagined than described. Mr. Francis in later years often related 
the incident with the tears streaming down his cheeks. Subsequently, Mr. 
Francis repaired to Chicago and engaged in teaming for the Government, being 
there during the cholera epidemic. It is hardly necessary to state that he 
began in life without means, but by his great industry and perseverance he 
steadily advanced on the road to prosperity, while at the same time the 
sterling qualities of his character were the means of bringing around him 
hosts of friends. He was a great lover of fine stock, and was uniformly 
prosperous at this industry and also as a tiller of the soil. Upon the coming 
on of the California gold excitement he was exceedingly desirous of seeking 
his fortunes on the Pacific Slope, but refrained from making the experiment on 
account of the entreaties of his wife. Mr. Francis, however, sent out a 
company to work a mine on shares. This enterprise was not successful, as the 
captain of the company died, and none of the men were capable of taking his 
place. Prior to the organization of Will County, its present territory being 
then included in Cook County, Mr. Francis held the office of Deputy Sheriff, 
and occupied other positions of trust and responsibility. He was originally a 
Democrat in politics, but during the war felt that he had reason to change his 
views, and wheeled over into the Republican ranks, being a strong supporter of 
the Union. Both he and his estimable wife were leading members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Francis departed this life at the old 
homestead in New Lenox Township, November 28, 1862. The wife and mother 
survived her husband for nearly twenty-two years, dying January 15, 1884. To 
Abraham Francis and his good wife there was born a family of eleven children, 
five sons and six daughters, eight of whom are living. The eldest, Margaret 
L., is the wife of Needham P. Cooper, of New Lenox Township, and is believed 
to have been the first white child born within its limits; William D. died of 
typhoid pneumonia when a promising young man of twenty-two years; Mary A. J. 
is the wife of J. S. Blackstone, of Kankakee; A. Allen, our subject, was the 
next in order of birth; John is represented on another page in this volume; 
Lydia E. is the wife of William S. Niccolls, of New Lenox Township; Charles is 
farming in this township; Clara M. died when sixteen months old; Addie A. is 
the wife of Jesse Mcharry, of Tolono, Champaign County; George L. is farming 
in New Lenox Township; Carrie D. died when an interesting maiden of thirteen 
years. The subject of this sketch was the fourth child of the parental 
household, and was born at the homestead in New Lenox Township, where he now 
lives, September 7, 1840. He there spent his early years, attending the common 
schools and assisting in the lighter labors of the farm. He completed his 
studies in the High School at Joliet, and started out on the journey of life 
well equipped by nature and training for its sterner duties. Eight days after 
attaining his thirtieth year, our subject was joined in wedlock, September 15, 
1870, at the bride's home in New Lenox Township, to Miss Lizzie J. Haven. Mr. 
Francis commenced his wedded life under far different circumstances from that 
of his honored father, being able to take his bride to a comfortable home—the 
old farm where they have since lived. There have been born to them five 
children, namely: Mary L., October 20, 1877; Allen M., May 17, 1881; Daisy H., 
January 11, 1886; Dwight C., September 21, 1887, and one who was born 
September 25, 1883, and died unnamed. They have also an adopted daughter, Anna 
H., born November 19, 1808, and who has been a member of the household since a 
child of four years, considered as one of their own family. Their eldest son, 
Allen M., died of scarlet fever, June 5, 1888, when a little over seven years 
old. Mr. Francis, like his honored father, during the latter's later years, is 
an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has 
signalized himself as one of the most liberal and public-spirited men of his 
township, and has contributed both time and means for the promotion of its 
best interests. He was at one time President and Director of the Agricultural 
and Mechanical Association of Will County, and is at present President and 
Director of the New Lenox Fire Insurance Company, and Trustee, General Manager 
and Treasurer of the Centenary Camp Meeting Association, which was organized 
under the State law, and at present is President of the Farmers' Institute. He 
has been a School Director in his district, and Superintendent of the 
Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school for a period of twenty years. Both he and 
his estimable wife are prominently connected with this church, and are 
numbered among its chief pillars. Mrs. Lizzie J. (Haven) Francis was born in 
New Lenox Township, March 31, 1849, and during her childhood attended the 
common schools of her neighborhood. Later she became a student at Dearborn 
Seminary in Chicago, where she completed her education. She grew to an 
attractive womanhood under the home roof, remaining with her parents until 
becoming the mistress of her own home. Her father, the Hon. Dwight Haven, who 
is represented elsewhere in this work, came to this county at an early day, 
and earned for himself a place among its leading citizens. His wife bore the 
maiden name of Helen L. Savage. She was a sister of the Hon. Amos Savage, of 
Homer Township, and departed this life at the homestead in New Lenox Township, 
July 28, 1859. The parental family consisted of six children, five daughters 
and one son, of whom Mrs. Francis was the eldest born. It is an interesting 
fact that four of the Francis brothers and one sister live on the same 
highway, their farms adjoining, the sister occupying the center one. All the 
wives of the brothers were, like themselves, born in New Lenox Township. A. 
Allen, our subject, is the owner of one thousand acres of land, where he has 
fine improvements, and in addition to general agriculture makes a specialty of 
live stock, operating both as a breeder and dealer. In former years he also 
dealt largely in real estate. The dwelling which he occupies was erected by 
his honored father, and thus possesses for him a far more than moneyed value. 
We direct the reader's attention to a lithographic portrait of Mr. Francis 
presented in connection with his personal sketch.

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/francis1438nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 13.0 Kb