USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 12
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Augustus S. Butts, James Rockwell,
George T. Hulse,
W. Mifflure,
W. N. Larrabee,
George Low,
Thomas C. James,
Eli A. Rider,
Martin Pludingal,
David Byard,
Daniel B. Heartt, Esq.,
Peter Luze,
Reuben Welch,
Charles L. P. Hogan,
Charles Sauter,
Thomas Joslin,
John T. Temple,
A. Logan, John Fussy.
Griffith J. Pierce,
Jacob Sauter,
Alanson Barnes,
Vinsius Sauter,
Major Noble,
Gorham Bunker,
John Murphy, 2nd,
D. Lyman,
Andrew Benning,
Abram Gale,
John Gage,
James Brand,
S. D. Scott,
W. Mitchell,
A. F. Miltimore,
B. N. Stratton,
E. A. Miltimore.
Samuel J. Lowe,
John Temouth, Ira Miltimore,
Smith Dunlap, Jr. Augustus Frisbie,
O. H. Thompson, Lewis M. Wood,
H. Barnes,
Citizens.
Bernard Ward,
Charles Clever,
Otis Barnes, Alexander Lloyd,
Wm. H. Brown,
Peter Cohin,
Charles B. Farham,
D. S. Dewey,
H. H. Magill,
William G. Pettigrew,
John Blatchford,
Benjamin H. Clift,
135
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
FIRST CENSUS OF THE CITY TAKEN JULY 1, 1837.
Colored.
M.
Under 5. F.
Sito 21. M.
F.
M.
M.
F.
First Ward ..
57
59
109
135
444
218
10
7
Second Ward ..
76
77
129
148
630
262
13
18
Third Ward ....
11
16
33
19
70
46
Fourth Ward ...
15
15
31
27
101
42
5
2
Fifth Ward ..
32
37
26
20
135
70
Sixth Ward
53
65
72
101
470
207
13
9
244
269
381
450
1800
845
41
36
244
381
1800
41
513
831
2645
77
There were also here 104 transient sailors. In 1837 there were 4 warehouses, 398 dwellings, 29 dry goods stores, 5 hardware stores, 3 drug stores, 19 grocery and provision stores, 10 taverns, 26 groceries (wet), 17 lawyers' offices and 5 churches, with about 150 children in school. The city was bounded south by Twenty- second street; north by North avenue; west by Wood street, and east by the lake.
In the crash of 1837, the peltry trade ran low; emigrants were not so many and produce in part went elsewhere. There was no money ; people lived on the harbor laborers' and canal laborers' wages. There were 450 buildings in 1837. By 1842 there were 1 brick store and 78 brick houses, 1,061 frame houses, 224 other structures of logs, etc., in all 1,364. By 1842 over sixty business houses had become bankrupt. But growth was steady-firms went down, individuals passed on, but others took their places. The growth was like that after the great Chicago fire. During the panic real estate stood still; banking was abolished in the state unless secured. In 1840, George W. Dole built at the junction of the branches, out of timber cut ten miles up the North Branch and hauled in with teams, the first considerable vessel constructed at Chicago, a side-wheel steamer named after himself. Like all West- ern cities, Chicago has had her reverses. In 1835-36 real estate had a fictitious value. The whole country was mad with the spirit of speculation. When the crash came, in the latter part of 1837, hundreds in this city found themselves bankrupt. Real estate re- mained stationary.
"What a change! In the month of November, 1831, the first frame house was erected in Chicago. But seven years have passed onward to the tomb of time, and a small United States fort with its little garrison, disputing the ascendency with the untutored Indian, has been surrounded with a bustling city of 6,000 (?) in- habitants. The frail canoe of the savage that then dimpled in undisturbed supremacy the modest waters of Skunk creek and the shores of Lake Michigan is now succeeded by roaring steamers,
1
Over 21. F.
136
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
with their 700 tons and high masted vessels with their thousands of freight. The creek has become a river and from its mouth the merchandise of the far Eastern ports, transported over our great lakes, is discharged into our capacious warehouses for the traffic and consumption of a city and an extensive country rapidly filling up around it. . . Hard times, or easy times, blue devils, or what not-say what you will-feel how you will-Chicago is a wonderful city."-( American, April 12, 1839.)
"Business statistics of Chicago: We present the following table of the business establishments in Chicago and challenge any place of its age to beat : Seventy-eight dealers in merchandise, 2 wholesale dealers in merchandise, 1 bank, 2 broker's offices, 2 flour mills, 1 sash factory, 1 iron foundry, 1 brass foundry, 4 markets, 10 taverns, 5 forwarding houses, 12 tailoring houses, 8 lumber mer- chants, 2 printing houses, 3 auction rooms. 'No establishments where liquor is solely or principally retailed or distilleries are in- cluded in the above list.' The business of the city has heretofore employed about twenty draymen." -- (American, April 19, 1839.)
"Our streets are becoming quite respectable-no instances of horses and oxen being lost entirely during the past day or two. We hate to expose the infirmities of our streets to our strangers, but it is the duty of a paper to produce as much reform as possible." -- (American, April 10, 1839.)
ASSESSED VALUATION.
1839
$1,829,420
1844
$3,166,945 1849 $ 7,617,102
1840.
1,864,205
1845.
3,669,124
1850. 8,101,000
1841 1,888,160
1846.
5,071,402
1851. 9,431,826
1842
2,325,240
1847.
6,189,385
1852 12,035,037
1843.
2,250,785
1848.
9,986,000
1853. 22,929,637
·
The steamboat "James Allen" was built in Chicago in 1838; James Stuart was captain. In April, 1839, the steam packets run- ning between Chicago and Buffalo were "Thomas Jefferson," Thomas Wilkins, master; "James Madison," R. C. Bristol, master ; "Buffalo," Levi Allen, master; "Illinois," Chelsey Blake, master. The first issue of the American appeared on April 9, 1839, with William Stuart, editor and proprietor. It spoke of Chicago as the "Queen City of the State" and said: "This paper will be devoted principally to the commercial and business interests of Chicago." In April, 1839, the citizens interested put in operation a ferry across the river at State street; a scow was used and the expense was borne by subscription. The American of April 20, 1839, spoke thus derisively of the muddy streets: "The ludicrous antics, which have this season been exhibited in the mud by horses, oxen and men would well embellish the frontispiece of a sporting journal and furnish capital subjects for the cutting art of the inim- itable Cruickshank."
"In taking a stroll last week up the beautiful avenue, Clark
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137
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
street, beyond the school section, we observed that a considerable portion of the rich prairie, which in the eventful days of speculation was staked out and held as thousand dollar city lots without bring- ing in a cent, is now plowed up for potato patches and purposes of cultivation. This is right. When in the course of a few years these lands which now lie in the suburbs, shall be wanted for the building purposes of the city, they will not be injured by their pres- ent uses."-(American, April 22, 1839.) "We are glad to see a commendable rivalry in our two ferries for the convenience of our citizens. A footpath of boards has been made on the south side of the State street ferry, on the right hand side, which will be very con- venient for passengers when waiting for the scow, preventing them from being crowded by the teams. The street commissioner, under the instructions of the Common Council, has provided a small ferry room and two lamps for the city ferry at Clark street."-( Amer- ican, April 22, 1839.) "When Daniel Webster was in Chicago, Mr. B., a well known citizen, upon being introduced to him, ad- dressed him as follows: 'I have read your spelling-book and dic- tionary, Mr. Webster, but I never before had the pleasure of your acquaintance.' "-(American, April 22, 1839.)
The government, having settled the claim of Colonel Beaubien on the Fort Dearborn reservation adversely to him, offered the lots for sale in 1839. The land, with the exception of the block includ- ing the lighthouse and such adjacent lots as the agent should deem proper to retain for the use of the government, was to be sold for cash under sealed proposals-not at public auction. The sale was set for the second Monday in June. The American of April 25 said : "We may safely say that the citizens of Chicago will have no money to spare for the purchase of these lots. The consequence is that if sold in June they will be bought by non-resident capitalists on specu- lation and held for the most part unproductive and useless in the hope of future advances on the investment. Believing that the in- tended sale will work a serious injury to the general interests of Chicago, we hope that our citizens will respectively remonstrate with the Government against its occurrence. We yet hope that the Government will be induced to review its action in this matter and will grant the land for the proper purposes and uses of the city. But if this expectation shall prove a delusion, we yet finally trust that Colonel Beaubien, the old settler, now deprived by the decree of the highest legal tribunal in the land of the other title of the old preemptioner, will be permitted by the magnanimity, if not the jus- tice of our great nation, to retain in peace, through the brief rem- nant of his days, his old homestead which he has occupied for so many years, through scenes of savage wars, massacres and carnage, long ere Chicago was."
"As Judge Burchard, the government agent, has ample power, according to the advertisement of sale, to reserve, if not donate,
138
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
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portions of the reservation grounds, we hope he will be induced to reserve enough for a city common or square of that portion which extends along the shore of the lake for about half a mile, and which the lake, in defiance of the Government reservations or pri- vate claims, is fast appropriating to its own extensive domain. · State street and Madison street, which divide the old town from the school section, also require a set off of lands, for the purpose of widening and uniformly straightening them throughout their extent."-(American, May 28, 1839.)
Sealed proposals for construction work on the Illinois Central railroad were called for in April, 1839. In the spring of 1839 the superintendent of construction of Chicago harbor was instructed to spend until July only enough on that work to save what had already been done from damage; it looked as if appropriations were to be cut off. The Lake house was ready for occupancy in June, 1839. It accommodated 200 persons, was located on South Water street and Michigan avenue and commanded a fine view of the lake. In 1839, "the magical days of '35" were referred to. The "Great Western," built at Huron, Ohio, was 781 tons burden and 186 feet long. The American of May 22 said: "What city would not be proud of such arrivals as the "Illinois" and the "Great Western." During the summer of 1839, outside newspapers admitted that great advancement in growth and morals had been made in Chicago. At this time the state was bankrupt and work on the canal had been stopped. There was a general movement in all parts of the state in opposition to all internal improvements until the state could readjust its financial affairs.
"When the mammoth system was first adopted and commenced, we were heartily in favor of it, and advocated its vigorous and im- partial prosecution. Our pride as a citizen of a young giant state was heartily enlisted. What state could show such an advance? All went on finely. Deceptive calculations were made and generally believed to show the practicability and profit of the system. Money appeared to be plenty. The school, literature and other funds of the state, were silently borrowed from, to pay the expenses and sus- tain the credit of the state, and without a resort to taxation. But this delusion could not long continue. By the new revenue law the people were forcibly and feelingly appealed to through their pockets. The imposition of this tax, though collected, as the act represents, expressly to defray the expenses of administrating the government, and not to be applied to the payment of the interest on the internal improvement moneys, has set the people to thinking on the affairs and financial conditions of the state; and in this county the people are in favor of a speedy action of the Legislature in classifying or modifying in some just and equitable manner the internal improvement system."-(American, May 29, 1839. )
About June 1, 1839, Judge Burchard, in spite of the expressed
1
Jane S. Phone auxiliar, Bishopof Chicago.
141
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
wishes of Chicago for a postponement, began laying out the Fort Dearborn reservation into lots. The County Commissioners asked to have the sale of lots postponed; two petitions of the citizens prayed for the same, but the sale continued for the reason given by the Secretary of War "that after an attentive examination of the subject and a respectful consideration of the reasons assigned for suspending the sale, he is of opinion that it cannot be done without injury to the public service." The American was so indignant that it was imprudent enough to say editorially: "We must confess that we think there is now strong ground for the opinion generally en- tertained in this city, that the President and Cabinet are connected by some direct or indirect partnership with an Eastern speculating land company in the purchase of these lots at a nominal price." The American stated the case thus: "What are some of the facts in the history of this whole case? Many years after Colonel Beau- bien had paid for and obtained his preëmption from the Govern- ment land agents in Chicago, Murray McConnell sued out a writ of ejectment in the Cook Circuit court against Major Wilcox, then commander of the fort, to obtain possession of one of the lots deeded to him by Colonel Beaubien. Judge Ford, on the principles and rights of the case, decided in favor of Colonel Beaubien's title, but on other grounds against the action. On error, the Supreme court in a long and able argument, sustained the action on all points. On writ of error the Supreme court of the United States have recently reversed this decision with costs and decided against the preemption. But in the meantime the United States, as plaintiffs, have filed a bill in chancery against Colonel Beaubien and his con- federates, the Government officers and agents, to vacate the cer- tificate of preemption on allegations among others of fraud in their own agents-which suit is still undetermined."
In spite of the wish of nearly every citizen that Colonel Beau- bien should not be bid against on his home lots, 21 and 22, Block 4, James H. Collins, attorney, outbid him and secured Beaubien's home. A public meeting, of which W. H. Brown was chairman, and John H. Kinzie and Julius Wadsworth, secretaries, was called at the City Saloon and the act of Mr. Collins was roundly denounced. The following resolutions were passed :
"Resolved, That we sympathize deeply with Colonel Beaubien in this attempt to rob him in the decline of life of the graves of his children and the home which he has so long occupied. Resolved, That the individual, James H. Collins, who bid unconditionally against and over Colonel Beaubien for the premises aforesaid, has outraged public opinion and feeling, no less than the better feelings of human nature. Resolved, That the man who would thus render houseless and homeless this old man . . . deserves now the execra- tion of all honest men and should be admonished of the claims which retributive justice may have upon his own old age. Resolved, That Vol. I-9.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the bid of the individual referred to should, under the circumstances, be declared by the Government agent, Judge Burchard, to be insuf- ficient, inasmuch as there was no competition."
A committee consisting of William H. Brown, John H. Kinzie, Walter Kimball and Gurdon S. Hubbard was appointed to wait upon Judge Burchard with the view of having him declare the bid insufficient. This was done, but the judge stated that the bid of Mr. Collins had already been accepted. In the end Colonel Beau- bien lost his home.
In May or June, 1839, General Thornton took $500,000 worth of the canal bonds to Lockport to be sold to retire the canal scrip recently issued. The American of June 7 said : "It can be proved that Charles Butler, Esq., of New York, would probably have in this city, by his agents or otherwise, a large amount (say $75,000) of money for investment in these lands. Charles Butler, it is gen- erally known, is a brother of Benjamin F. Butler, the Attorney General, law pupil, political foster child and bosom friend of Mar- tin Van Buren; and last, but perhaps not least, one of the counsel who argued in the Supreme court of the United States the Beau- bien case in behalf of the Government. It can also be proved that Benjamin F. Butler invested or caused to be invested of his funds, $2,500 in the purchase by the North American Land Company of their lands in Kinzie's addition to the city. It can also be proved that the same Benjamin F. Butler, in the year 1836, in the city of Albany, declared on a certain occasion that the Frenchman (mean- ing Colonel Beaubien) could not get the reservation. Are these some of the 'important and imperative reasons' which compel the Secretary of War at the instigation of the President and Cabinet to persist in the sale?"
"Opinion of Justice Barbour .- 'We have reason to believe that the opinion of Justice Barbour in the Beaubien case was made up and written in advance of the legitimate action of the court upon arguments of counsel. That it was an opinion corrupt in its origin and political in its end and aim-sustained at last by only a bare majority of the court-a majority of 5 to 4-the eminent Justice Baldwin being among the number who pronounced it an outrage against law and right-an opinion which, on the principle and right of the case, astonished Webster and the other eminent counsel em- ployed in behalf of Colonel Beaubien."-(American, June 8, 1839.) "Lots 21 and 22, in Block 4, are covered in part by a building be- longing to Colonel Beaubien, who, should he become a purchaser, will be allowed a credit under the discretion stated in the advertise- ment."-(Statement of M. Burchard concerning the sale of Fort Dearborn addition.) "I observe that there is a general and increas- ing sympathy for Colonel Beaubien, and I think that the people of this city would be pleased to see him obtain a few lots upon reason- able terms. Three lots are mentioned as the number he ought to be
1
143
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
allowed to purchase. . The Colonel has lived upon the reserve for the last twenty-two years, feels himself at home upon it, and has once purchased and taken his certificate for the same land. . The Colonel is far advanced in the decline of life · and has a large family dependent upon him for support."-(A citizen in the American, June 12, 1839.)
During the summer of 1839 a steamboat left Chicago every alter- nate day. In July the old Dearborn street bridge that had served such good purposes was nearly ready to fall in pieces. Mr. Keenan had excellent vapor baths at Wells and Lake streets. In July, 1839, General Scott, who was here in 1832, again visited the city. The American complained that Chicago business men were poor advertisers. The people who first came to Chicago did so primarily to make money, because Chicago was advertised in the East as the coming metropolis of the West, the center of a splendid commercial empire. Even up to August, 1839, the citizens of Chicago obtained their water from wells or bought it of carriers who secured it from wells or the lake and peddled it through the city. It was brought around in barrels two or three times a week and sold at a rate that amounted to a considerable annual tax. The Hydraulic Company, which had been chartered in January, 1836, and to which the people had long looked with high hopes, was still inactive in August, 1839, though the act creating that company required that operations should be commenced within four years. At this time Frink & Bingham, stage operators, carried passengers from Chicago to Galena, 160 miles, in two days, for $12.50. By August, 1839, cot- tages and business blocks were going up in many places on the reservation.
In June, 1839, the steamer "Illinois" covered the distance from Detroit to Chicago in fifty-six hours-the quickest trip thus far ever made. The American of June 1, said: "We have now a steamboat from the lower lakes almost once a day. The 'General Wayne' left us last night and the 'Constellation' came in its place." Steamboat runners became such a nuisance here at this time that they were prohibited from plying their occupation. During the month of May, 1839, the vessel arrivals numbered 101, of which thirty were steam- boats. In June, 1839, large numbers of Irishmen arrived here to secure work on the "Canaul." The Illinois State lottery, Liberty Bigelow, agent, had a drawing here on June 12, 1839; total to be drawn, $399,432. This lottery was authorized by the Legislature for the purpose of draining the lakes and ponds in the "American Bottoms" on the Mississippi river. In June, 1839, the old wind grist-mill was still standing, or rather leaning, on the reservation tract; the old bake-house still stood near the mill. There never yet had been held in Chicago a general celebration of the Fourth of July; in 1839 about 300 Sunday school children marched through the streets to the City Saloon, where they were addressed
144
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
by Rev. Mr. Borien, Rev. Mr. Hinton and William B. Ogden. This was the extent of the celebration. In July business was very brisk, though money was scarce. Two large three-story brick buildings were going up on Lake street and Colonel Reed was erecting a large forwarding house on Fort Dearborn reservation. The funeral of Rev. Mr. Borien, Methodist, in August, 1839, was the largest ever here up to that date.
"Chicago has been appropriately called the Venice of the West. It is not now probably as much deserving that title as in the early days of the settlement, when it was reported that speculators had to examine their lots in boats. But still the bridge at the lower part of the city is nothing but a bridge of sighs; the timbers are all removed and the last (we hope) two hundred dollars paid by the city for removing the old abutments and piles. To strangers and the great portion of business men of the city who have to cross the river, there is nothing but a bridge of sighs, or rather sighs for a bridge. The question of a bridge or no bridge has been variously decided by our Common Council as a bridge or anti-bridge major- ity happened to be present. It has been the bone of contention for many weeks to the delay of other business. Receiver Prescott seems to be the champion of the anti-bridge party. The present ferry scow is a miserable thing-water-soaked and altogether too small and slow for the business it has to do. How are the citizens to cross the river when the ice is too weak for the foot passengers and too strong for the scow? How much loss of property and loss of life will it require to convince the city that a rope scow will not answer?"-(American, August 26, 1839.) "The Velocipede .- We omitted yesterday to announce the important intelligence that this well-known craft had been removed from State to Dearborn street where she is now constantly plying across the river, rope and other vessels permitting. The crew appears to be increasing, owing, we presume, to the eligibility of the new location."-(American, Au- gust 29, 1839.) "Chicago will be an exporting city this year and "astonish the natives." The way the wheat from our fertile prai- ries is pouring into our forwarding houses and store-rooms is a caution to all speculating monopolists. This will be better ballast for vessels bound East, than sand, gravel, stones, and such like commodities."-(American, September 12, 1839.)
"The Velocipede Outdone .- Owing to the unseaworthiness of this celebrated vessel, its commanders for the last week or two have been compelled to interdict the passage of carts, teams and beasts of burden and to confine her accommodations to foot pas- sengers. This edict has resulted much to the injury of our dray- men, who form a numerous and respectable portion of our laborers and of teams generally, whereby the business of the city on the north side of the river has been considerably embarrassed. Where- fore these evils are no longer tolerable or to be endured; and
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
therefore an opposition craft, newly rigged and manned, has been this day started at the old moorings at the foot of State street for the passage of teams and the general convenience of the city. We have examined the new craft, and her hull and rigging seem to be sound and seaworthy. Her new and unbroken planks present a clean and comfortable appearance, and we consider the Swiftsure a decided improvement on the Velocipede. The vessel we under- stand is principally owned and started by G. W. Dole, Esq., who is always in such matters a forwarding man."-(American, Septem- ber 16, 1839.)
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