History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 32

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 32

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).

. The first mention ot mail communication with Chicago and the East, after the destruction of the tort, was in 1817-18. but details are not given. There appears in Kealing's " Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of St. Peter's River," published in London, 1825 -- (copy in Chicago Historical Collec. tion)-the next allusion. [1 is there stated that in May, 1823, the exploring party met the expressman sent from Chicago for letters. at Fort Wayne, and detained him as a guide. His name was Hemis. A courier was al that time dispatched from Fort Dearborn to Fort Wayne once a month, for leiters.

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HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

well-informed gentleman, and one of Chicago's most popular, en- terprising and respected early citizens.

In July, 1834, the office was removed to the corner of Franklin and South Water streets, where it remained until after the expiration of Hogan's term of office. While there, the Assistant Postmaster was Thomas Watkins, who has been embalmed in history by John Wentworth and other early chroniclers, as the hero of a celebrated wedding, he being the groom, and the bride being Therese Laframboise, daughter of Joseph La- framboise, a chief of the Pottawatomies, well known as an carly resident of Chicago."

No further changes in location of the office were made until Mr. Hogan was superceded by Sydney Abell, who was appointed Postmaster March 3, 1837. In the following June the office was removed to the east side

I Able

of Clark Street, in Bigelow's building, between Lake and South Water streets, north of the alley. The removal was announced in the American, June 3, 1837: " The post-office has been removed to Clark Street, directly opposite this office. This change will be satisfactory to a large number of our citizens." During Mr. Abell's administration the post-office was again removed to the Saloon Building. Under Mr. Abell the assistants were Ralph M. P. Abell and Charles Robert Stark weather. The latter remained in the Chicago postal service until 1860.

William Stuart, then the editor of the American, succeeded Abell as Postmaster, July 10, 1841. lle re- moved the office to the west side of Clark Street, near the Sherman House-No. 50. Subsequently it was re- moved, in 1853-54. to the east side of Clark Street. Hart L. Stewart succeeded to the Postmastership, being

Nort Sindlwant

appointed by President Tyler, April 25. 1845. The succeeding Postmasters up to 1858 were: Richard 1 ..

. Joha Wentworth, in his historic lecture, delivered before the Sunday Lee- ture Society, May 7, 1876, gives the following account of Mr. Watkins: " I re -. meatber attending the wedding of one of Laframboise's daughters. She was marned to a clerk in the post-office, and is now the wife of Madore B. Beaubien, heretofore alluded to in this lecture. The elerk was the one who delivered let- ters, and of course well kaowa to our citizens, and was remarkably popular. He went to the printing office and had hfty cards of invitation struck off. Hut when people went for their lettere they politely hinted that they expected a card of invitation to the wedding. Su he was compelled to go to the printing office and have fifty more struck off. These did not last Inag and he had lon more. Then he said that tickets were of no use and everybody might come; and about everybody dad come. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Isaac W. Hallam, pastor of the St. James' Episcopal Church of this city. Everything was high-toned, well worthy of an Indian chief's daughter. The house was uf no particular use, as it was full and surrounded with people. This wedding made a strong impression on my mind, as it was the first time ] ever saw the Indian wur-dance. Some of the guests not only had their tomahawks and scalping knives, bows and arrows, but a few of them had real scalps which they pretended they had taken in the various Indian wars. Their faces were deco- rated with all the favorite pictures of the Indians. And some of our young white men and ladies played the part of the Indian so well that it was difficult to distinguish them from the real pors." Of Mr. Watkins, (Hurlbut, p. 539,) says: " Mr. Watkins was noted somewhat asan amateur musician, for he was an actremplinhed player on the guitar. He was familiar with the French language and quite likely also with the Indian dialect, common hereabout in those days, for he won the hand of the daughter of the Pottawatumie chief, Joseph La- framboise, and she became Mrs. Watkins. It was understood that the marriage was not a happy one. for it came-to be dissolved. Whither and when went Mr. Watkins we canant tell; yet the late wife of that gentleman and daughter of Chief Joseph, went to Kansas, it is understood, where she is living as third wife of Chief Madore B. Beaubien." Watkins went West with his wife when the tribe removed. The trouble in his family relations occurred after leaving Chicago,

Wilson, appointed by Taylor, April 23, 1849; George W. Dole, appointed by Fillmore, March 22, 1853;

Richard & Milano

Isaac Cook, appointed by Fillmore, March 22, 1855; William Price, appointed March 18, 1857. Isaac Cook was

George W Dole

re-appointed by Buchanan, March 9, 1858. During the first administration of Isaac Cook the office was removed

book

to the ground floor of Nos. 84 and 86 Dearborn Street, where it remained until the completion of the

William Prico

Government building in 1855, when it was again re- moved to that structure.

The mail facilities were rapidly increased after the beginning of 1835. On September 19, 1835, Postmaster Hogan's advertisement of arrival and departure of mails was as follows:

" Eastern, via Detroit, every other day.

Southwestern, via Ottawa, arrives Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; departs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Western, via Dixon's Ferry, arrives Wednesdays and Thurs- days; departs Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Southern, via Vincennes, arrives Wednesday, departs Thurs- day.

Northern, via Green Bay, arrives Monday; departs Tuesday." The notice was supplemented with the following:

"Postage must be paid for when taken. No more credil. Written orders required for the delivery of letters to friends."

From the files of the American it appears that stage- coaches were used on the principal mail routes in the beginning of 1836-probably not much earlier. At that time appear for the first time advertisements of mail- coaches as follows:

" Mail coaches between Detroit and Chicago will leave the New York House, Chicago, for Detroit, every other day, com- mencing Monday, January 11, at 5 A. M. Persons wishing seats will apply F. Tuttle, agent, or to Mr. Johnson at the New York House.

January 23, an opposition line was advertised -- " Winter arrangements from Chicago to Detroit in three and one-half days." D. G. Jones, J. W. Brown, W. E. Boardman, R. A. Forsyth, O. Saltmarsh, and S. Spaf- ford were the proprietors of the rival line.

August 20, F. F. Tuttle, stage agent, advertised that he had removed to Dearborn Street, one door north of

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CHICAGO IN 1833-37.

the Tremont, and that stages would leave for Detroit daily, at 4 A. M .; and for Galena at 4 A. M., on Tues- days, Fridays, and Sundays. He also advertised, August 6, what appears to be a newly established line, to Peoria, Ottawa and Juliet .*

The following new mail routes were advertised October 29, 1836 :

"From Joliet to Chicago, thirty-six miles and back, once a week : Toleave Joliet every Monday at 5 A. M., and lo arrive in Chi. cagoby 7 1'. M .; to leave Chicago every Sunday at 5 A. M., and arrive at Joliet the same day al 7 P. M.

" From Chicago to Galena, via Meachanis Grove, Elgin, Squaw Prairie, on the Kishwaka, and Midway on Rock River, 150 miles and back, once a week. Leave Chicago Monday at 6 A. M., and arrive at Galena every Friday by 6 P. M. Leave Galena Monday at 6 A. M., and arrive at Chicago Friday at 6 P. M.

"From Chicago to George McClure's, on Fox River, and back. To leave Chicago every Wednesday at 6 A. M., and arrive McC'lure's Thursday by 6 P. M. Leave Mcclure's every Friday at 6 A. M., and arrive at Chicago Saturday at 6 P. M."

June 11, 1836, post-office business of Chicago was advertised as follows :

"The post-office is open on week days from 7 A. M. lo 8 r. M .; Sundays, from 8 to 9 A. M., 12 to r, and 5 to 6 P. M. If mail arrives on Sundays this office will be open one and one-half hours after the mail has been distributed. Postage for letters must be paid when taken; hereafter no credit will be given. Any person calling for letters for friends must bring a written order.

"Mails arrive and depart as follows :

"Eastern, via Dletroil, every other day.

"Southwestern, via Ottawa, arrives Mondays and Thursdays ; deparis Tuesdays and Saturdays.

"Western, via Dixon's Ferry, arrives Sundays and Thursdays, at 6 P. M .; departs Tuesdays and Saturdays, at 4 A. M.

"Southern, via Danville, arrives Thursdays ; departs Saturdays at 4 P. M.

" Northern, via Green Bay, arrives Mondays at 8 r. M. ; departs Tuesdays at 4 A. M."

POST- ROADS had been established, although they could hardly be said to be built, on all the stage-routes advertised. The northern, or Green Bay road, as it was called, was surveyed in 1833, stakes driven and trees blazed along the line. It was somewhat improved as far as Milwaukee in 1834, by laying rough puncheon and log bridges over the unfordable creeks and streams, and cutting out the trees to the width of two rods. No grading was done for years afterward, and as late as 1836 it was only a blazed road through the forest between Milwaukee and Green Bay. The western and southern roads were less rough, as they ran out over more open prairie. In dry weather they were fine well-beaten tracks, but in the spring and fall they became long black ditches of mud, through which the hapless travelers floundered most wearily and laboriously to their places of destination.

WHARFING PRIVILEGES,-December 4, 1833, the wharfing privileges of the town were defined at a meet- ing of the Trustees, Owners of lots fronting on the river, where a street ran down to the river, might use all but eighty feet of the street (Water Street then being on the bank of the river) for wharfage purposes only, on the payment of fifteen dollars per year. Stipulations were made whereby the town corporation might subse- quently purchase any wharfage improvements made on lots leased from the town. Several owners of water- lots and others paid the required fifteen dollars during the succeeding month. Wharfing privileges were adver- tised in the Chicago American of November 15, 1835. to be sold, under a lease from the town, for 999 years, by auction, to the highest bidder. Thus the water or wharfage lots came to have a peculiar, if not fictitious value, during the speculative period. These privileges

· Joliet was first Mount Joliet, later named Juliet by one of the early pro- prietora, and still later changed to the old name of Joliei, in honor of the carly explorer,

were sold on time, and as the notes were many of them never paid, the " privileges " went out by default in the general crash of 1837. On March 24, 1837, the Town Trustees voted to extend the time of payment on wharf- ing lots, " until further notice."

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- U'p to September, 1835, there was nothing like an organized Fire Department, or a fire engine in the town. Prior to that time buckets put out any fire that occurred, or it burned itself out. Fire Wardens were appointed September 25, 1834, under the provisions of an ordinance passed by the Board of Town Trustees, which also defined the limits of the fire wards of the town.

The laws and ordinances were at that time quite strict, although not always enforced to the letter. No person was allowed " to endanger the public safety by pushing a red-hot stove-pipe through the board wall," and they were forbidden to carry "open-coals of fire through the streets except in a covered fire-proof ves- sel." The latter provision, in the absence of matches, was deemed a hardship not endurable and was repealed soon after its passage. The duty of the Wardens was defined in an ordinance adopted October, 1834. The Warden in whose ward a fire occurred was to be, for the time being, Chief Warden, and the other Wardens his assistants. They had power to summons any one to aid in the extinguishment of a fire, whether it be "to enter the ranks or lines formed for passing water or huckets, or to aid in promoting such other means as, to said wardens, may seem calculated to carry into effect the object of this ordinance." Citizens or other bystanders refusing to obey the summons of the Wardens when a fire was raging were subject to a fine of five dollars. It was incumbent on all citizens owning or occupying stores or dwellings to keep a fire bucket within their buikling, in a conspicuous place, and, on an alarm of fre, to promptly repair to the scene of the conflagra- tion, equipped for service with the said bucket. This was the Fire Department and fire organization of 1834.

By the close of 1835 the town had grown to such proportions, nearly all built of combustible material, that more elaborate provisions were deemed necessary. On November 4, 1835, the Fire Department was re-or- ganized under a most formidable ordinance. Like a most celebrated and historic confession of religious faith, it contains thirty-nine articles, In October, 1835, a hook and ladder company was formed, and the city equipped it with four ladders, four axes, and four saws. December 1, 1835, the first fire engine was purchased of Hubbard & Co. for 8894.38, and the fire company, known as Engine Company No. 1, was organized.

CEMETERIES,-No stated place for the burial of the dead was located until 1835. In early times each inter- ment was made on or near the residence of the friends of the deceased. Later, the settlements about the forks had a common acre on the west side of the North Branch, where the dead were buried. The dead from the fort were buried generally on the north side of the main river cast of Kinzie's old house, near the lake shore. There John Kinzie was buried in 1828 .* The soldiers who died of cholera in 1832 were interred near the northwest corner of Lake Street and Wabash Avenue. Early interments were made all along the borders of the two branches, wherever settlements had been made and deaths had occurred. In later days the forgotten graves were often opened in excavating, which has led to much speculation as to whom the disinterred remains belonged. As late as March 12, 1849, the Daily Demo-

* His remains were taken to the North Side Cemetery in $535, and again, In 1843, to Lincoln Park Cemetery, where they now rest.

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HISTORY OF EARLY CHICAGO.

crat records the fact that during the spring freshet. "two coffins were seen floating down the river, sup- posed to have been from some small burying-ground on the North Branch in the Wabansia addition." August 15, 1835, the town surveyor was ordered to lay out two tracts suitable for cemetery purposes; sixteen acres on the South Side and ten acres north of the river. These two lots, the first established cemeteries in Chicago, were located as early as August 26; on the North Side, near Chicago Avenue, east of Clark Street; on the South Side near the lake shore and what is now Twenty-third Street. These lots were fenced in September, and burials forbidden elsewhere within the town limits.

TOWN CREDIT .- The Town Trustees, in the adminis- tration of affairs were as a rule economical, even to the verge of parsimony. They did not repair either bridges or streets unless the Collector and Treasurer showed sufficient funds on hand. They voted to bor- row sixty dollars-the first authorized loan on the faith of Chicago-October 2, 1834. The records do not show whether or not the money was borrowed. In 1836 there were general complaints in the newspapers as to the horrid condition of the streets, sidewalks, and bridges, and a move, endorsed by large and strong petitions from the citizens, was made for more bridges. One was specially wanted across the South Branch on Ran- dolph Street, and a reward of twenty-five dollars was offered for the best plan for a draw-bridge at that point -the length of the draw to be forty feet. To John Brown, on February 10, 1836, was awarded the prize. February 13, " all the bridges were declared to be in an unsafe condition, and no funds on hand." In fact the town had outgrown its fiscal facilities. It had, dur- ing the past year, besides ordinary expenses, incurred some extraordinary liabilities. It had built an engine house costing $200, paid $29.63 for an outfit for a hose company, and agreed to pay in two yearly installments, for a fire-engine, 8894.38. It was evident that if further improvements were to be made to keep pace with the rapid strides of the town in population, that the day for trying the credit of the corporation had arrived. July 28, 1836. the Trustees resolved "that it is necessary and expedient for this board to effect a loan not exceeding $50,coo, to be expended in public improvements," and the president was instructed to apply to the State bank (Chicago branch then the only bank in the town, for a Joan of $25,000 redeemable in two years. August 5, notice was received from the bank refusing the applica- tion. Whether the refusal showed most the poor credit of the town or the weak condition of the bank is a ques- tion. William B. Ogden was thereupon made fiscal agent for the town, to negotiate the loan, which he suc. ceeded in doing; and credit being established the im- provements began. That the town began to spend the money without any unnecessary delay appears from the records one week later, August 13, at which time Mr. Ogden was ordered to purchase two more fire-engines, and a new street was projected, from the town to the fort

GROWTH OF THE TOWN .- The town, although in its last days it came to grief from the collapse of the speculative bubble, had a most marvelous growth, which was not entirely attributable to speculation. Its popu- lation increased in a ratio from year to year never known before in any country. In 1833 there were, perhaps, 200 bona fide inhabitants ; in the spring and early summer of 1834 it had come to be a village of 800, and, during the fall its population was estimated at from 1,600 to 2,000. In 1835 a school census showed a population of 3,279 ; and in 1836 varied from 3,500 to

4,000. July 1, 1837, the first census was taken after its organization under its city charter, and was as follows:

WARPA,

Under 5 years of age.

Over 5. under at years.

21 and over.

Persons of Color.

Male.

Fem.

Male.

Fem.

Male.

Fem.

Male.

Fem.

First

tor

135

444

218

Second

-6

120

630

262

Third

...

Fourth

101

Fifth

135

Sixth.

tor

420

207

244

26g

450 1800

845

41 36

244

381

1800

Tutals

513

832

2645

Males and females, 21 and over

.2,645 Males and females over 5 and under zt years ..... 831

Males and females under 5 years of age. 513

Total while.

3,989

Total black

Total.

4.066

Sailors belonging to vessels owned here .. 10

Grand total. 4.170

There were within the city limits at that time ; 4 warehouses, 398 dwellings, 29 dry-goods stores, 5 hardware stores, 3 drug stores, 19 grocery and provision stores, 10 taverns, 26 groceries, 17 law- yers' officers, and 5 churches.

In material growth the town had made no less re- tarkable progress. It is shown in the following ex- cerpts from the American. On August 15, 1835, that paper said :

"There are now upward of fifty business houses, four large forwarding-houses, eight taverns, two printing offices, two book- stores, one steam saw-mill, one brewery, one furnace (just going up), and twenty-five mechanics' shops of all kinds."

Under the head of " Improvements in 1836," Decem- ber io, is the following :

** Most prominent are Steele's block of four-story brick stores on lake Street ; llarmon and Loomis' block of four story brick stores on Water Street ; the Episcopal Church of brick, which, when finished, will vie with many of the best East: some ten to twenty two to four-story brick stores in various parts of the town: about twenty large two to three-story wooden buildings; a steam flouring mill ; and from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dwellings."

And on November 19, 1836 :

"Chicago has 100 merchants, its many mechanics, ils well employed laborers, its 30 lawyers. its 20 physicians ; its stately blocks constantly rising to view, and yet, a great scarcity of money."

October 3, 1835, in reply to an inquiry as to the time for getting goods from the Atlantic cities to Chi- cago, the American replied, "from twenty to thirty days."

As appears from the American December 31, 1836, Chicago had become a distributing point for the whole settled country. An advertisement of unclaimed pack- ages at Hubbard & Co.'s express office, showed the fol- lowing destinations : Joliet ; Elkhart, Ind .; Goshen ; Mishawaka ; Independence, Iowa ; Terra Haute, Ind .; Galena; Clinton, Iowa; Michigan City; Danville, Mil- waukee, Constantine, Otsego, Portage, Warsaw, Three Rivers, Schoolcraft, Wisconsin Territory ; Frankfort, lowa.

July 9, 1836, the American said :

"A store on Lake Street, which sold for $8,000, rents for $1,000. Many goods are sold to interior merchants at wholesale at good profit. The average cost of transportation from the East is $t. 50 per 100 pounds. The time on the way is generally about

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CHICAGO IN 1833-37.

one month. But the brig . Indiana' recently arrived, bringing goods from New York in 17% days. Store stands are generally in good demand. Sales are generally made for cash."

On December 31, 1836 :

" The merchandise sold last year in Chicago would amount to $1,000,000, and the trade is constantly increasing. The goods are bought principally in New York, and are shipped to this point via Hudson River, Erie Canal, and the lakes."

The prices current November 19, 1836, were given as follows :

"Flour. $12 per hbl .; pork, $25 10 828 per bbl. and scarce; hogy, 10 10 12%; butter, good eastern, 38 10 50, very scarce; beef, fresh, sold by butchers, 8 cents per pound; corn meal, none in market : potatoes, 50 10 75 cents per bu."

The result of the first Presidential election, at which the residents of modern Chicago voted, November, 1836, showed 354 votes thrown for Harrison and Granger (Whig), and 348 votes for Van Buren and Johnson (Democrat)-a total vote of 702. This, according to the modern accepted ratio of voters to population-one to five-would give a resident population at that time of 3,510.

The strait cut was made so far that vessels could enter the river in 1834. The establishment of Chicago as a port of importance dates from then. The Ameri- can, December 10, 1836, said :

"The first arrival this season was on the 18th of April. From then to December 1 the arrivals comprised 49 steamers, to ships, 26 brigs, 363 schooners, and 8 sloops. The 88 ships, steamers, etc., will average 250 ions ; the 363 schooners, 100 tons each. In 1835 there were 250 arrivals-tonnage, 22,500; in 1833, four arri- vals-tonnage, 700."

The canal project, which had been a project only for many years, was now an apparent certainty. Favor- able legislation, both State and National, had placed the enterprise on a footing which warranted its ultimate success. The building of the canal had been actually begun. July 4, 1836, had witnessed the first breaking of ground at the Chicago terminus, and despite the shadow of hard times, the work was going on. The State was inaugurating a system of internal improve- ments which it was hoped would avert any serious calamity, and a strong faith was prevalent in the town that all would be well.

The city of Chicago superseded the town organiza- tion under a charter granted by the State Legislature, March 4. 1837, under which the citizens organized, by the election of city officials on the first Tuesday of the following May, which was the birthday of the most wonderful city that has ever appeared upon the earth.

The new city was built mostly along the south side of the main river. Lake Street was well built up from State Street to Franklin. The streets running north and south from the river were well sprinkled with build- ings. A court-house, a jail, and an engine-house adorned the present square. There were seven hotels and seven churches. No church had a steeple, and, as one approached the city either from the lake, or south, out of the oak woods, no structure rose above the height of the chimneys of the town. The city lay low down on the marshy ground, many feet below the present grade, and was, altogether, to the sight of the new-comer, a most unsightly place to live, or even dic in. One good bridge over the main river at Dearborn Street and a dangerous and dilapidated log structure over the South Branch, were the only means of escape to the open coun- try on the north and west. The speculation which had been rampant for the past three years was gone, but a grim determination showed in the lineaments of each true Chicagoan's face, which meant that although fort- unes had fled Chicago was still left.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 32

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