USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Biographical Sketches of Some of the Early Settlers of the City Chicago Part 1 > Part 8
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In politics Mr. Scammon also exhibited his progressive pro- clivities, having been always on the side of freedom and pro- gress in his party. At the same time he was conservative in his action, preferring present good, when he could obtain it, to sacrificing everything to the abstract principles of right. For this reason, though his freesoil sentiments dated back before the great contest between Clay and Polk in 1844, he preferred voting for Mr. Clay, to throwing away his vote. In 1848, also, he advocated the election of General Taylor, knowing there was no probability of the election of a freesoil candidate, and doubt- ing the sincerity of purpose of Mr. Van Buren, who was sup- ported by that party. In 1852, he voted for General Scott, al- though he preferred Judge McLean, who was his choice for President. In the late contest, he supported Colonel Fremont with all the ardor he was capable of, sparing neither his time nor money in the canvass. Mr. S. has always been inflexibly opposed to the extention of slavery into the territories, and he endeavored, in every way in his power, to divorce the Whig Party of this State from the Pro-Slavery measures with which a large number of its friends seemed willing to suffer it to be embarrassed. He contended that his policy in this respect was both just and expedient ; and it is due to him to say, that if his advice had been carried out, the Whig Party in the Northern portion of the State, at least, and especially in this city, would not have remained so long in the hopeless minority in which he found it when he came to reside here. Many who afterwards claimed to be Seward, or freesoil Whigs, had previously to their sudden conversion-subsequently to the election of Gen. Taylor-opposed, with all their strength, the positions which Mr. S. took, and which had they been accepted and carried out by the leaders of the party generally, would have placed the Whig Party in a far better position before the people than it had ever attained.
Mr. Scammon was also among the first to perceive the tend- ency to the breaking up of old party lines in the country gener- ally, and particularly in this City and State, preparatory to the present fusion of all persons and parties opposed to the spread
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of slavery. He suggested and procured the writer, many years ago, to furnish a series of articles on the subject, to a neutral paper then published in this city. These articles, and also other measures taken by him, had no small influence in break- ing up party lines in the Chicago City Elections, and in the Northern counties of the State. Although a strict party man himself, as long as he could see any great good which the old Whig Party was capable of performing; still he believed in voting for the best men, and in many instances refused to vote for unworthy or incapable nominees of his own party. It may be proper to state in this connection, that Mr. S. from first to last, has always opposed Native Americanism or Know Noth- ingism, in all its forms and principles. The writer well remem- bers the indignation of Mr. S. at an article which appeared in a paper in 1844, of which he was one of the editors. He had a portion of the edition of the paper which contained it sup- pressed immediately ; the article gave great offense, however, as it appeared in part of the edition, and was made a great handle of by the Democrats at that time to the injury of the Whigs. Mr. S.'s principles of civil and religious polity are of too broad and comprehensive a character to accept for a moment the narrow and bigoted platform of that party, which of late has had, for a short time, such a prominent position in our Na- tional and State politics.
Mr. Scammon, in 1849, re-organized the Chicago Marine and Fire Insurance Company, an institution which had been char- tered in 1836, as a monied corporation, but which had sus- pended business, although it never had suspended payment. He was one of the chief stockholders under the new organiza- tion. and the President of the Company. It commenced with a nominal capital of about $35,000, and an actual cash capital of not exceeding $25,000. Under his auspices, as President, the institution has gradually increased its capital, and extended its business, until it has now an actual cash capital of half a mil- lion of dollars, and is the largest monied institution in the State.
Mr. Scammon likes to be a pioneer, judging from his past life. He was the first Swedenborgian in Northern Illinois; the first homwopath; and was among the first and most efficient organizers and supporters of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. He also established the first bank under the General Banking Law of this State-the Marine Bank of Chicago. He organized the Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, when it had only three members, one other beside himself and wife. He also organized, in connection with three other gentlemen. the Illinois Association of the same Church, when there were probably not over a dozen Swedenborgians in the whole State.
Mr. Scammon possesses excellent business tact and manage- ment, which is evinced not only in his own prosperity, in the
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accumulation and investment of a large private fortune, but in the success of the many enterprises in which he was one of the pioncers. He was one of the original stockholders of the Ga- lena; Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy, and several other rail- roads. Though never a speculator, Mr. S. has become wealthy by judicious and prudent business habits. He is at the present time owner of large and productive real estate in the very cen- tre of the business part of our city. His policy has been not to speculate, by running in debt, but to invest his surplus earn- ings, and thus reap the advantage of the steady rise of property by the growth of the city. To this policy, together with his industry and economy, he owes his present prosperous position, financially speaking. Mr. S. is a great advocate for the single- ness of employments, nevertheless, his practice does not con- form to his theory in this respect. as he is banker, lawyer, real estate owner, and has a large interest in railroads himself. It has been asserted by some-perhaps those too envious of an- other's prosperity-that accommodations from the old Illinois State Bank contributed to Mr. S.'s wealth. This is a mistake; he never borrowed a dollar from the bank, or had any accommo- dations from it, or purchased a foot of land, or other property belonging to it, except at public sale, in competition with others. The only favor the bank ever did him was to select him as its attorney. He had no other connection with it.
In his profession Mr. Scammon has stood deservedly high, and at one time had the most lucrative practice of any lawyer in the city. In fact, he has generally had more business than he could attend to, and of late years, his banking and other mat- ters have demanded so much of his attention, that he has for the last two or three years given little time to his profession. In 1849, he took Mr. Ezra B. McCagg, who had been his confi- dential law clerk, for two years previously, into partnership, and they have since practiced together. He has always been a friend to young men, and has had a very large number of stu- dents in his office. These 'it has ever been his habit to accus- tom to the details of practice, thus grounding them well in the most important particulars in the professson. Thus he has been successful, in almost every instance, in making good, practical lawyers of his students. The advantages of the thorough train- ing received by students in the office of Mr. S., is fully indi- cated by the fact, that of all the young men who have been under his supervision, not more than two have failed to turn out well.
Mr. Scammon, like all men of positive principles, is decided in his opinions, still he is liberal and kind to those who disa- gree with him. Indeed, a majority of the young men in his office, who have received his assistance, countenance, and sup- port, have been, in political opinions, opposite to himself.
Though Mr. S. has devoted himself for many years so ardu-
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ously to the law, and also been deeply immersed in business, he has not forgotten his early love for literature and fine arts. He continues still to cultivate it. He writes on political and relig- ious subjects, gives public lectures, etc. In conversation he is entertaining, his information being general and varied, and his desire to impart it, a natural attribute of the man. He reads and speaks several modern languages with fluency, and contin- ues his early study of the classics, to which he has always been drawn by his taste for ancient literature.
Mr. S. is blessed with the companionship of a congenial part- ner, a lady every way qualified to contribute to his happiness. and an interesting family of children, the oldest grown to a fine- looking young man, who is receiving the benefit of as good an education as his father's means and position can afford.
Mr. S. still continues to work as heretofore, though less in his profession. To the question "Why do you not give up busi- ness ?" he replied, "I have no right to do so. Use is the cen- tral principle of Heaven, and no one can be happy, except in the degree in which he is occupied in some useful employ- ment."
The foregoing sketch of Mr. Scammon's life was printed in 1857, in which year he went to Europe with his family, where his wife died, and her remains were interred at Soden, in Nas- sau, about ten miles from Frankfort on the Main.
When he returned in 1860, the first intelligence that reached him after his arrival at his home, was that the entire capital of the Chicago Marine and Fire Insurance Company had been squandered by its responsible officers, during his absence.
He at once resumed its management, and endeavored to ar- rest still further disasters; but just then the Rebellion broke out, and the Southern Stocks, upon which the circulation of the Illinois banks was based, becoming nearly worthless, the whole banking system of the State went down. Mr. Seammon worked away resolutely, dealing equally and fairly by all his customers, and in a short time had paid off the indebtedness of the institu- tion, which had been thus robbed and ruined. He restored capital and credit to the company, and under his management his institution continued to enjoy the public confidence, and to transact a large business, until the losses of the great fire and the panic of 1873 rendered it expedient to wind them up. He was always opposed to illegal and depreciated currency of the "wild-cat" order. The acts of the Legislature, which drove illegal currency from the State were written by him, and passed
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through his exertions. As a member of the Legislature of 1861, he obtained further stringent legislation on the subject of bank- ing. At the time of the great fire he occupied an enviable posi- tion. He had won celebrity as a lawyer, and unlimited credit in business as a banker, and had become possessed of a vast fortune. But the terrible fire swept away his banks, warehouses, stores, and residence; fully half a million dollar's worth of property. In less than a week he had improvised a building on the site of his late residence and resumed his banking business. He was confident the city would be rebuilt, and the old landmarks restored. In fifteen months from the time of the fire, he had expended over a million dollars in rebuilding stores, ware- houses, etc. He not only shouldered this enormous work, but he also assisted others to a large extent in their efforts to re- build. Just in the midst of these gigantic undertakings oc- curred the defection of the Chicago Tribune from the cause of the Republican party, leaving that party without a representa- tive morning paper in the city. Through all his eventful pro- fessional and business career he had never failed to take a deep and active interest in national politics, and had aided materi- ally in establishing both of the Republican newspapers in Chi- cago. In view of this defection, and the approaching Presi- dential campaign, he decided to found a first-class metropolitan newspaper, that should be a powerful representative and advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party. He accordingly constructed a building in the rear of his residence, put in the necessary fixtures, engaged his editorial corps, and on March 25th, 1872, issued the first number of the Inter Ocean. This paper proved a success, and now has a larger weekly circulation than any other political paper west of the Alleghanies. The paper, outgrowing its limited accommodations, was removed to its present commodious quarters, 117 Lake St. But this enter- prise brought upon him the most malignant and slanderous attacks from a rival press, which were followed up with such persistence and ferocity, as to injure both his individual credit, and that of the moneyed institutions with which he was con- nected. It remains to be said that, after the splendid success of a lifetime, Mr. Scammon has become seriously involved, in consequence of his great losses by fires, his immense expendi-
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ture in rebuilding, and the loans and assistance he rendered others who were rebuilding. He has suffered from four con- siderable conflagrations within the last four years ; and, what is remarkable, his fine residence and surrounding buildings have been twice swept away; first in the great fire of 1871, and again in the great fire of July, 1874, and in both instances his premises were the last ones burned, while adjoining buildings, that were not so well protected, escaped unharmed.
He is now quietly engaged in the settlement of his affairs, and in the practice of his profession as a lawyer in Chicago. Many of the public institutions of the city owe their origin to him. He was one of the founders of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, and of the Chicago Astronomical Society. He was the first of the Swedenborgian or New Churchman in Chicago, and one of the original founders of the Illinois Association of that Church. He organized the Church of the New Jerusalem in Chicago. He was the first layman of prominence to favor the. practice of homeopathy in Chicago, and built and conveyed free to the Hahnemann Homeopathic Society a commodious hospital. The Dearborn Tower of the edifice of the Chicago University, in which is placed one of the largest refracting telescopes in the world, was built at his expense, and the salary of its director paid by him till the great fire of 1871. On his return from Europe in 1860, he was elected one of the trustees of the University, and has been for many years Vice-President of its Board of Trustees, and the acting President of the same.
As a lawyer, banker, and editor, he has achieved distinguished success, and is a man of large literary and general culture. His private character has been one of moral and religious worth. Mr. Scammon is an industrious, energetic man, of robust consti- tution, and vigorously employing the powers which have in times past reaped wealth for him; and there is still prospect before him of years of honor, usefulness, and fortune. He bears on his shield the words Confide in Domino.
CHARLES WALKER, ESQ.
[From the Chicago Magazine, March, 1857.]
The subject of this sketch is a descendent of an old and wealthy English family of some note, who, in Cromwell's time, were portioned upon the Tweeds and called by the significant name of Borderers; members of which were among the earliest adventurers to this country, for we find mention made of his more immediate ancestors, as settlers in the Eastern part of New England, as early as 1640.
Col. William W. Walker, the father of Charles, was a native of Massachusetts. His father, who was a noted cattle dealer, "at an early day moved his family to Ringe, New Hampshire, from which place Col. Walker emigrated at the age of 21, hav- ing little or no capital, save his trusty axe and that hardy edu- cation, whichi ever characterized the early sons of New England. Admiring the country of Central New York, he located in Plainfield, Otsego County, then but a wilderness. Here he became acquainted with a Miss Lucretia Ferrell, also a native of Massachusetts, whom he subsequently married, and with whom lie lived upwards of fifty-five years. Though an Octogenarian, Col. Walker is still in the full enjoyment of all his faculties, having in his life-time filled many important political stations, been prominent and active in the church, ready to lend a help- hand to all worthy benevolent objects, and at the same time secured to himself a competence and the universal respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.
Charles is the oldest son of William W. and Lucretia Walker, and was born February 2, 1802. The country being new, as we have before stated, his educational advantages were necessarily very limited. To a new log school-house, which a few enter- prising farmers had built, the young lad was sent, at the early age of six years, to gain those elementary lessons, which have been turned to such practical account through a long life of usefulness. Inheriting a vigorous constitution, and withal an active and inquiring mind, together with uncommon diligence, he not only performed an unusual amount of manual labor upon his father's farm, but made most rapid progress in his studies. Improving his advantages to the utmost during three months in the year, he studied with his teacher during the day, and with his parents during the long winter evenings. Thoughi as a boy
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among boys in these juvenile days, his vigor of mind and deci- sion of purpose was such, that notwithstanding his limited ad- vantages, we find he was qualified for, and entered upon, the duties of teacher at the early age of 15; and from that time for- ward continued in the same vocation during the winter months until he attained his majority, with uncommon success. He may well, we think, look back upon that era of his life, with peculiar pride and pleasure, as he now recognizes the names of many of his old pupils among the distinguished men, of the East and West. While thus engaged, then 18 years of age, he commenced the study of law, but soon found the sedentary habits of that profession not suited to his temperament, with the advice of his physicians he relinquished that idea and turned his attention to more active pursuits; we next hear of him riding through the country, during the summer months, making purchases of sheep and cattle for his father.
At twenty one, his health being then much impaired, he re- solved to enter the mercantile business, and to that end hired himself out to a friend as clerk for a short time, at the very moderate salary of eight dollars per monthi. It did not, how. ever, require a long clerkship for him to become a complete master of that merchant's method of doing business, and in two months he had fully determined to start in business for himself the following spring.
In the spring of 1824, with $1350 aggregate capital, compiled of $350 of his own private funds, $500 given him by his father, being in fact his own earnings, and $500 loaned of a neighbor- ing farmer, he started for the city of New York, with no letters of credit, reference, or recommendation; and the following May, opened his store upon the economical plan of doing his own work, and soon after made his first purchase of grain. The next spring, when he went East to make his purchases, he made his first appearance at the Buli's Head Cattle Yard, New York, where the Bowery Theatre now stands, with a fine drove of fat cattle. By close and judicious management business prospered till 1828. But shipping in the fall of that year a large amount of cheese, butter, and pork, to a southern market, the cheese became damaged at sea. and through the mismanagement of agents, and the misapplication of funds, nearly all the accumu- lated fruits of tour years laborious toil were swept away.
But by attending personally to the sales in New York, and the purchases at home, business flourished till '32, when a sud- den decline in the price of provisions occasioned another heavy loss. But from 1833 to '31, large operations in all the leading products, attended by a steady und gradual rise, brought to a successful termination all his business operations. In the spring of '33, being in New York, he accidently became a purchaser from a cargo of raw hides from Buenos Ayres, which he was enabled to obtain upon favorable terms; but upon getting them
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home, and finding they were somewhat injured and could not be turned into the New York market without serious loss, he hit upon the expedient of manufacturing them into boots and shoes, and disposing of them at the fall Indian payments at Chicago; in the furtherance of which plan, his brother, Mr. Almond Walker, was in due time sent on, who opened his as- sorted stock of guns, boots, shoes, and leather, at Fort Dearborn, in the autumn of 1834.
By this adventure his attention was turned toward the West, where he soon saw and appreciated her undeveloped resources ; and early the ensuing spring-not twenty-one years ago-he was on his way to this city, with ready means, enlarged and liberal views, an extensive business experience and acquaint- ance, in the vigor of manhood, with a widespread and favor- able reputation at the East, to unite his fortunes with the desti- nies, and contribute his energies to the development of the unknown resources of this then lake shore village. Among his first operations here was the buying of several lots of real es- tate, among which was the purchase of John S. Wright, Esq., the corner of Clark and South Water Streets, in connection with Capt. Bigelow, of Boston, and Jones, King & Co., of Chicago, for the sum of $15,000, cash; which was considered by many at that time, a most visionary speculation. Some days subse- quent to making this purchase, after reconnoitering in the coun- try, he publicly avowed the then bold opinion that Chicago was destined to be the great city of the inland seas, and in test of his faith in this prediction, immediately set about making this city the principal point for his future operations. In May, '35, while on his way to Chicago, being detained at St. Josephs, there being no regular means of conveyance across the lake at that time, he made several purchases of hides from the flat boats and butchers' stalls for the Eastern market, to which were subsequently added purchases made in and about Chicago; this shipment, it is believed, is the first ever made from the State of Illinois to any point as far east as Utica or Albany.
The next year he established business in Chicago with the late E. B. Hurlburt, Esq., under the firm of "Walker & Co.," upon South Water street, for importing implements of hus- bandry and household utensils from the East, together with a. store of general merchandise, taking in exchange the various products of the West. During this period he was much of the time riding through the country, on horseback, as far north as Green Bay, locating government lands at the Four Lakes (now Madison), Beloit, and other points on the Rock and Milwaukee Rivers.
The next year came the terrible financial revulsions of '37, when ruin and desolation swept the whole country, those who sat in the high places of wealth and affluence were drawn irre- sistably into the maelstrom of utter insolvency. Banks, like
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business men, came down with a crash, and the depreciation of currency produced ruinous confusion in the mediums of ex- change. But Mr. Walker was one of the very few men, exten- sively engaged in business, who stood up against the storm ; though he had to bring to bear his best energies and most ex- pert financial skill, for maturing liabilities pressed hard upon him, and his name was largely endorsed upon the paper of other men ; had not his reputation in Eastern commercial circles been of the best character, he would certainly have been swamped with thousands of others. But he found, in this emergency, that the relation he thus held as an important com- mercial medium between the merchant and artisan of the East, and the pioneer husbandman of the West, of immeasurable ad- vantage. The extensive and favorable business reputation he enjoyed among the leading men and Banks of the East, as well as the confidence of the dealers of the West, enabled him to greatly enlarge his operations. To prevent the necessity of purchasing Eastern drafts at ruinous rates, he adopted the plan of purchasing the products of the country with the depreciated currency of the West, and made his extensive shipments of pro- ducts the medium of exchange through which to meet his East- ern liabilities. Thus he was enabled to prevent the entire stag- nation of business at home, preserve his reputation abroad, and in a few years of almost unprecedented vigilance and activity, to entirely overcome all his embarrassments.
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