USA > Illinois > Tazewell County > History of Tazewell 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. History of Illinois Digest of state laws > Part 13
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James Hall
1827-30
James H. Beveridge. 1865-66
John Dement. 1831-36
George W. Smith. 1867-68
Charles Gregory 1836
Erastus N. Bates. 1869-72
John D. Whiteside.
1837-40
Edward Rutz 1873 -- 75
M. Carpenter. 1841-48
Thomas S. Ridgeway 1876 -- 77
John Moore. 1848-56
Edward Rutz. 1878-79
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Elias K. Kane. 1818 -- 22
Thompson Campbell. 1843 -- 46
Samuel D. Lockwood. 1822 -- 23
Horace S. Cooley 1846 -- 49
David Blackwell 1823-24
David L. Gregg. 1850-52
Morris Birkbeck. 1824
Alexander Starne 1853-56
George Forquer
1825-28
Ozias M. Hatch 1857 -- 60
Alexander P. Field.
1829-40
Sharon Tyndale. 1865-68
Stephen A. Douglas.
1840
Edward Rummel. 1869 -- 72
Lyman Trumbull.
1841-42
George II. Harlow 1873 -- 79
James K. Edsall. 1873-79
162
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
AUDITORS.
Elijah C. Berry.
1818-31
Thompson Campbell 1846
I. T. B. Stapp
1831-35
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. He was a native of New York, and in 1814 came to Illinois. He was first Secretary of State, and after- wards State Senator.
Duvid 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
163
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
164
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
and came to Illinois early in life, where for years he was actively engaged in politics. 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 Quincy, 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 Cecil 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
165
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
SIXTEENTII CONGRESS.
TWENTIETHI CONGRESS.
Daniel P. Cook.
1819-20
Joseph Duncan
1827-28
SEVENTEENTII 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-FOURTII 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 1847-48
166
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS. THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
John A. McClernand 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. 1851-52
John Wentworth. 1851-53
William H. Bissell. 1851-52
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
William H. 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
John C. Allen. 1855-56
James Knox. ....
.1855-56
Jesse O. Norton 1855-56
Thompson Campbell.
1855-56
William A. Richardson 1855-56
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne. 1857-58
Samuel S. Marshall 1857-58
Charles D. Hodges. 1857-58
Isaac N. Morris. 1857-58
William Kellogg. 1857-58
Aaron Shaw 1857-58
Thompson Campbell.
1857-58
Robert Smitlı. 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-SEVENTHI CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne 1861-68
Isaac N. Arnold .. 1861-62
James C. Robinson.
1861-62
Philip B. Fouke 1861-62
John A. Logan.
1861-62
William Kellogg 1861-63
Owen Lovejoy.
1861-62
Anthony L. Knapp 1861-63
John A. McClernand. 1861-63
William A. Richardson 1861-62
THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Elihn 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
CHICAGO ENG.CO. SC.
W.W. BOYINGTON ARCHT.
INTER-STATE INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION, OF CHICAGO. LENGTH, 800 FEET. WIDTH, 2CO FEET. DOME.160 FEET HIGH.
169
HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Lewis W. Ross 1863-64
John F. Farnsworth. 1863-64
John T. Stuart. 1863-64
Charles W. Morris. 1863-64
Owen Lovejoy .
1863-64
Eben C. Ingersoll.
1863-64
William R. Morrison. 1863-64
Anthony L. Knapp
1863-64
John C. Allen 1863-64
THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Elihu B. Washburne. 1865-66
John F. Farnsworth 1865-66
Anthony B. Thornton. 1865-66
Jehu 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
FORTIETH 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
1869-70
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. MeNeely 1871-72
Horatio C. Burchard. 1871-72
Edward Y. Rice .. 1871-72
Jolın B. Hawley. 1871-72
Samuel S. Marshall. 1871-72
Bradford N. Stevens. 1871-72
Jolın B. Hay 1871-72
Henry Snapp.
1871-72
John M. Crebs. 1871-72
Jesse H. Moore. 1871-72
Jolın S. Beveredge. 1871-72
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
John B. Rice .. 1873-74
Jasper D. Ward. 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
Franklin Corwin 1873-74
Robert M. Knapp 1873-74
James C. Robinson. 1873-74
James S. Martin 1873-74
William R. Morrison 1873-74
170
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-FOURTHI 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
John C. Bagby. 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
William R. Morrison
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
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 an 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
172
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."
THE 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
WALLIS
SECTIONAL VIEW OF LA SALLE STREET TUNNEL, CHICAGO.
173
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-minute- 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 enacted.
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, about 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- anee. The business of the city was interrupted but a short time; and in a year after the fire a large part of the burned distriet 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.
One of the features of this great city worthy of mention is the Exposition, held annually. The smouldering ruin's were yet smok- ing when the Exposition Building was erected, only ninety days being consumed in its construction. The accompanying engrav- ing of the building, the main part of which is 1,000 feet long, will give an idea of its magnitude.
COMMERCE OF CHICAGO.
The trade of Chicago is co-extensive with the world. Every- where, in every country and in every port, the trade-marks of her merchants are seen. Everywhere, Chicago stands prominently identified with the commerce of the continent. A few years ago, grain was carted to the place in wagons; now more than 10,000 miles of railroad, with thousands of trains heavily ladened with the products of the land center there. The cash value of the produce handled during the year 1S7S was $220,000,000, and its aggregate weight was 7,000,000 tons, or would make 700,000 car loads. Divided into trains, it would make 28,000 long, heavily ladened freight trains, wending their way from all parts of the United States toward our great metropolis. These trains, arranged in one con-
174
IIISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
tinuous line, would stretch from London across the broad Atlantic to New York and on across our continent to San Francisco.
In regard to the grain, lumber and stock trade, Chicago has sur- passed all rivals, and, indeed, not only is without a peer but excels any three or four cities in the world in these branches. Of grain, the vast quantity of 134,851,193 bushels was received during the year 1878. This was about two-fifths more than ever received before in one year. It took 13,000 long freight trains to carry it from the fields of the Northwest to Chicago. This would make a continuous train that would reach across the continent from New York to San Francisco. Speaking more in detail, we have of the various cereals received during the year, 62,783,577 bushels of corn, 29,901,220 bushels of wheat, 18,251,529 bushels of oats, 133,981,104 pounds of seed. The last item alone would fill about 7,000 freight cars.
The lumber received during the year 1878 was, 1,171,364,000 feet, exceeded only in 1872, the year after the great fire. This vast amount of lumber would require 195,000 freight cars to transport it. It would build a fence, four boards high, four and one-half times around the globe.
In the stock trade for the year 1878, the figures assume propor- tions almost incredible. They are, however, from reliable and trustworthy sources, and must be accepted as authentic. There were received during the year, 6,339,656 hogs, being 2,000,000 more than ever received before in one year. It required 129,916 stock cars to transport this vast number of hogs from the farms of the West and Northwest to the stock yards of Chicago. These hogs arranged in single file, would form a connecting link between Chicago and Pekin, China.
Of the large number of hogs received, five millions of them were slaughtered in Chicago. The aggregate amount of product manu- factured from these hogs was 918,000,000 pounds. The capacity of the houses engaged in slaughtering operations in Chicago is 60,000 hogs daily. The number of hands employed in these houses is from 6,000 to 8,000. The number of packages required in which to market the year's product is enormously large, aggregating 500,- 000 barrels, S00,000 tierces and 650,000 boxes.
There has been within the stock yards of the city, during the year 1878, 1,036,066 cattle. These were gathered from the plains
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