History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 24

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time > Part 24

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" Daniel Biomass long remained a resident and trader at Chicago, His naune is on the pull list of 1826 and his residence was on the east side of the Santh Brauch, nat far fromy thr forks. He was married at Chicago, by John Kinzie.

+ In the richard lester to Mr. Hours, Mr. Crooks Tells him he shall ex- pect him " by the return of the ' Pattinuire.""

; Binisson and J'enwenneur, traders for the old Southwest Company.

selves with getting hold of a larger share of the trade than last J'ear."

From Michilimackinac, 31st July, 1817, to John Kinzie at Chicago :

" Dear Sir :- Your favor of the 4th instant came duly to hand. as also the seventy-three Packs by Captain Barney, the freight of which I paid and had them safely stored where they still remain in the shape you sent them, as Mr. Beaubien could not possibly get a press, so busy have we been since his arrival here. However, 1 shall do what you wished him to execute, though from the unheard- of desertion of our men on the way from Montreal, we are left al- most helpless, and men cannot be got here on anything like reason- able terms. Would you believe that ordinary boatmen ask a thou- sand livres, many get eight or nine hundred, and those who can just talk enough Indian to tell their master's private business to the savages, will not' listen to anything short of eleven or twelve hondred livres, with an equipment which could not be purchased here for less than fifty dollars. If therefore you have any idea of depending on this post for men, my advice would be to abandon every thought of the kind, and secure those you have about you. Mr. Beaubien sold me his skins after a residence of several days had given him an opportunity of becoming intimately acquainted with the highest value set on them by contending parties, and I am very sure they were well sold. Fle has directed me to credit you with S1,087-5 on his account, which has been done. Your account against Pensonneau has been acknowledged and passed to your credit. The best Indian Coro will not command above two dol- lars per bushel, at this time, and indeed an immediate sale at that price could not be effected, for cash. I cannot therefore, take upon myself to sacrifice your property, and prefer keeping it till better times. Accept my thanks for your goodness in forwarding my request to Bourassa, but should he not come soon, his appear- ance will only be an additional charge to no purpose, as l'enson- neau will be off in a few days. Should Bourassa not be already on the way to this place when you receive this please say he need not come on my account."

From Michilimackinac, August 15, 1818, to Mr. Kinzie at Chicago :

" Dear Sir :- Being very busy at this moment, I have only time to say your son reached me in good health, which he has con- tinned ever since to enjoy with but little interruption. Mr. Dick- son made but a short stay here, and although I mentioned your desire of his arranging with me, on your part for John he was su entirely absorbed in the pressure of his own affairs as not to have an hour to bestow on the settlement contemplated. I am anxious that a perfect understanding should be had as to your son, with as little delay as the case will admit of, and beg you by the very first conveyance to give me at length, your ideas on this interesting subject. I am inclined to think, from all I have seen of him that he will realize all your hopes. I bought M. Chandonet's skin-, but the amount does not meet your expectations. Your several favors have been duly received, and with some exceptions the sums to be collected for you are at your credit. The accounts detailing everything shall be forwarded by Mr. Deschamps, who goes off in a few days. Messrs. Chandonet and James Kensie# are equipped by us. I send you a Pork-eatert for three years. His engagement is enclosed, and his account with us is :

For advances in Canada ditto at Mackinac. 312.11

99.13

411.24

The amount, stated in American money, was $68.70.

From Michilimackinac, September 19, 1818, to Mr. Jean Bte. Beaubien at " Milliwakie:"

" Dear Sir :- Per the schooner ' Hercules' I have shipped to the care of Mr. John Kinzie at Chicago, according to your order, 8 Barrels Flour and 6 Barrels Whiskey containing 199 1-2 gallon- marked J. B. B. which I hope will reach you in good order. 1 am glad to learn by Mr. l'ertian, just arrived from Detroit, that you had left that place for your home without making a very long stay.

On September 19, 1818, Mr. Crooks writes to Jeau Bte. Chandonnais, Chicagot :

* The different spellings of Kinzir and Mackinaw are unchanged by the editors, who sacrifier uniformity to hteralness, + Voyserur.

$ Chandonnais was formerly clerk fur John Kinzie, and un the day of the Fort Dearborn massiere was instrumental in swing the life of Mrs. Captain Heald, afterward conducting beth herself and husband to a place of safety. 1" Waubun," p. 183-1421, spelled Chand mai.1 In " Chicago Antipinties," the sune person is probably alluded tu on page 77, as beme in the y rvice of the I'mted States during the War of 1812, althenigh sprfird "t handlonia " Hir is also mentioned in " Frrens Series " No. 10. p. 19), alist. Fort [ harborn, by

THE FUR TRADE AND TRADERS.

" Dear Sir :- By Capt. Church in the 'Hercules ' you will re- ceive four barrels whiskey containing 144 gallons, and 6 barrels Flour, which I hope will reach you in good order. To Mr. Schind- Jer I will deliver the barrel Flour, as you directed. I cannot proni- ise you any more liquor, for spirits of every kind are not only dear but uncommonly scarce. Messrs. Mack & Conant have received the draft I remitted them on your account-say St, 174, but by the enclosed accounts from these gentlemen it appears you are still in their debt. The first account they furnished showed a balance of $216.37 1-2 against you, but by another they made out afterwards, you are their debtor only Stos.87 1-2. We' enclose those ac- counts, and your note to Sherbal Conant & Co. cancelled, which will give you all the information we possess on the subject of your affairs with these gentlemen.

" P. S. The two harrels you left here are also in the 'ller- rules.' "'

From Michilimackinac September 19, 1818, to John Kinzie, Chicago :

"Dear Sir :- Having just returned after an absence of fifteen days, I am as yet unable to transmit by this opportunity your ac- count current, but I will devote my first leisure moments to that object. . We remitted to Messrs. Conant and Mack $1, 174, on your account of Mr. Chandonnais, but by the papers enclosed by this conveyance to that gentleman, it appears that he is still in arrears with that house. Your letter covering remittances to them has been forwarded. By Capt. Church, in the ' Hercules' yon will receive a keg of Madeira Wine, as per ace't subjoined, which I hope you will find good. We have not a drop of Port, otherwise your request relative to that article would have been attended to. Enclosed is Bill Lading of J. B. B. 14 Barrels & J. B. C. 12 barrels, the former for Mr. Beanbien and the latter for Mr. Chandonnais, which we were directed to consign to you. We will settle with the Captain for the freight of these. John is in good health and writes by the ' Ilereutes.'

August 11, 1819, Mr. Crooks again writes to John Kinzie: 1

' Dear Sir :- Your several favors up to 19th ulto. have come to hand and their different enclosures attended to. All has been passed to your credit as they were severally collected, but where any inaccuracy existed, we made the necessary alteration, which you will discern in your account now enclosed ; by this the balance now is $220.90, which, of course, stands at your debit. The in- dentures of your son John, 1 had filled up with the intention of sending you an exact copy signed by me, but Mr. Kobert Dickson, arriving here in the meantime, I consulted him as you originally proposed, and at his instance put in $125 for each of the 2 last years of John's apprenticeship. I hope this will meet your appro- bation. The instrument duly executed is now enclosed, a copy of which please execute and return me by first conveyance to this place. Thus far your son has behaved in a becoming manner. Mr. Abbott did, I believe, everything in his power last winter to im- prove his general knowledge, as also his scholastic knowledge ; and my friend Mr. Robert Stuart, in whose charge he will pass the ap- proaching season, will not fail to do him justice. He is attached to our retail store, but 1 now and then have him with me in the wholesale department, and so soon as he is eligible, he will be so much in the counting-house as to give him an opportunity of un- derstanding our general business, but in concerns of some intricacy and infinite detail to keep him there now would he a loss of pre- cious time, both to him and the Company. You may however rest assured that every attention will be paid to making your son a man of business. With surprise and astonishment I learn the very questionable course Mr. Jean Bte. Chandonnait has thought proper to pursue ; but relying with the utmost confidence on your influence over him, I still fatter myself that at least a part of the amount he owes us would have been remitted before this time, more particularly as several gentlemen informed me he had in his possession St,ooo arising from the sale of his peltries to Mr. ('rafts. At your recommendation I gave him credit, for without that I never would have trusted him a dollar, and your being on the spot where he resided, I certainly felt as safe as with the best man we deal with. Strange and unaccountable it is, that we have not received any kind of remittance, notwithstanding the extrava- gant conduct of this person ; but, as you introduced him to uts, 1 un bound to hope, although you have not mentioned even his name in any of your letters this summer, that you have done, and will continue to do all in your power to insure the payment al our claim, at no very distant day. He owes us upwards of $4.000. 1 shall impatiently wait your answer. We return you Brooks' re-

Hoo. John Wentworth in connection with the escape of Captain Heald Mint wile after the massere, Thandonnais was the son of Chippewague, A Potla- Ratronic winnan, and was related to Mt .. Judge Fisher id Green Bay, and Miutame Therese Schindler of Mackinaw.

ceipt for shipping Packs, etc., for Cabanne, which ME. Rolette re- fuses to pay, as he says Cabanne was to deliver them in him on board at Chicago.

A number of letters are written in regard to the difficulty with Mr. Chandonnait, both to Mr. Kinzie and Mr. Beaubien.

Mr. Crooks writes from " Mackinac," September 17, 1819. to John Dean, " U. S. Factor at Chicago : "

" Sir :- Finding in the note of goods returned us by Edward Uphan something we had not furnished for our trade at the south end of lake Michigan in ISIS, a discovery was made of his having bought goods of you at Chicago, on terms not now distinctly recol- lected.

" Upham was immediately ordered to designate and put apart every article connected with this transaction. Mr. John F. Hozel accompanied him and took the account exhibited to you this morn- ing, in conformity to which, I to day delivered you 5 common calico 'shirts, 19 Cotton Handkfs, 5 Snuff Boxes, I Skein Worsted Varn. 30 Strings Wampum, 62 Hawk Bells, 78 1-2 pairs Large Square Ear Bobs, 117 smali Double Crosses and 30 yds. Indian Calico, being everything put into our hands by Edward Upham, as apper- taining in any manner to the purchase in question. In reply to your letter dated Chicago, 3d June, 1819, I have only to remark that the duty of Edward U'pham, or any other person employed by the American Fur Company, in their Indian Trade, was, and is. solely and exclusively to exchange the goods entrusted to their management, for the products of the country they are placed in : but neither him nor any other person ever possessed the power to purchase anything whatever on the Company's account, unless specially authorized to that effect in writing. The Cash price of Good Muskrat Skins at this place during the past summer was 25 cents per skin."

Mackinac, 29th October, 1819, to John Kinzie, Chi- cago :

" Dear Sir :- Permit me to tender you my most sincere thanks for the interest you took in securing that part which we received of our claim against Mr. Chandonnait, and you will still add to the obligation by using your influence in getting anything more that may be practicable from him during the winter and ensuing spring. It is probable he will draw a good many of his credits : and it is much better for us to pay him even more than the market price for his skins, than get nothing at all. You and Mr. Beaubien will therefore use your own discretion in this respect, for we have all confidence in your doing everything in your power for our benefit. If the lands he received from the Indians (either last or this year's treaty) are confirm'd to him, can you not get a mortgage on them : pray spur the feilow to exertion, for we wholly depend on the vigilance of yourself and Mr. Beaubien for what may hereafter be procured : 1 will thank you to send me a few pieces of good Hick- ory, sufficient to make 3 or 4 dozen Axe Helves : if you can send them by return of the . Jackson,' it will be preferable. John @11- joys good health, and will, I have no doubt, turn out a fine fellow. I am much pleased with his conduct and will give him every ad- vantage this place and his situation affords."

From the above letters it is evident that John Kinzie was engaged largely in the fur trade after his return to Chicago in 1816, and was not entirely confined to his trade of silversmith, as has been believed. A letter from David Stone, agent of the American For Company at Detroit in 1825, shows that John Crafts was alive at that time, and the agent of the company at Chicago. [This letter is in the possession of the Chicago His- torical Society.] It was written at Detroit, June 30, 1825, and was evidently to Ramsey Crooks. The ad- dress is lost. The letter is as follows :

" Dear Sir: 1 understand from Coquillard,# that it is very important for his trade that there should be some whiskey deposited at Chicago subject to his order. He says Bertrand always well- whiskey to the Indian trade, which gives him a great advantage. lle says the whiskey can be landed on one side of the st. Joseph River where it will be on I'nited States lands, that it may be trans- ported all the way to his house on Government land. His house is also un Government land, and this he thinks a protection. If i understand Judge Polk's construction of the law regulating Indian

* Alexis Coquillard was afterward thr clerk of the Anserican Fur Company at &t. Forph. In 1827 Mr. James Abbott wrote of him in a Writer tu Mir. Robert Stuart. " In Kolat. a to Mr. Coquillard. it may be proper to unnerve that he is an everllent clerk bist rather of a wpgnlar character, and must have carte blanche, otherwise nothing can be done for hun, I shall, nevertheless, twar in mind your wishes regardir & his unlit."

HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

trade, this would be no protection to the property so long as the country is occupied by Indians, To me this seems like a forced construction to meet the case of Wallace & Davis's goods. ( At Hardscrabble). I could not say anything definite to Coquillard on this subject, as I did not know what would be done I, how- ever, told him the matter would be referred to Mr. Stuart, who would let him know through Mr. Crafts what provision would be made. Coquillard says General Tipton gave him a license last year, and permission to take a few barrels of whiskey. . . I believe a young man by the name of Bosie has gone to Chicago or its vicinity for Schwartz. If Mr. Crafts has left Mackinaw, it would be well to advise him of this. Schwartz does not conduct his busi- ness either with prudence or economy. I am told he makes great calculations on Bosie this season. Should he be prevented from doing much, I think he would be compelled to give up the business as soon as next season."

July 12, 1826, Mr. Stone writes from Detroit to Mr. Robert Stuart, agent of American Fur Company at Mackinaw :

"I have found a small account against the American Fur Company, for a set of Cart Boxes and some Corn Baskets which Mr. Crafts gave David Cooper an order to purchase for the Chi- cago adventure. 1 have paid the same and charge the amount to your department and forward you the account herewith."

John Crafts, mentioned in the above letter, remained at the Lee place, as trader for Conant & Mack, until about 1822. In the fall of 1818 Jean Baptiste Beau- bien was transferred from Milwaukee to Chicago, by the American Fur Company, as its agent. He erected a sinall trading-house at the mouth of the Chicago River then about the foot of what is now Madison Street ) and commenced business. After a few years he suc- ceeded in obtaining so large a share of the Indian trade that Conant & Mack sold out their establishment to the American Fur Company, and Mr. Crafts became the Chicago agent with Mr. Beaubien under him. Crafts remained in charge of the Chicago house until his death in the latter part of 1825,* and John Kinzie was appointed his successor, but lived only about two years after his appointment.

William H. Wallace had a trading establishment at Hardscrabble, after the post was vacated by Mr. Crafts. This trading-house is mentioned in one of the letters quoted in this chapter as " Wallace & Davis's." Mrs. Kinzie, in " Waubun," speaks of the trading-house of George Hunt and Mr. Wallace, but locates it at Wolf Point.t Mrs. Archibald Clybourne, in her account of the arrival of her father's family at Chicago in 1826. also mentions Mr. Wallace. William H. Wallace was a Scotchman, and had been connected with the American Fur Company since Mr. Astor attempted to found the Pacific station at Astoria. When the company was re- organized in 1817 he became one of its clerks, and had charge of the details of fitting out the flotillas at Mon- treal, arranging the crews. and assigning the clerks to their several boats. In 1818 he was assigned by Messrs. Crooks and Stuart to the lower Wabash, with head- quarters at Fort Harrison. In a letter to these gentle- men dated at Fort Harrison, December, 1818, now de- posited with the Chicago Historical Society, Mr. Wal- lace gives some interesting particulars of his journey to that place. He mentions his arrival at the mouth of the St. Joseph on the zed of September and at the " Cow-pen " on the 26th, where he was detained, to his great indignation, by " Mr. Reame," until two of the party could go to Fort Wayne to show their licenses to the agent there ; which took twelve days. After various delays, and much difficulty, he arrived at Fort Harrison on the 4th of December, and says: " The country is far beyond my expectations, and if the business is well conducted where Reame is, we shall do well, for there

is plently of furs and Indians in the country." Mr. Wallace was on the Lower Wabash as late as 1821-22, and at the same time John H. Davis was clerk for the American Fur Company on the Upper Wabash. It is very possible that these two composed the firm of "Wal- lace & Davis," as there was a John ( L. ? Davis resid- ing here in 1830. Mr. Wallace was living in Hardscab- ble in the winter of 1826-27, and is said to have died in Chicago. In 1822, after the abandonment of the United States Factory at Chicago, by Government, the factory building was bought by the American Fur Com- pany, and soon after sold to John B. Beaubien, who made it his dwelling house. After the death of John Crafts in 1825, John Kinzie was appointed agent of the Com- pany. He moved, after the "Winnebago Scare," from his old home on the North Side to the house of Mr. Beanbien, and died soon after, having his residenee there, although absent on a visit to his daughter in the fort at the time of his death.

The Indian trade had become comparatively unim- portant in the region of Chicago before the death of Mr. Kinzie. The treaty with the Pottawatomies and neighboring tribes, and their consequent removal to the West a few years later, terminated what importance the place still retained as a trading station.

THE KINZIE FAMILY .- The biography of John Kin- zie has already been given. In that is included the his- tory of Margaret Mckenzie, the mother of his three eldest children-William, James and Elizabeth.

WILLIAM, the oldest son, accompanied his mother to Virginia. on her separation from Mr. Kinzie. He was there married, and subsequently removed to Indiana, where he died.

JAMES KINZIE, who was born at Detroit, April 21, 1793. re- turned to the West soon after the close of the War of 1812. As early as the summer of 1818 he was a trader connected with the American Fur Company, and in IS21 is mentioned by the United States Factor at Green Bay as having been " detected in selling large quantities of whiskey to the Indians at and near Milwalky of Lake Michigan ; in consequence of which the Indian agent at Chicago directed him to close his concerns at Milwalky in sixty days, and leave the place." He probably came to Chicago soon after this, as Mark Beaubien bought a log house of him in 1826. In 1829, in company with Archibald Caldwell. he built a tavern at Wolf Point, on the West Side, at the "forks" of the river. Mr. Caldwell sold out his interest to James Kinzie and the latter rented the house to Elijah Wentworth, who arrived at Chicago in the fail of 1829 and opened the Wolf Tavern in 1830. Mr. Kinzie built, in 1833, the Green Tree Tavern on the northeast corner of North Canal and West Lake streets, its name being from a solitary oak which stood near. This hotel, afterward called the Chicago Hotel, was situated, together with the dwelling of Mr. Kinzie, and the store of Messrs. Kinzie & Hall, on Lot 7. Block 22, original Town of Chicago. Mr. Kinzie's partner was his half brother. Mr. 1fall, who formerly resitled in Virginia. Mr. Kinzie was one of the trustees of the School Section in December, 1829 : the first Sheriff appointed by the Governor for Cook County ; the first town auction- eer : and one of the Town Trustees in 1825. He married his first wife, Leah See, daughter of William See, a preacher and blacksmith, who also lived at Wolf P'nint. Mr. Kinzie removed to Racine (then Koot Kiver ). Wis, as early as 1835, where his wife died June 22, 1835. On his removal to Racine he at first opened a store for white and Indian trade, and afterward engaged in mill- ing and farming. The second wife of Mr. Kinzie was Virginia Hale, who survived him. He removed from Racine 10 the interior of Wisconsin, and died in Clyde, Inwa Co., January 13, 1866.

ELIZABETH KINZIE, sister of William and James, came to Chicago from Virginia, and was married by [ohn Kinzie, her father. lo Samuel Miller, July 29, 1826. Mr. Miller was the owner of a house on the North Side, at the forks, which was used as a tavern and known as the Miller House. He received a license as tavern- keeper in April, is3t, but the house had been used for that pur- pose several years prior to that date. In the spring of 1532, the Miller family, with many others, moved into Fort Dearborn, from fear of the Indians, and soon after that time Mrs. Miller died, and it is believed that Mr. Miller left Chicago the same year Mr. Miller had been in partnership with Archibald Clybourne, selling goods, in 1829, and they were that year authorized to keep a ferry across the Chicago River "at the lower forks." He was one of

* See letter of David Stone.

+ "Waubun," p. 201.

THE FUR TRADE AND TRADERS.

the Commissioners of the County, and one of the first licensed inn- keepers and merchants of the town. Ile removed from Chicago to Michigan City, where he died.

" About the year 1Soo," John Kinzie married Mrs. ELEANOR ( Lytle ) MCKILLIP. This lady had been a captive four years when a child among the Seneca Indians, and upon her recovery, her parents removed from the valley of the Alleghany, their home for

several years, to the safe neighborhood of Detroit, settling at Grosse Pointe, eight miles from the former post. Eleanor here married Colonel McKillip, a British officer, who was accidently killed near Fort Defiance, in 1794. when in command at that post, leaving one daughter, afterward Mrs. Margaret ( McKillip ) Helm. After Mrs. McKillip's marriage to John Kinzie, about the year ISoo, she went with her husband to live on the St. Joseph River. in Michigan, where now is the town of Bertrand, and thence came to Chicago in the summer of ISO4. The story of her escape with her little children from the perils of the day of the Fort Dearborn massacre, and their subsequent return to re-occupy the old home with her family, and her hospitable kindly spirit, which made her house a home for every stranger, has been often told. When the children had left the old roof for homes of their own or to engage in business, and Mr. Kinzie was appointed agent of the American Fur Company, she went with him to the house of Mr. Beaubien, and after his death moved into the agency-house belonging to her son-in-law, Dr. Wolcott, on the North Side. In the spring of 1831, with her daughter, Mrs. Helm, she accompanied her son, John H. Kinzie, and his wife on their return to Fort Winnebago, travelling on horseback a large portion of the way, mounting her horse " in spite of her sixty years " and her incurable and terrible disease, " with the activity of a girl of sixteen." In the fall of the following year ( 1832 ) Mrs. Kinzie was taken by her son John H. to Prairie du Chien for medical treatment, the journey being made in an open boat from Fort Winnebago down the Wisconsin River to the Mississippi. Her disease-a cancer in the face- was incurable. After remaining some months in Prairie du Chien, she returned to Fort Winnebago, and thence went to New York City, where she died early in the year 1834.

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 24

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Andreas, Alfred Theodore
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, A. T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 1340