Cook County IL Archives Biographies.....Scammon, J Y 1812 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 2:53 am Author: Chicago Magazine J. Y. Scammon, Esq. Source: Chicago Magazine, The West As It Is, Vol. 1, March 1857, No. 1 The subject of this sketch, J. Y. Scammon, Esq,, was born in Whitefield, Lincoln County, Maine, in the year 1812. His father is the Hon. Eliakim Scammon, of East Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, a man widely known and universally esteemed, and who, for many successive years, represented his town and county in both branches of the Legislature of that State. Mr. Scammon's mother was the daughter of David Young, one of the first settlers, and most wealthy men in East Pittston. Mr. Young was a prominent man in the community in which he lived. As a Jefforsonian Republican, he often represented his town in the General Court of Massachusetts, Maine having formed a part of Massachusetts until the year 1820, when it was admitted into the Union, as a separate state. Mr. Scammon from childhood has had a fondness for agricultural and horticultural pursuits. He would have been a farmer, were it not that an accident deprived him, at the early age of ten years, of the full use of his left hand. Though this probably changed his occupation in life, it did not diminish his natural love for the cultivation of the soil, or destroy his taste for the beautiful and perfect, in all that relates to this truly noble occupation. When he resided at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph streets, he had the finest garden to be seen in the city at that time; and he now preserves his beautiful garden, occupying a large portion of one of our city blocks, at his present residence at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Congress streets, although the grounds are among the most desirable and expensive property in the city for private residences. Mr. Scammon received his literary education at the Maine Wesley an Seminary, Lincoln Academy, and Waterville College. He read law in Hallowell, in his native state. He was admitted to the Bar in Kennebec County, and immediately after started upon a tour of the States. He arrived at Chicago, in September, 1835, upon a cold and stormy day. He made the then somewhat more than unpleasant and hazardous passage of the Lakes, in the old steamboat Pennsylvania, which at that early period made a trip from Buffalo, by the way of Green Bay, to Chicago. On the passage of the steamboat from Green Bay to our city, a furious storm arose, compelling her to put into Washington Harbor, near Death's Door, at the lower end of Lake Michigan. Here she lay until the storm abated, provisions running out, and the passengers being put on a short allowance, in the meantime. Taking a fresh start from Washington Harbor, the storm again raged fear fully, and there was great apprehension of ship-wreck among the passengers and crew. Arrived at Chicago, the steamer was compelled to anchor outside the bar, there being no entrance to the Harbor, except for vessels of a very small size. The passengers were landed in a boat, and made their way from the beach up to the old Sauganash Hotel, in a driving rain, ihrough the tall prairie grass and deep mud. They found the hotel crowded, and a very large number of the inmates sick with the bilious fever. In fact, altogether, a more dismal and dreary aspect, the town could not have presented. Coming from the beautiful hills of New England, and their bracing and healthy air, the town appeared to the new comer to be almost a dismal swamp; and his first impression was any thing but favorable to a location in it. Mr. Scammon had letters to Mr. Henry Moore, who was then an attorney in the town, and deputy of Col. Richard J. Hamilton, Clerk of the Courts of the County of Cook. In a few days the weather cleared off, and almost as soon, the mud disappeared, and there succeeded one of those beautiful Indian Summers with which the West is so highly favored. Just as Mr. S. was about to leave town to continue his journey southward, Mr. Moore called upon him, and stated that the Circuit Court had just commenced its session; that his own business prevented his giving further assistance to Col. Hamilton, and that the gentleman that Col. Hamilton had employed in his place, had been attacked with fever. He asked Mr. S. if he would not assist Col. H. during the term of Court. This was regarded by Mr. S. as a fine opportunity to become acquainted wiih the mode of practice, and the forms of legal proceedings in Illinois, and was at once accepted. He accordingly assisted Col. H., through the term; who finding that he was ready and at home in the performance of the duties of Clerk, proposed to make him his deputy, and, at the same time, allow him to "hang out his shingle" in the Clerk's office. In those days rooms for offices were not plenty in Chicago, and the lawyers, being mostly bachelors, lodged in their offices. Mr. S. had endeavored in vain to find an eligible office so he accepted Col. H's proposal, and established his office in the "North East Corner" of the Clerk's office, from which it was separated, not as often in early times in the West, were the places of the Bar, the Court and Jury, by chalk or coal lines, but by an imaginary one. Col. H. then held about every office in Cook County, which he could legally hold. He was Judge of Probate, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Clerk of the County Commissioners Court, School Commissioner, Recorder of Deeds, Notary Public, and Bank Commissioner. All these were held in a small Grecian building, erected on the North East corner of the Court House Square, which was subsequently enlarged and transformed into a Court House. Mr. S.'s days were spent in this room, in the study of his profession and attending to the duties of clerk for Col. H. At night he lodged like other young men, in the same office. As he made acquaintances, his business increased, and in 1836, he entered into a copartnership with Hon. B. S. Morris. They continued together for eighteen months, and did a large and successful business. They then dissolved, and Mr. Scammon practiced alone for a year or more, when he formed a connection with Hon. N. B. Judd, the partnership lasting until 1847, when Mr. Scammon becoming greatly interested in the building of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, and wishing to give much of his time to railroad matters, he and Mr. Judd dissolved their connection, though they continued to occupy the same office. When Mr. Scammon came to Chicago, it was a time of almost universal speculation. Nearly everyone was rich; at lease in prospect. He was solicited to speculate, but declined, on the ground that he liked his profession, and should be happier in practicing it than in attempting to make a fortune by speculating. He thus was enabled to devote his time faithfully and unremittingly to the practice of his profession. His industry and promptness in paying over to his clients all monies collected—somewhat of a virtue in the early days of Western life—won him the favor of the community, both at home and abroad, and his practice soon became large and commanding. This favor, obtained by faithfulness and probity in the discharge of his business transactions in the outset of his professional career, has been of great benefit to Mr. S. in after life, and no doubt, to it, to a very great extent, he owes the stable financial credit which he now enjoys in Chicago as well as the Eastern cities. Indeed Mr. S. has made it a leading principle, in all his business transactions, to promise nothing that he could not perform, and to work with the greatest possible zeal and ardor to secure the completion of that which he promised. His credit as a banker he regards as above every other consideration, both of profit and present standing; and he would sacrifice all he possesses, to preserve that untarnished. The business public are aware of this, and hence put great confidence in any monied institution with which he is connected. Mr. Scammon has made great efforts to obtain a safe and reliable banking law in this State, which would be the means of preventing all recourse to the system of what is called "Wild Cat Banking," by which a number of irresponsible institutions are got up in neighboring States and Territories, for the purpose of circulating their irresponsible and irredeemable paper here. The law, as it heretofore stood, restrained und restricted the home banker, while it gave free license to the foreign institutions, which are responsible to no one, and which, at best, depend wholly upon the ability, or rather inclination, of the owners to redeem their promises. Mr. Scammon has endeavored to make our banking system of that character which would invite the capital of the best business men of this and other States for investment, at the same time that it would possess such guards and restrictions as would secure the public in the most perfect manner. Mr. S. has worked long and faithfully to this end, and hopes finally to be able to accomplish an object which has been one of the leading purposes of his life. The feeling against banking of all kinds which exists in some portions of the State, and which has been taken advantage of by the advocates of irresponsible banking in the northern part, has hitherto been the great obstacle with which Mr. S. has had to contend, but he hopes, in time and by the aid of the growing intelligence and good sense of the people, to succeed in perfecting such a system of banking as will be a credit to the State, and of the utmost advantage to its inhabitants. In 1837 without solicitation on his part, Mr. Scammon was selected as the Attorney of the State Bank of Illinois; and in 1839, he was appointed Reporter of the Supreme Court of the State, which office he continued to hold till 1845, when he resigned, on account of the press of his business at home. He was the first Reporter in this State that ever published a volume, and his books introduced an entirely new era in Western Reports. They were brought out in a style inferior to none, and superior to most of the reports in the Eastern States. The writer might here properly state, that Mr. Scammon has ever taken a lively interest in public affairs. While being indefatigably occupied with the management of his private business, he has not allowed himself to be wholly engrossed in the labors necessarily incident to men of large and accumulative means, but has been, in one way or another, connected with most of the great leading undertakings associated with the progress of our state and city. He had, in fact, been among the foremost in contributing to the development of the resources of Illinois, and the advancement of the interests of Chicago and the surrounding country. A New Churchman, or Swedenborgian in Religion, which includes all great measures of useful and beneficent progress, he is himself progressive in sentiment, and conservative in practice. His motto is, and always has been, at least as long as the writer of this has known him, "Conservative Progress." Still into whatever undertaking he enters, he throws himself with his whole soul, and with all his might; and whenever he undertakes a project, he is indefatigable and persevering, until it is accomplished. To the Hon. William B. Ogden nmi Mr. Scammon are the public specially indebted for the commencement, of the Galena & Chicago Railroad. After the railroad enterprises which had their inception in 1837, had failed, and were abandoned, and all confidence in Illinois was lost by capitalists, when hope was nearly dead in the minds of our people; Messrs. Ogden and Mr. Scammon counselled together upon the subject of railroads, and the Galena Railroad in particular. To induce the Michigan Central Railroad, which then hardly reached New Buffalo, to come to Chicago, and thus aid in extending railroad lines further West, Messrs O. and S. went to Indiana, and spent much tLime in getting hold of and reviving the charter of the Buffalo and Mississippi Railroad, which possessed the sole power of building a road from Michigan City to the Illinois State Line, in the direction of Chicago. They had previously, on the opening of books for the road, traveled over the entire distance between Chicago and Galena, holding meetings, making speeches, and procuring subscriptions to the stock of the Galena Road. They were themselves among the largest stockholders in the company, and by their exertions and personal pledges of fidelity to the interests of the stock holders, they obtained stock enough to commence operations in the road; and it is not claiming too much to say, that but for them this great pioneer road in the West would not have been commenced till many year's later. In the commencement of the building of this road. Mr. Scammon devoted a large portion of his time, gratuitously, to the project. He familiarized himself with the details of the transactions of the company, and kept a strict watch upon its operations. Besides, to sustain the credit of the Company, he borrowed money more than once upon his individual name, and loaned it to the Treasurer, when the road had not sufficient credit to obtain an additional accommodation from its banker; nor even the confidence of a majority of its Directors, in their ability to go on with their enterprise. But the faith of the subject of our sketch was full and unwavering. Indeed, so great were the difficulties, and so numerous, the disappointments in the outset of the operations of this Company, to which Chicago is indebted for so much of its material prosperity, that at one time, during the absence of Mr. Ogden, all the Directors, with the exception of Mr. Scammon, the late James H. Collins, Esq., and Charles Walker, Esq., appeared discouraged at the prospect of affairs. The labors and difficulties attending the early days of the history of this enterprise can hardly be realised at the present time. The country was poor; there was no surplus money in it; subscriptions to the stock of the Company could only be obtained in very small quantities; of eighteen hundred shareholders, the larger number held single, or not more than two or three shares each; while all the shares which were taken were subscribed for, not with a view to profit on the stock, but solely to aid in the enterprise. Mr. H. was one of the largest stockholders from the commencement of the undertaking, and when great efforts were requisite to keep up the credit of the Company, and to prevent its stock from greatly depreciating, he purchased freely of it, and was, by this means, at one time its largest stockholder. With a view, also, of procuring Eastern aid, he proceeded in company with Mr. Ogden, to Boston, and had an interview with Eastern capitalists. There was at that period so little confidence in the West or Western enterprise, that they were very cooly told by one of the largest railroad proprietors in New England, that "Statistics amount to very little in influencing us. You must go home, raise what money yon can, and when you can get no farther, come to us, and give us what you have done, and we will take hold of your road and complete it. You can afford to do this, the road will be of such immense advantage to your country." Mr. S. determined, upon the instant, that these prophetic wishes should not be fulfilled, he returned home, and by his exertions and caution contributed not a little to that careful management of the road, which ultimated in the success of the enterprise, and in establishing, in the minds of capitalists everywhere, the ability of Illinois men to build and manage railroads. The success of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad is the parent of all subsequent railroad movements in this State. Had that enterprise failed, Chicago would not now count half its present population. In the very momentous matter, to the present and succeeding generations, of establishing the free school system of Illinois, Mr. Scammon bore a very prominent and important part. There was no provision for absolutely free schools in Illinois when Mr. Scammon removed to the State, and for years thereafter. It required a great struggle to get through the Legislature a special law for Chicago, authorizing the establishment of schools by the Town; and the law was only passed on condition that it would be submitted to a vote of the people, before it became operative. When the vote was taken in 1836, the law was voted down. Its defeat at that time was probably caused by the large number of unmarried men, the greater part of whom were speculators in real estate, who were unwilling to have their property taxed for as they alledged, the benefit of other people's children. Mr. Scammon took an active part in getting up the first charter of the City of Chicago. It was partly through his efforts that provision for our present free school system was made in it. The schools first established under it were not, however, sustained by public opinion. There were few children in the town, most of its population being young people, and little interest was felt in the subject. The schools had thus but a sickly existence, and were of very little value. Mr. Scammon was appointed one of the Board of School Inspectors in 1839. The free schools were then so nearly extinct, that it was determined to suspend tbemi, until they could be re-commenced under more favorable auspices, and upon a more stable foundation. Mr. Scammon took hold of the subject in earnest, he drafted new ordinances and laws for the regulation and government of the school system, which were parsed; and through him and his co-laborer in the Board of School Inspectors, the system of Common Schools, which has been so successful, and of such incalculable benefit to our city, was established on a broad and permanent basis. He remained in the Board of School Inspectors till 1845, when he was deemed an Alderman for the First Ward. His election to this office was opposed by some citizens, who feared he was in favor of too extensive a system of public schools. The first school house—the present brick edifice on Madison street, east of Dearborn street,—had been built under the direction of the Board of School Inspectors, in 1844. Much complaint, had been made by residents of the North and West Divisions of the city, at the large expenditure; very many persons residing in the South Division, also denounced the cost of the construction of such a building as extravagant. Mr. Scammon determined to secure as large a vote us possible, in order to satisfy the public that "big school houses" were not unpopular. The consequence was he received more votes, and was elected by a larger majority, than any Alderman; up to that time, had ever received in the city. When the new Council was inaugurated, the Mayor recommended that the "big school house" should be sold, or converted into an "Insane Asylum," and one more suitable to the size and wants of the city be built. It waa supposed by the Mayor, that so large a school house would not be required by the city for a dozen years. Mr. Scammon was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Schools, in the new Council, and immediately brought forward an ordinance for building a large brick school house on the North side of the river, stating, at the time time, that it was the policy of the Board of School Inspectors to build another, on the West side, the next year, and to build a new school house at least every year. The order was adopted by the Council, and the school house was built. The construction of this house was followed by that of the fine school building on Madison street, on the West side. Thus a policy was adopted, which has since been continued and improved upon by the successive Boards of School Inspectors, until our Common Schools have reached their present proud position and high state of usefulness. In any mention of the Common Schools, however, the name of William Jones, Esq., should not be omitted. For years, in their days of trial, he was one of their most devoted and efficient friends. He seconded Mr. Scammon's efforts and labors with great energy and zeal. Mr. Scammon has always taken a warm and decided interest in politics. He was a Whig during the existence of that party, and for many years chairman of its Congressional, County and City Committees; and though often solicited, and more than once nominated for office, he was never a candidate before the people, except on two occasions—once when elected Alderman, and in 1848, when he was the Whig candidate for Congress in this District, which at that time was composed of seventeen counties, and overwhelmingly Democratic. Mr. S. received a very flattering vote, carrying the City of Chicago by a considerable majority, although his party in the city must have been in a minority of more than a thousand votes. In politics Mr. Scammon also exhibited his progressive proclivities, having been always on the side of freedom and progress in his party. At the same time he was conservative in his action, preferring present good, when he could obtain it, to sacrificing everything to the abstract principles of right. For this reason, though his freedom sentiments dated back before the great contest between Clay and Polk in 1844, he preferred voting for Mr. Clay, to throwing away his vote. In 1848, also, he advocated the election of General Taylor, knowing there was no probability of the election of a freesoil candidate, and doubting the sincerity of purpose of Mr. Van Huron, who was supported by that party. In 1852 he voted for General Scott, although he preferred Judge McLean, who was his choice for President. In the late contest, he supported Colonel Fremont with all the ardor he was capable of, sparing neither his time nor money in the canvass. Mr. Scammon has always been inflexibly opposed to the extension of slavery into the territories, and he endeavored, in every way in his power, to divorce the Whig Party of this state from the Pro-Slavery measures with which a large number of its friends seemed willing to suffer it to be embarrassed. He contended that his policy in this respect was both just and expedient; and it is due to him to say, that if his advice had been earned out, the Whig Party in the Northern portion of the State, at least, and especially in this city, would not have remained so long in the hopeless minority in which he found it when he came to reside here. Many who afterwards claimed to be Seward, or freesoil Whigs, had previously to their sudden conversion—subsequently to the election of Gen. Taylor—opposed, with all their strength, the positions which Mr. Scammon took, and which had they been accepted and carried out by the leaders of the party generally, would have placed the Whig Party in a far better position before the people than it had ever attained. Mr. Scammon was also among the first to perceive the tendency to the breaking up of old party lines in the country generally, and particularly in this City and State, preparatory to the present fusion of all persons and parties opposed to the spread of slavery. He suggested and procured the writer, many years ago, to furnish a series of articles on the subject, to a neutral paper then published in this city. These articles, and also other measures taken by him, had no small influence in breaking up party lines in the Chicago City Elections, and in the Northern counties of the State. Although a strict party man himself, as long as he could see any great good which the old Whig Party was capable of performing; still he believed in voting for the best men, and in many instances refused to vote for unworthy or incapable nominees of his own party. It may be proper to state in this connection, that Mr. Scammon, from first to last, has always opposed Native Americanism or Know Nothingism, in all its forms and principles. The writer well remembers the indignation of Mr. Scammons at an article which appeared in a paper in 1844, of which he was one of the editors. He had a portion of the edition of the paper which contained it suppressed immediately; the article gave great offense, however, as it appeared in part of the edition, and was made a great handle of by the Democrats at that time to the injury of the Whigs. Mr. S.'s principles of civil and religious policy are of too broad and comprehensive a character to accept for a moment the narrow and bigoted platform of that party, which of late has had, for a short time, such a prominent position in our national and State politics. Mr. Scammon, in 1849, re-organized the Chicago Marine and Fire Insurance Company, an institution which had been chartered in 1836, as a monied corporation, but which had suspended business, although it never had suspended payment. He was one of the chief stockholders under the new organization, and the President of the Company. It commenced with a nominal capital of about $35,000, and an actual cash capital of not exceeding $25,000. Under his auspices as President, the institution has gradually increased its capital, and extended its business, until it has now an actual cash capital of half a million of dollars, and is the largest monied institution in the State. Mr. Scammon likes to be a pioneer, judging from his past life. He was the first Swedenborgian in Northern Illinois; the first homeopath; and was among the first and most efficient organizers and supporters of the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. He also established the first bank under the General Banking law of this State—the Marine Bank of Chicago. He organized the Chicago Society of the New Jerusalem, when it had only three members, one other beside himself and wife. He also organized, in connection with three other gentlemen, the Illinois Association of the same Church. When there were probably not over a dozen Swedenborgians in the whole State. Mr. Scammon possesses excellent business tact and management, which is evinced not only in his own prosperity, in the accumulation and investment of a large private fortune, but in the success of the many enterprises in which he was one of the pioneers. He was one of the original stockholders of the Galena; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and several other railroads. Though never a speculator, Mr. Scammon has become wealthy by judicious and prudent business habits. He is at the present time owner of large and productive real estate in the very centre of the business part of our city. His policy has been not to speculate, by running in debt, but to invest his surplus earning and thus reap the advantage of the steady rise of property by the growth of the city. To this policy, together with his industry and economy, he owes his present prosperous position, financially speaking. Mr. S. is a great advocate for the singleness of employments, nevertheless, his practice does not conform to his theory in this respect, as he is banker, lawyer, real estate owner, and has a large interest in railroads himself. It has been asserted by some—perhaps those too envious of another's prosperity—that accommodations from the old Illinois State Bank contributed to Mr. Scammon's wealth. This is a mistake; he never borrowed a dollar from the bank, or had any accommodation from it, or purchased a foot of land, or other property belonging to it, except at public sale, in competition with others. The only favor the bank ever did him was to select him as its attorney. He had no other connection with it. In his profession Mr. S. has stood deservedly high, and at one time had the most lucrative practice of any lawyer in the city. In fact he has generally had more business than he could attend to, and of late years, his banking and other matters have demanded so much of his attention, that he has for the last two or three years given little time to his profession. In 1849 he took Mr. Ezra B. McCagg, who had been his confidential law clerk, for two years previously, into partnership, and they have since practiced together. He has always been a friend to young men, and has had a very large number of students in his office. These it has ever been his habit to accustom to the details of practice, thus grounding them well in the most important particulars in the profession. Thus he has been successful, in almost every instance, in making good practical lawyers of his students. The advantages of the thorough training received by students in the office of Mr. Scammon, is fully indicated by the fact, that of all the young men who have been under his supervision, not more than two have failed to turn out well. Mr. S., like all men of positive principles, is decided in his opinions, still he is liberal and kind to those who disagree with him. Indeed a majority of the young men in his office, who have received his assistance, countenance and support, have been, in political opinions, opposite to himself. Though Mr. S. has devoted himself for many years so arduously to the law, and also been deeply immersed in business, he has not forgotten his early love for literature and the fine arts. He continues still to cultivate it. He writes on political and religious subjects, gives public lectures, &e. In conversation he is entertaining, his information being general and varied, and his desire to impart it, a natural attribute of the man. He reads and speaks several modern languages with fluency, and continues his early study of the classics, to which he has always been drawn by his taste for ancient literature. Mr. S. is blessed with the companionship of a congenial partner, a lady everyway qualified to contribute to his happiness, and an interesting family of children, the oldest grown to a fine looking young man, who is receiving the benefit of as good an education as his father's means and position can afford. Mr. S. still continues to work as heretofore, though less in his profession. To the question "Why do you not give up business?" he replied, "I have no right to do so. Use is the central principle of Heaven, and no one can be happy, except in the degree in which he is occupied in some useful employment." Additional Comments: Source: Chicago Magazine, The West As It Is, Vol. 1, March 1857, No. 1 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/cook/photos/bios/scammon658nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/cook/bios/scammon658nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 30.9 Kb