History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 41

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 41

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Acres.

School lands

104.520

Canal lands

228,580

Selected by commissioners for State purposes. 93.7S2

Sold to individuals in

IS 35

370,043

1836.

202,364

1837

15,697

IS33

87,881

IS39.

160,635

18.10.

137,382

1841.

138,533

1842.

194,556

IS43.

229,460

1844

235,258

1845

220,525

1846 ..

198,849

To November 1, 1847.

93.569

2,780,640

Balance unsold in district November I, 1847. . . 743,595

CHICAGO IN IS45, FROM THE WEST.

ANNALS OF CHICAGO.

MAY 2, 1837, TO JANUARY 1, 1858.

The history of Chicago since the time of its incor- poration as a city (1837) has, as appears in the subse- quent pages of this volume, been more elaborately treated under topical heads than before. It seems, nevertheless, appropriate, in the face of some possible repetitions, to continue, as supplemental to the contin- uous history which precedes, a semi-historic account, up to the close of the period treated in this volume, which shall mention the leading events in chronological order, as well as such minor occurrences, as, being irrelevant to the topics treated, might otherwise have escaped history altogether. It is believed that the few repeti- tions involved may be more than counterbalanced in the mind of the reader by the aid it may render in generalizing what follows.

1837. May 2, Chicago became a city, and held its first municipal election .* Hard times was at the time the general topic of conversation and the burden of the newspaper editorials, and the city was obliged to start on its infantile career by the discouraging step of run- ning in debt. June I the Council ordered the issue of $5,000 in city scrip, in denominations of $1, Sz and $3. The city, thus early driven by necessity, did what most governments have, under stress of circumstances, done before and since-made its first issue of paper money, which bore interest at the rate of one per cent per month, and was receivable for taxes.

An account of a justifiable homicide in Chicago, which it quoted from its exchange, the Chicago Demo- crat, appeared in the Milwaukee Sentinel, August 1, 1837. It read as follows :

"On the night of the 7th of June, considerable damage was done to the working utensils and property about the canal, in consequence of a reduction of wages from $26 to $22. From appearances, about dark, on the contract of Mr. Dodson, a repetition of injuries of the night before was feared. Consequently, the over- seers made preparation for the protection of the prop- erty. About the time of Mr. Dodson's retiring for the night, frequent whistling was heard. Soon after- some say about 10 o'clock-a heavy pounding was heard upon the pumps with a heavy sledge for the pur- pose of destroying them, as it afterward appeared. A young brother of Mr. Dodson's, with commendable fortitude, went to the works and demanded of an Irish- man, ' Why he was there ?' His reply was, 'I will let you know,' and sprang at young Dodson with the sledge he was using. Instantly a whistle was given by another who lay secreted near by, which was returned by a vast number. Mr. Dodson immediately took his one recourse, and with a musket ball shot dead the assailant. The loss of this man has, we understand, restored quiet along the whole line." "At the last term of the Municipal Court, the grand jury refused to find any indictment against Mr. Dodson. We have delayed speaking of this event until after Mr. Dodson had his trial."

June 29 or 30, Daniel Webster visited Chicago. It was a season of great rejoicing and excitement

* See Corporate History.

among the Whigs. He was escorted through and about the city by an immense cavalcade of citizens. Old set- tlers still tell of his triumphant entry, and of his speech of masterly eloquence and power, delivered from the Waubansia stone, within the garrison yard, and of a ball given in his honor at the Lake House. George T. Curtis, in his life of Webster, Vol. I, p. 564, gives July I as the date of Webster's leaving the town. Chicago was the western terminus of his tour. From thence he returned, via Michigan City, to Toledo.

September 10, Lake Michigan was nearly two feet higher than its ordinary level at that period of the year.

December, very late in the month, the post-office at Chicago was made a distributing office. The an- nouncement appeared in the Milwaukee Sentinel, Janu- ary 2, 1838 .*

1838. The year opened gloomily enough, and there was throughout but little to brighten the prospect except in the eyes of the most sanguine and hopeful, of which class Chicago happily had at that time, as she has always had, more than her full quota. Hard times still held its unrelenting grip upon the country, and especially upon this far-off western town, where the reaction of the speculative craze which had centered there was as extreme as had been the prevailing excite- ment of former times. Solomon Wills, in a manuscript

Coolomon 00

uvilles

letter now on file in the collections of the Chicago Historical Society, wrote, under date of May 13, 1838 : " The times here are rather growing worse instead of better. There is little money in circulation, and that which is good is scarce enough. Of course there is no property selling, unless by the Sheriff, and then it goes for little." Drought and a serious epidemic in the fall added to the disheartening annals of the year.

During the summer months, from June to Septem- ber, the work on the canal, the most considerable source of revenue to the paralyzed town, was nearly suspended for a time by a most mysterious disease which broke out among the laborers.t It was in its symptoms suffi- ciently like the Asiatic cholera to give to the community an added dread of it. It seized its victims suddenly, and carried them off, if it did not abate, in a few hours. Many of the dead were brought from where they died to the vicinity of Chicago, and dead bodies Jay along the road near Bridgeport, unburied, for days, so fearful were the inhabitants that the infection might be conveyed to the city.

A drought set in, in July, and from the 19th of that month until November, no rain fell. The streams dried up, the springs gave only brackish and impure water, and from the low lands and partially dried up marshes and bogs a fever-breeding miasma floated unseen to

* No copies of Chicago newspapers of this date are accessible. Few files of that date, must of which were owned by private citizens, escaped the may- ages of the great fire of 1871.

t Sre Medical History.

150

151

ANNALS OF CHICAGO-1837 -- 1857.

pollute the air. A malarious fever broke out, which, in its ravages, brought the great grief of death's bereavement to many a sorrowing household in Chicago.

In seasons of irremediable and continuous suffering, when hope grows weaker day by day, waiting for the longed-for rest that does not come, the only great recu- perative and antidotal remedy for besetting sorrows vouchsafed to man, asserts itself in his innate and irrepressible desire for recreation. So it has always happened that the healthy mind or the healthy-minded community, though traveling hand in hand with sorrow, has longingly looked askance to discover some diver- sion by the wayside. To all men, and in all times, pious or sacrilegious, Christian or heathen, wise or foolish, this desire has come as a specific for the ills they were forced to bear-the pious to their mosques, cathedrals, or silent altars of prayer ; the foolish to their cups; and the wise to whatever gives most harm- lessly surcease from present sorrow.

So it happened that Chicago successfully established her first permanent theater during this trying, sickly and generally unprosperous year. Messrs. Isherwood & Mckenzie, who had had a successful opening season in 1837, at a hall in the old Sauganash Hotel, deter- mined to establish a permanent theater in the town. Accordingly, during the spring months they fitted up as a theater the upper story of the wooden building on the west side of Dearborn Street, between Lake and South Water streets, which had been built in 1834 by John Bates, and during the intervening years occupied by'him and other auctioneers as a place of business. As a resort (the most noted in Chicago), it was christened " the Rialto," by Dr. Egan, and became a theater in May. The first season, despite the gloomy times, was fairly successful. October 18, the citizens gave to Mr. Alex- ander Mckenzie a most substantial benefit, which showed not only the high appreciation in which he was held as a citizen, but proved a financial success as well. It was the most notable society event of the year .*

During 1839 the business depression continued, and was increased by the general collapse of the Michigan banks,t which at that time had a large circulation in the city. In March, all Michigan money became uncurrent. The Chicago Democrat, as quoted in the Milwaukee Sentinel, March 12, said :

" All Michigan money is uncurrent, and the rumor that the Michigan State Bank has suspended payment has been confirmed. The Detroit Post represents the Michigan State Bank as perfectly solvent, but com- pelled by a constant demand for specie to take advan - tage of that clause in its charter which allows suspen- sions for thirty days. For the good of this community, which holds a large portion of its bills, we hope that the Post is correct."

April rr, it was announced in the Daily American that the canal commissioners had decided to issue from $150,000 to $200,000 in scrip; on the 9th of May, the same paper announced that the scrip (termed in the article " canal money ") was in general circula- tion.

The first daily issue of the American was published April 9, it being the first daily paper issued in the city.t

April 5, a religious revival, which continued to increase in interest during the spring months, was first noticed in the newspapers. At that date twenty-nine

persons, some of whom had not before been noted for their piety, joined the Presbyterian Church. The fruits of the revival brought large accessions to the other Protestant churches of the city. Rev. Isaac Taylor Hinton publicly baptized by immersion many converts. The work of the revival was general .*

During the spring the conflict between the vessel interests and the citizens, as to the obstructions to navigation caused by the bridges culminated.t In the Daily American of April 18, the editor sought to pour oil on the troubled waters as follows :

" We hope that our captains and sailors who have occasion to sail their vessels above the ferry crossing will be as careful as circumstances will allow, to avoid cutting or breaking the ropes. The rope of the State Street ferry was cut the other day by an axe. Our vessel owners demanded the taking down of the bridge, and it has been done. The citizens have been com- pelled to resort to a ferry for the absolute wants of the city, and with as much reference as possible to the accommodation of vessels. Let there be mutual for- bearance on this vexed subject, and all will go smooth enough and fast enough on this highway of the country."

June 20, James H. Collins having, at the public sale, bid off a part of the homestead of J. B. Beaubien, t the friends of the Colonel held an indignation meeting at the Saloon Building, at which resolutions were passed denouncing Collins and requesting Judge Burchard, the Government agent in charge of the sale, to cancel the sale and again offer the lots, thereby giving Beaubien's friends an opportunity to bid against Collins, in his behalf. The request was not granted.

October 23, the State Bank of Illinois, with its numerous branches, suspended specie payments.§

October 27, the most disastrous fire occurred that had ever visited Chicago. It commenced on Lake Street, near Dearborn. The Tremont House and seventeen other buildings were burned, and one blown up to arrest the progress of the conflagration. The total loss was estimated at from $60,000 to $75,000. Many of the leading merchants were burned out. The statement of individual losses and insurance, which appeared in the Daily American, throws some light on the magnitude of the stocks carried by the " merchant princes" of Chicago in those early days. It was as follows :

"S. W. Goss, dry goods and groceries, carried an insurance of $5,000 on his stock ; Eddy & Co., hard- ware, no insurance, loss between $2,000 and $3,000 ; Ayers & Iliff, dry goods and groceries, no insurance, loss $6,000 ; David Hatch, hardware, stock valued at $8,000 to $9,000, insured for $8,000 ; O. H. Thompson, principally dry goods, insurance, $800. The Messrs. Couch lost on the contents of the Tremont House $3,000 to $4,000. The highest insurance on any build- ing destroyed was $2,800 ; the lowest, $850."

November 28, Thansgiving Day was observed for the first time.in Chicago. So stated the Daily American of the 29th.

November 30, occurred the first incipient duel. In a recent issue of the Democrat had appeared the follow- ing editorial : " It is an indisputable fact that every one of these persons who have been filching money unjustly in the shape of Indian claims are opposed to the admin- istration, and use such illgotten gains to injure it in every possible manner. It is due to the people that all

* See History of Early Amusements in this volume.

t See l'anking.

# See History of the Press.

* Sce Religious History.

t See Harlwr and Marine.

$ Ser Braubien C'laun in the preceding pages.

§ See Ilistory of Banking.

152

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Indian treaties for the last ten years should be over- hauled in the most thorough manner, and the thousand knaveries practiced by men thereby made nabobs, fully exposed to the public gazc." Captain afterwards Gen- eral) David Hunter, believing that the above was intended as a reflection upon him, came into the office of the Democrat, and then and there demanded satisfaction of John Wentworth, the editor, and laying two pistols upon the table, offered him his choice of weapons. Mr. Wentworth, as would any good and discreet citizen, per- emptorily declined to fight a duel, but made the amende honorable by the publication of a letter in a subsequent issue, disclaiming any reference to Captain Hunter in the article which had raised the chivalrous officer's ire. The Captain soon after published a card in which he stated that the pistols were not loaded, and the affair thus ended without the spilling of gore. The pistols afterward came into the possession of MIr. Wentworth, who frequently, in his subsequent editorial career, alluded to them, when indulging in early reminiscences. .

During the latter part of December, and through the following January, small-pox prevailed in a mild form in the city. It placed a quite serious embargo on country trade, as farmers feared to visit the town. The Board of Health publicly requested the vaccination of all persons hitherto unvaccinated, and ordered all physi- cians, under penalty of a heavy fine, to make immediate returns of all patients suffering from the disease.

1840 .- The people had become used to hard times, and had adjusted themselves quite comfortably to their conditions at the opening of the new year, which will be remembered as a year of most hilarious political excite- ment, pending the presidential campaign, which resulted in the total defeat of the Democratic party, and the election of General Harrison as President, by an over- whelming popular vote. The Whigs of Chicago, although in a minority, made the campaign most enthusiastically noisy and lively.

January 10, the new Market House at the corner of Lake and State streets was completed. The cost of the building was stated to be $1,500. The stalls were rented for three years at a gross aggregate rental of $2,460.

February ro, the City Council changed the method of voting, ordering that at the next election and there- after the votes should be given on a written or printed ballot, instead of, as heretofore viva voce. At the munic- ipal election held in the following March the first bal- lots were handed to the judges at a city election.

May 1, John Stone was indicted for the murder of Mrs. Lucretia Thompson .* He was tried, convicted, and on Friday, July 10, hung until he was dead ; the place of execution being some three miles south of the court - house, near the lake shore, between what was then the terminus of State Street, and the Cottage Grove Cattle Yards. This was the first public execution in Chicago. The following account of it appeared in the American of July 17:

" The execution took place about a quarter after three. The prisoner ascended the scaffold, dressed in a white loose gown, and with a white eap upon his head, as is usual in such cases. He evinced much firmness upon the gallows, under the circumstances. and in the presence of the spectators (among whom we regretted to see women enjoying the sight) he persisted to the last in the asser- tion of his innocence-which declaration was publicly made in his behalf by the Sheriff, together with his acknowledgment, as requested, of the satisfactory manner in which he was treated in the jail. ffe stated that he was never in the house of Mrs. Thompson, and did not see her on the day she was murdered. Ile also stated that he believed two individuals were engaged in the murder, but on being asked if he knew them, he replied in sub- . Sre Farly History and History of the Hirnrh and Bar.

stance. that if he did he would swing before their blood should be upon him. The Rev. Mr. Hallam, Isaac R. Gavin. Sheriff, and Messrs. Davis and Lowe, deputies, attended the prisoner on the scaffold. The Sheriff seemed particularly affected, even unto tears. After the beautiful, solemn and impressive services of the Epis- copal Church for such occasions had been performed by Mr. Hallam, and the appropriate admonitions bestowed, the death warrant was read by Mr. Lowe, the knot adjusted, the cap pulled over the face of the prisoner, and he was swung into another world. After he was hung until he was ' dead, dead,'a wagon containing a coffin received his body, which was delivered to Drs. Boone and Dyer, pursuant to the order of the court, for dissection. it is sup- posed that he died from strangulation and that his neck was not broken in the fall, which was about four feet. * * * His aged parents, also brothers and sisters, resided at the East. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one. While a mail-carrier in Canada he was convicted, under the name of John Standish, of being an accomplice in the robbery and murder of a Government officer. He was retained as State's evidence, ran away into the State of New York, was convicted of stealing horses and wagon, and was sent to the Auburn State Prison, under the name of John Dan. He left Auburn about two years ago, and has been in this part of the country about a year, obtaining a livelihood as a wood- chopper. He was born in Ireland, had been twenty-one years in this country, and called himself in his thirty-fourth year."

May 25, the Whig delegation from Cook County to the 'l'ippecanoe convention, to be held at Springfield, left the city. It made a most formidable procession. It was headed with a big' schooner on wheels, drawn by oxen. The history of the journey and return have appeared in print so often as to have become trite.

July 17, the spirit of Know-nothingism was quite prematurely evinced by the publication in the Daily Democrat of a petition to the United States Senate, and House of Representatives, praying Congress to deprive all foreigners not already enfranchised of the right of suffrage in the United States. It was signed by two hundred and fifty residents of Cook County, a majority of whom lived in Chicago. In politics the petitioners were about equally divided, but, as a record, it proved a stumbling block in the way of success to tnany a political aspirant who stood in need of the foreign vote of Chicago, for years after, if his name was to be found among the signers to the petition.

November 3 was the day of the presidential elec- tion. Great excitement prevailed, and much disorder at the polling places. Many arrests were made-some being of prominent citizens-for creating disturbance at the polls.

1841 .- In January a large meeting of citizens was held at the Saloon Building, at which resolutions were passed and a memorial to the Legislature signed, requesting that body to raise sufficient money by direct taxation to pay the interest of the State debt, and thereby restore its impaired credit.

February 19, the first .ganized meeting of the Young Men's Association was held. The organi- zation was in answer to an appeal which appeared in the newspapers a short time previous, in which this statement was made: "There is no place of general resort where a leisure hour can be passed in quiet and rational amusement."

Through the month of April there was a great tem- perance revival. Within three days one hundred and forty signed a pledge of total abstinence.

May 14, day of national fasting and prayer, ap- pointed by President Tyler in commemoration of the decease of President Harrison. In the morning ap- propriate religions services were held; in the afternoon George A. O. Beaumont delivered an eulogy on the deceased at the Presbyterian Church.

November 29, public dinner given to Governor Thomas Carlin to express feelings of gratitude at his interest in the Illinois & Michigan Canal.

153

ANNALS OF CHICAGO-1837-1857.

1842 .- The year was uneventful. Business had, how- ever, begun to improve, and the city again showed an increase in population. Building was again carried on with something of the old time vigor. The Federal bankrupt law went into operation in March, and a com- missioner was appointed for Chicago during that month. From the opening of the court to September I upward of forty Chicago merchants availed themselves of the law, thus wiping out all old scores preparatory to begin- ning anew. The temperance excitement which had begun the year before continued throughout the year.

January 1, the first Washingtonian Society was organized.

May 24, the works of the Chicago Hydraulic Com- pany were in successful operation. The Daily American in making the announcement said : "Pure water is now flowing in abundance through our streets."

June 29, the progress and success of the Washing- tonian Temperance movement was chronicled in the Daily American in the publication of a report to the Common Council, in which it was stated that "from the present tone of feeling, the profit arising from the sale of spirituous liquors is so much curtailed that those engaged in the trade are hardly able to meet their cur- rent expenses."

July 3, Martin Van Buren, the first ex-President who had ever visited Chicago, was given a public reception. The Mayor, B. W. Raymond, delivered the welcoming speech, to which the distinguished guest replied at length.

October 19, the first considerable movement in favor of the mother country was made by the Irish citizens of Chicago by the organization of an association for pro- moting the repeal of the union between England and Ireland. The officers were : President, William B. Egan; Vice-President, L. C. Kerchival; Recording Sec- retary, C. McDonall; Corresponding Secretary, H. L. Rucker ; Treasurer, James Carney ; Repeal Wardens, John McHale, Michael O'Brien, R. R. Seely, Patrick Ballingall, George Brady, John Jackson, H. Cunningham, C. H. Chapman, Maurice Prendeville and Hugh Young.

1843 .- The year, like the two preceding, was uneventful. The spring was late, farmers not being able to sow until April 21, and quite insignificant events were sufficient to create excitement.

January r, there was a public debate between John C. Bennett and a Mormon preacher named Anderson at " Chapman's Building." The question debated was: " Are the Mormon revelations to be accepted as truth ?" The building was crowded, and for weeks after the question was one of excited discussion in the community and through the columns of the newspapers.

February witnessed perhaps the lowest price in Chi- cago for wheat and corn at which it ever sold in the Chicago market freely: white winter wheat, thirty-eight cents per bushel; corn, eighteen cents per bushel. A reaction set in before the opening of navigation, at which time prices had advanced to fifty-six cents per bushel for wheat, and thirty-eight cents per bushel for corn.

February 3, at the public land sale 600,000 acres were offered, of which only 70,000 acres were sold, bringing $86,215.36. The failure of the sale was at- tributed to the scarcity of money, specie being then demanded by the Government as payment.

March 17, occurred the first celebration of St. Pat- rick's Day. Papers speak of the Chicago Band and the Montgomery Guards turning out for the first time on

that occasion in full uniform; also of a mass in honor of the Saint at the Catholic church, and of the orderly conduct of those in the procession.

March 30, snow fell to a considerable depth. The Democrat of the 31st said: " Judging from appear- ances, we shall be fortunate if navigation opens hy the Ist of May. Immense quantities of snow have fallen throughout all portions of the West, and in most parts of the East."

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 41

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