USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > Part 13
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Richard J. Oglesby -- Was born in 1824, in Kentucky; an orphan at the age of eight, came to Illinois when only 12 years old. He was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade; worked some at farming and read law occasionally. He enlisted in the Mexican War and was chosen First Lieutenant. After his return he again took up the law, but during the gold fever of 1849 went to Califor- nia; soon returned, and, in 1852, entered npon his illustrious political career. He raised the second regiment in the State, to suppress, the Rebellion, and for gallantry was promoted to Major General. In 1864 he was elected Governor, and re-elected in 1872, and resigned for a seat in the United States Senate. He is a staunch Republican and resides at Decatur.
Shelby M. Cullom-Was born in Kentucky in 1828; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced the practice of his profession in 1848; was elected to the State Legislature in 1856, and again in 1860. Served on the war commission at Cairo, 1862.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and was a member of the 39th, 40th and 41st Congress, in all of which he served with credit to liis State. He was again elected to the State Legislature in 1872, and re-elected in 1874, and was elected Governor of Illinois in 1876, which office he still holds, and has administered with marked ability.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.
Pierre Menard-Was the first Lieut. Gov. of Illinois. He was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1767. He came to Illinois in 1790 where he engaged in the Indian trade and became wealthy. He died in 1844. Menard county was named in his honor.
Adolphus F. Hubbard-Was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1822. Four years later he ran for Governor against Edwards, but was beaten.
William Kinney-Was elected in 1826. He was a Baptist clergyman; was born in Kentucky in 1781 and came to Illinois in 1793.
Zadock Casey-Although on the opposition ticket to Governor Reynolds, the successful Gubernatorial candidate, yet Casey was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1830. He subsequently served several terms in Congress.
Alexander M. Jenkins-Was elected on ticket with Gov. Duncan in 1834 by a handsome majority.
S. H. Anderson-Lient. Gov. under Gov. Carlin, was chosen in 1838. He was a native of Tennessee.
John Moore -- Was born in England in 1793; came to Illinois in 1830; was elected Lieut. Gov. in 1842. He won the name of " Ilonest John Moore."
Joseph B. Wells-Was chosen with Gov. French at his first election In 1846.
William Mc Murtry .- In 1848 when Gov. French was again chosen Governor, William McMurtry of Knox county, was elected Lient. Governor.
Gustavus P. Koerner-Was elected in 1852. He was born in Germany in 1809. At the age of 22 came to Illinois. In 1872 he was a candidate for Governor on Liberal ticket, but was defeated.
John Wood-Was elected in 1856, and on the death of Gov. Bissell became Governor.
Francis A. Hoffman-Was chosen with Gov. Yates in 1860. He was born in Prussia in 1822, and came to Illinois in 1840.
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
William Bross-Was born in New Jersey, came to Illinois in 1848, was elected to office in 1864.
John Dougherty-Was elected in 1868.
John L. Beveredge-Was chosen Lieut. Gov. in 1872. In 1873 Oglesby was elected to the U. S. Senate when Beveridge became Governor.
Andrew Shuman-Was elected Nov. 7, 1876, and is the present incumbent.
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
Ninian W. Edwards. 1854-56
Newton Bateman 1859-75
W. H. Powell. 1857-58
Samuel M. Etter. 1876
ATTORNEY GENERALS.
Daniel P. Cook 1819
Geo. W. Olney 1838
William Mears 1820
Wickliffe Kitchell 1839
Samuel D. Lockwood.
1821-22
Josiah Lamborn
1841-42
James Turney. 1823-28
James A. McDougall 1843-46
George Forquer. 1829-32
David B. Campbell 1846
James Semple. 1833-34
[Office abolished and re-created in 1867 ]
Nınian E. Edwards 1834-35
Robert G. Ingersoll 1867-68
Jesse B. Thomas, Jr 1835
Washington Bushnell. 1869-72
Walter B. Seates 1836
James K. Edsall.
1873-79
TREASURERS.
John Thomas 1818 -- 19
R. K. MeLaughlin. 1819-22
Ebner Field 1823-26
Alexander Starne. 1863 -- 64
James Hall. 1827-30
James H. Beveridge 1865 -- 66
John Dement. 1831-36
George W. Smith 1867 -- 68
Charles Gregory 1836
John D. Whiteside. 1837-40
M. Carpenter 1841-48
Thomas S. Ridgeway 1876 -- 77
Edward Rutz 1878-79
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Elias K. Kane. 1818-22
Samuel D. Lockwood. 1822-23
David Blackwell 1823-24
Morris Birkbeck. 1824
George Forquer. 1825-38
Alexander P. Field. 1829-40
Stephen A. Douglas. 1840
Lyman Trumbull. 1841-43
Thompson Campbell 1843-46
Horace S. Cooley 1846 -- 49
David L. Gregg. 1850 -- 52
Alexander Starne 1833 -- 56
Ozias M. Hatch. 1857-60
Sharon Tyndale 1865-68
Edward Rummel 1869 -- 72
Asher F. Linder 1837
James Miller. 1857-60
William Butler 1861 -- 62
Erastus N. Bates 869 -- 72
Edward Rutz 1873 -- 75
John Moore. 1848-56
George H. Harlow
1873-79
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
AUDITORS.
Elijah C. Berry
1818-31
Thompson Campbell 1846
I. T. B. Stapp
1831-33
Jesse K. Dubois. 1857 -- 64
Levi Davis .
1835-40
Orlin H. Miner
1865 -- 68
James Shields
1841-42
Charles E. Lippencott 1869 -- 76
W. L. D. Ewing.
1843-45
Thompson B. Needles 1877-79
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Ninian Edwards .- On the organization of the State in 1818, Edwards, the popular Territorial Governor, was chosen Senator for the short term, and in 1819 re-elected for full term.
Jesse B. Thomas-One of the federal judges during the entire Territorial existence was chosen Senator on organization of the State, and re-elected in 1823, and served till 1829.
John McLean-In 1824 Edwards resigned, and McLean was elected to fill his unexpired term. He was born in North Carolina in 1791, and came to Illinois in 1815; served one term in Congress, and in 1829 was elected to the U. S. Senate, but the following year died. He is said to have been the most gifted man of his period in Illinois.
Elias Kent Kane-Was elected Nov. 30, 1824, for the term be- ginning March 4, 1825. In 1830 he was re-elected, but died before the expiration of his term. IIe was a native of New York, and in 1814 came to Illinois. He was first Secretary of State, and after- wards State Senator.
David Jewett Baker-Was appointed to fill the unexpired term of John McLean, in 1830, Nov. 12, but the Legislature refused to endorse the choice. Baker was a native of Connecticut, born in 1792, and died in Alton in 1869.
John M. Robinson .- Instead of Baker, the Governor's appointee, the Legislature chose Robinson, and in 1834 he was re-elected. In 1843 was elected Supreme Judge of the State, but within two months died. He was a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois while quite young.
William L. D. Ewing-Was elected in 1835, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Kane. He was a Kentuckian.
Richard M. Young-Was elected in 1836, and held his seat from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1843, a full term. He was a
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
native of Kentucky; was Circuit Judge before his election to the Senate, and Supreme Judge in 1842. He died in an insane asylum at Washington.
Samuel McRoberts-The first native Illinoisian ever elevated to the high office of U. S. Senator from this State, was born in 1799, and died in 1843 on his return home from Washington. He was elected Circuit Judge in 1824, and March 4, 1841, took his seat in the U. S. Senate.
Sidney Breese-Was elected to the U. S. Senate, Dec. 17, 1842, and served a full term. He was born in Oneida county, N. Y. He was Major in the Black Hawk war; Circuit Judge, and in 1841 was elected Supreme Judge. He served a full term in the U. S. Senate, beginning March 4, 1843, after which he was elected to the Legislature, again Circuit Judge, and, in 1857, to the Supreme Court, which position he held until his death in 1878.
James Semple-Was the successor of Samuel McRoberts, and was appointed by Gov. Ford in 1843. He was afterwards elected Judge of the Supreme Court.
Stephen A. Douglas-Was elected Dec. 14, 1846. He had pre- viously served three terms as Congressman. He became his own. successor in 1853 and again in 1859. From his first entrance in the Senate he was acknowledged the peer of Clay, Webster and Cal- houn, with whom he served his first term. His famous contest with Abraham Lincoln for the Senate in 1858 is the most memor- able in the annals of our country. It was called the battle of the giants, and resulted in Douglas' election to the Senate, and Lincoln to the Presidency. He was born in Brandon, Vermont, April 23, 1813, and came to Illinois in 1833, and died in 1861. He was appointed Secretary of State by Gov. Carlin in 1840, and shortly afterward to the Supreme Bench.
James Shields-Was elected and assumed his seat in the U. S. Senate in 1849, March 4. He was born in Ireland in 1810, came to the United States in 1827. He served in the Mexican army, was elected Senator from Wisconsin, and in 1879 from Missouri for a short term.
Lyman Trumbull-Took his seat in the U. S. Senate March 4, 1855, and became his own successor in 1861. He had previously served one term in the Lower House of Congress, and served on the Supreme Bench. He was born in Connecticut; studied law
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and came to Illinois early in life, where for years he was actively engaged in polities. He resides in Chicago.
Orvill H. Browning-Was appointed U. S. Senator in 1861, to fill the seat made vacant by the death of Stephen A. Douglas, until a Senator could be regularly elected. Mr. Browning was born in Harrison county, Kentucky; was admitted to the bar in 1831, and settled in Quiney, Illinois, where he engaged in the practice of law, and was instrumental, with his friend, Abraham Lincoln, in form- ing the Republican party of Illinois at the Bloomington Conven- tion. He entered Johnson's cabinet as Secretary of the Interior, and in March, 1868, was designated by the President to perform the duties of Attorney General, in addition to his own, as Secretary of the Interior Department.
William A. Richardson-Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1863, to fill the unexpired term of his friend, Stephen A Douglas. He was born in Fayette county, Ky., about 1810, studied law, and settled in Illinois; served as captain in the Mexican War, and, on the battle-field of Buena Vista, was promoted for bravery, by a unanimous vote of his regiment. He served in the Lower House of Congress from 1847 to 1856, continually.
Richard Yates-Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1865, serv- ing a full term of six years. He died in St. Louis, Mo .; Nov. 27, 1873.
John A. Logan-Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1871. He was born in Jackson county, Ill., Feb. 9, 1826, received a common school education, and enlisted as a private in the Mexican War, where he rose to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster. On returning home he studied law, and came to the bar in 1852; was elected in 1858 a Representative to the 36th Congress and re-elected to the 37th Congress, resigning in 1861 to take part in the sup- pression of the Rebellion; served as Colonel and subsequently as a Major General, and commanded, with distinction, the armies of the Tennessee. He was again elected to the U. S. Senate in 1879 for six years.
David Davis --. Was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1877 for a term of six years. He was born in Ceeil county, Md., March 9, 1815, graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, studied law, and removed to Illinois in 1835; was admitted to the bar and settled in Blooming- ton, where he has since resided and amassed a large fortune. He
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
was for many years the intimate friend and associate of Abraham Lincoln, rode the circuit with him each year, and after Lincoln's election to the Presidency, was appointed by him to fill the position of Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.
NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
John McLean. 1818
Daniel P. Cook
1825-26
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
TWENTIETH CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook.
1819-20
Joseph Duncan.
.1827-28
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook.
1821-22
Joseph Duncan.
1829-30
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
TWENTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook. .1823-24 Joseph Duncan .1831-32
TWENTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
Joseph Duncan 1833-34
Zadock Casey. 1833-34
TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey 1835-36
William L. May
1835-36
John Reynolds. 1835-36
TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey
1837-38
William L. May ..
1837-38
John Reynolds. 1837-38
TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey .. . 1839-40
John T. Stuart.
1839-40
John Reynolds. .1839-40
TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Zadock Casey
1841-42
John T. Stuart 1841-42
John Reynolds. .1841-42
TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Robert Smith.
1843-44
Joseph P. Hoge 1843-44
Orlando B. Finklin
1843-44
John J. Hardin. 1843-44
Stephen A. Douglas.
1843-44
John Wentworth 1843-44
John A. McClernand. 1843-44
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Robert Smith 1845-46
Joseph P. Hoge .. 1845-46
Stephen A. Douglas.
1845-46
John A. McClernand. 1845-46
Orlando B. Finklin
1845-46
John Wentworth. 1845-46
John J. Hardin 1845
THIRTIETH CONGRESS.
John Wentworth. 1847-48
Orlando B. Finklin. 1847-48
Thomas J. Turner
1847
Robert Smith. 1847-48
Abraham Lincoln.
1847-48
William A. Richardson
1847-48
John A. McClernand. 1947-48
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
John A. McCiernand.
1849-50 Edward D. Baker. 1849-50
John Wentworth.
1849-50
William H. Bissell
1849-50
Timothy R. Young. 1849-50
Thomas L. Harris. 1849
William A. Richardson
1849-50
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
William A. Richardson. 1851-52
Richard Yates
1851-52
Thompson Campbell.
1851-52
Richard S. Maloney. 1851-52
Orlando B. Finklin.
1851-52
Willis. 1851-53
John Wentworth. 1851-52
William H. Bissell 1851-52
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
William HI. Bissell. .1853-54
Thompson Campbell. 1853-54
John C. Allen.
1853-54
James Knox. 1853-54
Willis.
1853-54
Jesse O. Norton.
1853-54
Elihu B. Washburne
1853-54
William A. Richardson 1863-54
Richard Yates 1853-54
THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
Elihu B. Washburne 1855-56
Samuel S. Marshall. 1855-56
Lyman Trumbull.
1855-56
J. L. D. Morrison. 1855-56
James H. Woodworth
1855-56
Jolin C. Allen. 1855-56
James Knox. .
. 1855-56
Jesse O. Norton. 1853-56
Thompson Campbell .1855-56
William A. Richardson 1855-56
TIIIRTY-FIFTHI CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne. 1837-58
Samuel 8. Marshall 1857-58
Charles D. flodges
1857-58
Isaac N. Morris. 1857-58
William Kellogg. 1857-58
Aaron Shaw. 1857-58
Thompson Campbell.
1857-58
Robert Smith 1857-58
John F. Farnsworth 1857-58
Thomas L. Harris. 1857-58
Owen Lovejoy
1857-58
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1859-60
John F. Farnsworth. .1859-60
John A. Logan.
.1859-60
Philip B. Fouke. 1859-60
Owen Lovejoy
1859-60
Thomas L. Harris. 1859-60
John A. McClernand
1859-60
William Kellogg. 1859-60
Isaac N Morris 1859-60
James C. Robinson. 1859-60
THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne
1861-62
Isaac N. Arnold. 1861-62
James C. Robinson.
1861-62
Philip B. Fouke 1861-62
John A. Logan.
1861-62
William Kellogg 1861-62
Owen Lovejoy
1861-62
· Anthony L. Knapp 1861-63
John A. McClernand
1861-62
William A. Richardson 1861-63
THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne.
1863-64
William J. Allen. 1863-64
Jesse O. Norton
1863-64
Isaac N. Arnold.
1863-64
James C. Robinson
1863-64
John R. Eden.
1863-64
BOND-CHANDLER-SAUICALS.
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ILLINOIS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY, CHAMPAIGN-FOUNDED BY THE STATE ENDOWED BY CONGRESS.
169
Lewis W. Ross 1863-64
John T. Stuart. 1863-64
Charles W. Morris 1863-64
Owen Lovejoy
1863-64
Eben C. Ingersoll. 1863-64
Anthony L. Knapp 1863-64
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne. 1865-66
Jonn F. Farnsworth 1865-66
Anthony B. Thornton 1865-66
Jenu Baker 1865-66
John Wentworth +1865-66
Henry P. H. Bromwell. 1865-66
Abner C. Hardin. 1865-66
Andrew Z. Kuykandall. 1865-66
Eben C. Ingersoll.
1865-66
Samuel S. Marshall. 1865-66
Barton C. Cook.
1865-66
Samuel W. Moulton. 1865-66
Shelby M. Cullom
1865-66
Lewis W. Ross 1865-66
FORTIETHI CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1867-68
John F. Farnsworth 1867-68
Abner C. Hardin.
1867-68
Jehu Baker. 1867-68
Eben C. Ingersoll 1867-68
Henry P. H. Bromwell 1867-68
Norman B. Judd.
1867-68
John A. Logan. 1867-68
Albert G. Burr
1867-68
Samuel S. Marshall. 1867-68
Burton C. Cook
1867-68
Green B. Raum 1867-68
Shelby M. Cullom.
1867-68
Lewis W. Ross 1867-68
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Norman B. Judd.
1869-70
Shelby M. Cullom 1869-70
John F. Farnsworth 1869-70
Thomas W. McNeely 1869-70
H. C. Burchard. 1869-70
Albert G. Burr. 1869-70
John B. Hawley. 1869-70
Samuel S. Marshall 1860-70
Eben C. Ingersoll. 1869-70
John B. Hay. 1869-70
Burton C. Cook
1869-70
John M. Crebs 1869-70
Jesse H. Moore. 1869-70
John A. Logan .1869-70
FORTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
Charles B. Farwell. 1871-72
James C. Robinson. 1871-72
John F. Farnsworth. 1871-72
Thomas W. McNeely 1871-72
Horatio C. Burchard. 1871-72
Edward Y. Rice. 1871-72
John B. Hawley. 1871-72
Samuel S. Marshall. 1871-72
Bradford N. Stevens
1871-72
John B. Hay. 1871-72
Henry Snapp. 1871-72
John M. Crebs 1871-72
Jesse H. Moore 1871-72
John S. Beveredge. 1871-72
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
John B. Rice .. 1873-74
Robert M. Knapp 1873-74
Jasper D. Ward ..
1873-74
James C. Robinson 1873-74
Charles B. Farwell 1873-74
John B. McNulta. 1873-74
Stephen A. Hurlbut. 1873-74
Joseph G. Cannon 1873-74
Horatio C. Burchard. 1873-74
John R. Eden. 1873-74
John B. Hawley. 1873-74
James S. Martin. 1873-74
Franklin Corwin. 1873-74
William R. Morrison
1873-74
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
William R. Morrison 1863-64
John C. Allen. 1863-64
John F. Farnsworth. 1863-64
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Greenbury L. Fort.
1873-74 Isaac Clements 1873-74
Granville Barrere. 1873-74
Samuel S. Marshall 1873-74
William H. Ray. 1873-74
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
Bernard G. Caulfield 1875-76
Scott Wike. 1875-76
Carter H. Harrison.
1875-76
William M. Springer. . 1875-76
Charles B. Farwell
1875-76
Adlai E. Stevenson. 1875-76
Stephen A. Hurlbut. 1875-76
Joseph G. Cannon 1875-76
Horatio C. Burchard. 1875-76
John R. Eden .. 1875-76
Thomas J. Henderson 1875-76
W. A. J. Sparks. 1875-76
Alexander Campbell. 1875-76
William R. Morrison 1875-76
Greenbury L. Fort.
1875-76
William Hartzell.
1875-76
Richard H. Whiting
1875-76
William B. Anderson. 1875-76
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
William Aldrich 1877-78
Robert M. Knapp. 1877-78
Carter H. Harrison
1877-78
William M. Springer. 1877-78
Lorenzo Brentano
1877-78
Thomas F. Tipton
1877-78
William Lathrop.
1877-78
Joseph G. Cannon 1877-78
Horatio C. Burchard 1877-78.
John R. Eden 1877-78
Thomas J. Henderson 1877-78
W. A. J. Sparks. 1877-78
Philip C. Hayes. 1877-78
Greenbury L. Fort.
1877-78
William Hartzell. 1877-78
Thomas A. Boyd.
1877-78
Richard W. Townshend.
1877-78
Benjamin F. Marsh
1877-78
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
William Aldrich 1879-80
James W. Singleton 1879-80
George R. Davis.
1879-80
William M. Springer 1879-80
Hiram Barber
1879-80
A. E. Stevenson. 1879-80
John C. Sherwin
1879-80
Joseph G. Cannon. 1879-80
R. M. A. Hawk. 1879-80
Albert P. Forsythe. 1879-80
Thomas J. Henderson 1879-80
W. A. J. Sparks. 1879-80
Philip C. Hayes. 1879-80
William R. Morrison 1879-80
Greenbury L. Fort.
1879-80
John R. Thomas 1879-80
Thomas A. Boyd.
1879-80
R. W. Townshend.
1879-80
Benjamin F. Marsh
1879-80
CHICAGO.
While we cannot, in the brief space we have, give more than a meager sketch of such a city as Chicago, yet we feel the history of the State would be incomplete without speaking of its metropolis, the most wonderful city on the globe.
In comparing Chicago as it was a few years since with Chicago of to-day, we behold a change whose veritable existence we should
John C. Bagby
1875-76
William R. Morrison 1877-78
171
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
be inclined to doubt were it not a stern, indisputable fact. Rapid as is the customary development of places and things in the United States, the growth of Chicago and her trade stands without a parallel. The city is situated on the west shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Chicago river. It lies 14 feet above the lake, having been raised to that grade entirely by the energy of its citizens, its site having originally been on a dead level with the water of the lake.
The city extends north and south along the lake about ten miles, and westward on the prairie from the lake five or six miles, embrac- ing an area of over 40 square miles. It is divided by the river into three distinct parts, known as the North, West and South Divisions, or "Sides," by which they are popularly and commonly known. These are connected by 33 bridges and two tunnels.
The first settlement of Chicago was made in 1804, during which year Fort Dearborn was built. At the close of 1830 Chicago con- tained 12 houses, with a population of about 100. The town was organized in 1833, and incorporated as a city in 1837. The first frame building was erected in 1832, and the first brick house in 1833. The first vessel entered the harbor June 11, 1834; and at. the first official census, taken July 1, 1837, the entire population was found to be 4,170. In 1850 the population had increased to 29,963; in 1860, to 112,172; in 1870, 298,977; and, according to the customary mode of reckoning from the number of names in the City Directory, the population of 1879 is over 500,000.
Nicholas Perrot, a Frenchman, was the first white man to visit the site of Chicago. This he did in 1671, at the instigation of M. Toulon, Governor of Canada. . He was sent to invite the Western Indians to a convention at Green Bay. It has been often remarked that the first white man who became a resident of Chicago was a negro. His name was Jean Baptiste Pointe au Sable, a mulatto from the West Indies. . He settled there in 1796 and built a rude cabin on the north bank of the main river, and laid claim to a tract of land surrounding it. He disappeared from the scene, and his claim was "jumped" by a Frenchman named Le Mai, who commenced trad- ing with the Indians. A few years later he sold out to John Kin- zie, who was then an Indian trader in the country about St. Joseph, Mich., and agent for the American Fur Company, which had traded at Chicago with the Indians for some time; and this
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
fact had, probably more than any other, to do with the determina- tion of the Government to establish a fort there." The Indians were growing numerous in that region, being attracted by the facilities for selling their wares, as well as being pressed northward by the tide of emigration setting in from the south. It was judged necessary to have some force near that point to keep them in check. as well as to protect the trading interests. Mr. Kinzie moved his family there the same year Fort Dearborn was built, and converted the Jean Baptiste cabin into a tasteful dwelling.
For about eight years things moved along smoothly. The garri- son was quiet, and the traders prosperous. Then the United States became involved in trouble with Great Britain. The Indians took the war-path long before the declaration of hostilities between the civilized nations, committing great depredations, the most atro- cious of which was the massacre of Fort Dearborn, an account of which may be found in this volume under the heading of "The War of 1812."
THIE GREAT FIRE.
From the year 1840 the onward march of the city of Chicago to the date of the great fire is well known. To recount its marvel- ous growth in population, wealth, internal resources and improve- ments and everything else that goes to make up a mighty city, would consume more space than we could devote, however interest- ing it might be. Its progress astonished the world, and its citizens stood almost appalled at the work of their own hands. She was happy, prosperous and great when time brought that terrible Octo- ber night (Oct. 9, 1871) and with it the great fire, memorable as the greatest fire ever occurring on earth. The sensation conveyed to the spectator of this unparalleled event, either through the eye, the ear, or other senses or sympathies, cannot be adequately described, and any attempt to do it but shows the poverty of lan- guage. As a spectacle it was beyond doubt the grandest as well as the most appalling ever offered to mortal eyes. From any elevated standpoint the appearance was that of a vast ocean of flame, sweeping in mile-long billows and breakers over the doomed city.
Added to the spectacular elements of the conflagration-the intense and lurid light, the sea of red and black, and the spires and pyramids of flame shooting into the heavens-was its constant and
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HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
terrible roar, drowning even the voices of the shrieking multitude; and ever and anon-for a while as often as every half-minnte- resounded far and wide the rapid detonations of explosions, or fall- ing walls. In short, all sights and sounds which terrify the weak and unnerve the strong abounded. But they were only the accom- paniment which the orchestra of nature were furnishing to the terrible tragedy there being, cnacted.
The total area burned over, including streets, was three and a third square miles. The number of buildings destroyed was 17,450; persons rendered homeless, 98,500; persons killed, abont 200. Not including depreciation of real estate, or loss of business, it is estimated that the total loss occasioned by the fire was $190,000,000, of which but $44,000,000 was recovered on insur- ance .. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time; and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned district was rebuilt, and at present there is scarcely a trace of the terrible dis- aster, save in the improved character of the new buildings over those destroyed, and the general better appearance of the city- now the finest, in an architectural sense, in the world.
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