USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Political history of Chicago (covering the period from 1837 to 1887) Local politics from the city's birth; Chicago's mayors, aldermen and other officials; county and federal officers; the fire and police departments; the Haymarket horror; miscellaneous > 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
POLITICAL HISTORY
CHICAGO.
1837-1887.
Is
THE UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS
LIBRARY
977.31 Ah30
ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY
٠١٩٩٠٠
1
PALMER HOUSE.
KS
JÖ,
-
THE
POLITICAL HISTORY
OF CHICAGO.
BY M. L. AHERN. .
1
First Edition.
(COVERING THE PERIOD FROM 1837 TO 1887.)
LOCAL POLITICS, FROM THE CITY'S BIRTH; CHICAGO'S MAYORS, ALDER- MEN AND OTHER OFFICIALS; COUNTY AND FEDERAL OFFICERS; THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS; THE HAY- MARKET HORROR; MISCELLANEOUS.
CHICAGO: DONOHUE & HENNEBERRY, PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1886.
977.31 Ahåp
-
112 351
COPYRIGHT. 1886. BY MICHAEL LOFTUS AHERN.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
-
3'3 ZI.N 81
CONTENTS.
The Peoples' Party PAGE.
33
A Memorable Event. 38
The New Election Law 41
The Roll of Honor. 47
A Lively Fall Campaign 69
The Socialistic Party 82
CHICAGO'S MAYORS.
William B. Ogden. 87
Buckner S. Morris.
88
Benjamin W. Raymond. 89
Alexander Lloyd. 89
Francis C. Sherman
90
Augustus Garrett ..
90
John C. Chapin.
91
James Curtiss
91
James H. Woodworth.
91
Walter S. Gurnee.
91
Charles M. Gray
92
Isaac L. Milliken.
92
Levi D. Boone.
92
Thomas Dyer.
93
John Wentworth.
93
John C. Haines 93
Julian Rumsey 94
John B. Rice. 94
Roswell B. Mason.
94
Joseph Medill. 95
Lester L. Bond. 96
98
Monroe Heath. 99
Carter H. Harrison.
99
5
220675
:
HISTORICAL
Harvey D. Colvin
6
CONTENTS.
CHICAGO'S COUNCILS.
Chicago's Councils. 102
Arthur Dixon
118
William P. Whelan. 119
James T. Appleton.
119
George Mueller.
120
Charles W. Drew
120
David H. Gile.
120
Oscar D. Wetherell.
120
Thomas C. Clarke.
121
Henry F. Sheridan
121
Charles Hillock.
122
Charles F. L. Doerner
122
Edward F. Cullerton
122
Joseph M. Webber
123
Redmond F. Sheridan
124
Lawrence A. Yore
125
William F. Mahoney
125
J. R. Wheeler
126
Stephen P. Revere
126
Henry M. Deal.
127
Samuel Simons.
127
Samuel Kerr
127
Walter S. Hull.
127
J. L. Campbell.
128
John W. Lyke.
128
James A. Landon
129
Frank Schack.
129
D. W. Ryan
129 129
Joseph H. Ernst.
130
Henry Severin. 130
John H. Colvin. 130
John A. Linn. 131
131
Thomas J. Carney
Jacob Tiedeman 132
William R. Manierre 132
CITY OFFICIALS.
T. T. Gurney. 133
DeWitt C. Cregier 133
William Eisfeldt.
James H. Hildreth 121
CONTENTS. 7
William M. Devine. 134
Hempstead Washburne. 135
Francis A. Hoffman, Jr. 136
William J. Onahan. 136 C. Herman Plautz. 137
Charles Gastfield. 137
Alexander Kirkland
137
William Edgar
138
D. O. Wilkie.
139
John Agnew
139
Oscar C. De Wolf.
140
Brock L. McVickar
140
Herman Lieb
141
Jolın W. Lyons.
142
E. E. Gilbert
143 145
Charles E. Felton
146
John McCarthy
147
John M. Brown.
148
George A. Meech.
149
George Kersten
149
Justice White.
150
Orlin P. Ingersoll
150
Daniel Scully
150
Peter Foote.
151
Charles Arnd.
152
David J. Lyon
152
John K. Prindiville. 154
C. W. Woodman 154
John C. Barker
155
Hardin B. Brayton. 155
D. Harry Hammer.
156
Louis Kistler
157
W. H. Gleason
158
S. B. Chase
158
Frank Drake 159
John A. Bell. 160
Denis J. Swenie. 161
William Mushamn 162
John Redell. 162
John H. Green. 163
John Comiskey
8
CONTENTS.
Frederick J. Gabriel. 163
Joseph C. Pazen. 164
Edward W Murphy 164
M. W. Conway 165
John Campion 166
Leo Meyers. 167
Richard Fitzgerald 167
Peter Schnur. 168
Charles S. Petrie. 168
Maurice W. Shay 169
Joel A. Kinney
170
Frederick N. Shippy 170
John P. Barrett. 171
David M. Hyland 172
John Fitzpatrick. 172
William Carroll.
173
Frank J. Lewis.
173
James P. Crowley
173 173
Jacob F. Mehren
Frederick W. Gund. 174
Organization of the Fire Department
174
The Pompier Corps 186
Fire Alarm Service 188
Volunteer Service. 188
Paid Fire Department 190
Benner's Fire Escape. 193
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The Police Department. 194
Frederick Ebersold 194
John Bonfield. 195
William Buckley. 195
Simon O'Donnell. 196
William Ward. 197
A. W. Hathaway 197
Michael Shaack. 198
John D. Shea. 199
Joseph Kipley 199
George W. Hubbard. 200
Edward Laughlin 201
Madison Beadell. 201
9
CONTENTS.
John Rehm 202
Edward J. Steele.
202
James P. Stanton. 203 John Byrne. 203
Richard A. Shephard.
204
Jolın Croak.
205
Victor Schumacher 205
Wheeler Bartram.
206
John E. Fitzpatrick. 206
Elisha E. Lloyd 207
Michael Bischoff 207
John Baus.
207
August Blettner 208
Francis Penzen 208
Anson Backus. 208
208
George Sanford.
209
Frank G. Beaubien.
209
Sylvester Kennedy 210
Anthon Odin Oyen. 210
Charles M. Day
212
Alexis C. Burdick
212
John E. Mahoney.
213
Dexter Codman.
213
Michael Brennan.
214
Joseph B. Shepard
214
R. H. Figg.
214
Samuel A. Ellis.
215
Michael J. Granger
215
John Egan.
216
John Reed.
216
Edward Cosgrove.
217
Jolın Stift.
217
Michael Gallagher
218
William H. Carman
218
Dennis Simmons.
218
W. S. Halloran 219
Dennis Kay 219
Reinhold Meyer 219
John O'Donnell 220
Francis O'Neill.
220
Daniel Hogan.
10
CONTENTS.
John J. Kelly. 221
Tierney and Thorpe. 221
Roster of the Police Department. 222
Police Telephone and Signal System. 233
The Haymarket Horror-The Official Report. 239
THL COUNTY BOARD.
George C. Klehm 255
John E. Van Pelt. 256
James J. McCarthy. 257
Daniel J. Wren 257
Peter Fortune. 258
Henry Hemmelgarn 258
Frank Niesen. 259
R. S. McClaughrey. 260
M. R. Leyden. 260
John Hannigan. 261
Thomas F. Bailey 262
David McCarthy 262
James C. Strain. 262
William J. McGarigle 263
The County Hospital.
264
John F. Doherty. 267
Edward McDonald 269
267
Harry A. Varnell.
James O'Brien 269
Nicholas Eckhardt.
270
Conrad Folz 270
T. J. Bluthardt. 271
FEDERAL OFFICERS.
Federal Officers 273
Ransom W. Dunham. 273
Frank Lawler 273
James H. Ward.
274
George E. Adams.
275
Lambert Tree. 275
James T. Healy. 276
F. H. Marsh. 277
Rensselaer Stone. 278
A. F. Seeberger. 278
Philip A. Hoyne. 279
CONTENTS. 11
E. B. Sherman. 279
Marian A. Mulligan. 280
J. J. Crowley. 281
S. Corning Judd. 282
C. S. Squiers
282
Henry F. Donovan 283
POSTOFFICE.
Clerks in the Postoffice
284
J. Howard Jones 290
P. R. Forrest 291
Theodore F Swain. 291
Patrick M. Clowry 292
Michael W. Ryan 293
William Kirby.
293
Emil Hoechster
294
P. C. T. Breen.
294
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
William C. Seipp 296
Thomas Brenan 297
Seth F. Hanchett. 297
Canute R. Matson 298
W. K. McAllister 299
John J. Rogers 299
Lorin C. Collins 300
Richard Prendergast. 300
Joshua C. Knickerbocker 300
Rollin S. Williamson 301
Elliott Anthony 301
Joseph E. Gary 301
M. F. Tuley. 302
Julius Grinnell 302
John J. Healey . 303
Patrick McGrath.
304
Thomas W. Sennott.
304
Henry Best.
305
John Stephens.
305
Christopher Mamer
306
M. L. Coffeen.
307
Henry C. Stewart. 307
James J. Healey. 307
Wiley S. Scribner 308
12
CONTENTS.
James Stroud. 310
Fred C. Kile. 311
Frank B. Lane. 311
Charles Bradley 311
Daniel D. Healey
312
Delos E. Hall.
312
James H. Burke. 313
John Brennan.
313
Theodore E. Stacy 314
Henry L. Hertz. 315
George Rockafeller. 315
Neil Graves. 316
Jethro M. Getman. 317
Henry F. Stephens
317
SCHOOLS.
George Howland. 319
Shepherd Johnson 319
James Doolittle, Jr. 319
School Teachers. 349
Albert G. Lane.
354
County School Teachers.
354
MISCELLANEOUS.
Charles B. Farwell. 370
Frederick S. Winston 370
Joseph Stockton. 372
Michael Ryan ... 372
Michael McInurney 373
Austin J. Doyle. 374
Thomas A. Cantwell. 374
M. C. McDonald. 375
Luther Laflin Mills. 376
Julius Jonas 377
Henry T. Jones
377
P. J. Sexton. 378
Charles Kern. 379
John J. Curran 379
John M. Smyth 380
P. McCarthy 381
Timothy Ryan 381
John G. Neumeister 381
13
CONTENTS.
William Best. 382
Joseph Sokup 282
Henry Huesman. 383 P. B. O'Hare. 384
Joseph Dixon. 384
George Miller. 385
Henry Schroeder 386
Samuel Stritch 387
James E. Stewart 387
Michael Wasserman 388
James McHale. 388
E. A. Filkins. 389
Anton Imhof. 389
John Riordan 389
S. D. Foss. 390
Edward P. Barrett. 390
Gen. James Shields.
391
To 397 inclusive.
..
PREFACE.
In the preparation of the recollections contained in this book, the compiler acknowledges the services of several Chicago journalists, most especially those of Harry Jones, of the Chicago Tribune.
MICHAEL LOFTUS AHERN.
CHICAGO, 1886.
SHERMAN HOUSE.
16
INTRODUCTORY.
In the memorable fall of 1884, when the two great polit- ical parties of the United States nominated their stand- ard bearers, Chicago was declared a political center. The scenes witnessed in the Exposition Building where the brain and wealth, representing sixty millions of people commingled, constitute the brightest page in the history of modern politics. Within the radius of a mile the dele- gates were domiciled. The bulk of the Democratic forces were registered at the Palmer House ; a great majority of the Republicans held forth at the Grand Pacific. The Tremont House, the Sherman, the Briggs and McCoy's Hotel were patronized as well.
In view of the foregoing, as well as from other consid- erations, the writer deemed it quite appropriate to place on record the "Political History of Chicago." Nobody should suppose that because the fire and police depart- ments are spoken of in this book that they are politi- cal institutions. The writer, admiring both depart- ments, simply took his opportunity, and endeavored to commemorate their value in public estimation.
1
17
TREHINT
TREMONT HOUSE.
19
.
LIRRASY
UNI VIV
. .
THE FALL ELECTION OF 1886.
The election in the fall of 1886 was a surprise to many people, by reason of the vote polled by the United Labor ticket, which broke loose entirely from the two great par- ties. Mr. Stauber, the candidate for County Treasurer on that ticket, polled over 25,000 votes. The organization, encouraged beyond measure, established campaign head- quarters at once for the spring campaign, determined to place a ticket in the field for mayor and other city officers. The returns from the fall election, they claim, insured the election of at least seven aldermen, In the second con- gressional district their candidate, Capt. Gleason, made it decidedly warm for Congressmen Lawler, on the Democratic ticket. They gained materially in the Senate and House. The Republican candidate for Treasurer, George R. Davis, was elected over Michael Schweisthal, Democrat, and Frank Stauber, United Labor candidate. Canute R. Mat- son, the Republican candidate for Sheriff, was elected over Mattocks, Democrat, Butler, United Labor, Dunphy, In- dependent, and Loomis, Prohibition. Wulff, Republican candidate for County Clerk, was elected over McInerney, Democrat, Rastell, United Labor, and Haggard, Prohibi- tion. Gilbert, Republican candidate for Clerk of the Criminal Court, was elected over James Doyle, Democrat, Tompkins, Prohibition, Dvorah, United Labor, and White, Labor League. Thomas Seunott, Republican candidate for Probate Clerk, was elected over Kleckner, Democrat, Worrel, Prohibition, and Ehman, United Labor. Lane, Republican candidate for Superintendent of Schools, was
21
1 1
22
THE FALL ELECTION OF 1886.
elected over Parker, Democrat, Wilkie, Prohibition, and Bevans, United Labor. Anthony, Hawes, Altgeld and Jamieson were elected Superior Court Judges. The two former were Republicans and the two latter Democrats. Judge Knickerbocker, Republican, who was placed on all the tickets, was elected Judge of the Probate Court. Judge Prendergast, Democrat, was elected Judge of the County Court.
Sketches of the candidates in the field are found else- where.
The towns of Hyde Park, Lake View, Jefferson and Cicero adopted the new election law.
CHICAGO'S FIRST ORGANIZATION.
On August 10, 1833, Chicago was made a town. On January 23, 1837, in the Saloon Building Hall, on the southeast corner of Lake and Clark streets, was held the first meeting to secure a city charter. In this building Stephen A. Douglas made his first speech. On March 4, 1837, the Act incorporating the city was passed. The part taken in the premises by Gen. Shields justifies the sketch of that man published at the end of this book. The first city officers were elected on the first Tuesday in May following, the total vote cast being 709. In May, 1837, the city council leased rooms in the Saloon Building Hall, but after five years removed to Mrs. Nancy Chapman's building, near the jail at the corner of LaSalle and Randolph streets. J. Y. Scammon and others improved the square surrounding it. In January, 1848, the city erected the market building on State street. This was the first municipal structure. It was afterward known as South Market Hall. It was two stories in height. On November 13, 1848, it was for the first time occupied. In 1851 the county and city laid the corner stone, and in 1853 completed the edifice at a cost of $111,000, which stood up to the fire of 1871. It was three stories high and had three domes and a cupola. The Court of Common Pleas first occupied the building. After the great fire the municipal authorities occupied for some years a two-story brick building on the southeast corner of LaSalle and Adams streets, known far and near as the Rookery. When the structure was torn down one of the most magnificent
23
24
CHICAGO'S FIRST ORGANIZATION.
buildings in the United States was reared on the spot and christened the Rookery Building. The present quarters of the city and county government are in the area, bounded by LaSalle and Clark streets, and Washington and Randolph streets.
The politics of Chicago, from its birth in 1837 up to 1853, were quite common-place.
BRIGGS HOUSE
BRIGGS HOUSE.
25
-
WHEN DOUGLAS WAS MOBBED.
--
On January 30, 1854, Douglas delivered his great speech in the United States Senate in favor of the Kansas- Nebraska bill, repudiating past compromises, and showing the compromises of 1850, including the detested fugitive- slave law, to have been a subterfuge of the slave power to gain a better hold. When he came to Chicago to explain his position he found that the anti-slavery sentiment could not be checked. On the Know-Nothing question Douglas maintained a magnificent position. He it was who op- posed proscription by the native party, and threw the Democratic hosts against it. Before such a question arose Chicago was a Democratic stronghold, as between Whigs and Democrats, at least. "If the town-pump had been nominated for Mayor in those days on the Democratic ticket it would have been elected," aptly remarks an old settler; "a Democratic nomination, in fact, was an elec- tion." In 1854 the Whigs went down, to be succeeded by Fusionists, who melted into the Republican party. Douglas, of all the Democrats, had the courage to tackle Know-Nothingism. What he had said about the Nebraska question made the Free-Soil element inimical to them. When Mr. Douglas reached Chicago from Washington on August 25 he found himself branded as a public enemy by the Know-Nothing and Free-Soil combination, and de- nounced from Protestant pulpits as an anti-Christ.
On the evening of September 1, 1854, Douglas spoke at North Market hall, the site of the present Criminal Court building. The excitement was intense; the fame of the
27
28
WHEN DOUGLAS WAS MOBBED.
" Little Giant," and the report that 500 armed Irishmen would be present to silence the Know-Nothing element attracting an immense assemblage. During the afternoon of that day the flags of shipping owned by Fusionists had hung at half-mast, and the bells of the numerous churches tolled as if to predict a great calamity. Mayor Milliken presided. Mr. Douglas had not spoken long when he was hissed. When he said he was bound to be heard he was vilified most outrageously. Against the howling mob Douglas defiantly maintained his ground. James A. Shee- han, a biographer of Douglas, referring to the occasion remarks : " The motive, the great ruling reason for refus- ing him the privilege of being heard was, that as he had in 1850 carried the judgment of the people captive into an indorsement of the fugitive slave law, so if allowed to speak in 1854 he would at least rally all Democrats to his support by defense of the Nebraska bill. The combined fanatics of Chicago feared the power and effect of his argument in the presence and hearing of the people. They therefore resolved that he should not be heard."
Having failed to make himself heard, the "Little Giant" retired under a shower of rotten apples. A gallant little body guard accompanied Mr. Douglas to his carriage; among them were Daniel O'Hara, Frank C. Sherman, Hart L. Stewart, Tom Mackin, Dan McElroy, Elisha Tracy, Col. Dick Hamilton, Elihu Granger and Cornelius and William Price. The mob followed the little party as far as Clark street bridge, but when the Douglas party had crossed the structure, the bridge-tender, by turning the bridge, cut off the pursuit and the Senator reached the Tremont house in safety.
About six weeks after this disgraceful event Mr Doug- lass accepted an invitation to a public dinner to be held November 9, at the Tremont. In the presence of 200 gen- tlemen or more, he substantially uttered that which a fan-
29
WHEN DOUGLAS WAS MOBBED.
atical crowd had intercepted. It is safe to say that when Douglas was mobbed Chicago was the leading city in the West in the movement resulting in making a free state of Kansas.
S
MS CÔNG
M. COYS
M'COY'S HOTEL.
30
"THE LAGER BEER RIOT."
It was hardly a month after Mayor Boone's induction into office, on the Know-Nothing ticket, in 1855, that many saloon-keepers were arrested for selling liquor without a license or for violating the Sunday ordinance. It was agreed, by the City Attorney and the attorney for the saloons, to try a test ease to represent the whole. On April 21 the case was called before Squire Henry L. Rucker, about 10 o'clock a. m. A few moments later the Court House was surrounded by a great mob, which had come from the North Side, with fifes, drums, and howls. A riot seemed inevitable. Mayor Boone, however, ordered Police Captain Nichols to clear the streets and disperse the mob, and such was done without any serious results. This was in the fore- noon, it will be remembered. The North Side saloon men now proceeded in a movement to rescue men who were arrested for resisting the officers, and Boone swore into serviee 150 extra policemen.
.. About three o'eloek p. m., the North Side mob started out to cross the Clark street bridge, in the direction of the Court House. The swinging of the bridge intercepted the bulk of the procession, however. At this juncture, that part of the procession which was left on the North Side beeame frantic and wanted to kill the bridge-tender. The latter said he was aeting under orders from the Mayor. His honor finally ordered the bridge elosed and the mob rushed aeross to confront a solid phalanx of policemen. The leaders shrieked "Piek out the stars! Shoot the police !" A brisk firing followed, to the great diseomfiture of the rioters. Only one man was known to be killed, but
31
32
" THE LAGER BEER RIOT."
several mysterious funerals on the North Side occurred about that time. The law, as to burial permits, was not as it is now. A rioter blew off the left arm of Police Officer Hunt, who is now doing special duty in the comp- troller's office. He received a gift of $3,000 from the City Council, on which he is still drawing interest.
THE PEOPLE'S PARTY.
The issuance of an order by Mayor Medill, who was elected on the fire-proof ticket after the great conflagration of "71, caused the political combination known as The People's Party, which, in the fall of 1873, swept every- thing before it in county and city. The enforcement of the Sunday liquor ordinance injured the feelings of the Germans especially, who had transplanted from the Father- land the custom of enjoying Sunday in gardens, presided over by Gambrinus. Agitators construed the ordinance as a blow at personal liberty.
A meeting held in Thielman's Theater, on Clybourn ave- nue, on the evening of May 14, 1873, inaugurated the cam- paign. A. Hottinger opened the meeting, and denounced . in strong language the temperance notions that fitted through the brain of the existing administration. The Germans, he said, would find relief at the polls in Novem- ber. Adolph Schoeninger and Frick were elected presi- dent and secretary. The former said they meant to or- ganize, regardless of party politics, to uphold the constitu- tional right of the citizen. The Germans intended to show the Know-Nothing element that they were neither drunk- ards, serfs, nor fools. The assistance of tlic German press was solicited, as the German people were most interested. Mr. Knoblesdorf said that the Germans were acting simply in the defensivc. He predicted that they, and other na- tionalitics who were progressive or frec in their ideas, would rebuke puritanical methods at the polls. Messrs. Knoblesdorf, Karls, Schmehl, Lengacher, and Lindon,
3
33
34
THE POLITICAL IIISTORY OF CHICAGO.
were appointed a committee on resolutions. A. C. Hes- ing, of the Staats Zeitung, responding to uproarious calls, advocated a movement by Republicans and Democrats which would preserve the constitutional liberties of the people. The Germans were proud of their record. They were not drunkards because they loved convivial beer. Their patriotism and love of American institutions had been demonstrated on many a battle field. Know-Nothing- ism would be put down now as it had been before. The cases of Colfax, Brooks, and Ames were cited to show that native Americans furnished more rascals than did foreign- ers. Mr. Hesing said he would vote for any man, Repub- lican, Liberal, or Democrat, who would exert himself to keep the personal rights of citizens inviolate. H. B. (Buf- falo) Miller renounced the Republican party. Resolutions in sympathy with the foregoing sentiments, and arranging a line of battle, were unanimously adopted. A great Ger- man mass meeting followed on the evening of May 20, at Aurora Turner Hall, on Milwaukee avenue. Ex-Alder- man John Buehler, the banker, was chairman, and Mr. Pfurstenberg was secretary. A. C. Hesing was the first speaker. He said that the movement for personal liberty had not only spread like wild-fire throughout the city, but had evoked the grandest encomiums from the press of the United States. The German who went to church Sunday morning and to a lager-beer garden in the afternoon, had an opinion; and under the Constitution of the United States, that opinion must be respected. He concluded his remarks by suggesting that an address be issued to the public, expressing their views and declaring by the Al- mighty that they would not cease until their aims had been attained. Francis A. Hoffman, Jr., who is now corpora- tion counsel, was the next speaker. He stated that many nationalities settled in the United States before the Consti- tution was adopted - French, Dutch and English among
35
THE PEOPLE'S PARTY.
them. A vast immigration ensued. The Germans who came, to a great extent, preserved their customs. This was not a question of beer, it was a question of personal rights. Emil Dietzsch said that on this occasion Germans and Irish as they were, they were yet Americans. Herman Lieb and others also spoke in the same veill.
On the evening of May 29, an agitation committee was appointed by the agents of the "New Departure " in pol- itics, in Bismarck Hall in the Teutonia building, as fol- lows : Frank Schweinfurth, William Floth, Clovis Tegt- meyer, C. Niehoff, Dr. Matthei, Max Eberhardt, Emil Muhlke, R. Thieme, F. A. Hoffman, J. Schiellinger, R. Michaelis, G. R. Korn, William Schwartz, B. Eisendrath, Carl Dahenten, Philip Stein, H. Schondlin, W. Schaffer, Carl Bluhm, R. Freiburg, A. C. Hesing, R. Christiensen, J. C. Meyer, Peter Hand, A. Erbe, L. Schwuchow, Frank Lengi and the editors of the various German papers. This committee on the morning of June 25, reported reso- lutions in favor of the personal liberty of the citizen, which were adopted unanimously, and it was agreed that a mass meeting should be held.
On the evening of July 17, seventeen members of the committee of seventy met at the Builders' Exchange on La Salle street and declared the fight to be one, on their part for law and order.
On the afternoon of August 31, the meeting was hield in Greenebaum's Bank, at which the following were pres- ent: B. G. Caulfield, W. J. Onahan, A. C. Hesing, Gen- eral Lieb, Justice Boyden, Peter Hand, Ed. O'Neill, R. Kenney, J. Bonfield, J. H. McAvoy, M. Evans, John Corcoran, Arno Voss, Ed. Phillips, A. Schoenninger, Jacob Rehm, P. M. Cleary, T. Brennan and Geo. Von Hollen. Arno Voss was president and W. J. Onahan was secretary. Daniel O'Hara said he was proud he was a Democrat. He was in favor of law and order, but did
1
36
THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
not countenance illiberality. He did not wish to see saloon doors wide open on Sunday, but it would not do to shut them up altogether.
B. G. Caulfield, A. C. Hesing, Michael Keeley and Hermann Lieb followed.
On the evening of September 3, the German American central committee met at Bismarck Hall. Mr. Schoeninger and Mr. Hesing stated the committee appointed in Greene- baum's bank building consisted of Americans, Irishmen, and other nationalities wlio desired to fraternize with the Germans. On the evening of September 5, A. C. Hcsing addressed the German-American Club. On motion of Mr. Keeley it was arranged by the coalition to draft a platform. On the evening of September 26, Mr. Hesing presented a call to the people which was unanimously adopted. It invited everybody who loved freedom to come to Kingsbury Hall on the evening of October 4 for consultation. It was a great demonstration. H. B. Miller occupied the chair and made a spirited charge on bigotry. With the ballot they would defeat Know-Nothingism. The People's Party Platform was then adopted.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.