The Rexford family played a significant role in the early history and development of Blue Island, Illinois, and its surrounding areas. Benajah Rexford (1778–1862) and his first wife, Zeruia Squier, had six children, including Norman Rexford (1802–1883), a pioneer settler who established the first permanent building in Blue Island and served as its first postmaster. Norman’s siblings, Stephen H., Heber S., and others, also contributed to the region’s growth through various endeavors, including farming, postal services, and community leadership. The Rexford descendants, including Civil War veteran Everett H. Rexford and attorney Henry L. Rexford, furthered the family’s legacy of public service and civic involvement.
Benajah Rexford and his first wife, who was Zeruia Squier (a sister of Hiram Squier), were the parents of all the Rexfords who settled in this vicinity. They had six children, one of whom, Ruth, died in childhood. The other children were: Stephen H., Norman, Heber S., Eliza Anna, who became the wife of Germanicus Cooley, and Isabel, who married Fayette Dick-son. All of those named played an active and important part in the development and early history of the community. After the death of his first wife Benajah Rexford married Roxanna Ayer of Stainstead, Conn., who bore him six children: Wilder A., Betsy L., Olive H., Louise A., Sophronia H., and Thomas Ayer.
Benajah Rexford did not come West, nor did any of the children of his second marriage locate here except Thomas A. Rexford, who came with his wife in 1880. Benajah Rexford died in Westfield, N. Y., March 25, 1862.
Norman Rexford, Blue Island’s pioneer settler, located on the Blue Island Ridge about four miles north of the present city of that name, in the fall of 1835, having made the trip by team from Pittsburgh, Pa. Here he built a log cabin of four rooms which served as residence and also, when required, furnished lodgings for chance travelers.
This first tavern of the Blue Island ridge was a crude — and if Isaac Greenacre’s description of it is true — a very small affair. Mr. Greenacre in reminiscences of the North Ridge, says he was informed on good authority that the following description accurately fitted this pioneer tavern: “If a cat held by its tail is swung in a circle it will touch all four walls.”
That may be a rather fanciful description — anyway, the Rexford tavern, which he called the “Blue Island House,” undoubtedly afforded welcome shelter from the weather and from the wild beasts of the wilderness to many a weary traveler.
But the southern tip of the Ridge, which Rexford had explored, lured him to locate there, and in the fall of 1836 we find him busily erecting a much larger and more pretentious “Blue Island House” in the new location. This was the first permanent building erected here and was the nucleus from which sprung the City of Blue Island.
Norman Rexford was born in Charlotte, Vt., June 4, 1802, and died in Blue Island, March 25, 1883. His wife was Miss Julia Wattles, whom he married in Ripley, N. Y., January 10, 1828. Mrs. Rexford— “Aunt Julia,” as she was lovingly called by half the people in the village — died in 1897 at the age of 87 years.
Their children were Fayette D., who married Julia Post; Norman Barton, who was married twice, his first wife being Jane Smith and the second, Almira Myrick; Clarissa Caroline became the wife of Henry H. Massey (son of Hart Massey) ; Julia, married James B. Massey (another son of Hart Massey); Heber Squier Rexford, married Fanny Huntington (daughter of Samuel D. Huntington) ; Laura A. married A. B. Kyle. Mary D., Susan and Elizabeth died in childhood.
Norman Rexford was the first postmaster here and his son Fayette, at the age of eleven years, carried the first mail on horseback between Chicago and Bunkum, a distance of ninety miles. Fayette later moved to Centralia, Ill., where he operated a hotel for many years, was an honored citizen and served a term as mayor of the city.
Norman Rexford was a stalwart, kindly person. Seldom was a man turned away from his door for want of food or money, even though his generosity was sometimes imposed on. Mr. Rexford never engaged in litigation, or wished to see others do so. He was a staunch adherent of every progressive movement and Blue Island owes much of its prograss to the example of public spirit, forethought and enterprise set by him.
Stephen H. Rexford, who had come to Chicago in 1834, visited the Blue Island ridge that year but decided to locate at Bachelor’s Grove (Orland), where a number of other unmarried English-speaking young men had already settled. It was this fact which gave the locality the name “Bachelors Grove.” He lived there until 1845, when he located permanently in Blue Island. Mr. Rexford was born May 4, 1804, and died in Blue Island, October 7, 1880. He was married twice. His first wife was Susan Wattles, a daughter of Chandler Wattles. Their children were: Stephen, Julia Ellen, who became the wife of Charles T. Morgan ; Alma Zeruia, Anna Louise married Charles A. Bellamy; Sarah Elsie, married Emerson E. Bellamy, and Susan Eliza, married John W. Waughop. Stephen Rexford’s second wife was Elvira R. Barber, a widow. The children of this union were Louis A., who married Minnie S. Swan; Fannie I., married to John Clark; Mary C, married to Joseph Eames, and Henry L., who became a prominent attorney in Chicago. Stephen Rexford was postmaster here in the late 40’s. Rexford’s Crossing at Midlothian is named after this family which once lived near there.
Heber S. Rexford, who also passed through Blue Island in 1834, made a claim near his brother Stephen at Bachelor’s Grove. He erected a small log house and moved his family in. Mrs. Rexford however, was afraid of the wilderness and the whole family were soon disatisfied, so they moved back to Coshocton County, Ohio. Ten years later Mr. Rexford again brought his family West and then made a permanent loca-tion in Blue Island. He soon obtained a contract from the United States Government to carry mail from Blue Island to Iroquoise, Ill., two trips a week, for which he was paid $598 per year. This mail service was discontinued when the Illinois Central Railroad was built. He then bought forty acres of land on Burr Oak avenue in the north-western part of the settlement and went to farming, continuing in agricultural pursuits until 1870, when he was elected to the office of County Treasurer. He had previously served as Justice of the Peace for fourteen years. Mr. Rexford was born in Chittenden County, N. Y., May 12, 1809. He was married in 1833 to Miss Laura Bisbee, a native of Massachusetts. They had three children: Everett H., who married Sarah Robinson, a daughter of Charles D. Robinson; Roscoe E., who was a soldier in the Civil War, and from exposure became sick and died; Emily, who married M. T. DeWitt, teacher in the public school. Mrs. Heber Rexford died in 1856 and Mr. Rexford then married Elizabeth Smith a native of New York. She was a widow. Heber Rexford died March 7, 1885, aged 76 years.
Everett H. Rexford, who married Sarah Robinson, was the second volunteer in this vicinity to offer his services to the Government at the outbreak of the Civil War. He was a bugler in Company A, First Illinois Light Artillery, and participated in sixteen battles. He was mustered out in July, 1864. Mr. Rexford always took a deep interest in civic activities and in everything affecting the growth and welfare of the community. It was he who located the first large brick yards in Blue Island. He secured much of the right-of-way for the Chicago and Blue Island railroad (now the B. & O. Calumet Terminal) and for the Chicago Interurban Traction Company. He served several years as a Village Trustee and as President of the Village board. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Rexford had only one child, Laura Ballard Rexford, who married George Petti John and now (1935) living in South Pasadena, Cal. They have two children, Henry and Lucy. Emily R., who married M. T. DeWitt, was childless.
Wilder Rexford, whose wife was Ann Holcomb of Westfield, N. Y., lived here with his half-brother Heber Rexford for a short time in the late 40’s.
Henry L. Rexford was born in Blue Island, October 6, 1854. He was educated in the schools of Blue Island and Chicago. He graduated from the Union College of Law in 1879 and was admitted to the Bar. The law firm of Rexford & Prentice was established in 1881. Henry L. Rexford was a son of Stephen Rexford.
Norman Barton Rexford was the first white male child born in Blue Island, (1836). He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Rexford and the father of Frank, Susan, Will, Fred, and Charles Rexford. The first three named are deceased. Fred and Charles are twins and live in Pasadena, California.
Source
Volp, John H., The first hundred years, 1835-1935: historical review of Blue Island, Illinois, Blue Island, Illinois : John H. Volp, 1938.