Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-12-24


JEwETT wILCON
Captain Jewett Wilcox died at the
Chicago Beach Hotel Saturday night.
December II. at II O'Clock. He had
been in poor health for several months
and during the four or five weeks imme-
diately preceding his death he was not
able to attend 10 the duties of the posi-.
ton which he held with the Illinois
Central Railroad company. Last sum-
mer Captain Wilcox, in company with
his family, made an extended eastern
trip, and shortly after his return to
Chicago he developed serious stomach
trouble which rapidly undermined his
constitution, so that he failed very per-
ceptibly of late, and his death was not
unexpected, although at the end it came
very suddenly. During his long illness
Mrs. Wilcox was unremitting in her at
tentions to the sick man and he was con.
stahtly the recipient of the most devoted
and loving cares at her hands.
Captain Wilcox was born at Madison.
Conn. on Long island sound and was
about GS years old at the time Of his
death. When lad he removed with his
parents to Mlddl, bury, VI. where he
resided until lS51, when he came west
with his uncle and entered the latter's
service as clerk of the steamer Martha
Jewett," then plying on the upper Mis-
souri, river. Mr.. Wilcox was engaged in
steamboating for ten years and rose from
the position Of clerk 10 that of captain.
He left the river in 1864 to become the
proprietor of the st. Charles Hotel at
Cairo, H., which he conducted for
twelve successive years.
In 1876 Mr.. Wilcox removed to Chicago
having been offered by the Couch estate
the position of manager of the fremont
House. Mr.. Wilcox continued in charge
of this hotel until 1t was leased by the
late John a. Rice.
In 1879, shortly after his retirement
from the fremont, Mr. Wilcox was
offered, and accepted, the management
of the Gardner House, now known as
the Leland Hotel, which he conducted
for its owner. the late Captain Goodrich.
In the summer of 1880 the deceased con-
Quoted a summer hotel at Williamstown.
Mass. Returning to Chicago he became
boxes, which he continued for three
years He did not find it suited to his
tastes, however, and being offered in the
summer of 1888 the management of the
Hotel Lafayette at Lake Mlnnetonka. he
took charge Of that house and conducted
it for two seasons.
When the Hotel Riverview was built
at Kankakee, H., its management was
entrusted to Capt. Wilcox. who conduct
ed it in the most exemplary manner for
several years. In 1889 Capt Wilcox was
offered the position of superintendent of
eating houses by the Illinois Central
Railroad company, which position he
continued to hold until his death, pos
sessng in "a marked degree the conf.
dence and esteem of all the officials of
this corporation.
During his incumbeucy of the fremont
House Capt. Wilcox was elected presi
dent of the Chicago Hotel Keepers asso.
citation. In 1887, at the meeting held in
Washington, ID. c., he was elected presi-
dent of the Hotel Mems Mutual Benefit
association of the United States. From
its inception the deceased was closely
identified with the management of the last
named association and was a member of
its board of directors for fourteen years,
having attended the regular monthly
meeting held November 6, when he was
a very sick man.
Jewett Wilcox was a man universally
beloved and respected wherever known.
He was the soul of honor, and when en-
ployed by others was rigidly honest and
punctilious to degree, in conducting
the business matters entrusted to his
care. In his family relations, as son,
brother, husband and father, he was
affectionate, generous and devoted to
degree rarely equalled In his death
Chicago loses good citizen, the hotel
fraternity one of its most distinguished
members, and the II. NJ. NJ. b. A. one of
is strongest upholders.- Chicago Daily
Hotel Reporter.
The funeral will be held at the Chicago
Beach hotel tomorrow TUESDAY MORN
ing at 8 o'clock, Immediately after which
the body will be taken east for burial All
Middlebury, Nt.-Hotel Reporter. -