History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 134

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 134

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ten. About 1865 the school district was set off in order to furnish specific territory from whence the scholars should attend this school, and also to retain the Oak Ridge school-which then received its name -in that vicinage. On the assumption of the powers conferred by the charter by the South Park Commis- sioners, they did not at first decide upon selecting the school site for condemnation, and, Mr. Ely states, agreed to let the school remain. But, in 1879, the commissioners asked what the directors would take for the school lands and school-house; they stated $100 per foot for the land, and 83,000 for the building, making about $21,600. The commissioners theu had the property condemned; the directors brought suit and got damages, $28,500. The commissioners asked for a new trial on the ground of excessive damages, which was granted, verdict again for directors in the sum of $29.410. The case was then appealed to the Supreme Court and the judgment reversed upon legal technicalities. Meanwhile in order that there might be a school in the district, and in order to procure land before it augmented in price, the directors bought a new site on Prairie Avenue, between Fifty-second and Fifty-third streets, two hundred feet by two hundred feet, for $7,700 and in 1881 erected a school, one of the finest in the county. They anticipated receiving the damages awarded, and were continually solicited to build, not alone a school sufficient for the present wants of the neighborhood, but adequate to the growth of the district for a decade of years. They did so, and the non-receipt of the damages necessitated their making a special tax-levy, and borrowing money to complete the edifice. It cost about $43,000, or about $50,000 with the land. The school directors are S. A. Downer, president, and James H. Ely, clerk ; John Leahy, the remaining director, has moved out of the district. The population as per last school census is about three hundred; under twenty-one, one hundred and ninety-three. The tax-levy for last year was $18,000 for special and school purposes. The school is taught by Miss Elizabeth Close, principal, and Miss Margaret Byrne, assistant, and the pupils average seventy. The instruction imparted is thorough and careful, and prospective residents need not fear lack of scholastic resources for some years to come. But it is hardly practicable to build a school-house too large in the village of Hyde Park or one that will not be filled by the scholars a few years after its erection.

The name of Hyde Park was given this locality to commemorate the village of the same name on the Hudson River, near New York City. One of the first, if not the first, white man who lived there was Nathan Watson-his widow subsequently married Garnsey- and he had a log shanty about where the northwest corner of Park Avenue and Fifty-third Street now is. Thomas Leeds Morgan staid at his house over night, in 1836, while en route to Michigan City, on horse- back. He asked Watson what he contemplated doing there ; he answered, "raise fruit." Mr. Morgan gazed steadily at him and asked him "if he had any friends down East? " He answered, "Yes." "Then," said Mr. Morgan, "have them send for you and put you in an insane asylum, for you must be crazy to anticipate raising fruit on these sand-piles." Yet Mr. Morgan subsequently lived close to where the old log cabin stood, and the mortal remains of old Mr. Watson are now interred in the garden of the Morgan residence. Thomas Leeds Morgan died on October 29, 1883, at his residence, corner of Park Avenue and Fifty-third

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Street, of heart disease. He was born in Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1802, and came West and took up his residence at Elgin, Ill., in 1830, during which time he pursned the vocation of farmer. In 1842, he came to Chicago and thence, in 1863, removed to Hyde Park. At his funeral the pall-bearers were all old residents : Hassan A. Hopkins, W. L. Robinson, James Morgan, E. T. Root. Joseph H. Gray and C. B. King. The remains were taken to Elgin for inter- ment. The first settler, however, who exercised any influence upon the place, the man who, in fact, made Hyde Park, was

PAUL CORNELL, who was born at White Creek. Washington Co., N. Y., August 5, 1822, of Hiram K. and Eliza Hopkins Cornell. In 1831, his mother and stepfather, Dr. Barry, removed with the family to Ohio, and five years later to Adams Connty, Ill., during which period young Cornell obtained his education at a cominon school; that is, he studied during the win- ter aud did farm work during the summer. From the position of scholar he grew to that of teacher, then to that of law student, entering a law office in Joliet in 1845- June 7, 1847, he was adinitted to the Bar, and removed to Chicago, where he successively entered the law offices of Wilson & Freer, James H, Collins and Skinner & Hoyne, leaving the latter firm and entering into partnership with William T. Barron, in May, 1851. In 1852, Mr. Cornell conceived the idea that property in the llyde Park region would ultimately be of value for suburban residences; and had it topographically surveyed by one John Boyd, whose survey corrob- orated Mr. Cornell's idea. He then bought three hun- dred acres of land npon the lake shore, and conveyed sixty of them to the Illinois Central Railroad, a part of

June Connel

the consideration consisting in an agreement by the company to run trains to the inchoale town of Hyde Park. They did so, starting the Hyde Park train on the ist day of June, 1856, The conductor was HI. I. Kohinson. At that time, however, but three trains a day ran in each direction, but only to and fromn Fifty-sixth Street. After building the Hyde Park llouse, for some time Mr. Cornell paid 3373 per cent of the gross carnings of said train. About 1856, Mr. Cornell built the Hyde Park House and leased it to Tabor, Hawk & Co., who opened it July 4, 1858 These gentlemen were also proprietors of the Rich- mond House, Chicago, at this time. This building was of frame and an elegant, commodious structure, located on the lake front, immediately south of Fifty- third (then Oak) Street; on the lake front immediately north of that street was a park, laid out by Mr. Cor- nell, in 1856, upon the beautifying of which he spent some $5,000. In 1865, Messrs. J. Irving Pearce and Schuyler S. Benjamin-now of the Sherinan and Bre- voort Houses respectively-purchased the hotel and metamorphosed it into a brick building.

It was always a favorite resort, and was frequented by the elite of Chicago during the summer months. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Mrs. Lin- coln, with Robert and "Tad " staid for some time at the hotel, but while there held herself aloof from every- one, preferring to be alone with her grief and her children. On September 12, 1877, at a quarter be- fore five in the morning fire was discovered; the fire-

bells and the bell of the Presbyterian Church were rung, Hose Company No. 2 appeared upon the scene but they could get no water ; an engine subsequently took water from the lake but the fire had gained too much headway, and before noon the building was destroyed. No lives were, however, lost; the build. ings, furniture, etc., were insured for $50,000 ; loss

HYDE PARK HOTEL.

above insurance, $260,000. The ruins remain upon the lake front, a monument to the misfortune of Messrs. Pearce and Benjamin, and a reminder to the hungry wayfarer that there once existed an hotel in Hyde Park, where a table d'hôte was spread-there are none now, and the sojourner is fain to solace his hunger with the " lowly cheese and humble cracker.

In 1856, Mr. Cornell subdivided and platted two hundred and forty-five acres, and sold an undivided one hundred and thirty-two acres, lying between Fifty- first and Fifty-fifth streets, to David S. Ogden, as trustec and agent for Paul Cornell. Hopkins's and Kimbark's additions (each containing eighty acres), were subsequently purchased by Mr. Cornell and sub- divided under those names; the name given to any real estate speculation in Hyde Park mattered but little, Pant Cornell was generally found the prime mover in the enterprise.

In July, 1856, Mr. Cornell was married to Miss Helen M. Gray, of Bowdoinham, Me, and in 1857. they went to live at Hyde Park. They have had five children : George, John, Paul, Helen and Elizabeth G. Cornell, who enjoys the honor of being the first white child born in Hyde Park. She was born October 10, 1858.

In 1858, Mr. Cornell erected a place of worship that was used by believers of all denominations. He paid the lion's share of the cost of the erection, about $1,000, receiving an additional Sioo from various sul- scribers ; and at the laying of the foundation Governor William Bross made a speech. The church stood where Dodson and Peirce's block now stands, at the corner of Hyde Park Avenue and Fifty-third Street, and after the organization of the First Presbyterian Church. on April 29, 1860, Mr. Cornell deeded the church to them, with three lots of ground, one hundred and twenty-five feet by one hundred and sixty feet. These lots are at the corner of ilyde Park Avenue and Fifty-third Street, with a frontage upon the former avenue, It was the design of the donor in this bene- faction to create a sort of church extension fund hy

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HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

means of these lots ; that upon them, centrally located as they were, a block somewhat similar to the Method- ist Church block of Chicago might be erected and funds derived therefrom to become an endowment, or church-extension, fund, for the town of Hyde Park. But the building was first leased by the village, after the erection of the stone church, and then purchased by them, with the northernmost lot, and half the next one, deeded by Mr. Cornell, for $10,000. A block, that had been built by Mr. Cornell on the old site of the church at a cost of some $7,000 or $8,000, with this church extension in view, was rented and the proceeds applied toward the payment of the interest of the debt on the new church, but the block was afterward sold, and the remaining moiety, south of the alley, of the three lots primarily deeded. The three lots brought about $24,000, and Mr. Cornell gave in cash to the Church and in the improvement of the church lots about $13,000, making his benefactions to the Church in cash and cash realized from lands, not counting rentals, over $30 000. This was all realized within a few years and applied toward the payment for the new church and its debts, the cost of the church being some $48,000. The extension fund was effectually swamped, but the Presbyterians have one of the finest churches in the suburbs of Chicago; built in 1870.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Of Hyde Park, as stated, was organized on April 29, 1860, with the following members : Paul Cornell, Mrs. Helen G. Cor- nell, James Wadsworth, Mrs. Emily W. Wadsworth, G. W. Bowman, Mrs. Almira A. Bowman, Mrs. I .. B. Jameson, Henry C. Work, Mrs. Sarah P. Work, Hassan A. Hopkins, Mrs. Sarah M. Hopkins and Hugh B. Hart. At an adjourned meeting held May 6, Elders Hassan A. Hopkins and George W. Bowman were ordained and installed, and Mrs. Adeline R. Danley, Mrs. Sally N. Bogue, Hamilton B. Bogue and George M. Bogue, united with the Church, and the first Lord's supper was celebrated. Rev. William H. Spencer appears to have been the first minister who supplied the pulpit, although Rev. Z. M. Humphrey preached the first sermon to the incipient congregation. Revs. Spencer, J. S. Edwards and Burroughs-of the Chicago University-with various theological students, filled the pulpit until March, 1862, when Rev. C. F. Beach came as stated supply for one year. In this month a society organization was formed by the election of a board of trustees, who formally took charge of the building and property donated by Mr. Cornell; and March 16, the Sunday-school was organized. In March, 1864, Mr. Beach resigned and the Church was without a settled minister until July 1. 1865, when the first pastor, Rev. Bradford Y. Averill was called ; he died July 12, 1867, after ten months effective labor with the Church. October 7, 1867, Rev. David S. Johnson was installed; he remained until 1880. June 1, 1881, the present pastor took charge of the Church.

EDWARD CHITTENDEN RAY was born October 12, 1849, at Rochester, N. Y., and was reared under the . beneficient auspices of home until entering college. He united with the Church in 1869, graduated from Hamilton College in 1870; studied at Union Theolog- ical Seminary, Rochester Theological Seminary, and graduated from Auburn Theological Seminary in 1873: in which year also the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by Hamilion College. October 13, 1874, he married Martha Washington Prescott, of New York City ; their children are Mattie Prescott, Edward Rus- sell, Prescott Hovt and Ruth Ray. In 1874, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Utica; was pastor of the

Presbyterian Church at Vernon Center, N. Y., 1873-75 ; Third Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, N. J., 1876-81. Mr. Ray is a quick speaker, rapid of apprehension, concise and lucid in his statements and incisive and logical in his theology.

The first elders were were Hassan A. Hopkins and George W. Bowman. The present elders are Hassan A. Hopkins, Joseph N. Barker, Homer N. Hibbard, John C. Welling, Samuel West, George Stewart, W. A. Olinsted and John A. Cole: Samuel West is clerk and treasurer, and the trustees are Panl Cornell, George M. Bogne, Coli Robinson, John Cameron, Christopher C. Bouton, John C. Welling, W. C. Ott and Edwin F. Bailey. The present congregation numbers about two hundred and fifty .*

In 1856 the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the Northwest selected a location for their College on the lake shore, between Fifty-third Street and Walnut Street, or Fifty-fourth Street Place, east of Cornell Avenue; and Paul Cornell conveyed eighteen acres-four blocks-to said Seminary, fenced them in and set out shade trees around the ground. One hun- dred and seventy acres in this vicinity were also donat- ed, and about sixty thousand dollars subscriptions obtained toward the erection of the Seminary. Plans for the college building were drawn by G. P. Randall, architect, the cost of which building would have been about one hundred and eighty thousand dollars; but Cyrus H. McCormick afterward made a subscription of one hundred thousand dollars in cash, with a proviso that the college should be located north of the Chicago River. The trustees of the Seminary reconveyed the eighteen acres to Mr. Cornell, and located the Semi- nary on its present site. On one of the blocks em- braced in this deed of gift to the Seminary, the Hyde Park House was subsequently built.

Another Church that first worshiped in the old Cornell building was Sr. PAUL's EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The organization of this Church is due principally to the efforts of Dr. Jacob Bockee and his wife, Catharine M., who became residents of Hyde Park about 1857. Dr. Bockee was a licensed lay reader, and conducted services according to the usage of the Episcopal Church. His wife organized a Sunday-school, and her daughters, Mamie and Phæbe Bockee, maintained it. On May 15, 1859, an application was made for the organization of a parish, signed by Pennoyer I .. Sher- man, Job Taher. Augustus Taber, John Blackwell, his son Henry Blackwell, Jacob Bockee, his son Abraham Bockee. John Middleton, James Grant Wilson, Thomas Webb, John A. Kennicou, and - Bridgman. On May 16, 1859, the consent of the Bishop was received in answer to the application, the parish to be called St. Paul's, Hyde Park. June 26, 1859, Rev. E. B. Tuttle gave notice that a meeting would be held July 10, to organize the parish. At that meeting were pres- ent Rev. E. B. Tuttle, afterward Chaplain in the U. S. arınv, who occupied the chair; John H. Kinzie, John A. Kennicott, John Middleton. James Grant Wilson, secretary ; Jacob Bockee, Abraham Bockee, Chauncey Stickney and Augustus Taber. The organization was effected pro forma and the following officers elected : Jacob Bockee, senior warden; James Grant Wilson, junior warden; P. L. Sherman, Chauncey Stickney, John A. Kennicott, Augustus Taber, Henry Blackwell, and John Middleton, vestrymen; and Jacob Bockee and J G. Wilson were appointed delegates to the next diocesan convention. The first baptism in the parish occurred January 1, 1860, John Dickinson Sherman,

. These particulars were courteously furnished by Mrs. Homer N, Hibbard

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

son of P. L. and Louisa D. Sherman, being baptised by Rev. Clinton Locke. April 1, 186t, the second election was held, resulting as follows: Jacob Bockee, senior warden; W. K. Ackerman, junior warden; Chauncey Stickney, John Middleton, John A. Kenni- cott, Thomas M. Turlay, P. L .. Sherman and W. H. Waters, vestrymen. Services were held in a small frame building, occupied in common with the Presby- terian denomination. November 3. 1861, Rev. Meyer Lewin baptised Louise, daughter of W. K. and Alida Ackerman, and Henry Chapman, son of W. H. and Maria Waters. April 21, 1861, a parish meeting was held. Present: John A. Kennicott, presiding; P. L. Sherman and W. K. Ackerman. The treasurer reported that $45 had been received during the past year, "which had been expended in securing the assistance of various clergymen during the year to hold services." The theological laborer must have been content with a modicum of hire. During that year the Revs. J. W. Osborn, missionary on the line of the I. C. R. R., Meyer Lewin, and M. DeWolf officiated. Kev. Thomas Smith, having removed to the parish, was invited to take charge of the pulpit during the ensuing year, which invitation he accepted. At a meeting held in June, 1862, the subject of erecting a permanent church was mooted, and committees were appointed to further the project. The I. C. R. R. offered two lots where the church now stands, for $100, and the offer was accepted. March 21, 1863, Rev. Thomas Smith resigned, and the pulpit was supplied occasionally : the district school-house was used as a place of wor- ship. June 9, 1863, Rev. W. H. Cooper agreed to officiale once a week at morning service.

To procure funds for the church building it was decided to hold a festival, on July 4, 1863; the ladies appointed 10 superintend this innovation were Mes- daines Ackerman, Kennicott, Sherman, Waters, Boyd, Stickney and Van Allen, and Mesdemoiselles Peirce, Boyd, Blair, Seward and Wilson. On September 1. 1863, Hyde Park Lodge, No. 422, with the assistance and under the supervision of the Grand Lodge, laid the corner-stone of the church. This however, did not meet with the approval of the Bishop, and John Mid- dleton, P. L. Sherman and W. K. Ackerman, were appointed to wait upon him for the purpose of hearing his objections, which being considered as well founded, an order was obtained from the lodge authorizing the removal of the stone; this was entirely satisfactory to the Bishop, and met the views of most of the congregation who had viewed with distrust the cere- mony of laying a corner-stone for a wooden structure. Mr. Ackerman's diplomacy was exercised to allay any sentiment of umbrage that the lodge might feel, after their effort in behalf of the Church. November 2. 1863, Rev. W. H. Cooper resigned his rectorship, and the pulpit was occasionally supplied until July, 1868. by clergymen from the city. the Rev. Clinton Locke occasionally officiating. At this time the services were held in the public school that now stands close by the church building. In the summer of 1868, a Sunday- school was established by Mrs. E. C Long, and that had its meetings at her house. In March, 1869, the church building was completed, and the pew-holders reported, at the first annual meeting held in the new church, on March 29, 1869, were : John A. Kennicott, W. K. Ackerman, E. C. Long. J. A. Jameson, W. H. Waters, A. D. Waldron, John Herrick, John Remmer, M. V. Hotchkiss, F. R. Wilson, N. C. Perkins, J. S. Smale, P. L. Sherinan, R. S. Thompson, Allen Fisk, U, D, Prescott, D. A. Danforth, H. A.

Downs, J. B. Peck and R. B, Woolsey ; those who attended services numbered about one hundred. The church to date had cost $10,447.25. The first war- dens and vestrymen of the new church were as follows: W. K. Ackerman, senior warden; E. C. Long, junior warden ; P. L. Sherman, N. C. Perkins, A. D. Waldion, J. A. Jameson, J. E. 1., Frasher, John Remmer, W. H. Waters and J. B. Peck, vestrymen. In June. 1869, Rev. George F. Bugbee was rector, which position he retained until January 31, 1871. April 1, 1871, Rev. Thomas K. Coleman became rector, remaining there about a year. In the summer of 1871, the teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school donated a bell to the church, value $250, which was hung in the belfry. Rev. R. McMurdy had charge of the parish from 1873 until January 1, 1876, from which time the pulpit was occasionally supplied until April, 1877, when Rev. Charles S. Lester became rector. In this year also a new organ was purchased, and a memorial communion service was presented to the Church by W. K. Acker- man. On Easter Sunday, 1878, the Church received as gifts, a carved walnut lectern, from Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Chace, in remembrance of their son, John Caulfield Chace; a prayer lectern from the Sunday-school; a silver-gilt alms basin, from Mrs. Murray, Waters and Mc Pherson; a brass book-rest, from Mrs. C. S. Les- ter, in memory of her mother, and a silver spoon-10 complete the communion service-from W. K. Acker- man. A chancel rail was subsequently donated by James Mor an. Easter, 1880, the whole of the Church debt was provided for, through the indefatigable exer- tions of Mr. Lester, and now the Church is entirely free of debt, August 26, 1880, Rev. C. S. Læster resigned his charge, to accept the rectorship of St. Paul's Church at Milwaukee. Charles Hendrick Bixby, the present rector, assumed charge of the Church and parish, February 8, 1881. He was born in Surinam, South America, of American parentage, and graduated from Williams College and the Cam- bridge Episcopal Seminary. He was rector of All Saints' Church, Brooklyn, from 1872, until 1876, and of the Church of St. Peter's by the Sea, Narragansett Pier, R. I., from 1876, until his removal to his present pastorate. To this gentleman's pertinacity in refusing to talk about himself, although a fluent and agreeable conversationalist, the meagerness of these details must be ascribed. The membership of the Church at pres- ent is about three hundred and fifty, and of the Sun- day-school one hundred and forty. The valuation of the church buildings, furniture and property is $30,000, and has no incumbrance. The present officers of the Church are Henry T'. Chace, senior warden ; R. W. Bridge, junior warden ; John A. Greer, clerk of the vestry ; W. K. Ackerinan," H. L. Wait, H. W. Wolse- ley, B. F. Ayer, L. P. Morehouse and I. Dunn, vestry- men. These two congregations comprised the earliest theological segregations of Hyde Park.

THE FIRST SCHOOL .- In the fall of 1856 Charles B. Waite bought some property in Hyde Park, and in the spring of 1857 fenced in the block whereon the semi- nary subsequently stood. " There were then not more than half a dozen houses in Hyde Park," said Mr. Waite, narrating the building of the seminary. In 1858 the building was commenced, and it was opened in the spring of 1859 with Mrs. Charles V. Waite as principal, and her sisters as assistants.

This was the first school building erected in the district. In 1862 the seminary was rented by Mrs. Waite, but she resumed charge thereof about 1867, and

* From whom these particulars were obtained.

ale

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HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

retained its management until 1870, when it was dis- continued as a school ; it now is a tenement house and a mournful reminder of the verity of the J.atin adage : "Tempora mulantur et nos mutamur in itlis." It was a four-story building, before its removal, forty feet by sixty feet in area.

THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL was what is now the high school building, and was erected about 1863, by the earnest efforts of J. A. Jameson, Homer N. Hib- bard, and Paul Cornell; the inhabitants of that period protesting against the magnitude of the edifice, and predicting that "there would not be enough children in the district to fill it in forty years." Verbum sapien- tum! The first teacher is said to have been a Miss Brookes, daighter of the floriculturist of Cleaverville, and there were but very few scholars. The school district comprises the region bounded as follows : Commencing at the abatment of Forty-third Street on the lake shore, thence west along said street to Cottage Grove Avenue; thence south to Sixty-third Street ; thence west along Sixty-third Street to Grand Boule- vard ; thence south to Eighty-seventh Street ; thence east to the lake, and thence north with the lake shore to the place of beginning; said district being District No. 1, Hyde Park. The assets of the district are esti- mated at 8163,000; the receipts for the year 1882-83, were $64,253.65 ; the expenditures, $46,198.44 ; the tax levy for 1882 was $10,000, being at the rate of 1.3 per cent on the equalized valuation of property. The total population for 1882-83 was 7,376 persons: 4.224 being over twenty-one years of age, and 3,152 under twenty- one years of age ; the number between six and twenty- one years was 1,949. The school attendance for the same period was 1,193-583 boys and 610 girls. The schools wherein this little army of scholars are instructed are as follows :

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 134

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875