History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 60

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 60

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In November, 1847, the sum of $250 was appropri- ated for the employment of a vocal music teacher. Frank Lombard received appointment January 1, 1848. The sentiment of the Inspectors was favorable to a continuance of this work, but financial restrictions com- pelled a relinquishment of the office. It was not until July, 1850. that another appropriation was made, being $400. On the 28th of December, 1850, Mr. Lom- bard was re-elected. April 19. 1852, the salary was in- creased to $500.

Mr. Lombard continued in charge of instruction in vocal music till December, 1853, and was succeeded by Christopher Plagge. Mr. Plagge resigned March, 1854, and was succeeded by J. L. Slayton, who served till July, 1856. In September, 1856, William Tillinghast was elected at a salary of $1,000 per annum, and re- mained till the middle of October, 1860.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS .- In 1848, the Chicago Academy, under the management of J. E. H. Chapman and two assistants, was located in the basement of Clark-street Methodist church. This school had sixty pupils.

The Sutton Female Seminary, with forty pupils, was located at the corner of Madison and State streets ; principal, Mrs. Marion L. Gaylord; assistant, Miss Ade- laide M. Crary.

Miss Mary A. Nelson also taught a select school of about thirty pupils at 94 Michigan Avenue. Schools of the same character were taught by Miss Morse, on Michigan Street, between Clark and LaSalle streets; by the Misses Bennett and Chandler on the same street be- tween Cass and Wolcott streets; by Miss A. W. Walker on Canal Street, between West Randolph and West Washington streets; by Miss E. Moore, 152 Washing- ton Street; by Miss Pearce at 52 Randolph Street; and by Mrs. M. A. Warner at 167 Clark Street. This school had fifty pupils. Mrs. H. M. Shaw also taught a select school on Wabash Avenue, between Monroe and Adams streets. With exception of the one just above men- tioned, the number of pupils in the select schools ranged from twenty to thirty in daily attendance. The Chicago Normal School, Professor M. B. Gleeson, principal; Miss Jane Stewart, assistant, had at that time forty pupils, and was situated on Jefferson Street.

A German school with sixty pupils, was taught by A. Unterhrer at 134 Wells Street.

Linnear College was conducted by Rev. A. M. Stewart, in 1846, at 73 Lake Street.

In 1850 an English classical and high school, the number of pupils limited to forty, was taught by Daniel H. Temple in the basement of the First Presbyterian church. In this year the Chicago Academy was taught by W. N. Dunham and Mrs. E. Cornwell; and a select school for both sexes was taught by Rev. Charles Reighley, A. B.

In 1853 the Northwestern University, now at Evanston, was located in this city. This institution was under the management of the Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Rock River conferences, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Each conference selected four of the trustees to constitute the general board and this board appointed twelve others to act with them. At this time the faculty of the University had not been appointed, but the officers of the Board of Trustees were Dr. John Evans, president; A. S. Sherman, vice-president; and A. J. Brown, secretary. Grant Goodrich, George F. Foster, Dr. N. S. Davis, with the president and vice- president, ex officio, constituted the executive committee. The then proposed site for the university buildings was on a lot situated between Quincy and Jackson streets, west of Clark Street. In 1854, however, the University was removed to Evanston, where it now is, That year a part only of the faculty had been chosen, as follows: Rev. C. T. Hinman, 1. D., president and professor of moral philosophy and logic; Rev. Abel Stevens, professor of rhetoric and English literature; Rev. William Godman, professor of Greek; and Rev. Henry S. Noyes, profes- sor of chemistry .*

In 1853 a mathematical and classical school, con- ducted by W. G. Hatheway. principal, assisted by J. K.

" The Northwestern University will be treated of fully in subsequent volumes.

220

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Livingston, was opened at 56 Lake Street ; and the En- glish and classical high school, already mentioned. situated in the basement of the First Presbyterian church, was taught by Alonzo J. Sawyer. In that year Bell's Commercial College, situated at the southwest corner of State and Randolph streets, was incorporated, although the college had been instituted three years before. This was the largest institution of its kind in the city, and was a most excellent school. Its fac- ulty was as follows: Digby V. Bell, president, and professor of double-entry book-keeping and commercial calculation and lecturer on the general laws of trade Hon. Andrew Horvil, A. M., professor of commercia. law; John F. Starr, professor of penmanship ; James Bowes, William Scott Stewart and Dwight S. Heald were also assistant teachers in the book-keeping depart- ment. The trustees were Digby V. Bell, William B. Ogden, Walter S. Gurnee, Henry A. Tucker, John P. Chapin, John H. Dunham, B. W. Raymond, C. V. Dyer, John H. Kinzie and Edward I. Tinkham. The following gentlemen composed the board of examiners : Hiram Brown, Franklin Hatheway, H. C. Munch, J. Q. Adams, M. F. Talbot, J. Dyhenfurth and Edward H. Ring. The officers of the college, in 1857, were Theo- dore M. Ford, president ; Elisha B. Wallace, vice-presi- dent ; Robert C. Furman, secretary and treasurer.

The Garden City Institute was established in 1853. Henry H. Lee was principal, and teacher of mental and moral science and literature. This institution of learn- ing was situated at Nos. 69 to 71 Adams Street, and was in the nature of a preparatory school, fitting its stu- dents to enter college. It had an excellent and efficient corps of teachers, as follows : W. M. Blenkairon, M. A., teacher of ancient languages and mathematics ; W. C. Hunt, M.D., lecturer and demonstrator of chemistry, physiology and anatomy ; Leopold Mayer, teacher of German and Hebrew ; Miss M. E. Powell, principal of female department and teacher of French and ornament- al branches; Miss Juline M. Johnson, teacher of mathematics and English ; Miss E. S. Smith, principal of primary department ; Miss F. A. Cogswell, assistant ; and Miss E. Parsons, teacher of vocal and instrumental music. The officers of the institute were Jacob Russel, president ; E. L. Sherman, secretary ; and W. S. Gur- nee, Dr. Charles V. Dyer and Dr. L. D. Boone, trustees. Two years later, H. O. Snow became the principal, and was at the head of the institute in 1857.

Dearborn Seminary was organized in January. 1854, and in 1857 had erected a building on Wabash Avenue, which cost $20,000. This sum was raised entirely by the sale of scholarships. Its trustees, eighteen in number, were J. H. Dunham, president of the board ; Amzi Benedict, secretary ; Orrington Lunt, Rev. R. W. Patterson, Rev. R. H. Clarkson, Tuthill King, E. S. Will- iams, E. C. Larned, William B. Ogden. George E. Shipman, Stiles Burton, Timothy Wright, Rev. H. Cur- tis, Charles Cleaver and N. P. Wilder.

There were in 1859 the following private schools : a boys' classical school, T. W. Bruce. A. M., principal, situated in basement of the First Presbyterian church, fifty pupils ; the Chicago Female Seminary, A. J. Saw- yer, principal, with assistants, located at 168 and 170 Clark Street, cighty pupils : Miss Fisher's select school on Lake .Street, thirty pupils : the Green-street Semin- ary. D. R. Clendenin, principal, eighty pupils ; the Misses Stevens' select school for young ladies, at 158 Washington Street, sixty pupils ; Miss Hodley's high school, corner State and Harrison streets, sixty pupils ; Union high school, located in the vestry of the Jeffer- son-street Methodist Episcopal church, Mrs. Sarah G.

Cleveland, principal, with three assistant teachers ; a Ger- man school on the alley between Indiana and Ohio streets, George H. Fisher, teacher, seventy-five scholars; also a German school, corner of LaSalle and Ohio streets, C. P. Weber, teacher, one hundred and twenty scholars. With this it will be seen that, in addition to the efficient system of public schools, there was at no time between 1848 and 1859 a dearth of private institu- tions affording splendid educational advantages.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The memories clustering around the old volunteer companies of any city can never be effaced by the achievements of a paid department, however grand. In the days when the property owners of Chicago-her men of brains as well as brawn-were her firemen and "run the machines for all they were worth," there was an affection felt for the very apparatus, as if it were alive. There were favorite companies and favorite fire- men, upon which men, women and children gazed as on heroes of old. A reflection made upon the capacity of an engine or a company was enough to bring the indig- nant flush to many cheeks, and often was esteemed an insult which could only be wiped out by blood. There were friendly and there were bitter contests of skill, speed and endurance between engine and hose com- panies, as to which should get first to a fire. which should throw the farthest stream, which should "wash " or be "washed." In their determination to acquit them- selves with credit, to even cover themselves with glory at a fire, the " boys " strove with awful determination for commanding and daring positions ; sometimes, it would appear, entirely forgetting that the prime object of their existence was to quench the flames. But at fire or fes- tival the spirit of rivalry was never at rest. And when, upon a particularly grand occasion some company would indisputably triumph in a decisive test. how the breasts of her boys would swell with pride ! For instance, few of the old volunteers will forget the review of the de- partment in 1848, when the River and Harbor Conven- tion was being held, and how " Red Jacket " triumphed over all rivals by throwing a stream over the flagstaff in the center of the public square. Sometimes it was " Niagara " (" the kid-glove " company of the North Side) and sometimes the " Fire Kings" (No. 1) who would carry off the laurels ; or perhaps "Protector" (No. 6) would make a spurt for fame. To give variety to the contests of the department it might be that the fleet boys of " Hope " (Hose No. 2) or " Lafayette " (No. 4), would have a brush, and one or the other of the com- panies arrive at the scene of conflagration far ahead of its competitor, but minus the hind wheels of the cart. Perhaps some of the boys will call to mind the con- test which took place in presence of the Racine com- panies (October, 1856), at which these incidents oc- curred : No. 3 played into the tank two minutes, when the watch of the judge stopped, and the company re- fused to proceed ; No. 4 broke twice : No. 7 tried once and broke; No. 10, after playing about one minute, " heard something crack," stopped, went on again, and finally, after trying to get a good stream, took the ma- chine to pieces and found three sticks of wood inside. No. 3 was induced to make another attempt, and put the most gallons of water in the tank-1,323. And per- haps the older members will recall the contest in Oc- tober, 1857. Then it was that No. 4 bursted her host four times, and No. 3 five times, when, the twenty min- utes being wasted, she did not have time to play. No. 10 came and had just commenced to gain on the engine

321

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

"when her packing flew out." No. 7 gained the day. And so the sport went on. Then there were the pro- cessions, upon public occasions, when the boys would put on their best clothes, polish their engines to a blind- ing brightness, deck them with flowers, and look their sweetest and best generally. And again the festivals when firemen from other cities would come to show themselves and their darlings. These were the young, by-gone days, when the blood of the city was warm ; days which many veterans still remember as their jolliest and best ; when the old Unitarian church bell, in 1844, and, later, the Baptist church bell and the court-house bell (1855), were to them as bugle calls to war-horses, who "snuff the battle afar off."

But before the boys had any engines, or fire bells, or processions, or contests, or jealousies, or fights. or sociables, or anything of enjoyment whatever, they had laws which authorized them to inaugurate this pro- gramme, composed of triumphs and humiliations, pleas- ure and pain.

In January, 1831, an act was passed by the Legisla- ture authorizing the trustees of any incorporated town or village in the State to organize fire companies, not exceeding thirty members, and exempting them from jury service, or military service except in time of war. The " Washington Volunteers" organized in 1832, but merely had an existence on paper. They had no ap- paratus. They had no need of any, for there were not more than half a dozen frame buildings in Chicago. Chicago was not yet a town, and so the company was not formed under the general State law. The " Wash- ington Volunteers," in fact, had so " immaterial " an ex- istence that they are looked upon as the veriest ghost of a company by the oldest firemen now living, who re- member nothing about it. All that is left of it is the following notice :

"A. V. Knickerbocker, Sir :- You are hereby notified that C. Boardman has applied to become a member of Washington Volun- teer Fire Company in the place of H. Williams, and a meeting is called by order of the captain for that purpose, on Thursday, at four o'clock p. M., January 8, 1833.

"J. J. GILLUFFY, Secretary."

Chicago became a town August to, 1833, and on November 6 an ordinance was passed forbidding, after December 10, "the passing of any stove-pipe through the roof, partition or side of any building, unless guarded by tin or sheet iron, six inches from wood, un- der penalty of $5 ; the cause of complaint to be removed within forty-eight hours, or fine to be repeated. This was the town's first fire ordinance, and under it Benja- min Jones was appointed Fire Warden. September 25, 1834, the town was divided into four wards, and the stove pipe ordinance of November 6, 1833, was re- enacted with a few slight changes. The following War- dens were appointed for each district : First Ward, W. Worthington ; Second, E. E. Hunter ; Third, Samuel Resique ; Fourth, James Kinzie. These War- dens were charged with the duty of enforcing the ordi- nance previously passed, and of directing the move- ments of citizens who responded to the alarm of fire. By sections 4, 5 and 6 it was made the duty of the War- dens on the first Monday of each month to make a tour of inspection to see that the stove pipe ordinance was properly enforced. They were paid according to the time thus employed.

An account of the first fire which ever occurred in the town of Chicago appears in the Democrat of Octo- ber 12, 1834 :

"On Saturday last, about to o'clock v. M., a building on the corner of Lake and LaSalle streets, and the one attached, were dis-

covered to be in flames. Our citizens repaired to the scene of con- flagration with a promptitude worthy of commendation and suc- ceeded in arresting its progress, after destroying two other buildings adjoining. The wind being high at the time, threatened the destruction of a number of the surrounding houses, but, by the ex- ertions of our citizens, were saved from the devastation. The loss of the suffercrs will be severely felt, as some of them lost their all. A building on the corner, occupied as a dwelling, loss $300. There was in the house $220 in money, $125, being in Jackson money, was found in the ruins. The remainder, the rag currency, was destroyed. A building owned and occupied as a cabinet shop, and another building as a grocery by H. Rhines, together with dwelling, furni- ture and tools, loss $1,200. A building owned and occupied as a dwelling by James Spence, loss $500. The fire commenced by a coal from a shovel in carrying from one building to the other. The want of suitable officers to take charge and oversee in cases of fire is much felt, and we understand the Trustees have suitable regula- tions in respect to it."

Two days after the fire the Board of Trustees held a meeting at the Tremont House and adopted their third fire ordinance, by which Wardens were empowered to summon by-standers to assist in suppressing fires, making the Warden of the ward in which the fire occur- red the "chief," for the time being, and obliging fire wardens to wear badges of office. A short time after- ward Mrs. Hopkins was fined for violating the "stove pipe ordinance," in the district ruled by Fire Warden No. 2. The October fire appears to have stirred up the town authorities to unusual activity, for on November 3, the Board of Trustees had another meeting at the "Ex- change" and adopted the following " ordinance for pre- caution against fires:"

"WHEREAS, It has been represented by sundry citizens, house- holders and owners of property in the town of Chicago, that great danger of destruction to their property and to that of the com- munity at large exists, by means nf a practice too generally indulged in, viz .: that of carrying fire from one house to another without care or caution, and, WHEREAS, The President and Trustees of the town of Chicago have been called upon by their fellow-citizens to adopt measures for the prevention of the said practice in the future; therefore

"Be it, and it is hereby ordained by the President and Trustees of the town of Chicago, that hereafter it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to convey fire brands or coals of fire from one house or building to another within the limits of the corporation. unless the same be carried or conveyed in a covered earthen or fire- proof vessel. Any person offending against the provisions of this ordinance shall be liable to a fine of $5 for each and every offense, to be recovered before any Justice of the Peace in like manner as other fines are by law recoverable. This ordinance to take effect and be in force from and after the 12th day of November, A. D. 1834.

"JNO. H. KINZIE, President Board of Trustees. (Attest:) "E. W. CASEY, Clerk Pro. Tem."

On February 12, 1835, the Legislature passed an act authorizing any number of persons not exceeding forty to form themselves into a fire company. It also ex- empted them from military duty during the time of their service; and all persons who should serve twenty years were forever exempt. Yet laws and ordinances did not make a fire department, and even so late as May, 1835, the Chicago Democrat complains that "there is not even a fire bucket " in the city. The first practical step taken toward the organization of other than a "paper " fire department, was when. on September 19, 1835, the Board of Trustees resolved that "the President order two engines for the use of the corporation, of such description as he shall deem necessary. and also one thousand feet of hose, on the credit of the corporation." Whereupon William B. Ogden, as agent of the corpora- tion, was vested with authority to make such purchase. On October 7 the Board of Trustees, at a meeting held at Trowbridge's Eagle Hotel, ordered the purchase of two fire-hooks, with chains and ropes, two ladders six- teen feet long, four axes and four hand saws, at a total

222

HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

cost of $29.63. On the same date P. F. W. Peck, Joseph L. Hanson, Silas B. Cobb, James A. Smith, J. K. Bots- ford, Joseph Meeker, and J. McCord signed their names as the first members of the " Pioneer " hook and ladder company. Soon afterward John L. Wilson, E. C. Brackett, John Holbrook, T. Jenkins, T. F. Spalding, Isaac Cook, J. J. Garland, George Smith, J. K. Palmer, Thomas S. Ells, John R. Livingston, Henry G. Hub- bard, George W. Snow, Thomas J. King, N. F. L. Mon- roe, George W. Merrill, Samuel S. Lathropand l'homas S. Hyde joined the company. These feeble steps were

preliminary to the passage of the ordinance of Novem- ber 4, 1835, by which the first regular fire department of Chicago was organized. By its provisions the De- partment was made to consist of a chief engineer, two assistants, four fire wardens, in addition to the Town Trustees who were ( ex officio,) Wardens. The Board

of Trustees had the power to appoint the members of the department.

Section 35 of the ordinance made it incumbent upon every dwelling-house or other building, containing one fire-place or stove to have one good painted leathern fire bucket, with the initials of the owner's name painted thereon; every building with two or more such places, two buckets. The penalty for breaking this order was a fine of "$2 for each deficient bucket, and the further

sum of Si for each month he shall neglect to provide himself with such bucket or buckets after he shall have been notified by a fire warden so to do." Everyable- bodied male inhabitant possessing a bucket, who did not repair to the place of fire and work under the direc- tion of the fire wardens or other officers of the depart- ment was liable to pay a penalty of Sz. These provis- ions contained in sections 35 and 36 of the ordinance. comprised the authority for the formation of the first bucket company, which was not disbanded until 1840. The only one of these old leather buckets known to be in existence hangs in the Historical rooms Although in appearance a modest enough instrument for the ex- tinguishment of a serious condlagration, even in its old age it looks tough and serviceable. Its general shape is that of a clown's long hat, with the picked end some- what flattened. The handle consists of a plain leather strap. fastened to each side of the mouth by a simple iron buckle. Appearing in a scroll on the side is the

name "C. Stose," and underneath, " Relic of the Vol- unteer Fire Department of Chicago, used by C. Stose until the disbandment of the bucket company in 1840."

It may be that attention was called to the great necessity of some such embryonic organization as could be effected under this ordinance, by the fact that, during October, the prairie fires had been raging in alarming proximity to the limits of the town.

In September the authorities had ordered the purchase of a fire engine. It was bought of Hubbard & Co., December 10, for $894.38, payable in two annual install- ments. Two days thereafter, under the fire ordinance, the " Fire Kings" (No. 1) organized. The first mem- bers whose names appeared on the roll were H. G.

H.Still agú

Loomis, H. H. Magie, J. M. Morrison, W. H. Clarke, John Calhoun, Alvin Calhoun, W. H. Stow, C. Beers, Peter L. Updike, A. Gilbert and J. C. Walters. But the machines ordered by the corporation through MIr. Ogden were slow in arriving, and the hook and ladder company was slow in organizing. The American of December 12, accordingly, has this paragraph :

" The engine ordered by the corporation cannot arrive until next year, and no efforts are made, as we understand, to fit and man the one already in town for use on a sudden emergency. Why is not the fire company in preparation and training for service ? What has become of the hook and ladder company ?"

Before December 17, when the hook and ladder company effected an organization under the ordinance, the " boys " had been without officers. Upon that date, Hiram Hugunin, President of the Board, became chief engineer ; William Jones, first assistant, and Peter L. Updike, second assistant. On the 23d, the Fire King Company reported to the Board, in addition to the same general officers of the "department," recommended by the hook and ladder company, the following names : S. G. Trowbridge, foreman of Engine Company No. 1 ; H. G. Loomis, treasurer ; A. C. Hamilton, clerk ; Ira Kimberly, steward ; William Worthington, S. Lincoln, William Forsythe and W. A. Norton, fire wardens. The motto of the company was, " Pro bono publico."

The committee appointed to select a site for an engine house reported that that the County Commis- sioners would give them " leave to erect an engine house on the public square, on LaSalle Street, to occupy the same for and during the term of five years, without paying rent therefor." The clerk called for proposals for the erection of an engine house twelve by eighteen feet. The company, however, not wishing to be so closely confined, induced the Board to expand the limits to twenty-four by twelve feet, and to agree that it should also have a cistern "to hold two hogsheads of water, to be made of good pine lumber." On the 30th of December, 1835. Levi Blake contracted to build the engine house for $220. Before it was fairly completed, however, and before the department was formed, Mr. Hugunin thought best to resign his position as chief engineer February 17, 1836 , and George W. Snow, of the "Pioneer," was appointed to the vacancy. The feeling had become general among the members of the department that they should be allowed to elect their own chief. Mr. Hugunin's action was occasioned more particularly by the following communication, addressed to the Board, through him :

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 60

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