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 (9ne hundred years ago, "when the future "was 
 only an insecure promise and the present "was a 
 challenge to transform the forest and the prairie 
 into farms and to build a civilization to replace 
 the ^wilderness, came to this region and founded the 
 to"wn of £ockport y this brief history is dedicated- 
 
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Lockport Has oA c Birthday 
 
 1830-1930 
 
 Prepared and Published By 
 
 THE PUBLICITY COMMITTEE 
 
 of the 
 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 OCTOBER 17-18 1930 
 
 COPYRIGHT 1930 
 
INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY 
 
 This booklet was originally intended as a fonr'-page 
 pamphlet advertising the Lockport Centennial and Home- 
 coming of October 17-18, 1930, telling why we are cele- 
 brating and in what manner we are doing it. For that 
 reason its preparation was intrusted to the Publicity 
 Committee. 
 
 In the course of the General Committee meetings it de- 
 veloped into a plan for a short historical account of 
 Lockport; at any rate, a souvenir of the Centennial Cele- 
 bration. Thus, for a work of so large a compass, the time 
 has been too short to cover the subject except in the briefest 
 way. 
 
 No doubt, omissions and oversights will occur at once to 
 many readers, and in extenuation of such faults the Pub- 
 licity Committee can say only that great effort was made to 
 do the best possible work under the limiting conditions. 
 
 To make the changes of a hundred years more vivid we 
 have made up the booklet in two parts, running parallel. 
 The left hand pages throughout the booklet is the story of 
 1830 and early subsequent events. The right hand pages 
 tell of the Lockport of to-day and look back to the hap- 
 penings that have gone to make that Lockport. As far as 
 possible each opposite page has been made the reflection 
 of the other. Therefore, the reader must pass to alternate 
 pages in following the narrative of each part. The Pub- 
 licity Committee is indebted to many persons for informa- 
 tion, pictures, and help in organizing this souvenir, and 
 takes this opportunity to thank all who have rendered such 
 aid. Especial mention should be made of the contribution 
 made by R. L. Stephenson in photographing many of the 
 pictures from the originals. 
 
It should be mentioned here by the chairman that the 
 willing co-operation of the members of the Committee is 
 appreciated, and that it is highly fitting that their services 
 should receive mention. The Committee has met almost 
 nightly for three weeks on publicity matters, many sessions 
 lasting into the early hours of the morning. 
 
 Mrs. Bernice Frazer spent several days securing gene- 
 alogies and information; Mr. P. B. Corneau planned and 
 outlined the work; Rev. H. R. Jay handled church history 
 and wrote the genealogies and other matter, and Mr. 
 Maurice Flavin lent invaluable aid in securing pictures, 
 information, and assistance, and in arranging the many 
 details of the work of the committee. Miss Lorraine 
 Mac kin made effective contact with the Joliet Herald-News 
 whose co-operation is highly commended. Miss Marjorie 
 McCabe, headquarters clerk, is to be thanked for the extra 
 time she gave the committee in stenographic work on sev- 
 eral evenings. 
 
 The wives of some of the committee members should also 
 come in for a share of thanks for putting up with the ex- 
 tended hours their husbands devoted to their work in the 
 interest of the Centennial Celebration. Those without ex- 
 perience in such work little realize the innumerable con- 
 tacts and detailed work necessary to effective, accurate 
 publicity and compilation. 
 
 In general, it is to be remarked that an unusual spirit of 
 co-operation, good fellowship, and cheerful work has pre- 
 vailed among all the committees promoting and organizing 
 the Centennial Celebration. 
 
 Bruce D. Cheadle, Chairman. 
 
1 OOf\ ° ne hundred y ears and one month ago 
 I r\ J! J from this October, 1930, on or near the 
 present site of Lockport no white men were 
 living. There was only the land, undivided, uncultivated, 
 the wooded valley of the Desplaines. But it was friendly, 
 attractive to settlers. Then, too, there were rumors, and 
 at times definite rumors, that soon, through this valley, the 
 Great Lakes would be joined to the Mississippi by a long 
 canal. 
 
 Besides this, there was here the climate, friendly per- 
 haps; but it could be unfriendly too, as the next year 
 showed. And lastly, there were the Indians, friendly, but 
 no more to be depended upon than the climate. 
 
 The advantages must have appeared greater than the 
 disadvantages to the men ever pressing on from the south 
 and east, for, one hundred years ago in October, a man 
 with his wife and children came and settled near the brook 
 just north of the present town. In a few months others 
 came; and in a year or so there was a settlement of pos- 
 sibly half a dozen families. 
 
 Through this settlement ran an age-old Indian trail. 
 Across this countless generations of Pottawatomies had 
 drifted to and fro between the Illinois River and Lake 
 Michigan. This trail was probably followed to some extent 
 by Colonel Archer who surveyed the route of the highway 
 which was to take his name, and of which today State 
 Street in Lockport is a part. 
 
 These first settlers were Armstead Runyon, his wife Anna, 
 and several children, one of whom, Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles 
 E. Boyer) was to be a life-long resident of Lockport. 
 
 A few months after the arrival of the Runyons, came 
 others, among them Edward Poor, Selah Lanfear, Holder 
 Sisson, Orrin Stevens, and Benjamin Butterfield, after whom 
 the old Butterfield Ford across the Desplaines nearby was 
 named. 
 
 The advantages of the country had brought them here. 
 Possibly they had given little heed to the disadvantages. 
 But at any rate disadvantages were soon to appear. Never 
 
1930 
 
 Lockport of 1930 presents an appearance 
 much altered from the view which spread 
 itself before the pioneers of the first settle- 
 ment. And conditions of living and livelihood have also 
 undergone radical change. 
 
 However, if the open hillsides and river valley were 
 friendly and attractive to the venturesome souls of a hun- 
 dred years ago, Lockport of today is yet an inviting place. 
 The hillsides are still here and according to old residents 
 the number of fine trees has increased. 
 
 There is now the protection and comfort of fine homes 
 and security from marauding attack. Civilization has come 
 and established itself. There is transportation of many 
 kinds — by rail, by water, by concrete highway, and by 
 airplane. Instead of an all-day trip to Fort Dearborn, the 
 road to Chicago may be covered in an hour by train or 
 automobile, and a half hour by airplane. 
 
 Lockport is still inviting. The paved streets, lovely lawns, 
 venerable trees, and peaceful country-side, offer conditions 
 of ideal living amid healthful surroundings, assured by 
 excellent drainage and a pure water supply. There is also 
 the lure of a good livelihood in the local industries and in 
 employment in Chicago and Joliet. Commutation has be- 
 come a commonplace event in the lives of residents, as 
 has also instant communication with any part of the 
 country by telephone, telegraph, and radio. 
 
 In the summer of 1929 there was recorded in the July 26 
 issue of the Lockport Leader an account of Lockport's first 
 airplane commuter. Miss Harriet Warner flew to Chicago 
 to her work in a plane piloted by her brother, Clinton 
 Warner, then here on vacation. 
 
 The compilers of this booklet believe it will be of interest 
 to the people of Lockport to know who among them, now 
 living in Lockport, are descendants of the earliest settlers. 
 Where the facts could be ascertained, a list of them has 
 been made. Armstead Runyon has, now living in Lock- 
 port, four great-great-grandchildren, Mrs. Florence (North) 
 Kasper, Warren Hawley North, Mary Louise North, and 
 
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 COMPANY RECORD 
 This company was formed in 1861 by Rev. Dennis Dunne, D. D., of 
 Chicago. It was composed entirely of Lockport residents excepting regi- 
 mental field officers. Roster loaned by Michael Fitzpatrick. 
 
TOP — Michael Fitzpatrick, 85 years old, born and lived entire life 
 Lockport; Mrs. Mary Keeler, born in Lockport, 82 years old. 
 
 BOTTOM — Arthur Deeming:, came to Lockport from England in 1855, 
 88th year; Charles Johnson, civil war veteran, 91 years old. 
 
1830 - 
 
 since, and possibly not for many years before, was there 
 such a winter as that of 1831. The snow lay four feet deep 
 on the level. Where it drifted it touched the first branches 
 of the trees. The valley of the Desplaines was one concave, 
 unbroken sheet of snow, the river buried deep, unseen, 
 beneath it. 
 
 The Indians, the Pottawatomies, w T ere friendly. But about 
 Indians one, especially an early settler, with stories of the 
 massacre of Wyoming ringing in his ears, could never be 
 sure. And their fears were to have some justification, for 
 in 1832 there broke out the Sac, sometimes called the Black 
 Hawk War. 
 
 Looking back on it from the safety of 98 years, this war 
 appears to have been a sorry affair. Four hundred Sac and 
 Pottawatomie warriors w T ere arrayed against 1500 United 
 States troops, supported by 8000 Illinois volunteers. It 
 could have had but one ending. Possibly there was little 
 danger to the settlers of Lockport, but what danger there 
 was was very real to them. They left their scarcely-finished 
 homesteads and with their families took refuge in Fort 
 Dearborn for safety from the hostile tribes. 
 
 Some of the settlers never 
 came back, but most of them 
 did, the men first, building a 
 block house on Hickory Creek 
 where the settlers of the 
 neighborhood could gather in 
 time of danger. A month or 
 so later the women and chil- 
 dren returned. 
 
 During 1832 there were few 
 new settlers and, as some of 
 the old ones had left, Runyon- 
 town, as early Lockport was 
 called, was a smaller place 
 
 Lock on the old Illinois and than it had been. 
 Michigan canal. 
 
1930 
 
 William North, Jr., four great-grandchildren, Mrs. Elsie 
 (Boyer) North, Louise Boyer Paulson, Norman Boyer Paul- 
 son, and Perry Boyer Corneau, and one granddaughter, 
 Mrs. Florence (Boyer) Paulson. 
 
 The descendants of Edward Poor are a granddaughter, 
 Mrs. Kate Poor Spangler; four great-grandchildren, Edward, 
 George, Henry and Sacia Spangler, and four great-great- 
 grandchildren, Leon, Kenneth, and Virjean Spangler, and 
 Mrs. Marion (Spangler) Aspel, and two great-great-great- 
 grandchildren, Leon and Gharlean Spangler. 
 
 The descendants of Holder Sisson are George Sisson, a 
 grandson, whose children, Wilbur, Bernice, and Lorraine 
 are great-grandchildren of this pioneer. 
 
 The Blackhawk war was the only one to be fought within 
 a comparatively short distance of the town. But Lockport 
 has, of course, taken part in the national wars that have 
 occurred since its founding. Whether or not it furnished 
 soldiers for the invasion of Mexico in 1848-9 has not been 
 ascertained, nor whether there lived here any surviving 
 veterans of the Revolution and the war of 1812. 
 
 In the civil war the number 
 of volunteers was very large. 
 It would be of interest to corn- 
 pile a list of names of these, 
 but time and space are too 
 limited. One of the illustra- 
 tions, however, is the roster 
 of a Lockport Company form- 
 ed and mustered into service 
 in 1861. Its Captain, Patrick 
 O'Marah, interestingly enough, 
 was once the owner of the 
 building in which is now 
 located the Rosemary Tea 
 
 Shop, at 1020 State Street. L °S house east of Lockport, 
 
 rr,, . . _ . built in 1834, now occupied by 
 
 Inere are surviving in Lock- Oscar Bump. 
 
ABOVE — Old Norton flour mill at west side of turning basin of canal. 
 BELOW — Gaylord & Co.'s warehouse, and canal boats. Now Barrows 
 Lock Works. Pictures loaned by Miller Hardware Co. 
 

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 Aerial views of Sanitary District power house and new state lock at 
 Bruce's Landing: on deep waterway. Lock is 1000 feet long, drop nearly 
 40 feet. Pictures furnished by Nels Mundell and John Sloan. 
 
1830 
 
 But in the next year more people came. In 1835 the 
 Indians were to leave Illinois forever. The conditions of 
 the "winter of the deep snow" were not repeated. Plans 
 for the Illinois & Michigan Canal grew more substantial. 
 In 1836 work was actually to commence. 
 
 In these years there were to come to the old Lockport 
 many new settlers, among them Justin Taylor, Albin Lull 
 and his son Simeon, and Michael Morrison, who became 
 Runyontown's first tailor, J. H. Weeks, Patrick Fitzpatrick, 
 Almon Taylor, D. C. Baldwin, John Mulligan, Lyman 
 Hawley, Jirah Rowley, John Fiddyment, Hiram Norton, 
 James Alexander, Dr. J. F. Daggett, John Heck, John Lane, 
 Isaac Nobes, J. H. Weeks, J. D. Hutton, Levi Savage, Robert 
 Milne, Eli Eddy, Colonel Wright, and others. 
 
 In 1830 the town was, as we have said, situated to the north 
 of its present site. In 1838 it was to move to its new location. 
 The cause of this was the laying out of a townsite by the 
 Commissioners of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The first 
 sale of lots amounting to $6000.00, was held in November, 1837. 
 Armstead Runyon, and apparently all Runyontown, moved to 
 the new site and built the first frame house, all previous 
 houses apparently having been built of rough-hewn logs. 
 None of these log houses are now left standing in Lockport 
 but the Bump homestead, built probably in 1833 or 1834, about 
 four miles east of town, still stands as an interesting example 
 of the homes of the inhabitants of Lockport in the early days. 
 
 The earliest building on the actual site of what is called 
 Lockport proper was a log cabin built in 1831 by a man named 
 Everden, but apparently not occupied by him at the time. 
 This house was eventually purchased and occupied by Horace 
 Morse who conducted one of our first hotels and later was to 
 build the Union Hotel which stood for many years at State 
 and 7th streets. 
 
 As the first of the series of locks on the canal between 
 Chicago and Peru was here, the name of Lockport was given 
 to the town. 
 
1930 
 
 port one civil war veteran, Charles Johnson, and two in 
 Homer township, William Bentley and Fred Kemph. 
 
 Volunteers in the war with Spain were John G. Beck, Harry 
 Dowse, Herman Schell, and John W. Norton, the later having 
 the distinction of serving in the Hough Riders under Roose- 
 velt. 
 
 According to the records of John Olson Post of the American 
 Legion over three hundred men served in the world war from 
 Lockport township during the period April 7, 1917, to Novem- 
 ber 11, 1918. During that fateful time Lockport stood out as 
 a community which fulfilled its quota of Liberty loan, Red 
 Gross, and other drives. 
 
 Descendants of settlers who came after the Blackhawk war 
 and before the beginning of the work on the canal in 1836, 
 now living here, are: 
 
 Of Michael Morrison: John J. Morrison, Jennie L. Braun, and 
 Jennie Murray Whelan, grandchildren. The great-grand- 
 children are Mrs. Myrt Kenney, Wallace Morrison, John 
 Morrison, Jr., Mildred Morrison, William Morrison, Clarice, 
 Bernice, Robert, and Betty Jane Whelan; and Charles, Joseph, 
 Rita, Robert, and John Braun. The great-great-grandchildren 
 are William Morrison, Carol Hoppe, and Margery Mae Kenney. 
 
 Of Levi Savage: Mrs. Adella M. Paddock. 
 
 Of Jirah Rowley: Dr. Walter R. Paddock and Mrs. Jennie 
 Fox. 
 
 Of John Lane: Mrs. Jessie Trask, Elda Trask, Ralph Trask, 
 Mildred Trask Reeves, Helen Trask Gaines. 
 
 Of Warren Hawley: Mrs. Cornelia Lynk, Sarah Pitts, Clay- 
 ton Pitts, Mrs. Louise P. Bush, George Bush, Frank E. Felter, 
 Mrs. Wm. M. Goss, Charles O. Goss, and Eleanor, Willa, and 
 Robert Goss; W. W. North, and Dr. W. C. North. 
 
 Of Mrs. Jacob Smith: Jennie Taylor Kesner, Jane Kesner, 
 Robert Kesner, Martin Taylor, Margaret, Bernice, and Edna 
 Jane Taylor. 
 
 Of Robert Milne: Dwight Milne, Louise Milne, James Milne, 
 Dwight, Jr., William, and Robert Milne. 
 
Old Grade School building, erected about 1857; burned in the 
 Lockport conflagration of 1895. 
 
1830 
 
 First Congregational Church as it appeared prior to 1863. Two sub- 
 sequent alterations have been made. Picture loaned by Milne family. 
 
 Now came schools and churches. The stone house on State 
 street between 6th and 7th streets was used for both. In it 
 the newly-organized Congregational church held its first ser- 
 vices. In it was conducted, too, the first school in the new 
 Lockport, though it was not the first, there having been a 
 school in Runyontown in 1835. 
 
 The first religious service in the communi f y which is now 
 Lockport was conducted by the Rev. Isaac Whallum, a rector 
 of the St. James Episcopal church of Chicago, while he was 
 visiting in this community and Joliet in the year 1834. The 
 organization of the Episcopal church in the town of Lockport 
 was during the pastorate of the Rev. William Bostwick. The 
 building was erected in 1844. 
 
 The first organization of a church society in the bounds of 
 Lockport was on October 31, 1838, when the Rev. Isaac Foster 
 organized what is now the First Congregational church of 
 
1930 ~ 
 
 St. Dennis Catholic church as it appeared between 1877 and 1897. 
 The tower has been extended and alterations made since 1897. Picture 
 loaned by Frank J. Miller. 
 
 Of Patrick Fitzpatrick: Michael and Miss Fanny 
 Fitzpatrick. 
 
 The Episcopal church at 11th and Washington streets, with 
 Rev. Wilbur Leete as rector, is in the same location and the 
 same building with certain modifications and changes made 
 in the building following a fire in 1909. 
 
 The Congregational church, on the original site at 9th and 
 Washington streets, is in the same building with certain modi- 
 fications and enlargements, with Rev. H. Russell Jay as the 
 minister. The Baptist church property was purchased some 
 eight years ago by the Congregational church and has been 
 converted into a community house and religious education 
 building, known as Pilgrim Hall. 
 
 The building of St. Dennis church in its present form, at 12th 
 and Hamilton streets, is the result of a number of modifica- 
 
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- 1830 
 
 The old grade school building- the morning after the disastrous fire 
 of August 10, 1895. Picture loaned by Mrs. Bernice Frazer. 
 
 Lockport 
 1839. 
 
 The building was erected in the following year, 
 
 What is now St. Dennis Catholic church was organized in 
 Haytown in 1837. Haytown was then some three miles north 
 of the present site of Lockport on the eastern bluff of the 
 Desplaines valley. It was later moved into the town of Lock- 
 port in 1846. The first priest was Dennis Ryan. The building 
 on the present site was erected in 1877. 
 
 During the winter of 1838 Rev. William Crissey organized 
 the first class of the Methodist church with G. L. Works as 
 class leader. The present building was erected in 1854 and 
 1855 during the pastorate of trie Rev. Mr. Reed. 
 
 Other churches now in the town of Lockport were organized 
 later, some of them much later. 
 
1930 
 
 Norton & Company warehouse, and old canal, prior to 1900. Now 
 part of mills of Northern Illinois Cereal Co. Picture loaned by Miller 
 Hardware Co. 
 
 tions and changes in the original building. The present priest 
 is Rev. Charles A. Murphy. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal church, located at 10th and Wash- 
 ington streets, has also undergone modifications and enlarge- 
 ments for the housing of its congregation. The present pastor 
 is Rev. I. A. Woodrow. 
 
 Other churches now in Lockport include: 
 St. Paul's Evangelical German Lutheran, with Rev. Walter 
 Bezold as minister, organized in 1872. 
 
 The Swedish Zion Evangelical Lutheran church, whose 
 present minister is the Rev. John A. Benton; organized in 
 1875. 
 
 The St. Joseph's Catholic church, the Rev. C. A. Knur, 
 priest, organized in 1868. 
 
TOP — William Parker, in 91st year; John Lane, inventor of first steel 
 plow in 1833, east of Lockport. 
 
 BOTTOM— Capt. Patrick O'Marah, of Lockport Guards, Co. C, 111. Volun- 
 teers, 1861; Mrs. James Bruce, Sr., now in 91st year. 
 
TOP — Frank E. Felter. in 82nd year, born in Lockport; Dr. James J. 
 
 McGovern, pastor of St. Dennis Parish for 34 years, died March 31, 1914. 
 
 BOTTOM — Michael Horan, in 89th year; Mrs. Mary Shields, in 95th year. 
 
1830 
 
 The first school was taught by a young lady from Joliet 
 whose name is unknown. She afterward married a man by 
 the name of Eastman and moved to Chicago. The next was 
 taught by Miss Royce, from DtiPage. Both these schools were 
 taught in a room built by Holder Sisson for a kitchen in his 
 home and donated by him for school purposes. 
 
 The first village school house was built in 1839. It was 
 a small, plain building, about 18 by 32 feet, and was used for 
 all kinds of meetings. The cost of the building was $200.00. 
 It was afterwards bought by Henry G. Eddy and is a part 
 of the present Miller residence at 8th and Hamilton streets. 
 
 The next school structure was a handsome stone bidding, 
 with a fine clock, the construction cost being $30,000 — a credit 
 to any town at that time. When this building was burned in 
 1895 men and women who had gained an education within its 
 walls stood on the streets in tears. 
 
 In this building the w r ell-known Professor Darling taught 
 from 1857 to 1860, and again for ten years after the war. Miss 
 Annah B. Finch also deserves mention for forty-one years of 
 faithful service in both the old and present building. 
 
 The first physician in Lockport was Dr. Miner, who arrived 
 some time prior to 1834. Another w r as Dr. Anderson, whose 
 home on the Bluff road, now route 4, w r as considered a show 
 place in those days. Dr. Anderson was an uncle of the late 
 Hiram Lawrence whose wife is among the old settlers today. 
 
 A story told of Dr. Anderson's untimely death is as follows: 
 
 While returning from a sick call on the tow path of the 
 I. & M. canal, a short distance north of the city, the horse 
 slipped and fell into the canal, drawing the buggy and Dr. 
 Anderson after him. The horse swam down -the canal and 
 was found the following morning still alive. Dr. Anderson 
 was drowned and his body later recovered. 
 
 One of the earliest industries near Lockport was the first 
 steel plow factory, built in Homer soon after the invention 
 there of the steel plow in 1835 by John Lane. He was assisted 
 in his invention by Levi Hartwell. John Griswold of Lock- 
 port made the woodwork for the first plow and the many that 
 
1930 
 
 The Swedish Mission church, with the Rev. M. J. Eggan, 
 minister, organized in 1873. 
 
 A Baptist church (colored), Rev. Johnson, minister, or- 
 ganized about 1895. 
 
 The schools of 1930 are a far cry from the log cabin 
 schools in 1835. A permanent grade school building was 
 erected in 1857 on the square bounded by Hamilton, Wash- 
 ington, 8th and 9th streets, remaining until August 10, 1895, 
 when it was destroyed in the big fire. It was replaced by 
 the present building soon after. The old building in which 
 Professor D. H. Darling taught for so many years was used 
 for both the grade and high schools as was also the present 
 building until 1909 when the new high school building 
 w r as erected. This building (the high school) which now 
 covers two-thirds of a block has twice been added to, the 
 latest addition being just completed, the dedication of which 
 is part of the present Centennial celebration. 
 
 No longer is business done in log houses or in candle- 
 lighted stores. Stone and brick buildings house the busi- 
 ness district, many of them built since the fire of 1895. 
 The last decade has seen many improvements in store 
 fronts and interior furnishings, together with the brilliance 
 of electric lighting. A description of all the business houses 
 in Lockport today would involve too long an account for 
 this book. However, there is listed on another page the 
 name of every progressive business, all of whom have con- 
 tributed to make this booklet and the Centennial celebra- 
 tion possible. Lockport's major industries today are: The 
 Texas Company, oil refinery; the Northern Illinois Cereal 
 company, cereal foods; the Barrows Lock Works of the 
 Yale & Towne Mfg. Company, locks and hardware; Paul 
 Ales, Inc., gravel and sand; and B. F. Nelson Manufacturing 
 Company, roofing material. 
 
 It has been found impossible to make a list anywhere 
 nearly complete of the many settlers of the years between 
 1836 and the incorporation as a village in 1853. To give 
 
1830 ~ 
 
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 Runyon cemetery on site of first settlement made in Lockport 100 
 years aero north of Fiddymentfs creek. 
 
 succeeded it. The first plow made was sold to Comstock 
 Hanford of Lockport. We note in the account published con- 
 cerning the sale of one plow in 1839 to the Norton store of 
 Lockport that the cost was $15.50. Presumably, this was the 
 current manufacturer's price of the steel plow at that time. 
 Steel was scarce; and at first the plows were manufactured 
 from steel saws. As soon as steel could more easily be obtained 
 the business grew to large proportions and was carried on 
 for many years. Mr. Lane moved to Lockport some years 
 later where he lived until his death in 1857. 
 
 Quite early, according to the excellent short history of 
 Lockport written by Mrs. Beatrice G. Frazer for the Lockport 
 Woman's Club in 1905, a blacksmith shop was established in 
 Runyontown; and a little later a grocery store was opened 
 by Mr. Kellogg, of whom we find no other record; and a dry 
 
1930 
 
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 30* 
 
 
 m 
 
 One of the oldest houses in Lockport, now occupied by Frank Jindra, 
 1st and Madison streets. 
 
 a list of their descendants now living here is even more 
 difficult. A few have been ascertained as follows: 
 
 Descendants of James Alexander are : Healy Alexander, 
 and James, Elizabeth, John, Margaret, Caroline, Hayes, and 
 Ruth Alexander; 
 
 Of Eli Eddy: Emma Osgood Miller, and Robert and 
 Wayne Miller; 
 
 Of Charles E. Boyer (see Runyon) ; 
 
 Of J. D. Hutton: Francis S. Hutton, Florence Hutton; 
 
 Of Jane Anderson: Louise and Kate Deeming; 
 
 Of Wm. S. Myers: Ada McCabe, and Elizabeth, Marjorie, 
 Jean, Ruth, and Mary Lou McCabe; 
 
 Of Daniel Daly: John F. Daly, present mayor; 
 
 Of James Bruce: William, James, Ebenezer, Robert, 
 Harold, Cameron, Harry, James, Jr., Jane, Isabel, Margaret, 
 Janet, Luanna, and Donald Bruce; 
 
1830 
 
 goods store, or more probably a general store, by the firm of 
 Griss & Parks. The date is in the neighborhood of 1836. 
 
 At the same time the first flour mill, the stone building later 
 known as "Daggett's Mill" was built at what is now Sixteenth 
 street near the drainage canal, by William Gooding, Eli 
 Prescott, Lyman Hawley, and William Rogers. In 1838, when 
 it was completed, it is said to have been the largest flour mill 
 in northern Illinois. 
 
 In this mill, in 1836, Mrs. Frazer's history states, the first 
 post office was established. The first postmaster was E. F. 
 Bush. Mail came in by horseback once a week and there 
 was probably not a great deal of it as the postage on 
 a letter was twenty-five cents. Before 1836 the nearest 
 post office, to which all Lockport mail was addressed, was at 
 the Yankee Settlement now known as Gooding's Grove and 
 sometimes as Puckerville. The post office remained in West 
 Lockport until 1839, when it was moved to approximately 
 its present location. 
 
 Horace Morse built a tavern somewhere in the vicinity very 
 early. This was the first hotel in Lockport, although Armstead 
 Runyon is said to have established one about the same time. 
 These were followed by the more pretentious Union House, 
 which was standing as late as 1873, at the corner of State and 
 7th streets. 
 
 Many new citizens arrived in the ten or fifteen years follow- 
 ing the beginning of work on the canal in 1836. Among them 
 were Eli Eddy, James Alexander, Charles E. Boyer, J. D. 
 Hutton, William S. Myers, Daniel Daly, James Bruce, G* Adel- 
 mann, Hiram Norton, John Backus, John Fiddy^ment, James 
 Donahue, Thomas Mackin, Jane Anderson, John Schuler and 
 many others. 
 
 In 1830 the canal was a dim project. As we have said, in 
 1836-38 it took definite form. Work once begun, was to go 
 on intermittently for ten years. There was a lack of funds 
 and other difficulties. It was not to be completed until 1848, 
 in which year the first boat to navigate the canal, the General 
 
— 1930 — 
 
 Of G. Adelmann: George W. Adelmann, Howard Adel- 
 mann, Mrs. Marie Adelmann Harpham, Stella Adelmann, 
 Howard Adelmann, Jr., Mary Jean Adelmann, and Walter 
 Adelmann; 
 
 Of Hiram Norton: Miss Louise Sager; 
 
 Of John Backus: Florence Backus Muehlenpfordt, and 
 Adele Muehlenpfordt; 
 
 Of John Fiddyment: Esther, Mae, and Gertrude Fiddy- 
 ment, Mrs. Minnie Wadsworth, and John Fiddyment and 
 daughter Alice; 
 
 Of James Donahue: Mrs. Mary Flavin, Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Corcoran, and James A. Donahue; 
 
 Of Thomas Mackin : Mrs. Nellie Reagan Stockbar, Mrs. 
 Mildred Stockbar Barnes, Eleanor Stockbar, and John 
 Stockbar; Mrs. Alice Reagan Potsch; Mrs. Loretta O'Brien, 
 Joseph O'Brien, Rose Marie O'Brien, Marjorie O'Brien, and 
 Marie O'Brien; Mrs. Laura Farrell Lyons and George Lyons; 
 Donald Matteson and Fred Matteson. 
 
 Of John Schuler: the only surviving daughter of John 
 Schuler is Mary Keeler. She was born in Lockport in 1848 
 in a log house situated on the same lot on which she resides 
 at the present time. This property was purchased by her 
 father from the I. & M. Canal Commission. Other direct 
 descendants of John Schuler that are living in Lockport are: 
 grandchildren, Alice Keeler, George Donaldson, Elizabeth 
 Denick, Cora Hemphill, May Sutter, William J. Schuler, 
 Edwin Schuler, Nellie Thieben; great-grandchildren, Charles 
 Donaldson, Milo Denick, Agnes Denick, Harry Hemphill, 
 Marjorie Hemphill, Hazel Bowers, Gladys Grider, Lloyd 
 Schuler, Eleanor Schuler, Mildred Schuler, Dorothy Schuler, 
 Paul Thieben, Harold Thieben, Earl Thieben, Robert Thieben; 
 great-great-grandchildren, Stuart Hemphill, Jack Hemphill, 
 Jean Hemphill, Herrott Bowers. 
 
 The old Illinois & Michigan canal played an important part 
 in the development of Lockport. Another waterway promises 
 to play a part in Lockport's destiny. On the deep waterway, 
 almost parallelling the old canal, Lockport is again the point 
 
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1830 
 
 Frye, left Lockport for Chicago; and the dream of many years 
 was realized. Later the hanks of the canal at Lockport were to 
 be lined with docks and warehouses, and the Chicago of after 
 the fire of 1871 was to be built of stone carried on its barges. 
 
 Lockport soon became the center of large boat-building oper- 
 ations, with a boatyard located between 3rd and 4th streets 
 on the canal. 
 
 With the completion of the canal the new town was well 
 on the way to prosperity, leaving the dangers and privations 
 of the earlier years far behind. But they were to recur once 
 more in the cholera epidemic of 1849, which, from the ac- 
 counts of those who survived it, duplicated on a small scale 
 the horrors of the great plagues of history. It was this year, 
 too, that saw the departure of many of the citizens for Cal- 
 ifornia in the gold rush. 
 
 Twenty-three years after the arrival of the first settlers, 
 Lockport was to be incorporated as a village. This was in 
 1853, the first board of trustees being J. H. Stewart, Henry 
 Torrey, D. C. Baldwin, S. S. Chamberlin, and Chancey Doud. 
 
 At the time of the Centennial it is interesting to go back to 
 the first celebration held in Lockport, which was that of the 
 4th of July of 1839. Mrs. Frazer's account of this affair, in 
 her paper on the settlement of Lockport, gives the following 
 account: 
 
 "There was a big, old-fashioned barbecue and whole pigs, 
 sheep and poultry were roasted and every one feasted in fine 
 style. Hiram Norton was president of the day. General Turney 
 gave the oration, Edward B. Talcott read the Declaration of 
 Independence, while Dr. Daggett was marshal of the day. 
 The day was to wind up with a grand ball at the^ canal office 
 and the very best music that could be found was to be pro- 
 cured. Dr. Daggett found that his best available music was 
 one "fiddler" at St. Charles, Kane County, and he already had 
 several calls for his services that day. The only way to get 
 him was to outbid all the others, which Dr. Daggett did. 
 So, paying him sixty dollars, he brought him over to Lockport. 
 Before midnight, however, he was too drunk to play and they 
 
1930 
 
 of the first lock below Chicago, and this lock takes the place 
 of the five small locks on the old canal between here and 
 Joliet. 
 
 In 1889 the first legislation was passed, when laws gov- 
 erning the Sanitary District of Chicago were made. The 
 trustees were compelled by the act to construct a channel 
 from Chicago to Lockport which would accommodate vessels 
 of nine feet in draft. Thus the first link in the lakes-to-gulf 
 waterway was assured. 
 
 The sanitary canal was opened in 1900, and the channel 
 was completed to the power-house and lock at Bruce's land- 
 ing in 1907. Over twenty years ago the State of Illinois 
 proposed the completion of the waterway down the Illinois 
 river channel, and the project has been nearing completion 
 during the last decade. The new state lock at Bruce's land- 
 ing, the termination of the sanitary canal, is completed, and 
 is illustrated in this book. Completion of the whole project 
 is being urged for 1933. 
 
 The great fire of Lockport occurred on August 10, 1895. 
 Its origin is uncertain; but it began on the roof of the 
 McDonald building just east of State and 10th streets, and 
 swept in a northerly direction, destroying the buildings in 
 the block between State and Hamilton streets. From the 
 buildings on Ninth street it leaped in a north-easterly direc- 
 tion destroying the Boyer barn and the grade school building. 
 
 The space about the school house tended to check the 
 spread of the fire in that dirction, but the barn was suf- 
 ficiently near the Boyer house to endanger it. If it had 
 burned, the fire undoubtedly would have spread north across 
 Eighth street and threatened the entire north section of the 
 town. 
 
 The Boyer house caught fire innumerable times, but was 
 saved chiefly by the efforts of Father J. J. McGovern of St. 
 Dennis church, with the help of others. Stationed on the 
 roof he managed to extinguish the shower of sparks that 
 fell on it from the adjoining buildings. This was becoming 
 more and more difficult when a sudden change of the wind 
 
An old wood cut of the old Grade School burned in 1895. 
 
 had to get along with home talent to finish up the dance. 
 Their sixty dollars was gone, but Lockport had fully demon- 
 strated her patriotism and most energetically celebrated the 
 nation's birthday." 
 
 Some of the early enterprises that flourished for many 
 years and were instrumental in Lockport's prosperity were: 
 Norton & Co. Store, opened by Hiram Norton in 1838; Col. 
 Geo. B. Martin's Elevators, built in 1851; Lockport Hydraulic 
 Mills of Norton & Co., established in 1852; Norton & Co. 
 Lumber Yard and Planing Mill, established in 1852; Organ 
 Factory, established by Win. Evans in 1853; Emery & Martin 
 Lumber Yard and Planing Mill, established in 1857; W. T. 
 Ireson Carriage Shop, established by H. Norton in 1861; 
 Gaylord & Co.'s Elevators, built in 1863; Lockport Paper 
 Mills, established by Norton & Co. & Butler in 1872. 
 
1930 
 
 H*$'-$ '"• '%■'< 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TOR 
 
 AOELf FAy r W| L I I A M ^ 
 
 ^7^: 
 
 Sketch by Mrs. Adele Fay Williams, of Joliet, of projected improve- 
 ment at 5th street railroad station, sponsored by Mr. E. B. Bigelow, now 
 partially completed. 
 
 swept the flames and sparks in the other direction back over 
 the burned portion of the town, and the fire engines which 
 had been rushed from Chicago over the Chicago & Alton 
 railroad were able to get the fire under control. 
 
 In 1904 Lockport was incorporated as a city, with William 
 Keough as the first mayor and Frank J. Miller as city clerk. 
 The last village president was Frank Sloan, present super- 
 visor. One of the first major activities which the new 
 government undertook was the granting of a franchise to 
 the street car company in 1902 for a period of twenty 
 years. This franchise was renewed in 1922. 
 
 Today finds the entire community celebrating Lockport's 
 centennial. Contrasting the event with the community 
 Fourth of July celebration of 1839 we have a parade with 
 a historical pageant, a football game, an Indian pow-wow 
 staged by real Indians, and a huge public dance, the music 
 amplified to reach three tennis courts. The dance alone 
 resembles the celebration of ninety-one years ago. 
 
APPRECIATION 
 
 Following is a list of merchants, industries, and private 
 citizens who contributed toward the fund making possible 
 the extensive Centennial and Home-coming celebration 
 which this booklet commemorates. 
 
 Adelmann, George W. 
 
 Adelmann Motor Sales 
 
 Ajamie, Tom 
 
 Ales, Paul, Inc. 
 
 American Ice Cream & Baking Company, Joliet 
 
 Barr, Richard J., Joliet 
 
 Barrett Hardware Company, Joliet 
 
 Barrett, William J. 
 
 Barrows Lock Works and Employees 
 
 Bedford, Mrs. Blogg 
 
 Blaesing, William 
 
 Bockholdt, Albert F. 
 
 Bogart, Guy B. 
 
 Caneva, L. 
 
 Carlson, Emery T. 
 
 Cheadle, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur T. 
 
 Cheadle, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. 
 
 Claussen, George 
 
 Cornolo, Joseph 
 
 Coyle, Edward, Joliet 
 
 Dailey, A. P. 
 
 Dietrich, Alfred 
 
 Enz Electric Company 
 
 First National Bank and Employees 
 
 Fitzgerald Furniture Co., Joliet 
 
 Fitzpatrick, Michael 
 
 Godfrey, Herbert A. 
 
 Goodale, Wm. A. 
 
 Hanson, H. J. 
 
 Harpham, W. H. 
 
 Hishen, M. J. 
 
 Homerding, William G. 
 
 Illinois Bell Telephone Company 
 
 King, James H. 
 
 Kingston, Dr. E. A. 
 
 Ladd, Frank 
 
 Ladd, George 
 
 Ladd, Lester 
 
 Ladd, M. A. 
 
 Lockport Bakery 
 
Lockport-Dupage Farmers Elevator Co., Romeoville 
 
 Lockport Realty Company 
 
 Long's Restaurant 
 
 MacDonald, William 
 
 Mackin's Garage 
 
 Miller Hardware Company 
 
 Miller, Louise 
 
 Muehlenpfordt, C. H. 
 
 Munchalfen, Nicholas 
 
 Murphy, Neal 
 
 North, W. W. 
 
 Northern Illinois Cereal Company and Employees 
 
 O'Brien Brothers 
 
 O'Connell Hardware Company 
 
 Oxley, Robert 
 
 Paddock, Dr. W. R. 
 
 Pelc, J. B. 
 
 People's Steam Dye Works 
 
 Perkins, L. C. 
 
 Pesavento Brothers 
 
 Potsch, Alice Reagan 
 
 Prutsman, P. E. 
 
 Reed, W. C. 
 
 Resis, Sam 
 
 Roblee, Dr. L. F. 
 
 Ryan Lumber Company 
 
 Sager, C. W. 
 
 Sehring, Fred, Joliet 
 
 Shama, J. A. 
 
 Shea, Joe 
 
 Sloan, Frank 
 
 Sprague Dairy Company 
 
 Stephenson, R. L. 
 
 Stockbar's Drug Store 
 
 The Texas Company and Employees 
 
 Viskocil, Dr. E. J. 
 
 Vogel, Joseph 
 
 Volz, Wm. P. 
 
 Wall, John 
 
 Ward, Mrs. J. M. 
 
 Will County Printing Company 
 
 Winkler Brothers 
 
 Woock, Clarence 
 
 Yost Brothers 
 
The Finance Committee has appreciated the ready and 
 hearty response to its solicitations, and herewith expresses 
 its thanks for that co-operation. Any omissions from the 
 foregoing list are by reason of the fact that this went 
 to press on Monday, Octoher 13, at which time some pledges 
 or contributions may not have been made. 
 
 Carl H. Muehlenpfordt, Chairman; 
 Guy B. Bogart, 
 Wilrur Harp ii am 
 Murray A. Ladd, 
 
 Finance Committee. 
 
 Committee chairmen and officers serving in the Centen- 
 nial organization in addition to those mentioned above and 
 in the preface are: 
 
 Executive Committee: Edward F. Worst, General Chair- 
 man and Director of Pageant; William P. Volz and Clarence 
 Woock, Associate Chairmen; Bruce D. Cheadle, Secretary. 
 
 Committee Chairmen: Mayor John F. Daly, Reception; 
 LeRoy Johnston, Entertainment; Millard F. Stone, Parade- 
 George Adelmann, Transportation; Mrs. John F. Daly, Relics 
 and Exhibits; Hartley B. Widner, Traffic and Police; Albert 
 Bockholdt, Decorations; Millard F. Stone, Dedication. 
 
 PROGRAM 
 
 The first feature of the present celebration is the dedi- 
 cation of the new addition to the high school on October 17 
 by the high school officials, assisted by the American Legion, 
 at 8 o'clock in the evening. 
 
 The program for October 18 is as follows: 
 
 1 :30p. m. Pageant and parade on State street. 
 
 3:00 p.m. Football game at athletic field. 
 
 7:30 p.m. Genuine Indian pow-wow and war dance, and 
 rodeo at athletic field. 
 
 8:30 p.m. Fireworks display on same field. 
 
 9:00 to 12. Dancing on lighted tennis courts. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 977.325L81L C001 
 
 LOCKPORT HAS A BIRTHDAY, 1830-1930. 
 
 3 0112 025387975