Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Whitley, Robert ************************************************ 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, 12:20 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County ROBERT WHITLEY, head miller in the large mills of Norton & Co., at Lockport, was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, in 1831. When fifteen years of age he began an apprenticeship to the miller's trade in a large mill at Wakefield, where he served for six years and afterward worked for wages. In the fall of 1854 he sailed for America on the "Harvest Queen," which did not complete the voyage until seven weeks had been spent on the ocean. Meantime cholera had appeared on the ship and eighty-two passengers had fallen victims of the plague. From New York City Mr. Whitley came west to Illinois. He settled in Oswego, near Aurora, where he engaged in the milling business for nine years. Although he was unfamiliar with the customs of our country he was quick to learn and soon was able to compete with men of our own nationality. Being industrious and painstaking his work was satisfactory to all concerned. From Oswego Mr. Whitley went to Chicago as a workman in a mill. In a short time he came to Plainfield and took charge of a mill. Two years later the mill was sold, and at the same time (1866) he came to Lockport as a miller in the Norton mills. From that year to this he has been connected with this industry, which is one of the largest of its kind in the west. In 1871 he was sent to assume the management of the company's large mill near the Madison street bridge in Chicago, where he remained for a year. In January, 1872, he was given charge of the mill in Lockport, which was then a small plant employing few men and turning out only a small amount of flour. During the years that have since elapsed he has witnessed the growth of the mill to its present enormous proportions, and its present prosperity is due not a little to his wise oversight. He resides in Lockport and owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres three miles west of town, which represents the earnings of his active years. Prior to leaving England Mr. Whitley married Miss Sarah Lory man, of Wakefield. Seven children were born to their union, but two of these died in childhood, and Christopher died when twenty-seven years of age. The older of the living sons is Noah, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The daughters are Maria, wife of Nicholas Pitts, a miller in Lockport; and Ruth, wife of E. W. Ray, of Anacortes, Wash. The younger son, Robert, is a miller by trade, but at this time is engaged in sunning with his brother. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Whitley has taken an interest in public and political affairs. He was a warm admirer of Lincoln, and since the latter was president has voted the Republican ticket. In his desire to provide his children with every advantage possible he did not forget his duty to the community, but has kept closely identified with the educational interests of the town, and the schools here owe not a little of their excellence to his untiring efforts in their behalf. At this writing he is president of the school board, and for nine years he was a member of the board of school trustees. He has also served as an alderman of Lockport. For thirty-two years he has been a member of Lockport Lodge No. 538, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master much of the time for a quarter of a century. He has also been connected with the chapter and commandery at Joliet for twenty-five years, being among the oldest members of the same. Any enterprise calculated to benefit his city is sure of his co-operation and aid, for he has the interests of the place at heart and takes a just pride in its advancement. 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/whitley1042gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb