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 53
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In March, 1862, the citizens of Lyons and Palos towns petitioned the County Board to construct a bridge, at a cost of about $1,000, across the Des Plaines river at Willow Springs.
Concerning the reapportionment just completed by the Legisla- ture at Springfield, the Tribune of March 7, 1862, said: "The foul deed is done, and in part by the aid of the Democrats elected by Republicans on Union tickets. The scoundrelly cutting and carving of Cook county is the work of Fuller, assisted by a pack
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
of Secessionists. Wards are divided, election precincts are slashed into halves and quarters."
In 1862 the citizens of Lake and Worth petitioned for a new town to be called Hope, to be taken from the east half of Worth and that part of Lake lying in Township 37, Range 15. At this time, also, the towns of Worth, Thornton and Bremen petitioned for a bridge across the Calumet river and the same was recom- mended by the County Board.
In June, 1862, a petition from the voters and taxpayers of the town of Palos asked the County Board to reverse the vote taken at the town election for releasing the bail of Patrick Donahoe, absconding collector, for the following reasons: First, because the present supervisor had not called a special election on the petition of twelve legal voters; second, that there was no notice given of such a vote being taken; third, there was kept tapped a barrel of whisky, which served to keep all the non-taxpayers present ready to vote-it was also true of non-resident's, boys, etc .; fourth, the vote was taken by dividing the house at near noon, the motion being put by one of the clerks of the Board.
At the June session, 1862, strong effort to abolish the dog tax was made by nearly every town in the county. After an elaborate and amusing debate the whole question was tabled. Mr. Dolton said that the dogs in his town had nothing to do but tear off cows' tails and bite sheep. Mr. Satroop expressed the opinion that if the dogs paid the tax they should be allowed to indulge in such little amusement.
In September, 1862, the towns of Lyons and Lake petitioned that a new town should be stricken from their boundaries, and the judiciary committee of the County Board recommended that the petition be granted.
Early in 1862 Dr. Aaron Gibbs was chairman of the County Board, but in December, 1862, J. M. Allen of Elk Grove was elected to that office. At this time the Board had thirteen standing committees, those of education, war, and license having just been added. An important new committee was one on the equalization of taxes. In December, 1862, the personal property of the county was assessed at $7,920,139, the realty at $26,568,141, and the number of acres under cultivation was reported at 103,770.
The Sherman house, which had first been erected as the City hotel by F. C. Sherman in 1837, was rebuilt in 1860-61.
Early in the Civil War a dog tax was levied throughout Cook county. Many of the towns wholly disregarded the law, and ac- cordingly the tax in many instances became delinquent. The col- lection of this tax was assigned to the commissioners of highways to be collected in each town district by the overseers of highways, and was to be expended in accordance with the ordinance of the County Board. In May, 1862, the County Board voted twenty-two
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
ayes to sixteen nays to allow the county judge a salary of $2,000 in addition to the $3 per day he was already drawing.
In May, 1862, the residents of Lake and Lyons sent a petition to the County Board praying that a new town might be organized from the west side of Lake and the east side of Lyons. The new town was designed to embrace the east half of Congressional Township 38, Range 13 (Lake), and the west half of Congressional Township 38, Range 13 (Lyons), thus including all of Congres- sional Township 38, Range 13. At this time the committee on judiciary of the County Board reported in favor of dividing the town of Worth and constituting a new town to be named Hope. In May, 1862, Supervisor Dolton offered the following resolution : "Resolved, That that portion of Sections 5, 6 and 8 in fractional Township 36, Range 15, heretofore lying in the town of Lake, become a part of the town of Thornton."
In June, 1862, a motion to appoint a standing committee on schools for the County Board was laid on the table. In June, 1862, a motion to call the new town of Hope by the name of Calumet was amended so that it should be called Sigel. The amendment was lost, but the original motion changing the name to Calumet was carried.
The Cook county poorhouse in the town of Jefferson, about ten miles from the city limits, was reported in good condition in No- vember, 1862. Benjamin Chase had been in charge for three years. In May, 1862, there were 203 inmates, and in December 180. On December 1 there were fifty patients in the hospital and thirty-six insane. The farm consisted of 200 acres. On the farm were six horses, nine cows and five yearlings. The products for 1862 were 1,000 bushels of potatoes, 100 bushels of onions, sixty bushels of navy beans, 900 bushels of beets, flax to make 200 yards of cloth, hay, corn, oats, etc.
The act of February 21, 1863, authorized the Board of Super- visors of Cook county to issue and sell bonds, but not to exceed $150,000, for the purpose of meeting extra war expenses.
The dog tax ordinance was referred to the committee on poor- house and paupers of the County Board. An attempt to annul the tax was lost; then an effort to reduce the license from $2 to $1 was made. That was also lost. Finally the following humorous amendment was offered: "Resolved, That this ordinance shall not apply to 'yaller dorgs' with straps around their necks and their tails cut off not over half an inch, inch, inch and a half or two inches long, and not less than half a mile, mile, mile and a half, or two miles from home." The latter failed to pass.
In March, 1863, the County Board appropriated $500 to improve Archer road in the town of Lake, and $300 to improve the same road in the town of Lemont. Both Lake and Lemont made supple- mental appropriations for the same purpose.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
COOK COUNTY FROM JUNE 1, 1863, TO JUNE 1, 1864.
EXPENSES.
War orders
$107,603
Bonds paid
10,000
Interest 12,300
Sheriff and bailiffs.
14,782
Elections
3,743
Poorhouse and paupers 42,899
Miscellaneous
27,654
Total
$218,981
RECEIPTS.
County tax for 1862.
$104,054
War tax for 1862.
173,498
Total $277,552
Collected of this
271,537
BONDED DEBT OF THE COUNTY.
Bonds drawing 10 per cent interest.
$ 53,000
Bonds drawing 6 per cent interest. 150,000
Total
$203,000
Unpaid orders outstanding .. 1,149
War orders payable outstanding out of tax of 1864. 282,504
Total
$486,653
ASSETS.
Cash on hand June 4, 1864.
$ 11,741
Uncollected tax of 1863. 77,854
Block 59, Old Town. 600,000
Part of courthouse ..
75,000
Twenty-five acres, reform school.
15,000
One hundred and fifty-seven acres, poor farm. 8,000
Buildings on same.
20,000
Stock on poor farm
2,000
Total
$809,595
In December, 1863, the bonded debt of Cook county amounted to $163,000; but there had been already appropriated, though not issued, for war purposes $250,000 in bonds. In 1863 the number of acres of wheat in Cook county was 30,587 ; acres of corn, 30,275; number of dogs, 4,388; hogs, 16,997 ; sheep, 10,144; cattle, 45,571; horses, 14,411.
The Chicago Historical Society collected considerable valuable statistics concerning Cook county in 1862-63. Of all the towns in the county Barrington led with 1,440 acres in fruit trees. Schaumburg had the least-only 40 acres.
In 1863 a petition from the citizens of Thornton asked the County Board to release Messrs. Caldwell and Johnson, two men on the bond of Dr. A. J. Richards, defaulting collector of that town, from the effect of a judgment of $1,900 and costs obtained against them by the county. They requested this action owing to the fact that Caldwell and Johnson had been to great expense to secure the arrest and conviction of the said Richards.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
In March, 1864, the County Board authorized a wolf bounty of $5. Just before this Supervisor Kingsley of Barrington had paid $36 for twelve wolf scalps. In March, 1864, the Board passed a resolution extolling President Lincoln's administration and favor- ing his renomination for the Presidency. Thirty-seven voted for this resolution and eight against it. During two years ending August 31, 1864, Cook county paid internal revenue as follows : $5,127,749.
In December, 1864, Cook county scrip was rated at from 93 to 95 cents on the $1. In January, 1865, Cook county bonds sold at from 95 cents to 97 on the $1. In December, 1864, A. B. Johnson of the Eleventh Ward was elected by acclamation chairman of the County Board.
December 31, 1864, Cook county's debt was $774,000; but during 1865 the county paid $2,100,000 in bounties. This was war scrip with interest at 10 per cent. per annum. It was afterward refunded into long time bonds bearing 7 per cent.
Ten per cent old bonds $ 43,000
Six per cent bonds, '73. 150,000
Scrip 2,100,000
$2,293,000
Premium for finding scrip
210,000
Total debt January, '66. $2,503,000
DEBT OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, DECEMBER 31, 1864.
Floating debt
$ 79,295.39
Funded debt, old.
371,000.00
Funded debt, new. 950,500.00
School fund bonds 28,000.00
Sewerage debt
1,100,000.00
Water debt
1,308,000.00
Total
$3,836,795.39
In February, 1865, Cook county bonds sold as low as 73 cents on the $1. This was near the close of the war, when a considera- ble quantity of new bonds were thrown on the market. Within a month the price rose to about 85 cents on the $1. One reason for the fall in value of the county bonds was because unprincipled brokers circulated the report that their issue was unauthorized.
The act of February 2, 1865, authorized the Board of Super- visors of Cook county to issue and sell bonds from time to time as the same should be required, in any sum not exceeding one million dollars, to be applied to the payment of certain county orders or certificates issued and to be issued for bounties to soldiers and in aid of soldiers' families ; but by act of February 15, 1865, the issue was increased to one million five hundred thousand dollars.
In February, 1865, the Legislature authorized the issue of bonds to take up the Cook county scrip or orders and further authorized the levy of a tax to retire the bonds.
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EARLY AMUSEMENTS
M ANY people assume that Chicago in particular and Cook county as a whole were destitute of art in early years. Such, however, is not the fact. The first settlers, with comparatively few exceptions, came from the East and had been reared in localities where education, literary culture and artistic advantages had been enjoyed for many years. Indeed, at the time Cook county was first settled Boston was enjoying its first great impulse in literature and art. New York and Philadelphia also had their art institutes and their literary institutions. Even Pittsburg was already making great pretensions in the world of art and learning. Therefore, many of the first settlers of Cook county, coming from such localities, brought with them the art and literary training they had acquired before their arrival here. In Chicago, almost from the start, were to be found good writers of poetry. Many of the leading men here wrote prose of the purest diction and the clearest logic. It is therefore not surprising that almost from the start all of the leading citizens took interest in theatrical performances, lectures, oratory and art.
As early as 1839 Daniel Marble and his wife gave humorous and sparkling entertainments in this city. Marble was a Yankee comedian and had the reputation and the cheerful habit of making a person laugh in spite of himself. His inimitable stories produced bursts of merriment and his tricks could not be fathomed. The American of May 27, 1839, said :
"Marble is a capital fellow to make one laugh in spite of himself. He has few equals in his line. We regret that our theatrical com- pany were not here to have secured his services for a while. The theater could not have held many more without crowding."
In June, 1839, Colonel Lehmanowsky, who had been a Polish lancer in Napoleon's army, lectured here on the subject of "Na- poleon." A little later Rev. Orville Taylor lectured on the subject of "Public Schools." These various entertainments were given in the "City Saloon," which building was probably owned by Mr. Russell. Prior to 1839 a theatrical company had been organized in this city. During the early part of that year the company left and traveled throughout the West, visiting the leading points and giving entertainments. The actors were called the Illinois Theatrical com- pany. Mr. Jefferson, a member of the company, returned to Chi- cago earlier than the others and brought with him considerable new scenery.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
"The Illinois Theatrical company reopen their theater in this city next Saturday night with new scenery and decorations. There have been one or two advantageous alterations in their company since they were last here, and a general improvement. As a stock company we consider it unsurpassed, either in the East or the West."-(American, August 30, 1839.)
The fall season of 1839 was opened by the company with Cole- man's operatic piece, "The Review, or Wag of Windsor," and closed with the farce, "Illustrious Stranger, or Buried Alive." The early newspapers spoke of the performance as very creditable. The scenery was considered excellent .. Over the drop curtain was the motto, "For Useful Mirth and Salutary Woe." On the second night the company rendered "Warlock of the Glenn," and closed with the farce, "Midnight Hour." Mr. Sullivan in the character of Warlock acquitted himself in a very creditable man- ner, according to the American. Later during the season Mr. Green acted as Scotch Andrew, the fisherman, in the place of Mr. Warren, who was sick. Mr. Wright had previously been con- nected with the company. The American of September 3, 1839, said: "Mr. Mckenzie, the manager, deserves much credit for his liberal and ambitious efforts to increase the attractions of his theater." On September 5 they played "Isabelle, or Woman's Life," and "Spectre Bridegroom." Between performances Mr. Germon sang "Rory o' More." The company during these travels had visited Springfield, Ill., and upon their return to Chicago boasted of the fact that the most cultured people of that city had attended their performance. Mr. Dempster, the celebrated vocal- ist, was here during the season. He sang "John Anderson, My Joe," "Dear Lady of My Birth," "The Brave Old Oak," "She Wore a Wreath of Roses," "My Nannie, O," "My Heart's in the Highlands," and others.
"Mr. Dempster is superior in what we consider the chief beauty of singing-musical elocution. His style of singing is character- ized by the most exquisite sweetness and enchanting simplicity."- (American, September 10, 1839.)
"An amateur of this city makes his first appearance tonight in the character of Restive in the laughable farce of the 'Enraged Politician.' We have many amateurs among us who might act that character well."-( American, September 12, 1839.)
During the season Mrs. Jefferson appeared as Madame La Trappe in the laughable comedy of "Simpson & Co." Master Jefferson sang the "Lass o' Gowrie," a comic song that brought down the audience. On September 10 a benefit was given by Mr. Dempster. On that occasion "Sweethearts and Wives" was rendered. Mr. Jefferson appeared as Admiral Franklin, Mr. Warren as Bill Lackaday, Mrs. Mckenzie as Mrs. Bell, and Mrs. Jefferson as Susan. There was a vocal interlude and the per-
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
formance ended with the farce, "My Neighbor's Wife." Mr. Dempster gave his first concert at the "City Saloon" September 14; the price of admission was 75 cents. Scotch, Irish and English songs were sung by Messrs. Dempster, Barnett, Rodwell, Wilson, Knight and Phillips. The performance usually began about 6 o'clock in the evening and closed not later than 9 or 9:30. Among the leading players here during the season of 1839 were Messrs. Warren, Liecester, Sankey, Green and Dempster. The lady per- formers were Mrs. Germon, Mrs. McKinzie, Mrs. Jefferson and Mrs. Ingersoll. The latter was a teacher of dancing. Among the performances rendered were the following: "Damon and Pythias," "The Poor Gentleman," "The Loan of a .Lover" and the "Drama from Boz." On one occasion the performance was broken up by a gang of drunken men against whom Mr. Mckenzie made com- plaint, and they were all fined the next day by a justice of the peace.
WE BACHELORS.
Free as the bird whose downy wing, Ripples the balmy air of spring- That floats in freedom to the sky, Whose bound is heaven's blue canopy. We walk the fields, we breathe the air, Of perfect freedom ; thrall or care Of syren wedlock, we have none, We joy in freedom all alone.
Your silken chains ye damsels fair, So very tempting, will not snare. Those teeth so beautiful and bright Are very charming-but they bite. And eyes that sparkle, they can leer ; Those lips can curl too, with a sneer. We're your admirers true, but then We've known sad peckings by a hen; Admirers, yet are too old coons, To make a shift of pantaloons.
The author of the above was promptly answered as follows:
TO THE AUTHOR OF "WE BACHELORS."
You sour-mouthed rhymster !- you whose blood Is snow-broth at the best ! You of the shriveled brotherhood More shriveled than the rest! You boast of freedom-luckless wight- You could not but be free ; No girl would be so crazy quite As to be cursed with thee.
"We have a few writers in this city whose productions would be highly creditable to themselves and to the literary character of the place, but they seldom have the energy or ambition to make an effort worthy of themselves."
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
"Female Lecturers .- Some half dozen lecturers of the softer sex , have within a short period come before the public in different parts of the Union. One has lectured upon religion and another upon politics; one has advocated war and another non-resistance. In our opinion, and we mean not to disparage the sex, if the ladies will lecture they should confine themselves to the ancient and ap- proved class of lectures. . . . Our objections to the delivery of public lectures by females, of course, are that it is subversive of that delicacy which is the great charm and source of attraction of the other sex and tends to render women less domestic than she should be."-(American, November 18, 1841.).
"Deeply indignant were a knot of us gathered around the hos- pitable board of Mrs. - - last evening when your paper was thrown into the entry. Rely upon it, sir, that we shall not give up one inch of ground upon which we stand. Be assured that you will find yourself in hot water if you undertake to deprive us of any of our privileges. Had you been present last evening you would have felt as if you could have crept through the eye of a cambric needle."-(Amanda Learnwell in American, November 19, 1841.)
In October, 1839, Mrs. McClure and Mr. Mason appeared here in the "Lady of Lyons," Mrs. McClure taking the part of Pauline and Mr. Mason that of Claude Melnotte. They also rendered, while here, "Macbeth," "The Wife of Manta," "Emperor and Sol- dier," in which Mr. Mason appeared as Napoleon: "The Wonder, or a Woman Keeps a Secret;" "Taming of the Shrew," in which Mr. Mason appeared as Petruchio; "Romeo and Juliet;" "Ham- let," Mr. Mason taking the character of Hamlet and Mrs. McClure that of Ophelia. The papers of that date spoke particularly of the excellence of Mrs. McClure's rendition of the character of Lady Macbeth. In October, 1839, Mr. Warren appeared in "The Rivals" as Sir Lucius O'Trigger.
From time to time the early newspapers published poetry ren- dered by Chicagoans. It is said that a Mr. Leary, one of the early lawyers of Chicago, was the writer of much of the poetry thus published. A young lawyer, perhaps Mr. Leary, residing here, composed the following :
Ah, me! thy beauty, now beyond control, Has brought its actions against every sense, And served its sweet subpoenas on my soul, To which, alas, I dare not make defense.
Theatrical people in early times in this city were accustomed to announce benefits for each other. These served to advertise the performances and each character received pay in proportion to his popularity. It was simply a means to attract attention and secure patronage. In October, 1839, Mrs. M. A. Ingersoll received the largest benefit that was ever given to any of the early actors. Standing room was at a premium.
Vol. I-32.
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
In 1840 Rev. Mr. Hinton was the author of a history on "Bap- tism."
As early as July, 1840, cricket began to be played here and throughout the West. Milwaukee, St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati and other cities had cricket clubs. In Chicago there were several; one located on the North branch was called the North Branch club, another the Desplaines club, and still another the Chicago club. A match game was played between the Chi- cago club and North Branch club in July. The former won. This match was played at Dutchman's Point, and later the game dinner was eaten at John Shrigley's hotel on the North branch. Later in the season the Desplaines club in turn won a game from the Chi- cago club.
As early as the fall of 1840 a sporting club was organized in this city, the object of which was to race horses at a track on the lake shore a few miles south of the city.
In February, 1841, the Young Men's association was organized in this city. Walter L. Newberry was its first president. Through its influence lecturers from the East came here annually thereafter until after the Civil War. Among the membership were the very best people of the city and at all elections for officers the contests were sharp and considerable feeling was manifested.
As early as April, 1841, Solon Robinson, afterward a contributor to the New York Tribune, lectured here on agricultural subjects. He was the author of a story that was published about this time in the Chicago American. The title of the book was "The Will from Real Life."
As early as June, 1841, Chicago had an excellent band, with N. Burdell as leader. It consisted of sixteen pieces. There were five clarionets, two key bugles, three trombones, one E flat piccolo, three concert horns, one valve trumpet and one bass drum.
About this time Chicago could boast of a gallery of paintings. It was opened by Wilkins and Stevenson in the "City Saloon." These gentlemen had been students of the Royal Academy of Lon- don. They brought here over 200 paintings, drawings and sketches, executed by themselves, comprising almost every variety and representing many beautiful subjects.
At this date Mr. Gale established a circulating library on Lake street ; he started with about 300 volumes.
Samuel M. Brooks, miniature painter, opened a studio in Sep- tember, 1841. The newspapers declared that his work possessed the highest merit; he was declared to be a genius.
"Samuel M. Brooks, No. 5 Saloon building, Chicago, is a minia- ture painter of unusual merit. Nature has unquestionably endowed him with genius. It is only some three or four months since he placed himself for the first time before the easel, and within that period he has done wonders."-( American, September 18, 1841.)
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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Late in 1841 George C. Tew lectured here on the subject of "Phrenology." He delivered a course of lectures and organized a class for the study of that science. About this time Jared Sparks delivered a course of eight lectures before the Young Men's asso- ciation. Dr. Egan lectured on "Physiology," G. A. Beaumont lectured on "American Literature," Dr. Daniel Brainard delivered an interesting lecture on "France," and Mark Skinner lectured on the subject of "Education." All of these lectures were delivered before the Young Men's association. William H. Brown also lec- tured before the association on the subject of "The Social and Equal Rights of Women." By December, 1841, the Young Men's association had a library of several hundred volumes. On Febru- ary 17, 1842, the day of its first anniversary, it had a membership of 240. The initiation fee was $1.50 and dues were 50 cents quar-
terly. In the association library and reading rooms were thirteen dailies, eight semi-weeklies, three tri-weeklies and two monthly newspapers. About a dozen of the most important reviews of American and Europe were also to be found there. About this time lectures were delivered by D. S. Griswold and I. N. Arnold. The former's subject was "Love, Courtship and Marriage," and the latter's "The Constitution of the United States." In February, 1842, a Mr. Salisbury opened a daguerreotype and miniature studio at the City hotel.
In the spring of 1842 Mrs. Mary C. Porter paid $30 for a license to open a theater in Chicago. Her acting manager was H. B. Nelson.
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