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    Digging up the Dirt: The History and Mysteries of the Will County Poor Farm and Potter's Fields
    Digging up the Dirt: The History and Mysteries of the Will County Poor Farm and Potter's Fields
    Digging up the Dirt: The History and Mysteries of the Will County Poor Farm and Potter's Fields
    Ebook149 pages1 hour

    Digging up the Dirt: The History and Mysteries of the Will County Poor Farm and Potter's Fields

    By Gina Wysocki

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    About this ebook

    The Will County Poor Farm was a home for the less fortunate, terminally and mentally ill, elderly, and orphaned children. Hundreds resided there over the years and despite the closing in 1955, hundreds of them still remain, somewhere within the 180 acres.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateDec 10, 2008
    ISBN9781440104756
    Digging up the Dirt: The History and Mysteries of the Will County Poor Farm and Potter's Fields
    Author

    Gina Wysocki

    Gina Wysocki has lived in Illinois all of her life. She has been an advocate for preservation for the counties first settlers, events, and buildings of historical importance. She seeks opportunities to "dig up the dirt" pertaining to their untold histories. Her self published book titled, "Digging up the Dirt, the History and Mysteries of the Poor Farm and Potter's fields of Will County" unearths the unwritten history of how the county's poor and underprivileged lived during an era that witnessed the birth of the I & M canal to the beginning of economic development in Will County. Her extensive research has helped reunite families with ancestral knowledge that was once lost to history. Gina has held several director positions in respects to the history of the Illinois’ prehistoric past and currently serves as a Board Director for the Will County Historical Museum and Society. Gina operates and directs a Tour Service for those interested in Illinois Fossil Treasures and provides guided tours to the famous sites in Illinois. Gina currently resides in Wilmington, IL with her two children.

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      Book preview

      Digging up the Dirt - Gina Wysocki

      Copyright © 2009 by Gina Wysocki

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      iUniverse

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.iuniverse.com

      1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      ISBN: 978-1-4401-0474-9 (pbk)

      ISBN: 978-1-4401-0475-6 (ebk)

      iUniverse Rev. 2/6/2009

      Contents

      The Journey Begins

      Welcome to the Poor Farm

      Welcome Home

      Troy Township

      Staffing the Poor Farm

      Life down on the Farm

      Health of the County

      Earliest Recorded Deaths

      Institutions

      The Almskeepers

      Captain Charles Rost

      The History of the Potter’s Field

      The Poor Farm Revisited

      The Mystery of the Poor Farm Cemetery

      Let’s meet the neighbors

      The Pauper Research Begins

      Registered Paupers Log vs. Will County Death Index

      For Ray and CoriAnne

      You made it a little easier to dig up the dirt when both of you were there right beside me getting your hands dirty too.

      Graphic%202.jpg

      Raymond John and CoriAnne

      It is impossible to list all of the people whom supported this project from the start. I feel obligated to list their names in recognition for their support and contributions to this book during a very difficult time in my life.

      In some form or another, we are all connected. We all came in and out of each others lives during times of personal growth, nurturing love, and grief. We are all soul mates. Each one of you has played an important role in my life. It is because of you, I was able to complete this book. I love you all, always, and in all ways.

      Special thank you to my childhood soul mate, Ron Wright. Your strength, encouragement, and energy are never ending. We continue to teach each other and we have so much yet to learn.

      Special thank you to Larry B. for trying to guide me along this journey. Thank you for reminding me that many of us are one check ahead from ending up in the Poor House. You have played the role of Superintendent to many without acknowledgement or reward.

      Finally, to Jim, for life’s trials and tribulations. I am who I am, because of you.

      In Recognition: the late John Whiteside, the late Walt Keener and the staff at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, Sr. Marian Voelker, Douglas Kullen, Dawn Cobb of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Amy Monroe at the Department of Land Use, Lynne Smaczny, Executive Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Society, Sandy Vasko, Pat Bohler of the Shorewood Troy Library, Bob & Mary Iverson, Virginia Ferry, Councilman Tim Brophy, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi, John Rita, Acting Supervisor of the Illinois Youth Center, Steve Kapella, Nancy Schultz Voots of the Will County Clerks office, Christie and Scott Potter, the Potters field neighboring subdivision, The Plainfield Historical Society, Dale Judvine of the Joliet Park District, Glen Gummess III, Luan Rost Saunders, and Dianne Cropsey McQuaid. Thank you all for your insight, theories, and continued interest. My apologies if I have forgotten anyone.

      Graphic%203.jpg

      Will County Poor Farm as it appears today. Courtesy of Author}

      The wonderful thing about History is believing that a future discovery may have the ability to rewrite it. Indeed, the discovery of what is yet written will unearth the sins of our ancestors.

      Author, 2004

      Let the record be made of the men and things of today, lest they pass out of memory tomorrow and are lost. Then perpetuate them not upon wood or stone that crumble to dust, but upon paper, chronicled in picture and in words that endure forever.

      KIRKLAND

      The Journey Begins

      We enter this world alone. If we are able, we can live life to the fullest without many obstacles to set us back. We can live, laugh, cry, raise a family, love and be loved. Sometimes between it all, it’s a tough road to travel for some. The joy fades, the people forget, the body and mind break down and self worth is judged by the able minded. Regrettably, many people died alone and unknown to society while residing at the Will County Poor Farm (WCPF). It is a fact that many people were buried without written record. Despite the lack of documentation of their existence, the poor farm residents, or paupers, a term used for those without means of food, clothing, or medical aid, existed and contributed to society no matter how minuscule their role may have been in our society rings.

      The story of the WCPF was not an easy one to write. Researching the WCPF has and continues to consume my daily life with inquisition, by traveling to many places. I am fortunate to have had the pleasure of meeting so many people along this journey as the story was unfolding. For this research has taken me to the Battlefields of Gettysburg to touch the stone of the 20th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, to the historic Kansas City, MO to pay respect to those that are now passed, yet had made sacrifices for our country and became life residents or guardians of the WCPF. The research has opened up a wider view of possibilities than I initially sought in the beginning regarding the tales of the past. Although there are still many unanswered questions that remain regarding the residents and the 105 year operation of the WCPF, this chapter of Will County’s history is far from drawing near conclusion. Therefore, the research years concentrated upon the beginning of the operation, or 1850, to the end of Captain Charles Rosts’ term, which ended in 1910.

      Several statements made by Captain Charles Rost, were inserted into this book taken from the Board of Supervisors meetings, his ledgers, and his own personal journals to capture a brief glimpse of one mans struggle to aid those in desperate need of assistance despite his own personal handicap. His journals were the most descriptive documents pertaining to the daily operation during his 18 year reign as the County’s Superintendent of Will County’s Poor.

      It became law in 1874, for the Superintendent for the Will County Poor Farm to submit to the County for approval a summary of expenses endured, accomplishments on the property, numbers of paupers, deaths, illnesses, current live stock, and supplies currently housed at the facility. In some cases, the report provided information pertaining to the deaths or unsuccessful surgeries, births, or recoveries. These documents were instrumental in providing the information gathered for this book.

      There were undoubtedly mournful moments and terrible, perhaps even grotesque events that occurred at the WCPF. However, I feel obligated to tell the story of the WCPF despite the unfortunate events or crisis experienced by the people whom resided there. At times, the research consumed my thoughts as I went about my daily routines. I did find resolution at times, but I threw my arms up in frustration the other 72 percent of the time. In the end, however, I would find solace from my research and appreciation for my life, my family, my health, and my tiny role in it all.

      I have done my best to provide accurate references of places, dates, and persons associated with the WCPF. Due to the lack of photographs taken of the WCPF during the 105 year operation, photographs have been inserted to aid the reader with similar farming operation. I have provided a list of those assumed to be buried on the property based on the Will County Poor Farm Ledgers, and those claimed to be buried in the city’s potter’s field. However, I leave it up to you, the reader, to help in the written history of those associated in this book, by correcting errors when they occur.

      This written history is the beginning of a puzzle that is being put together one piece at a time. I am hopeful that my findings will shed some light onto Will County’s Poor Farm History and enable me to provide this text as the unread chapter of Will County’s History.

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