Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Stillman, Oliver W 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 29, 2008, 12:16 am

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

OLIVER W. STILLMAN. When Joliet contained but four dwellings and the town was 
called Juliet, Oliver W. Stillman, in 1835, became one of its residents. He 
was the first justice of the peace of the city and was connected with various 
business enterprises here, so that his life became a factor in the public 
interests of the embryonic city. No history of Will county would be complete 
without mention of Mr. Stillman because of the length of his residence here 
and the helpful part which he took in promoting community interests. A native 
of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he was born April 11, 1811, his parents being 
Elias and Sarah (Watson) Stillman, who were natives of the east and always 
made their home in Massachusetts, where his father followed the trade of a 
silversmith. Several of the silver articles which he manufactured are now in 
possession of Mrs. Oliver W. Stillman. Throughout his entire life Elias 
Stillman continued in business as a silversmith in Massachusetts. He was a 
Royal Arch Mason and he died during the early boyhood of his son Oliver, while 
his widow survived for but two months. In his native county Oliver W. Stillman 
acquired a common school education and to provide for his own support learned 
the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in the east until he had attained his 
majority. He then started for the middle west, for the favorable reports which 
he had heard concerning the opportunities of this section of the country 
attracted him. He visited different relatives on the way and also stopped at 
Chicago, where he remained for a short time, coming thence by rowboat to the 
little city in Will county which was at that time called Juliet. Here he began 
work at the shoemaker's trade and he figured actively in connection with the 
public life of the new town, being made a member of a committee to aid in the 
upbuilding and the furtherance of its interests. For several years he engaged 
in making shoes and then turned his attention to the livery business, building 
a barn out of old Mackee's mill on the island. He likewise continued in that 
line of activity for a number of years, but on account of ill-health he sold 
out and purchased a farm north of Joliet in Lockport township, where he farmed 
for seventeen years. He then sold out and returned to Joliet. Mr. Stillman was 
married on Maple street in the town of New Lenox, this county, to Miss Rosan 
Elizabeth McDonald, who was also born in the east, a daughter of Asa and Olive 
(Rudd) McDonald, who were natives of New York and on coming to the west 
settled in Juliet, Will county in November. 1836. the father securing land 
upon which he carried on farming until his death. His wife also passed away in 
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Stillman were one of the couples in a double 
wedding, for at the same time her sister. Jane C. McDonald, became the wife of 
Charles H. Weeks. Mr. Stillman died June 10, 1890. He was called to various 
positions of honor and trust, wherein he was always found a faithful official. 
For one term he served as city treasurer and when Will county was set off from 
Cook county he was made justice of the peace in Joliet, was the first 
incumbent of the office and performed the first marriage ceremony in the city. 
He was a republican in political affiliation, and held membership in the 
Universalist church, in the work of which he was greatly interested, while for 
many years he served as leader of the church choir. Mrs. Stillman resides at 
No. 1203 East Cass street, spending the summer months in the Joliet home, but 
for the past twenty-two years she has spent the winter seasons in Daytona, 
Florida, where she owns property. Mr. Stillman was successful in business, but 
was not of that type of the modern business man whose pathway is too often 
strewn with the wrecks of other men's fortunes or who is unmindful of the 
duties and obligations which he owed to his fellowmen. He placed his 
dependence upon judicious investment, careful management and unfaltering 
diligence and those elements constituted the salient features of an honorable 
success. 

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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