History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 62

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 62

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A GREAT CONFLAGRATION .- Up to the year 1858, the most destructive fire which Chicago had suffered occurred October 19, 1857. It entailed upon the city not only a great loss of property, but a distressing loss of life. The fire originated in a large brick store, Nos. tog and At South Water Street. Though reports and

rumors as to the origin of the conflagration are con- flicting, the weight of testimony goes to show that in a room in the second story of the building four aban- doned men and women were indulging in a drunken carousal, and one of their number overturned a lamp. The flames spread rapidly in all directions, and in a very short time the occupants of the building, among whom were other men and women of ill fame, were pouring out of their disgraceful haunts. Some escaped to the street, others leaped from the windows to adja- cent buildings, and thence reached the ground. So far as is known, no lives were lost in this locality. The scarcity of the water supply, and the inability of the Fire Department, made the progress of the flames a complete triumphal march, and it was not long before some of the finest and most costly business edifices in the city were heaps of ruins. Nearly half a . million dollars' worth of property was destroyed, and twenty- three lives were lost. Early in the morning, John B. Dickey, foreman of "Liberty" Hose Company No. 6, was in the act of getting a new lead of hose to bear upon Edward Hempstead's wholesale grocery building, on South Water Street, when the rear and side walls of the structure fell, instantly killing the unfortunate fire- man. Shortly after this accident, a terrible casualty occurred on Lake Street, by which several lives were lost, and which caused the greatest consternation. A large number of persons were engaged in removing dry goods from the four-story brick store occupied by Mr. Barnum, when suddenly the roof and upper floors came down with a terrible crash, burying some twenty men beneath the ruins; and, a moment after, a portion of the side walls also fell in, adding still more to the horror of the scene. Instantly the most intense excitement prevailed, and the people rushed wildly around the burning building, in the vain effort to save, if possible, the lives of those beneath the ruins. The fire was so intensely hot that no one could enter the building. As soon as practicable, streams were brought to bear, and after a short time a crowd of men rushed in and began to search for the bodies among the hot bricks and burning rubbish. This was a work of great danger, as the walls on either side were tottering and liable to fall any moment; and indeed, when they did come down, many persons had a narrow escape from being buried with those for whom they were searching. The dan- gerous portions of the walls left standing by the fire were thrown down by means of ropes passed across them, and the work of rescuing the bodies was system- atically commenced. Before dark the bodies of the following had been recovered: Timothy Buckley, mem- ber of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; Auguste Wolf, Hook and Ladder Company No. 3; E. R. Clark, of the firm of Clark & Metz, stove and tinware dealers; Dudley C. White, employed in Joseph Fisk & Co.'s hardware store; John Tar, gas-fitter, with Gerould & Co., Jean Jungers; H. S. Bradley, jeweler. The bod- ies, as fast as recovered from the ruins, were carried to the grand-jury room in the court-house. Coroner Hansen at once summoned a jury of inquest, and the following additional bodies were identified: Marcus D. Grants, of Lady Washington Hose Company No. 5; Matthias Marsh, clerk with Beckwith & Co .; John A. Raymond; D. C. Emerson, a painter; Ezra H. Barnum, of the firm Barnum Bros .; John High, retired mer- chant; Lawrence Griebel, sailor; John Keegan; Alfred H. P. Corning, clerk with Merchants' Loan and Trust Co., cousin of Erastus Corning. of Albany, N. Y .; Abram Bogart, foreman for Campbell & Co., silver platers. Ou the evening of the 20th, the various offi-

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VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

cers of the Fire Department met at the Comptroller's office, to make arrangements for the burial of their dead comrades. The obsequies were fittingly observed on the 2 Ist.

The testimony adduced at the Coroner's inquest proved the utter helplessness of the Fire Department, as then organized, to cope with a wide-spread conflagra- tion. It brought out the fact that the two engines Nos. 6 and 10, were out of order and did not work. While competing at the fair for the $200-silver trumpet they were broken. Besides having burst considerable hose at the fair ground, which had not been replaced, about five hundred feet of it had been taken away and left. On the morning of the fire the Chief sent an express wagon for it, but it came too late to be of any essential service. The immense amount of property lost by the unorganized exertions of those who even were attempt- ing to save goods, as well as the impossibility of pro- tecting valuables from thieves, induced the business men and insurance companies to form at once a "fire brigade." The movement was inaugurated by E. E. Ellsworth, who suggested that the brigade consist of one hundred picked men, invested with police powers, and divided into companies and squads, commanded by captain, lieutenants and sergeants. The brigade was to be provided with a carriage for carrying one fire escape apparatus, six ladders, one hundred fire axes, etc. The officers were to have general supervision of the men at work in removing property from buildings, and were required to set a good example of coolness and presence of mind. They were to prevent to the greatest possible extent all hurry and confusion, to select the most valuable goods for removal first, and, in the lan- guage of Mr. Ellsworth, " see that the men work in con- cert, and do not occupy themselves in removing coal, old iron, stone flooring, etc., when anything more valu- able is to be found; and take especial pains to prevent the destruction of furniture, as it is not considered . good policy to throw mirrors from the fourth story windows, or like Doesticks's hero, knock pianos to pieces in order to save the castors." An organization was accordingly effected and gentlemen were appointed to canvass each of the six fire districts in the city for subscriptions. November 19, a constitution was adopted, christening the association as the "Citizens' Fire Brigade of Chicago, Ill." The officers selected were as follows: President and captain, Arthur C. Ducat; L. K. Sanborn, S. B. Raymond and Henry Bandt, vice- presidents and lieutenants; secretary, Grafton Fenno; treasurer, W. G. Hibbard; finance committee, Charles H. Hunt, Frederick Fisher, H. G. Williams, F. W. Wadsworth and J. B. Shay. Among the original mem- bers of the brigade were, H. O. Smith, L. S. Burton, Shaw Williams, J. W. Davis, H. N. May, G. W. Gardner, S. B. Raymond and William Thompson. The brigade was not long lived.

"Red Jacket " No. 4 and " Red Rover" No. 14 at this time, came in for a large share of public cen- sure, the former being generally suspected of having hurned down their engine house in the fall of 1857. According to the report made by the committee on fire and water, in November of that year, No. 14 is repre- sented "as being composed of a very inferior class of beings, all more or less being given to intoxication and guilty of rowdyism generally." The question of dis- banding these companies, which was demanded by many citizens, was left with the Mayor. And there was a serious cause of complaint against the system which was made by citizens as a body, whether they were firemen or not. The Department had become to some

extent a harbor of refuge for idlers from distant cities -a sort of hospital for the encouragement of laziness. In the words of the committee, "there appears to be too many outsiders, as they are termed ; men and boys coming from other cities to this, who either cannot or do not seek for employment. Consequently the first step they take is to run with the machine. The pres- ent arrangement in our city provides for them at least a sleeping place for the night, if nothing more." It was suggested that the Chief Engineer and his assistants make a thorough examination, throughout all compan- ies, and whenever they found anybody "so infringing upon the rights of our firemen" to arrest him, have him brought before a proper tribunal and justly pun- ished. Another difficulty to be overcome, if possible, was the excessive use of free whisky in times of fire.

Previous to 1858 it had been customary for the fire- men to meet in convention and nominate candidates to be supported by the people. The Chief called the meeting. Accordingly, on January 26, the usual call appeared for a convention to be held on the 28th. As the firemen considered that longer notice should be given, they requested the Chief to postpone the conven- tion for a week or ten days. This Mr. McBride re- fused to do, and the firemen accordingly assembled, on the day named, at the South Side Market Hall. There

were three candidates in the field, D. J. Swenie, Peter Casey, the then assistant, and John Egan, foreman of No. 4. Some of Mr. Swenie's friends charged that Companies Nos. 4 and 14 (Egan's warmest supporters) had brought a large number of non-members to vote their favorites into office. A resolution which was in- troduced to prevent anyone from voting who could not show a badge, created a great uproar and resulted in many of the companies leaving the hall. The "bolters" adjourned to Dearborn Park, and resolved to meet at North Market Hall the next day. In the meantime those who had remained had chosen Egan as their standard-bearer, but the Chief declared the election in- formal. Mr. Egan attempted to effect a compromise with the Swenie (or paid department) element, by offering to resign in favor of U. P. Harris. Mr. Swenie refused to do so, as he said he had already solicited Mr. Harris to become a candidate, without success. The next day therefore, at North Market Hall, Mr. Swenie's friends met and nominated him, with L. Walters for first assistant and M. W. Powell second assistant. Feb- ruary 11, John Egan was formally nominated to head a second ticket ; John Shank, first assistant ; Jacob Held, second assistant. The Swenie ticket was elected.

THE FIRST STEAM FIRE-ENGINE which was retained by the city was the " Long John." It was tested at the foot of South LaSalle Street on February 5, 1858, and approved by experts and the city generally. The boys of the volunteer department saw in its every puff a death hlow to their own system. None of them will deny even at this late day that they felt, and acted, "ugly." After Mr. Swenie had been chosen engineer in March, the feeling reached such a height that it seemed. for a time. as though it would culminate in a riot. On the 6th of that month Engine Companies No. 4, 10 and 14, Hose

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Companies No. 3 and 5 and Hook and Ladder No. 3 met on Clark Street. After forming in line they marched down that thoroughfare, headed by the Great Western .Band, and traversing the principal streets of the city, marched into the court-house square. A large crowd had collected there, and were becoming more and more

LIIL

THE "LONG JOHN " FIRE. ENGINE.

excited. Fearing a disturbance, the Mayor dispatched an extra force of two hundred policemen. He ordered the arrest of the firemen for disorderly conduct, and they fled, abandoning their machines to the city. No. 14 only partially owned its engine, and when the proceed- ings of the volunteer department were thus informally broken into by the representatives of the law, her boys ran off with their machine to the Central depot, intend- ing to ship it East to the maker, "to whom they are in- debted for it," spitefully says the Tribune. Some dozen arrests were made, but the prisoners were afterwards released by order of the Mayor. The police took the engines to the Armory and locked them up, arrange- ments being made with special policemen to man them in case of fire. Four horses were provided for the use of the new steam fire engine. A police force was placed in the different engine and hose houses to protect them, should any demonstration be made against the new regime. No further trouble occurred however. The organizations which took part in the procession were dis- banded by the Council, March 22, 1858, which action may be called the beginning of the death of the old vol- unteer department.

On August 2, 1858, the Council passed the ordinance organizing the paid department. December 4. 1858, "Northern Liberty". Engine Company No. 15 was cre- ated, and was the last of the volunteer engine compa- nies. The headquarters were on the corner of Larrabee Street and North Avenue. The first foreman was Con- rad Folz.

The last two hose companiesto organize in the vol- unteer department, in fact the last organizations to be effected, were, " Northern," No. 7 and " Union," No. S. They were both formed in February, 1859, and disband- ed in IS62.

FIRE COMPANY SKETCHES .- The original niem- bers of " Pioneer " Hook and Ladder No. 1 signed their names to . the roll, October 7, 1835. They have

already been given ; also those who joined the company up to the time it was regularly organized, under the or- dinance of November, 1835. During the fifteen suc- ceeding years more than seventy citizens entered its ranks. The following names (and those of other com- panies) are taken from tlie several old records, as the lists which have heretofore appeared in print are unreli- able : Grant Goodrich, William Osborne, W. H. Tay- lor, Charles Cleaver, S. J. Sherwood, Starr Foot, J. Price, J. W. Hooker, A. Peck, Benjamin W. Raymond, T. Whitlock, T. Church, B. Briggs, S. P. Warner, A. C. Wood, O. Sherman, H. O. Stone, J. Campbell, T. B. Carter, Alexander Loyd, J. Wadsworth, L. B. Goodseil, S. Sawyer, W. King, N. Sherman, Jr., J. M. Underwood, Darius Knights, George Collins, C. M. Gray, T. King,

1 Sherman

J. Keen, J. S. Root, J. H. Rochester, P. C. Sheldon, C. N. Holden. S. M. Davis, A. D. Sturtevant, A. Bent, J. D. Davis, H. Witbeck, R. P. Hamilton, L. M. Boyce, J. M. Adsit, S. B. Collins, A. G. Downs, A. E. Fuller, E. W. Herrick, E. Bestwick, S. W. Peck, J. B. Jackson, T. W. Goodrich, J. S. Vanduser, W. H. Cheeseman, I. L. Milliken, S. J. Surdam, W. Lock, George Smith, G. M. Rogers, C. Adams, J. H. Reed, J. H. Kinzie, R. Freeman, G. G. Randolph and J. Brooks. Hook and Ladder No. I did good service until the disbandment of the volunteer department. John M. Turner, J. W.

Hooker, C. M. Gray, George Collins, Darius Knights, Charles Burley, B. W. Seaton, and Charles E. Provost were foremen. When disbanded, in 1859, the company was using a truck built in 1856, and consisted of about thirty-five men. The house was located on La Salle Street, between Madison and Washington.

Engine Company No. 1, the first, and in many re- spects the best, of the volunteer companies, was organ- ized December 12, 1835. Its first foreman was S. G. Trowbridge. A. Gilbert, Cyrus P. Bradley and J. M. Donnelly, foremen of this company at different times. were afterwards Chiefs of the Department. Alvin Cal- houn, on the other hand, who served as Chief in 1839, six years later held the position of foreman of No. 1 with almost as much pride. Asher Rossiter, James J. Langdon and F. A. Bragg also held the position of fore- men. As its motto indicated, No. I worked for the " public good " for many years. The company was not disbanded until February, 1860. Its engine house was then on Dearborn Street, between Washington and Ran- dolph, and the organization went out of the department about eighty strong. Among the earliest members of No. I, in addition to those given in the general sketch of the Department, were : S. G. Trowbridge, E. Mor- rison, Joel Wicks, H. B. Clarke, John S. C. Hogan, W. A. Neff, T. O. Davis, Peter Pruyne, Ira Kimberly. MI. B. Beaubien. A. V. Knickerbocker, Scth W. Paine, Ebenezer Peck, H. C. Pearsons, George Davis, J. C. Hamilton, Luther Nichols, E. B. Hurlbut, A. G. Burley, A. Rossiter, C. E. Peck, Isaac Cook, C. P. Bradley and N. Sturtevant. There were also in the ranks, at a later period, their service in some cases stretching over many vears, H. H. Vates, J. Beecher, l'eter Page, G. Kan- doiph, C. P. Albee, C. Skinner, G. R. Bills, J. W. Steele,

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VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A. Loomis, N C. Walton, J. Harmon, P. P. Chapin, E. Bowen, D. D. Stanton, D. M. Wooster, T. D. Grey, G. W. Fish, S. James, C. G. Carpenter, Thomas Smith, Prentiss Law, William R. Green, E. P. Groom, G. A. Robb, E. W. Newhall, W. Butz, J. L. Howe, J. Volf, W. W. Keith, A. Spencer, J. Martindale, A. Ferguson, M. Hubbard, B. Benton, R. P. Hamilton, W. L. White, O C. Moody, H. Pike, W. M. Butler, H. Warner, George Stephens, G. C. Wicker, P. Myer, P. Canfield, S. S. Durfee, W. W. Jackson, J. Tiffany, H. Rodcap, J. Rosenberg, S. H. Jennings, J. E. Weber, G. F. White, Charles Wood, R. Bell, A. Stow, J. G. Patterson, A. Crawford, William Carson, V. A. Boyer, M. Shapley, H. McGraw, A. F. Bradley, P. Casey, S. J. Noble, H. H. Lubbeker, F. Lubbeker, C. Chovin, C. Baldwin, Martin Hale, C. Dole and J. McDonald.

" Metamora " Engine Company No. 2 was organized December 4, 1837. Among its original members were . Nat King, A. S. Bates, P. Graff, A. G. Hobbie, T. E. Tucker, C. Sauter, J. Cruver, A. D. Sturtevant, S. B. Collins, S. Johnson, J. Sauter, F. E. Seybold, F. Rose, Ira Coleman, E. H. Sammons, C. Buhl, A. S. Sherman, E. A. Rider, B. W. Raymond and George L. Campbell. Mr. Rider was its first foreman. The " Metamora " re- tained its organization until 1859, the last diplomas be- ing issued in April of that year. Sanford Johnson, A. S. Sherman and John T. Edwards will be remembered as among its best foremen. J. L. Gerber and J. L. Wagonberger served for several years previous to the disbanding of the company. Among other early mem- bers were: S. Lind, J. Martindale, George Collins, Thomas Melvin, A. Batz, A. Pierce, G. R. Bills, John Waite, S. S. Hovey, C. Mann, Loomis Andrews, J. E. Keisling, Henry Gekler, William Crawford, A. Scongale, A. G. Downs, J. W. Kraff, J. W. Steele, Chris. Hoffman, S. S.

I Livid

Barry, S. Burton, Joseph Berg, S. S. Robinson, J. C. Brantigan, A. Burnham, P. L. Yoe, B. Blazey, O. F. Geer, J. Letz, John Hettinger, J. A. M. Hoisington, Charles Hoag, Fred Letz, J. F. Jewett, I. Shaw, S. N. Stebbins, Z. Martin, J. Hogan, H. R. Davis, C. V. Ware, J. W. Poulton, Joseph Purdy, E. J. Van Alstien, C. Charleston, J. T. Edwards, L. Jackson, J. H. Martin, B. G. Johnson, B. W. Brunker, H. Webber, W. H. Adams, William Blank, William Wetsell, George Peter- man, George R. Roberts, M. Schram, G. M. Vandercook, J. H. Toogood, C. Arnold, W. Dunn, P. Groll, G. Van- dercook, Lewis Haas, Fred Sween, Casper Lauer, A. Kroeger, P. Apfel, MI. Schaub, J. Thomme, Fritz Muhl- hausen, J. R. Thomas, M. Moran, D. Leonard, J. M. Hannahs, A. Woods and J. Schank.

The Chicago Bag and Fire Guard was organized in September, 1841, and was disbanded in July, 1846. Among its foremen were G. A. Robb and L. MI. Boyce. Mr. Boyce was the last to hold the position and was among the original members of the so-called "Forty Thieves." The duties of the company were similar to those of the Citizen's Fire Brigade, formed after the disastrous fire of 1857. The names of the famous "forty " were as follows : L. M. Boyce, D). S. Lee, W. H. Adams, J. C. Haines, L. P. Hillard, J. Goss, J. B. Mitchell, W. Dunlop, W. M. Larrabee, Ira Couch, J. B. Wier, F. A. Howe, J. W. Strail, J. H. Kees, George Ray- mond, A. Follansbee, C. N. Holden, E. I. Tinkham, A. HI. Burley, Sol. Taylor. A. McClure, T. P. Robb, II. M. Stow, S. J. Surdam, H. W. Bigelow, R. P. Hamilton,

Thomas George, A. E. Fuller, P. C. Sheldon, I. S. Harb- ley, E. K. Rogers, C. R. Vandercook, E. G. Hall, J. C.

J.P.

Hodge, W. S. Newberry, J. H. Burch, J. E. Davis, J. H. Dunham, E. Emerson and Luther Nichols.

"Neptune " Bucket Company No. I was organized September 7, 1841, with F. T. Sherman, foreman; W. J. Hamilton, assistant; S. J. Lowe, William H. Jones and S. Woodworth were also foremen. Among its leading members were: F. T. Sherman, Charles Whit- lock, Charles Hodgson, B. Sammons, W. H. Jones, J. K. Murphy, D. N. Chappell, G. H. Laflin, Ed. Sher- man, F. W. Getzler, W. J. Hamilton, C. D. Grannis, James Woodbury, H. B. Payne, W. H. Wachter, W. H. Green, O. F. Lowe, G. W. Beecher, W. J. Thompson, C. C. P. Holden, Jerome Butler, J. J. Clarkson, Joel A. Kinney, B. F. Wells, C. H. Getzler, Philip Fry, J. F. Gunter, Sam Lowe, James Doyle, H. Woodbury, W. F. Hughes, John Patterson, W. Ewen, Sam Beach, W. Wal- ton, H. C. Tiffany, F. W. Taylor, G. W. Pike.

Engine Company No. 3 was organized November 21, 1844, and was not disbanded until February 13, 1860. The company had for its motto: "Semper. Promptus," and when the boys were not prompt it was only because there was a " Niagara " of difficulties in the way. George F. Foster, its first foreman, was fol- lowed by such men as William M. Larrabee, Julian S. Rumsey, A. H. Burley, J. M. Johnson, and E. P. Wood.

IS. unser

Mr. Foster also served a second term in 1850-51. No. 3 was one of the last volunteer companies to go out of the Department, and maintained its reputation to the end. It occupied a house on the corner of North Wells and Kinzie streets, and used a piano-style two-crane- neck engine, built in 1854. Among its earliest members were John H. Kinzie, G. F. Foster, A. H. Burley, George F. Rumsey, J. S. Rumsey, G. S. Hubbard, Alex Wolcott, J. M. Van Osdel, U. P. Harris, S. A. Lowe, M. Scranton, Jr., J. E. Bishop. John Turner, J. B. Pres- ton, J. B. Doggett, E. I. Tinkham, J. O. Shaw, W. H. Macy, C. R. Vandercook, J. S. Farwell, Benjamin Bour- land. L. Turner, P. Kelsey, T. P. Robb, W. M. Larrabee, J. Magill and Denis J. Swenie. Mr. Swenie hecame a member December 3. 1849.

" Philadelphia " Hose Company No. I was organ- ized January 30, 1845; with headquarters on the North Side, near Clark-street bridge. J. B. Johnson was fore- man. After 1849 it occupied part of Engine House No. 3, corner of Kinzie and Wells. In 1855 it was removed to the Kinzie school lot, corner of Ohio and LaSalle streets. " We strive to save " was the talisman by which the com- pany accomplished many brave deeds. Following Mr. Johnson as foreman may be mentioned T. J. Holt, James V. Boyer, John F. Fitzpatrick and E. Baggott.

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

Its original members were William Smith, Jacob B. Johnson, Al. L. Scranton, Francis Jordan, Hugh K. Henry, Julian Dunham, John Stockton, George Crane, William O. Snell, Samuel Warner, Thomas Cann, John Nicholson. In the spring and summer of the same year James K. Webster, Thomas Holt, Charles Williamson, William Alverson, C. Anderson, C. Hodgson, H. Butter- field, R. Alverson, and R. N. Garrett joined the com- pany.

"Red Jacket " Engine Company No. 4 was formed November 13, 1846, the organization being composed mostly of members of the disbanded " Neptune " Bucket Company. F. T. Sherman was the first foreman, and Hiram Jones, J. L. Marsh, Edwin Sherman, D. N. Chappel, C. E. Moore, John Eagan and William H. Wachter, subsequently held the office. The plucky ones under them made No. 4 what it was from the time of its organization until its disbandment by the Council, March 22, 1858. The "Red Jackets " were disbanded September 5, 1854, but re-organized in May, 1855, as the "Humane Company," with William Wachter, foreman. There was so much feeling, however, against those who had abandoned the old name that when the " Humanes " first appeared at a fire, it was with difficulty that a lot of " Red Jacket " supporters were prevented from mob-

CN. Holder

bing them. The boys soon re-christened themselves the " Red Jackets" and again became public favorites, retaining their former warm place in the city's heart until the paid department came in. In 1858 the com- pany worked a piano-style engine, built in 1848. Their house was at the armory, on South Franklin Street. In addition to names already mentioned, No. 4 enrolled Charles Whitlock, C. B. Sammons, W. H. Jones, J. K. Murphy, G. H. Laflin, E. Sherman, F. W. Getzler, W. J. Hamilton, C. N. Holden, J. A. M. Hoisington, K. K. Jones, J. N. Harmon, J. J. Wilkie, H. B. Paine, W. H. Green, C. D. Grannis, O. F. Lowe, G. W. Beecher, W. J. Thompson, J. Butler, I. J. Clarkson, J. A. Kinney, B. F. Wells, C. H. Getzler, P. Fry, J. F. Gunter, J. C. Church and S. C. Bliss.

" Excelsior " Engine Company No. 5 was organized November 23, 1846, with headquarters at Clinton Street, between Randolph and Washington ; A. S. Sherman, foreman. The company was afterward lo- cated on Jackson Street, between Jefferson and Clinton. Succeeding Mr. Sherman in office were Charles Morton, R. Green, Silas McBride, Lewis Dodge, William H. Ostin and James Kehoe. No. 5 was disbanded June 10, 1859. Among its early and well-known members may be mentioned A. D. Sturtevant, A. Pierce, M. Keith, E. L. Clarke, C. D. Robinson, C. Morrison, R. B. Barnes, George Reynolds, John P. Fish, J. M. Ed- wards, E. Edwards, " Captain " Cringle, George Walrad, Thomas George, E. J. Chapin, E. Sullivan, G. R. Sloat, A. G. Throop, A. A. Dexter, Charles Marston, E. M. Gregory, H. Witbeck, N. Sturtevant and J. H. Rees. " Rough and Ready " Bucket Company No. I was formed in January. 1847, and during the succeeding April was received into the Department. Charles Harpell was the first foreman. Its headquarters were at the foot of La Salle Street. In 1849 it went out of service. Charles S. Perry, Henry Gybe, and Sanders Woodworth also were foremen. This company was the immediate successor of " Neptune." Among the more prominent members were S. O. Gibbs, F. Townsend,

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History of Chicago. From the earliest period to the present time, Part 62

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