John Ackroyd West immigrated with his parents and their family when he was 21 years old, in 1855. His parents died within two years, and it is unknown what became of John Ackroyd West from this time until 1863 when he ran for County Treasurer in Knox County, Illinois. He must have been busy making friends, for he won this post (by a vote of 2409 to 1127) even though he was possibly not a US Citizen at the time and had only been living in this country for eight years. He served his two-year term in 1864 and 1865, and was married in the last month of his term to Margaret McMillan in Peoria, Illinois. In 1866, John A. West became Chief Deputy County Clerk, which he remained for ten years. In this time John Ackroyd and Margaret West had five children in all, but only three survived to adulthood.

John A. West was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court for one term, and then began working for the IRS as well as the Merchants National Bank for twenty years, until 1896. He returned to the post of Chief Deputy Clerk which he was successful at until his death in 1915. His wife Margaret had predeceased him, dying in 1912.

Both of John and Margaret West’s sons graduated from Cornell University as Engineers.
-Buried Springdale Cemetery
-Arrived in the US June 13, 1855 in NEW YORK from Liverpool, England. Rode the ship "William Nelson".
-Religion: Congregationalist.


Sources:
-Birth Source: Many, including family bible record.
-Marriage Source: Many
-Death Source: Obituary.
-1910 US Census : Living in Peoria with sons and grandson John Kinney
-1880 US Census : Living in Peoria with family
-1870 US Census : Richwoods Township, Peoria, Illinois. With family and 19 year old Polish household worker.


E-mail Joe C. for any additions/questions!