John Watson Alvord

Background

Alvord, John Watson was born on January 25, 1861 in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Review John Watson and Myrtilla Mead (Peck) Alvord.

Education

Educated Howard U. Preparatory School, 1873-1874, Johann Wolfgang Hunt’s Normal School, Washington, 1874-1877 (honorary Continuing education, University of Wisconsin, 1913).

Career

Assistant engineer construction Hyde Park and Lake View pumping stations, Chicago water works, 1880-1884. City engineer Lake View (Chicago), 1884-1888. Town engineer, Cicero, Illinois, 1889-1890.

Chief engineer surveys Chicago Exposition, 1890-1893, medal as one of 70 designers. Also chief engineer Hygeia Water Company, 1891-1892. Consulting engineer since 1894, to over 300 municipalities on sewerage works, water supply, sewage disposal, water power, appraisal bds., etc., among these Illinois and Michigan Canal, 1897-1901, City of Columbus, Ohio, 1898, Dubuque Water Company, 1897, General Electric Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1904, United States Steel Corporation, Gary, Indiana, 1907, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Des Moines (Iowa) Water Company, 1907, Milwaukee, 1910, Merriam Commission, Chicago.

1910; flood commission, Dayton, 1913, Columbus, 1913. Citizens’ Terminal Plan Committee, 1914, Illinois State Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, 1918. Supervising engineer Camp Grant (Illinois), Camp La Cruses, P.R.

Construction engineering Great Lakes Naval Tr. Station and chief engineer United States Housing Corporation, 1917-1919. President American Water Works Association, 1910.

Honorary member American Society of Civil Engineers (director 1918), Illinois Society Engineers (president 1904-1906), N.E. Water Works Association, Western Society Engineers (president 1910. Washington award for 1929). Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Member Illinois Society S.A.R., Society Mayflower Descendants.

Membership

Member, Board of Conservation and Natural Resources, 111., since 1921. Member. Citizens Tax Committee, Cook Company, 111., 1929. City Engineer, Lake New City (now Chicago), 1884-1888.

Consulting Engineer Author: Relief from Floods (McGraw Hill and Company), 1916.

• Member, Board of Conservation and Natural Resources, 111., since 1921. Member. Citizens Tax Committee, Cook Company, 111., 1929. City Engineer, Lake New City (now Chicago), 1884-1888. Consulting Engineer Author: Relief from Floods (McGraw Hill and Company), 1916.

Connections

Married Helen C. Cornell, September 4, 1889 (died 1926). Married second, Lucy B. Pitkin, April.

Father:

Review John Watson Alvord

Mother:

Myrtilla Mead (Peck) Alvord

Spouse:

Helen C. Cornell

Spouse:

Lucy B. Pitkin