WIGHTMAN, George F.
Hon. George F. WIGHTMAN is a well known
civil engineer of Lacon, one who has a very wide circle of
friends and acquaintances, and who is truly a representative
citizen of Marshall county, of which he has been a
resident since 1846, save for the period mentioned further along
in this sketch. He was born in
Ontario,
Canada, near St.
Catherine, February 5, 1827, and is the son of Samuel and Anna
(ROY) WIGHTMAN, who emigrated from that country in 1836, when
our subject was but nine years old, locating in Mercer county,
Illinois. There the father secured a tract of government land
and commenced its improvement. He was a natural mechanic and in
addition to carrying on the farm engaged in mechanical pursuits,
having a shop on his place. He did all kinds of mechanical work
and the WIGHTMAN shop was patronized by all who were in need of
repairs of any kind, or who wished some new contrivance made.
His house was a station on the underground railroad, and many a
poor slave was sent by him on the road to freedom, our subject
on more than one occasion acting as conductor, taking the
escaped slaves to a station at
Andover, in Henry county, from which
place they were sent on their way. The father died in 1863 at
the age of seventy years.
The subject of this sketch remained upon
the home farm until he was seventeen years of age, and in that
time only attended school two weeks, his primary education being
attended to by his mother, who was a well educated woman. In
1846 he spent two months on a boat on the Mississippi river,
after which he helped take a barge up the Rock river as far as
Dixon, that river being then a navigable
stream. His time, however, was principally spent in labor upon
the farm or in the shop with his father. Having thoroughly
mastered the cooper’s trade, on leaving home he came direct to
Lacon, where he entered the employ of William Fisher & Co., in
their cooper shop and packing house and after working about four
years was made foreman. For thirteen years he remained with that
company, working, however, only in the fall and winter season.
In the summer he took up civil engineering in company with
General CURTIS on the survey of the Air Line railroad. He was
employed on this work and in the office of the general engineer
in Lacon for some time. General CURTIS was a West Point student
and during the rebellion was in command of the Army of the
Arkansas. His son, Samuel CURTIS, now
residing at Omaha,
was also engaged with Mr. WIGHTMAN in the survey of this road.
In 1859 and 1860 Mr. WIGHTMAN was engaged
in steamboating on the Illinois river,
having the command at different periods of three vessels, the
Edmonia, the Movastar and the Diana. His run was from La Salle
to St. Louis, and his vessels were for freighting
purposes only. For the first season or two he did a fairly
prosperous business, but later it fell of perceptibly. He
continued, however, in business until the breaking out of the
civil war when he secured a position in the quartermaster’s
department. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing he enlisted in
the Independent Tennessee Infantry and served until after the
capture of Vicksburg, when he
again engaged in steamboating, as captain of
Mississippi river
transports for the government, and also on a gunboat. He
continued in this line until the close of the war on the
Mississippi river and at Galveston,
Texas, and was there made superintendent of
ocean and river transportation with headquarters at Galveston. He was on the transport, Diligent,
at the time of the Red river
expedition, and was engaged in carrying dispatches. Later the
boat was sunk near Austin,
Mississippi. He was mustered out of
service and honorably discharged at Galveston, in April, 1866, one year after the
surrender of Lee.
Returning to Lacon, Major WIGHTMAN again
engaged in his old occupation as a civil engineer, and made the
survey of the Keithsburg, Lacon & Eastern railroad, which is now
a part of the Central Iowa railroad, and was its chief engineer. He was
also chief engineer of the
Chicago, Lacon & Keokuk railroad, making
its survey. He was assistant engineer in building the road from
Lacon to Wenona, which now forms a part of the Chicago & Alton
railroad. His work in this line was always satisfactory to those
by whom he was engaged and his reputation as a civil engineer
was second to none in the locality. While still engaged in these
duties, he was nominated on the republican ticket as a
representative from the twentieth senatorial district to the
general assembly of the state. He was triumphantly elected and
served with credit to himself and constituents, declining a
re-election. It was during this session that the ever memorable
contest occurred resulting in the election of John A. Logan as
United States senator. Major
WIGHTMAN was loyal to General Logan for whom he had the greatest
respect, admiring his ability both as a warrior and statesman.
While still serving as representative he was appointed by
President Hayes as postmaster of Lacon, duly qualified and
served one year, making an efficient officer.
After serving about one year as postmaster,
the position of civil engineer for he city of Peoria was
tendered him by its mayor and common council. Resigning his
position he accepted the offer from
Peoria
and at once removed to that city, where for twelve years he
continued to act as civil engineer. Those twelve years were busy
ones and during that time the present fine sewer system of that
city was inaugurated, as was also the brick paving, he being a
pioneer in this line in the state of
Illinois. Brick paving is now
extensively used throughout the whole country, but when Major
WIGHTMAN first advocated the system he was laughed at by almost
the entire community. His experimental block, however, satisfied
the people, and at the end of twelve years there were laid in
that city about five miles of brick pavement. The sewer system,
of which mention has been made, reflects great credit upon his
ability as an engineer, and during his term about thirty miles
of sewer were constructed. He also laid two miles of asphalt.
His entire attention while in
Peoria
was given his professional duties and his work was eminently
satisfactory.
On the 8th of July, 1893, he severed his
connection with the work in
Peoria
and returned to Lacon. He is now vice-president of the Peoria,
Lacon & Northern railroad, with a capital stock of $1,000,000,
which has recently been granted a charter to build a railroad
from Peoria to Spring Valley, a distance of fifty-two miles, and
open up Lacon, Putnam and Granville with the coal center, and
also open up the finest agricultural country in the state
without a railroad. Major WIGHTMAN has made the survey and is at
present (spring of 1896) engaged in securing the right of way.
Among those interested with him in the road may be mentioned
Edward HOWLETT and Dr. McILVAINE, of Peoria; Judge McNABB, of Putnam county, and
Hon. Robert B. FORT, of Lacon. In addition to the railroad work
now occupying his attention our subject has been made civil
engineer in the survey and construction of the Asylum for the
Incurable Insane at Peoria. The buildings are now in process of
erection.
On the 1st of January, 1849, Major WIGHTMAN
was united in marriage at Lacon, with Miss Dorcas LINDSAY, at
the residence of Dr. BOAL, she being an orphan and reared in the
doctor’s family. To them were born two children: Charles R., who
is a civil engineer and is engaged in business with his father,
and Laura, now residing with her father, is the widow of William
BELLOWS, of Lacon, who was an engineer on the Chicago & Alton
railroad, and was killed in a wreck while on duty, leaving three
children: George, William and Annie.
Major WIGHTMAN is not a member, but is a
supporter of the Episcopal church. He was made a Master Mason in
Lacon lodge, No. 61, about 1850, and was one of the first
initiated here into the mysteries of that ancient order. He has
also been made a Royal Arch Mason, and holds membership in Lacon.
In the work of the order he has ever manifested a commendable
interest and has filled nearly all the chairs. In politics he is
an uncompromising republican, and firmly believes in the
principles of that party. He was a delegate to the
Bloomington
convention in 1856, at which time the party was formally brought
into existence in this state. He was also a delegate to the
state convention in 1858, and favored Abraham Lincoln as the
party-s candidate for the United States
senate. Mr. WIGHTMAN has never sought office, but served as
county surveyor for some years. As a citizen, friend and
neighbor he is highly esteemed by all, and his life affords a
good example to the young.
Extracted May 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
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