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 8
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(Signed) T. J. V. OWEN, President. ED. S. KIMBERLY, Clerk."
This election record was not dated, but Mr. Kimberly afterward said it was held about twenty days before the election.
On August 10 the election of Trustees was held, with the follow- ing result: T. J. V. Owen, 26 votes; George W. Dole, 26 votes; Madore B. Beaubien, 23 votes; John Miller, 20 votes; E. S. Kim- berly, 20 votes. On the 12th, at its first meeting, the board elected Colonel Owen president and appointed Isaac Harmon clerk. In September, 1833, George W. Dole was appointed town treasurer; Charles H. Chapman was appointed ferryman. On November 6 the town limits were made to embrace the following tract: Bounded
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south by Jackson street ; west by Jefferson and Cook; north by Ohio; east by the lake on the north side and by State street on the south side. In November Benjamin Jones was appointed street commis- sioner, and in December George Snow assessor and surveyor, and John Dean Caton town counsel.
In 1833 a second ferry was started. Work on the piers and harbor was begun with an appropriation of $30,000. A brick building was erected at North Water and State streets. A clumsy drawbridge was built at Dearborn street, and a board of health was organized. This year the first considerable fire occurred. A town well was dug. Over two hundred frame buildings were erected this year (1833). A jail was built and a stage line to Ottawa was opened. The Democrat, founded by John Calhoun, was started in November. This was the banner year for develop-' ment thus far.
The Democrat of November 26, 1833, said: "The rapidly in- creasing importance of Chicago in a commercial point of view calls aloud for the speedy commencement and completion of the long contemplated canal, or railroad, which is to connect the waters of Lake Michigan with those of the Illinois river. * To the rushing flood of population that is constantly pouring in upon our western borders, we have never given full faith and credit. We have supposed it but the fruit of an overheated brain. We have disbelieved; we have doubted. But our disbelief has been con- verted to belief. The reality is before us. Chicago, nay, the very spot of ground where we are now writing, a few months since was the abode of the savage, and where are now seen a long line of habitations for white men, a short time ago was unoccupied save by the wigwam of the Indian. The change has been wrought by magic. More than eight hundred souls may now be found within the limits, that within a few short months since included less than one-tenth that number. * * Even in the present infant state of the place, we are informed upon the most unquestionable author- ity that one single mercantile house in New York has sent to Chi- cago during the past year goods the import duties of which were $35,000. What then will be the limit to commerce when our popu- lation shall have increased (as it surely will in a short period of time) ten fold; and when the harbor, which under the fostering care of the Government has already. been commenced, and is yet in progress, shall be completed. Two recent events have contributed to diffuse a more accurate knowledge of the resources and prospects of this locality-the late treaty with the Indians and the sale of school lands."
A remarkable fact about Chicago is that at no time in its his- tory has it stood still; all other towns but Chicago have had their "ups and downs." The principal cause of this fact was the rapid settlement of the western country adjacent to Chicago and the
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facilities of inter-communication. As early as December, 1833, a permanent mail route between Chicago and St. Louis was pro- jected. The route was in operation by January 1, 1834. Continu- ing until nearly the middle of December, 1833, the packet boat plied between Chicago and St. Joseph. In December, 1833, the Chicago Polemical Society was organized; J. B. Beaubien was its first president. By 1833 over 1,000 miles of railroad had been projected in this state. In December, 1833, the mail route between Chicago and Green Bay was discontinued by order of the Postmas- ter General. On December 24, 1833, the Chicago Temperance Society was organized; J. Watkins was secretary. In the fall of 1833 Elijah Wentworth opened a tavern on Flag creek, eighteen miles southwest of Chicago on the Ottawa road. Early in Jan- uary, 1834, a man was frozen to death on the prairie between Chi- cago and Blue Island and was devoured by wolves.
On Saturday, January 11, 1834, a mass meeting of the citizens was held at Steele's Eagle hotel to petition Congress for the com- pletion of the post route from Detroit to Chicago. John Beaubien presided and J. Dean Caton was secretary. Post coaches carried the mail from Detroit to Niles, whence it was brought once a week over a very difficult route to Chicago.
"Butchering .- The subscriber intends butchering from four to five hundred hogs this present week, all of which have been well fatted on corn. He wishes to inform his old customers, and the people generally, that he intends selling cheap for cash at whole- sale at his butcher shop, two miles from Chicago, and at wholesale and retail at his market on the market square in Chicago. He further wishes to inform the public that he keeps constantly on hand and for sale at his farm two miles from Chicago work oxen and beef cattle. Beef, both fresh and salt, at wholesale and retail at his market in Chicago.
"A. CLYBOURN. "December 3, 1833."
"Look Out for Trouble .- All persons who have or shall be found trespassing upon the fractional Section 29, Township 39 north, Range 14 east, commonly called Hardscrabble, shall be severally prosecuted by the subscriber without any regard.
"J. B. BEAUBIEN.
"Chicago, December 4, 1833."
"The spring of 1833 may be marked as a new era in the history of Chicago, and, in fact, all the northern part of the state, or in- deed that may be referred to as the commencement of their im- . provement. At that time Chicago did not contain more than five or six regular stores and now may be counted from twenty to twenty-five; then it did not contain more than one hundred and
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fifty inhabitants; whereas now there are from eight to ten hun- dred; then it did not contain more than thirty buildings, now may be seen more than one hundred and eighty. During the past sum- mer (1833) eighty vessels have arrived, bringing goods and pros- perity to a vast amount, yet notwithstanding these immense impor- tations during the past season, hardly three good assortments could now be made in this place. After the fall stock of goods had ar- rived, every store was crowded to excess-now they look quite empty. But the mercantile business has not alone flourished ; indeed that in the business of Chicago has been but of small moment. Building and real improvements have been the order of the day. To describe the want that has been for building material and mechanics would be only to excite incredulity. The harbor which is now in progress at this place, it is confidently hoped, will be so far advanced in the early part of the season as to admit vessels into the river, when the danger that has hitherto existed to vessels laying in the offing to discharge and receive their cargoes will be remedied. Then our advancement will receive a new im- pulse. .. . Most of the town is now in the hands of individuals, besides all laying north of the river, between the North Branch and the lake and west of the North Branch. The school sec- tion which lays on both sides of the South Branch, most of which is in town, was sold in the latter part of October last, placing the largest portion of the town in a tangible condition," said the Dem- ocrat, January 28, 1834.
But notwithstanding this big increase, the town could not bor- row $2,000 for one year at 10 per cent. People could do better in land and lot speculation. But laws, streets, repairs and drainage required attention. At the fort the county commissioners met and the judges held court there. All shows that the officials were ener- getic and vigilant. Mud holes were labeled "bottomless pits" by wags amid jibes and jeers. The officers could do little and re- signed in June, 1833.
Before 1834, hardly a building devoted to business stood south . of the river. In 1834, Thomas Church erected a store on Lake and then others came rapidly. Ira Couch conducted the Tremont House. Mark Beaubien's ferry and one at Dearborn street were the only two. A bridge was soon built at or near Dearborn street. It was torn down owing to jealousy and one was built at Clark street. In 1834 Capt. R. C. Bristol, in the brig "John Kinzie," took a cargo of 2,000 bushels of wheat from St. Joseph, Michigan, to Buffalo. It is claimed that this trip was made before that of the "Post Boy." Late in May, 1834, the schooner "Post Boy," Capt. Jeremy Hickson, left Michigan City for Buffalo with a cargo of wheat owned by G. W. Harrison, of La Porte, Indiana, and shipped by Samuel Miller, of Michigan City. The vessel reached Buffalo in June. The wheat, which had cost Mr. Miller 50 cents per
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bushel, brought 75 cents per bushel at Buffalo .- (Daily Democrat, April 13, 1849.)
"Chicago Harbor .- Owing to the heavy rains that fell on Friday last, the Chicago river was swollen to an unusual height. At sunrise on Saturday this great volume of water had forced a passage over the bar at the mouth of the harbor that is con- structing, and notwithstanding the great impediments which it met from the large quantities of ice in the sand, it progressed with such astounding rapidity that by evening a channel was cleared about eighty feet in width and from seven to eight feet in depth. Nearly all the water from the river now passes into the lake through this new channel, which from the effect of the pier that is thrown across the old channel of the river on the south side of the harbor, it is confidently hoped will be kept open. This is a most fortunate ocurrence, not only for the citizens but for the Government. The hands employed at the harbor were very actively engaged during the day rendering what service they could in aiding the operations of the current. The amount of sand and gravel removed by the force of the stream is immense, and but for this most fortunate occurrence would most probably have required the labor of an hundred hands for some time to effect what was done by the water in a few hours. Vessels will now be able to discharge their car- goes with more facility than formerly."-(Democrat, Tuesday, Feb- ruary 18, 1834.)
"At a meeting of the citizens of Cook county held at the Eagle hotel, February 15, 1834, Dr. J. T. Temple was appointed a dele- gate to the convention to be held at Rushville to determine a new capital for the state. It was "Resolved, That said delegate be instructed to oppose to the utmost of his ability any measure that may tend to connect the location of the seat of government with the question of the construction of a canal or railroad between the Illinois river and Lake Michigan." The following citizens were ap- pointed a committee to draft a petition to Congress on the subject of preëmption rights to present and future actual settlers. J. D. Caton, R. J. Hamilton, J. H. Collins, E. S. Casey, Giles Spring and R. T. Kinzie. This petition to Congress recited that the public lands of Cook county had not yet been offered for sale by the general government, owing to the fact that the survey of the same had not been completed; that the said lands, being very rich, had been settled upon by permanent residents who expected to be protected as other localities had been by suitable preëmption laws; that failure to complete the survey and place the lands in market was retarding the settlement and development of the country; that justice toward this hitherto neglected portion of the state, to the infant town of Chicago and to your petitioners, demands reason- able despatch to encourage emigration and the settlement of the said lands." Of this meeting, J. V. Owen was chairman, and P. F. W. Peck, secretary.
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"The United States is now constructing a harbor by making a passage through this bar into the Chicago river and fortifying the sides with piers to protect the channel from the winds and ice. When this work shall be completed the channel between the piers and the Chicago river will itself form the best harbor in all the northern lake country, as the river is from fifty to seventy-five yards wide and from fifteen to twenty-five feet deep, forming a great natural canal."-(Democrat, January, 1834.)
"Chicago must eventually become the greatest place for business and commerce in all the Northwest. Already it is a great thorough- fare for so new a place. Merchants through the northern por- tions of Indiana as far south as Terre Haute; those of Edgar, Vermilion, Champaign, Iroquois, and all the northern counties in Illinois, with the adjacent territory, now receive their goods through this channel. Schooners are the principal vessels that now navigate Lake Michigan. In 1831 the number of arrivals was seven; in 1832, about forty-five; during 1833, about one hundred twenty. More than one hundred dwelling houses, stores and shops were erected during the summer of 1833. There are about thirty stores, some of which do extensive business. Three houses for public worship were built in 1833. A respectable academy is taught by a gentleman and lady."-(A letter in the Democrat, dated Feb- ruary 17, 1834.)
"Emigration to this place has commenced in earnest. Within the last ten days over one hundred persons have arrived by boat and otherwise, and it is with pleasure that we witness the arrival at our wharves of articles of which we have been deprived for some months past. There are now three vessels engaged to supply this place with lumber, which gives new life to the business appear- ance of the town."-(Democrat, April 30, 1834. )
"It is with pleasure that we witness the continued influx of emi- gration that is rapidly pouring into this place. As near as we can ascertain from two hundred and fifty to three hundred per- sons have arrived here within the last week, and rumor says that thousands are on their passage to this state, the garden of the West."-(Democrat, May 31, 1834.)
"We have lived our whole life in a flourishing town in New York and it seems that hardly so great a change has taken place there since our remembrance as we have witnessed in Chicago in the past six months. We dare not venture on anticipation of the future. Reason looks on in astonishment and all calculation is abandoned. Since emigration commenced this spring, we hesitate not to say that more than one thousand emigrants have arrived, intending to settle in Chicago or the country back. We are happy to say that the emigrants appear to be wealthy, enterprising and industrious. Such inhabitants constitute the wealth of a country." -(Democrat, May 28, 1834.)
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"We feel again called upon to advert to the still increasing tide of emigration that is constantly flowing into the northern part of the state. Hardly a vessel arrives but that is literally crowded with emigrants, and the stage which now runs twice a week from the East is also thronged with travelers. The steamboat "Pioneer" which now performs her regular trips to St. Joseph, is also a great accommodation to the traveling community. Loaded teams and covered wagons, laden with families and goods, are daily arriving and settling upon the country back."-(Democrat, June 11, 1834.)
On January 2, 1834, a Mrs. Smith, of Blue Island, was frozen to death on the prairie about a mile and a half from her home. When found she had been torn to pieces by the wolves; she left five children. In January the Polemical Society debated the ques- tion: "Has the Congress of the United States Constitutional Power to Make Internal Improvement?" John A Clark was now secretary of the society. Lieut. J. Allen, of the U. S. army, became superintendent of the harbor in January, 1834.
The Northeast Land district of Illinois was created early in 1834; it embraced all east of a north and south line between Ranges 3 and 4 east; headquarters were fixed at Chicago. On Feb- ruary 15, 1834, an adjourned meeting, held at Steele's Eagle hotel, decided to elect a delegate to the Ottawa convention pledged to work for "the immediate construction of a communication either by a canal or railroad between Lake Michigan and the Illinois river." A writer in the Democrat thus expressed himself: "The long contemplated but hitherto worse than neglected Illinois and Michigan canal." Joseph Duncan, representative in Congress, wrote in February, 1834, that a bill had been reported appropria- ting $32,800 for carrying on the work of improving Chicago harbor. Saganaskee swamp was a well known locality west of the head of the South branch in early years. On March 4, 1834, Lieutenant Allen advertised for written proposals to supply oak timber for the Chicago harbor-10,000 feet of squared logs, 350 feet of round logs for ties and fifty round logs for piles. Mark Noble, Senator, published a notice in January, 1834, that he would prosecute all trespassers on the west half, southwest quarter, Sec- tion 4, Township 39 north, Range 14 east, where the steam saw mill stood. This tract was on the North Branch. Railroads from Chicago to Milwaukee and from Chicago to Ottawa were talked of in 1834. It was noted in the spring of 1834 that Michigan and other states eastward, through envy, did all in their power to prevent emigrants bound for Chicago from going to their des- tination. Chicago and vicinity were "represented as being a low, wet, sickly and barren country, destitute of every attraction that can invite emigration."
"Chicago .- Our town is building up rapidly. Since spring com- menced there have been built upwards of seventy-five buildings, and
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JOHN ANDERSON.
PAUL A. HAZARD.
PETER B. OLSEN.
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A. F. NIGHTINGALE.
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among these we note some substantial ones of three stories high, and the commencement of two or three others for stores of three stories. Emigration is still increasing and has increased one-half since last year, having already a settled population of at least 1,500 and the country is filling up in like proportion. Rents are high and lots rent on the principal street for $3 a foot front. The com- mercial business is by no means contemptible, for already has ar- rived nearly as great a number of vessels as arrived during the whole of last season."-(Democrat, June 18, 1834.)
"Lithographic Maps of Chicago .- Mr. John H. Kinzie procured while in New York a few lithographic maps of this town. They are beautifully executed and contain the Town Plat, together with the School Section, Wabansia, and Kinzie's addition."-(Demo- crat, June 18, 1834. )
Referring to the growth of Chicago, a writer in the Democrat of June 18, 1834, said : "In a few months we have seen the number of buildings double, and even yet there are not houses enough to contain our population. What Chicago will be by the close of . navigation we can only conjecture. The country immediately around us is filling up in proportion. From the country of the Wabash alone, there are frequently in town at one time from twenty to thirty wagons loaded with breadstuff, and the necessary products, some of them brought from a distance of a hundred or a hundred and fifty miles over a road so notoriously bad that it often requires eight yoke of oxen to draw a single wagon. We, in turn, send them back salt and merchandise of every description. A railroad from Chicago to Vincennes should be built. Let our citizens and those of the Wabash unite at once in a work so much to their mutual benefit. There should be no delay or postpone- ment. The railroad will not build itself. If there is that inaction among us regarding works of internal improvement of such vital interest to us as we have seen displayed on the subject of the Illi- nois and Michigan canal, we will soon win the name once bestowed for the like cause in reproach upon North Carolina, the 'Rip Van Winkle of the Union.'"
"Our citizens were not a little delighted on Saturday morning last by a sight as novel as it was beautiful. About 9 o'clock their attention was arrested by the appearance of the splendid schooner 'Illinois' as she came gliding up the river into the heart of the town under full sail. The 'Illinois' is a new vessel of nearly one hun- dred tons, launched this spring at Sackett's Harbor, New York, is a perfect model of a schooner, and is commanded by Captain Pickering. Her top masts were covered with flags and streamers and her canvas was all spread to invite the gentle breeze. The banks of the river were crowded with a delighted crowd, and as she reached the wharf of Newberry & Dole, where she first stopped, she was hailed with loud and repeated cheers. Her decks were Vol. I-7.
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immediately crowded by the citizens, all anxious to greet her gal- lant commander with a warm and hearty welcome. The draw- bridge was soon raised and she passed into the upper end of the town and came to at Ingersoll's wharf in front of the Western Stage house. On her passage up the river more than two hundred of our citizens were on board."-(Democrat, July 16, 1834.)
Although the article does not say so, this was the first lake vessel to sail up the Chicago river. On Monday night following, the schooner "Philip," Captain Howe, also entered the river, and on Tuesday discharged her cargo at the wharf of Newberry & Dole.
"Chicago Harbor .- This work is now in rapid progress and never has it before presented so busy and active a scene as at the present time. About one hundred hands are employed upon this work and more are still wanted. The North pier is rapidly extend- ing into the lake and as soon as it shall be built across the sand bar lying opposite the mouth of the river, so that the channel shall be protected from the northeast winds, we may soon expect to find it of sufficient depth to admit vessels of the larger class into the river. Under its present very active and efficient superintendent, Lieut. J. Allen, much may be expected this season."-(Democrat, August 13, 1834. )
"Mails .- The apathy prevalent among our citizens is astonish- ing, with a population of over two thousand five hundred, de- pendent upon the postoffice in this town; with the business trans- acted equal to some places where a semi-daily mail is required; with a garrison of troops; with important public works in progress; with an Indian agency through which the Government is now nego- tiating the ratification of a treaty; with all these it is a matter of astonishment that the people should feel such indifference on the subject of mails."-(Democrat, August 13, 1834.)
"Chicago Piers .- Since the commencement upon the United States piers this work has progressed rapidly. The pier on the north side has been extended into the lake six hundred feet and to near eight feet of water. This pier is to be finished thus far before it is extended farther. Much credit is due to Lieutenant Allen, the superintendent, in forwarding this work."-(Democrat, October 1, 1834. )
In the summer of 1834 Chicago began to be visited once a week by the steamboat "Uncle Sam" from Buffalo. The steamboat "Pioneer" plied regularly between Chicago and St. Joseph. Four to five schooners ran regularly across the lake. At this time, also, the stage began to run twice a week between Niles and St. Joseph. The steamboat "Pioneer" was wrecked near St. Joseph in July, 1834, but the passengers were saved by the "Marengo." A bill in the Legislature in 1833-34 proposed to incorporate the "Mich- igan and Illinois Railroad Company." The trustees of Chicago elected in 1834 were John H. Kinzie, Gurdon S. Hubbard, J. K.
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Boyer, Ebenezer Goodrich and J. S. C. Hogan. In August, 1834, four-horse post coaches ran twice a week between St. Louis and Chicago; the route ran through Ottawa, Peoria and Springfield. A big mass meeting at the "Methodist Chapel" on October 4, 1834, appointed a committee of thirty to collect facts in regard to "a canal or railroad and an extension of the post road beyond Ottawa."
On October 6, 1834, it was reported that a black bear had been seen in the woods on the South branch above Madison street. Many went out and finally located bruin in a big tree. A shot brought it down, but two more shots were required before it was dispatched. This little adventure stirred the hunting instincts of the inhabitants, who thereupon determined to have a wolf hunt. Three or four divisions were formed and many of the animals were routed out-one took to the lake when surrounded; another was driven into the town and was killed by an officer of the fort with a sword. About twenty wolves were slain .- (Democrat, October 8, 1834.)
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