Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Lacey, Thomas 
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Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

Thomas Lacey, who owns and operates four hundred and eighty-five acres of well 
improved land in Florence township, and who is also engaged in breeding high 
grades of cattle and hogs, represents one of the old and prominent pioneer 
families of Will county. He was born in Joliet, January 1, 1859, a son of 
Thomas and Rosa A. (Conlin) Lacey, the former born in County Tipperary, 
Ireland, in 1812, and the latter in County Longford, in 1826, and came to 
America, with a cousin in 1840. Mr. Lacey likewise emigrated to the new world 
in that year, reaching New York city on the 27th of May. He remained for about 
four years in Oneida county, New York, and was married in Utica, February 28, 
1844. to Miss Catherine McCarty, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and 
came to the United States with an uncle, M. Crimmins, when she was a little 
maiden of four years. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lacey made their 
way westward, locating in Vermont, Illinois, where they kept a boarding house. 
They then removed to Michigan, where they lived for two years, whence they 
went to Chicago, living there for a similar period. While making their home in 
that city the father had charge of the grading of the streets for a time, and 
later took up his abode at Aurora, Illinois, where he had charge of the 
grading of the first section of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. 
While making his home in the western metropolis, although securing a wage of 
but seventy-five cents per day beside providing for himself and family, he 
saved from his earnings a sum sufficient to invest in land, and, going to 
Joliet, purchased eighty acres adjoining the city limits, paying for this 
property ten dollars per acre. He made a permanent settlement in Will county 
in March, 1873, coming here from Grundy county, where he had made his home for 
two years. His wife died in La Salle in 1854, and her remains were laid to 
rest in the Joliet cemetery. At her death she left three children: Annie, who 
was born November 22, 1850, in New York; Nellie, who was born March 10, 1852; 
and John J., whose birth occurred March 12, 1854. Two years later, in 1856, 
Mr. Lacey wedded Miss Rosa A. Conlin, who became the mother of two sons, the 
brother of our subject being Jerry, who was born October 25, 1857, and now 
lives in Wilmington. Locating on his farm in Will county, the father was there 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising until 1885, when he sold his 
property to his sons Jerry and Thomas, after which he lived retired until his 
death, which occurred August 20, 1896, at the age of seventy-three years. He 
was a prominent pioneer farmer of this county, a man well liked by his 
neighbors and friends. He was a democrat in politics, while his religious 
faith was indicated by his membership with the Catholic church. Thomas Lacey, 
the younger of the two sons born of his fathers second marriage, was reared on 
the homestead farm, receiving practical training from his father in the best 
methods of carrying on a business of this character, while in the public-
schools he acquired his education. In 1885 his father retired from business, 
and upon so doing disposed of the old homestead farm to his sons Jerry and 
Thomas. They carried on business together for ten years, when, in 1895, the 
brothers dissolved partnership, since which time Thomas Lacey has carried on 
business alone. He has added to his original holdings from time to time until 
he is now in possession of four hundred and eighty-five acres of as fine 
farming land as can be found in Will county. He is likewise a breeder of 
Percheron horses and shorthorn Durham cattle. At the Will County Fair in 1901 
and 1902 he exhibited a bull, on which he secured the first premium, while on 
his heifers he took the second premium. At the present time he has a fine 
drove of full blooded Durham cattle, and his stock-raising and breeding 
interests characterize a very important branch of his business. He also raises 
pure blooded Poland China hogs. Mr. Lacey was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
A. Baskerville, the wedding ceremony being performed February 17, 1890. She is 
a native of Florence township, born April 8, 1861, a daughter of James and 
Jane (Fogarty) Baskerville, prominent pioneer residents of Will county, 
further mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. Unto our 
subject and his wife have been born six children: Charlotte C., who was born 
December 15, 1890; John J., born May 1, 1892; Margaret H., April 15, 1894; 
George R., September 15, 1896; Alice A., September 1, 1898; and Mary L., who 
was born January 3, 1903. The mother of these children was educated in the 
public and high schools of Will county, and prior to her marriage was engaged 
in teaching for about thirteen years, her first school being taught in 
Florence township when she was only seventeen years of age, while three years 
of that time was spent in the Grant and Hancock schools in Chicago. She is an 
accomplished and cultured lady, capably managing her household duties, and she 
is indeed proving a worthy companion and helpmate to her husband. Mr. Lacey 
has always followed in the political footsteps of his father by giving his 
support to the principles of democracy, while he and family holds membership 
in the Catholic church. He is well known in the county as a reliable and 
straightforward business man, fully meriting the confidence and good will 
which is extended to him by his fellow citizens.

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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