Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Quinn, John F 
************************************************
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, 11:04 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

JOHN F. QUINN, proprietor of an undertaking establishment at No. 407 North 
Chicago street, Joliet, is a well-known Democrat and has served as chairman of 
the city central committee. In 1897 ne was elected city treasurer on the 
Democratic ticket and served for two years, retiring in May, 1899. From 1881 
to 1883 he served as assistant supervisor of Joliet Township. He also takes an 
active part in various fraternities, being a member of the Court of Honor, the 
Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus, a member of the board 
of managers of the Modern Woodmen of America, and county president of the 
Ancient Order of Hibernians. During the period of his connection with steel 
and iron works in Joliet he was prominent in organizations composed of workers 
in these mills. He assisted in organizing Stone City Lodge No. 4, Rollers, 
Hookers and Catchers, with which he remained identified until its disbandment. 
He also aided in the organization of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and 
Steel Workers; and was the first president of Stone City Lodge No. 4 of the 
same, holding the office for some years; he rose to be vice-president of the 
fourth district, comprising Illinois, Wisconsin and some of the west. On 
retiring from the steel business he resigned the office, but still remains an 
honorary member of the order. During the period of his membership in the 
association he attended every national convention that was held and took a 
leading part in the proceedings of each. Mr. Quinn was born in Winchester, 
Va., April 6, 1853, a son of Bernard and Maria (Carroll) Quinn, natives 
respectively of County Kildare and Queens County, Ireland. His father, who 
graduated from the University of Dublin with the degree of C. E., followed 
surveying and also engaged in teaching school in and near Winchester. He died 
in West Virginia in 1862. His wife, who is still living, makes her home in 
Keyser, W. Va. They are the parents of seven children, six of whom attained 
mature years, namely: Mary, who died in Cumberland, Md.; James C., a farmer in 
Missouri; John F.; Bernard, who is engaged in farming in western Nebraska; 
Daniel, a merchant at Keyser, W. Va.; and Julia, whose home is in Chicago. 
When our subject was nine years of age his father died. The war occurring at 
the same time, he was deprived of advantages he might otherwise have enjoyed. 
From West Virginia he went to Cumberland, Md., and thence to Columbus, Ohio, 
where he secured work at the rolls in a rolling mill. From there he removed to 
Sandusky, Ohio. In the spring of 1872 he came to Joliet and secured employment 
in the old iron mill, remaining there until an accidental injury to his foot 
by a hot rail disabled him for work for a year. Upon his recover, the steel 
mill having meantime been completed, he began to work at the rolls in it, 
remaining there until 1883, when he resigned in order to embark in business. 
Going to Aurora, he opened a livery and undertaking establishment and 
continued in that city until 1890, when he returned to Joliet. Since then he 
has carried on a general undertaking business. He is connected with the 
Illinois State Undertakers' Association. His services as a funeral director 
and embalmer are in frequent demand, and he is known as a man possessing a 
thorough knowledge of his business and an accommodating, gentlemanly 
disposition. In Joliet, December 28, 1880, Mr. Quinn married Miss Mary A. 
Downey, who was born in Bremen Township, Cook County, Ill., a daughter of 
Peter and Catherine (O'Sullivan) Downey, natives of Queens and Kerry Counties, 
Ireland. Her father, on coming to America, settled in Ohio, thence went to 
Indiana and in 1847 came to Illinois, where he engaged in contracting on the 
Rock Island Railroad. Meantime he bought a farm in Bremen Township, and 
afterward gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1875 he bought a 
farm in Channahon Township, Will County, and afterward resided there until his 
death, in 1892. Since then his widow has made her home with Mrs. Quinn. Of 
eleven children, six now living, Mrs. Quinn was the oldest daughter, and by 
her marriage she has two sons, Bernard J. and John Francis. Mr. Quinn and his 
family are connected with St. Mary's Catholic Church. 

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/quinn1124gbs.txt

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

File size: 5.0 Kb