History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 17

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

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After the departure of the boat containing his em- player's family, Quilmette was left the sole white inhab. itant of Chicago. After the arrival of Alexander Roh- inson, who probably came to Chicago to live in 1814. Quilinette aud he cultivated the field formerly used as the ganlen of the fort, raising there good crops of caru. The crop of 1816 was sold to Captain Bradley after his arrival to rebuild the fort. At the treaty made at Prairie Du Chien in 1829 with the tribe of which his wife was a member, Onilmette was granted. on her iterunut. a reservation at Gros Point, now Wilmette. There he made a farm and remained until the Potta. watomies were removed to the West. He accompanied them with his family, and both himself and wife died at Council Bluffs, Jowa. His daughter Elizabeth mar- ried Michael Welch, of Chicago, and after his death, Lnrins R. Darling, of Silver Lake, Kansas. Another daughter. Josette, mentioned in " Wanbun " married John Deresthe, and with the other children of the fam- ily -Michell, Lewis, Francis. Sophie and Joseph-set- tled on the banks of the Kansas River, with the tribe.

Before the rebuilding of the fort, one other trader settled in Chicago. This was M. Du l'in, who married the widow of Mr. Lee ( the former proprietor of the sahin and garden on the lake shore near the fort . and lived in the Kinzie house during the absence of the family. After his removal to Chicago in 1804 Jolis Kinzie Ixcame a very successful trader. His trading. hotise apparently absorbed all the rival establishments- except the United States Factory. A description of its grow and success is given in " Waubun " as fol. fris's :

" Dy degrees nuire remole trading-posts were established in him, all contributing in the parent une al Chicago ; al Milwaukee with the Menomonies . al Rock River with the Winnebagoes and the l'oltawatomies : on the Illinois River and Kankakee with the l'ut- lowatomties of the Prairies, and with the Kickapoos in what was catted '1.e Large,' being the witely extended district afterward erceted into Sangamon County. Each Trading.post had its super- intement, and its complement of engages-its train of pack-horses, and its equipment of boats amil canoes. From most of the stations the furs and peltries were brought to Chicago on pack-horses, and the goods necessary for the Trade were transporteil in return by the same method. The vessels which came in the spring and fall 1-etelom more than two or three annually), 10 bring the supplies ail gouds for the trade took the furs that were already collected 10 Mackinac, the depot of the Southwest and the American Fur Companies. At other seasons they were sent to that place in boats. coasting around the lakes. "

When the fort was rebuilt in :816. Government re- established the United States Factory connected with it. Soon after this a trading-house was established by Conant aud Mark, wealthy merchants of Detroit, at the

· Afterward 1 and ,in William tariffich of tieneral Harrisun's ** Spies, '

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THE FUR TRADE AND TRADERS.

point formerly known as " Lee's Place " four miles up the Sonth Branch from the fort. This was on govern- ment land, being included in the " six-miles-square tract." and these merchants having bought the old cabin where Mr. White and his man were murdered in the spring of 1812, sent John Crafts with a large sup. ply of Indian goods, to take possession of the place and establish there a branch house. The location was directly in the path of the Indians of the interior as they brought their furs from the Illinois, Desplaines cod Kankakee, and crossed the portage to the factory at Chicago. The establishment was a decided success. The Indians had no great love for United States factur- ies, and the house at the " portage" secured almost a monopoly of the furs of the region, until the American Fur Company decided to swallow buth the factory and the establishment owned by Mr. Crafts. This was ac- complished by the close of 1822-the factory had ceased to exist, and Mack and Conant had transferred their interests in the fur trade of the region about Chicago to its prosperous rival.

THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY AND ITS TRADERS IN CHICAGO .- When the military possession of the Northwest passed from France to Great Britain in 1760, the Hudson's Bay Company, which had been chartered by Parliament as early as 1670, acquired almost an ex- clusive monopoly of the fur trade. Its success excited the envy of other capitalists, and in 1783, the North- west Fur Company was organized at Quebec, and estab- lished its posts at various points on the upper lakes and throughout the interior. The new company, contrary to the custom of the older one. employed voyageurs for its extended trade, and soon diminished the profits of the Hudson's Bay Company. Other organizations were furmed-among them an association of British mer- chants called the Mackinaw Company, which becante a successful rival to the older companies.

In 1809. John Jacob Astor organized the American Fur Company, which was chartered by the New York legislature-Mr. Astor being the Company. In con- nection with the Northwest Company he bought out the Mackinaw Company in 1811, and formed the South- west Company. The War of 1812 temporarily inter- rupted the existence of that organization, but it was re- vived. In 1815 Congress prohibited foreigners from dealing in furs in the United States and Territories. The Southwest Company, composed mainly of British merchants, soll ont its interest to Mr. Astor soon after, and the company was known as the . American Fur Company " after the spring of 1817."

the old Indian traders on the upper Mississippi, Wabash and Illi- nois rivers, Lakes Superior and Michigan, and their tributaries as far north as the boundaries of the United States extended. The other eighth thought that their interest was to remain independent . toward such, the company selected their best traders, and located them in opposition, with instructions so lo manage by underselling as to bring them to terms. At Mackinaw, the trader's brigades was organized, the company selecting the munt capable irader lo be the manager of his partienlar brigade, which consisted of from five to twenty batteur hulen with goods. This chief ur manager, when reaching a country allotted to him made detachments, locat- ing trading-houses with alistricts clearly defined, for the operations of that particular post, and so on, until his ground was fully occu- pied by trader- ander him, over whom he had absolute authority."

The law excluding foreigners from trading in the Indian country seemed designed to apply to companies and not individuals. The American Fur Company. controlled by an American, was considered an exclu- sively American company, and was allowed fur the suc. cessful prosecution of its business, certain privileges which did not conform to the letter of the law. The varions Indian agents at the western posts were directed through the Governor of Michigan Territory, to grant licenses to such traders as the agents of Mr. Astor should designate. The British traders formerly con- nected with the Southwest Company were familiar with the fur trade, and were trusted by the Indians, over whom their influence was unbounded. The Canadian voyageurs were indispensable to the successful prose- cution of the business, and it was not long before licenses were in the hands of British traders, who sent their engages to every part of the Indian country, hold- ing that they were American citizens under the provi- sions of Jay's treaty, and that the form of naturaliza- tion was unnecessary.

RAMSEY CROOKS, agent of the American Fur Company, was born in the town of Greenock, Scotland, January 2, 1787. When sixteen years of age he migrated lo Canada, and was for awhile employed as junior clerk in the mercantile house of Maitland. tianden & Auldjo, in Montreal. In 1805, he engaged in the ser- vice of a merchant named Gillespie, and went to the chen frontier village of St. Louis, where he remained two or Three years, after- ward trading with the Indians on the Missouri River on his own account. Robert Mcclellan was one of his associates and friends while in Missouri, and the two young traders fought manfully for their rights against the arrogance and tyranny of the Missouri Fur Company, which with Manual Lisa al its head, did not scru- ple to instigale the Sioux to acts of violence against rival traders. In 1809. John Jacob Astor conceived the design of establising a chain of trading-posts on the Missouri and La I'latte rivers to the Rocky Mountains, and thence to the Pacific. Mr. Crooks relin- quished his business on the Missouri, and at the desire of Mr. Astor joined the party of trailers and Irappers which, starting from St. Louis, was to traverse the country to the Pacific, and at the mouth of the Columbia River establish the principal station of the company. After much suffering and many wamlerings, the party reached Astoria in May. 1812, Mr. Crooks returned to St. Louis in 1813. and the following year, through the capture of the station hy che British, and the failure of our government lo give protee. tion to the American fur-traders, Mr. Astor relinquished all opera- tion on the l'acific coast. In 1817, at the re-formation of the American Fur Company, Mr. Crooks again joined Mr. Astor, and was the agent of the company at Mackinaw for the ensuing five years. Although his resilence was in New York, he spent much time at Mackinaw, and was well known, and personally esteemed by the many traders connected with the company, at the station. at Chicago, Green Bay, Milwaukee and elsewhere in the North- west. The partnership with Mr. Astor was dissolved in 1830. when Mr. Crooks resumed his former position as a salaried employé of the company. bat in 1834, Mr. Astor, beginning to feel the infirmities of age, sold out the stock of the company. and transferred Thecharter to Mr. Crooks and others, and this gentleman was there-

" Having entire charge of the management of the company in the West were Ramsey Crooksand Koliens Stuart. To William Matthews was entrusted the engaging of voyageurs and clerks in Canada, with his headquarters in Montreal. The voyageurs he took from the habitant ( farmers ); young, active, athletic men were sought for ; indeed, none but sach were engaged, and they passed under inspection of a surgeon. Mr. M. also purchased at Montreal sach goods as were suited for the trade to load his boats. l'hese boats were the Canadian hatteour, principally used in those days in transferring goods to upper St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, manned by four oarsmen and a steersman, capacity about six tons. The voyageurs and clerks were under indentures for a term of five years,' Wages of voyageurs Sinu, clerks from $120 10 $500 per annum. These were all novices in the business. The plan of the company was to arrange and secure the services of old traders and their voyageurs, who at the ( new ) organization uf the company were in the Indian country, depending on their in- . upon elected president of the company. However, the business fluence and knowledge of the trade with the Indians ; and as fast did not continue prosperous, and in 1842, the American Fur Com- pany made an assignment and passed out of existence. In 1845. Mr. Crooks opened a commission house, for the sale of furs and skins in New York. This business, which proved very successful, he continued until his death, which occurred at his residence in New York city on the 6th of June 1859, in the seventy-third year of his age. Mr. Crooks was noted for his extreme modesty and as possible secure the vast trade of the West and Northwest within the district of the United States, interspersing the novices brouglu from Canada, so as to consolidate, extend and monopolize ax far as possible over the country, the Indian trade. The first two years they had succeeded in bringing into their employ seven-eighths of * Gurden S. Hubbard, in " Chicago Antiquities."

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HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

nnobtrusiveness, his sterling integrity, and purity of life, and the selves with getting hold of a larger share of the trade than last kindnews, patience and humanity he exhibited to all those with year." wluas he hail to deal-both white man and red.

Rantsey Crooks left New York to assume the duties nf agent of the American Fur Company at Mackinaw, in March, 1817. From that time he was intimately con- nected with many of the Chicago traders-furnishing goods both to the traders connected with his company and those who acted independently. In a collection of his letters, now in the possession of Gurdon S. Hubbard. there is much to be found relating to the early trade and traders of Chicago and to the general operations of the company. The following extracts are from these letters. On the zed of June, 1817. Mr. Crooks writes from " Michilimackinac " to John Kinzie of Chicago :

" Dear Sir :- Since my arrival seven days ago, no opportunity of communicating with you has presented itself. By the arrival of Mr. Lamorandiere I am happy to learn your success in the late campaign, and sincerely hope it may continue. 1 look for a visit from you soon, but should that be inconvenient yet for some time. any communication you may, in the interim, favor us with shall be iluly attended to.

"Enclosed is a letter to Mr. Daniel Bourassa," who appears to have been shamefully imposed upon by Mr. Buisson and aswi- ciates; however being averse to forniing an opinion injurings to any une without proof, I have requested Mr. Bourassa to avail himself of the first conveyancet to this place, in onder that on the arrival of these gentlemen; a full Investigation may take place, which, with. out his presence must be imperfect and unsatisfactory. Bourassi may perhaps dread the consequences of putting himself in my power, but his general character hitherto does not permit my entertaining any suspicions of his honesty, and he may come here without ap- prehension. should Mr. Buisson and his friends have acted as hasely as report says, they may possibly try to intimidate Bourava so as to prevent his coming here, but I trust yom will assure him my only wish for his presence is to state before them the cirennt- stances attending this transaction in it» different stages "

In a letter enclosed to Mr. Bourassa in the above, attd which is written in French, Mr. Crooks says:

" I am very sorry to learn the arrangements yon have thought proper to make with the goods given you by Mr. Rocheblave for the Southwest Company, but as I am persuaded that you have not been well treated in this affair, it is for your advantage to take the bril opportunity to come here (Mackinaw) where, when Mr. Buis. son arrives, the difficulty will be settled in the most cqnitalde manner."

On the 23d of June, 1817, in a letter to Mr. Astor, Mr. Cranks says:

" In Lake Michigan the complexion of our adventures are various-only one person we equipped (on his own account) has yet come in. Ile has done pretty well, Kinzie at Chicago is said to have been fortunate. but at other points report speaks a more equivocal language. We hear that the people in the Illinois River have made out tolerably." "Governor Cass, although positively instructed to be guided by the orders of the War Depart- ment of last year in regard to the granting of licensing to foreign- ers, and having no directions from Acting Secretary Graham to be- ston any specific indulgences on your agents, has written Major Puthuff (Indian Agent at (ireen Bay, afterward dismissed) to attend particularly to our wishes ; and should he act as the discretionary nature of his orders will allow, he can serve our porpose almost as effectually as if foreigner‹ had been excluded generally and we had obtained the number of licenses in blank which you at une time An confidently expected. With this knowledge of the disposi- tion evinced by the Governor of Michigan Territory for our suc- cess, you may well suppose no effort on our part to engage the In- elian Agent here (Colonel Bowyer at Mackinaw) in our cause, but his not being bound to pursue any particular system will leave all we obtain to be acquired by our own exertions. So conflicting will be the claims on his indulgence, and so many stratagems will be tried to thwart our views, that it would be the extreme of folly to hazard an opinion of the result, but if he only remains true to the line of conduct we may prevall on him to adopt, we flatter our-

· Daniet Bourası long remained a resident and trader at Chicago. His name is on the pull list of 1876 and his residence was on the east side of the South Branch, not far from the forks, He was married at Chicago, by John Kinsie.

+ In the enclosed letter to Mr. Bograssa, Mr. Crooks tells him he shall ex- pret him "by the return of the . Baltimore."

: Bulmon and Pensoancan, traders for the old Southwest Company.

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

" Dear Sir :- Your favor of the 4th instant came duly to hand. as also the seventy-three l'acks by Captain Barney, the freight of . which I paid and had them safely stored where they still remain in the shape you sent them, as Mr. Beaulien could not possibly get a press, so busy have we been since his arrival here. However, I shall do what you wished him to execute, though from the unheard- of desertion of our men on the way from Montreal, we are left al- most helpless, and men cannot be got here on anything like reason. able terms. Would you believe that ordinary boatmen ask a thou. sand livres, many get eight or nine hundred, and those who can just talk enough Indian to tell their master's private business to the savages, will not listen to anything short of eleven or twelve hundred livres, with an equipment which could not be purchased here for less than fifty dollars. If therefore you have any idea of depending on this post for men, my advice would be to abandon every thought of the kind, and secure those you have about you. Mr. Beaubien sold me his skins after a residence of several days had given him an opportunity of becoming intimately acquainted with the highest value set on them by contending parties, and I am very sure they were well sold. He has directed me to credit you with 81,067-5 on his account, which has been done. Your account against l'ensonnean has been acknowledged and passed to your credit. The best Indian Corn will not command above two dol. lars per bushel, at this time, and indeed an immediate sale at that price could not be effected, for cash. I cannot therefore, take upon myself to sacrifice your property, and prefer keeping it till better times. Accept my thanks for your goodness in forwarding my request to Bourassa, but should he not come soon, his appear- ance will only be an additional charge to no purpose, as l'enson- neau will be off in a few days. Should Bourassa not be already on the way to this place when you receive this please say he need not come on my account."

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

" Dear Sir :- Being very busy at this moment, I have only tinte to say your son reached me in good health, which he has con- tinned ever since to enjoy with but little interruption. Mr. Dick- son inade but a short stay here, and although I mentioned your desire of his arranging with me, on your part for John he was so entirely absorbed in the pressure of his own affairs as not to have an hour lo bestow on the settlement contemplated. I am anxious that a perfect understanding should be had as to your son, with as little delay as the case will admit of, and beg you by the very first conveyance 10 give me at length, your ideas on this interesting subject. I am inclined to think, from all I have seen of him that he will realize all your hopes. I bought M. L'handonet's skins, but the amount does not ineet your expectations. Your several favors have been ilaly received, and with some exceptions the sums to be collected for you are at your credit. The accounts detailing everything shall be forwarded by Mr. Deschamps, who goes off in a few days. Messrs. Chandonet and James Kensie" are equipped by ns. I send you a Pork-eatert for three years, Ilis engagement is enckned, and his account with us is :

For advances in Canada dito al Mackinac. 312.10

99.13

411.34

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

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

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

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

· The different spellings of Kinzie and Markinaw are anchanged by the editors, who sacrifice uniformity to lueralness. + Voyageur.

: Chandunnais was formerly elerk for John Kinzie, and on the day of the Fort Dearborn massacre was instrumental in saving the life of Mm. Captain Heald, afterward conducting both herself and husband to a place of safety. (" Waubun," p. >83-191, spelled Chandonai.+ In " Chicago Antiquities, " the same pering is probably alluded to on page 70, as being in the service of the L'oiled States during the War of 1813, although spelled " Chandonia." He is also mentioned in " Fergus Series " No. 16, p. 19, cHist. Fort Dearborn, by

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. THE FUR TRADE AND TRADERS.

"Dear Sir :- By Capt. Church in the 'Hercules . you will fe- ceive four barrels whiskey containing 144 gallons, and 6 barrels Flour, which I hope will reach you in good order. To Mr. Schind- ler ! will deliver the barrel Flour, as you directed. i cannot prom- ise you any more liquor, for spirits of every kind are not only dear . but uncommonly scarce. Messrs. Mack & Conant have received the draft I remitted them on your account-say $1, 174, but by the enclosed accounts from these gentlemen it appears you are still in their debt. The first account they furnished showed a balance of $216.57 1-2 against you, but by another they made out afterwards, you are their debtor only Stos.87 1-2. We enclose those ac- counts, and your note to Sherbal Conant & Co, cancelled, which will give you all the information we possess on the subject of your affairs with these gentlemen,

" P. S. The two harrels you left here are also in the . Her- rules, ***

From Michilimackinac September 19. 18:8, to John Kinzie, Chicago :

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

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

' Dear Sir !- Your several favors up to 19th ulto, have come to hand and their different enclosures allended to. All has been passed to your credit as they were severally collected, but where any inaccuracy existed, we made the necessary alteration, which you will discern in your account wow enclosed ; by this the balance now is $220,90, which, of course, stands at your debit. The iul. demures of your son John. I had filled up with the intention of sending you an exact copy signed by me, hut Mr. Robert Dickson, arriving here in the meantime, I consulted him as you originally proposed, and at his instance put in $125 fur each of the 2 last years of John's apprenticeship.'I hope this will meet your appro- bation. The instrument duly executed is now enclosed, a copy of which please execute and return ine by first conveyance to this place. Thus far your son has behaved in a becoming manner. Mr. Abbott did, I believe, everything in his power last winter to im- prove his general knowledge, as also his scholastic knowledge ; and my friend Mr. Robert Stuart, in whose charge he will pass the ap- proaching season, will not fail to do kim justice. He is attached to our retail store, but I now and then have him with me in the wholesale department, and so soon as he is eligible, he will be so much in the counting-house as to give him an opportunity of un- derstanding our general business, but in concerns of some intricacy and infinite detail to keep him there now would be a loss of pre- cious time, both to him and the Company. You may however rest assured that every attention will be paid to making your son a man of business, With surprise and astonishment I learn the very questionable course Mr. Jean Ilte. Chandonnait has thought proper to pursue ; but relying with the utmost confidence on your influence over him, I still flatter myself that nt least a part of the amount he owes us would have been remitted before this time. more particularly as several gentlemen informed me he had In hiv possession $1,000 arising from the sale of his peltries to Mr. Crafts, At your recommendation I gave him credit, for without that I never would have trusted him a dollar, and your being on the spot where he resided, I certainly felt as safe as with the best man we deal with. Strange and unaccountable it is, that we have not received any kind of remittance, notwithstanding the extrava- gant conduct of this person ; but, as you introduced him to us, I am bound to hope, although you have not mentioned even his naine in any of your letters this summer, that you have done, and will continue to do all in your power to insure the payment of our claim, at no very distant day. lle owes us upwards of $3,000. I shall impatiently wait your answer. We return you Brooks' re-

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 17

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