History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 83

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 83

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 Hydraulic Mills, operated by the old water works engine, were built in 1842 by James Long. They were situated at the corner of lake Street and Michigan Avenue. In 1848 they were owned and run by J. P. Hodgkiss & Co .; and in that year ground up over one hundred thousand bushels of grain, seventy-five thou- sand bushels of this amount being wheat. This would be turning out nearly fifty barrels of flour per day. Speaking of these mills the Democratic Press in its com- mercial review for 1854 says: " The Hydraulic Mills, corner of Lake Street and Michigan Avenue, have until the last season done a large business in the manufacture of flour. Since the construction of the new water works, these mills, having fulfilled their destiny, have brought their business to a close. From the first of January, 1854, to the 28th of September, which was the time included in their last year's operations, they ground eleven thousand barrels of flour and two hundred and ten thousand pounds of corn meal."

In that year there were but two mills in operation in the city; the Hydraulic Mills, having shut down in Sep- tember; and a steam mill built in the spring of 1854, by Messrs. Ricord, Bierlein & Co., was in the fall of the same year, completely destroyed by fire. 'The remain- ing one, besides that of Gage & Haines, already men- tioned, was known as the "Adams Mills," and was an extensive and superior establishment situated on North Water Street and the river. Thirty men were employed here, and in 1854 the output was one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat and five thousand bushels of corn, This was equal to thirty thousand barrels of flour and three hundred thousand pounds of cornmeal. The Adams Mills brand of flour was considered a choice article in the markets and was much sought after by Eastern shippers.

In July, 1855, the Hydraulic Mills were again started, making three mills in operation for that year, the total output of which was nearly eighty thousand barrels of flour, an increase for the year of over thirteen thou- sand barrels.

In 1856 there were the following mills in operation :

Gage & Haines, South Water Street, capital invested $150,000, flour manufactured 35,000 barrels, value of the same $250,000, hands employed 30 ; Adams & Co.'s Mills, North Water Street, capital invested $125,000,

flour manufactured 38,000 barrels, value 8240,000, hands employed 25 ; Empire Mills, corner North and LaSalle streets, run by Ricord, Bierlein & Co., capital invested 810,000, flour manufactured 6,000 barrels, value $39,- 000, number of hands 5 ; N. A. Chase, Jr., 12 and 14 North Canal Street, capital invested $10,000, value of manufactures $57,569, number of hands 7 ; Stevens, Lane & Co., 143 West Lake Street, capital invested $3,500, cost of building $8,000, barrels of flour manu- factured 12,000, number of hands 6; Novelty Mills, owned and run by James McNair, 53 State Street, cap- ital invested $5,000. A summary of the above state- ments would be as follows :

Capital invested. ·$325.000

Value of manufactures. 636.569

Harrels of four. 89,000

Hands employed. . 73

During the year 1857, three new mills were built : Shawmut Mills, Star Mills and the mills of Grist, Rob- hins & Co. The total output of flour of all the city mills for the year was 96,000 barrels.

BREWING .- The immense brewing interests of Chi- cago had their origin in the small beginnings of Will- iam Lill and William Haas, in September, 1839. They were really employed by William B. Ogden, who estab- lished Mr. Lill in business, at the corner of Pine Street and Chicago Avenue. The " brewery " was a little tene- ment building in that locality, and the extent of Mr. Lill's manufacture, at first, is said to have averaged about nine barrels per week. After a few years Michael Diver- sey enter xl into an active partnership with Mr. Lill, and Mr. Ogden's silent connection with the business ceased. Under the management of Lill & Diversey, the " Chi- cago Brewery " grew by 1857 to be the most extensive establishment of the kind in the West. It was situated on the corner of Pine Street and Chicago Avenue, the buildings covering a whole block. At the time of the panic of 1857 the firm had invested nearly $250,000 iu their business, and successfully weathered the financial storm. Besides being known as good business men, Lill & Diversey were noted for their benevolence and gener- osity, the latter being a large benefactor to the German Catholic churches of Chicago.

James Carney, who had formerly kept a grocery store, commenced brewing in a small way in 1840. His establishment was on South Water Street, between State Street and Wabash Avenue. He continued the busi- ness until 1855, at which time he retired, renting his brewery to John O'Neill.

F. Busch was also an early brewer, his establishment being called the " North Brewery," and was situated on the Green Bay road, near the lake shore, North Side.

The "Columbian Brewery" was built by J. J. Sands, on the corner of Pine and Pearson streets, in 1855. He manufactured cream ale.

In October, 1855, James Carney, one of the oldest. brewers of Chicago, rented his establishment to John O'Neill.

In 1856 Conrad Seipp, now one the most extensive and wealthy brewers in the West, commenced this busi- ness in Chicago, investing $18,000 and turning out $8,960 worth of malt liquors the first year. In 1857 the entire capital invested in breweries, outside of Lill & Diversey's did not exceed $70,000.

The annual report of the Democratic Press, issued January 1, 1855, names and locates the firms engaged in brewing as follows :

" Frederick Burroughs-brewing and malting-Lake Street, near Union Street, West Side.

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332

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

"The North Brewery (F. Busch)-Green Bay road, near the lake shore, North Side.

" James Carney-No. 39 South Water Street.

"J. A. Huck-Wolcott, corner of Division Street, North Side.

" L.ill & Diversey-Chicago Avenue, corner of Pine Street, on the lake shore. The largest establishment in the city and the West. They manufacture all kinds of ale, porter, vinegar, etc.

"Union Brewery :George Metz -Wolcott Street, north end, near the lake.

"Garden City Brewery John Parker, erected in 1854-No. 115 Dearborn Street.

" J. S. Saherton, brewer and distiller - Wolcott Street, near the cemetery.

"North Star Brewery Isaac and John A. Irvin - Wolcott Street, near North Division."

The names of brewers engaged in the business Janu- ary, 1857. with statistics of the business for 1856, were as appears below :

NAMES OF FIRMIS.

Capital Invested.

Value of manufac- tures in 1856.

Na handy

Isbls heer Bushels grain used. manu- factored.

l'ounds Hops con- sumed.

Conrad Seipp. . $18,006

$ 8.960

1.120

2.240

2,000

George Metz. .

15,XX)

19,200

2.400

4.800

4.000

Braham & Co. .

8,000

1 1,000

3.000

2.400

V. Busch. .. ...

6,000

25,000

3.200

6.400

J.F. Rodermeyer

8,000

40.000

5.000

8.750

8.000

Bucher & Co ...

5.000

11,200

1,400

2,800

832

Blaliner & Co ..

1,000

2,000

250

700

- Spriggs ... ..

3.000

7,200

1,800

900

Total

67,0mm| 130,160

33 16,270| 32.490 21.432

At that time there were several rectifiers, vinegar manufacturers and a few small brewers whose trade statistics do not appear in the above.

DISTILLING,-The business of distilling high wines came in quite early, but to whom belongs the honor of being the pioneer in the business has not been ascer- tained. In 1854, there were two quite extensive dis- tilleries. D. Ballentyne's establishment was on the lake shore, south of Twelfth Street; and that of A. Crosby & Co. on the North Branch, near Chicago Avenue. J. S. Saberton also distilled on a small scale, in connection with his brewing business. In 1857, only two distilleries were reported as follows :

Charles H. Curtiss (successor to Ballentyne .- lake shore, south of Twelfth Street. Ile had a capital invested of $50,000, employed twenty-five hands, and paid out for raw material and wages $150,000. He pro- duced, annually, to,ooo barrels of high wines, valued at $150,000.

A. & W. H. Crosby & Co .- North Branch, had invested $75,000, employed fifty hands, and consunied annually 300,000 bushels of grain and 3,000 tons of coal. The yearly production of high wines was 1,050,- ooo gallons, valued at $310,000.

The comparative summary of the brewing and dis- tilling business made by the Democratie Press at the close of 1856 was as follows :

CAPITAL.

Capital invested. .

$297,000 Unreported (estimated).

200,000

Total.

Capital invested in 1855

$497,000

Increase in 1856.

$99,800

VALUE OF MANUFACTURES.

Value of manufactures. $950,320 Unreported (estimaled)

200,000

Total .$1,150,320 Value of manufactures in 1856. 826.645 ..

Increase in 1856 $323,675

ENUMERATION OF MANUFACTURES.

High wines, gais . 1.567,241 | Ale, bbls. . 45.780

Beer, bbls ... 16,270 Vinegar, bbls. ..... 2.170

RAW MATERIAL CONSUMED.

Grain, bush. . .. 755,350 | Coal, tons .... .. 6,000

Hops, lbs. .. . 97.008 , Wood, cords .. 400

Hands employed HANDS EMPLOVED.

165

TANNING .- During the year 1831 John Miller, the brother of Samuel Miller, built a tannery just north of the latter's tavern, near the junction of the two branches of Chicago River. They were in the business together, and in the spring of 1832 Benjamin Hall joined them in the enterprise, They continued in that business for a number of years. W. S. Gurnee was one of the earli- est of this class of workers. In 1843 the "Chicago Hide and 1.cather Company " was formed, with Mr. Gurnee as president. Gurnee, Hayden & Co., Gurnee & Yoe, etc., are firms whose names are familiar to early settlers. George Bickerdike and James Knox also had tanneries on the South Branch for a number of years. In Novem- ber, 1848, George Burr established a morocco leather manufactory in a large four-story building, on the South Branch.

The business of tanning did not, however, assume any large proportions until subsequent to 1857. A reference to the table showing the receipts and shipments of hides, show that nearly the whole amount received and slaughtered were shipped to Eastern markets.

SOAP, CANDLES, OILS, ETC .- In 1833, Elston & Woodruff commenced to make soap and candles, in a log barn which had already been built on Kinzie Street, at the junction of the North Branch with the main river. In 1835 Charles Cleaver, a young Englishman, pur- chased Mr. Woodruff's interest, and the next year bought Mr. Elston's share in the business. Mr. C'leaver removed his factory to the corner of Kinzie and West Water streets in 1836. His enterprise had so prospered by

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1837, that he was obliged to erect a two-story-and-base- ment building, situated on the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets, where he remained for five years. In 1842 he moved to the corner of Madison Street and Canal, and in 1849 to the North Branch, near Division Street. Mr. Cleaver changed his location to Cleaver- ville, now Oakland, in 1851. Here, notwithstanding the smiles and even derisive laughter of many who thought him foolish in establishing a large manufacturing industry "so far out in the country," he erected a three- story brick building, where he not only made soap and candles, but also the packing boxes desired for his trade. He built a pier into the lake, at which vessels loaded and unloaded, and had the satisfaction, a few years after- ward, of seeing the Illinois Central, Michigan Central, and Chicago, Alton & St. Louis roads pass in front of his factory. In 1857 the village of Cleaverville was laid out upon Mr. Cleaver's land. Until that year his fac-

». Irwin ..... ..

3.000

1,000

2,000

397,200

ployed

333

EARLY TRADE AND MANUFACTURES.

tory did nearly all the rendering for Chicago packers, and was one of the most extensive in the city.

Charles Shillitor & Co. commenced to manufacture soap and candles in August, 1836, but the firm was dis- solved in about a year. Joseph Johnston was also engaged in this line of business, "The Chicago Oil Mill " was established by Scammon & Haven in 1852, the building being located on the South Branch near Van Buren-street bridge. The "Chicago Oil Manufact- uring Company " was formed in 1855, with F. C. Sher- man as president.

Christian Wall & Sons commenced the manufacture of gluc and neats-foot oil in August, 1855. Their factory was situated on the west side of the North Branch, above Chicago Avenue. The capital invested was Sro.ooo. U'n to January 1. 1856, they had manu. factured one hundred and fifty barrels of glue, one thousand two hundred gallons of neats-foot oil, and four thousand pounds of tallow. They employed fifteen hands.

A starch factory was also started in 1855, at Cleaver- ville, by M. L. Keith.

The beginning and development of other manufact- ures, farther removed from the native products, and requiring more special skill, were as appears in the following sketch of

EARLY MANUFACTORIES OF WOOD, IRON, ETC .- Although the hypercritical may deny that a blacksmith is, strictly speaking, a manufacturer, the development of this individual into the foundryman is so gradual, and, if the Knight of the Anvil is successful, so certain, that for all practical purposes a starting point in this topic of " Early Manufactories" will be found here. In most new countries of the Northwest the horse and the man occupied the wilds together ; and man's mute but indispensable help-mate may be said to have not infre- quently been the means of establishing the first branch of manufacture therein. The first blacksmith to visit Chicago, of whom there is any record, was Jean Baptiste Mirandeau, the pioneer settler of Milwaukee, who used to come down from there to repair the soldiers' guns and shoe their horses, long before the first Fort Dear- born was destroyed. After the second Fort Dearborn was built, David Mckee was appointed Government blacksmith, his shop being situated near the Agency House, at the foot of State Street. Later came William See, sometimes called " Rev.", a Methodist exhorter, whose daughter, Leah, became Mrs. James Kinzie. In the fall of 1833 Mathias Mason opened a blacksmith shop. Clement Stose and Lemuel Brown established themselves about the same time. These include the earliest blacksmiths or "iron manufacturers,"of Chicago; although it must be acknowledged that David Mckee's little shop and scant kit of tools bore hut a slight family reseuthlance to the machine shops and rolling mills of to day.

Lemuel Brown was horn in Cumberland, R. I .. December, 1784. and died at the residence of his nephew, D). G. Brown, in Kenwood. December 29, 1883 ; at the unusual age of ninety-nine years and thir- teen days, In the fall of 1832 Mr. Brown left Massa- chusetts for Chicago, being sent by the Government to take charge of the firearms of Fort Dearborn. He was delayed at Cleveland, Ohio, and made his way to Chi- cago by team during the winter. He arrived in Chicago in the spring of 1833, and with the exception of brief intervals, has resided here since that time. He resided in Hyde Park for the last six years, and voted at every village and school election during his residence. He voted for every President but two, voting for the first

time, though under age, by virtue of the ancient law providing that each free-holder to the extent of four hundred dollars was entitled to vote. He was a con. sistent Whig, and since the day of the present political parties, a stanch Republican. He was an expert steel temperer by trade, and worked at the forge until past eighty years of age."

In 1832 a number of saw-mills were built along Hickory Creek, and one at the mouth of the slough which then emptied itself into the river just south of Division Street, Chicago. The mill was burned in 1834, and refitted in 1835. During the summer it was mostly engaged in sawing out three-inch plank, which were used in covering the North Pier. Colonel G. S. Hub- bard and Captain Bemsley Huntoon were, successively, proprietors. The latter operated it for five or six years, adding to the saw-mill a shingk machine. Captain Huntoon's mill and the water-power establishment of John Miller, fourteen miles up the North Branch, sawed out such timber as grew adjoining, consisting of oak, elm, poplar, white ash, etc. Of such "lumber," in its green state, most of the houses were built, and the reader can easily imagine what these structures must have looked like after the summer's heat had warped and twisted the material.

In the spring of 1833. Tyler K. Blodgett established a brick-yard, on the North Side, not far from the river bank, between Dearborn and Clark streets. He engaged Henry S. Lampman, then of Ann Arbor, as a workman. As Mr. Blodgett operated the first brick-yard in the city, so Mr. Lampman was undoubtedly the first brick- maker, If any brick were manufactured in Cook County before then it is not known. From this yard came the brick for the first buikling constructed of this material-the dwelling house of Mr. Blodgett, after- ward occupied and added to hy Colonel M. E. Stearns. The structure was located across the river, opposite this yard, and was originally a one-and-a-half story build- ing, twenty feet square. It was upon the eighth day of October, 1833, that a young man named Asahel Pierce arrived in Chicago from Vermont, and cont- menced the erection of a blacksmith shop, on Lake Street, corner of Canal. Being unable to find suitable lumber in Chicago, he was obliged to haul his mater- sal from Plainfield, forty miles,* and, after he had pur- chased Rev. Mr. Sce's old set of tools, he had a money capital of only a few dollars with which to establish himself in business. But Mr. Pierce set out with such a determination to succeed that he was soon obliged to enlarge his shop. He obtained from John T. Temple & Co., an order for doing the ironing for the first stage line between Chicago and St. Louis. This was in Jan- uary, 1834. In the spring of that year he commenced the manufacture of the old-fashioned " Bull " plow, with wooden mould.board. This was certainly the first agricultural implement manufactured in Chicago, and the first one made in the State north of Springfield. Mr. Pierce afterward devised many improvements in plows, manufacturing the first steel, or self-scouring plow in the West. In the fall of 1835 David Bradley came from Syracuse, N. Y., in the employ of William H. Stow, to assist in the erection of the first foundry. located on Polk Street, on the west side of the South Branch. The money for the constuction of the so-called "Chicago Furnace," was furnished by Jones, King & Co., who, at this time, employed William H. Stow & Co. The old hardware firm of Jones (William) & King (Byran had been formed in 1834. The next year W.

" This circumstance leads to the belief that, at that time, there was no large manufactory of lumber nearer than Plainfield.

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

B. Clarke was admitted to the partnership, forming the phrey, Randolph Street, near Franklin; John Lang. "Co." It was this management which furnished the North State Street and Kinzie ; John Burgess, Ran- dolph, east of Wells ; Henry Bower, Wabash Avenue, near Randolph. money referred to. The first castings were made as early as December, 1835. In March, 1837, Stow & Co., formed a partnership with King, Walker (J. H.) & Co., "Brewers and Distillers .- William Haas, brewer, corner of Chicago Avenue and Pine Street ; William Lill, brewer, same location ; Edward Nicholson, distil- ler, Illinois Street, near the lake. (E. Peck), the old firm of Jones, King & Co. having been dissolved, and commenced the operation of a foun- dry, under the firm name of William H. Stow & Co. They continued to operate it until about 1842.

In the spring of 1834 Briggs & Humphrey inaugurat- ed the business of manufacturing wagons and carriages by starting a small shop on Randolph Street. They continued in partnership for some six or seven years. Soon afterward, Peter Schuttler, who, by 1857, had one of the largest establishments of the kind in the West, also started a small wagon shop.

Charles Morgan commenced the manufacture of furniture in the spring of 1837. His large factory on Lake Street was burned in 1852, but was rebuilt. In 1857 he occupied a five-story building and had invested 860,000 in the business,

Among the first sash, door and blind factories, if not the first, was that established in 1837 or 1838 by Ira Miltimore, on the South Branch. It was purchased by David Scott in 1838 and was burned in July, 1842.

One of the earliest machinists and foundrymen of Chicago, and among her prominent citizens was Elihu Granger, Aklerman for a number of years and, later, Superintendent of Public Works. Although a native of New Hampshire, he became a resident of New York when a young man, following in various localities his vocation of mechanic and millwright. He came to Chicago in the winter of 1836 for the purpose of build- ing Lyman & Gage's flour mill, the first one erected in Chicago. It was situated on the west bank of the Chi- cago River, at what is now the west end of Van Buren- street bridge. The machinery was furnished by the Aub- urn (N.Y. State Prison. In February, 1837, having com. pleted his contract with Lyman & Gage, Mr. Granger became a heavy canal contractor, and like all others of that class, became financially embarrassed, being paid in State scrip and bonds upon which he was able to realize but comparatively a small amount. In 1839 Mr. Granger pre-empted Block 4, of the original town, on the north side of Chicago River, which was canal land, and established thereon a small foundry and finishing shop. He made a specialty of manufacturing machinery for elevating grain. The locality of Mr. Granger's first foundry was North Water Street, west of Clark-street bridge.

An attempt has been made in the foregoing pages to chronicle the first appearances of those branches of manufacture previous to 1840, which afterward devel- oped into magnitude, viz., the manufacture of iron and of wood in its various forms. The full list of manufact- ures of Chicago in 1839 compiled from Fergus's direct- ory for that year, the files of the Daily American, and other sources and including primitive manufactures was as follows:

" C'andle and Soap-Makers .- Charles Cleaver, South Branch ; Joseph Johnston, West Washington Street.

" Fanning Mill Manufacturers .- James V. Dickey, North Clinton Street ; Albert C. Ellithorpe, Monroe, near Franklin Street.

" Iron and Brass Founders and Machinists .- Elihu Granger, foundry North Water Street, near LaSalle ; P. W. Gates, machinist, No. 42 Canal Street ; William and John Rankin, brass founders, No. 55 Clark Street ; William H. Stow, foundry, West Randolph Street.

" Wagon and Carriage-Makers .- Briggs & Hum-

" Steam Saw Mill. - Captain Bensley Huntoon, proprietor, North Branch.

"Sash and Door Factories .- Francis MeFall, Mar- ket Street ; Ira Miltimore, South Branch ; Edwin B. Colvin, corner North Water and Dearborn streets.

"Tanners .- James H. Knox, Wells Street, south of Polk ; John Miller, North Branch ; Marvin M. Ford, Clark, northeast corner of Madison.

" Flour Mill .- South Branch, Canal Street, Lyman & Gage, proprietors,

" Miscellaneous. - Charles M. Gray, grain cradle factory, No. 78 Dearborn Street ; Hayward & Co., buhr mill-stone manufactory, Kinzie Street ; Noah Scranton, block and pump-maker, corner North State and North Water; V. Detrich, match-maker, corner Division and North State; John Penny, brick-maker, North Branch."

Among the carliest of the metal workers who com- menced business about the time that William H. Stow & Co. assumed charge of the "Chicago Furnace " in 1839, were the brothers William and J. Rankin. They established a brass foundry, on the corner of Clark and Illinois streets. Hiram P. Moses, Mr. Stow's successor in 1842, owned a shop at this time on the South Branch, at the Polk-street crossing. The firm, at first B. P. Andrews & Co., became afterward Moses & Ayres, and then Hiram P. Moses. The latter was a brass founder and steam-engine and boiler builder. Mr. Moses was perhaps the first manufacturer in Chicago to make a specialty of steam-engine building. In later days his foundry was known as the "Chicago Steam- Engine Works." At this establishment, in 1848, the engines and boiler of the propeller, " A. Rossetter" were made. The "Chicago Eagle Foundry," also oper- ated a similar concern in 1840.

It will be remembered that, in 1839, Elihu Granger established his iron foundry on North Water Street, upon canal land. On account of a decision of the court against his claim, in 1842 he was obliged to change his location to the corner of Franklin and Indiana streets, where for many years he did a large and suc- cessful business, adding good facilities for iron and brass castings. In 1853 Mr. Granger sold out to his sons, and they conducted the business until the panic of 1857, when they were obliged to make an assignment to their father and George W. Dole, as trustees.

In 1842 Philetus W. Gates formed a partnership with his father-in-law, Hiram H. Scoville, and opened a small blacksmith and wagon shop on Randolph Street. Mr. Scoville had been engaged in contracting on the canal and had met with serious reverses. Mr. Gates was also without capital. To show the financial condition of the new firm it is only necessary to state that they were obliged to buy one thousand feet of lum- ber on credit, with which to erect their building, which was situated near the bridge. At the end of the year a foundry and machine shop was built, on the corner of Washington and West Water streets. The firm con- ducted the business for about five years, when Mr. Gates purchased Mr. Scoville's interest. In 1848, after being alone one year, Mr. Gates admitted A. H. Hoge into partnership. Before the end of the year George S.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 83

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