Howard T. Keltie

HOWARD T. KELTIE.

Howard T. Keltie, dependent upon his own resources from an early age, is today one of the most prominent representatives of industrial life in Joliet arid in business affairs has been energetic, prompt and notably reliable. He is today secretary and treasurer of the Keltie Stone Company, which is operating extensively in the quarrying and sale of stone; nor have his efforts been confined alone to one line but have reached out to various fields of activity wherein the business development of the city has been promoted, while individual success has also been accomplished thereby.

Mr. Keltie was born in Clinton, Canada, June 27, 1851, a son of Thomas and Mary H. (McCullough) Keltie. The father was a native of Scotland and at an early age became a resident of Kingston, Canada, whence he removed to Clinton and there died in the prime of life. He was a carpenter by trade and in that manner provided for the support of his family, which numbered wife and seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom two sons have now passed away. The mother, who was of English parentage, was born in Canada and died in Detroit but was buried at Joliet. In religious faith she was identified with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Howard T. Keltie was but three years of age when taken to Point Clark on Lake Huron. Four years afterward he returned to his native town and there attended the common schools until lie reached the age of sixteen, when he began earning his own livelihood through employment in a state factory. He afterward spent three years as engineer in the drilling of salt wells in Ontario in the vicinity of his old home and coming to Illinois, he was engaged to put down an artesian well at Lemont, beginning the work in July, 1873. He dug a well thirteen hundred and sixty feet deep — the first deep well in the locality. Subsequently he spent several months in deepening wells in Joliet. after which he returned to Canada, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1874 he arrived in Mendota. Illinois, where he dug an artesian well twenty-two hundred feet deep and subsequently lie put down a well at Champaign Illinois. Later he deepened the well at Mendota and his next contract was near Marseilles, Illinois, where he put down a well that was twenty-one hundred feet deep.

It was while at Marseilles, that Mr. Keltie formed the acquaintance of Mr. Hays of the Joliet Stone Company, who engaged him to buy an engine and machinery for sawing stone and put it in operation. With this company Mr. Keltie continued as an engineer for four years and was then superintendent of the quarries for a similar period. In 1884 he bought an interest in the Joliet & Chicago Stone Company and superintended the work at the quarries at Fourth and Powell avenues. Two yens later he was made vice president and secretary as well as superintendent and continued to act in those capacities until he resigned in 1893. Organizing the Douglas & Keltic Stone Company, he became its manager and soon afterward bought his partner's interest changing the name to the Keltie Stone Company, of which he has since been secretary, treasurer and manager. Under his supervision quarries were opened between Jackson and Cass streets on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad, where the company bought a large tract of land. He also opened and began to operate twenty acres west of Joliet on the some railroad. The quarries are provided with steam plants, derricks, siding and other necessary equipments, and the product is a good quality of building stone. He is also a contracting stone-mason and does all the work in this line for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. He also has had contracts for the material used in the government piers at South Chicago and at the present writing the Keltie Stone Company has the contract with the Great Lakes Dredging & Dock Company to furnish thirty thousand cords of stone for the new town of Gary, Indiana. Shipments of stone are made to all parts of the country with particularly large markets at Milwaukee and St. Louis. Mr. Keltie has become one of the foremost representatives of the stone industry in Joliet, having developed his business along modern progressive lines, and his keen perception, careful management and correct business principles have enabled him to develop an enterprise which has reached a large volume. Extending his efforts into other fields of activity, Mr. Keltie is financially interested in the Will County Hank and was one of the incorporators of the Vance Furniture Company, acting as its secretary until the business was sold.

In community affairs Mr. Keltie is deeply and actively interested. lie is a valued representative of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, belonging to Mount Joliet lodge. No. 42, A. F. & A. M.; Joliet chapter, No. 27, R. A. M.; Joliet commandery, No. 4, K T.; and to the Medinah Tefple of the Mystic Shrine in Chicago, lie is likewise connected with the Modern W linen of America and the Knights of Pythias, having served ns chancellor commander in the latter organization. In his political views a stalwart republican, he has served as a member of the county central committee, has been treasurer of the Working Men's Republican Club and has labored earnestly and effectively in behalf of the principles in which he believes. He has served as a member of the board of school trustees for Joliet township and as its president, and in 1904 was elected a member of the city council, to which position he was re-elected in 1906.

In Joliet Mr. Keltie was married to Miss May T. Smith, who was born in this city, a daughter of William Smith of Joliet, and they have three children, William H.. Arthur J. and Laura M. They also lost one son, Howard, who was killed in front of their residence by a street car when four years of age. The family hold membership in the First Baptist church, in which Mr. Keltie is now serving as a trustee. They are well known socially and the hospitality of their own pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by many friends. Mr. Keltie thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and his associates. He is always courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally have for him warm regard. A man of natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence in Joliet has been uniform and rapid. Tie is, moreover, a public-spirited citizen and has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.

.loSKl'lI S. BURTON.

Joseph S. Burton was for fifty-five years a resident of Wilmington and his many good qualities and strong traits of character made him a most highly respected citizen. He was born in Longworth, Lincolnshire, England, November 4. IS-.' ', and was therefore in the eighty-third year of his age when he passed away at Wilmington on the 7th of February, 1905. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof. He was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Stennet) Burton, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they passed away. The father engaged in market gardening there. The family numbered five sons and a daughter, but only one is now living — William — who resides in Wilmington, Illinois. Four of the sons, Thomas, Joseph, William and Septimus, came to the United States. Thomas married Elizabeth White and they had nine children, of whom three daughters are now living; Selina, the wife of Peter Brodie of Wilmington; Emma, the widow of Felix Keeley, who died in 1902, leaving five sons and a daughter, living with their mother in Wilmington; Ann, the wife of John Hennings of Wilmington.

Mr. Burton of this review came to the United States in 1849 and in November of that year settled in Wilmington. He was employed for several years in the White Cloud flour mill, having learned the milling business in the old country when a boy. Later he engaged in the meat business, in which he continued for several years, selling out, however, in 1867. He then returned to his native land on a visit to relatives and after spending three months in that country returned to the new world with his wife. He had been married ere he left England the first time, the lady of his choice being Miss Emma Buliflint. whom he wedded in September. 1847. She went hack to England and had made quite an extended visit there, when her husband returned to his native land in 1867. As stated, they again came to the United States after he had visited among friends and relatives for three months, and he engaged in the brokerage and real-estate business in Wilmington, in which connection he became well known, his real-estate operations proving an element in the substantial development of Wilmington as well as a source of individual profit.

Mr. and Mrs. Burton had no children of their own, but adopted George W. Buliflint when he was two years of age. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Buliflint. who came to the United States on the same vessel with Mr. and Mrs. Burton in 1849. Mrs. Buliflint, however, died on shipboard and was buried at sea. The father died soon after his arrival in this country and Mr. and Mrs. Burton adopted the little son, who was thus left an orphan. They reared and educated him and at the age of sixteen years he enlisted for service as a member of Company E. Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantrv, in the Civil war. He was made a corporal July 18, 1862, in recognition of the bravery which he had displayed at Harrison Landing. Later he was promoted to sergeant and was wounded in battle. He was then granted a furlough, which he spent at home, after which he returned to his regiment, but he lost his life at Fort Craig, April 2, 1865. The color bearer having been shot down, a volunteer was called for, and the young man took the place of his dead comrade. While thus defending the colors he gave up his life, having seven bullet holes in his body.

After losing his first wife Mr. Burton was married on the 21st of September, 1893, to Miss Harriet Myers, the wedding ceremony being performed in Chicago by the Rev. Noble, of the Union Park Congregational church. Mrs. Burton was born in Ruswarp, Yorkshire, England, October 20, 1863. and was a daughter of John and Katurah (Kirby) Myers, natives of England. Mr. Burton continued in business in Wilmington for many years and was a resident of the city for more than half a century. The old homestead has ever been noted for its hospitality and Mr. Burton was a man of genial nature and kindly disposition, who enjoyed the companionship of friends and neighbors. He was strictly honest in all of his dealings and his word could always be depended upon. He reached the age of eighty-two years and at his death Wilmington lost one of its representative ami valued citizens.

As printed in Past and present of Will County, Illinois (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.