Hon. Edward H. Nevitt, of Albany, has been a prominent business man of Whiteside County since 1850. He is a native citizen of the State, having been born at Carwi, White County, Jan. 6, 1822. He was 15 years of age when his father (see sketch of William Nevitt), removed his family to Albany Township, and until the date named he was engaged in farming, with the exception of the time spent in obtaing his education, which he completed by studying at Knox College. He had observed the advantages of the lumber trade on tbe Mississippi, and at the age of 28 years began his active connection therewith, pursuing his business vigorously in the various avenues of traffic in production-of lumber, until the summer of 186o, when he suffered almost total annihilation of his business relations from the tornado of June 3, which literally destroyed the village of Albany; his saw-mill, with the lumber and fixtures, and his residence, being swept away.

He made a brave struggle to recover his losses, staying on the spot with his friends and neighbors, who had encountered similar disaster. In 1865, he was appointed United States Mail Agent, and discharged the duties of the position on the river route from Dubuque to Rock Island, one season. In the fall of the same year he again embarked in the lumber trade, in which he has since operated continuously.

Mr. Nevitt's abilities received early recognition by his townsmen, and he was elected to the position of Assessor on the organization of the township, and was successfully re-elected twenty years. He served as County School Commissioner and as Supervisor of Albany. He held the latter office six consecittive years, and was re-elected for a seventh term, but resigned to take his position as Representative of the Eleventh District, which included the counties of Whiteside and Carroll. He was elected to the Assembly of Illinois in the fall of 1876, and was made a member of some of the most important committees. His service in the 30th General Assembly was characterized by the same ability, faithfulness and public spirit which had made hurt prominent in local affairs and in the duties of his private citizenship. Mr. Nevitt is the possessor of a mind well stored by a wide familiarity with literature and prominent individuals in public life; and he is the recipient of the respect and esteem of all who know him for his disinterested services in the general welfare, as well as for his superior character as a man.

Mr. Nevitt was joined in marriage to Hannah Alvord, Dec. 27, 1855 at LeClaire, Iowa. She was born May 26,1826, in Elliottsville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. A daughter, Lizzie Blanche, was born April 19, 1856, and died Nov. 18, 1858. The wife and mother died Nov. 30, 1882. The second marriage of Mr. Nevitt, to Jennie Whiting, occurred Jan. 15, 1884. Mrs. Nevitt is a native of the City of Lockport, N. Y.

Portraits and Biographical Pg 779

Edward H. Nevitt was born in Carmi, White county, Illinois, Janu­ary 6, 1822. When twelve years of age his father moved from White county to near Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois. Here the family remained until 1837 when they all came to Albany. Mr. Nevitt was married to Miss Hannah Alvord at LeClaire, Iowa, on the 27th of December, 1855, Elder Hartzell , performing the ceremony. Miss Alvord was born in Ellicottville, Cattaraugaus County, New York, May 26, 1826. Lizie Blanche, marriage, was born April 19, 1856, and died November 18, 1858. When Mr. Nevitt first came to Albany he settled in the part of the town then known as Van Buren, now more particularly designated as Upper Albany. During the first years of his residence he followed farming. In 1847 he engaged in the lumber business on the Mississippi river, and continued in it about three years. In 1852 he became connected with the saw mill business, and was so occupied until 1860 when the mill in which he had an interest was, together with the lumber, machinery, etc., swept away by the Tornado. His dwelling house was also destroyed at the same time, thus entailing a heavy loss m which it took several years to recover. In 1863 he was appointed mail agent on the river from Davenport to Dubuque, in which service he remained nearly a year, and then went into the lumber, insurance, and real estate ­business, in which he is still engaged. His fellow citizens early discovered that he was peculiarly qualified for an able, prompt and faithful discharge ofthe duties of a public trust, and in 1852, the first election after the township organization, elected him Assessor of the town, and continued him in that office at each succeeding election until 1877, a period of a quarter of a century. In 1870 he was elected Supervisor of the town, an office which he contin­inued to hold by re-election until January 1,1877, when he resigned to take his seat as Representative of the General Assembly of the State from the 11th District, to which office he had been elected for two years in in the fall before. During the late, long and arduous session of the Thirteenth General Assembly he was always vigilant in the discharge of his duties, rarely being out of his seat during session hours, or away from conmmittee work when it demand­ed his attention. He was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed and Enrolled bills, one of the most important committees of the House, and also member of several other committees. Mr. Nevitt was educated at Knox College.

History of Whiteside County