Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Piper, Joshua  
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 12:59 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Joshua Piper, now living retired in Peotone, where he owns a nice home, is the 
owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Will county, from 
which he derives a good annual rental. He was born in Cornwell, England, March 
22, 1848, a son of James Piper, who was born in Devonshire, England, March 30, 
1820. He was married to Miss Grace Found, who was a native of Cornwall. In 
1851 the father emigrated with his family to Canada, where he was engaged in 
farming near Fort Hope, eighty miles east of the city of Toronto. In 1866 he 
made his way to Illinois, settling first in Kankakee county but after a 
residence of two years there he made his way to Peotone township, Will county, 
where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and forty-seven and 
one-half acres in Kankakee county, continuing agricultural pursuits until a 
few years prior to his death when he retired and spent his remaining days with 
his children, dying at the home of a daughter in Chicago. He lies buried in 
the cemetery at Peotone. His wife preceded him to the home beyond two years, 
and she was two years his junior. The father was numbered among the pioneers 
of Will county and he gave his political support to the republican party, 
while both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Joshua Piper is the third in a family of nine children, the other 
members of the family being: Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, a resident of Kankakee; 
Mrs. Sarah J. Hall, who lives in Goodland, Indiana; Ellen, the wife of Henry 
Day, a resident of Chicago; Richard, who died in Chicago, June 17, 1889; Mrs. 
Emma Ridabock, a resident of that city; Fannie, the wife of George Godell, who 
makes her home in Kankakee; Mrs. Mary Wilson, who also lives in Kankakee 
county; and William Piper, living on the old homestead farm in Will county. 
Mr. Piper was a little lad of only three years when he accompanied the family 
on their emigration to the new world. He was reared to farm life, while in the 
common schools he acquired his education. He gave his father the benefit of 
his services on the farm until he had attained his majority, when he started 
out in life upon an independent venture. He had a capital of two hundred 
dollars, with which he made a payment on eighty acres of land at forty dollars 
per acre, going in debt for the remainder. He prospered in his undertakings 
and at length was enabled to liquidate his financial obligations and add to 
his landed possessions until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty 
acres of land, from which he derives a good income. Four years ago he retired 
and removed to Peotone, where he resides in a comfortable home. On the 11th of 
September, 1870, occurred the marriage of Mr. Piper and Miss Mary Jane Day, 
who was born in England, a daughter of George and Fannie (Jenkins) Day, who 
emigrated to America when the daughter was but three years of age. The father 
located first in Ohio but after a few years took up his abode in Kankakee 
county, Illinois, on a farm, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Piper have been born seven children, namely: James Henry, 
who wedded Laura Gilkerson and resides on a farm in Peotone township; George, 
who wedded Jennie Simpson and now operates the old homestead farm; Rose, who 
died January 14, 1907; William, who died when fourteen months old; Roy, who 
wedded Miss Elsie Jackson and lives on a farm belonging to his father; Arthur, 
at home; and Alvin, who died at the age of four and a half years. Mr. Piper 
gives his political support to the republican party and for six years served 
as road commissioner, while for twenty-one years he acted as school director. 
Mrs. Piper is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and although Mr. 
Piper is not a member he attends and supports that church, of which he has 
been a trustee for several years. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 
1405, at Peotone. Mr. Piper has ever led an upright life and bears an 
excellent reputation for honesty and honorable conduct. In former years he 
worked hard and thereby obtained the property and competence that now enables 
him to rest in honorable retirement. He and his estimable wife have many 
friends both in Peotone and Will county and are numbered among its best 
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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