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 31
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432
44
32
La Salle county
271
0
136
134
4
Putnam county ..
334
0
117
195
62
Rock Island county 69
10
1
73
0
Totals. 1,638
112
793
931
106
*James W. Stephenson.
4
Thus already in Cook county there were two political parties. The Democratic-Republican ticket was triumphant at the election in 1834. The opposition was called by the Chicago Democrat the Malcontent party. That paper on August 6, 1834, said: "We do not intend to exult over a fallen enemy. The rebuke which those opposed to the nomination of Doctor Kimberly received from the people is sufficiently severe." The Democrat of July 16 said: "In spite of all their secret intrigue and management, their despicable and underhanded attempt to make a stolen march upon the yeomen of the district, they have met with a signal defeat-a total rout. All the foul aspersions, the vile insinuations and the selfish and
325
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
degrading tricks which the malcontents may manufacture or devise cannot prevent the people's candidate, Doctor Kimberly, from re- ceiving the people's suffrages for their representative." "We are struck with the inconsistency displayed in the votes as given for governor and those for member of Congress. The majority of General Duncan over both the Democratic candidates is 2,939; the majority of the Democratic members of Congress over the opposi- tion is 4,003." The opposition here referred to embraced all who opposed the Jackson administration. What political incon- sistency is here displayed by the people in electing a governor whose known opposition to most of the leading measures of the present administration (Jackson's) has characterized his course during the recent session of Congress."-( Democrat, September 17, 1834.)
Duncan had supported the United States bank and had voted to omit Jackson's protest from the Congressional journals. "If we are to take the voice as expressed in their (the electors') vote for governor, we must conclude that the state is willing to be harnessed to this monied aristocracy (the United State bank and its friends). If, on the other hand, their voice is expressed through the mem- bers of Congress, we here find an emphatic expression recorded against that institution. That the election for governor was the result of personal and private consideration is admitted by all For members of Congress their election was claimed on the broad ground of political honesty-for the President and his leading measures. As such, the democracy of Illinois have sustained them, and in an emphatic manner proclaimed their sovereign will in opposition to the monied aristocracy and the supporters of this great monied power."-(Democrat, September 17, 1834.)
At a mass meeting held in Chicago in April, 1834, a resolution adopted declared that the county had been misrepresented at the Ottawa convention. On May 16 a mass meeting of the citizens opposed to the Ottawa convention assembled at the Eagle tavern, Chicago. At this time the Circuit court was in session and residents from all parts of the county were in town. Dr. J. Temple was chairman and H. S. Handy secretary. It was concluded to adjourn the 2 o'clock meeting until 7:30 in the evening, when all gathered in the court room in Haddock's hotel. Colonel Owen demanded to know if it was in order for the citizens who favored the Ottawa convention to participate in the proceedings of the meeting. The chairman stated not, as the meeting was called in opposition to the Ottawa convention. Among those who took active part were John Blackstone of Hickory Creek, Capt. David Carver, P. F. Peck and Mr. Van Horn of Hickory Creek. There were passed resolutions declaring that the Ottawa convention did not express the voice of the electors of this district and that only a part of the counties of the district were represented at that convention. H. S. Handy, P. F. Peck, Nehemiah King, R. Davidson and Dr. W. B. Egan
326
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
were appointed a committee of correspondence. Mr. Van Horn moved that a committee of nine persons be appointed to name can- didates for the positions of senator and representative-three from Hickory Creek, three from Naper's Settlement and Walker's Grove, and three from Chicago. The following candidates were reported by this committee: Maj. James W. Stephenson of Jo Davies county and Maj. James B. Campbell of La Salle county for senator ; Judge Nehemiah King, John Miller and Harry Boardman for rep- resentative. At the election Stephenson and Miller were duly chosen.
In October, 1834, among the leading Democratic-Republicans of Cook county were the following :
T. J. V. Owen, John Calhoun, E. B. Williams, J. K. Boyer, David Carver, G. H. Kercheval, N. Parsons, Peter Pruyne, E. E. Hunter, J. C. Goodhue, O. Morrison, H. B. Clark, E. S. Kimberly, Alexander Lloyd, William Adams, John Davis, Harlow Kimball, Samuel Resigne, Hiram Hugunin, Otis Hubbard, John Barry, Solomon Lincoln, Walter Kimball, William Worthington, Thomas Hoyt, James Harrington, Jr., Samuel Jackson, Benjamin Jones, John Bates, Jr., Francis C. Sherman, James W. Reed, Henry W. Cleveland, H. S. Handy, Clement Stone, Thomas Reed, Paul J. Carlier, J. Huelet, John Noble, John Murphy, Silas B. Cobb, Mathias Mason, Amos Bailey, A. McGregor, Frederick Pennoyer, William Hogue, John Foote, John Sewell, S. E. Downer, E. T. Rider, Charles Taylor, Samuel Ellis, C. Burkenbile, James Kinzie, William Forsyth, S. Wilcox, E. L. Thrall, James C. Spencer, D. C. Robinson, Sciota Evans, A. T. Fullerton, P. L. Updike, John Mann, Willard Jones, A. O. T. Breed, Truman G. Wright, Benjamin Briggs, G. F. Blanchard, O. Lozier, William Stevens, William Cooley, John Lloyd, Ebenezer Goodrich, S. Rand, Ford Free- man, Gilbert Loomis, Henry Paige, L. H. Everts, H. Barnes, David Stiles, S. Marsh, D. Weaver, Washington Morrow, William Bennett, Thomas Forester, J. Dean Caton, T. King.
"We hope that every citizen of Cook county who takes an inter- est in the improvement of the whole state, whether he be for a canal or a railroad will be present and make up his judgment from the facts and arguments that will be placed before him. For our part we have had no difficulty in making up our minds as to the superiority of a canal or railroad-the experiment of a few years has left little doubt upon the subject."-(Democrat, October 15, 1834. )
On October 30 a political meeting more strongly to advocate the construction of the canal assembled here at the Methodist chapel. The Democrat of November 5 said: "It was the largest meeting ever held in this town; the church was crowded and the lively feeling manifested by the people on this subject shows the deep interest with which they looked forward to the session of the General Assembly in this state. The time has arrived when all agree that a communication between the Illinois river and Lake Michigan should be speedily commenced and prosecuted to its final completion." This meeting was really an adjourned one from a former meeting which had been presided over by E. B. Williams, chairman, and John Calhoun, editor of the Chicago Democrat, sec-
327
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
retary. A memorial to the Legislature declaring a preference for a canal instead of a railroad was prepared. However, it should be stated that a considerable number of prominent men in this por- tion of the state preferred a railroad to a canal. Late in 1834 they held a meeting to take steps to secure from the next Legislature a charter for a railroad to extend from Chicago to the Illinois river. As a matter of fact, in the light of history, it perhaps would have been far better for Chicago had such a step prevailed. As it was, the majority demanded a canal instead of a railroad and in the end secured it. The railroad scheme was declared to have emanated from Wall street, New York, but it is probable that its advocates were in earnest and really believed a railroad preferable to a canal.
The political proceedings of 1834 were somewhat crude and dis- organized. On April 13, 1835, a mass meeting of the Democracy of Cook county convened in the Exchange coffee house, Chicago. Col. T. J. V. Owen called the meeting to order. Hiram Hugunin was chosen chairman and J. W. Eldridge and J. C. Goodhue were chosen secretaries. There were also present, among others, James Curtiss, E. B. Williams, John D. Caton, David Carver, S. W. Sherman, A. Lloyd, S. Lincoln, J. Woodbury, A. Bailey, John Calhoun and J. H. Woodworth. The object was to organize thoroughly the Democracy of Cook county. On June 6, 1835, the Democracy nominated a full ticket for town officers at Chicago. The Democrat of June 10 said : "The nominations were regularly and fairly made and those made should receive the hearty and cor- dial support of every man who claims to belong to the Democratic party. It is a struggle between the aristocracy and the Democracy." In June, 1835, Lewis Cass visited Chicago, but did not remain long enough to partake of a dinner tendered him by T. J. V. Owen, L. C. Kercheval, G. S. Hubbard, J. R. Boyer, Alanson Sweet, James Kinzie, Giles Spring, R. J. Hamilton, J. B. Beaubien, J. H. Kinzie, W. L. Newberry, E. S. Kimberly and Gholson Kercheval. The Democratic-Republican county convention held at Vail's tavern on Flag Creek, July 4, 1835, nominated Peter Pruyne of Chicago for county recorder, Addison Collins of Hickory Creek for sur- veyor, and James M. Strode for senator. R. J. Hamilton became an independent candidate for county recorder. Alanson Sweet moved out of the county before the election. The Chicago charter election of July 10, 1835, resulted as follows :
DEMOCRATIC.
Hiram Hugunin. 124
Alexander Lloyd 203
Samuel Jackson 204
Byram King .. . 181
Walter Kimball 142
E. B. Williams. 123
F. C. Sherman 123
James Kinzie.
110
John Davis 75
OPPOSITION.
George W. Dole. 122
Charles McClure. 115
H. C. West .. 101
Gh. Kercheval. 87
R. A. Kinzie. 83
E. K. Hubbard 78
328
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The Democrat said : "Last year we had an opposition board of trustees in Chicago. This year it will be Democratic eight to one. So much for the beginning of the convention system." . . "The election of county officers and a senator takes place on Monday next. We trust that every Democrat will do his duty on that day. The question is whether the Democracy of Cook county will con- tinue to be ruled by a 'self-constituted junto' of aristocracy, who have no fixed political principles which they dare to avow, or whether they will convince these men that they are capable of solicit- ing their own candidates." At this time there were four precincts in the county-Chicago, Naper's, Walker's and Hickory Creek. The following vote explains itself :
FOR CORONER.
Whole County Vote.
Chicago Precinct.
Ashbel Steele.
360
238
John Shrigley
84
84
M. R. Brownson
23
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. Scisson
294
152
Alanson Sweet .
251
143
Edward E. Hunter.
154
143
Hiram Fowler.
151
117
James Kinzie.
143
64
Isaac Scarrett.
121
52
Stephen M. Salisbury
43
42
At the August election of 1835 James M. Strode was chosen almost unanimously for senator, there being polled against him only five votes out of 1,059. R. J. Hamilton was elected county re- corder, receiving a total of 602 votes and a majority of 116 over his competitor. For surveyor Mr. Collins received 670 votes, or 309 majority over Nehemiah King. In November, 1835, the following Whigs opposed Mr. Van Buren and favored William Henry Harri- son : George W. Dole, Henry Moore, John L. Wilson, John Hol- brook, E. W. Casey, G. S. Hubbard, A. Steele, John W. Kinzie, Henry King, T. O. Davis, B. S. Morris, H. G. Loomis, C. L. Har- mon, Giles Spring and Mr. Wright. The Democrat of August, 1835, said: "The election which has just closed has been warmly contested and has resulted in the success of the opposition candidate for county recorder (the principal place contested) by a majority in the whole county of 107 votes. We believe all the officers elected, with one or two exceptions, are Democrats. The defeat of the county recorder was partly the result of the most untiring efforts of hired runners who stooped to every species of misrepresenta- tion."
The Democrat of September 16, 1835, said: "Three hundred and forty-eight canal lots in Chicago are worth one with another and will sell any day in the market for a sum equal to $1,500 each, making a total of $521,500. Add to this fractional Section 15 and
329
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Sections 5, 7, 17, 18 and 27 in this township, which are worth $360,- 000, and the result is a sum all told that would be sufficient to complete the whole canal." Late in 1835, Chicago murmured because the canal had not been commenced. The Democrat of Sep- tember 9 said: "It is now admitted on all hands that the last win- ter's canal law is defective and has proven a total failure. Very soon it will be too late to do anything with effect, and it is very possible that our canal may yet be a company stock jobbing affair, or we may even yet have a railroad. What is everybody's busi- ness is nobody's business. Something should be done."
To the Democratic state convention at Vandalia late in 1835 Hiram Hugunin, Peter Pruyne, John D. Caton, James Grant and Ebenezer Peck were delegates. The delegates to this convention were instructed to do everything in their power in support of the canal. In December, 1835, the county of Cook had four election precincts as follows: Chicago, Hickory Creek, Scott's settlement and Lake. On January 20, 1836, at the Democratic convention for county commissioner, held at the tavern of Elijah Wentworth, on Flag creek, Alfred Churchill was nominated for county com- missioner. The Democrat, in January, 1836, declared that Gur- don S. Hubbard was opposed to the canal and in favor of the railroad. It also stated that Mr. Kinzie favored the railroad. At this time there was talk of a canal westward from Milwaukee or Green Bay in opposition to the one proposed at Chicago. At the Democratic convention held February 20, 1836, at O. Grant's resi- dence, Brush Hill, Stephen N. Salisbury was nominated for county commissioner and Amos Bailey for county surveyor.
In January, 1836, steps to secure an enlargement of the town charter were taken. The Democrat charged Commissioners Kin- zie and Hubbard with being improperly influenced in securing certain changes which would benefit them. In April, 1836, a large meeting of Democrats and others was held at the Exchange Coffee house for the purpose of recommending a suitable person for postmaster and collector of customs. Among those present- were Ebenezer Peck, Hiram Hugunin, John Calhoun, H. B. Clarke, B. F. Knapp, J. R. Livingston, C. A. Brooks, H. Porter, C. Taylor, R. M. P. Abel, A. Vincent, William Jonės, S. G. Trobridge, William Hogue, L. Nichols, N. J. Brown, W. B. French, H. Pennoyer, S. F. Spaulding, A. Lloyd and C. V. Dyer. The proceedings of this meeting were denounced by another meet- ing which in resolutions declared that it was an underhanded at- tempt to oust the old postmaster when he was not present to de- fend himself. At the second meeting G. S. Hubbard presided and John Bates served as secretary. R. J. Hamilton and Grant Goodrich were the principal speakers. Mr. Hamilton moved that a committee of nine be appointed to draft resolutions against any change in the postmaster.
330
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The Democrat of March 16, 1836, declared that G. S. Hub- bard, R. J. Hamilton, J. H. Kinzie "and their suite," by going to Vandalia and using their efforts with the Legislature, had de- feated the provision of the canal bill requiring the election of the canal commissioners by a joint ballot of the two houses and had secured the insertion of a clause giving the Governor the power to appoint such commissioners. The paper declared that the ob- ject of this change was to make sure of the appointment of Mr. Hubbard as one of the commissioners. Doctor Fithian, a mem- ber of the House, was a brother-in-law of Mr. Hubbard; he had voted against the bill giving the appointment of the commissioners to the two houses. Said a correspondent of the Democrat con- cerning the pressure brought to bear upon the Legislature. "It was unquestionably the same powerful influence which obtained the passage of the Chicago Hydraulic bill and other obnoxious measures."
In June, 1836, the Democrats of Cook and Will counties met at Vail's residence, on Flag creek, to nominate joint candidates for the Legislature. Peter Pruyne was nominated for the Senate; Joseph Naper, James Walker and A. G. Leary for the House. For county offices they nominated Orsemus Morrison for coroner and Edward E. Hunter, Stephen M. Salisbury and Nathan Allen, Jr., for county commissioners. The Republicans nominated Giles Spring for the Senate and Edward W. Casey and Harry Boardman for the House. The election of August, 1836, was a Democratic victory. The American said : "We have met the enemy and we are theirs." That paper declared that from 150 to 200 illegal votes were polled at Chicago. The Republican candi- dates for county commissioners were R. M. Sweet and G. W. Laird. Pruyne, Democratic candidate for the Senate, received 648 votes, and Spring, the Whig candidate, received 328 votes. That was about the majority throughout this county. For sheriff, S. W. Sherman, Democrat, received 912 votes, and J. W. Tut- tle, Whig, received 173. At the Congressional election in 1836, Cook county polled the following vote :
PRECINCTS.
May (Dem.). Stuart (Whig).
Chicago
562
105
Lake
75
12
Elk Grove.
29
9
Brush Hill.
21
17
Naper's
83
58
Saganaskee
7
18
777
219
In October, 1836, an immense Whig meeting was held at the Presbyterian church. Royal Stewart called the assemblage to or- der and John Holbrook was made chairman and J. Y. Scammon secretary. The committee on resolutions were J. N. Balestier, Gur-
331
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
don S. Hubbard and William Stuart. The resolutions adopted by this meeting denounced the course pursued by Van Buren and declared in favor of a western man for the Presidency. William Henry Harrison was declared to be that man. The meeting declared in favor of Francis Granger for the Vice-Presidency. William Stuart, J. N. Balestier, Henry Moore, Ashbel Steele and Thomas R. Hubbard were appointed to prepare an address to the people. The meeting appointed the following committee of vigilants: Ashbel Steele, Charles McClure, John Holbrook, Tuthill King, George Shadding, Augustus Garrett, H. G. Loomis, John L. Wilson, George W. Merrill, Benjamin Church, Star Foote and David Foote. On November 12, the American triumphantly said, "We have met the enemy and they are ours." Prominent speakers at this meeting were Henry Moore, William Stuart, J.' N. Balestier and Edward W. Casey. The Presidential election of 1836 in Cook county resulted as follows :
PRECINCTS.
Harrison, Van Buren, Majority. Majority.
Chicago
6
0
Naperville
8
0
Des Plaines
5
0
Lake
0
10
Du Page
0
2
Elk
5
0
Saganaskee
3
0
Thornton
0
1
Brush Hill.
5
0
Elgin (tie)
0
0
Totals.
32
13
In the spring of 1837 John H. Kinzie was the Whig candidate for mayor. Dr. W. B. Egan refused to run for that position. In 1838 the vote in Cook county for Governor was as follows: Edwards, Whig, 832 ; Carlin, Democrat, 1664. Thus the county was strongly Democratic. In 1839, the following precincts were set off to Du Page county : Cass, Salt Creek, Naperville, Du Page and Brush Hill.
In 1838 the regular Democratic candidate for sheriff was beaten by Isaac R. Gavin, an Independent Democratic candidate. In 1840 the regular Democratic candidate was beaten by Ashbel Steele, the regular Whig candidate. In 1842 the regular Democratic candidate was elected, but there was a majority against him. In 1844 the reg- ular Democratic candidate, S. J. Lowe, won. In 1846 the regular Democratic candidate, Isaac Cook, won. In 1850 the regular Dem- ocratic candidate was beaten by W. L. Church, the Independent Democratic candidate.
An important question in 1839 was whether unnaturalized citizens should be permitted to vote for state and county officers. Naturally the party in power favored that view. In August, 1839, the Demo- crats had three candidates for recorder. Eli B. Williams was the
332
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
regular Democratic candidate. Their candidate for commissioner was John McCord; for treasurer, Isaac Cook; county clerk, George Davis; probate judge, G. O. A. Beaumont; county treasurer, Seth Wells; and county surveyor, Asa F. Bradley. The Whig county committee at this time was A. Clybourn, Theodorus Doty, Socrates Rand, William Young, Justin Butterfield, E. H. Haddock and John Gage. Concerning the election of August, 1839, the American in June, said : "Recorder of Deeds-This office is a bone of conten- tion among the faithful-this is the rock on which they split. The secret of the matter lies in a nutshell. The office is one of emolu- ment. It is the part of the spoils best worth preserving." On August 3 that paper also said: "American citizens! Stop! Think! Reflect ! To what pass are we fast approaching? Already an Irish representative and an Irish sheriff, with entire foreign deputies; two Irish candidates for recorder and five Irish candidates for the offices of county clerk, county surveyor and constables. In the name of all we love most, our country and our liberty, shall we submit to such dictation?" The campaign of 1840 was the most exciting and the most intensely pressed of any up to that time ever in Cook county. The Whigs were determined to defeat the Democrats. They began early and it was afterwards claimed won the campaign by their songs. It was declared that they literally sung their candidate to success. At the Whig county convention at the Illinois exchange on July 26, 1840, Eben Conant of Des Plaines was chairman and J. M. Underwood secretary. This convention passed the following resolutions : "Resolved, That the Whigs of Cook county feel entire confidence in the honesty and capability of John Stuart and will give him their undivided support for the office of Representative in Con- gress." The following candidates were nominated: County com- missioner of Chicago precinct, Socrates Rand ; school commissioner, Louis B. Goodsell; sheriff, Ashbel Steele; coroner, Eri Reynolds. John M. Wilson of Will county was nominated for representative; also William B. Ogden and G. A. O. Beaumont, both of Cook county, for representatives. Gen. James Turney was nominated for senator. Buckner S. Morris of Cook county was a Harrison and Tyler elector in 1840. Members of the Democratic and Whig parties who favored that work on the canal should be at once commenced and pushed to completion called a canal convention to be held at Spencer's tavern on the Des Plaines river early in the fall of 1840. The movement was too weak to amount to much. During the campaign of 1840 John Wentworth, who had become prominent as editor of the Democrat and as a Democratic partisan, was unstintedly abused and caricatured. He was represented as a crane and was called "Daddy long legs." The American of August, 1840, said concerning the August election that the Democratic or Locofoco triumphs were confined to the neighborhood of the canal-that the party was sup- ported not by the farming community of the state, but by the tran-
333
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
sient laborers and scalawags who congregated along the canal. The paper asked why the Whigs should feel downcast because they had not carried the Legislature and asked "Did we ever carry it? Never! Nor can we reasonably expect to do it until there is another apportionment of representation. The Whig's stronghold is lost by the present system. The new counties away from the canal line are all Whig. We all know that Jackson had 6,000 major- ity and Van Buren between 3,000 and 4,000 majority ; while Carlin had about 1,000 majority in 1838. Already has Carlin's majority been neutralized. As far as heard from there is a Whig gain of 1,200 since Carlin's election. Depend upon it, Illinois is safe for old Tippecanoe. He has strength of his own and the "Old Hero" can- not be beat in his old territory." The American of August 14, also said :
"The Hon. Ebenezer Peck, with that characteristic meanness which ever marks the character of a skulking demagogue, has come out with a brutal tirade of indecent ribaldry, attacking the character of Mr. William B. Ogden. If Peck had published this obscene effu- sion before the election, some apology might have been made for him, for never was a political mountebank so galled and flayed and cut to the raw, as Peck was by Mr. Ogden in his scathing letter. We do not intend to take up the cudgel in defense of Mr. Ogden; he is fully competent to fight his own battles. It is out of the power of Peck to injure the fair fame of William B. Ogden in this commu- nity, and no one is better aware of the fact than Mr. Ogden him- self."
A large proportion of this community in September, 1840, were unnaturalized Irish who had in a measure controlled the election of August, 1840. Said the American of August 5, 1840: "It is well known that a large portion, perhaps a majority, of the voters in this district were unnaturalized foreigners. It is also known that this foreign influence is perverted to the election of men unfit for office, and that the foreign population of Cook and Will counties have asserted the right, as they hold the power, to elect officers for the sole reason that they are Irishmen."
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