Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Vanderhoof, Mrs Frances M 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 4:13 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

MRS. FRANCES M. VANDERHOOF, who came to Joliet in October, 1852, and was one 
of the pioneer business women of this city, is a native of County Cork, 
Ireland. Her father, John Ryan, who was born in County Limerick, a son of John 
and Ann (McGrath) Ryan, engaged in the mercantile business in Ireland, 
remaining in that country until he died at forty-two years. He married 
Dorothea Roche, whose father, Dr. Thomas Roche, was a physician in Ireland, 
and her mother belonged to the old English family of Haines. Mrs. Dorothea 
Ryan died at middle age. Of her twelve children all but three attained years 
of maturity. The first members of the family to settle in America were Mrs. 
Vanderhoof and Mrs. Kavanagh, of Chicago, and later three other sisters and a 
brother crossed the ocean. It was during 1852 that Mrs. Vanderhoof, 
accompanying her sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Kavanagh, left her old home in Ireland 
to come to the United States. She had expected to sail on the steamer "City of 
Glasgow," but, arriving at the port, found it had started. She therefore took 
a sailing vessel, "George Washington," Captain Cummings, and after a voyage of 
twenty-one days landed in New York. Thence she proceeded to Chicago, and in 
the same year came to Joliet. In December, 1861, she became the wife of Robert 
Hill, who was born in Ireland and came in early manhood to Joliet, where he 
died in April, 1865. He had a brother, John W. Hill, who still lives in 
Joliet. Of this marriage two children were born, but the son, Richard R., died 
at two years of age. The daughter, Helena Frances, is the wife of Edward B. 
Strong, of this city, and they have one daughter, Marion Matilda Strong. The 
second marriage of our subject, in July, 1875, united her with Levi 
Vanderhoof, who was born in Franklin, Summit County, Ohio, and grew to manhood 
on a farm there. Some time during the '50s he came to this county and improved 
a farm lying just east of Joliet, where for some time he carried on 
agricultural pursuits. Later he started in the grocery business with J. Fred 
Wilcox. He died July 21, 1886, when sixty-two years of age. In politics he 
voted with the Democrats, and for two terms held the office of assessor. For 
one winter Mrs. Mary A. Kavanagh, a sister of Mrs. Vanderhoof, clerked for ex-
Governor Matteson in Joliet. Subsequently the sisters started in the millinery 
business on Jefferson street, where the postoffice now stands. They continued 
together until the death of Mr. Kavanagh, in 1870, after which they went to 
Chicago. In 1872 Mrs. Vanderhoof returned to Joliet and resumed business at 
the old location. She carried on a large and profitable trade until 1884, when 
she sold the business, and later she also disposed of the building. In 1885 
she erected the residence which she has since occupied, and this she owns, in 
addition to other valuable property. She possesses considerable business 
ability, and by its exercise she has accumulated her present possessions. In 
religious belief she favors Methodist doctrines and usually attends the 
services of that 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

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