Cook County IL Archives History - Books .....Chicago Antiquities - Part 1 1881
************************************************
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 March 11, 2007, 6:02 pm

Book Title: Chicago Antiquities

PREFACE.

WHOEVER attempts to inflict upon the public a volume of the size and character 
of this, ought possibly to be allowed to tell what he might claim to excuse 
the offence. Therefore, we will say that it is sometimes urged that Chicago of 
to-day must be considered one of the wonders of the age; not but that there 
are many larger cities; not to assert that there are none so beautiful in 
architectural display; not that the breath of its winter winds is ever balmy 
and its summer heats always mild; not that it may boast of surpassing natural 
scenery; not that it has yet achieved the accumulated literary and artistic 
treasures of which other places may vaunt; not that it has already wedded the 
siren refined and luxurious effeminacy, the tendency, perhaps, of great and 
continued financial thrift, so much coveted, and yet so much to be feared. But 
still it is often insisted that Chicago pertains to the wonderful, because, in 
fifty years, the hamlet has grown from a colony of less than fifty residents 
to the number of some five hundred thousand souls. Such progress, from its 
aged infancy of half a century ago to its present gigantic youthfulness, if 
remarkable, is no doubt to be accounted for upon the natural and unavoidable 
sequence of effect from cause. Not alone, however, to its natural advantages, 
which Louis Joliet, the companion of Father Marquette (the earliest known 
white men here), first discoursed upon more than two centuries ago, is Chicago 
indebted. "Veni, vidi, vici." For a century and a half, there were those who 
came, and saw, and said; but it was left to those of the middle half of the 
present century to demonstrate the truth of some of the possibilities of 
Chicago, and to us to say that it was they who conquered. What they 
accomplished need not here be told; but we may add, that the early settlers of 
Chicago had the sagacity to perceive, the wisdom to embrace, the courage to 
undertake, and the unyielding perseverance that faltered at no effort; no 
narrow-minded and cowardly doubts took possession of their heads, hearts, and 
hands.

If such then are the facts, may it not be a pardonable error, to recall the 
beginnings, to look after the lower walls, the lines of the trenches, so to 
speak, indeed, to inspect the quality or peculiarities of the rubble-stone and 
concrete, the foundations, whereon rests the superstructure, the moral, 
intellectual, and material fabric of this great western metropolis.

The compiler of this book, several years since, issued a few dozen pages of it 
in pamphlet form; but as many articles for the continued series were more or 
less incomplete, for want of various well-authenticated items, etc., it was 
deemed expedient, from the occasioned delay, not to continue the publication 
in that shape, but to embody the material when ready at once in a volume. So 
the book has been hastened but leisurely; yet, to the reader, there may have 
been some gain by the waiting.

It would be scarcely prudent to anticipate a high public estimate of our 
service in presenting these pages. We do not claim to offer exhaustive essays, 
nor to give full biographies of individuals, or sketches of subjects; yet, if 
the contents of this octavo shall bring to the light new truths, or recall old 
facts nearly lost or forgotten; if they shall correct various errors, and, 
withal, place a few pebbles upon the historic pile or memento of Chicago's 
early history, then our efforts will not have been altogether futile.

To those persons who have furnished items, etc., for this volume, the compiler 
here makes his acknowledgments and sincere thanks.

Chicago, Dec, 1881.


INTRODUCTION.

Under the name of "Antiquities," we purpose to compile a series of pamphlets 
relating to early Chicago, if indeed so young a town may lay claim to so 
dignified a term. Our antiquities, however, are of rather a different stamp 
from those of the European world, for we may not boast of massive castle 
walls, ivy-clothed, tradition-wrapped, and crumbling beneath the weight of 
centuries. The corner stones of antiquity, yonder, were laid in the mists of a 
shadowy past; here the morning beams which dawned in the beginning have not 
reached the evening twilight of dim uncertainty. The names of the founders of 
our American towns, together with the circumstances attending such beginnings, 
have been usually preserved; those of the cities of the old world are mostly 
hidden beneath the myths, superstitions, and vague tales of a remote and 
departed age.

It is true that not fifty years have passed, since some of our remaining early 
settlers saw the young town dressed in the swaddling-clothes of village 
incorporation; but a few decades have effected here what in most other cases 
the efforts of centuries have been required to accomplish. Yet the swiftly 
hurrying years have already brought around another and a new generation, who, 
though “to the manor born,” speak of the primitive days of our city as "the 
olden time." To such at least, our series (which will contain many new or 
unfamiliar chapters) will be of interest.

We would not, by any means, undervalue the culture which disciplines the 
intellect and stores the mind with the lore and mythical tales and antiquities 
of the storied shores of the Mediterranean; but, for our particular and 
individual self, we must confess that we are far less tenacious of the memory 
of any of those illustrious humbugs told of in the classics, than of that of 
the early Chicago resident and first proprietor of the old "Kinzie House," 
Baptiste Point de Sable (he was here as early as 1779), the handsome, 
colossal, and opulent black prince of the North Division; albeit, he was a 
swaggering Domingoan, and, like many other great men, drank too much rum. We 
have heard of Midas, and Croesus, and Trismegistus, as well as of old Vulcan, 
but how little regard ought we to pay to the fame of those unreliable 
alchemists and artisans, when contrasted with that of our pioneer the elder 
John Kinzie, the veritable "Shaw-nee-aw-kee" the "silver-man" of the tribes of 
the Illinois. And concerning that memorable scow-boat

"*** the Argo,
That Jason embarked in for the ‘golden fleece,’
For whether that wool became part of her cargo,
We've little to look for in the myths of old Greece."

Indeed, to a Chicagoan, of little interest must be the whole yarn about 
the "golden fleece," when compared with the story which the venerable Gurdon 
S. Hubbard might tell us of his journeyings, and of the fleeces, those packs, 
bales, pony-loads, and canoe-cargoes of fine furs which he gathered in all the 
lake region, and along the two hundred-mile trail, that he in person laid out, 
forty-nine years ago, through the wilderness, from Fort Dearborn to the 
Kaskaskia River.

Our plan in issuing the papers comprising the series here proposed will be 
rather a discursive one; not that of annals, not a consecutive history, indeed 
not so much a history as material for history. Not an edifice in historic 
detail, of lofty and comely proportions, but rather a group of structures of 
varied, though relative, architecture.

H. H. H.
January 21, 1875.



THE LAWS AND ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO PASSED IN COMMON COUNCIL.

[We present some account and in part a transcript of a noticeable relic, which 
has come within the range of our knowledge and inspection. It is, without 
doubt, of considerable rarity, and we should not know where to find its 
duplicate in the city. We are referring to a publication issued in the latter 
part of the year 1839, of which this is the title-page.]


CHICAGO:
PRINTED BY EDWARD H. RUDD.
MDCCCXXXIX.

Fifty-two octavo pages comprised not only the "Laws and Ordinances," but also 
a "City Register," (a list of city officers,) and a "Chicago Business 
Directory," together with some half dozen pages of advertisements.

We present a few extracts from the said "Ordinances;" to-day they might be 
deemed curious, severe, or possibly a little whimsical. The "Business 
Directory" is here reproduced as first printed, with an occasional note of 
correction, and with the addition of a star (*) against the names of those 
whom we know to have passed from earth to that "other shore." This Directory 
was the first attempt which succeded the numbering of the buildings, though 
that numbering was only upon Lake Street. [The statement sometimes made, 
that "Norris' Chicago Directory and Business Advertiser" for the year 1844, 
was the first Directory ever published in Chicago, is certainly an error.]

Agreeable to the statute for the incorporation of towns, an election was held 
in Chicago, August 10, 1833, for the choice of trustees of the village; and it 
is worthy of note that there were twenty-eight votes polled on that occasion. 
Chicago was incorporated as a city March 4, 1837. The population in 1839 did 
not exceed 4,200 in number. A shipment of 2,673 bushels of wheat was made that 
year—the first, (excepting 78 bushels the year preceding), for it took 
everything, and more, that was raised in the vicinity, from 1835 to '38, for 
the use of the incoming settlers. The first daily newspaper (The Chicago Daily 
American, Wm. Stuart, editor and proprietor), appeared this year, the first 
number bearing date April 9, 1839. Among other important events of that year, 
in which Chicago and the whole western country were to become interested, was 
the incorporation by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature of The Wisconsin 
Fire and Marine Insurance Company. This institution set sail under the command 
of George Smith, as captain, and Alexander Mitchell, as lieutenant, with the 
aid of ballast from their Scottish friends of Aberdeen. But, instead of an 
insurance company, it resulted in a rather stupendous bank of issue, vastly to 
the profit of the stockholders, and of no little service to the people of the 
lake country and the Mississippi Valley.

Almost one-half of the 277 names of individuals or firms of the following 
Directory were located on Lake Street; but Chicago then, as to-day, felt her 
rising importance, and, nearing the end of Anno Domini 1839, was published 
this record of her greatness, and looked trustfully forward to the beckoning 
future.


Extracts from "The Laws and Ordinances."

"FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND LIMB.

SECTION 2. No person shall ride or drive any horse or horses in any avenue, 
street, or lane within this city faster than a moderate trot." (Passed May 12, 
1837.)

[The "moderate trot" of the above ordinance was a gait that has not survived 
to the present day; witness, for instance, the "two-thirty" Chicago nags on 
West Washington Street any fair afternoon when a few inches of snow may have 
put in an appearance.]


OF THE EXTINGUISHMENT OF FIRES.

Section 30. ** The citizens and inhabitants shall respectively, if the fire 
happens at night, place a lighted candle or lamp at the front door or windows 
of their respective dwellings, there to remain during the night, unless the 
fire be sooner extinguished.

Sec. 34. Every dwelling house or other building containing one fire-place or 
stove, shall have one good painted leathern fire-bucket, with the initials of 
the owner's name painted thereon, etc.

Sec. 35. That every able bodied inhabitant shall, upon an alarm of fire, 
repair to the place of the fire with his fire-bucket or buckets, if he shall 
have any, etc.

Sec. 36. Every occupant of any building shall keep the aforesaid fire-buckets 
in the front hall of said building, etc." (Passed May 12, 1837.)


"DIRECTING CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

SECTION 3. The said city surveyor is further directed to survey, describe, and 
record in manner aforesaid, a street eighty feet wide, which shall be 
called "Hoosier Avenue," which shall commence on the west line of section 
sixteen, on Second-street, and run in a south-westerly course to the bounds of 
the city, in the direction to cross the Canal at Canalport, in some eligible 
place so as to intersect the State road in that direction." (Passed June 1, 
1837.)


"AN ORDINANCE TO NUMBER LAKE STREET.

Section I. Beginning at the south-west corner of Lake-street and Michigan 
Avenue as number one, and at the northwest corner of the same street as number 
two, and thence numbering successively westwardly to the south branch of the 
Chicago River. The buildings to be numbered as far as State-st., according to 
the lots as laid out and sold by the agent of the United States, one number 
for each lot. West of State-street, the buildings are to be numbered one 
number for every 20 feet of each block. The odd numbers to be on the south 
side, and the even numbers on the north side of Lake-street, according to the 
plan of Lake-street, as laid out and numbered by the street commissioner, and 
on file with the city clerk." (Passed Nov. 12, 1839.)


"CONCERNING BILLIARD TABLES AND BALL ALLEYS.

Section 1. That there shall be no billiard table or tables set up or used in 
said city from and after the 15th day of May next.

Sec. 2. That there shall be no nine pin alleys, or any ball alley where pins 
are used, sit up or used, in the said city of Chicago from and after the 15th 
day of May next." (Passed April 22, 1839.)

"That in addition to the penalties already imposed by the ordinance to which 
this is an amendment, if any owner or keeper of any billiard table or ball 
alley or ten pin alley shall suffer the same to be used or played upon after 
the hour of 10 o'clock P.M., he shall forfeit and pay to the city of Chicago 
the sum of five dollars for each offence, with costs of suit." (Passed Dec. 9, 
1839.)


"OF NUISANCES AND THE PRESERVATION OF GOOD ORDER.

Section 4. Any person who shall solicit alms, without a written permission 
from the Mayor, from citizens, shall pay a penalty for each offence of two 
dollars." (Passed May 12, 1837.)


"TO COMPEL THE ATTENDANCE OF MEMBERS.

Section 3. Any member of said Common Council who shall absent himself from the 
meeting of the Council, after the same shall have been duly organised for that 
meeting, without having first obtained leave of the Mayor or Council for that 
purpose, shall, for each offence, forfeit and pay to said city the sum of ten 
dollars." (Passed Dec. 2, 1839.)



City Register, 1839.

BENJAMIN W. RAYMOND, Mayor.

ALDERMEN, FIRST WARD.
James A. Smith,
Oliver H. Thompson.

ALDERMEN, SECOND WARD.
Eli S. Prescott, 
Clement C. Stoce.

ALDERMEN, THIRD WARD.
William H. Stow, 
Ira Miltimore.

ALDERMEN, FOURTH WARD.
John Murphy, 
Asahel Pierce.

ALDERMEN, FIFTH WARD.
Henry L. Rucker, 
John C. Wilson.

ALDERMEN, SIXTH WARD.
John H. Kinzie, 
Buckner S. Morris.

Samuel J. Lowe, High Constable.

Assessors.
1st Ward, Alvin Calhoun.	
2d ---, Thomas Brock.	
3d ---, Thomas C. James.	
4th ---, Ward, John Gray.
5th ---, James Duffy.
6th ---, Jacob Raynor.

Alvin Calhoun, Chief Engineer.
Charles T. Stanton, Geo. Chacksfield, Ass't Engineers.
Wm. W. Brackett, City Clerk.
Erastus Bowen, Collector.	
Geo. W. Dole, Treasurer.
Charles M. Gray, Street Commissioner.
S. Lisle Smith, City Attorney.
Charles V. Dyer, City Physician.
Asa F. Bradley, City Surveyor.
George Davis, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
Peter Bolles, David Moore, John Scott, Daniel Elston, Nathan H. Bolles, J. Y. 
Scammon, Wm. H. Brown,

POLICE CONSTABLES.
Samuel J. Lowe, Daniel B. Heartt, D.C. Allen, George M. Huntoon.

FIRE WARDENS.
1st Ward, N. H. Bolles.
2d ---, Jerem. Price.
3d ---, John Gray.
4th ---, John Miller.
5th ---, David Moore.
6th ---, Alonzo Wood.

Drs. Brainard, Gay, and Betts, Board of Health.




[a reprint.]

Chicago Business Directory.

Adams, William H., shoe and leather dealer, 138 lake street 

Arnold, Isaac N., attorney and counsellor at law, dearborn street 

*Abel, Sidney, postmaster, office clark street 

Allen, J. P., boot and shoe maker, north water street (John P.) 

Attwood, J. M., house, sign and ornamental painter, randolph street 

Bristol k Porter, agents for C. M. Reed, forward, commis. merchants (*Robert 
C. Bristol; Hibbard Porter) 

*Beaubien, J. B., Esq., reservation, fronting the lake 

Blassy, B., baker, randolph street

*Boyce, L. M., wholesale druggist and apothecary, 121 lake street 

Brackett, William W., city clerk, clark street 

*Brown, Henry, attorney and counsellor at law, clark street 

Bancroft, J. W. & Co., lake street coffee house, 135 lake street 

Beecher, J., boot and shoe maker and leather dealer, 160 lake street 

Burley, A. G., crockery, stone, and earthenware merchant, 161 lake st 

Bates & Morgan, cabinet makers, 199 lake street (A. S. Bates; Caleb Morgan) 

Botsford & Beers, copper, tin, and sheetiron merchants, dearborn street 

*Brinkerhoff, Dr. John, clark street 

*Betts, Dr., residence and office michigan street 

*Brown, William H., cashier, Illinois branch state bank, lasalle street 

*Boyer, J. K., coroner, south water street (John)

Beaumont & Skinner, attorneys and counsellors at law, clark street (*Geo. A. 
O. Beaumont; Mark Skinner) 

Balestier, J. N., attorney and counsellor at law, clark street 

*Burton, Stiles, wholesale grocer and liquor dealer, lake and state strs 

Bowen, Erastus, city collector, foot of south water street 

Berry, B. A. & Co., dry goods and grocery store, south water street 

Bradley, Asa F., city surveyor, morrison's row, clark street 

Brady, George, constable, alley between north water and kinzie streets 

Briggs & Humphrey, carriage and wagon makers, randolph street (*Ben J. Briggs; 
F. O. Humphrey) 

*Butterfield, Justin, attorney and counsellor at law, dearborn street 

*Bolles, Nathan H., county commissioner, overseer of poor, lake street

Bethune, Andrew, Parisian dyer and scourer, north water street 

Carter, T. B. & Co., fancy dry goods merchants, 118 lake street 

Clarke, W. H. & A. F., wholesale druggists & apothecaries, 128 lake st 

Cole, A., ship, house, sign, and ornamental painter, 129 lake street 

*Carney, John, grocery and provision store, 133 lake street (James Carney) 

*Cure, P., grocery and provision store, randolph street 

*Curtiss, James, attorney and counsellor at law, 175 lake street 

Clever, J., soap boiler, factory on the south branch (Charles Cleaver) 

Collins, S. B. & Co., boot, shoe and leather dealers, 140 lake street (*Saml. 
B. C. of S. B. C. & Co.)

*Church, Thomas, grocery and provision store, in lake street

*Childs, S. D., wood and metal engraver, saloon buildings, clark street 

*Clark, L. W., exchange broker and lottery agent, 150 1/2 lake street 

Cleveland & Co., house, sign and ornamental painters, Dearborn street 

Conklin, J., blacksmith, carriage and wagon repairer, clark street 

*Cook, C. W., Illinois exchange, 192 lake street 

Cobb, S.  B., saddle, bridle, harness and trunk maker, 171 lake street 

Cook, Isaac W., eagle coffee house, dearborn street 

Clarke, Dr., 159 lake street 

Cunningham, John, grocery, north water street, at the ferry (Henry Cunningham) 

*Couch, Ira, hotel keeper, corner of dearborn and lake streets

*Calhoun, John, collector of taxes, Eddy's store 

Carpenter, Philo, druggist and apothecary, south water street 

Chacksfield, George, grocery and provision store, south water street

*Collins, J. H., attorney and counsellor at law, dearborn street 

Colvin, Edwin B., door and sash maker, dearborn and north water streets

*David, William, boot and shoe maker, near New York house, lake street

*Doyle, S., draper and tailor, junction of kinzie and north water sts 

Durand, Charles, attorney and counsellor at law, 149 lake street

*Davis, George, county clerk, 159 lake street

*Delicker, George, wholesale grocery and provision store, 163 lake street 

*Dewey, Dr. E., druggist and apothecary, dearborn street 

Dodge & Tucker, ship chandlers and grocers, south water street (John C. Dodge; 
*Henry Tucker) 

*Davlin, John, auctioneer, corner of dearborn and south water streets 

Davis, Miss A., cloak maker and tailoress, 115 lake street 

*Dole, George W., city treasurer, michigan street

Dyer & Boone, Drs., state street, opposite the new market (Charles V. Dyer; 
Levi D. Boone) 

*Davis, William H., constable, south water street 

Eddy, & Co., hardware, stove and ironmongers, 105 lake street (Ira B. Eddy; 
John Calhoun) 

Edwards, Alfred, grocery and provision store, north water street 

Eldridge, Dr., clark street, Harmon & Loomis' building (John W. E.) 

*Etzler, Anton, cap, stock and umbrella maker, 151 lake street (Anton Getzler) 

Frink & Bringham, stage office, 123 lake street (*John Frink; — Bingham.) 

Follansbe, A., grocery and provision store, dearborn street 

Funk, J., fulton and Illinois markets, 95 lake and north water streets 
(Absalom B.) 

Foster & Robb. grocers and ship chandlers, dearborn street (Geo. B. Foster; 
*Geo. A. Robb) 

Follansbe C, grocery and provision store, dearborn street 

Fenherty, John, fancy dry goods store, south water street 

Fullerton, A. N., lumber merchant, north water street 

*Foot, D. P., blacksmith, south water street (David B. Foot) 

Goss, S. W. & Co., dry goods merchants, 105 lake street 

Gale, S. F., bookseller and stationer, corner of lasalle 159 lake street 

Gale, Mrs., New York millinery store, 99 lake street (Mrs. Abraham Gale) 

Goodsell & Campbell, dry goods and grocery store, dearborn street (L. B. 
Goodsell; — Campbell) 

Goold, N., grocery and provision store, 155 lake street 

Gurnee, W. S., saddle and harness maker, 129 and 164 lake street 

Gray, C. M., street commissioner, randolph street 

Gill, Edmund, Shakspeare hotel, north water street, near the lake house 

*Graves, D., Rialto, dearborn street (Dexter Graves)

Gage, J., flour store, south water street; mill on the south branch 

*Gavin, Isaac R., sheriff, randolph st., north-west corner public square 

Goodrich, Grant, attorney and counsellor at law, 105 lake street 

Goodenow, A., dry goods merchant, 134 lake street 

Gray, John, Chicago hotel, wolf point 

Hupp, S., tailor and cutter, 210 lake street

*Hunter, Edward, deputy sheriff, wells street (Edward E. H.) 

Hubbard & Co., forwarding and commission merchants, north water st (Gurdon S. 
Hubbard; *Henry G. Hubbard)

*Hooker, J. W., grocery and provision store, 152 lake street 

Hobbie & Clark, dry goods merchants, 142 lake street (*Albert G. Hobbie; John 
Clark) 

*Hanson, J. L., grocery and provision store, 146 lake street (Joseph L. Hanson)

*Hamilton, R. J., clerk circuit court, clark street

*Hodgson, J. H., tailor and clothier, opposite city hotel clark street 

Hovey & Burbeck, lake street market, 143 lake street (*Samuel S. Hovey; - 
Burbank)

Howe, Miss, milliner and mantuamaker, corner of lake and wells sts (Now the 
widow of Rufus B. Brown) 

*Henson, O. C, hair cutting and shaving shop, 183 lake street 

Heymann, F. T., watchmaker and jeweller, 173 lake street 

Hallam, Isaac W., rector St. James' church, corner cass and Illinois sts

*Howe, F., clerk, Illinois branch state bank, lasalle street (Frank Howe) 

*Howe, F. A., justice of the peace, 97 lake street (Fred. A. Howe) 

Harmon, Loomis & Co., wholesale grocers, clark and south water sts (*Chas. L. 
Harmon; Horatio G. Loomis) 

*Holbrook, J., clothing, bed and mattress store, south water street

*Holmes, L. W., hardware and stove merchant, south water street

Hall, Henry P., barber, north water street, opposite the lake house

*Howe, J. L., city bakehouse, north water street (James L. H.)

Hoyne, Thomas, attorney and counsellor at law, 107 lake street

Harmon, Isaac D., dry goods merchant, clark street, near the river

Harmon, William, blacksmith, north water street (Harman)

Hunt, B. T., bed and mattress store, south water street

*Huntoon, G.  M., constable, near corner of dearborn and kinzie streets (Geo. 
M. Huntoon) 

Higgins, A. D., merchant (Parish & Metcalfs), 132 lake street 

Hayward & Co., burr mill stone manufactory, kinzie street 

Johnson, J., hair cutting and shaving shop, 131 lake street 

*Jones, William, justice of the peace, dearborn street

Judd, N. B., attorney, exchange buildings, 107 lake street 

King, Tuthill, New York clothing store, 115 lake street 

King, Willis, lumber merchant, randolph street

*Kerchival, L., inspector of the port of Chicago (Lewis C. K.) 

Kinzie & Hunter, forwarding, commission merchants, north water st (*John H. 
Kinzie and General David Hunter) 

Kendall, Vail & Co., clothing store, 119 lake street 

Keogh, P. R., tailor and clothier, clark street

Killick, James, grocery and provision store, dearborn street 

*Kimberly, Dr. E., residence north water street, near the lake house (Dr. 
Edmund S. K.) 

Kent & *Gilson, livery stable keepers, state street

Leavenworth, J. H., overseer public works, garrison

*Lewis, ---, merchant, dearborn street (L. F. Louis; removed to Wisconsin.) 

*Lewis, A. B., Sunday school agent, lasalle street

*Lowe, Samuel J., high constable, clark street, near methodist church

*Loyd, A., carpenter and builder, wells street (Alex. Loyd)

*Lincoln, Solomon, tailor and clothier, 156 lake street

Lindebner, J., tailor and cutter, lake street

*Leary, A. G., attorney and counsellor at law, dearborn street

*Lill, William, brewer, lake shore, north side of the river

Magie & Co., dry goods merchants, 130 lake street (Haines H. Magie; *John 
High, jr.) 

M'Donnell, Charles, grocery and provision store, market street 

M'Craken & Brooks, tailors and clothiers, clark street (*Thomas Brooks) 

M'Donnell, Michael, grocery, north water street

Manierre & Blair, merchant tailors, clark street (Edward Manierre; *Geo. 
Blair) 

Morris, B. S., alderman, attorney and counsellor at law, saloon buildings

*Montgomery, G. B. S., merchant, 137 lake street 

Mills, M, grocery and provision store, 154 lake street

Matthews, P., dry goods merchant, 162 lake street 

*Merrill, George W., dry goods merchant, 166 lake street 

Morrison, John H., grocery store, 190 lake street

Murray, George, tailor and clothier, 198 lake street

Mooney, Michael, blacksmith, franklin street

Murray & Brand, exchange brokers, 189 lake street (*James Murray; *Alex. 
Brand) 

Massey, I. F., saddler and shoe merchant, 175 lake street 

Morrison, J., carpenter, clark street

*Morrison, Orsemus, morrison's row, clark street 

Massey, Mrs., milliner and dress maker, 175 lake street 

Malbucher, L., grocery and provision store, 167 lake street (*Louis Malzacher) 

M'Combe, Mrs., milliner and dress maker, 165 lake street (Miss McComber) 

Marshall, James A., auctioneer, commission merchant, south water st 

Mosely & M'Cord, merchants, south water street (*Flavel Moseley; *Jason 
McCord) 

*Murphy, J., United States hotel, west water street (John Murphy) 

Morrison, John C, grocery and provision store, south water street 

Mitchell, John B., boot and shoemaker, south water street 

*Miltimore, Ira, steam sash factory, south branch of Chicago river 

*Moore, Henry, attorney and counsellor at law, clark street 

Marsh & Dole, butchers, dearborn street (Sylvester Marsh; *G. W. Dole) 

Merrick, Dr., 121 lake street; house corner state and randolph streets 

*Manierre, George, attorney and counsellor at law, 105 lake street 

*Meeker, George W., attorney and counsellor at law, 150 lake street 

Mylne & Morrison, lumber merchants, south water street (Robert Milne; Alex. 
Morrison)

*Newberry & Dole, forwarding, commission merchants, north water st (*Oliver 
Newberry, of Detroit; *Geo. W. Dole)

Norton & Co., H., grocers and provision merchants, south water street (Horace 
Norton; Joel C. Walter)

Nickalls, Pateson, livery stable keeper, kinzie street 

Nicholson & Co., merchants, north water street

Osbourn & Strail, hardware, stove, iron merchants, 124 lake street (Should be 
Osborn & S.) 

Otis, S. T. & Co., stove, iron, hardware merchants, dearborn street 

Osterhoudt, L. M., New York house, 180 lake street

Osbourn, William, boot, shoe and leather merchant, 141 lake street (Should be 
Osborn) 

Oliver, John A., house, sign and ornamental painter, kinzie street 

Ogden, William B., Esq., kinzie street

Ogden, M. D., of Arnold & Ogden, attorneys, dearborn street 

O'Brien, George, grocery and provision store, north water street 

O'Connor, Martin, blacksmith, randolph street 

*Post, Dr., residence lake street, office dearborn street

Peck, E., treasurer canal fund, clark street

Page, Peter, mason, clark street, brick building above randolph street 

Paine & Norton, dry goods merchants, 117 lake street (*Seth Paine and *Theron 
Norton) 

Parsons & Holden, grocery and provision store, market street (*Edward Parsons; 
Chas. W. H.) 

Parish & Metcalf, general merchants, 132 lake street 

Peacock & Co., J., gunsmiths, 153 lake street (Joseph Peacock; David C. 
Thatcher) 

*Pearson, Hiram, grocer and dry goods merchant, south water street (Hiram 
Pearsons) 

Periolat, F. A., grocery and provision store, 126 lake street 

Pfund, J., bread and biscuit maker, clark street 

*Philips, Clifford S., wholesale dry goods merchant, 125 lake street 

Phillips, John F., tailor and clothier, city hotel buildings, clark street 

Pond, William, watch and clock maker, 183 lake street

Prescott, E. S., receiver land office, United States, 175 lake street

*Price, J., fire warden, south water street (Jeremiah Price) 

Price, Robert, tailor and clothier, 153 lake street 

Proctor, Dr., dearborn street, below lake street

Randolph, G. F., wholesale dry goods merchant, 109 lake street 

Rankin, William & John, brass founders, clark street and Illinois st 

Raymond, B. W., general dry goods merchant, 122 lake street 

*Reed, C. M., forwarding and commission merchant, south water st 

Reed, Mrs., cloak and dressmaker, 115 lake street 

Ross, Hugh, bookbinder and paper ruler, clark street, below lake st 

*Rossetter, Asher, mansion house, 86 lake street

*Rucker, Henry L., alderman and justice of the peace, dearborn st 

*Rudd, Edward H., job and book printer, saloon buildings, clark st

*Russell, James, city hotel, clark street (Jacob Russell)

*Saltonstall, W. W., Hubbard & Co.'s warehouse, north water street 

Sauter, C. & J., boot and shoemakers, 212 lake street (Chas. and *Jacob S.) 

Sherman, A. S., mason, west of the south branch of Chicago river 

Sherman, E. L., teller, Illinois branch state bank, lasalle street 

Sherman & Pitkin, general dry goods merchants, 150 lake street (Oren Sherman; 
Nathaniel Pitkin) 

*Sherwood, S. J., watchmaker and jeweller, 144 lake street 

Shields, Joseph, watch and clock repairer, dearborn street 

Shollar, A., grocery and provision store, 200 lake street

Smith, Bradner, carpenter, wolcott street 

*Smith, Lisle, city attorney, 107 lake street (S. Lisle Smith) 

*Smith & Co., J. A., hat and cap manufacturers, 127 lake street 

Smith & Co., George, exchange brokers, 187 lake street 

Stanton & Black, auctioneers, commission merchants, 85 lake street (*Chas. T. 
Stanton; - Black)

Stearns & Hallam, fancy dry goods merchants, 148 lake street 

Stoce & White, blacksmiths, corner randolph and wells  streets (Clemens 
Stose; - White)

Stocking, Rev. Mr., pastor metho. church, opposite pub. square, clark st 

*Stone, H. O., grocer and provision merchant, south water street 

Strode, J. M., register land office, saloon buildings, clark street 

*Stuart, W., publisher and editor of Chicago American, south water street 

Sweet, C, grocery and provision store, north water street

Storms, A., carpenter and builder, state street 

Sawyer, S., druggist and apothecary, dearborn street

Shelley, G. E., lake house, north water street 

Steele, J. W., city refectory, dearborn street 

*Seymour, Jesse, sauganash hotel, market street

Sweetser, J. Oldham, surgeon dentist, rush street, opposite lake house 

*Stuart, Dr. J. Jay, rush street, opposite the lake house

Scammon, J. Young, attorney and counsellor at law, 107 lake street 

*Spring, Giles, attorney and counsellor at law, 107 lake street 

Snow, G. W. & Co., lumber merchants, south water street (*Geo. W. Snow, of G. 
W. S. & Co.) 

*Sherman, F. C, contractor and builder, clark street 

Tuttle, Nelson, stage agent, 180 lake street

Taylor, Daniel, boot and shoe maker, 120 lake street

*Thompson, O. H., grocery and dry goods merchant, south water street

*Tucker, William, cooper, south water street (Thomas K. T.)

Tripp, ---, carpenter, clark  street, next the methodist church (Robinson 
Tripp)

Taylor, Francis H., tailor, wolf point

*Updike & M'Clure, carpenters and builders, dearborn street (Peter L. Updyke; 
Andrew McClure) 

Van Osdell, John, contractor and builder, corn, wolcott and kinzie sts (John 
M. Van Osdel) 

Vaughan, William, clothes broker, 159 lake street

Villiard, L. N., grocery and provision store, 187 lake street 

Woodworth, R. & J., wholesale dry goods merchants, 103 lake street (*Robert 
and *James H. W.) 

*Wheeler, William, tin, sheet-iron and coppersmith, 145 lake street 

*Wright, John S., forwarding, commission merchant, north water st 

*Weir, John B., cabinet and chair maker, 188 lake street 

*White, George, city crier, market street, or at Stanton & Black's 

Wilman, Andrew, blacksmith, randolph street, opposite public square 

*Whitlock, Thomas, boot and shoe maker, 102 lake street

Whiting, W. L., produce and commission merchant, Hubbard's store 

Wentworth, J., editor and publisher of Chicago Democrat, 107 lake st

Wolcott, Henry, private boarding house, corner kinzie and Wolcott sts 

Wadsworth, Julius, agent for the Hartford insurance Co., 105 lake st 

Warner, Seth, merchant, south water street (Seth P. W.)

*White, Alexander, house, sign and ornamental painter, north water street 

Wicker, J. H., grocery and provision store, 87 lake street

*Walton, N. C., grocery and provision store, north water street

Walker & Co., grocer and provision merchant, south water street (*Chas. 
Walker; *Almond Walker)

Williams, Eli B., recorder, clark street; store south water street 

Wait, H. M., grocery and provision store, lake street

Wandell, John, great western, 152 1/2 lake street

Wheeler, W. F., dry goods merchant, 107 lake street 

Williams, J., hair cutting and shaving shop, 90 lake street 

Wells, H. G., grocery and provision store, 101 lake street 

Yates, H. H., grocery and provision store, clark street


CHURCHES OF THE CITY.

Baptist Church, La Salle, above randolph street: I. T. Hinton, elder 

Episcopal Church, Cass street, opposite Kinzie Square

Presbyterian Church, west side of Clark street, above the pub. square 

Methodist Church, east side of Clark street, above randolph 

Roman Catholic Church, Corner of Lake and State street 

First Unitarian Society, Rev. Mr. Harrington, Saloon Buildings.


A number of omissions will probably be found in the foregoing directory, in 
consequence of the difficulty in procuring a suitable person to collect names 
and residences for it; but it is the intention of the publisher, as soon as 
circumstances will permit, to issue another edition, enlarged and otherwise 
improved.


DWELLERS IN CHICAGO IN 1839.

[We had intended this notice for a later page of this volume, but having re-
arranged a part of the foregoing since first issued, we insert it here.]

We are much pleased with the appearance of Mr. Fergus' beautifully printed 
pamphlet, entitled "Fergus Directory of the City of Chicago, 1839." We think, 
though, a more appropriate title for it would have been "Fergus' Retrospective 
List of Chicago Residents in 1839," inasmuch as this list of names has been 
gotten together thirty-seven years after the date it represents.

While there may be in that production possible inaccuracies, we have heard it 
spoken of, by those competent to judge, as a wonderful compilation for fulness 
and freedom from error. Yet, whether perfect or otherwise, or with what name 
Mr. Fergus is pleased to christen his catalogue, we must say that he has done 
a commendable and lasting service for Chicago history, and one to which the 
progressing years will of necessity give increased value.

Having expressed our appreciation of the "Directory," we will add a word or 
two in our own behalf, being that Mr. F., in his Introduction, rather 
intimates something untruthful ("fancy,") as well as mercenary ("statements of 
interested parties,") on our part. The ground of indignation seems to be, that 
we had caused to be reprinted a "Chicago Business Directory" published in 
1839, of which original, he claims to have been the sole author and type-
setter, albeit Edward H. Rudd's name appears on the title-page as printer, and 
Mr. Fergus' name does not appear in the book. (That is not surprising; perhaps 
Mr. F. was not carrying on the business himself; at least that model 
institution, the "Fergus Printing Co.," was not then in being.) Mr. F. does 
not allow that this original directory was the first of its class, and would 
thus appear to ignore the paternity of his own early bantling, though he 
placed the heading "Chicago Business Directory," and put, as an apology for 
its meagreness, the following, as see ante p. 19:

"A number of omissions will probably be found in the foregoing directory, in 
consequence of the difficulty in procuring a suitable person to collect names 
and residences for it; but it is the intention of the publisher, as soon as 
circumstances will permit, to issue another edition, enlarged and otherwise 
improved."

Our own excuse for the reprint is this: in the summer of 1873, we were shown, 
by an early settler, (James A. Smith,) a copy of the Laws and Ordinances with 
the aforesaid Business Directory, which, as a bibliographical relic of the 
early City, seemed worthy of preservation; hence its reproduction. It was not 
our fault that the original was not larger; it was not our freak, commendable 
or condemnable, the giving it the title "Chicago Business Directory."
July 1, 1876.


A RELIC; WHERE IS IT?
"Some twenty years since, it was told in a Chicago daily, that a brass cannon, 
a part of the armament of Fort Dearborn, thrown into the river at the 
evacuation of 1812, had a few years before been dredged up from the river bed. 
Where is that piece? If the War Department took it away, ought it not now to 
be returned?"—Sidney S. Hurlbut’s Memorial Chart.


WHAT BECAME OF IT?
We have heard inquiry made without satisfactory response, as to what had 
become of the metalic box and its contents, which were placed within the 
northeast corner-stone of the late Court House at the time it was built. 
Neither Mr. T. Mackin or Mr. Knerr, the purchasers of the debris, know 
anything about the matter. The aforesaid receptacle is said to have contained 
various documents not elsewhere to be found, and among them a list of the 
names of every dweller in Chicago in 1833, outside of Fort Dearborn. We would 
be pleased to learn of the safety, in proper hands, of those records, as their 
destruction would be another "lost pleiad," among the blotted out lights of 
our local history.


FORT DEARBORN; WHEN CHRISTENED. 
It has been often stated, that only after the re-building of the Fort 
(completed in 1817,) it first received the name Fort Dearborn. This was 
incorrect, for in 1812, the name seems to have been generally known, as the 
Eastern newspapers mostly so referred to the garrison on learning the news of 
the abandonment of the Fort by the troops, and the immediate treachery of the 
Indians. A letter from the War Department admits this, though their records 
fail to impart anything definite of an earlier date. Yet evidence from other 
sources has not been wanting, to confirm the statement, that this post was 
called "Fort Dearborn" in the year it was first finished, in 1804. The fact 
appeared in the accounts and papers of the elder John Kinzie, who was here 
that year. Those documents, at the time of the great fire, were in the library 
of the Chicago Historical Society. But a living witness is here to-day, 
October 30, 1875, who was here when the Fort was built in 1803-4, and she has 
assured us of the fact above stated; we allude of course to Mrs. Whistler.


THAT SILVER PITCHER. 
In the second month A. D. 1853, might be seen at the manufactory of Speer & 
Cosper in Chicago, a new and massive silver pitcher, a which morning paper 
noticed as follows: “Made for one of our citizens,—one of the most superb 
pieces of plate this western world can boast of. There is engraved on it the 
Coat of Arms of his ancestors, and the raised, embossed and fretted work, are 
rich and most effective. Who the owner is, to us a mystery; all we were told 
was, that he is an old and time-honored citizen; that he was here when the 
Indian's war-whoop spread terror along the bank of the lake,—that he took part 
in the terrific struggle of the Indian War, the sanguineness of which, 44,000 
out of the 45,000 people now in Chicago can form no conception; has grown up 
with the city, and now enjoys the fruits of his long and arduous labors. Long 
may he live, and may those fruits increase upon him."


EARLIEST RESIDENT IN CHICAGO NOW LIVING.
Very few of the four hundred thousand of the reasonably adult individuals now 
residing in Chicago are probably aware that the lady of whom we are going to 
speak is now a visitor in our city. After so long a period, since early in the 
century, before those of our citizens who have only reached their "three score 
years and ten" were born, when she came a trustful wife of sixteen, and 
stepped ashore upon the river bank, it is not a little remarkable that she is, 
to-day, again passing over and around the locality of this her early home. 
Under the gentle supervision of this married maiden's blue eyes, our stockade 
fortress, then so far within the wilderness, was erected. Yet, of all those 
who came in that summer of 1803, the sailor-men of that vessel, the oarsmen of 
that boat, the company of United States soldiers, Captain and Mrs. Whistler, 
and their son, the husband and his bride of a year, all, we may safely say, 
have bid adieu to earth, excepting this lone representative. These are some of 
the circumstances which contribute to make this lady a personage of unusual 
interest to the dwellers here. A few particulars in the life of Mrs. Whistler, 
together with some of the facts attending the coming of those who arrived to 
assist in building Fort Dearborn, will certainly be acceptable.

It was a coveted pilgrimage which we sought, as any one might believe, for it 
was during the tremendous rainstorm of the evening of 29th October, 1875, that 
we sallied out to call at Mrs. Col. R. A. Kinzie's, for an introduction to the 
lady's mother, Mrs. Whistler. When we entered the parlor, the venerable woman 
was engaged at the centre-table in some game of amusement with her 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, seemingly as much interested as any of 
the juveniles. [We will remark here that five generations in succession of 
this family have lived in Chicago.] She claimed to enjoy good health, and was, 
apparently, an unusual specimen of well-preserved faculties, both intellectual 
and physical. She is of a tall form, and her appearance still indicates the 
truth of common report, that, in her earlier years, she was a person of 
surpassing elegance. A marked trait of hers has been a spirit of unyielding 
energy and determination, and which length of years has not yet subdued. Her 
tenacious memory ministers to a voluble tongue, and we may say briefly, she is 
an agreeable, intelligent, and sprightly lady, numbering only a little over 88 
years. "To-day," said she, "I received my first pension on account of my 
husband's services." Mrs. Whistler resides in Newport, Kentucky. She has one 
son and several grandsons in the army. Born in Salem, Mass., July 3, 1787, her 
maiden name was Julia Ferson, and her parents were John and Mary (La Dake) 
Ferson. In childhood she removed with her parents to Detroit, where she 
received most of her education. In the month of May, 1802, she was married to 
William Whistler (born in Hagerstown, Md., about 1784), a Second Lieut, in the 
company of his Father, Captain John Whistler, U. S. A., then stationed at 
Detroit. In the summer of the ensuing year, Captain Whistler's company was 
ordered to Chicago, to occupy the post and build the Fort. Lieut. James S. 
Swearingen (late Col. Swearingen, of Chillicothe, O.) conducted the company 
from Detroit overland. The U. S. schooner "Tracy," Dorr, master, was 
dispatched at the same time, for same destination, by the lakes, with 
supplies, and having also on board Captain John Whistler, Mrs. Whistler, their 
son George W., then three years old (afterwards the distinguished engineer in 
the employ of the Russian government), Lieut. Wm. Whistler, and the young wife 
of the last named gentleman. The schooner stopped briefly on her route at St. 
Joseph's river, where the Whistlers left the vessel and took a row-boat to 
Chicago. The schooner, on arriving at Chicago, anchored half a mile from the 
shore, discharging her freight by boats. Some 2000 Indians visited the 
locality while the vessel was here, being attracted by so unusual an 
occurrence, as the appearance in these waters of "a big canoe with wings." 
Lieut. Swearingen returned with the "Tracy" to Detroit.

There were then here, says Mrs. W., but four rude huts or traders' cabins, 
occupied by white men, Canadian French, with Indian wives; of these were Le 
Mai, Ouilmette, and Pettell. No fort existed here at that time, though it is 
understood (see Treaty of Greenville) that there had been one at a former day, 
built by the French, doubtless, as it was upon one of the main routes from New 
France to Louisiana, of which extensive region that government long held 
possession by a series of military posts. [It is said that Durantaye, a French 
official, built some sort of a fortification here as early as 1685.]

Capt. Whistler, upon his arrival, at once set about erecting a stockade and 
shelter for their protection, followed by getting out the sticks for the 
heavier work. It is worth mentioning here, that there was not at that time, 
within hundreds of miles, a team of horses or oxen, and, as a consequence, the 
soldiers had to don the harness, and with the aid of ropes drag home the 
needed timbers. The birth of two children within the Fort we have referred to 
elsewhere. Lt. Whistler, after a five years sojourn here, was transferred to 
Fort Wayne, having previously been made a First Lieutenant. He distinguished 
himself at the battle of Maguago, Mich., 9th Aug., 1812; was in Detroit at 
time of Hull's surrender, and, with Mrs. Whistler, was taken prisoner to 
Montreal; was promoted to a Captain, December, 1812; to Major, in 1826; and a 
Lieut.-Col., in 1845. At his death, he had rendered sixty-two years continuous 
service in the army; yet Mrs. W. says she remembers but six short furloughs 
which he had during the whole term. He was stationed at various posts, beside 
those of Green Bay, Niagara, and Sackett's Harbor; at the last named post, 
Gen. Grant (then a subaltern officer) belonged to the command of Col. W. In 
June, 1832, Colonel Whistler arrived again at Fort Dearborn, not the work 
which he had assisted to build twenty-eight years before, for that was burned 
in 1812, but the later one, erected in 1816-17. He then remained here but a 
brief period.

Col. Wm. Whistler's height at maturity was six feet two inches, and his weight 
at one time was 260 lbs. He died in Newport, Ky., Dec. 4, 1863.

Capt. John Whistler, the builder and commandant of the first Fort Dearborn 
(afterwards Major W.), was an officer in the army of the Revolution. We regret 
that we have so few-facts concerning his history; nor have we a portrait or 
signature of the patriot. It is believed, that when ordered at Chicago he 
belonged to a regiment of artillery. He continued in command at Fort Dearborn, 
until the forepart of 1811, we think, for we notice that his successor, 
Captain Heald, gave to the Pottawatomie, Little Chief, a pass to St. Louis, 
dated here July 11, 1811. Mrs. Whistler expressed to us her opinion, that had 
Captain W. been continued in the command, the Chicago massacre would not have 
happened. Major John Whistler died at Bellefontaine, Mo., in 1827.

Col. James Swearingen was a Second Lieutenant, in 1803, when he conducted the 
Company of Capt. Whistler from Detroit across Michigan to Chicago. The 
regiment of artillery, with which he was connected, is understood to have been 
the only corps of that branch of defence. Lieut. Swearingen continued in the 
service until about 1816, attaining the rank of Colonel, when he resigned his 
commission, and made his residence in Chillicothe, O., where he died, on his 
82d birthday, in February, 1864.


THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY AND CHICAGO.
During the existence of the American Fur Company, Chicago was at times the 
home or head-quarters of various of its agents; Hubbard, Beaubien, Crafts, and 
the Kinzies, at least, sojourned here more or less. By way of Chicago was the 
thoroughfare to the Illinois, St. Louis, and below. While Mackinaw had been 
for more than a century the storehouse and great trading post of the fur 
dealers, Chicago was the port and point of a very limited district of 
distribution. But civilization has changed the character of trade, and the 
settlement and cultivation of the country by the white race has transferred 
from Michilimackinac to Chicago the commercial depot and trade centre of not 
only a great share of the region comprising the old Northwestern Territory, 
but of a far greater area of empire.

To notice slightly the origin of the American Fur Company, we will say that 
John Jacob Astor, a German by birth, who arrived in New York in the year 1784, 
commenced work for a bakery owned by a German acquaintance, and peddled cakes 
and doughnuts about the city. [See Scovill’s “Old Merchants of New York!” 
contradicting other stories of Astor's early life in America.] He was 
afterwards assisted to open a toy shop, and this was followed by trafficking 
for small parcels of furs in the country towns, and which led to his future 
operations in that line.

Mr. Astor's great and continued success in that branch of trade induced him, 
in 1809, to obtain from the New York Legislature a charter incorporating "The 
American Fur Company," with a capital of a million dollars. It is understood 
that Mr. Astor comprised the Company, though other names were used in its 
organization. In 1811, Mr. Astor, in connection with certain partners of the 
old Northwest Fur Company (whose beginning was in 1783, and permanently 
organized in 1787), bought out the association of British merchants known as 
the Mackinaw Company, then a strong competitor in the fur trade. This Mackinaw 
Company, with the American Fur Company, was merged into a new association, 
called the Southwest Fur Company. But in 1815, Mr. Astor bought out the 
Southwest Company, and the American Fur Company came again to the front. In 
the winter of 1815-16, Congress, through the influence of Mr. Astor, it is 
understood, passed an act excluding foreigners from participating in the 
Indian trade. In 1817-18, the American Fur Company brought a large number of 
clerks from Montreal, and the United States, to Mackinaw, some of whom made 
good Indian traders, while many others failed upon trial and were discharged. 
Among those who proved their capability was Gurdon S. Hubbard, Esq., then a 
youth of sixteen, the earliest resident of Chicago now living here. Quite 
appropriate will it be to present a likeness of Mr. H. in connection with this 
article. He was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1802, and his parents were Elizur and 
Abigail (Sage) Hubbard. His paternal emigrant ancestor was George Hubbard, who 
was at Wethersfield, Ct., in 1636. Mr. Hubbard is also a lineal descendant of 
the clergyman Governor, Gurdon Saltonstall (named for Brampton Gurdon, the 
patriot M. P., whose daughter was the grandmother of the Governor), who was 
the great-grandson of Sir Richard Saltonstall, the firm and efficient friend 
of early New England.

[The citizens of Chicago must be pleased to learn that Mr. Hubbard has in 
hand, getting ready for the press, a volume of autobiography, and 
reminiscences of men, things, and happenings, during his long sojourn in the 
West.] We need, therefore, merely add here that Mr. Hubbard left Montreal, 
where his parents then lived, May 13, 1818, reaching Mackinaw, July 4th, and 
first arrived at Chicago on the last day of October or first day of November 
of that year. In 1828, he purchased of the Fur Company their entire interest 
in the trade of Illinois.

We are indebted to Mr. Hubbard for the following, relating to the American Fur 
Company, which he has kindly communicated:

"Having entire charge of the management of the company in the West, were 
Ramsey Crooks and Robert Stuart. To William Matthews was intrusted the 
engaging of voyageurs and clerks in Canada, with his head-quarters in 
Montreal. The voyageurs he took from the kabitans (farmers); young, active, 
athletic men were sought for, indeed, none but such were engaged, and they 
passed under inspection of a surgeon. Mr. M. also purchased at Montreal such 
goods as were suited for the trade, to load his boats. These boats were the 
Canadian batteaux, principally used in those days in transferring goods to 
upper St. Lawrence river and its tributaries, manned by four oarsmen and a 
steersman, capacity about six tons. The voyageurs and clerks were under 
indentures for a term of five years. Wages of voyageurs, $100, clerks from 
$120 to $500 per annum. These were all novices in the business; the plan of 
the company was to arrange and secure the services of old traders and their 
voyageurs, who, at the (new) organization of the company were in the Indian 
country, depending on their influence and knowledge of the trade with the 
Indians; and as fast as possible secure the vast trade in the West and North-
west, within the district of the United States, interspersing the novices 
brought from Canada so as to consolidate, extend, and monopolize, as far as 
possible, over the country, the Indian trade. The first two years they had 
succeeded in bringing into their employ seven-eighths of the old Indian 
traders on the Upper Mississippi, Wabash, and Illinois rivers, Lakes Michigan 
and Superior, and their tributaries as far north as the boundaries of the 
United States extended. The other eighth thought that their interest was to 
remain independent; toward such, the company selected their best traders, and 
located them in opposition, with instructions so to manage by underselling to 
bring them to terms.

At Mackinaw, the trader's brigades were organized, the company selecting the 
most capable trader to be the manager of his particular brigade, which 
consisted of from five to twenty batteaux, laden with goods. This chief or 
manager, when reaching the country allotted to him, made detachments, locating 
trading houses, with districts clearly defined, for the operations of that 
particular post, and so on, until his ground was fully occupied by traders 
under him, over whom he had absolute authority.

Mr. John Crafts was a trader sent to Chicago by a Mr. Conant, of Detroit; was 
here at the (new) organization of the American Fur Company. His trading house 
was located about half a mile below Bridgeport, (“Hardscrabble,” the same 
premises, where in April 1812, two murders were committed by the Indians) on 
the north side of the river, (south branch) and had, up to 1819, full control 
of this section, without opposition from the American Fur Company, sending 
outfits to Rock River and other points within a range say of a hundred miles 
of Chicago. In fall of 1819, the company transferred Jean Baptiste Beaubien 
from Milwaukee to this point, for the purpose of opposing Mr. Crafts. He 
erected his trading houses at the mouth of Chicago river, then about the foot 
of Harrison street, in 1822, Crafts succumbed, and engaged himself to the 
American Fur Company, taking a charge. Mr. Beaubien was under him. 
Subsequently, the company bought from the U. S. the Factory House, located 
just south of Fort Dearborn, to which Beaubien removed with his family. Crafts 
died here of bilious fever in December, of I think the year 1823. Up to this 
date, Mr. John Kinzie was not in any business connected with the American Fur 
Company, but confined himself to his trade, silversmith, making Indian 
trinkets. At the death of Mr. Crafts, he acted as agent for the American Fur 
Company. He had no goods, as Mr. Beaubien bought out the Company's right of 
trade with the Indians. By this time there was a very limited trade here, in 
fact, this place never had been pre-eminent as a trading-post, as this was not 
the Indian hunting-ground."

We will here allude to Mr. Astor's attempt to establish an American emporium 
for the fur trade at the mouth of the Columbia river, which enterprise failed, 
through the capture of Astoria by the British in 1814, and the neglect of our 
Government to give him protection. The withdrawal of Mr. Astor from the 
Pacific coast, left the Northwest Fur Company to consider themselves the lords 
of the country. They did not long enjoy the field unmolested, however. "A 
fierce competion ensued between them and their old rivals, the Hudson's Bay 
Company, which was carried on at great cost and sacrifice, and, occasionally, 
with the loss of life. It ended in the ruin of most of the partners of the 
Northwest Company, and merging of the relics of that establishment, in 1821, 
in the rival association."

Ramsey Crooks was a foremost man in the employ of Mr. Astor in the fur trade, 
not only in the east, but upon the western coast, and has been called "the 
adventurous Rocky Mountain trader." Intimately connected, as Mr. Crooks was, 
with the American Fur Company, a slight notice of him will not be out of 
place. Mr. Crooks was a native of Greenock, Scotland, and was employed as a 
trader, in Wisconsin, as early as 1806. He entered the service of Mr. Astor in 
1809. In 1813, he returned from his three years' journey to the western coast, 
and in 1817 he joined Mr. Astor as a partner, and, for four or five years 
ensuing, he was the company's Mackinaw agent, though residing mostly in New 
York. Mr. Crooks continued a partner until 1830, when this connection was 
dissolved and he resumed his place with Mr. Astor in his former capacity. In 
1834, Mr. Astor, being advanced in years, sold out the stock of the company, 
and transferred the charter to Ramsey Crooks and his associates, whereupon Mr. 
C. was elected president of the company. Reverses, however, compelled an 
assignment in 1842, and with it the death of the American Fur Company. In 
1845, Mr. Crooks opened a commission house, for the sale of furs and skins, in 
New York city. This business, which was successful, Mr. C. continued until his 
death. Mr. Crooks died in New York, June 6, 1859, in his 73d year.

[Through the politeness of a lady of Chicago, we have been favored with the 
loan of a volume, formerly one of the books of the American Fur Company, 
containing various items of interest. The lady referred to was formerly of 
Mackinaw, and had the good taste when noticing, some years since, the waste of 
numerous books and papers of the old Fur Company, to secure quite a number 
from such a fate. All those book and papers, excepting the one lying before 
us, she afterward presented to the Chicago Historical Society, and they shared 
the flames which consumed its valuable collection.

Though only in part referring to our immediate locality, we think it will be 
excusable to place upon record the following extracts and items (mostly of 
persons and their destination) from the volume above mentioned. The book 
comprises outward invoices of the year 1821 and '2, from the Agency at 
Mackinaw, or "Michilimackinac" as it was written. Pains have been taken to 
carefully follow the orthography, of the names of persons and places.]

(For account and risk of the American Fur Co., Merchandise delivered.) 

Josette Gauthier, for the Trade of Lake Superior. Michilimackinac, 23 July, 
1821.

Madeline Laframboise, for the Trade of Grand River and its dependencies, 3 
Sept., 1821.

[Madam Laframboise was of the Indian race, an Ottawa woman, whose husband had 
taught her to read and write. She was of a tall and commanding figure, and Mr. 
Hubbard informs us that "she was a woman of extraordinary ability, spoke 
French remarkably well, and, in deportment and conversation, a lady highly 
esteemed; her husband was killed on the Upper Mississippi." After his 
death, "she took control of the business, and continued as a trader in the 
Company's employ," was accustomed to visit the various trading posts, and 
looked closely after the doings of the clerks and employes. The daughter of 
Madam Laframboise became the wife of Lieut. John S. Pierce, of the army, 
brother of the late President Pierce.]


(On their own account and risk.)

Therese Schindler, for her Trade at and about Michilimackinac, 23 August, 1821.

Eliza and James Mitchell for their Trade, August 12, 1822. 


(For account and risk of the American Fur Co.)

John F. Hogle, for the Trade of Lac du Flambeau and its dependencies, 24 July, 
1821.

Jean Bt. Corbin for the Trade of Lac Courtoreille and its dependencies, 31 
July, 1821.

Eustache Roussain, for Trade of Folleavoine and its dep. 31 July, 1821.

Goodrich Warner, for the Trade of Ance Quirvinan and its dep. 2 August, 1821.

Joseph Rolette, for the Trade of the Upper Mississsippi and its dep. 15 
August, 1821.

Amount of Invoice, $25,354.84.

[Joseph Rolette was at Prairie du Chien as early as 1804. He was a decided 
character in his day, and numerous anecdotes are told of him which establish 
that fact. He held sway over the French inhabitants and voyageurs, and was 
exacting in his requirements; his will was arbitrary, his word law, and the 
people feared him, it is said, worse than they did death. He was educated for 
the Catholic church, officiated at one time as chief-justice, and, it is told 
to have been rich to watch the proceedings and decisions of that court. In the 
capture of Mackinaw from the Americans, in 1812, Rolette took an active part 
on the side of the enemy, having command of the Canadians on that occasion. He 
also raised a company to take part in the expedition under Col. McKay, against 
Prairie du Chien, and bore the despatches to Mackinaw after its surrender. Mr. 
Rolette died at Prairie du Chien in 1841.]

William H. Wallace for trade of Lower Wabash and its dep. 22 August, 1821.

[This gentleman was a Scotchman, and is understood to have died in Chicago 
about 1826. He was connected with the Fur Company upon the Pacific coast some 
years before. A manuscript narrative of his journey, in 1810, to the Northwest 
coast, from Montreal, via New York, Sandwich Islands, etc., left by him, was 
deposited with the Chicago Historical Society.]

John Henry Davis, for the trade of the Upper Wabash and its dep. 24 August, 
1821.

Jeremie Clairemont, for the trade of Iroquois river and its dep. 22 August, 
1821.

Truman A. Warren, for the trade of Lac du Flambeau and its dep. July 15, 1822.

John Holliday, for the trade of Ance Quirvinan, and its dep. 26 July, 1822.

Joseph Bertrand and Pierre Navarre, for trade of St. Joseph and Kinkiki and 
its dep. Aug. 7, 1822.

[The present village of Bertrand, Mich., formerly called Pare aux Vaches, it 
is believed, was named for Joseph Bertrand.]

William Morrison, for the trade of Fon du Lac and its dep. July 20, 1822.

[This gentleman, who died in 1866, near Montreal, discovered, in 1804, the 
source of the Mississppi, in advance of Schoolcraft or Beltrami, or, indeed, 
any other white man.]

Antoine Deschamps and Gurdon S. Hubbard, for the trade of Iroquois river, and 
its dep. August 9, 1822.

[Antoine Deschamps, in the year 1792, was at what was formerly called La Ville 
de Maillet, that was afterwards "Fort Clark," and the village of Peoria. He 
lived there, at least, until 1811.]


(Joint Account.)

Russell Farnham, for the trade of the lower Mississippi and its dep. 10 
August, 1821.

Consignment to address of James Kinzie for account of him and the American Fur 
Company; for trade of Milliwaki and its dep. Shipped per Schooner Ann, Capt. 
Ransom, from Michilimackinac, to Chicago. 13 Sept., 1821.

[The late James Kinzie, formerly of Chicago, and half brother of the late John 
H. Kinzie.]

Joseph C. Dechereau, for the trade of Penatangonshine and its dep. 5 Oct., 
1821.

Louis Pensonneau, sen., for trade of Illinois river.    August 12, 1822.

[Louis Penceneau, both senior and junior, lived at Peoria; the former built a 
house there soon after the peace of 1815.]


(Own account and risk.)

Etienne (otherwise Stephen) Lamorandiere, for Trade at Drummond's Island. July 
21, 1821.

Michael Cadotte, sen., for his trade at La Pointe, Lake Superior. 23 July, 
1821.

Joseph La Perche, alias St. Jean, for his trade on the lower Mississippi. 30 
July, 1821.

Joseph Bailly, for trade of Lake Michigan, etc. 10 August, 1821.

Binette, Buisson and Bibeau, for trade on the Illinois river and its dep. 18 
August, 1821.

Joseph Guerette, for trade on Illinois river. 18 August, 1821.

Augustin Grignon, John Lawe, Jaques Porlier, sen., Pierre Grignon, and Louis 
Grignon, all of Green Bay, for their trade there. 3 Sept., 1821.

[The Grignons were grandsons of Charles DeLanglade, who settled at Green Bay 
as early as 1745.]

Antoine Deschamps, for the trade of Masquigon.    11 Sept., 1821.

Richard M. Price, for the trade of Drummond Island. 5 Sept., 1821.

Daniel Dingley, for the trade of Folleavoine, south Lake Superior. July 30, 
1822.

Edward Biddle, from 1st Oct., 1821 to 15 Aug., 1822.

Ignace Pichet. June 28, 1822.

Rix Robinson, for trade of Grand River, Lake Michigan. August 23, 1822.

[He studied law in the State of New York, but abandoned it and came to 
Mackinaw to take up the business of Indian trader.]

William A. Aitken, for his trade at Fon du Lac and its dep. July 4, 1822.

Jean Bt. Beaubien, for his trade at Milliwakie.

[The late Col. J. B. Beaubien, of Chicago.]
Pierre Caune for his trade. Aug. 31, 1822.

Washington Irving, in his "Astoria," gives a graphic account of the occasional 
meetings of the partners, agents and employes of the old Northwest Fur 
Company, at Montreal and Fort William, where they kept high days and nights of 
wassail and feasting; of song and tales of adventure and hair-breath escapes. 
But of those lavish and merry halls of the old "Northwest," we need suggest no 
comparison with the Agency dwelling of the American Fur Company at Mackinaw, 
where the expenses charged for the year 1821 were only $678.49. In that 
account, however, we notice the following entries: 31 1/4 gallons Tenerifte 
Wine; 4 1/2 gallons Port Wine; 10 gallons best Madeira; 70 1/2 gallons Red 
Wine; nine gallons brandy; one barrel flour.

We will close this article by giving a catalogue of goods furnished for the 
trade of the Chicago country, fifty-three years ago:

Arm bands, blankets, broad cord, blue cloth, brown Russia sheeting, blue 
bernagore handkerchiefs, black silk do., black ribbon, boxwood combs, barrel 
biscuit, black bottles, boys' roram hats, brass jewsharps, beads, blue cloth 
trowsers, blue cloth capotes, beaver shot, balls, black wampum, barrel salt, 
colored ribbon, colored gartering, crimson bed-lace, cartouche knives, colored 
cock feathers, cod lines, colored worsted thread, cotton-wick balls, cow 
bells, covered copper kettles, common needles, cotton bandanna handkerchiefs, 
duck shot, darning needles, embossed serge, English playing cards, embossed 
brooches, ear wheels, furniture cotton, fox tail feathers, flour, fire steels, 
gun flints, girls' worsted hose, gorgets, gunpowder, gurrahs, highland striped 
gartering, hawk's bills, hair trunks, half axes, highwines, hose, hand sleds, 
Irish linen, Indian calico handkerchiefs, ingrain ribbon, ivory combs, ingrain 
worsted thread, ink powder, japanned quart jacks, kettle chains, knee straps, 
London scots gartering, large round ear bobs, looking-glasses, mock garnets, 
maitre de retz, men's shirts, men's imitation beaver hats, moon paper, narrow 
cord, nuns' thread, nails, northwest guns, printed cotton shawls, plain bath 
rings, pen knives, pierced brooches, portage collars, pepper, pins, pipes, 
pork, scarlet cloth, shoes, spotted swan skin, silk ferrets, scarlet milled 
caps, scalping knives, St. Lawrence shells, stone rings, sturgeon twine, 
stitching thread, snuff, snuff boxes, snaffle bridles, stirrup irons, tow 
sheeting, therick, tomahawks, tobacco, vermillion, white crash brushes, white 
molton, waist straps, white wampum, whiskey.


FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN CHICAGO.
[In undertaking this series of historical pamphlets, one object was, to place 
in a convenient form, for reference, the facts in relation to various events 
in the early history of Chicago, some of which have been so diversely, and yet 
so confidently, stated that an unwonted traveler through those historical 
jungles and forests, might have great difficulty in getting out of the woods. 
It is true, that it is not always easy or possible to get at the exact and 
reliable facts, so barren may be the evidence, or yet so numerous and varied 
the convergent channels through which it reaches us, tinted or discolored 
perhaps on its way. "Tradition is a careless story teller," and our memories 
are often defective; our wishes, while they strengthen our faith, also build 
up our prejudices, warp our thoughts, and mislead our tongues; so, honestly, 
perhaps, we go on uttering untruths, it may be, for a lifetime. It is only by 
diligent search, or by the collation of the numerous and oftentimes 
contradictory accounts, statements and data, that satisfactory results can be 
arrived at; indeed, it has been said that written histories, ordinarily, are 
at the best only an approximation to the truth. It is to this approximation 
that we would at least strive to attain.]

In the Weekly Democratic Press of March 18, 1854, appeared a historical sketch 
of Chicago, written by Lieut.-Gov. Bross, one of the editors, embodying the 
results of considerable research; we make an extract as follows:

"So far as we have been able to learn, the oldest inhabitant born in Chicago, 
and now living here, is a lady—we beg pardon for saying it—she is an unmarried 
lady. Be not amazed, ye spruce, anxious bachelors, and if you count your gray 
hairs by scores, stand aside, for we are quite sure there is no chance for 
you. She is not only an unmarried lady, but a young lady, only twenty-two 
years of age, as she was born in Fort Dearborn in the early part of 1832. We 
have not the pleasure of her acquaintance, and, at the peril of incurring her 
displeasure, we venture to state that the oldest native inhabitant of Chicago, 
a city of more than sixty thousand people, is Miss Ellen Hamilton, the 
daughter of our good friend, Col. R. J. Hamilton."

In a communication concerning David McKee, an old Chicago resident, appears 
this:
"His oldest son, Stephen J. McKee, was born Sept. 18, 1830, and was the first 
white male child born in Chicago."

In the Republican of Feb. 12, 1866, is an article from which we take the 
following:
"A daughter of the late Mr. Russell E. Heacock, born in Fort Dearborn, 1828, 
was the first white child born in Chicago. The honor has been claimed by a 
very respectable lady, daughter of the late Col. R. J. Hamilton, but the facts 
will not bear out the claim. Mrs. Serena R. Noble, now a resident of 
California, is the person who has the birthright."

Alexander Beaubien, son of the late Col. John B. Beaubien, was born in 
Chicago, Jan. 28, 1822, and lives here still.

Mr. Wentworth, in a late lecture, said:
"Gen. John McNeil, one of the heroes at the battle of Lundy's Lane, Canada, in 
1814, was stationed here soon after the reconstruction of the Fort (men 
arrived to rebuild it in 1816), and he claimed that one of his daughters was 
the first person ever born in the Fort. A few years since, I met her on 
Michigan Avenue, and she said she had been trying to find the place upon which 
she was born, claiming the honor of being the first person born in the Fort. 
As she was unmarried, I disliked to ask her when it was. There are several 
persons now living in Chicago who claim the distinction of being the first 
white person born here."

The late Col. Robert A. Kinzie was born at Chicago, Feb. 8, 1810.

Maria Kinzie (since Mrs. Gen. David Hunter) was born at Chicago, previous to 
the month of October in 1807.

John Harrison Whistler (son of Lieut. Wm. Whistler) was born in Fort Dearborn, 
Oct. 7, 1807. [This gentleman died in Burlington, Kan., Oct 23, 1873.]

Merriweather Lewis Whistler, brother of the above-named John H. W., was also 
born in the Fort in the fall of the year 1805, and was, without doubt, the 
first white boy baby that "blew his horn" anywhere in this region, since the 
waters of the Great Lakes discharged their surplus into the Gulf of Mexico, 
instead of the St. Lawrence, as geologists tell us was formerly the case. But 
the young lad was drowned in Newport, Ky., when some seven years old.

The first person, however, born at Chicago of white parentage, was a sister of 
the above named Maria and Robert A. Kinzie, and daughter of John and Eleanor 
Kinzie. The event happened, in what was afterward known as the Kinzie House on 
the north side, (so Mrs. Whistler tells us,) and the little lady first saw the 
light upon the shore of the Divine River, (a name sometimes applied to the 
creek here in former days, though scarcely divine at present, if purity is an 
essential attribute,) on one of the days of December, 1804. [Her published 
obituary, gave the date of her birth as Dec. 1805; yet Mrs. Whistler assures 
us that it occurred earlier by some months, than that of her son Lewis, and 
that it was in winter or cold weather. Allowing the month to have been 
December, agreeable to the obituary referred to, the conclusion must be, that 
the year was that of 1804.] In due time, she was given the christian name of 
Ellen Marion, and her playmates in early childhood were often the Indian 
children, with whom she gathered the summer flowers along the sedgy banks of 
the quiet stream. But the war came, the Fort was abandoned, and then occurred 
an exhibition of brutal carnage which savages so delight in; it was the 
massacre at Chicago. But the household of Mr. Kinzie, after various perils and 
escapes, under the care of friendly captors, were taken to St. Joseph, and 
thence to Detroit. The re-building of Fort Dearborn brought back the Kinzies 
to their old home.

It will be sufficient here to say that Miss Kinzie received her education at 
Middletown, Ct., and was married at the age sixteen to Dr. Alexander Wolcott, 
Indian agent at Chicago. [It was, we believe in 1821, that John Hamlin, a 
Justice of the Peace, living in Fulton county before that county was 
organized, was sent for, and officiated in tying the knot.] Doctor Wolcott 
died in 1830, and his widow subsequently married Hon. George C. Bates, an 
early resident of Chicago, now (1875) living in Salt Lake City. We have been 
unable to procure a "counterfeit presentment" of the features of Mrs.
Bates, and possibly there is none in existence; if so, it is certainly a 
matter of regret. She died in Detroit, 1 Aug., 1860.


THE PIONEER LAWYER OF CHICAGO.
[In a historical article in a late number of the Chicago Times, it is asserted 
that "the first lawyer who came to Chicago to make his living by his 
profession and nothing else, was Judge Giles Spring; there had been other 
lawyers here before, but they came as circuit riders, accompanying the Court, 
etc." The drift of this seems to be, to ignore a plain fact in our local 
history. Now we suggest that the Times writer, for the lack of a knowledge of 
the case, has innocently made a blunder in the matter. It would certainly 
confer honor upon no one, to attempt to hide a palpable truth in the annals of 
early Chicago. Twenty-five years before Judge Spring came here, possibly 
before he was born, Mr. Heacock was licensed to practise law. He then lived in 
Illinois, which at that time was part of the Territory of Indiana. That the 
mere circumstance of Mr. Heacock's learning in early life the carpenter's 
trade, or that he could and did, with true Yankee adaptability, turn his hand 
to whatever offered, that he farmed it, kept tavern, etc., as well as to 
practise law, for his support, should blot out of the record his title of the 
earliest practising lawyer of Chicago, seems a little strange. It was no fault 
of Mr. Heacock's, that Chicago did not, for several years after his arrival, 
afford business and a living for one of his calling. He came here nearly six 
years before Judge Spring; he helped to organize the County of Cook, and 
furthermore, brought the first suits in the Circuit Court here. If this does 
not confirm to the name of Mr. Heacock the title which we have placed at the 
head of this article, we must ask what would?

From an author, writing in 1866, (understood to have been an early Chicago 
settler,) in whose candor, intelligence, and accuracy we have confidence, the 
greater part of the items, and much of the language which follow, are taken. 
Nov. 18, 1875.]

Russell E. Heacock was born in Litchfield, Ct., in 1781; lost his father at 
the age of seven; learned the trade of a carpenter; subsequently traveled 
westward, and in 1806, was studying law in St. Louis. Mr. H. was licensed in 
Indiana Territory, Dec. 29, 1808, to practise law, and lived mostly in the 
counties of Jackson and Union in Illinois, until 1823, when he returned to the 
east as far as Buffalo, N. Y. He resided there until 1827, when he again came 
west, and arrived here on a sail-vessel, July 4th, of that year. In the spring 
and summer of 1828, Mr. Heacock and family were living inside Fort Dearborn. 
(We should have said before, that he married his wife in Illinois, during his 
earlier residence.) He subsequently lived several miles up the South branch, 
occupying a ranche or small farm at what was called "Heacock's Point," and 
coming in to the village as occasion required. In 1831, he received a license 
to keep tavern; in 1833, he was Justice of the Peace; in 1835, his law office 
was opposite the Exchange Coffee House, corner of Lake and Franklin streets.

It will serve perhaps to indicate a marked trait in Mr. Heacock's composition, 
(that of following the guidance of his own views, independent of, or in 
opposition to, as it might be, those of all others,) to say, that at a meeting 
of the citizens, to consider the expediency of proceeding agreeable to the 
statute to incorporate the Town, twelve votes were cast for incorporation, and 
one (Mr. Heacock's) against it. Yet with his peculiarities, it is believed to 
have been truthfully said of Mr. Heacock "as a public speaker he was pleasing, 
instructive, and often eloquent; his earnest and straightforward 
outspokenness, his fine conversational powers, his generosity and frankness of 
character, and his inexhaustible fund of narrative and anecdote, made him most 
companionable." Besides assisting at Vandalia (the former State Capital) to 
organize the County of Cook and bringing the first suits in the Circuit Court 
of this County, many of the provisions of our State Constitution, were 
originated and advocated by him, long before the convention by whom it was 
framed was assembled. [His son Reuben B. Heacock was a delegate in the 
convention of 1847, from Cook County.] All questions of a public nature 
interested him, but the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and its completion, was 
to him a great question on which hinged the welfare of Chicago and the State 
of Illinois. His clear and practical mind saw the financial inhability of the 
State to complete the work as proposed by the authorities in their bill for 
its construction, passed by the Legislature. He immediately predicted its 
failure, for which it is said he was assailed by every public man in the 
State. The plan upon which the Illinois and Michigan canal was proposed to be 
constructed, was literally a ship canal from the lakes to the Mississippi 
River, then characterized by him and known as "the deep cut." He then 
originated and proposed a plan upon which to construct a canal, which would 
cost the State less than two millions of dollars, called by him the "shallow 
cut." For his persistent advocacy of this plan, he was censured and ridiculed 
by tongue and types, and the satire showered upon him from all quarters, found 
aid in caricatures. But if this derision was popular, if with the public 
approval Mr. Heacock was given the sobriquet of "shallow cut," it was the 
humor of the hour and the season; yet that was halted at length, and the 
clamor came to an end. Mr. Heacock had his triumph at last; for after the 
State became bankrupt, its resources were placed in the hands of the Trustees, 
who adopted Mr. Heacock's plan, and completed the work in the spring of 1848, 
less than three years. Mr. H. was a democrat of the Jackson school of 
politics, but he was also an abolitionist, when it was a reproach to be known 
as such. His writings and speeches on the subject, used principally to refer 
to the overwhelming influence of the slave-power upon the general government. 
This was the subject, then but little thought of, and he used to demonstrate 
its effects, in the distribution of official patronage by the federal 
executive.

The magnitude of the great west, its undeveloped resources, and its future 
greatness, were as clearly seen by him then, as by others since. He predicted 
the great future of Chicago, and invested in the real estate of City and 
County, but which the financial crash of 1837, involved mostly beyond 
redemption. It is believed that those vexations and embarrassments impaired 
his health beyond recovery. In 1843, he had an attack of paralysis, which 
confined him helpless to his room until 1849, when he died of cholera. Mrs. 
Heacock survived her husband but a few months.

Squire Heacock, as he was commonly called, we can say was physically and 
intellectually a tall man; the Indians, who were numerous here in those days, 
feared and respected him, and they called his eyes "the two full moons." He 
was self-made and self-educated, far in advance of his time, in all his views 
of public matters, and having little sympathy from the public generally. Yet 
those who well knew him, have since appreciated his far-seeing sagacity.


	
CHICAGO IN THE OLDEN TIME.
BY KNEE-BUCKLES.
By the side of this sea of fresh waters, by the beach-pebbles skirting the 
land, where the waves had long rolled and tumbled, in fringes and foam on the 
sand; where the ice-spray long had sparkled, in the light of the sun or the 
stars, dashing wildly against winter's barrier, by the ridges and dunes and 
sand-bars; by the lawn that spread out by the river, where savages led the war 
dance, where Marquette once lifted the cross, where were planted the Lilies of 
France; a city has grown up on the marshes, like Venice, that mistress of old, 
but a greater than Venice here flourishes, by the Adriatic of this western 
world. Renowned was the plat by the creek side, where the stockade was 
afterward reared, where old time and the weary stranger, stopped to "shake 
dust from their beard;" and by side of this prairie stream, stood the wigwams 
of a dusky race, of frames made of poles tied at top, or bent over in arches 
of grace; spread with bark of linden or elm, or hide of the elk or wild ox, 
with mats inside made of rushes, or of bear skin, or wolf, or of fox. Lifted 
out on the bank of this bayou, not a gondola, shallop, or ark, but the bark of 
the Indian, was a canoe, and this famed canoe was of bark. It is said that the 
leek or wild onion, once found in abundance just here, with a vagrant of bad 
habits and manners, joined in a league that was queer; 'twas a rank conspiracy 
to foist, upon the shore of a harmless bayou, the odor of a similar name, as 
that called by the red men, Chicago. We think though, the tale was mere 
slander, and that Chicago was named from a chief, so we acquit the Mephitis 
Americana, and the little wild onion leaf. The sluggish, small stream or 
lagoon, that by lake-side meandered south, was, in summer, a narrow, green 
pond, when the sand-bars had choked up its mouth; for 'twas only when floods 
and high water, pushing out with a fortunate tide, bore the creek on to 
meeting its sweet-heart, and made the lake beauty its bride. In spring time, 
with thaws and with freshet, the river ran full in its bed, and the natives 
they cast their bone hooks, catching red-fin and perch and bull-head; here was 
a clump of green willows, and a few scattering oaks might be seen, but aside 
from the spots of dry prairie, there were many wet places between. The wild 
ducks lit down in the slough, foreshadowing a city-park lake, where the 
cygnets now come at the call, of tiny maidens with nuts and with cake; and 
where Beaubien since paddled his ferry, the bears and the deer swam o'er, and 
where the tunnels step down 'neath the river, the otter long tunnelled before. 
In the former moist days of early spring, by river, bog-channel and slough, 
from the Lake to Des Plaines passed the Indian, without stepping from his 
craft, his canoe; and so 'twas in days long passed, 'twixt the basin of Lakes 
and Mississippi, the dividing ridge was paddled across, where would spread out 
a wonderful city.


A SUGGESTION.
"A few copyists in a twelvemonth, would have preserved to Chicago and earthly 
immortality, names and events which now exist only in ashes."
As a text embodying both a precept and an example, we extract the above, from 
an article referring to the then recently burned Library of The Chicago 
Historical Society. Yet, if the Historical Society's collections, were 
eminently the most important loss sustained by history in America, they were 
not by any means all the documents which have met destruction, with (as to 
numerous manuscripts,) no duplicate copies existing elsewhere. Many of the 
ancient town records in New England, as well as in other parts of the country, 
have been destroyed by fire, or else are decayed, illegible, or departed 
altogether from other causes; and we might cite numerous other cases. All our 
records are perishable, whether upon metal, stone, wood, parchment, paper, or 
other material. Damp and drouth, heat and cold, the attrition of force, 
disintegration by chemical contact, indeed, all the elements which are 
constantly working changes in the natural world, make it a mere question of 
time how soon any record not re-created or renewed, shall be effaced. We have 
in remembrance, numerous instances, where the value of single copies of 
important documents stowed away, have scarcely been appreciated until the fact 
has transpired, of their irrecoverable loss; that our ideas hitherto, of fire 
proof protection have been fallacious; and that it cannot be expected, that 
every library or association, that all public archives or private curators 
will have provided, ready at one's elbow, a "Fidelity" safety vault. Yet, it 
must be conceded, that the acquisition of any treasures to be heaped up or 
pigeon-holed, can hardly be commended, unless means are taken, for their use 
as well as preservation. Where is the way then, or upon what can we build a 
reasonable hope of perpetuity and service, for valuable historical writings, 
which exist in but a single copy? The answer is a brief one, yet the remedy, 
in the range of probabilities, would be effective; it is, to multiply the 
copies, in types or otherwise, and distribute far and near.


LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE.
Taken in 1858, at the dome of the Court House in Chicago. By Lt.-Col. J. D. 
Graham, U. S. A.

Latitude.—41° 53 min., 06.2 sec, north.
Longitude.—West of meridian of Greenwich; 87° 38 min., 01.2 sec, or 5 hours 50 
min., 32.08 sec.




Additional Comments:
CHICAGO ANTIQUITIES:
COMPRISING ORIGINAL ITEMS AND RELATIONS, LETTERS, EXTRACTS, AND NOTES.
PERTAINING TO EARLY CHICAGO;
EMBELLISHED WITH VIEWS, PORTRAITS, AUTOGRAPHS, ETC.

BY

HENRY H. HURLBUT,
Member of the Chicago Historical Society; Corresponding Member of the 
Wisconsin State Historical Society.

CHICAGO: PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR.

1881.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by HENRY H. HURLBUT, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/cook/history/1881/chicagoa/chicagoa81gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/

File size: 89.2 Kb