Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Pilcher, Robert 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 3:58 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

ROBERT PILCHER. In the course of his active business career Mr. Pilcher has 
established a reputation for reliability and for honorable dealings with all. 
Since 1892 he has occupied Pilcher's block, a three-story and basement 
building, 50x100, at Nos. 203-205 Washington street, where he has elevator 
service, electricity and other conveniences. He has built up a large wholesale 
business in express and wrapping paper, wood and willow ware, twines, etc., 
and sells mainly in Illinois, where four traveling salesmen are constantly on 
the road. It is to such men as he that Joliet owes its high standing as a 
commercial center, and he deservedly ranks among the progressive men of the 
city. The Pilcher family has been identified with County Kent, England, as far 
back as the records can be traced. Bayly Pilcher, a native and farmer of that 
county, was the first to seek a home in another land. In 1852 he brought his 
family to the United States and settled in Wheatland Township, this county, 
two and one-half miles from Plainfield. The voyage was made on a sailing 
vessel, and occupied five weeks to New York, whence the family proceeded via 
the Hudson, the canal and lakes to Illinois, joining a relative who had come 
to Illinois the preceding year. In 1854 Mr. Pilcher died on his home place, 
leaving five children, of whom four are now living. One of the sons, Frederick 
R., a resident of Plainfield, was a soldier in the One Hundredth Illinois 
Infantry during the Civil war. Near Folkstone, County Kent, England, Robert 
Pilcher was born June 7, 1849, the fourth child of Bayly and Keziah (Austin) 
Pilcher. He was reared on the home farm until eight years of age, when he 
accompanied his mother to Plainfield, and attended the common schools and 
Northwestern College in that place. In 1868 he came to Joliet and secured a 
clerkship with K. J. Hammond, remaining in the same position for three years. 
In 1871 he went to Sumner County, Kans., and with his brother Bayly took as a 
pre-emption three hundred and twenty acres, his half of which he improved, 
remaining there for three years. On his return to Joliet in 1874 he resumed 
work as a salesman, but soon went to Marseilles, where he was interested in a 
paper-mill for a year. Returning to Joliet, he was with Young & Riebling for 
two years, having charge of their mill, after which he accepted a position as 
superintendent of the mill at Marseilles. Three years later in 1882, he came 
back to Joliet, and accepted a position as superintendent of F. Riebling's 
mill. When Mr. Riebling failed, in 1886, Mr. Pilcher leased the mill and 
engaged in the manufacture of wrapping and express paper. In 1893 he sold the 
mill and removed to his present quarters, in order to secure larger 
accommodations for his steadily-growing business. In politics Mr. Pilcher is a 
Republican, and socially he is connected with the Union Club. He was married 
in Ottawa, Ill., to Miss N. M. Anson, who was born in New York state, and by 
whom he has one son, Ray, now an assistant to his father in the 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

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