Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Mount, Hon John B ************************************************ 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, 11:32 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County HON. JOHN B. MOUNT, mayor of Joliet. The Mount family is of English and German descent and was early represented in New Jersey. Elias P. Mount, who was born near Morristown, N. J., the son of a brick manufacturer, learned the builder's trade in Newark, and about 1855 came to Illinois. Settling in Jacksonville, he engaged in business as a contractor and builder. An active Democrat, he however never held public office. In religion he was a Presbyterian, and fraternally a Master Mason. Among his contracts were those for the courthouse at Jacksonville, large portions of the insane asylum, deaf and dumb school and the institute for the blind; twice he built the Illinois Female College. He built many of the most substantial business houses and residences in that city, and was one of its first prominent contractors. He died there in October, 1892. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Johnson, was born near New London, Conn., the daughter of a farmer whose ancestors came from England and served in the colonial army during the Revolution; her mother was a member of an old Puritan and Revolutionary family to which belonged ex- Governor Morgan, of New York. Mrs. Elizabeth Mount died in January, 1898, at the age of sixty-four years. Of her six children all but one are living. The eldest of the family, John B., was born in Jacksonville, Ill., January 16, 1859. He was educated in public schools and Whipple Academy, where he took a college preparatory course. In 1876 he entered a drug store, where he clerked, and at the same time studied pharmacy, remaining there until 1882. He then came to Joliet and opened a drug store on the corner of Chicago and Jefferson streets, where he remained for thirteen years. He then bought the property at No. 702 Washington street, near Eastern avenue, where he has since carried on a large business as druggist. Since 1889 he has been a stockholder and director in the Mutual Building and Loan Association. Fraternally he is identified with Matteson Lodge No. 175, A. F. & A. M., in which he is treasurer. Reared in the Baptist faith by his mother, he has always been in sympathy with the doctrines of that church and has aided its work. He was a charter member of the Stone City Union Club of Joliet and is still actively connected with it. In Marseilles, Ill., Mr. Mount married Miss Annie L. Bruce, by whom he has a daughter, Margaret Bruce Mount, a member of the Joliet high school class of 1900. Mrs. Mount is a graduate of the Young Ladies' Atheneum at Jacksonville and is a cultured, educated lady, possessing many attractive traits of character. She is of Scotch parentage, her father, Alexander Bruce, having been born in Scotland, whence he emigrated to Illinois and engaged in banking in Marseilles until his death. He was also a prominent railroad contractor, his specialty being stone masonry for railroad bridges, and he bridged the Illinois and Mississippi rivers more than twelve times. For some years Mr. Mount has been one of the leading Democrats of his city and has also served as treasurer of the county central committee. In 1893-94 he was city treasurer. With the exception of those two years he has filled the office of assistant supervisor since 1889, and is at present a member of the judiciary committee appointed to settle with the circuit clerk. In the spring of 1897 he was the Democratic nominee for mayor, but was defeated by two hundred and four votes. Two years later he was again nominated, and this time defeated Colonel Bennitt by nine hundred and eighty votes, assuming the duties of the office on the 1st of May, 1899, for a term of two years. In the capacity of mayor he is ex-officio president of all the public departments. Alike in business circles and in public affairs Mr. Mount is, by common consent, accorded a high place. Successful in a financial sense, exhibiting clearness of judgment and great energy in the conduct of his drug business, he has proved himself to be no less fitted for the functions of an office-holder, and has displayed a public spirit and force of character as the head of executive affairs in Joliet. The best interests of the city have been promoted by his influence. It is the testimony even of those opposed to him in politics that, as mayor, he has always protected the city's interests and defended its rights; and that, in the performance of his duties as executive, he is quick to recognize an important situation and equally quick in devising means of meeting it— qualities that have enabled him to perform efficiently the exacting duties of his office. 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/mount1132gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.4 Kb