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 II > Part 10
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
"Four years have passed since the organization of this associa- tion. During that time, notwithstanding the many discourage- ments that have arisen in the pathway of this most cherished enter- prise, the ladies have endeavored by patient and persistent effort to make it what it was designed to be, a permanent instrument of usefulness to the neglected children of our city. At our last annual report we had under our care four schools-two in the North division, at "The Sands' and on Indiana street near the North branch; one in the West division, and one on New street in the South division. These are all now in a flourishing condition, except the one at "The Sands,' which ceased with the dispersion of that abandoned population during the summer."
In October, 1858, the children of school age in this city were as follows: South division, 14,110; North division, 13,780; West division, 18,855; total, 46,745. At this date Luther Haven was president of the Board of Education, and W. H. Wells superin- tendent of city schools.
In July, 1859, at the third anniversary of the Chicago high school twenty students were graduated from the literary department and four from the normal department.
During the '50s an important question concerning the disposal of the public school fund was duly considered here. The Catholics who paid school tax demanded the right to instruct their children in the public schools in the Catholic religion, and when denied this privilege demanded the right to their pro rata share of the public school fund. In the end both demands were denied.
120
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
In April, 1860, the Cook county teachers' institute assembled at Harlem station, on the Galena railway, seven miles from Chicago. The object of the institute was to train Cook county teachers in the best methods of instruction, etc. The institute was duly opened by School Commissioner Eberhart. Among those in attendance were D. S. Wentworth, S. M. Wilson, W. H. Wells, George Sher- wood, A. J. Anderson, Benjamin Cutter, O. W. Herrick, W. Wood- ard and others. State Superintendent N. Bateman lectured before the institute. Many interesting exercises were conducted by the teachers in attendance. One very instructive exercise on "The First Day in School" was conducted by O. W. Herrick, of Harlem school, and Miss Turner, of Brickton.
In July, 1860, the number of pupils in attendance at the high school was 286. In 1859 there had been 245, and in 1858 148. Of the 286 there were in the Classical department 139, in the English department 112, and in the Normal department 35. It was noted at this time that the high-school building would accom- modate 360 pupils. Many others desired to attend, but for reasons unknown the school board did not enlarge the facilities so that others could be added to the number in attendance. In July, 1860, George Howland was elected principal of the high school.
In June, 1856, the number of teachers in the city public schools was 47; in February, 1861, the number was 135, and in March, 1862, the number was 160. From 1856 to 1862 seven new school- houses had been completed, and two others were in process of erection. On June 1, 1856, there were in attendance at the Chicago public schools 2,785 scholars, and in March, 1862, there were 8,569. In 1861, 172 colored children were enrolled in the city.
In March, 1862, the number of children between the ages of five and fifteen years in the city was 27,000. Of these there were enrolled in the public schools 15,159, in private schools 7,750, and not in any school 4,091. At this time the city school fund was as follows: Real estate in the city, $900,000; real estate out of the city, $25,000; money loaned, principal, $52,000; wharfing lot fund, $29,180; total, $1,006,180.
The act of February 12, 1861, declared that the tax assessed in 1859 against District 23, Township 39 north, Range 14 east, Cook county, for the constructon of a schoolhouse, was illegal, and the money thus collected was ordered refunded.
During the years from 1860 to 1862, inclusive, there was an enormous increase in the number of children in the city requiring an education. The facilities were unequal to the requirements. From all portions of the city came demands for additional school- houses and teachers. The school board, owing to the hard times during the war, came to the conclusion to meet these requirements by constructing branch schoolhouses connected with the principal school buildings. By 1862 four of these branch houses, each costing
-
Abram Dal Masch
123
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
about $4,000, had been erected. Each had six rooms and a capacity of about 378 scholars each. They were located adjoining the Washington, Kinzie, Franklin and Foster schools.
In 1860 Prof. J. F. Eberhart became county commissioner of schools. During the months of October and November he vis- ited nearly all of the schools of the county. At this time Palatine was constructing a graded school building.
In July, 1861, the question of admitting colored children to the city public schools was thoroughly discussed. It was asked, "If a colored girl should be well qualified to enter the high school and should pass the examination, should she be admitted?" The ques- tion was discussed through the newspapers and was taken up by the city council for final settlement. After the subject had been thoroughly debated six of the Board of Education voted in favor of the admission of colored children and three voted against such admission. This vote was taken upon the specific case of a colored girl who desired admission to the normal department of the high school. The members of the board who voted against her admis- sion were: Hoard, Moseley and Sheahan.
In March, 1861, Lind University closed its second year by grad- uating twelve scholars.
In October, 1861, the Cook county teachers' institute was held at Blue Island and among those in attendance were : J. F. Eberhart, county commissioner of schools, R. Welch, D. B. Fonda, G. E. Dol- ton, Mr. Chase and others. The daily papers in November noted that on the 20th of that month 130 female school teachers from all parts of the county were in the city to draw their monthly pay.
In April, 1862, W. L. Newberry donated in trust to the Newberry school, which had been named after him, a $1,000 Chicago city bond.
In September, 1862, the Cook county teachers' institute held two sessions, one at Thornton on the Illinois Central railway and the other at Dunton on the Northwestern railway. Many teachers were in attendance at both sessions.
In September, 1862, the new Haven school was opened. Scholars living south of Polk street and Peck court and north of Old street were admitted. The grounds upon which this building rested cost $11,250; the building cost $18,263; complete and furnished the building cost $22,000.
Late in 1862 the following branch schools were being conducted : Scammon, Foster, Washington, Franklin, Kinzie, Moseley and Ogden.
The following is the average number of children attending all of the public schools of Chicago, including the high school, for the years mentioned : 1850, 1,224; 1851, 1,409; 1852, 1,521; 1853, 1,795; 1854, 1,629; 1855, 2,154; 1856, 3,688; 1857, 4,464; 1858, 5,516. In February, 1859, the number of scholars in private schools,
Vol. II-8.
1
ยท
124
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
according to a careful census, was 4,675. The number of teachers connected with private schools was 119. The aggregate number of children belonging to all the schools of Chicago in February, 1859, was as follows: Public schools, 12,875 ; private schools, 4,675; total, 17,548. In 1856 the number of children attending private schools was larger by fifty-nine than those who attended the public schools. It was noted in 1859 that Chicago had spent from 1856 to 1858 inclusive a total of $160,000 for school buildings. The loca- tions of the city schools were as follows:
Chicago high school, on Monroe between Halsted and Des Plaines, Charles A. Dupee, principal; Dearborn school, Madison street between State and Dearborn, George D. Broomell, principal; Jones school, corner Clark and Harrison, Willard Woodard, prin- cipal; Scammon school, Madison between Halsted and Union, Dan- iel S. Wentworth, principal; Kinzie school, corner Ohio and La Salle, Benjamin D. Slocum, principal; Franklin school, corner Di- vision and Sedgwick, Albert G. Lane, principal; Washington school, corner Owen and Sangamon, Benj. R. Cutter, principal; Moseley school, Michigan and Monterey, Bradford Y. Averell, principal; Brown school, corner Warren and Page, Henry M. Keith, prin- cipal; Foster school, Union near Twelfth, George W. Spofford, prin- cipal; Ogden school, Chestnut between Dearborn and Wolcott, George W. Dow, principal; Newberry school, corner Orchard and Willow, Curtis C. Meserve, principal; School No. 12, Reuben and Cornelia, Eugene L. Aiken, principal.
Report of Luther Haven, president of the Board of Education, March, 1860:
Value of
SCHOOLS.
Buildings.
High
$ 35,200
Dearborn
5,000
Jones
6,000
Jones school branch.
1,200
Scammon
6,000
Kinzie
5,000
Franklin
6,000
Ogden
23,800
Newberry
23,700
Washington
6,000
Brown
21,500
Foster
20,200
Foster branch
1,200
Skinner
27,200
Moseley
22,200
Number 12
1,200
Total
$211,400
Value of school grounds.
$124,300
School furniture and fixtures. 18,198
In March, 1860, Professor Dupee, principal of the high school, reported adversely to the teaching of German in that institution.
125
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The total school expense of all public schools for the year ending February 1, 1860, was as follows :
Salary of principal $ 1,800.00
Lowest of women teachers. 250.00
Salary of teachers and superintendents. 49,612.48
Salary of school agents.
400.00
Labor, supplies, care of buildings, offices, fuel, repairs, etc., office expenses, printing. etc. 14,203.66
Rent of school buildings, furniture and lots, etc. 19,095.76
Other rents 552.34
Total
$ 83,834.19
Whole school fund.
$977,000.00
"The undersigned teachers, residents of the southern portion of Cook county, wishing to promote the cause of popular education, respectfully invite the teachers, school officers and other friends of education, to meet with them in a convention to be held in the public schoolhouse of Blue Island, on Saturday, the 27th day of October, 1860, at 2 o'clock P. M. The following among other propositions will be submitted to the consideration of the convention.
"The formation of an association of teachers and others interested in our public schools for mutual improvement.
"The holding of a series of educational meetings in different towns with a view to awakening greater interest in our public schools.
"To take measures for holding a teachers' institute at such time and place as shall best accommodate the teachers of our vicinity."
"Rodney Welch, Julius Briesen and Albert Broome, of Worth; E. W. Jarrett, of Lake; O. F. Rudd, of Bremen; G. F. Codding, of Palos ; H. Alexander, of Orland."-(Press and Tribune, October 18, 1860. )
The educational movement carried out by Rev. Robert Collyer, minister at large, should be particularly noted. He conducted a free night school and a Sunday school for poor children. From Feb- ruary, 1859, to February, 1860, he found homes for 128 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 years. He found situations dur- ing the same period for 146 boys and men and 300 girls. The insti- tute represented by him was founded in October, 1857, and was organized to meet the needs of the Unitarian church.
By act of February 13, 1863, the Chicago University was given power to establish an astronomical observatory. In September, 1863, J. F. Eberhart, school commissioner, reported that he had visited since May 1, 1863, every school in the county to the number of about 200, except about forty. He announced that good progress was being made throughout the county in the cause of education. He stated that teachers and parents showed greater interest in the cause of education than ever before. However, he admitted there were too many schools of a low standard yet in the county. At this date he asked the county board to appropriate $100 to help defray
126
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
the expense of the Teachers' institute to be held a little later in two sessions at Blue Island and Palatine.
The following was the number of teachers and pupils enrolled September 7, 1863, when the city schools were opened for the com- ing year :
SCHOOLS.
Teachers.
Pupils.
High
10
320
Dearborn
12
1,166
Jones
12
1,648
Scammon
12
1,137
Kinzie
13
1,273
Franklin
13
1,011
Washington
17
1,552
Moseley.
12
1,367
Brown
10
817
Foster
19
1,865
Ogden
12
1,413
Newberry
9
929
No. 12 and branch.
4
459
Skinner
21
2,295
Haven
13
269
Total
189
17,521
The Kinzie, Washington and Franklin schools had each an addi- tional teacher and therefore could receive more scholars. At this date there was an important mission school at the corner of Fourth avenue and Taylor street. Late in 1863 it was transformed into a colored school with an enrollment of 300 pupils. Previous to this date 123 colored children were taught in the white schools of the city. The greatest number were seventy in the Jones school and the next greatest twenty-five in the Dearborn school.
The proposition to establish a colored school in the city met with considerable opposition in the common council. Mr. Wentworth raised the question of constitutionality under the black laws of Illinois. He argued that if colored people could not under the law settle in the State they could not have schools. The question was finally referred to a committee. The committee reported in favor of the establishment of a separate colored school and late in the fall of 1863 it was duly opened.
In 1851 there were but four public schools in Chicago: they ac- commodated 1,700 pupils. The next schoolhouse built was in 1856 when the Moseley building was erected. In 1857 the Brown and Foster buildings were built; in 1858 the Newberry; in 1859 the Skinner; in 1862 the Haven; and during 1862 five branches were built. In 1857 the high school building was erected. In 1862 the average attendance at the public schools was 8,295.
Under the new charter of 1862 two additional school districts were added to the city as follows: Bridgeport with a plain, two- story frame building and three teachers, the principal above and two assistants below; also a school building in South Chicago near
127
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
Camp Douglas. This building had two rooms and two teachers. In addition a small school with one teacher had been opened in Holstein on the west side of the North branch a little above the Forks.
In October, 1863, the Board of Education decided to try the experiment of starting two evening schools, one for girls and one for boys, both located in the Dearborn school building on Madison street, opposite McVicker's theater. By November 9, 100 scholars had been enrolled.
The experiment of conducting night schools on a somewhat elab- orate plan was continued. , The results were so excellent that the Board of Education resolved to establish five of such schools dur- ing the winter of 1864-5 in connection with the Dearborn, Haven, Foster, Washington and Franklin schools.
In 1862 the colored people established a school of their own, but the attendance was limited. During the winter of 1863-4 they again made the attempt and succeeded beyond their expectations. The school was located at 640 West Lake street. A term of six months was taught by a white teacher named Theodore J. Ellmore.
In January, 1863, a session of the Teachers' institute was held at Blue Island. The session was both interesting and instructive. Lectures, essays, discussions and practical recitations were the or- der of business. A portion of this session was held in the stone schoolhouse at Bachelor's grove beginning February 7, 1863.
In August, 1863, the National Teachers' association assembled in this city. Many prominent educators from all parts of the country were in attendance. It was considered one of the most important events in the educational history of the county up to that date.
In August, 1863, Rev. Roswell Park, D. D., conducted a special school for boys at Lake View and called his institution Immanuel Hall.
"The many educational facilities of the city during the past year have been strained to their utmost capacity. All the public schools have been filled almost to overflowing and in many cases it has been found absolutely necessary to procure other buildings to ac- commodate the children," said the board. The total expense of maintaining the city schools for the fiscal year 1863-4 was $95,551. The enrollment was 15,451, average attendance 12.344; per cent. of attendance 90. The names of the schools were High, Dearborn, Jones, Scammon, Kinzie, Franklin, Washington, Moseley, Brown, Foster, Ogden, Newberry, No. Twelve, Skinner, Haven, South Chicago, Bridgeport, Holstein, Colored. There were 167 colored children enrolled.
In October, 1864. the Cook county teachers' institute met at Lyons and later at Blue Island. It was conducted by School Com- missioner Eberhart and E. A. Angel of the Board of Education. A session was also held at Barrington. The session at the latter
128
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
village was acknowledged to have been the best ever conducted in the county up to that date.
On October 5, 1864, when the Board of Education was consid- ering the advisability of excluding the colored children from the public schools, the colored citizens held a mass meeting at Quinn chapel and protested against such a procedure.
In December, 1864, J. F. Eberhart, county commissioner, re- ported as follows to the State superintendent concerning the Cook county schools: Number of school districts in the county, 192; number of schools in the county, 199; number of schools in session six months or more, 188; number of districts in which no schools have been reported, 5; whole number of persons under 21 years of age, 84,953; whites between five and twenty-one, 51,462; male scholars in schools, 16,758; female scholars in schools, 15,575; num- ber of male teachers, 123; number of female teachers, 408; number of graded schools in county, 27; number of private schools in the county, 68; number of scholars in private schools, 8,958; number of school houses, 202; school land, unsold acres, 2,890; total receipts for all school purposes, $180,054; teachers' wages, $139,252. In November, 1864, the city superintendent made the following report concerning the Chicago schools :
SCHOOLS.
Enrollment.
Average Attendance.
High
342
312
Dearborn
845
693
Jones
734
599
Scammon
973
796
Kinzie
974
791
Franklin
1,207
1,076
Washington
1,391
1,066
Moseley
841
649
Brown
747
616
Foster
,804
1,454
Ogden
905
745
Newberry
896
701
No. 12
505
398
Skinner
1,632
1,283
Haven
937
735
South Chicago
102
74
Bridgeport
285
201
Holstein
65
48
Colored
167
107
Total
15,451
12,344
The evening schools in Chicago were as follows :
SCHOOLS.
Enrollment.
Average Attendance.
Dearborn
263
165
Haven
253
146
Foster
355
166
Washington
213
135
Franklin
401
191
Total
1,485
803
.
129
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
The age of scholars at the evening schools ranged from twelve to forty years. The attendance was five or six times greater than 1863-4.
In December, 1864, the teachers in the public schools of Chicago contributed at one call $282.48 to the Sanitary commission. Early in 1865 the school board reported that in seventeen rooms in the city schools there was an excess of 910 pupils who could not be properly accommodated. The University of Chicago, on Cottage Grove avenue, just south of Camp Douglas, was nearly completed in 1865. The Astronomical observatory near there was also nearly finished. The big telescope was nearly ready by January, 1866.
ATTENDANCE, SEPTEMBER, 1865.
SCHOOLS.
Enrollment.
Average Attendance.
High
378
355
Dearborn
737
560
Jones
848
692
Scammon
839
692
Kinzie
903
711
Franklin
1,391
1,321
Washington
1,447
1,143
Moseley
905
739
Brown
871
736
Foster
1,785
1,473
Ogden
864
717
Newberry
1,105
873
Wells
524
443
Skinner
1,591
1,268
Haven
1,013
816
Bridgeport
356
268
South Chicago
106
73
Holstein not reported.
Total
15,663
12,780
The act of April 15, 1865, authorized Rush Medical college to issue and sell bonds to secure means to pay off certain indebtedness, but not to exceed $100,000.
The act of February 16, 1865, provided that there should be at least one common school in each district of the county, where free instruction should be given all children over six years of age; that the board of education should admit to the public schools of the city children residing in the adjacent towns of Cook county; that the mayor should no longer be a member of the board of police and of the board of public works.
The United States census report for 1850 gives the number of schools in Cook county as sixty-eight, the number of teachers as eighty-eight, and the number of pupils as 3,910. The annual in- come was $16,396, comprising taxes $13.676, public funds $1,360, and revenue from other sources $1,360. There was then no college in the county, but there were nine academies, employing sixteen teachers, and furnishing tuition to 477 pupils, their annual income being only $4,000. The statistics of education were, in 1850: At-
130
HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY
tendance-2,585 white males, 2,643 white females, 11 free colored males, 18 free colored females. Aggregate 5,257, comprising 3,702 natives and 1,552 foreigners. Adults who could not read or write in Cook county in 1850 were 302 white males, 379 white females, 47 free colored males, 34 free colored females. Aggregate 762, con- stituted by 110 natives and 652 foreigners.
The first report of the county school commissioners, on file in the office of the county superintendent, is for the year ending October 1, 1860, and that furnishes the following compendium: Number of schools, 192; average attendance, 22,965. The expenditures for that year were $178,972.62, and the receipts $174,260.13. For the year ending October 1, 1865, the report gives the attendance as 37,880; the expenditures as $252,379.84, and the receipts as $218,- 594.75. The year ending July 31, 1870, the figures were as fol- lows: Public schools, 231; private schools, 145; total, 376; attend- ance, 49,988; receipts from all sources, $1,056,714.29; expenditures, $983,770.66, and the value of school property was $4,733,338.06. In the year 1879-80, the public schoolhouses numbered 297, and the private schools 202; total, 499. The number of pupils enrolled was 78,971, and the expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, were $1,615,173.65; the receipts for the same period $1,853,- 894.06, and the valuation of school property at the end of the fiscal year $3,051,430.
EARLY BANKING OPERATIONS
I LLINOIS had two early State banks, neither one of which proved satisfactory. A new State bank was chartered during the winter of 1834-5. Under the law passed at this time a branch was established in this city. In 1837, like all other banks of the country, it suspended specie payments, but continued doing busi- ness until 1841 and was then removed. Later it returned to Chicago as herein described, but after a short period was again permanently closed.
Probably several of the early merchants bought and sold exchange before a regular banking establishment was opened here. In June, 1835, E. D. Taylor, receiver of the land office, announced that bills of the Bank of Michigan, Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Michi- gan, all security banks of New York State, the banks of Cleveland, and the banks of Cincinnati would be accepted in payment for land in this district.
"Will the bank at Springfield inform us when the branch to be established in this town is to go into operation? There is more business doing in this town than in any other in the State, yet others have their branches while we are deprived of ours." --- (Chi- cago American, October 24, 1835.)
Late in 1835 a branch of the State Bank of Illinois was estab- lished in this city. It was not opened, however, until January, 1836. W. H. Brown, the cashier, announced that the bank would open at 9 o'clock and close at 1 o'clock on discount days, which were Tuesdays and Fridays. Those desiring discount were re- quired to present their notes on Mondays and Thursdays. The directors of the bank were as follows: John H. Kinzie, G. S. Hub- bard, Peter Pruyne, E. K. Hubbard, R. J. Hamilton, Walter Kim- ball, H. B. Clarke, G. W. Dole and E. D. Taylor. It was an- nounced by the directors on December 5, 1835, that operations would be begun in about three weeks.
During the fall of 1836, this community suffered greatly owing to an influx of counterfeit money in large quantities. In May, 1837, the newspapers here noted that all the Eastern banks were sus- pending specie payments. On May 27 the Chicago American said : "Confidence is all that is required to carry us through the gale; and nothing in times like these tends more to give that than for all to keep cool."
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.