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 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
e
629
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
notable consolidations before those of this year." The banking sit- uation in Chicago was strengthened by this process. An era was ushered in in which there was no anxiety as to the stability of Chi- cago's banking system. But there was a cessation of consolidation. The Chemical National bank and the National Bank of Illinois passed out of the reckoning. The Chicago Savings bank began business May 1, 1902; the National Bank of North America was organized that month. The First Trust and Savings bank was or- ganized December, 1903. These were notable occurrences in Chi- cago banking history in the early part of the ten years now com- manding attraction. In 1906 and later there was considerable ac- tivity in the organization of State banks. In this decade ripened some bank history of the kind that reputable Chicago bankers have sternly discouraged, even from the day of D. D. Spencer down to the day of Paul O. Stensland. Stensland's bank, the Milwaukee Avenue State bank, went by the board and as a consequence of its way of going Stensland was sentenced to the penitentiary. The short-lived Bank of America fell a victim to official borrowing of the style of Spencer, and Abner Smith, its president, and F. E. Creelman and J. V. Pierce, two of his associates in its management, were convicted of misappropriation of its funds and dealt with in accordance with law. It is worthy of note that Smith had had long experience as a justice of the Circuit court. The Chicago Na- tional bank was brought low by John R. Walsh, its president, and was in turn the means of his undoing. He, too, was convicted of wrongfully handling bank funds.
The recovery from the panic of 1907 was rapid during the early part of 1908. As the disorder was mainly in New York, the rest of the country returned to comparative prosperity as affairs in that city improved. In Chicago clearing house certificates were issued to the amount of $39,240,000, and the largest amount outstanding at any one time was $38,285,000. This was the principal point where clearing house checks were issued as circulating money, and the device was very satisfactory. Such checks were circulated to the amount of $7,600,000. The bulk of them were converted into pulp early in April.
Important among the events in the local financial field in 1908 was the transformation, in February, of the National Live Stock bank into the Live Stock Exchange National bank.
The following named banks were in operation February, 1909: The Bankers National bank, the Commercial National bank, the Continental National bank, the Corn Exchange National bank, the Drovers' Deposit National bank, the First National bank, the Fort Dearborn National bank, the Hamilton National bank, the Live Stock Exchange National bank, the Monroe National bank, the Na- tional City National bank, the National Produce National bank, the Prairie National bank, the Republic National bank, the Calu-
630
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
met National bank, the First National bank of Englewood, the Oak- land National bank. State banks: The American Trust and Sav- ings bank, the Austin State bank, the Central Trust bank, the Chi- cago City bank, the Chicago Savings bank and Trust company, the Citizens Trust and Savings bank, the Colonial Trust and Savings bank, the Cook County State Savings bank, the Drexel State Sav- ings bank, the Drovers' Trust and Savings bank, the Englewood State bank, the Farwell Trust company, the First Trust and Sav- ings bank, Foreman Brothers' Banking company, the Guarantee Trust and Savings bank, the Harris Trust and Savings bank, the Hibernian Banking association, the Illinois Trust and Savings bank, the Kasper State bank, the Kenwood Trust and Savings bank, the Lake View Trust and Savings bank, the Merchants Loan and Trust company, the Metropolitan Trust and Savings bank, the Northern Trust company, the North Avenue State bank, the North Side State Savings bank, the Northwest State bank, the Pearsons-Taft Land Credit company, the Prairie State bank, the People's Trust and Savings company, the Pullman Trust and Savings bank, the Rail- way Exchange bank, the Royal Trust company, the Security bank, the South Chicago Savings bank, the State Bank of Chicago, the State Bank of West Pullman, the Stockmen's Trust and Savings bank, the Stock Yards Savings bank, the Union Bank of Chicago, the Union Stock Yards State bank, the Union Trust company, the Western Trust and Savings bank, the West Side Trust and Savings bank, the Woodlawn Trust and Savings bank.
Following is a statement of the deposits of the two classes of in- stitutions November 27, 1908, and February 5, 1909:
Nov. 27, 1908.
National Banks
$378,882,223
Feb. 5, 1909. $398,955,330
State Banks
367,105,534
391,179,195
Total
$745,987,757
$790,134,525
In the brief time indicated an increase of forty-four million dol- lars was made. The total in September, 1908, was about $734,- 000,000. From that time to February 5, 1909, there was an in- crease of fifty-six million dollars. These deposits are much the highest in the history of Chicago banking. They promise soon to come up to the 1,000-million mark.
In 1909 the deposits of Chicago banks were about forty million dollars greater than the aggregate of those of St. Louis, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Omaha, but the capital and surplus of Chicago banks was about thirteen million dollars less than the combined capital and surplus of the six cities men- tioned. Bank deposits are included. Of individual deposits the Chicago total was only $177,414,672. The St. Louis total was 105 million. In the five smaller cities the proportion of individual de- posits to the whole was higher, as bank deposits naturally tend toward large cities.
631
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Marquette Club .- On March 18, 1886, George V. Lauman, Sam- uel E. Magill, Charles U. Gordon, Will S. Gilbert, William S. Hus- sander and Charles C. Colby filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Springfield, Illinois, a declaration of their intention to form a corporation to be known as The Marquette Club of Chicago, for the advancement of the science of political economy and the promo- tion of social and friendly relations among its members; to exert such influence and render such service as might be possible in behalf of good government ; and to promote the growth and spread of Re- publican principles. Following is a copy of the certificate of its in- corporation :
"STATE OF ILLINOIS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
"Henry D. Dement, Secretary of State:
"To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come-Greeting: Where- as, a certificate, duly signed and acknowledged, having been filed in the office of the Secretary of State, on the 18th day of March, A. D. 1886, for the organization of The Marquette Club of Chicago, under and in accordance with the provisions of 'An Act Concerning Corporations; approved April 18, 1872, and in force July 1, 1872, a copy of which certificate is hereto attached ;
"Now, therefore, I, Henry D. Dement, Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the powers and duties vested in me by law, do hereby certify that the said Marquette club of Chicago is a legally organized corporation under the laws of this state.
"In testimony whereof, I hereto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of State. Done at the city of Springfield, this 18th day of March, A. D. 1886, and of the Independence of the United States the 110th.
(Seal)
"HENRY D. DEMENT, "Secretary of State."
The following named were selected as directors to control and manage the club during the first year of its corporate existence : George V. Lauman, president ; F. W. C. Hayes, first vice-president ; S. E. Magill, second vice-president ; Charles U. Gordon, secretary ; Will S. Gilbert, treasurer. Upon the organization of the club these committees were appointed : Political Action Committee-F. W. C. Hayes, Charles C. Colby, William A. Paulsen, James S. Moore, Richard H. Towne; Finance Committee-William L. Blood, Wal- ter S. Judson, Frank B. Whipple; House Committee-Edward O. Fiske, Joseph C. Pollock, Henry T. Smith; Membership Commit- tee -- Will S. Hussander, George W. Keehn, Leroy T. Steward. In 1887 an entertainment committee was added; in 1889 a library com- mittee; in 1892 an art committee. As exigencies have risen, still others have been created. In addition to the regular committees provided by the constitution, special committees for certain specific purposes are appointed whenever their services are required. The
632
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
number of members of the political action committee has been changed from time to time. From five in 1886, it rose to sixteen in 1895 and its chairman was added to the board of directors. This committee now includes ten members and is thus constituted :
THOS. G. CORLETT, Chairman. EDWIN H. CASSELS.
WILLIAM H. EMRICH, Secretary. HENRY C. ADAMS.
FLETCHER DOBYNS. GUSTAV E. BEERLY.
GEORGE E. WISSLER.
CHARLES A. LAWES.
MITCHELL D. FOLLANSBEE. WILLIAM McC. BLAIR.
The following named members constitute the campaign finance committee :
JOHN W. KENNEDY, Chairman. FRANCIS W. TAYLOR.
EDWARD G. PAULING.
SIDNEY W. WORTHY.
JOSEPH B. LEAKE.
ALEXANDER H. REVELL.
LEONARD GOODWIN.
WILLIAM B. AUSTIN.
JAMES MCNALLY.
GEORGE S. WOOD.
There is a campaign committee of 100. The officers of the club are :
CHARLES L. FUREY, President. CHARLES M. FOELL, 2nd Vice-
W. J. CALHOUN, 1st Vice-Presi- dent.
President. E. A. BIGELOW, Secretary. HOWARD N. WAGG, Treasurer.
It is the duty of the political action committee to take cognizance of all national, state, county, and municipal elections and recommend to the club such action on such elections and on all political matters as will most surely advance the interests of good government. It is evident that such responsibilities are strictly in line with the ob- jects of the club as stated in its application for charter and in a pre- amble to its constitution. How well the Marquette club has done its self-assigned work for "good government-local, state and national" -fair-minded Chicagoans, forgetting partisanship, know full well.
No better evidence of the integrity, patriotism, sincerity and effi- ciency of the Marquette club could be presented than the follow- ing list of names of the members of its present campaign committee. It is as fine a body of representative Chicagoans as could be organ- ized for any purpose-a convincing human document, guaranteeing all that the club stands for :
Alfred H. Mulliken, L. A. Neis, Otto L. Tossetti, John W. Tur- ner, F. T. Vaux, Herman Waldeck, Dr. Carl Wagner, Seymour Walton, W. G. Weil. Arthur D. Wheeler, Geo. S. Wood, Wm. L. Bush, Justus Chancellor, Chas. A. Churan, Geo. E. Crane, E. C. DeWitt. Fletcher Dobyns, Chas. J. Dorrance, W. P. Dunn, A. O. Erickson, John M. Ewen, Mitchell D. Follansbee, Chas. Y. Free- man, Charles C. Gilbert, Leonard Goodwin, William H. Emrich,
1
-
633
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Edwin H. Cassels, Henry C. Adams, Charles G. Dawes, Fred W. Upham, E. G. Halle, Wm. Penn Nixon, La Verne W. Noyes, E. G. Pauling, John M. Roach, Frederick A. Smith, Herbert S. Dun- combe, Charles F. Spalding, Oscar Hebel, H. S. Boutell, Geo. E. Adams, W. B. Austin, Sidney W. Worthy, T. G. Corlett, W. D. Bartholomew, John F. Bass, Fred A. Britten, W. J. Burke, Sidney W. Gorham, Frank Hamlin, C. M. Hewitt, Dr. Henry Hooper, Kemper K. Knapp, W. L. Kroeschell, A. H. Revell, F. O. Lowden, R. R. McCormick, O. H. Horton, Geo. R. Peck, Geo. E. Rickcords, John S. Runnells, A. Chytraus, Judson A. Going, W. W. Gurley, Francis W. Taylor, S. W. Allerton, J. W. Kennedy, B. E. Arntzen, James McNally, J. H. Ahern, Dr. W. L. Baum, Jacob Bauer, R. S. Blome, Chas. U. Gordon, Col. Lewis Douglass Greene, H. W. Hen- shaw, Alonzo H. Hill, Arthur Josetti, Robt. T. Kochs, Jas. A. Ste- ven, H. G. Patterson, A. A. Putnam, C. W. Sanford, A. H. Scher- zer, F. P. Schmitt, Edward Schultz, F. J. Lange, Col. George V. Lauman, Gen. Joseph B. Leake, Chester A. Legg, Henry W. Le- man, Eames MacVeagh, Joseph Mann, Fred Miller, Mathew Mills, Geo. E. Wissler, and Leslie Witherspoon.
The entertainment committee, under the direction of the board of directors, provides for the entertainment of members of the club and its visitors and prepares for all meetings of the club suitable pro- grams, which are constitutionally restricted principally to addresses on economic and political topics. It is probable that during the period 1886-1908 no other club in America has entertained more really great men than has the Marquette. The ablest orators, Amer- ican and foreign, have brought to it their best offerings. Its mem- bers are proud of the fact that no other club in the West is able to secure more desirable speakers than can be induced to appear before the Marquette. The club is always ready to champion any move- ment which promises the enhancement of the public good. It is its settled policy to afford opportunity to each member who wants actively to participate in the administration of its affairs or in its work in any specific field.
The Marquette's clubhouse, at 365 Dearborn avenue, is large, well appointed and well adapted to its purpose and has come to be ยท popularly regarded one of the most conspicuous of the landmarks of the North Side division of Chicago.
The history of Chicago's seal has been traced back to 1833, when the present city was still a town. The design of the seal was a prim- itive yet faithful copy of the obverse side of the half-eagle gold coin of the United States. Col. T. J. V. Owen has been credited with being the author of this, the first authentic signature of the town's existence. Upon the incorporation of Chicago as a city in 1837, among the first questions to come before the Common Council was
634
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
that of a municipal seal, some of the city fathers seemingly favoring the retention of the old town seal, while others, among whom were Mayor Ogden and Alderman Goodhue, argued in behalf of the adop- tion of an entirely new seal, symbolic of the newly created city's present and future. A committee composed of the mayor and Alder- men Goodhue and Pearsons were appointed to draft a new seal. The committee reported as follows: "The shield of Chicago shall be represented by a shield (American) with a sheaf of wheat on its center; a ship in full sail on the right; a sleeping infant on top; an Indian with bow and arrow on the left; and with the motto 'Urbs In Horto,' at the bottom of shield, with the inscription, 'City of Chicago -Incorporated 4th of March, 1837,' around the outside edge of said seal." Amendments to the above ordinance were made in June, 1854, and February, 1893, the first amendment specifying that "over the shield an infant reposes on a seashell," and the latter amplifying this description by decreeing a "sleeping infant on top, lying on its back on a shell."
As a result of the fact that no faithful reproduction of the seal authorized by ordinance was in use in the city's departments, a new and corrected design and description of the municipal seal was pro- vided for by ordinance of March 20, 1905, having for its chief rec- Commendation heraldic and historic accuracy. This is the seal of the present Chicago and is described in the ordinance as follows: "The seal provided and authorized for the city of Chicago shall be an obverse side with a diameter of two and three-eighths inches, the impression of which is a representation of a shield (American) gules, argent, and azure (in red, white and blue) ; with a sheaf of wheat in fess point (center), or in gold ; a ship in full sail on dexter (right side supporter) proper; on top a sleeping infant proper, re- posed as in a shell argent (in silver) ; an Indian chief with a bow and arrow, proper, on sinister (as left side supporter) standing on a promontory, vert (in green) ; with the motto 'Urbs in Horto,' or, on scroll, gules (in gold on a red flowing ribbon) at bottom of the shield; with the inscription, 'City of Chicago; Incorporated 4th March, 1837,' or in gold, within an azure (blue) ring around the outer edge of said seal, which seal represented as aforesaid and used with or without colors, shall be and is hereby corrected, established, declared to have been, and now to be, the seal of the city of Chicago. For general use, the plain impression in white containing the figures as given above shall be sufficient." The symbolic meaning of the new and corrected seal is rendered thus: The shield represents the national spirit of Chicago. The Indian, representing the discoverer of the site of Chicago, is also indicative of the aboriginal contribu- tion which enters into its history. The ship in full sail is em- blematic of the approach of the white man's civilization and com- merce. The sheaf of wheat is typical of activity and plenty, holding the same meaning as the cornucopia. The nude babe in the shell is
-
1
635
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the ancient and classical symbolism of the pearl, and Chicago sit- uated at the neck of the lake signifies that it shall be "the gem of the lakes." The infant, represented in repose, has the additional mean- ing of contentment, peace and purity. The motto "Urbs in Horto" means "City in a Garden." The date, "March 4th, 1837," names the date of the incorporation of the city. (This is a modification of the description prepared by Dr. B. J. Cigrand.)
Hamilton Club .- This club was organized April 9, 1890, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lee's surrender to Grant. Its purpose is the advancement of political science, the promotion of good gov- ernment and the development of patriotism. Its membership is composed exclusively of pronounced Republicans who believe in and are willing to work for Civil Service reform. The officers for 1890 were Robert McMurdy, president ; M. Lester Coffeen, first vice-pres- ident; Frank I. Moulton, second vice-president; Herbert C. Metcalf (resigned), third vice-president; Robert Mather, secretary; Ralph Metcalf, treasurer; John C. Everett, chairman of political action committee. Directors: Frank H. Barry, Frank Compton, Joseph Defrees, John C. Everett, John E. Goold, Frank A. Helmer, George W. Underwood, Frank H. Valette, Henry H. Windsor and John L. Woods.
"The Hamilton" has had a steady growth and has led many citi- zens of Chicago, including quite a number of young men, to take the Republican view of public affairs and in measures designed to pro- mote good government. It has watched men charged with the con- duct of local government and has sought to raise the administration of municipal politics above the level of mere partisanship.
While distinctively Republican in its aims and organization, the club inculcates high ideals of citizenship, featuring addresses not limited to partisan views and seeking, through discussion, to en- courage independence of thought. Its influence has been felt most forcibly in presidential campaigns. It organized a corps of speakers who addressed more than a hundred working men's meetings on the financial issues of the campaign of 1896. In 1900 its bureau of 250 speakers held six noon meetings every weekday during the cam- paign-three in the down town districts and three in the factory dis- tricts.
Thus the gospel of Republicanism was carried to thousands of working men during their midday hour. Systematic attention was given by the club to first voters. The stereopticon was also brought into use for the dissemination of Republican ideas among men on the street in the evenings. During such campaigns the club conducted large men meetings. A notable one was that of October 20, 1894, when Hon. Thomas B. Reed addressed 17,000 people at the First
4
636
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Regiment armory and at an overflow meeting held near by. Among the large mass meetings promoted by the club in the campaign of 1900 were the great Roosevelt meeting at the Coliseum, with an overflow meeting at the armory just mentioned; the Auditorium meeting addressed by Luther Laflin Mills, and another Auditorium meeting at which John Maynard Harlan was the speaker.
This club was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the local Civil Service law, and its members advocated its adoption by the voters of Chicago, which was accomplished through the munici- pal election held in April, 1895. A standing committee of the club reports infractions of this law and recommendations as to its en- forcement. The club is entitled to the credit for the passage of the law of 1895 changing the compensation of members of that General Assembly of Illinois from $5 a day to $1,000 for the session. It was believed this change would tend to shorten the sessions of the Legis- lature and improve the personnel of its membership.
A noteworthy feature of the history of the Hamilton club has been its banquets, the first of which was held in 1891. They have been among the great political banquets of the country, and the addresses delivered to the assembled guests have been substantial contributions to current political literature. Many speakers from tlie South have been chosen, it having been the aim to have that section repre- sented at each banquet. The growing feeling of brotherhood between North and South was the theme at the banquet on the occasion of the club anniversary in 1899. The Hamilton club has repeatedly enter- tained leading men of the nation. President Roosevelt has been the guest of honor on several occasions. President-Elect Taft was en- tertained on his return from the Philippines in April, 1904, and has been present at several subsequent events, notably in 1908, when he and Mr. Bryan addressed the same audience on the politics of the time. It entertained Admiral Schley, January 25, 1902. Right Honorable James Bryce, ambassador of Great Britain to the United States, was its guest in June, 1908. The vice-president, several cab- inet officers and governors, numerous senators and many congress- men, as well as men prominent in other departments, have frequently spoken before it.
The club is endeavoring to make a complete collection of Hamil- toniana. It possesses the famous limited edition of Hamilton's works, edited by Senator Lodge, numerous biographies, the prize orations delivered for a generation at Hamilton college, Hamilton's auto- graph and all notable portraits of him, including a print of the fa- mous portrait now in the New York Chamber of Commerce, pre- sented to the club by the late John Jay Knox.
This club took possession of premises at 21 Groveland park, Sep- tember 16, 1890; removed to 3014 Lake Park avenue May 1, 1895; to 114 Madison street March 14, 1898; and to its present quarters May 19, 1902. It occupies the building at the northwest corner of
637
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Clark and Monroe streets, which is practically the center of the loop district. It leases the ground but owns the building and all that it contains, a property valued at $80,000 .. The building is five stories in height; it has all modern facilities and the requisite equipment for club purposes. The club has absolutely no bonded indebtedness. It maintains a sinking fund and expects within a comparatively short time to accumulate an amount sufficient to justify the erection of a new clubhouse. During the first eight years of its existence it was confined in its active membership to the South Side and its field of operations was restricted as indicated, but in 1898, in deference to the prevailing sentiment of its members, it secured a location in the heart of the city, with all the facilities of a modern metropolitan club. Its territorial scope being thus widened, its membership at once trebled. The following named were its officers and directors Jan- uary, 1909: President, Marquis Eaton; first vice-president, George W. Dixon; second vice-president, John H. Batten; secretary, Henry C. Morris; treasurer, W. S. Bruckner; directors, Harlan W. Cooley, Augustus D. Curtis, Henry R. Corbett, Fred A. Fielder, W. A. Leonard, Foster S. Nims, M. B. Orde, F. L. Rossbach, M. O. Slo- cum and William E. Wright.
The club publishes monthly The Hamiltonian, a journal devoted to Republican principles and the news of the organization. In its editorial policy it is fully in accord with the aspirations of all true Hamiltonians. By non-resident members and resident members temporarily absent from Chicago it is welcomed as a means of keep- ing in touch with the inner life of the club.
1
MUNICIPAL, JUVENILE AND OTHER COURTS
A PPOINTED under a resolution of the General Assembly to revise the Law Practice code, the State Practice commission recommended in October, 1900, the following changes: To provide power in the County court to order a special docket of cases from justice courts; to make the laws concerning publica- tion harmonize; to empower the County court to assess costs against objectors in tax cases as in other cases; to provide that, upon motion, usually supported by affidavit, the court might order oral testimony to be produced; to provide for medical examination of the plaintiff in personal injury cases ; to require a bond to pay damages upon the appointment of a temporary receiver ; to repeal the provision that the jury should be the judge of law in criminal cases; to substitute an affidavit of merits concerning the nature of the defense; to pro- vide how judgments should be reversed; to institute certain reforms in regard to the habeas corpus; to extend the jurisdiction of the Probate and County courts ; to provide how judgments against part- nerships might be entered; to define the nature and responsibility of joint obligations; to define the duties of appraisers of personal estates; to specify how inquests in lunacy should be conducted; to define the privileges and liabilities of debtors under certain condi- tions; to provide that large cities should be given the power of as- signing justices of the peace to the duties of police magistrates; to punish the practicing of law without a license; to fix the costs in justice courts, etc.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.