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 49
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504
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
had collapsed the Sixth regiment of United States volunteers, 1,000 strong, was raised here from the rebel prisoners in Camp Douglas, and in May, under Col. C. H. Potter, left for the West to do frontier duty. On May 17 there were 6,000 rebels still at Camp Douglas. Many every day were taking the oath and leaving for the South. The Soldiers' Home and Rest, from June 15, 1864, to June 18, 1865, received 60,003 soldiers and gave 167,253 meals to soldiers. The receipts of the home and rest from June, 1864, to June, 1865, were $33,081.17 ; expenses, $35,849.99. Thomas B. Bryan, an heroic figure here during the entire period of the war, was still president of the home and rest at the latter date. The Permanent Soldiers' home had gone into operation in June, 1864. The return of the regiments from the war was an important event. Invariably they were received with touching ceremony and were often addressed by their former generals in the field. On June 13, 1865, there were as many as thirteen regiments here at one time-not as they went forth to war 1,000 strong, but each reduced from ravages to from 200 to 500 men. By June 20, 1865, all the rebel prisoners except the sick had left Camp Douglas.
A short time before the date of the Presidential election of No- vember, 1864, Col. B. J. Sweet, commandant at Camp Douglas, arrested here a number of prominent Chicagoans and others, charged with treasonable conspiracy against the Government. Their trial occurred at Cincinnati and lasted several weeks. Many startling circumstances were revealed in the evidence. It was shown that ever since 1861 the treasonable organization, known at differ- ent times as Knights of the Golden Circle, Sons of Liberty, Society of Illini, etc., had an organization here; that they were part of a general organization throughout the North, instituted to oppose the war policy of Mr. Lincoln's administration ; that they were the real backbone of all disloyalty shown here; that even during the Na- tional Democratic convention squads of men present carried con- cealed weapons; that as the Presidential election of November, 1864, was certain to decide whether the war policy of the adminis- tration or the peace policy of the Democracy was to prevail, the time for them to act was on that date; that for several months preceding the election the conspirators had been pledged the assist- ance of over 1,000 men of this city; that about 100 butternuts or Copperheads from Southern Illinois arrived here just before the election, prepared to take part in the outbreak; that about 500 rebels from Canada, men who had escaped from Northern prisons, were to join the revolt when all was ready; that at the November election hundreds carried concealed arms to the polls; that Charles Walsh and A. T. Semmes were actively concerned in the plot; that scores of Chicagoans were implicated in the same; that at the proper time Jesse's guerrillas were to come here to aid in the attack; that large quantities of arms were shipped here for use in the move-
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' HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
ment; that ammunition for the conspirators was manufactured here; that at the time there were not over 600 available Federal troops at the command of the city ; that rebel Col. G. St. L. Greenfell, formerly a British officer, was to command the attacking force; that Gen. Vincent Marmaduke, a rebel prisoner at Camp Douglas, was to command one branch of the conspirators' forces; that the Richmond house and the Brighton house were two of the resorts of the plotters; that the plan was to attack with about 200 men each of the four sides of Camp Douglas, batter down the walls, capture the battery there, set free all the rebel prisoners and arm them with revolvers, shotguns or carbines previously provided, and then capture Chicago, burn the public buildings and sack the city, and then march South and join the rebels in Kentucky. About eighteen persons were arrested and taken to Cincinnati. Charles Walsh and A. T. Semmes were found guilty and the former was sentenced to five years and the latter to three years imprisonment in the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio. Buckner S. Morris and Vincent Marmaduke were acquitted and discharged upon taking the oath of allegiance. Daniels escaped and Anderson committed suicide. Mrs. B. S. Morris, upon confessing, was released and sent to her father's home in Woodford county, Kentucky. The com- plete thwarting of the plot was mainly due to the efforts of Col. B. J. Sweet, commandant of Camp Douglas. From the start his agents kept him apprised of every step of the conspirators. So really meritorious were his services that he was publicly thanked by the County Board "for his energy and prompt action in arrest- ing the disloyal and wicked in our midst." They said that "the recent arrests made in this city reveal a plot conceived by wicked and disloyal men for the destruction of our city, which, without the vigorous and prompt action of the military commander of the post, would, we fear, have been successful." Of course the Democracy as a party had nothing to do with this conspiracy, and the most of its members involved had been misled as to the objects of the movement. It seems to have been a movement of the rebels in the city and at Camp Douglas to form a guerrilla band for purposes of plunder and to aid the Confederate cause in case of the elevation of the Peace party to power.
During the winter of 1864-65 the Great Northwest Sanitary fair was steadily advanced. By the middle of February all the departments had been projected and the organization was perfect. The strongest encouragement was received from all parts of the West-indeed, from the East as well. Finally the fair was opened on June 8, 1865. Generals Grant and Sherman were present, re- mained several days and were the cynosure of all eyes. While here General Sherman addressed several of the returning regiments. but General Grant excused himself from speaking at the receptions. There were about thirty different departments, all designed to make
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
money. The buildings were on the lake front. The fair was on such a large scale that in ten days the receipts amounted to $230,- 827.22. The Fine Arts hall and the Floral hall were strikingly beautiful. By June 20 it began to close. It had been decided to dispose of the net proceeds of the fair as follows: Fifty thousand dollars to the Christian commission, one-half of the balance to the Sanitary commission, and the other half of the balance to the Sol- diers' home. Horticultural hall of the fair was taken apart and reerected at the Chicago Driving park for the State fair to be held in September, 1865. The final report on the fair published in the Tribune of August 21 showed the gross receipts to be $358,070.38, and the expenses $117,257.35, leaving the net receipts $240,813.03, a splendid exhibit. By this great fair Chicago showed what she could do when she tried. It was to begin with a noble conception, carried to fruition by patient and loyal hearts that knew not how to falter, and executed in a manner so elaborate and far-reaching, so varied and artistic, so successful and magnificent, that it is recalled with pride to this day by the old residents as one of the high water marks of Chicago's energy, self-sacrifice, generosity and patriotism.
1
COOK COUNTY ORGANIZATION, ETC. 1819-1865
T HE act of March 22, 1819, established the courts of County Commissioners. It was provided that it should be a court of record; that two should constitute a quorum to do business ; that there should be four sessions annually ; that they should appoint or remove their own clerk ; that the jurisdiction should cover the whole country ; that the jurisdiction should embrace revenue, tax, licenses, roads, lands, turnpikes, toll and other bridges, writs, war- rants, processes to the extent required by their powers; that they should have a seal; that the clerk should keep records of the pro- ceedings of the board; that called sessions could be held; that the court could not have "original or appellate jurisdiction in civil or criminal suits or actions wherein the state was party or any indi- vidual or individuals, bodies politic or corporate, are parties, but should have jurisdiction in all cases where the matter or thing brought before the said court related to the public concerns of the county collectively and all county business; that it could punish for contempt, and have all power necessary to its duty under the law ; that it should be entitled "The County Commissioners' Court' and the process be 'in the name of the people of the State of Illi- nois' ; that it should have the power and jurisdiction to compel and enforce by writ or writs of attachment or other processes the orders, decrees and judgments of said court on all those named therein and bear testimony in the name of the clerk." The law of July 1, 1827, made each county in the state a body corporate and politic-could . sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded.
By act approved January 15, 1831, "All that tract of country, to wit: Commencing at the boundary line between the States of Indiana and Illinois, at the dividing line between towns thirty-three and thirty-four north; thence west to the southwest corner of town thirty-four north of range nine east; thence due north to the north- ern boundary line of the State; thence east with said line to the northeast corner of the State; thence southwardly with the line of the State to the place of beginning-shall constitute a county to be called Cook; and the county seat thereof is hereby declared to be permanently established at the town of Chicago as the same has been laid out and defined by the Canal commissioners." An elec- tion was held at Chicago for one sheriff, one coroner and three
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
county commissioners. The act further provided that "the public buildings as Chicago shall be erected on the public square, as laid off by the Canal commissioners on the south side of the Chicago river." It was further provided that if the canal commissioners should donate any lots to the county commissioners, the latter were authorized to sell same and apply the proceeds to the erection of a courthouse and jail. Ferries under the control of the county com- missioners were provided for. The same act provided that "the county commissioners' court of Cook county is hereby authorized to purchase of the Government of the United States a quantity of land in Section 10, Town 39 north, Range 14 east, not exceeding eighty acres, to be laid out into town lots and sold from time to time as they may think proper, the proceeds of which, when sold, shall be appropriated to the erection of a courthouse and jail." It was also ordered that "all the country north of Cook county and parallel with the lines of the same, as far northward as Rock river, is hereby attached to Cook county."
In 1831 the Commissioners' court was organized. It opened in March, 1831, the first record being as follows: "Samuel Miller, Gholson Kercheval and James Walker, Commissioners of Cook county, were sworn into office by J. S. C. Hogan, justice of the peace. William See was appointed clerk of the Commissioners' court, who after being duly sworn and giving bonds according to law, the court proceeded to business. Archibald Clybourn was appointed county treasurer and an order passed that the Southwest fraction of Section 10, Township 39 north, Range 14 east of the Third principal meridian be entered for county purposes. At the next meeting, March 9, the treasurer was authorized to borrow one hundred dollars with which to enter the land before mentioned and he is directed not to give more than six per cent. interest. It was also ordered that Jesse Walker be employed to enter the land, that Jedediah Wooley be nominated to the Governor for county sur- veyor, and that there be three precincts in the county of Cook, to-wit: The Chicago precinct, the Hickory Creek precinct, and the Dupage precinct. The boundaries of these three precincts were es- tablished, judges of election appointed and the time and the places of holding the same were fixed. Grand and petit jurors were selected and some other minor business transacted when the court adjourned until Court in course."-( Annual Reviews of Chicago, 1853, in the Chicago Historical Society Library.)
On April 13, 1831, Miller and Kercheval present, it was "Or- dered, That there be a half per cent. levied on the following descrip- tion of property, to-wit: On town lots, on pleasure carriages, on distilleries, on all horses, mules, and neat cattle above the age of three years, on watches with their appurtenances, and on all docks." Elijah Wentworth and Samuel Miller (one of the commissioners) were licensed to keep tavern in Chicago and were taxed $7 and $5
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
respectively. "Ordered, That the following rates be allowed to tav- ern keepers, to-wit:
Each half pint of wine, rum or brandy
25 cents
Same, pint.
3712
cents
Half pint of gin.
1834
cents
Same, pint .
3114 cents
Gill whisky.
644 cents
Same, half pint.
1214 cents
Same, pint.
1834 cents
Breakfast or supper
25
cents
Dinner
371/2 cents
Horse fed.
25
cents
Horses over night.
50
cents
Man lodging ..
1212 cents
Cider or beer, one pint.
61/4 cents
Same, quart.
121/2 cents
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Miller was one of the two commissioners to pass on his own tax as tavern keeper. The first licensed merchants in Cook county were B. Laughton, Robert A. Kinzie and Samuel Miller; first auc- tioneer, James Kinzie. Russell E. Heacock was licensed to keep tavern at his residence. All this was ordered at the meeting of April 13, 1831.
At this time also preliminary steps to establish ferries across both branches of Chicago river were taken, but the people of Cook county with their "traveling apraties" (apparatus) could pass free. A ferry scow was bought of Samuel Miller for $65. At the next term Mark Beaubien, under $200 bond with James Kinzie as secu- rity, was licensed as first ferryman at Chicago; he agreed to pay $50 for the license and further agreed "to ferry all citizens of Cook county free." During the vacation of 1831 licenses to sell goods were granted to Alexander Robinson, John B. Beaubien and Ma- dore Beaubien.
The next term of the County court began June 6, 1831. Jesse Walker reported that he had been refused permission to enter the land of fractional Section 10 as ordered by the Court at a previous term; he returned the entry fee to the Board. This land was under the management of the Canal commissioners. The County com- missioners received $1.50 per day for their services. In June, Jo- seph Leframboise, Mark Beaubien and Oliver Newberry were licensed to sell goods. The county officers were paid in county orders.
The commissioners ordered the sale of the lots given to the county by the Canal commissioners, reserving the public square only. The sale was ordered for the first Monday in July, 1831. The County commissioners were treated liberally by the Canal commissioners and in return it was "Ordered, That the county pay the Canal com- missioners' ferriage during their stay at Chicago on canal business; the charge for this service was $7.30 by Mark Beaubien, ferryman. At this time also (June, 1832), two roads were ordered viewed by
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the County board; one "from the town of Chicago to the house of B. Laughton, thence to the house of James Walker on Dupage river, and so on to the west line of the county." Elijah Went- worth, R. E. Heacock, and Timothy B. Clark were appointed viewers. The other was to extend from Chicago by the nearest and best way to the house of the widow Brown on "Hycary Creek," and James Kinzie, Archibald Clybourn and R. E. Heacock were appointed viewers. "What would widow Brown think now were she to count from the cupola of the Tremont house the eighty trains of cars that daily arrive and depart from this city? And for aught we know she may have anticipated the present, for it is only twenty-three years since her house was made the terminus of the 'original survey' of one of the first avenues from Chicago."- (Annual Reviews of Chicago, January, 1854, in Chicago Histori- cal Society Library.)
"Whether our present splendid court house is square or skew does not cut much of a figure in view of the fact that only twenty- three years before "Court adjourned until Court in course to the house of William See." -- (Annual Reviews of Chicago, 1854.)
James Kinzie, auctioneer, about 1832, was allowed a county or- der for $14.58, being 212 per cent. for the first $200 and 1 per cent. after that amount for his services as auctioneer in selling the county lots.
During the summer of 1831 there started up among others the following merchants: Brewster, Hogan & Co., Peck, Walker & Co., Joseph Naper and Nicholas Boilvin. Mark Beaubien was chief ferryman, was also a merchant and was in the summer of 1831 licensed to keep a tavern. He was fined $10 "for a fracas" with John F. Hall, but the fine was remitted. Beaubien's promi- nence and influence gave him a "pull" with the board evidently. Doctor Kimberly charged that Mark Beaubien kept two race horses and that during the day time would get up races with the Indians and thus neglect his ferry; and so the Board after investigation ordered him to ferry the citizens of Cook county "from daylight in the morning until dark without stopping," meaning that he should be there at all times during the day.
It is notable that sick, disabled or needy strangers or travelers were provided for at public expense as shown by the Commission- ers' records. The early county officers seem to have been men of honesty and fidelity. In the case of the first road located from the public square to the west boundary of the county, some or all of the viewers, it became evident to the Board, were influenced by selfish purposes, hence their "report is rejected and the viewers shall have no pay for their services." Richard J. Hamilton was appointed clerk of the county court in place of William See, resigned, and assumed the office April 2, 1832.
In April, 1832, more roads were ordered viewed, streets laid
.
511
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
out, election precincts opened, magistrate districts set apart, judges of election appointed, etc. The return of the sheriff April 4, 1832, showed that the amount of the tax list on real and personal prop- erty for the year ending March 1, 1832, was $148.29. The treas- urer's report for the same year shows that $225.50 had been re- ceived for tavern licenses, retail goods, etc. The tax actually re- ceived on the sheriff's list was $132.28; total tax receipts for the year $357.78. License tax delinquencies amounted to $88.50; paid on county orders, $252.35; balance in the treasury, $16.93. This was the report in the spring of 1832. By the spring of 1854 the tax collected by the city treasurer for 1853 was $135,752.03, and by the county treasurer was $245,057.07; total tax collected for 1852, $380,809.10. The sum of $357.78 was what ratio to $380,809.10 in twenty-two years? In 1853 the entire valuation of Cook county was as follows: Personal, $4,450,630; real, $18,487,- 627 ; total, $22,938,257. The actual value was four times as much, or nearly $100,000,000.
As several of the tavern keepers had proved delinquent it was ordered in April, 1832, that their licenses should not be issued until the tax had been paid. The tax of one-half per cent. was continued on all personal property. Archibald Clybourn was reappointed treasurer for 1832-33. The sheriff was authorized to procure a room or rooms at the house of James Kinzie, provided it could be done for $10-for the use of the Commissioners' court at the April term, 1832. John R. Clark was the first coroner-1831-32. The first inquest was on the body of a dead Indian. The second was on William Jewett, a passenger, found dead.
On April 25, 1832, the first street was opened through the town to Lake Michigan. It was surveyed by Jedediah Wooley, county surveyor, and was described as follows: "From the east end of Water street in the town of Chicago to Lake Michigan; direction of said road is south 881/2 degrees east from the street to the lake 18 chains, 50 links." The street was laid out 50 feet wide. The first public building was an estray pen erected on the southwest corner of the public square-was built by Samuel Miller, who was paid only $12 for his work, it not being finished "according to contract." It seems that he, though a county commissioner, was guilty of slighting his contract. At the March term of 1833 the road commissioners previously appointed reported their survey of a state road from Vincennes to Chicago. The jail was the second public building erected. The first contractors failed to do as they agreed and were sued. The jail was finally completed in the fall of 1833 and was built "of logs well bolted together" and was located on the northeast corner of the public square. It stood until 1853 and was then torn down, a new courthouse and jail having been erected. -(Annual Reviews of Chicago, 1854, in Historical Society Li- brary.)
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The minutes of the Commissioners showed that the first Circuit court was held on September 6, 1831, in Fort Dearborn "in the brick house and in the lower room of said house." -- ( Annual Re- views of Chicago, 1854.) B. Laughton kept a tavern and store near Lyonsville and later on the Southwestern plank road.
In 1834 the military commandant of the State ordered the or- ganization of the militia of the county. The election was held at Laughton's tavern on the Des Plaines. All Chicago went out there with brandy, sugar and lemons and made a large punch bowl with the spring water after the election. John B. Beaubien was elected colonel. The official surveyors of the Government in 1817 fixed the southernmost point of Lake Michigan at 41 degrees, 38 min- utes, 58 seconds north latitude.
By the Act of February 13, 1831, Cook county was made a part of the Third Congressional district. Joseph Duncan was the first representative in Congress after Cook county was created. In 1833 he was succeeded by William L. May, who served until 1839, when John T. Stuart succeeded him. At that date the State was divided into seven congressional districts and Cook county was embraced in the Fourth. In 1843 John Wentworth succeeded Mr. May as Congressman for this district. He continued to serve until 1853, when Richard S. Malony succeeded him. At this time Cook county became a part of the Second Congressional district. Wentworth served again in Congress from 1853 to 1855; James H. Woodworth from 1855 to 1857; John T. Farnsworth from 1857 to 1861; Isaac N. Arnold from 1861 to 1865; John Wentworth from 1865 to 1867; Norman B. Judd from 1867 to 1871.
In 1832 and 1833 Cook county formed a fractional part of a large senatorial and representative district in Northern Illinois. James M. Strode served as senator at this time and Benjamin Mills as representative. From 1834 to 1836 the senators were James W. Stephenson and James W. Strode, and John Hamlin was repre- sentative. From 1836 to 1838 Cook county alone constituted an As- sembly district, but was united with Will county to form a Senatorial district. Peter Pruyne was senator and Albert G. Leary, John Naper and James Walker were representatives. In 1836 Will county was separated from Cook and in 1839 Lake and Dupage counties were separated. In 1838-40 Cook, Will and McHenry counties formed an assembly district. Ebenezer Peck was senator but resigning was suc- ceeded by James H. Woodworth. The representatives were Gholson Kercheval, Richard Murphy and Joseph Naper. From 1840 to 1842 John Pearson served as senator and Albert G. Leary, Richard Murphy and Ebenezer Peck as representatives. By 1842 Cook county alone had again become a Representative district. The county was represented by Isaac N. Arnold, Hart L. Stewart and Lot Whitcomb. From 1844 to 1846 Cook and Lake counties were united in one Senatorial district and were represented by Norman B. Judd.
513
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
In 1834 there were but four election precincts in Cook county, viz .: Chicago, Hickory Creek, Walker's Grove and Naper's Set- tlement. Of these Hickory Creek was at Joliet and Naper's Set- tlement in Dupage county. At this time the total vote of the county was approximately only about 500.
In 1823, what is now Cook county was an organized part of Ful- ton county. In 1825 it was attached to Peoria county and was designated as the first precinct and the necessary officers were or- dered elected.
In 1831, when Cook county was organized, Richard J. Hamil- ton became clerk of the Circuit court, judge of probate and notary public. A little later the position of clerk of the county commis- sioners court becoming vacant, Mr. Hamilton was given the posi- tion. T. J. V. Owen at first held the position of school commis- sioner, but resigned and it was given to Mr. Hamilton by the county commissioners-Walker, Miller and Kercheval. In 1835 Mr. Hamilton said in the American of August 1: "Up to Sep- tember, 1834, that office (school commissioner) has yielded me in all about $200. Up to the present time the gross receipts of the office of notary public have probably not exceeded $50. The judge of probate's fees since the appointment in this county have not amounted to more than $50; and I have not realized from all these offices, including that of recorder, more than the sum of $1,500."
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