History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 96

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 96

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).

. See Religious History.

+ See Harbor and Marine.

Ste Beaubien Claim in the preceding pages.

See History of Bauking,

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386

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

Indian treaties for the last ten years should be over- hauled in the most thorough manner, and the thousand knaveries practiced by men thereby made nabobs, fully exposed to the public gaze." Captain afterwards Gen- eral) David Hunter, believing that the above was intended as a reflection upon him, came into the office of the Democrat, and then and there demanded satisfaction of John Wentworth, the editor, and laying two pistols upon the table, offered him his choice of weapons, Mr. Wentworth, as would any good and discreet citizen, per- emptorily declined to fight a duel, but made the amende honorable by the publication of a letter in a subsequent issue, disclaiming any reference to Captain Hunter in the article which had raised the chivalrous officer's ire. The Captain soon after published a card in which he stated that the pistols were not loaded, and the affair thus ended without the spilling of gore. The pistols afterward came into the possession of Mr. Wentworth. who frequently, in his subsequent editorial career, alluded to them, when indulging in carly reminiscences.

During the latter part of December, and through the following January, small-pox prevailed in a mild form in the city. It placed a quite serious embargo on country trade, as farmers feared to visit the town. The Board of Health publicly requested the vaccination uf all persons hitherto unvaccinated, and ordered all physi- cians, under penalty of a heavy fine, to make immediate returns of all patients suffering from the disease.

1840 .- The people had become used to hard times, and had adjusted themselves quite comfortably to their conditions at the opening of the new year, which will he remembered as a year of most hilarious political excite- ment, pending the presidential campaign, which resulted in the total defeat of the Democratic party, and the election of General Harrison as President, by an over- whelming popular vote. The Whigs of Chicago, although in a minority, made the campaign most enthusiastically noisy and lively.

January 10, the new Market House at the corner of Lake and State streets was completed. The cost of the building was stated to be $1,500. 'T'he stalls were rented for three years at a gross aggregate rental of 82,460.

February 10, the City Council changed the method of voting, ordering that at the next election and there- after the votes should be given on a written or printed ballot, instead of, as heretofore vit roce. At the munic- ipal election held in the following March the first hal- lots were handed to the judges at a city election.

May 1, John Stone was indicted for the murder of Mrs. Lucretia Thompson," He was tried, convicted, and on Friday, July 10, hung until he was dead ; the place of execution being some three miles south of the court - house, near the lake shore, between what was then the terminus of State Street, and the Cottage Grove Cattle Yards. This was the first public execution in Chicago. The following account of it appeared in the American of July 17:

" The execution look place aboul a quarter after three. The prisoner ascenled the scaffoll, dressed in a while loose gown, and with a while cap upon his head, as is usuat in such cases. He evinced much firmness upon the gallows, under the circumstances. and in the presence of the spectators (among whom we regretted to sce women enjoying the sight) he persisted 10 the last in the asser- tion of his innocence-which declaration was publicly made in his behalf by the Sheriff, together with his acknowledgment, as requested, of the satisfactory manner in which he was treated in ihs jail. He stated that he was never in the house of Mrs. Thompson, and did not see her on the day she was murdered. He also stated that he believed two individuals were engaged in the murder, but on being asked if he knew them, he replied in sub- . See Early History and History of the Bench and Bar.

stance, that if he did he would swing before their blood should be upon him. The Rev. Mr. Ilallam, Isaac R. Gavin, Shenfl, and Messrs. Davis and Lowe, deputies, attended the prisoner on the scaffold. The Sheriff seemed particularly affected, even unto tears After the beautiful, solemn and impressive services of the Epis- cupal Church for such occasions had been performed by Mr. Hallam, and the appropriate admonitions bestowed, the death warrant was read by Mr. Lowe, the knot adjusted, the cap puileil over the face of the prisoner, and he was swung into another world. After he was hung until he was . dead. dead,' a wagon containing a coffin received his body, which was delivered 10 Dirs. Boone and Dyer, pursuant to the order of the court, for dissertlon. Is is stp- pied that he died from strangulation and that his neck was not broken in the fall, which was about four feet. . . . His aged parents, also brothers and sisters, resided at the East. Hle Licu with his parents until he was twenty-one. While a mail-carrier m" Canada he was convicted, under the name of John Standish, of bring an accomplice in the robbery and murder of a Government officer. He was retained as State's evidence, ran away into the State of New York, was convicted of stealing horses and wagen, and was sent to the Auburn State Prison, under the name of jom Dan. He left Auburn about Two years ago, and has been in this part of the country about a year, obtaining a Jivelihood as a wood. chopper. He was born in Ireland, had been twenty-one years In This country, and called himself in his thirty-fourth year."

May 25, the Whig delegation from Cook County to the Tippecanoe convention, to be held at Springheld, left the city. It made a most formidable procession. It was headed with a big schooner on wheels, drawn by oxen. The history of the journey and return have appeared in print so often as to have become trite.

July 17, the spirit of Know-nothingism was quite prematurely evinced by the publication in the Daily Democrat of a petition to the United States Senate. and House of Representatives, praying Congress to deprive all foreigners not already enfranchised of the right of suffrage in the United States. It was signed by two hundred and fifty residents of Cook Coumy, a majority of whom lived in Chicago. In politics the petitioners were about equally divided, but, as a record, it proved a stumbling block in the way of success to many a political aspirant who stood in need of the foreign vote cf Chicago, for years after, if his name was to be found among the signers to the petition.

November 3 was the day of the presidential elec- tion. Great excitement prevailed, and much disorder at the polling places, Many arrests were made-some being of prominent citizens-for creating disturbance at the polls.

1841 .- In January a large meeting of citizens was held at the Saloon Building, at which resolutions were passed and a memorial to the Legislature signed, requesting that body to raise sufficient money by direct taxation to pay the interest of the State debt, and thereby restore its impaired credit.

February 19, the first organized meeting of the Young Men's Association was held. The organi- zation was in answer to an appeal which appeared in the newspapers a short time previous, in which this statement was made: "There is no place of general resort where a leisure hour can be passed in quiet and rational amusement."

Through the month of April there was a great tem- perance revival. Within three days one hundred and forty signed a pledge of total abstinence.

May 14, day of national fasting and prayer, ap- pointed by President Tyler in commemoration of the decease of President Harrison. In the morning ap- propriate religious services were held; in the afternoon George A. O. Beaumont delivered an eulogy on the deceased at the Presbyterian Church. .

November 29, public dinner given to Governor Thomas Carlin to express feelings of gratitude at kis interest in the Illinois & Michigan Canal,

ANNALS OF CHICAGO-1837-1857.

1842 .- The year was uneventful. Business had, how- ever, begun to improve, and the city again showed an increase in population. Building was again carried on with something of the old time vigor. The Federal bankrupt law went into operation in March, and a com- missioner was appointed for Chicago during that month. From the opening of the court to September 1 upward of forty Chicago merchants availed themselves of the law, thus wiping out all old scores preparatory to begin- ning anew. The temperance excitement which had begun the year before continued throughout the year.

January 1, the first Washingtonian Society was organized.

May 24, the works of the Chicago Hydraulic Com- pany were in successful operation. The Daily American in making the announcement said : " Pure water is now flowing in abundance through our streets."

June 29, the progress and success of the Washing- tonian Temperance movement was chronicled in the Daily American in the publication of a report to the Common Council, in which it was stated that "from the present tone of feeling, the profit arising from the sale of spirituous liquors is so much curtailed that those engaged in the trade are hardly able to meet their cur- rent expenses."

July 3, Martin Van Buren, the first ex-President who had ever visited Chicago, was given a public reception. The Mayor, B. W. Raymond, delivered the welcoming speech, to which the distinguished guest replied at length.

October 19, the first considerable movement in favor of the mother country was made by the Irish citizens of Chicago by the organization of an association for pro- moting the repeal of the union between England and Ireland. The officers were : President, William B. Egan; Vice-President, L. C. Kerchival; Recording Sec- retary, C. McDonall; Corresponding Secretary, H. L. Rucker ; Treasurer, Jaines Carney ; Repeal Wardens, John McHale, Michael O'Brien, R. R. Seely, Patrick Ballingall, George Brady, John Jackson, M. Cunningham, C. 11. Chapman, Maurice Prendeville and Hugh Young.

1843 .- The year, like the two preceding, was uneventful. The spring was late, farmers not being able to sow until April 21, and quite insignificant events were sufficient to create excitement.

January 1, there was a public debate between John C. Bennett and a Mormon preacher named Anderson at " Chapman's Building." The question debated was: " Are the Mormon revelations to be accepted as truth ?" The building was crowded, and for weeks after the question was one of excited discussion in the community and through the columns of the newspapers.

February witnessed perhaps the lowest price in Chi- cago for wheat and corn at which it ever sold in the Chicago market freely: white winter wheat, thirty-eight cents per bushel; corn, eighteen cents per bushel. A reaction set in before the opening of navigation, at which time prices had advanced to fifty-six cents per bushel for wheat, and thirty-eight cents per bushel for corn.

February 3, at the public land sale 600,000 acres were offered, of which only 70,000 acres were sold, bringing $86,215.36. The failure of the sale was at- tributed to the scarcity of money, specie being then demanded by the Government as payment.

March 17, occurred the first celebration of St. Pat- rick's Day. Papers speak of the Chicago Band and the Montgomery Guards turning out for the first time on

that occasion in full uniform; also of a mass in honor of the Saint at the Catholic church, and of the orderly conduct of those in the procession.

March 30, snow fell to a considerable depth. The Democrat of the 3ist said: " Judging from appear- ances, we shall be fortunate if navigation opens by the ist of May. Immense quantities of snow have fallen throughout all portions of the West, and in most parts of the East."

April 3, Miller & Co. started the first tri-weekly express between Chicago and the East.

April 21, hogs were first prohibited from running at large in the streets of Chicago by ordinance of the city. Prior to that time the too numerous presence of this animal had been frequently animadverted upon in the columns of the Press, as having become an unmitigated nuisance.

October 11, a communication appeared in the Weekly Democrat, from Buffalo, severely condemning the practice of Chicago merchants of mixing the various grades of wheat shipped.

November 22, 1843, the first session of Rush Medi- cal College was commenced .*

1844 .- During this year the era of good times was again fairly established. The roads leading to the city were improved. A great interest was awakened in schools,t which resulted in the building of the Dearborn- street school - house, and in the inauguration of the present magnificent school system of the city. Over six hundred new buildings were erected during the year. and the population largely increased. The presidential election,{ which occurred November 5, passed off with little excitement. The total vote was 2,426; estimating the ratio of voters as one to five, the resident popula- tion of the city at that time was 12,130 .; The weather during the summer and fall was notably tempestuous.

August 9, a tornado accompanied with heavy wind and rain and terrific lightning, passed over the city and swept over the lake. The bank building and the resi- dence of E. 11. Hadduck were both struck by lightning during the storm. The schooner " Daniel Whitney" was also lost on Lake Michigan, all on board perished. Another severe wind-storm is mentioned in the Bero- cratic Journal of November 7. as having occurred on November 4, which demolished one of the walls of the First Baptist church, then being erected, the wall falling upon and crushing a dwelling house near by.

September 10, a meeting was held at the Council room for the purpose of electing delegates to attend a meeting at Elgin in the interest of building a macadam- ized or plank road from the Fox and Rock rivers to Chicago. It was there resolved " that the commercial prosperity of Chicago mainly depends upon the improvement of the roads leading from it to the heart of the rich agricultural regions by which it is surrounded." It was also stated at this meeting and at the Elgin con- vention that the roads leading from Chicago in all directions-and especially towards Elgin-were in such a condition as to be almost impassable in some parts of the year. This was the first movement for the improve- ment of roads or facilities of inland transportation.

The interest of the citizens of Chicago in education and schools was evinced in choosing, September 16, a large delegation to attend an educational convention to be held at l'eoria on the gth of October. Among those chosen, and who were the early friends of the Chicago

*Ser Medical History in this volume.

+ See History of Schools.

# See Political History.

Colbert's History. p. 18, gives the estimated population for 1844 at 8 con. At what time in the year The estimate was made or on what basis is not men- ploned.

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

schools, were: William H. Brown, William jones, Richard J. Hamilton and S. W. Wright, since deceased; and Mark Skinner, Isaac N. Arnold, and J. Y. Scam- mon, still living.

1845 .- The citizens showed great interest in the reviving of the State credit, with a view to the comple- tion of the Illinois & Michigan canal .* They also made efforts to further improve the harbor, and, late in the year, the subject of railroads began to seriously agitate the public mind.

February 12, in pursuance to a call signed by five hundred of the leading merchants and citizens, a large meeting was held on the public square, at which resolu- tions were passed urging the Legislature to enact such a revenue law as would revive the credit of the State and secure the completion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal; also endorsing the recommendation of Governor Ford to the Legislature to restore the State tax to its former rate of thirty cents on Sioo. Work was fully recommenced on the canal the following September.

February 21, the Governor approved an act estab- lishing a court for Cook County.

August 5, the Common Council passed an ordinance authorizing a loan to construct a break-water on the lake shore.+

November 26, the first issue appeared of the "Chicago Volksfreund."{ This was the first newspaper published in Chicago in a foreign language.

December 5, an enthusiastic railroad meeting was held at the court-house. Delegates were appointed to attend the conventions to be held at Rockford, to be held January 7, 1846, to devise means for prosecuting to completion the Galena & Chicago Union Railroads Full statistics of the trade and business of Chicago were presented to the convention by the delegates.

1846 .- Recruiting for the Mexican War, which the President declared as existing, May 13, added to the excitement of a very busy year, which was nevertheless quite barren of events of more than transient interest or importance.

The most important commercial event was the crea- tion by the Government of a new Collection District, of . which Chicago was declared the port of entry. Pend- ing the passage of the act, fifteen of the leading ship- pers and merchants of Chicago signed a memorial to the United States Senate, requesting that body not to pass the bill which had already passed the House of Representatives, and expressing their fears that, should the bill pass, British bottoms would on the upper lakes be thereby admitted to all the benefits of the carrying trade hitherto exclusively enjoyed by citizens of the United States. Notwithstanding the memorial, Chicago was made a port of entry July 13.1

1846,-March 19, the German element first asserted itself as a factor in municipal affairs in a card, signed by thirty-four German citizens, which appeared in the Daily Democrat, in which they denounced the action of the Council in refusing to appoint Charles Bumgarten Street Commissioner ; the place of his nativity being alleged by them as the sole cause of his rejection.

March 20, the Common Council first inaugurated the system of levying special taxes for street improve- ments, by the adoption of the report of Manierre, in which he had advocated the plan and asserted the right of the city to levy such special assessments for the planking or other improvement of streets.

May 1, the Daily Democrat gave an account of the suicide of Count Londogi, committed at the Lake House.

May 27, there was great public rejoicing over the news of General Taylor's victory on the Rio Grande. During the succeeding two days fifty men enlisted .*

October 28, two runaway slaves were arrested and taken before Justice Kercheval. While there the room became filled with excited negroes, who hustled the fugitives down the stairs and out of sight of Deputy Sheriffs Rhines and Daily forever.

November 13, measures were taken preparatory to the great River and Harbor Convention,f held in Chi- cago during the following year. At a large meeting of citizens, three committees were appointed : one, to pre- pare an address, and a call for the convention ; another, to act as a committee of correspondence ; and the third, consisting of one hundred members, to act as a committee of arrangements.

1847 .- Throughout the year there was great war excitement, recruiting went on constantly, several full companies leaving for the seat of war during the spring and summer.t

April 3, a large concourse of citizens gathered to celebrate the victory of Buena Vista. Richard L. Wilson lost an arm by the premature discharge of a cannon.

Famine prevailed in Ireland and Scotland.

February 25. the Scotch of Chicago published an appeal "in behalf of 200,000 of their starving country- men." March 4, a subscription was started for the re- lief of the starving Irish. In four days $2,600 in money was raised, besides considerable donations in com, pork, flour, and other articles of food.

June 23, the Daily Democrat announced that the County Commissioners and Common Council, acting conjointly, were improving the roads leading from the city for a distance of ten miles out.

July 5. the great event of the year was inaugurated by the opening of the great River and Harbor Conven- tion. It was one of the most important events in the early history of Chicago. Delegates from all parts of the country were present, and the city was crowded as never before.§

1848 .- During the year occurred the first presiden- tial campaign in which the Chicago Democrats had been divided. It was most earnestly carried on by the two opposing factions, which evinced more bitterness toward each other than toward their common enemy, the Whigs. The discussion of the free-soil question, on which the party had divided, constituted the leading excitement of the year. I

April 1, a mass convention of the citizens was held, "of all those favoring the . Wilmot proviso.'" July 4, the free-soil Van Buren Democrats held an immense meeting, at which they commenced their campaign, which was thereafter carried on without cessation until the day of election, and with a skill and ability seldom, if ever, surpassed in the political annals of the city.

The election which occurred November 7, resulted in a plurality vote for Van Buren, the free-soil Dem- ocratic candidate. The vote stood : Cass, 1,016; Van Buren, 1,543 ; Taylor, 1,283. Total, 3,842. The total vote of 1844 in the city was 2,426. The increase in the voting population as thus shown had been sixty per cent in four years.

. See History of Canal.

+ See Harbor and Marine.

: See History of the Press.

See History of Railroads.

See History of Commerce.

. See Military History,

+ See Harbor and Marine.

See Military History.

See Harbor and Marine.

See Political History.

389

ANNALS OF CHICAGO-1837-1857.

Several local historic events worthy of remembrance transpired during the year.

January 15, the first message by electric telegraph was received over the line then completed from Mil- waukee to Chicago.

The existing State law limiting the rate of interest to six per cent was in disfavor in Chicago. January 17. a meeting was held by the merchants of the city, at which it was resolved : "It is contrary to honor, reason, and the laws of trade to suppose that Illinois can enjoy the use of sufficient capital to transact her business and develop her resources at six per cent interest, while New York, Indiana, Wisconsin, and a number of other States offer, by their interest and col- lection laws, from seven to twelve per cent."

Februry 2, the Democrat stated : " The lake is lower at present than it has ever been in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. Some of the vessels at the dock, laid up for the winter, and consequently without load- ing, are fast aground."

March 4. a specific election was held to vote on the various clauses of the new State constitution, which were to be submitted to the people. The vote on the several propositions was as follows : For the adoption of the constitution, 324 majority ; against the clause "prohibiting negroes coming into the State, or masters bringing them into Illinois for the purpose of freeing them," there was a majority of 886; for a two-mill tax, to be used for the payment of the State debt, 328 majority.

April 10, the first boat locked through the canal-the "General Frye"-was floating, at 7:30 P. M. in Lake Michigan.

June 27, the Democrat made the following announce- ment : "Chicago is at length in direct communication with the Atlantic Ocean. We noticed in the river yesterday a large and powerful English propeller, the " Ireland,' loaded direct from Montreal to this port. This opens a new trade for this city, as goods can now be shipped from Chicago to Liverpool without trans- shipment."

October 25, " The locomotive, with the tender and two cars, took its first start, and run out a distance of about five miles upon the road-the Galeua & Chicago Union road. A number of gentlemen rode upon the cars." This announcement appeared in the Democrat of October 26.

December 4, the brig " McBride " arrived with the first direct importation of salt from Turk's Island.

1849 .- Early in the year the California fever broke out with great violence in Chicago. The daily papers stated that during the winter and early spring months little else was talked of. Book stores advertised guide- books ; wagon-makers doubled their force of workmen and turned their efforts exclusively to the manufacture of emigrant wagons ; the price of revolvers "went up fifty per cent;" there was not in March a pair of new Mack- inaw blankets for sale in the city, and all kinds of salt provisions were reported as having become " lamentably scarce." The first two parties were fitted out (one of American, the other German) and started overland for California March 29. The exodus thus begun continued throughout the year, carrying off many of the early citizens, whose names thereafter did not appear in the annals of Chicago.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 96

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