General directory and business advertiser of the city of Chicago for the year 1844, Part 2

Author: Norris, J. W
Publication date: 1844
Publisher: Chicago : Ellis & Fergus, printers, Saloon buildings
Number of Pages: 131


USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > General directory and business advertiser of the city of Chicago for the year 1844 > Part 2
USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > General directory and business advertiser of the city of Chicago for the year 1844 > Part 2


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existed on the part of the Indians, and the non-fulfilment of the agreement, by Capt. Hcald, according to their expectations, may have occasioned the line of conduct which they subsequently adopted, which proved fatal to the lives of 55 of the party, and had well nigh brought about the destruction of the whole. The stores on hand were composed in part of a quantity of liquor, and some arms and amunition. These it was deemed imprudent to give the Indians-and they were destroyed, a part being thrown into the River, and the residue deposited in a well within the Fort. One of the arms thus disposed of, a brass piece, was found a few years since, by some people employed in dredging the River-another, it is said, remains there to this day. The stores not destroyed were distribu- ted to the Indians. Under these circumstances, about ninc o'clock, on the morning of the 15th of Angust, the party, composed of 54 regulars. 12 militia, and several families, amounting in all to about 70 persons, left the Fort, under the cscort of Capt. Wells, and about 30 Miami Indians. Their route lay along the beach of the Lake, between the water on the left, and a succession of sand hills on the right. They had proceeded about a mile and a half from the Fort, and had attained a point a short distance beyond the present resi- dence of Mr. Il. B. Clarke, and were advancing, unconscious of dan- ger, when Capt. Wells, who it appears, had strayed for some pur- posc, some distance from the main body, discovered the Indians in ambush behind the sand hills. At the same time, another party was seen interposing in the rear, between them and the Fort. which they had just left. The alarm was immediately given-the dead march struck np, and the troops marched directly up the bank, upon the Indians. The action did not commence, as has gencrally been represented, by firing, on the part of the Indians. After firing one round, the troops charged, and succeeded in dispersing the Indians in front. But the disparity of numbers was too great. The most determined bravery was displayed by the troops, but it could avail little against the superior force opposed to them, protected by the sand hills behind which it had entrenched itself. In 15 minutes, nearly the whole party were killed or wonndcd, and all the baggage in the possession of the enemy. Capt. Heald drew off his men, mnto the open prairie, and took possession of a slight clevation, out of reach of the bank, and every other cover. The Indians, after some consultation, made signs for Capt. Heald to approach them. He was met by a Potawatamie Chief, called Blackbird, who requested him to surrender, promising to spare the lives of the whole party, in case of compliance. After some parley, the terms were agreed to, and the arms delivered up. The survivors were marched back to the Indian encampment, near the Fort, abont the spot where State Street now opens to the River, and where the present Market is located. IIcre, some of the prisoners, those who had been wounded, were murdered in the most shocking manner, by the squaws, who appeared to take great delight in exercising their knivcs and besmcaring them in the blood of their unfortunate victims. The small number surviving, were distributed, according to the cus- tom of the savages, among the different members of the tribe. Mr. J Kinzie, Sen:, however, whose family, from the first, had been pro- tected by some friendly chiefs, although he was himself engaged in the action, with the troops-succeeded in procuring the release of


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HISTORICAL SKETCH.


Capt. Heald and lady, who were sent by him to St. Joseph, and thence to Mackinaw, whence they made their eseape. The remain- der of the prisoners were retained, but, it is said, were treated with great kindness, and most of them surrendered to the British, at Detroit, in the following spring. The day following the action, the Indians burnt down the Fort, and dispersed. Such are the leading particulars of this unfortunate action, collected, principally, from an eye-witness of the whole. Capt. Heald has been subjected to much blame, a portion of which was undoubtedly merited. His management of the Indians was injudicious throughout, and the destruction of the stores, to say the least, imprudent. The evacua- tion, under existing circumstances, was remonstrated against, by Mr. Kinzie and Capt. Wells, both of whom, from long intercourse with the Iudians, had become familiar with their character, and were enabled to anticipate and foretell the result which ensued. Capt. Wells had been bred an Indian warrior, and was a brave and skilful soldier. Ile unfortunately fell early in the action, and was found with his face blackencd, after the manner of the Savages, when they meet with disappointment.


The Fort was rebuilt in 1817, when it took the name of Fort Dearboru. It was occupied, except at short intervals, by a Gar- rison, until 1837, when, the Indians having generally left the coun- try, it was finally evacuated, and has never since been re-occupied as a military post. It remains in much the same condition as in '37, except the pallisadcs, which were removed, the past spring, and their place supplied by a handsome fence. It has since been occu- pied by officers and agents in charge of the public works, and their families. Fort Dearborn being almost the only memento of the past, in the midst of so many creations of the day-the necessity of any alteration in its appearance is to be regretted.


Until 1832, and even so late as 1833, little or nothing was done towards making a commencement of the City-it probably not en- tering into the imagination of any .one, previous to that time, that a town of any importance was to be here at all, at least, not for many years. In 1832, its appearance and condition was much the same as in 1823. when Major Long, who visited the place that year, de- scribes it " as presenting no cheering prospects, aud containing but few huts, inhabited by a miserable race of men, scarcely equal to the Indians, from whom they were descended-and their log or bark houses as low, filthy, and disgusting, displaying not the least trace of comfort, and as a place of business, affording no inducements to the settler-the whole amount of trade on the Lake, not exceeding the cargos of five or six schooners, even at the time when the Gar- rison received its supplies from Mackinaw." This picture, though perhaps too highly colored, presents, in the main, a correet view of Chicago, in 1832. In 1830, there had been a sale of Canal lots, the best bringing only fifty or one hundred dollars, many of which have since become the most valuable in the City. Up to about that time, the present most business, and densely populated part of the City, was feneed, and used by the Garrison, for some purpose of hus- bandry, or pasturage. So late as '35 or '6, the fires usual on the prairies in the fall, overran the third and fourth wards. There were only some five or six houses, built mostly of logs, and a population of less than one hundred.


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One of these houses, formerly the property of the Fur Company, was, until a short time past, occupied by Col. Beaubien. About 80 rods to the south of that, stood a house, once occupied by Colonel Owings, but since washed away by the Lake. A house, known as "Cobweb Castle," on block No. 1, was formerly the abode of Dr. Alexander Wolcott.


The dwelling of Mr. John Kinzie stood East of the Lake House. A log building at the corner of Dearborn and South Water Streets, and the once celebrated tavern of Mr. Mark Beaubien, on the site of the Sauganash. generally known as the Eagle, together with a building on block 14, and a cabin, occupied by Robinson, the In- dian Chief at Wolf Point, constituted all the buildings, except the Fort, to be found here in 1832. Sometime this year, however, Robert A. Kinzie built a store at Wolf Point, the first frame build- ing in Chicago. In 1834, several brick buildings were erected.


The commerce of the place, up to this period, was equally insig- nificant. In fact, there was none, unless the traffic of the Fur Com- pany, can be dignified with that name. Vessels occasionally ven- tured here, but so seldom, that the arrival of a schooner was an event of no little moment, and created a sensation throughout the community. The year 1832, may then be regarded as the period from which to date the commencement of the City. Many causes, the Indian war among them, conspired, about this time, to bring Chicago into general notice. What was called the " Western Fever," had begun to rage generally, throughout the country .- Thousands were flocking from the East, to seek homes in the West. The first premonitions of the speculating mania, had manifested themselves. Eligible sites for towns and cities, were sought out, and eagerly appropriated. The superior advantages of Chicago, in this period of general enquiry, when enterprise was universally aroused, and incited by the hope of sudden wealth, could not long escape public attention.


The attention of Congress had been called to the importance and necessity of a harbor, and an appropriation was confidently relied upon at the next session. Gen. Scott, who explored the country during the Indian war, took a lively interest in this work, and ad- dressed a letter in relation to it, which was subsequently laid be- fore Congress. The construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, had also been finally resolved upon by the State legislature. Active measures were being taken to survey the different routes, and to estimate the cost of the various plans proposed. Hence the commencement, and completion of this important work at no distant day, might confidently be relied upon. The resources of the State, too, were beginning to be more generally known, and better ap- preciated. The most alluring reports of the character of the soil -its productiveness-the facilities for making farms on our prairies -together with the salubrity of the climate, were circulated far and wide. The most strenuous exertions were made, and with the most signal success, to promote emigration. Enterprise, stimulated by interest, and the hope of gain, was aroused, calling forth and con- centrating upon this one object, all the resources and capabilities of the age. Capital was enlisted, and credit and unlimited confidence invoked to its aid. Money, owing to excessive bank, and even pri- vate issues, was abundant, and loans to any amount were effected


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HISTORICAL SKETCH.


with the greatest case. The West suddenly became the centre of „men's thoughts and wishes, and Chicago, as the most important point in the West, the goal to which all directed their aspirtions.


Such are some of the prominent causes which may be said, at the period referred to, to have giveu the first impulse to the City. That it grew and prospered as it did, under their operation, will excite no surprise-the result could not well have been otherwise. Its progress, accordingly, until about '37 has no parallel-it was rapid in the extreme. Buildings went up as if by magic-stores were opened by the hundred, and speedily filled with merchandize ; people of every calling and pursuit in life, laborers, mechanics, and professional men, influenced by a common purpose-the hope of success in their several spheres of action-came together here, and entered at once with a zeal and activity into the schemes of improve- ment projected. The sale of Canal lots in 1830, has been already mentioned. In 1833, a great Indian payment was held here, near the present site of the Lake House. In the latter part of this year, the work on the harbor was commenced-and during the same year, the present Light-house was erected, the old one having fallen down. In 1835, the population of the place was said to amount to 5,500, a computation which probably included transitory persons, a great many of whom were here at the time. The actual popula- tion, however, that year, could not have been much less than 3000. In 1836, another sale of Canal lots took place, which was attended with much excitement, and occasioned a large collection of people from distant quarters. The prices were extravagantly high. In 1836, a branch of the State Bank was located here. On the 4th of July, 1836 the ceremony of breaking the first ground on the Canal, took place at Canal Port, in presence of a large concourse of spec- tators. During the winter of '36-7, the act to incorporate the City, passed the State Legislature; and in April succeeding, the first elec- tion under the Charter was held, which resulted in the choice of W. B. OGDEN to the office of Mayor. The growth of commerce, thus far, kept pace with everything else. The community were dependent, during the first few years, entirely upon supplies from abroad ; this, together with the great influx of emigration, and the travel which began to set in this direction, gave employment to a considerable amount of shipping, and Steamboats and Schooners began to ply regularly between this port and Buffalo.


During this brief but exciting period, the community fortunately found time to devote some attention to things of greater importance than the accumulation of this world's goods. Before or during 1836, as many as six Churches had been organized, and suitable buildings provided for their accommodation. These Churches, together with such as have since been established, have always received a liberal support, and are now in a flourishing condition. Neither was the subject of education wholly neglected. The school section, which fortunately lay contiguous to the City, and was pro- portionably valuable, was disposed of in 1834, and the avails applied to the support of Common Schools. Means for the diffusion of general intelligence were also provided.


In 1834, John Calhoun commenced the publication of the Chi- cago Democrat; and in the following year, Thos. O. Davis esta- blished the Chicago American, both of which papers still exist ; the 2


how theday store


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DESCRIPTION AND


latter under the name of the Chicago Express, being published daily. These papers, together with the Prairie Farmer, Agricultu- ral; the Western Citizen, Abolition; the North-Western Baptist, Baptist ; and the Better Covenant, Universalist, which have since been started, are ably conducted, and have an extensive circulation.


The year 1837, is especially memorable in the annals of Chicago, as the period of protested notes. It was during this year, that the consequences of speculation, which had hitherto operated most favorably for the West, were experienced to a most ruinous extent. Chicago was intimately connected with speculation, through all its progress. It was in its incipient stages, at the period of the com- mencement of the City ; but a disposition and tendency to it was apparent even then. It raged with great violence during '35-6, and a portion of '37, at which time it gave color and direction to most business transactions.


The history of this singular delusion is replete with instructive incidents. It seems unaccountable to the more sober judgment of these times, how men, under any circumstances, could have been led so far astray-how prudence, foresight, and sagacity could, to such an extent, have lost their dominion and control over the human mind. But so it was .. The rapid and unprecedented rise in the value of real estate, and the certainty of that rise, exerted a most seductive influence ; very few were found able to resist the tempta- tion ; all classes of people ultimately abandoning the usual avoca- tions of society, devoted themselves exclusively to speculation, and hazarded their all upon this sea of chance. This wild spirit found its way ultimately into the halls of legislation, and controlled the conduct and policy of states, as it had done that of individuals. It was under the influence of this spirit that those stupendous schemes of internal improvement originated in many of the new states, which have entailed upon subsequent times the evils of debt -taxation-and in some cases, national disgrace and dishonor .- Speculation led, in short, to the perpetration, on all hands, of acts of folly and absurdity, seldom before heard of. The sources of wealth being regarded as inexhaustible, naturally created extrava- gant ideas of prosperity, and afforded to all the apparent means of indulging in every species of expenditure. It would be useless to follow speculation through its stages, as one act of absurdity suc- ceeded another in rapid succession .- Are not these times and their consequences written in effaceless characters upon the memory of every reader ?


But the day of wrath and retribution was at hand. Confidence and credit, too long abused, refused any longer to lend their aid. The unfortunate victims of the delusion were suddenly awakened from their dream of wealth to the certainty of almost universal bank- ruptcy and ruin. Thousands suddenly called upon to investigate the condition of their affairs, which, in the excitement of the mo- ment, no one thought it necessary to attend to, found themselves involved to the extent of thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars, and their real estate, from which alone the means of pay- ment could come, depreciated in value, in fact unsaleable at any price. Thousands, from affluence, were reduced-without warning or preparation-to poverty ; some struggled for a time with their destiny, but the evil day came at last ; and scarcely one, ultimately,


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HISTORICAL SKETCH.


survived the catastrophe. The comparatively small number of those who did finally escape the ordeal, it has been observed were indebted more to chance and good luck than to any unusual endow- ment of prudence and sagacity. The ablest business men of the age-those in whose judgment and capacity in ordinary times we should unhesitatingly repose the most implicit confidence, ventured as far and hazarded as much as any in this dangerous game.


To Chicago, in an especial degree, was the stroke which was thus inflicted upon the business interests of the country injurious and calamitous. It was to her a season of mourning and desolation. Many of her most business and enterprising citizens were insolvent- all, to a greater or less extent, embarrassed in their circumstances. She had gone on hitherto in a state of uninterrupted prosperity-no- thing had thus far occurred to check the progress of improvement. Could that state of prosperity have continued, Chicago would, by this time, have ranked among the proudest cities of the land. But ca- lamity came suddenly and unexpectedly ; and, for a time, she quailed under its effects.


But she was not, and could not be entirely prostrated. Her position was too favorable, and her redeeming powers too abundant to permit her very long to be serionsly affected by any calamity, however great. She had, in common with the west, gained much by speculation. What had been accomplished could not be un- done. Her works of improvement survived-her population was left to her, and more than all lier great and inex haustible natural re- sources remained to bear her on to the consummation of her high destiny. Her citizens returned to their habits of industry and eco- nomy, from which the force of evil example had seduced them. Her business men, taught a severe lesson by the past, bent all their energies, and called into requisition all their experience to build up their injured credit, and to restore their business to a safe and per- manent foundation. The consequences began gradually to develop themselves. But little was gained during '38-9; but in '40, things assumed a more favorable aspect, and since that time the increase of business and population has been most rapid. This will be more fully illustrated by a reference to the census of different peri- ods, and to the tabular statements of the amount, value and charac- ter of the export and import trade of the place during each year, contained in another part of this volume.


It is with feelings of pride and satisfaction that the friends of Chicago can refer to the experience of the past six years. as furnish- ing an enduring monument to the industry, enterprise and persever- ance of her people, and as establishing, beyond controversy, the ex- istence and permanency of her sources of prosperity. If, with an impoverished community, at a period of general prostration of the business interests of the country. under the pressure of heavy mu- nicipal and enormous State liabilities, with resources comparatively undeveloped, and the works of public improvement unfinished, Chicago has accomplished so much, what may not reasonably be expected when these and all obstacles are removed from her way ?


A glance at her geographical position will convince the most sceptical that Chicago is but the nuclens about which is destined to grow up, at no remote period, one of the most important commer- cial towns in the West, Situated on the waters of the only great


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Lake exclusively within the United States-being the termina- tion, on the one hand, of the navigation of the Lakes, and on the other, of the Illinois and Michigan Canal-affording great natu- . ral facilities for a harbor, by means of Chicago River and its branches -the excelling site for a capacious ship basin in the very heart of the town, at the junction of said branches-having dependent upon it a region of country vast in extent, and of extraordinary fertility, it must always be the dividing point between two great sections of the Union, where the productions of each must meet and pay tri- bute. It is susceptible of the easiest demonstration that the route by the Lakes, the Canal and the Western Rivers, when once the channels of communication are completed, will, for cheapness, safety and expedition, possess advantages superior to every other. Among the advantages of this route, the climate, so favorably adapted to the preservation of produce, deserves especial notice.


The commercial interests, then, of the East, and especially of the great valley of the West, will be intimately connected with Chica- go, as a place of transhipment and deposit-and the value and amount of the trade in produce, in lumber, salt, and in every des- cription of merchandize which will centre here, is beyond our pre- sent powers of computation, and can only be measured by the future wants and capabilities of the country.


Those important works-the harbor and canal-upon which so many interests depend, justly demand the most serious conside- ration ; and it is highly gratifying to allude to their present most flattering prospects. It is now reduced almost to a certainty, that Chicago, after the expenditure of so much solicitude, and a large amount of money, is speedily to be furnished with a safe, cominodi- ous and permanent harbor. Under the supervision of our present able superintendent, the work is prosecuted with a degree of vigor that must be crowned with success.


The principal difficulty encountered during the progress of the harbor has been occasioned by the deposition of sand and the for- mation of bars at its mouth. The plans heretofore adopted to sur- mount this difficulty have failed upon trial, and are now abandoned. Two plans have been proposed the present season, which have at- tracted considerable attention. One of these, suggested by Captain McLellan, the present superintendent, recommends the construc- tion of a pier north of the present ones, at a distance from them greater than the length of the present bar, and is based upon the supposition that the sand would form a bar around its head, and not reach the entrance of the harbor. The other plan, which has been adopted, and is now being carried into effect, proposes the extension of the north pier, in the form of a circle, a distance of 990 feet, which will bring it into the line of the original direction of that pier. A good channel for vessels of every class will then exist from the head of the south picr, around the bar, that pier being extended no farther into the Lake. If this plan succeed, Chicago will be fur- nished with a harbor, not inferior to any on the Lakes.


We have the most flattering assurance that the work upon our other and not less important branch of public improvement-the Illi- nois and Michigan Canal -- will be resumed the coming season, un- der the operation of the late law of the Legislature. The history of this great work, which was contemplated from the first settle.


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ment of the State, and has been the subject of legislation for more than twenty years, presents a remarkable instance of the obstacles which frequently oppose the accomplishment of the greatest under- takings. The first survey of the canal was made in 1823. In 1825 a bill was passed to incorporate the Illinois and Michigan Canal Company ; but no stock being taken under the charter, it was re- pealed at the next special session. In 1827, act of March 2, Con- gress appropriated each alternate section of land within five miles of the prepared line. In 1829, a board of commissioners was orga- nized, with power to determine upon the route, and to discharge other duties connected with the work. Chicago, Ottawa, and other towns on the line were laid out by the board, and sales of lots effected. "The work was commenced in the year 1836, and was sus- pended in 1842. " The law under which this work was contracted, · provides that the canal shall be 60 feet wide at the surface, 40 feet at the base, and six feet deep; that it shall commence at Chicago, on canal land, and terminate at the mouth of the Little Vermillion River, making a distance of 954 miles. It was to be constructed upon the deep cut principle, and to be fed from the waters of Lake Michigan. By a recent survey, a method lias been discovered by which it is believed that a sufficient supply of water can be pro- curcd from Fox River for a canal upon the shallow cut plan. The sum of about $5,000,000 has thus far been expended upon the work. To complete it upon the plan contemplated by the late law, about $1,600,000 more has been estimated to be necessary. If that law gocs into effect, as present appearances seem clearly to indicate, the canal will be finished in about three years. We shall then have the greatest continuity of inland water communication in the world-extending from the Atlantic Ocean by the Erie Canal, along the chain of Lakes, through our canal, the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, to the Gulf of Mexico. This will be a glorious consumma- tion for Illinois, and for every interest connected with her. The vast resources connected with the canal itself, the resources which it will develope throughout the State, will enable her in a short time to discharge all her debts-to establish her credit-and to re- deem her reputation. Already has the prospect of the completion of this work effected a revolution in public sentiment, and has caused emigration to set strongly in this direction. The reports which have been circulated in regard to the circumstances and pros- pects of the State have been discovered, upon examination, to be founded in falsehood and misrepresentation. 'The public are now sa- tisfied that the climate is as healthy and salubrious as any portion of the West-that the soil is infinitely superior-that our taxes, even un- der the effect of that severe ordeal through which we have passed, uniformly have been less than any of the adjoining States and Ter- ritories-and that the prospects of the value of real estate, the high price of produce, and the facilities of a convenient market, will ren- der it the most desirable State in the Union. We may trust that the day is not far distant when Illinois will assume her proper posi- tion among the States of the Union-when her friends will be en- abled to hurl back the imputations which have been cast upon her character-when she can no longer, with a shadow of truth or justice, be stigmatized as the land of speculators and repudiation! Until then, she must calmly bide her time. 2ª




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