WALTER A. BIXBY, Manager of the Galena Gas and Water Companies, is a prominent and influential citizen of this city, whose enterprise and business tact have been of great use in promoting the advancement of the growth and prosperity of this metropolis of Jo Daviess County, since he took up his residence here some years ago. He is a descendant of an ancient Massachusetts family, whose name often appears in the early annals of several of the towns in the eastern and central portions of the old Bay State, when it was a British Colonial possession; and in later times the family has also figured conspicuously, as in the great Civil War, when the New England Bixbys were represented by ten commanding officers. Since those early days in the history of our country, the many descendants of the original progenitor of the family (who was the first to leave his old English home and brave the perils of the deep, that he might cast in his lot with his Puritan friends, who had preceded him to these shores) have been scattered far and wide across the continent, and may be found in the various walks of life; some of them filling distinguished positions. In 1636 Joseph Bixby, a grandsire of our subject, many times removed, who was of Danish ancestry, left the place of his birth in Boxford, England, and emigrated to America. In 1647 he settled in Ipswich, Essex Co., Mass., and in 1660 removed to another town in the same county not far distant, now known as Boxford, although at that time it was called Rowley; but under his leadership that part of it in which he located was incorporated under the former name, which he gave to it in honor of his ancient birthplace in England. In 1647 he was united in marriage with Sarah (Wyatt) Heard, a pretty young widow from Suffolkshire, and she became the mother of the American Bixbys. Their son Benjamin was born in the town which his father aided in founding, and later in life he settled in Topsfield, in the same county, and there his son Samuel was born Jan. 2, 1689, and in 1718 the latter took up his abode in Sutton, Mass. His son Solomon was born in that part of that town, now included in the town of Millbury. He made his home in the town of Barre, Worcester Co., Mass., and there his son Joel was born Nov. 15, 1768. He married, and his son Rufus, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the city of Worcester, April 3, 1798. He settled in Vermont, and there his son, the father of our subject, was born; and when he was quite young he moved with his family to Ohio, and located in Dayton. The father of our subject was reared and educated in that town, and in his youth learned the trade of silversmith. After the death of his first wife he removed to Ironton, and engaged in the jewelry business, which he has continued since. He is numbered among the substantial and most highly respected citizens of this county. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Wilson, and she was a native of Newark, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry Wilson, a native of the Buckeye State. Walter Bixby, of this sketch, was born in Ironton, Lawrence Co., Ohio, and was there reared and educated. When but a boy he was employed in his father’s store, and partly learned the trade of silversmith of him. He early showed a marked aptitude for business, and at the age of seventeen he was offered and accepted the position of store-keeper at the Buck Horn iron furnaces, acting very acceptably in that capacity until 1880, when he became book-keeper at the Howard furnace. In 1882 he served as shipping clerk for three months in Ironton, and went from thence to Houston, Tenn., to act as stock-receiver at the Clarke Furnace. In July, 1883, Mr. Bixby resigned that position in order to take charge of the gas works at Galena, and he has managed them very successfully ever since.

Since coming here Mr. Bixby has at different times bought shares in the company, and now owns a controlling interest in the same; and he is besides a partner in the firm of Bixby, Kruger & Co., plumbers. In 1887, when the Galena Water Company was organized, he became a stockholder, and was elected manager. He is a progressive, public-spirited, young man, possessing marked executive talents, and a clear, cool brain. He is distinguished by a popular, gentlemanly manner, and by personal generosity, and he and his wife occupy a high position in the social circles of this city.

Mr. Bixby’s marriage with Miss Lizzie La Compte Holmes took place Oct. 8, 1885; and to them has been born one child, Isabelle Grace. Mrs. Bixby is a native of Galena, and a daughter of Daniel A. Holmes, a well-known and honored citizen of this city. He comes of a good old New England ancestry, and is himself a native of that part of the country, having been born in Meredith, N. H., Jan. 17, 1826. His father, Nathaniel Holmes, was born in the same State, in the town of Peterboro, where his father, likewise named Nathaniel, carried on his occupation of farmer for many years, spending the latter part of his life there. Mrs. Bixby’s grandfather was reared on the old homestead, and in his youth learned the trade of cotton-spinning, and followed that calling all his life. He spent his last years at Summerworth, N. H., dying there in January, 1840. The maiden name of his wife was Sally Hare. She was likewise born in Peterboro, but spent her last years in Belvidere, Ill., dying there June 17, 1888, in her hundredth years. Mrs. Bixby’s father was reared in Tilton, N. H., whither his parents had removed in 1828. He attended the public schools in that town in his boyhood, and at the age of fourteen entered upon a mercantile life as clerk in a dry-goods store in Concord, N. H. He remained in that city until December, 1844, when he came to Galena, traveling by rail to Cumberland, Md., and thence by stage to St. Louis; and from there on a stage to Galena, arriving here Jan. 11, 1845. He first engaged as a clerk here for six months, and then engaged in business on his own account, and continued it until 1863, when he retired from business, although remaining a resident of the city. He was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie A. Mackey, May 20, 1849. She was born in Cambridge, Md., and was a daughter of Charles and Lizzie Mackey. She died March 1, 1874. Seven children were born of that marriage, as follows: Avery N., Willie, Albertina (now dead), Abbie (wife of George Martin), Isabelle, Lizzie, and Henry H. Mr. and Mrs. Bixby are both exemplary Christians and church members, he belonging to the Presbyterian Church, and she to the Grace Episcopal Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg 507-09