Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago, R. Blanchard and Company
Number of Pages: 790


USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Discovery and conquests of the Northwest, with the history of Chicago, Vol. II > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47



&c 977 359di v.2 1198387


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 3112


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016


https://archive.org/details/discoveryconques02blan_0


Discovery and Conquests +


OF THE


NORTHWEST


WITH THE


HISTORY OF CHICAGO


IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. II.


BY


Rufus Blanchard.


CHICAGO:


R. BLANCHARD AND COMPANY


169 RANDOLPH ST.


1900


A


1198387


INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME II.


The first link in the chain of our history was forged by Greece. Passing down through the uncoil of cen- turies, link by link, this chain can be traced through the civilizing process in Europe, which began, at first, in Greece; but this process was far short of completion, according to our present standard, when America was discovered. Here an unoccupied field for its finishing touches was presented, and the work went on with accumulated force and timely speed.


The American colonists forged an advanced link in this chain when they astonished Europe by improvising new principles in national policy. That these princi- ples were an improvement on the old is proven from the fact that, in substance, they have been adopted by the leading nations of Europe.


In the westward course of empire the great North- west poses as the ideal type of the principles essential to our integrity as a Nation. This is the last link in the chain, none of which are missing, in the pages of history, from Greece, across the Atlantic; and from its rugged shores to the Northwest. Here it is our mission to reproduce, on our own soil, with improvements, all that is worth copying in Europe.


Chicago has begun this work here, and the records of this volume would be imperfect without their con- temporary history.


Prominent among them are the Armour Institute, the Field Columbian Museum, the Chicago University, the Academy of Sciences, the Yerkes Observatory, the Newberry Library, the John Crerar Library, the Art Institute, the Public Library, the Lewis Institute and the Chicago Institute.


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4


Introduction.


They decorate our city, as the advanced student in science is decorated with a title. The inspiration of the people was the incentive to building them, and their founders honored the call. Each of them will be de- scribed by such persons connected with them, respect- ively, as are qualified to do it successfully and faithfully. No other city in the wide world, of Chicago's age, has ever been the beneficiary of such magnanimous gifts. These institutions are indispensable to the fame and credit of our city, in the estimation of the literati of the world and their kindred associations.


Other portions of this volume will be made up with things pertaining to our history, chosen according to the best judgment of the writer and his assistants, some of whose autographs may be seen at the end of Volume I, and others will appear at the end of Volume II.


Chicago, since its first discovery, has been identified with the growth of the whole country; it is now brought into relations with the whole world, not only by its tutelary institutions, but by the laws of commerce. So versatile are its interests, and its provisions to fulfill its obligations incumbent upon a great metropolis, that, without the aid of many persons familiar with the required knowledge of them, their history could not be written.


I thank such persons for this aid, and that posterity will thank them will be the conviction of the statistician and the book worm.


CHICAGO, January, 1900. RUFUS BLANCHARD.


THE PRESS OF CHICAGO.


In the club rooms of London, in the sixteenth cen- tury, old English ale stimulated gossip on the few topics of the day that excited public attention at that time-few, because inalienable allegiance to hereditary rulers, then the unchallenged policy of the state, had relieved the masses from responsibility as to anything but the bread and butter question, hence the small number of issues to discuss.


How blue blood found its way into the veins of ignoble skins to bait them with the food of the tree of knowledge can only be left to speculation, but it did, and begat a hybrid offspring that conceived the doc- trine of inalienable rights, in lieu of inalienable alle- giance.


Then the newspaper began to grow from seeds that this innovation had planted; but it grew slowly in England, its political soil having been exhausted for lack of rotation of executive crops, until the whig party made parliament superior to the crown; then it grew faster.


In America a virgin soil was well adapted to its culture, and it grew as fast as settlements grew, and made its acorn planted here the monarch of the forest, like the oak.


Its field fills every avenue of thought-nothing es- capes its notice. Its pen of criticism is dipped in gall, if occasion requires it, and its approval fires the heart of the bright side of man. Every interest of the coun- try is amenable to the standard of the types, and the place that stands nearest to the center of power holds the helm in our hive of industry. This is Chicago, from


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6


The Press of Chicago.


whose argus eye not a sparrow falls to the ground un- noticed.


Boston, New York, New Orleans and San Francisco are at the extremes; they may be shaken without the center being moved; but if any misfortune should hap- pen to Chicago, they might be put on short rations.


In the literature that comes within the sphere of editorial columns Chicago is conspicuous for sensation.


What is not prudent to advocate direct, at first can be told by implication, till it meets general approval, when it can be emphasized. Sensation is employed to do this, and to give effect to waves of sentiment that move the public mind, and here it is made the most of.


It is old fashioned to tell facts, only as fast as they materialize. Chicago anticipates them in sensational head lines. For this indiscretion, if it be such, she can afford to stand impeached; but there are nice distinc- tions in this newspaper prerogative. The use of words must be scrutinized with care, and Chicago editors are experts in this art of producing results required by a considerate public that does its own thinking, and not even in violation of partisan fads, infrequently puts vest pocket votes into the ballot box.


Sensational logic-to advocate what ought to be-is the highest aim of the Chicago editor, whether he does it by a flank movement or direct attack, for which ac- complishment geographical and moral reasons exist.


Our trading interests ally us to the Atlantic coast, and make it for our interest to reciprocate an exchange of sentiment with Boston and New York on the lines of commerce and the friendly associations that go with them.


Fraternal relations with the south came, because Chicago editors were the first to extend the right hand of good-fellowship to it, and to honor the memory of their soldiers, whose graves are with us. This is a proof that we are the center of equilibrium for the whole country, and this responsibility tempers our logic with cosmopolitan grace and dignity.


"Of him to whom much is given, much will be required," is our maxim.


7


The Press of Chicago.


The extreme west is our left wing, constantly being reinforced with mental athletes, who do honor to the central main body of our American army of civilians.


Hence Chicago editors are more cosmopolitan than those of any other city; they are forced to be by the inexorable laws of comity of interests. From this stand- point they have all they can do to write up live issues without meddling with dead ones or wasting thunder in hyperbole.


It is the country, or, better said, the Nation, that has given the Chicago press this high position. The oppor- tunity has been utilized by the press to become its honorable exponent. Its arena is versatile, its themes inexhaustible, its clientage universal, for who does not read a newspaper? Whose opinions are not modified by its influence? Why, because they are the result of the public thoughts formulated into practicable theories, changeable only to suit the growing wants that environ us near, and far, bounded only by a nation's limits, that in peace or war are dependent on Chicago for table supplies, and on her politically strategic locality for nominating conventions for presidential elections.


The first veritable evidence of this was in 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was nominated by the repub- lican party for president. This party had suffered defeat in the previous presidential canvass, with its issue clearly defined, and it was a problem in the minds of able statesmen whether the turning point in the wave of excitement then present had passed or not. In this emergency the Chicago press came to the rescue, claiming that the prevailing sentiment north of Mason & Dixon's line was no transient impulse, but a necessary national policy; that the hour for decisive action had come, and the man to lead in it; and that man was Abraham Lincoln. When Fort Sumter was fired on; then the New York press put out the feeler, "Wayward sisters, depart in peace"; the Chicago press, like a flame of fire, demanded resistance to the last extremity. When the next nominating convention for president came, it was an issue whether to compromise with the south or push the war. The latter policy prevailed more


8


The Press of Chicago.


through the influence of the Chicago press than from that of any other city. From that day on, the Chicago press has been foremost in national issues.


The press here is the organ of young, stalwart America in the plenitude of her might, and must be, as long as rivers and lakes-the forces of nature-are in alliance with the commercial forces centered here.


AXIOM.


Chicago is the most American of all America.


When James Gorden Bennett, Thurlow Weed and Horace Greeley laid the foundation for the rising grand- eur and ultimate supremacy of the American press they were peerless in their calling and exemplary in their achievements. Their mantle of honor has fallen on no individual shoulders. It became the controlling spirit of American newspapers, and an inspiration which Chicago has secured within her toils, because she had the best opportunity to do it.


The following list of Chicago daily papers enjoy this privilege, and it is here given for the benefit of reference in futurity: Abendpost (German), Chicago Chronicle, Chicago Democrat, Dziennik Chicagoski (Polish), Chi- cago Evening Post, Freie Presse (German), Illinois Staats Zeitung (German), Chicago Inter Ocean, Chicago Jour- nal, Narod (Bohemian), Chicago Daily News, Chicago Record, Skandinaven (Norwegian-Danish), South Side Daily Sun, Svornost (Bohemian), Chicago Times- Herald, Chicago Tribune; besides these The Economist, a weekly financial paper, deserves mention.


Editorial literature, now, is in the hands of many wri- ters, all of whom scrutinize and analyze the actions of men and nations according to one common standard; no single master mind, in this guild, holding a control- ling influence over the whole, but the whole holding the situation with a moral grip, acknowledging allegiance only to a well digested public judgment. If popular governments are right this is right. In London The Thunderer holds the key to the celestial gate; in Chicago the gates are ajar.


CHICAGO CHARTERED AS A CITY.


FIRST MAYOR ELECTED.


The year 1836 had been one ofremarkable prosper- ity to the little village of Chicago. Its population had grown to the astonishing number of 3820 (as es- timated), from a beginning of about 200 persons in 1833. Work on the canal had actually been begun and the harbor was in process of improvement, at the expense of the general government. Land specula- tors were rapidly buying up the lands, and that sys- tem of real estate speculation, which has since this period presented such fascinations to the speculative capitalists of the country, was now inaugurated. Under these auspicious beginnings, on the 26th of October, the town board took the necessary steps to take upon themselves the forms of a city. The pres- ident of the board of trustees invited the inhabitants of each of the three districts of which the town was composed, to select delegates to meet the board, to confer together on the expediency of applying to the legislature for a city charter. The meeting had place on the 25th of November, and resulted in the appoint- ment, by Eli B. Williams, the President of the board, of five delegates to draw up the charter, in form for presentation. Their names were Ebenezer Peck, J. D. Caton, T. W. Smith, Wm. B. Ogden, and Nathan H. Bolles. On December 9th, this committee, through Mr. Peck, presented their charter to the board, and


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10


Charter Election.


after some amendments it was adopted, and on the fourth of March, the next year, 1837, the legislature of Illinois passed the bill approving the charter, and Chicago took upon herself the forms of a city. The next move was to choose a Mayor. The material for an able one, was not wanting; but from its very excess the diffi- culty in making a choice wasincreased. Happily there were no spoils at stake and no rings to covet them.


The issue was defined by the two political parties, which then divided the country, on political economy. The whig party represented one, and the Democratic party the other. And here it may be pertinent to say that the separate policies of the two parties could not be accurately defined in theory, so as to be well under- stood at this day; but practically the Whigs repre- sented a policy, which embraced a liberal system of banking, protective tariffs, and an extensive system of public works, while the Democrats did not oppose this, entirely, but professed to guard against excesses in their propagation. The most of them wentfor me- talic currency only, or paper convertible at the will of the holder. John H. Kinzie was the Whig candidate for mayor, and Wm. B. Ogden the Democratic. Says Hon. John Wentworth: "Both were members of the old St. James Episcopal Church, both men of wealth for that time, and there was nothing in the character of either of the men to give either one any advantage over the other. It was a fair stand-up fight between the Whigs and Democrats. Men of each political par- ty wanted the city government to stand under its pe- culiar auspices". The contest was sharp and spirted, and great care was taken to provide against illegal voting. Young Wentworth was challenged on the grounds of his youth, and was sworn before being al- lowed to vote-a suspicion of the truth of which charge, he humorously says, he has since outgrown.


Mr. Ogden received 469 votes and Mr. Kinzie 237, showing a large majority of the citizens of Chicago to


II


Charter Election.


be in favor of the democratic policy of the country, at which time, it is not too much to say, we were al most at a loss for any very vital issue. The total vote of the south division was 408, of the north 204, and of the west 97, and of the whole city 709.


ENLARGEMENT OF CHICAGO BY WARDS AND CITY LIMITS.


BY JOHN A. MOODY, CHIEF CLERK IN CITY CLERK'S OFFICE.


In 1835, John H. Kinzie, Gurdon S. Hubbard, Ebe- nezer Goodrich, John K. Boyer and John S. C. Hogan were constituted by the legislature of Illinois a body politic and corporate to be known by the name of the "Trustees of the Town of Chicago." Thejurisdiction of the town extended over all that districts contained in sections nine and sixteen, north and south frac- tional section ten and fractional section fifteen, in township 39, N. R. 14 E. of the 3rd P. M., except that portion of fractional section ten occupied by the United States, for military purposes. The act creat- ing the town provided that the corporate powers and duties should be vested in a board of nine trustees, after the first Monday of June, A. D. 1835, on which date the term of office of the above named gentlemen expired. In the year following, the system of water works of Chicago was instituted by the act incorpo- rating the Chicago Hydraulic Company.


Two years after the incorporation of the town, on the 4th of March, 1837, the legislature enacted that "the district of country known as the east half of the southeast quarter of section thirty-three, fractional section thirty-four, the east fourth part of sections six, seven, eighteen and nineteen, all in township forty; also fractional section three, sections four, five, eight, nine, and fractional section ten, excepting the southwest fractional quarter of said section ten, occupied as a military post, untill the same shall be-


12


Wards-City Limits.


come private property, fractional section fifteen, sec- tions sixteen, seventeen, twenty, twenty-one, and fractional section twenty-two, all in township thirty- nine, range fourteen, east of the third P.M .; being in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, should be known as the CITY OF CHICAGO."


It is impossible to give the boundaries above fixed by streets. There is a manifest error in the copy of the act which is on file in the office of the city clerk. The maps show that the sections six, seven, eighteen and nineteen, above mentioned, are in township thirty-nine instead of forty.


The territory was divided into six wards; of which the 1st and 2nd were in the south, the 3rd and 4th in the west, and the 5th and 6th in the north divis- ions, respectively. The government was vested in a mayor and twelve aldermen-two aldermen from each ward, except the third and fifth wards, which were entitled to but one alderman each, until the ann- ual election for the year 1839.


By the act of March 4, 1837, the school system of Chi- cago was first established; and by an act passed March 1, 1830, additional powers were granted the common council for establishing and maintaining schools.


Within ten years from its incorporation, the new city felt that it did not contain territory enough, and that its original charter was insufficient for its prop- er government. On Feb. 16, 1847, a supplementary act was passed extending the limits so as to include all the territory bounded as follows:


Beginning at the intersection of 22nd street with the lake shore, thence west to Western Avenue, thence north to North Avenue, thence east to Sedgwick Street, thence north to Fullerton Avenue, thence east to the lake, thence southward, on the lake shore, to the place of beginning.


The city was also divided into nine wards of which the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th were in the south division,


I3


Wards-City Limits, Taxation, Debt.


the 5th and 6th in the west, and the 7th, 8th and9th in the north division.


The city census taken in that year showed a pop- ulation of 16,859 persons. The valuation of the real and personal estate was, $5,849,170; the amount of revenue raised by taxation $18,159,01, and the float- ing liabilities $13,179,89.


In 1851, the various acts affecting the city were re- duced into one act, and additional powers were gran- ted, but the boundaries of the city were not changed.


In 1853, the city was by act of the general assembly divided into the divisions called north, south and west, the limits were also extended so as to include within the city all of sections 27, 28, 29 and 30, T. 39, N. R. 14E., also those parts of 31 and 32 T. 40, R. 14, lying east of the north branch, and also the W. 1/2 of Sec. 33, 40, R.,14.


This extension made 31 st street the southern bound- ry, Western avenue from 31st street to North avenue and the north branch from North avenue to Fuller- ton avenue the western boundaries, and North ave- nue and Fullerton aveuue the northern boundaries.


The jurisdiction of the city was also extended over so much of the shore and bed of the lake, as lie within one mile east of fractional section 27.


The number of the wards was not changed, the ad- ded territory being annexed to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th wards.


The city census taken in 1853, showed a popula- tion of 60,652. The valuation was $16,841,831.00, and the bonded debt, $189,670.


In 1855 the sewerage system of Chicago was inaug- urated by the creation of a board of sewerage commis- ioners, with such powers and duties as were deemed necessary to carry into effect its objects.


The amended city charter, approved Feb. 15,th 1857, provided for the creation of an additional ward, the tenth, out of the territory in the West Division.


1


14


Wards-City Limits, Taxation, Debt.


By the revised charter of 1863, the city limits were ex- tended so as to include all of township 39, north range 14 east of the 3rd P. M., and all of sections 31, 32, 33 and fractional section 34, 40, 14, with so much of the waters and bed of Lake Michigan as lie within one mile of the shore, and east of the territory aforesaid. The street boundaries were Egan avenue (39th street) on the south, Western avenue on the west and Fullerton avenue on the north. The terri- tory was divided into sixteen wards of which the 1st to the 5th inclusive were in the south, the 6th to the 12th inclusive in the west, and the four remaining in the north division. Again in 1869, the general as- sembly extended the city limits on the west so as to include within it the territory lying north of the Il- linois & Michigan Canal, east of Crawford avenueand south of North avenue. The same act divided the city into twenty wards, of which six were located in the South Division, nine in the West Division and five in the North Division. The city then contained an area of at least thirty-five square miles with a popu- lation of 306,605 persons, an assessed valuation of $275,986,550.00 and a bonded indebtedness of over $11,000,000.00.


In 1870 it levied a tax of $4,139,798.70. In 1837 the tax levy was $5,905.15.


In 1875 the question whether the city should re- organize under the general incorporation act, was submitted to a vote of the people, and was adopted by a vote of 11,714 for, to 10,281 against.


Lest this vote may be taken as an indication of the number of voters in the city at that time, I desire to state here that at the last preceding general election for mayor, 47,390 votes were cast.


Under the provisions of the general incorporation law, the council divided the city into eighteen wards- five in the South Division, nine in the West Division, and four in the North Division.


15


Grade of Chicago Streets.


By virtue of various amendments to the charter, the city government was, at the time of reorganiz- ation, in the hands of many irresponsible boards.


Under powers given by the new incorporation law, these boards were all abolished, and the departments governed by them reestablished on ordinances passed by the city council. The machinery of the city government is now more simple and less expen- sive, considering the vastly greater business entrus- ted to it, than under any of the older charters. The mayor and aldermen practically control the entire city government.


The taxation per capita in 1837 was about 1.41; in 1847 about 9.83. The highest rate was in 1873, which was about 15.27.


GRADE OF CHICAGO STREETS.


The first houses erected in Chicago were built on spiles set into the ground, sufficiently elevated to fix the lower floor above the possibility of being flooded by excessive rains. Of course cellars or basement kitchens were not to be thought of. Later, when a better class of buildings were erected as business blocks, private grading up the streets in front of them began to be practiced, some of which grading may have been done by a street tax authorized by the corporation, but the first street grade wasnotes- tablished 'till 1855, as appears from the following letter from Mr. Moody, Ass't City Clerk.


R. BLANCHARD,


Wheaton, Ill.,


DEAR SIR: I have looked up the question of grades of the city, as you request- ed. I find the first ordinance was passed in March, 1855. This established the grade of Lake street at about 8.62. The present grade of the street is 14 feet. My figures refer to the plane of low water of the Chicago river in 1847 as fixed by the canal commissioners, and mean 8.62 feet and 14 feet above that level. I find several other streets where the change is about the same. On the West Side the change is not so great, being originally established at a higher point. I es- timate the change at about three feet.


Yours truly JOHN A. MOODY.


The grade of the whole city is now sufficiently a- bove high water to admit of convenient basements, and is doubtless established on a permanent basis, never again to be changed.


Range 13 E. , Range 14 E.


25


Township 41 N.


12 th Extension


36


31


32 1893


13 th Extension


6 by Elec~ Nov 7 1893


4


3


NORWOOD PARK


9


=


12


7


00


7


16


15


14


13


18


17 1889


7 th. Extension


by


Election


of


June


29


-


Order


by


County 22


23


2


LAKE


LEYDEN


30


29


28


27


26


6th, Extenshig 25 Apr. 29.1889.


30


29


28


4 1h Exin Feb 27.1869


31


32


33


34


35


5th, Extension by Election 36


3


2nd Extension 32 by Act of 33 Feb 12 1853.


CI


INCORPOR


URBS


HORTO


IN


ATED


4 TH


Township 39 N


19


20


21


22 2


23 6


DOUGLAS


PARKA


40 Extension


3rd. 31


Extension 32 Feb 13.


by: Act 33 1863. .


of


31


32


33


35


36


6th. Extension Apr. 29. 1889.


35


Range 13 E


3


2


1


6




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