History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 88

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 88

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

pointed Treasurer and the Sheriff was authorized to provide rooms for the April term of the Circuit Court, at the house of James Kinzie, at a cost not to exceed $10.

John K. Clark, the Coroner, reports that the first inquest was held over the body of a dead Indian, and the second on " William Jewett, a passenger who was found dead."

The first marriage ceremony was performed April 23, 1831, by William See, the County Clerk and a Methodist Minister. Joseph Papin and Mary " An " Sargerma were the happy parties united. During the year five couples were made five units.

During the first year the expenses for maintaining county organization were as follows : Commissioners Court, $96 ; incidental repairs, furniture, etc., $113-75 ;

THE COURT HOUSE IN 1858.

pauper expenses, $27.67 ; circuit and county courts, $34.00; elections, $6; stationery, $25; roads and bridges, $69.12 ; sheriff serving papers, etc., $53-43 .- Total expenditures, $425.97; receipts, $357-78. Bal- ance 868.19.

THE NEW COURT HOUSE."-Previous to the fire of 1871 important changes and additions had been made to the Court House of 1857. The height of the east half of the building had been increased one story ; but it was not until the close of the season of 1870 that the new City Hall had been entirely completed, at an expense of $467,000. The cut here produced will show its magnificent appearance just previous to the terrible conflagation which leveled it to the ground. The west half of the old Court House which be- longed to the city, had also been remodeled and occu- pied. All the municipal officers were accommodated in these buildings except those of the Board of Edu- cation.

When the great fire occurred the State owed the city of Chicago nearly $3,000,000 on account of money which had been lent to cut down the Illinois and Michigan Canal to summit level. It was the original intention to liquidate this debt out of the proceeds of

the canal, but when the apparently crushing calamity occurred, which no one could foresee, the State arose in its generosity, equal to the occasion, and on the 20th of October the whole amount, $2.955.340, was appro- priated to the city. The provision attached to this noble donation merely was that not more than one- third was to be used in the construction of public buildings and bridges.

During the week following the fire, work was com- menced upon a new city hall, on the reservoir lot, at the corner of Adams and LaSalle streets. When com. pleted in January, 1872, both city and county occupied the building. Its cost was about $75,000. The Sheriff, County Treasurer, Clerk, Surveyors, Board of Commis- sioners and some other officers were accommodated in the old court-house. But these temporary expedients were naturally distasteful to so ambitious a city as Chicago and so wealthy a county as Cook; conse- quently in August, 1872, the county and the city entered into a contract by which the latter was to occupy the portion of the proposed new court-house west of the north and south center. This portion was also to be constructed by the city, upon some general plan to be adopted, so that the style of architecture would be uniform. In July, James J. Egan was cliosen principal architect on the part of the county; and from the commencement of work upon the building until its completion, that gentleman had the general and active supervi ion of its construction. Thomas Tilley was elected the city's architect. L. D. Cleve- land was the superintendent. "Two plans were sub- mitted to the joint committee of the Board of Com- missioners and Common Council, but they were not uniform. The Mayor of the city, the Board of Public Works and the joint committee had several meetings, but Mr. Tilley did not seem inclined to modify his plan to suit the wishes of the authorities, and Mr. Egan's modified plan was adopted by the county and city. This was during January, 1876. In the meantime, in August, 1875. contracts had been entered into by the county with Cox Bros., for excavating for the founda- tion, with Henry Harms for foundation work, piling, etc., and with William McNeil & Son for the cut stone work of the court-house. The McNeil contract was for $540,000.

The first ground. for the new court-house was broken August 26, 1875, at about one o'clock p.M. In the center of the Public Square, upon that important occasion, were assembled Commissioners Carroll, Schmidt, Jones, Holden, Conley, Busse, Guenther, Lonigan, Herting, and McCaffrey for the county; Commissioners Prindiville and Thompson and Alder- men Hildreth, Foley, Stout and Mahr for the city; George Van Hollen, Thomas Mackin and Ed Walker, of Lemont ; Architects Egan and Armstrong; Robert Clark, John M. Rountree, Joseph Hogan, C. F. Perio- lat, Cox Brothers, and a miscellaneous assortment of laborers. Commissioner Holden seized the first shovel, and in a moment all the instruments of a like nature had been appropriated. All being in readiness, Com- missioner Jones, Chairman of the Board of Commis- sioners, said: "Gentlemen,-Now is the time for work. The day for resolutions has passed in this matter." When the "breakers " had filled the wagon with dirt they were escorted to Periolat's Union Club Rooms and had their pictures taken.

On the 3d of April, 1877, the Board of Commis- sioners passed a resolution fixing upon the succeeding Fourth of July as the date for the laying of the corner stone. By eleven o'clock of that day the clouds had

. For early court houses, tee Early History.

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POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

broken and the sun shone sufficiently bright to allow the gathering of the officials and prominent citizens bent upon honoring the occasion. Commissioner Hol- den, chairman of the board; Architect Egan, J. Y. Scammon, P. J. Sexton, Judge Boyden, John Wentworth, County Attorney Rountree, Aldermen Cullerton, Will- iam McNeil and others were upon the ground. Mr. Holden conducted the ceremonies, which were opened with prayer by Rev. Galusha Anderson, Architect Egan then presented a silver trowel and rosewood mallet to Mr. Holden. After making an interesting historical address appropriate to the occasion, Com- missioner Holden deposited the following articles, en- closed in a sealed tin box, which was placed in the cor- ner stone. A parchment scroll, sealed in a glass tube, embodying the names of the commissioners, architect,

title page of Peltzer's Atlas; article of J. A. Scammon, entitled " American Consuls; " brass card of P. J. Sex- ton ; autograph letter of Rev. Galusha Anderson. The corner stone having been declared "square, plumb, level and truly set," Mr. Scammon made a few appro- priate remarks and the deed was done.

By July, 1877, the contracts awarded amounted to $1,313,451, and those to be let $283,700. To meet these expenses, and those to be borne in the future, these expenses, and those to be borne in the future, bonds to the amount of $125,000 had been issued, $zic,000 directly appropriated, and over $1,100,000 raised by taxation. It was now estimated that the total cost of building the court-house would be $1,878,000, and the county was in need of funds to the amount of $967,000.

THE COURT HOUSE IN 1871.

superintendent, and contractors of the building, and high executive officiais of the United States, state and city. The last issues of the Chicago daily papers, the New York Herald, Tribune and Harper's Weekly, with the last issues of the Real Estate and Building Jour- nal and the fire issues of the Journal, Times and Staats Zeitung; the New York semi-weekly Tribune, one each of 1848, 1849 and 1850; the Galena Advertiser of 1847; the Chicago Tribune of 1847; the Chicago Times of 1864; a photograph edition of the Inter- Ocean ; last annual reports of the Board of Education and of the West end South Park commissioners; the proceedings of the County Board for 1875-76 ; Sheahan & Upton's book on "Past, Present and Future Chi- cago; " the city directory; Potter Palmer's "Seven days in Chicago : " Confederate States bond for $1,000, charred in the Chicago fire ; promissory note of Oakes Ames, charred in the Boston fire; late issues of coins and currency of various denominations up to $1 inclu- sive ; last issue of postage stamps ; sundry old coins;

In April, 1878, the city awarded the following con- tracts: Tomlinson & Reed, cut stone, $477,693 ; John Angus, masonry, $90.519; P. J. Sexton, iron work, $105.302.69. Up to December 31, of that year, the amount of work contracted for on the part of the city, was $738.579.64. During the season of 1881 the city hall was roofed in and $228,000 expended upon the building. Of the $12,700,000 which constituted the city's bonded debt $325,000 was on account of the city hall. By vote of the people in November, 1878, the county was authorized to issue $750,000 in bonds. work progressed as rapidly as could be expected, con- sidering the magnitude of the undertaking, but was brought to a temporary standstill in October, 1879, on ccount of disagreement between William McNeil & Son and P. J. Sexton. The latter had the contract for the masonry, brick and ironwork, and was engaged upon the county's part of the cupola. Matters were soon adjusted, however, and the work progressed. The estimate then made as to the expense necessary for the

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

completion of the court-house, as far as the county was concerned, was $350,000. Over $1,600,000 had been expended.

It is not necessary to trace in detail the business complications between county, city and contractors during the next three years. The Board of Commis- sioners have been to the trouble and expense of col- lecting all documents bearing upon these matters, and setting forth in detail every step in legislation which was taken in the construction of the court-house from 1872 to 1881 inclusive ; so that any one who is curious to know the history of these troubles, how some were settled, and how some are still pending in the courts, can satisfy himself by going to this voluminous and,

a smaller ward and suit of private rooms. The Ad. ministration building, in the center, is 90x153 feet. Attached to the hospital is a training school for nurses. In the yard is a morgue, and adjoining it a small am- phitheatre for demonstrations in anatomy and patho !- ogy. In November, 1883, the new wing of the County Hospital was completed at a cost of over $280,000. A remarkable feature connected with the construction of this portion of the building is that, notwithstanding the magnitude of the contracts, only $693 was allowed for "extras."

The Cook County Hospital is under the control of the Commissioners, and, as there is no city hospital, it takes the place of one. Including the ten acres of

THE COURT HOUSE AND CITY HALL IN 1884.

politically, valuable collection. It is enough here to say that the court-house was virtually completed dur- ing the fall of 1881.

Up to that date $2,320,000 had been paid for its construction by the county, an excess of $600,000 over the amount called for by the original contracts. To complete the county's part of the rotunda and the north and southwest corner of the structure will re- quire about $75,000. In addition to the above ex- penses, past and prospective, $401,000 is still in dis- pute between the county and contractors for "extras " claimed, etc.

The City Hall is still in an unfinished state, and it is estimated that before the court-house is entirely completed it will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000,- 000. Even now it stands as a magnificent monument to the wealth of a great city and county.

OTHER COUNTY INSTITUTIONS .- The County Hos- pital, a series of magnificent structures built of red brick with stone trimmings, is situated on West Harrison, near Wood Street. When entirely completed it is de- signed to accommodate one thousand patients. The de- sign contemplates the erection of six pavilions, con- nected by long corridors. Each corridor is three stories in height with attic, and contains in each story, in addition to a large, well lighted and ventilated ward,

ground upon which the buildings are situated, about SSoo,opo has been spent by the county up to date. A detailed description of this magnificient system of structures is unnecessary, as a view of the Hospital, here produced, will give the reader a better idea of its fine appearance than could be conveyed in mere words.

The original hospital building, which subsequently passed into the hands of the county, was erected by the city in 1856, and was situated near the corner of Eighteenth and Arnold streets. It cost, when com- pleted, about $75,000. In July, 1871, the county agreed with the chy that, in consideration of a lease of the hospital grounds for five years from October I. 1872, the latter should change the location of the Reform School and vacate blocks 1, 3 and 4 by Octo- ber 1, 1871. The county was to pay the city $50,000 in lieu of and in full payment for all improvements on the Reform School grounds, said payment to be made from the proceeds of the sale of block 2. The lien of the city on the proceeds of the sale did not affect the title to purchasers of property. The property was sold in the fall of 18;6 for a small amount, the new Hospital on West Harrison street being occupied in October of that year.

The Insane Asylum and Poor House for the

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county of Cook is situated in the town of Norwood of private charities, having for their principal object Park, and for a history of this institution the reader is referred to the local history.

Situated within the limits of Cook County are a number of other "medical charities." The United States Government maintains the Marine Hospital, a large and elegant structure two miles north of the city, on the lake shore. It is capable of accommodating 300 patients. The Hospital is under the surgical supervision of the local officer of the Marine Hospital Service, and for its support each officer and seaman of the United States Commercial Marine is taxed ten cents per week.

The State of Illinois maintains an Eye and Ear Infirmary. It was organized as a private charity in 1858, and received by the State in 1871.

One medical charity is supported by the city-the Small-pox Hospital, situated onvits western outskirts. It is used as a pest house merely, and is under the supervision of the City Physician.

In addition to the above there are a large number

the care of the city and county poor. Among others may be mentioned the Alexian Brothers' Hospital, the Chicago Hospital for Women and Children, the Float- ing Hospital, the Hahnemann, Mercy, St. Joseph's and St. Luke's hospitals, the Woman's Hospital of Illinois, the Washingtonian and the Martha Washington homes for inebriates.

The County Jail is located in the Criminal Court building on Dearborn avenue, between Illinois and Michigan streets. The jail proper is on Illinois street, running along about 140 feet. It has two wings, 40x80 feet each. The main cell building is occupied by male prisoners, and contains : 36 stone cells, in a double block, four tiers in height. In the west wing are forty-eight cells for female prisoners. The guard house is in the center between the east and west wings, and imme- diately outside of the main cell house. The insane department was added on the east side of the jail, about two years ago.

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HISTORY OF CHICAGO.

CREATION OF THE TOWN.

The few families who reposed within the shadows of Fort Dearborn first realized that civic authority ex- tended to their cabin doors in 1823. It was then that the officials of Fulton County, to which this unorganized region was attached, levied a tax of five mills to the Jollar upon all personal property in the settlement, ex- empting only household furniture, as provided by law. Amherst C. Ransom, Justice of the Peace, served as Collector, and enriched the treasury by the sum of $11.42, thereby demonstrating that the total valuation of embryo Chicago was but $2,284. When Peoria County was created in 1825, Chicago came within its jurisdiction. Even at this time Chicago had but a mythical existence, the name applying sometimes to the river and again to a cluster of cabins on its marshy shores or sandy banks. But the Illinois & Michigan Canal having at length obtained its coveted and magnifi- cent land grant, the commissioners were authorized to lay out towns upon the sections which fell to them. Chicago was accordingly surveyed, and a plat of it pub- lished by James Thompson, a canal surveyor, on Au- gust 4, 1830. This date marks the birthday of Chicago as a town, and the " Fort Dearborn settlement " disap- peared. The section falling to the canal interest, upon which Chicago was platted, was No. 9, situated immedi- ately north of School Section No. 16. The line be- tween the two sections was Madison, and their eastern boundary State Street.

East of State Street, extending from Madison Street north one mile, was the tract included in the Fort Dear- born Reservation and the Kinzie pre-emption, which afterward became additions to the town. The portion north of the river had been pre-empted by Robert Kin- zic, for the family, and the portion south comprised the Reservation. Section 15 was a canal section and was not surveyed for some years afterward. Section 9, "the original town," and to which all other surveys are additions, fortunately covered the ground along the main channel of the river and at the junction of its two branches, The original limits of Chicago were Madi- son, Desplaines, Kinzie and State streets, embracing an area of about three-eighths of a square mile. The pub- lic thoroughfares running east and west were, as re- corded on Thompson's map, " Kenzie," Carroll, Fulton, (on the West Side), South Water, Lake, Randolph and Washington streets, naming them in their order from the north; while those lying north and south were Jef- ferson, Clinton, Canal, West and East Water, Market, Franklin, Wells, " La Selles," Clark and Dearborn streets, naming them in their order from the west. In- cluded within these brief limits were the hitherto inde- pendent settlements of Wolf Point, west of the river's fork, and the " lower village," on the South Side. Thus Chicago was no longer a " settlement " merely, and during the year succeeding its survey the young town received increased distinction by being designated as the seat of justice of the newly organized county of Cook. In June, 1831, the State granted to the county twenty-four

canal lots, which were not in one body, however, but the proceeds of which were to be used in the erection of public buildings. Sixtcen lots were sold to pay cur- rent expenses. The eight remaining constituted the public square. The result of this generosity on the part of the State was seen in March, 1832, when, through the architectural skill of Samuel Miller, contractor,

Samme Miner

there arose upon the southwest corner of the square, the so-called "estray-pen." Although sometimes desig- nated and dignified as "the first public building ever erected in Chicago," the "pen" was a small wooden enclosure and quite roofless. Mr. Miller's bid for the work was $20, but he accepted $12 from the commis- sioners; thereby admitting, as charged by the county authorities, that he did not do his work according to contract. During this year and the next, (1833,) general attention was called to Chicago by the valiant efforts which her citizens were making to obtain a harbor ap- propriation; and in addition to this mode of advertising the "canal enthusiasm " was spreading from Chicago all over the country. Many accessions were, therefore, made to her population, and some of the new arrivals were of that permanent character so valuable to a young community. The summer of 1833 saw Chicago with a population of about three hundred and fifty, and her citizens prepared to organize, under the general legislative act, for the incorporation of towns, passed February 12, 1831, By its provisions citizens of any town containing over one hundred and fifty inhabitants were authorized to hold a meeting, and decide whether they wished to become incorporated. If the aforesaid citizens favored the assumption of corporate dignity, then the clerk of the convention or meeting, was to give at least five days' notice that an election would be held to choose five Town Trustees, who were to hold office for one year. The Board of Trustees were endowed with the usual powers-to abate nuisances, gambling, dis- orderly conduct; to prevent fast driving and enforce police regulations; to license shows, control markets, take charge of the streets and sidewalks, and to provide the means for protecting the town against fire. The limits of the town were not to exceed one square mile, within which limits the Trustees were to have jurisdiction. They could call out any citizen to work on the public roads for three days in every year. The tax-levy was fixed at fifty cents on every hundred dol- lars of assessed valuation. The Trustees were denied the right to impose a fine of more than $5 for breach of any of their ordinances, and two-thirds of the quali- fied voters of the town, at any annual election, could dissolve the' corporation.

Late in July, 1833,* a public meeting was held to decide whether incorporation should or should not be

· Brons's " History of Chicago,": p. s8. Colbert gives the date August s. which is the date of the election notice now on file with the City Clerk.

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effected. The record of that meeting stands as fol- ed upon a large sheet of paper, by Mr. Hamilton, the low's:

"At a meeting of the citizens of Chicago, convened pursuant to public notice given according to the statute for incorporating towns. T. J. V. Owen was chosen President, and E. S. Kimberly was chosen Clerk. The oaths were then administered by Russel E. Heacock, a Justice of the Peace for Cook County, when the fol- lowing vote was taken on the propriety of incorporating the Town of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois :

"For incorporation-John S. C. Hogan, C. A. Ballard, G. W. Snow, R. J. Hamilton. J. T. Temple, John W. Wright, G. W. Dole, Iliram Pearsons, Alanson Sweet, E. S. Kimberly. T. J. V. Owen, Mark Beaubien-t2.

" Against incorporation-Russel E. Ileacock.

" We certify the above poll to be correct, ·· Signed, T. J. V. OWEN, President.

"ED. S. KIMBERLY, Clerk."

In pursuance with the requirements of law, Dr. Kimberly, acting in his official capacity of Clerk, issued an election notice, which read thus :

" Publick notice is hereby given that an election will be holden at the house of Mark Beaubien, on Saturday, the roth day of August, at It o'clock in the forenoon of that day, for the purpose of choosing five trustees of the Town of Chicago.

"Chicago, August 5. 1833.

"E. S. KIMBERLY, Town Clerk. " N. B .- The poll will close at one o'clock."

An election was held at the time and place desig- nated. Twenty-eight electors were legally entitled to exercise their privilege as freemen, and of that number

Frel. N. Owen

no less than thirteen consented to assume the role of candidates for office. The enrollment recorded the names of E. S. Kimberly, J. B. Beaubien, Mark Bean- bien, T. J. V. Owen, William Ninson, Hiram Pearsons, Philo Carpenter, George Chapman, John W. Wright, John T. Temple, Mathias Smith, David Carver, James Kinzie, Charles Taylor, John S. C. Hogan, Eli A. Rider,

Dexter J. Hapgood, George W. Snow, Madore B. Beaubien, Gholson Kercheval, George W. Dole, R. J. Hamilton, Stephen F. Gale, Enoch Darling, W. H. Adams, C. A. Ballard, John Watkins and James Gilbert. There were twenty-eight ballots cast. John Miller, being a candidate himself, refrained from voting.

The list of the candidates included the names of T. J. V. Owen, George W. Dole, Madore B. Beaubien, John Miller, F. S. Kimberly, R. J. Hamilton, James Kinzie, J. T. Temple, J. B. Beaubien, l'hilo Carpenter, John W. Wright, Robert A. Kinzie, and John S. C. Hogan.

The successful candidates were :

T. J. V. Owen 26

George W. Dole 26

Madore B. Beaubien 13

John Miller 20 E. S. Kimberly. 20

The scattering vote was distributed as follows : Philo Carpenter, t ; John Wright, 2; R. J. Hamilton, 4; James Kinzie, 5 ; John T. Temple, 5 ; J. B. Beau- bien, 6; Robert A. Kinzie, 9; John S. C. Hogan, 3.

The first meeting of the Board was held two days subsequent to the election, and no record-book having been provided, the original proceedings were transcrib-

Clerk pro tem. All the members were present, and re- ceived the oath of office from Mr. Hamilton, a notary public, and an organization was effected by the election of Thomas J. V. Owen President and Isaac Harmon Clerk. It was ordered by the Board that meetings should be held at the house of Mark Beaubien, on the first Wednesday in each month, at seven o'clock P. M., beginning with Wednesday, September 4, 1833.

At the first regular business meeting held by the Board, on that date, a free ferry was established across the river at Dearborn Street. George W. Dole was chosen Town Treasurer for one year.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 88

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