Ives, John G.

Born: 1818-03-22 Oswego, New York

Died: 1898-03-29 Springfield, Illinois

Flourished: Springfield, Illinois

John G. Ives was a jeweler, watchmaker, and businessman in Springfield, Illinois. Ives apprenticed as a jeweler and watchmaker in his native New York before moving to Springfield in 1838. In 1842, Ives entered into partnership with Isaac B. Curran to create the firm of Ives & Curran, which repaired and manufactured watches, clocks, jewelry, and silver ware. In June 1845, he married Abigail Wilson, with whom he had four children. In November 1847, Ives dissolved his partnership with Curran and continued the business alone. In 1850, he owned real property valued at $850. In December 1850, Ives resumed his partnership with Curran, which continued until September 1854, when Ives and Curran dissolved the partnership. In 1855, Ives built the Aetna Flour Mill, which he operated until 1865. In 1860, he owned real property valued at $20,000 and a personal estate of $2,000. Ives was a member of the Republican Party, and in 1864, he won election as treasurer of Sangamon County on the Republican ticket. He was also an active and high-ranking member of the Freemasons.

History of Sangamon County, Illinois (Chicago: Inter-State, 1881), 682; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 4 November 1842, 2:4; Illinois Journal (Springfield), 9 December 1847, 3:2; Illinois Daily Journal (Springfield), 1 February 1851, 3:1; 27 September 1854, 2:6; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Sangamon County, 27 June 1845, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Springfield, Sangamon County, IL, 121; U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census of the United States (1860), Springfield, Sangamon County, IL, 149; Obituary, Illinois State Register (Springfield), 30 March 1898, 5:4-5.