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6at:f^ Chicago.
RECEPTION
TO THE
Settlers of Chicago
"^y ( Prior to 1840,
BY
The OVLUMET Club,
OF CHICAGO,
Tuesday Evexixg, May 27, 187^9.
CHICAGO:
T H K CALUMET CLUB,
Mk mi, an AvENi-E AND Eighteenth Street.
1879.
zs>i(^^
''■■' ..I.
fst
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by
The Calumet Club of Chicago,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.
FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY,
244 to 248 Illinois Street.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Officers and members of The Calumet Club, 5
Origin of the Reception, 9
Record of Old Settlers who were invited, 11
The Reception, 23
Prayer of Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, 23
Speech of Rev. Stephen R, Beggs, , 24
Address of welcome, by Gen. Henry Strong, 26
Speech of Ex- Chief- Justice John Dean Caton, 35
Speech of Judge Henry W. Blodgett, 43
Speech of Judge James Grant, 45
Speech of Hon. John Wentworth, 45
Speech of Judge Grant Goodrich, 62
Speech of Hon. J. Young Scammon, 65
Speech of Hon. Wm. Bross, 70
Tables showing places of birth, years of arrival, and ages of
those who attended and signed the Register, 72
Appendix : Letter from John Watkins, 73
Letter from Norman K. Towner, 74
Letter from Rev. Flavel Bascom 76
Letter from Maj-Gen. David Hunter, 76
Letter from Judge Ehenezer Peck, 77
Letter from Rev. Jeremiah Porter, 77
Names of those from whom brief letters of regret were
received, 78
Extract from Chicago Tribune, 79
Extract from Chicago Evening Journal, Si
Register of Old Settlers, 83
Officers and Members
PRESIDENT,
ANSON STAGER.
VICE-PRESIDENT,
CHARLES J. BARNES.
SECRETARY AND TREASURER,
FREDERICK B. TUT TEE.
DIRECTORS :
Charles J. Barnes, James B. Goodman,
Watson F. Blair,
William Chisholm,
Charles W. Drew,
Augustus N. Eddy,
Edson Keith,
Robert L. Perry,
Anson Stager,
Frederick B. Tuttle.
A. G. Van Schaick,
Ads IT, James M., Jr.
Aldrich, William
Alexander, G. M.
Allertox, Same. W.
Anderson, T. W.
Andrews, Joseph H.
Angell, Wm. a.
Armour, CiEO. A.
Armour, Joskimi F.
Asay, K. (i.
I
MEMBERS:
Asay, J. F.
Ashwell, ^v. c.
Averill, a. J.
Ayers, Enos
Bacon, Henry M.
Bacon, Roswell B.
Baker, W^m. T.
Baker, W. A'incent
Balcom, Uri
Ballard', 1). P.
CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
Barnes, Chas. J.
Barrett, O. W.
Bartlett, a. C.
Bartlett, Chas. S.
BiGELOW, A. A.
Billings, Chas. A.
Billings, H. F.
Birch, Hugh T.
Bishop, Henry W.
Blackstone, T. B.
Blair, Chauncey B.
Blair, Chauncey J.
Blair, Watson F.
Borland, J. J.
Briggs, Clinton
Brown, Andrew
Brown, J. M.
Bryant, J. Ogden
Buckingham, C.
Burnham, D. H.
Byford, Henry T.
Campbell, Augustus S.
Campbell, B. H., Jr.
Carver, W. S.
Cassidy, J. A.
Caton, Arthur J.
Chisholm, Wm.
Chumasero, John T.
Clark, John M.
Clark, Stewart
Cleaveland, Jas. O.
Cobb, Calvin
Cobb, Silas B.
CoBURN, Chas. E.
Coburn, Lewis L.
Coleman, Joseph G.
Collier, Clinton
Comes, Charles W.
Connell, Chas. J.
Cooper, E. M.
Corwith, Gurden
CoRwiTH, Henry
Corwith, Nathan
COUNSELMAN, ChAS.
Cowles, Alfred
Cox, R. W.
Crane, Albert
Crane, Charles A.
Crerar, John
CULBERTSON, C. M., Jr.
Critchell, R. S.
Derby, W. M.
Dewey, A. A.
Doane, J. W.
Dodge, Geo. E. P.
Drake, John B.
Drew, Charles W.
d wight, j. h.
Eddy, Augustus N.
Fairbank', N. K.
Fargo, Charles
Fauntleroy, T. S.
Field, Marshall
Fisher, Fred. P.
Fleetwood, Chas.
Fleetwood, Stanley
Fleming, Robert H.
Fuller, Geo. W.
Fuller, Wm. A.
Gage, Albert S.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Gardner, C. S.
Getchell, E. F.
Glover, Samuel J.
Goodman, Jas. B.
Goodwin, Jonathan
Gore, George P. '
Gorton, Anson
Gould, M. B.
Grannis, W. C. D.
Gray, Franklin D.
Grey, Wm. L.
Hall, Amos T.
Hackney, H. C.
Hackney, John J,
Hall, Wm. S.
Hamill, Chas. D.
Ham ILL, Ernest A.
Han LORD, P. C.
Hardin, S. H.
Haskell, Fred. T.
h eaton, e. s.
Henderson, E. F.
Henry, R. L.
HiBBARD, Wm. G.
Hodges, L.
HoLLiDAV, John M.
Hoyne, F. G.
Hoyne, T. M.
Hughes, John B.
hutchins, c. s.
Hyman, R. W., Jr.
Isham, Henry P.
Jansen, E. L.
Jenkins, T. R.
|()HNST<.)N, \\'.\L [.
Jones, S. J.
judah, xoble b.
Keep, Albert
Keep, Chauncey
Keep, Fred. A.
Keep, Henry
Keith, Edson
Keith, O. R.
Kelley, David
Kellogg, A. X.
Kimball, C. Fred.
Kimball, C. P.
Kimball, ]M?\.rk
Kimball, W. W.
Kimbark, S. D.
Kirkpatrick, W. E.
Knickerbocker, Joshua C.
Knight, W. S.
Lay, a. Tracy
Law, Robert
Leiter, Levi Z.
Lester, John T.
Logan, John A.
LooMis, John Mason
Ludington, Nelson
May, Edward
Marshall, Geo. E.
McClelland, H. W.
Miller, DeLaskie
Miller, R. B.
Mitchell, John J.
Morley, E. W.
Morse, T. E.
Oaklkv. j. W.
C)(;dkn, I. \V.
CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
Olmstead, Edward
Otis, Geo. L.
Otis, Jos. E.
Otis, Philo A.
Otis, X. E.
Packard, Edward A.
Page, Wm. R.
Peacock, C. D.
Peck, Clarence I.
Peck, Ferd. W.
Peck, John E.
Perry, R. E.
Phelps, Erskine ;NL
Powell, Samuel
Pullman, Geo. M.
Quick, John H. S.
Ralston, R. W.
Rockwell, A. E.
Roe, John-
Rogers, John G.
Root, John W.
Sard, Wm. H.
Sawyer, E. T.
Schneider, Geo.
Seeberger, a. F.
Seeberger, C. D.
Shay, M. D.
Shepard, J. H.
Sheridan, P. H.
Shipman, Daniel B.
Skeele, J. H.
Smith, Byron E.
Smith, Fred. E
Stager, Anson
Stearns, M. C.
Stevens, George E.
Stone, Joseph A.
Storrs, Emory A.
Strong, Henry
Tenney, D. K.
Thacher, J. M.
Thompson, John E.
Tucker, W. F., Jr.
Tuttle, Frederick
TuTTLE, Frederick B.
Vail, H. S.
Van Schaack, Peter
Van Schaick, A. G.
Walker, Wm. B.
Walter, Joel C.
Watson, Wm., Jr.
Wells, M. D.
Wentworth, Moses J.
Wetmore, C. L.
Wheaton, Geo. D.
Wheeler, C. T.
Wheeler, Ezra J.
Wheeler, H. N.
Whitney, J. C.
Wight, Thomas
Wilbor, Philo A
Williams, Abram
Williams, Clifford
Williams, Xorman
Wilson, Hugh R.
Woodruff, Chas. W.
July 2ist, 1879.
Origin of the Reception.
^JtfT the first annual meeting of The Calumet Club>
^^^ held on the stJi of May, 1879, it was. on motion
of Mr. Joel C. Walter, seconded by ]\[r. Charles S.
Hutch IN OS,
Resolved, That The Calumet Club will give a Recep-
tion to the "Old Settlers"' who resided in Chicago prior to
the year 1840.
At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of The
Calumet Club, held on the loth day of May, 1879, it was,
on motion of Mr. Augustus X. Eddy, seconded by Mr.
Wm. Chisholm,
Resolved, That a committee of three to consist of the
Vice-President — Mr. Charles J. Barnes, the Secretary —
Mr. Frederick B. Tuttle, and Mr. A. G. Van Schaick,
be and is hereby appointed with power to act, by this
Board, to confer with Messrs. Silas B. Cobb, Franklin D.
CiRAV, Mark Kimball, Jas. H. Rees, Marcus C. Stearns,
Frederick Tuttle, and Joel C. Walter, and to make all
necessary arrangements for the Reception to be given to
the "Old Setders" of Chicago.
Record of Old Settlers,
NOW LIVING,
WHO CAME TO CHICAGO PRIOR TO 184O,
AND WERE
Invited to the Reception of The Calumet Club,
Tuesday, May 27TH, 1879,
COMPILED BY
THE OLD SETTLERS COMMITTEE:
Silas B. Cop>b,
Mark Kimball, Marcus C. Stearns, Franklin D. Gray,
James H. Rees, Frederick Tuttle, Joel C. Walter.
The Committee, being obliged to compile this Record principally from memory,
may have inadvertently ommitted the names of some persons still living.
Adams, Charles,
Adams, Joseph,
Adams, Wilham H.
Adsit, James M.
Allen, Edward R.
Allen, Thomas,
Allison, ThfMiias,
Arnold, Isaac N.
Bailey, Amos,
Bailey, Bennett,
Baker, Franklin,
Ijaldwin, W. A.
Balestier, Joseph N.
Halsley, John,
IJarnes, R, B.
Hascom, Flavel,
Norwalk, Conn.
South Evanston, 111.
454 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
947 Prairie Ave., Chicago.
Aurora, 111.
Glencoe, 111.
West Northfield, 111.
104 Pine Street, Chicago.
San Jose, Cal.
301 Fulton Street, Chicago.
30 Oakwood Boulevard, Chicago.
265)^ Illinois Street, Chicago.
Brattleboro, Vermont.
301 W. Congress St., Chicago.
Jefferson, 111.
Hinsdale, 111.
CALUMET CLUB.
Batchelor, Ezra,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Bates, John,
254 State St., Chicago.
Baumgarten, Chris.
Freeport, 111.
Baumgarten, John,
Freeport, 111.
Beach, James S.
31 Walnut St., Chicago.
Beaubien, Mark,
Newark, Kendall Co., 111.
Beaubien, Medore B.
Silver Lake, Kan.
Beecher, Jerome,
241 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Beggs, Stephen R.
Plainfield, 111.
Berdel, Nicholas,
Cor. 59th and State Sts., Chicago.
Berg, Anton,
307 5th Ave., Chicago.
Bishop, James, E.
Denver, Col.
Black, Francis,
Hampton, 111.
Blake, E. Sanford,
Waseca, Minn.
Blackman, I^dwin,
Room 11,70 LaSalle St., Chicago.
Blake, L. S.
Racine, Wis.
Blasy, Barnhard,
Chicago.
Blodgett, H. W.
Waukegan, 111.
Boone, L. D.
665 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Botsford, J. K.
613 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Botsford, Moss,
Grant Park, 111.
Bowen, Erastus S.
City Hall, Chicago.
Boyer, V. A.
233 N. Wells St., Chicago.
Bradley, A. F.
Jefferson, Cook Co., 111.
Bradley, Timothy M.
Room IT, 157 LaSalle St., Cliicago.
Bradwell, J. B.
Chicago.
Bridges, T. B.
Oak Park, 111.
Brooks, Henry,
Hyde Park, 111.
Brooks, Joshua,
Galena, 111.
Brooks, Saml. M.
San Francisco, Cal.
Brown, Andrew J.
Evanston, 111.
Brown, Lemuel,
Iowa.
Brown, Nathaniel J.
Lemon t, 111.
Brown, W. H.
15 N. Morgan St., Chicago.
Bryan, F. A.
No. I Bryan Place, Chicago.
RECORD OF OLD SETTLERS.
13
Burley, A. G.
Burley, A. H.
Burley, Charles,
Butler, John H.
Campbell, James,
Canda, Florimond,
Carpenter, A. E.
Carpenter, Philo,
Carroll, Edward,
Carter, T. B.
Caton, J. D.
Chacksfield, Geo.
Chamberlin, Rev. J. S.
Church, W. L.
Clark, John L.
Clark, L. J.
Clark, Norman,
Clarke, A. F.
Clarke, Henry W.
Clarke, vSamuel C.
Cleaver, Charles,
Cleaver, Edward C.
Coldwell, Archibald,
Cobb, S. B.
Cook, Isaac,
Cook, Thomas,
Corrigan, William,
Couch, James,
Crocker, Hans,
Davlin, John,
Davidson, O.
Densmore, E. W.
Dewey, D. S.
DeWolf, Clalvin,
Dexter, A. A.
636 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
254 Dearborn Ave., Chicago.
Exeter, X. H.
Jefferson, 111.
296 Calumet Ave., Chicago.
Beau Rivage, Chicago.
Aurora, 111.
57 Ashland Ave., Chicago.
Chicago.
20th Street, Chicago.
Ottawa, 111.
208 Fulton Street, Chicago.
Robin"s Nest, 111.
Kenwood, 111.
208 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
188 Madison Street, Chicago.
Racine, Wis.
Marietta, Ga.
92 AWashington Street, Chicago.
Marietta, Ga.
Ellis Ave., near 42nd St., Chicago.
1733 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Kershena, Wis.
S.-W. cor. Prairie Ave. & 21st St.
St. Louis, Mo.
Cass Precinct, Dupage Co., 111.
N.-W. cor. State & i8th Sts.
'Fremont House, Chicago.
Mihvaukee, Wis.
Waukegan, 111.
Elgin, 111.
1064 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Monticello, Iowa.
179 Vincennes Ave., Chicago.
I'nion Stock Yards.
H
CALUMET CLUB.
Dickey, Hugh T.
Dickinson, Augustus,
Dodge, Martin,
Dodge, Usual S.
Dodson, C. B.
Doty, Theodorus,
Drummond, Thomas,
Duck, Charles H.
Dyer, George R.
Edgell, Stephen M.
Egan, W. M.
Eldridge, J. W.
Ellis, Joel,
Elliott, James F. D.
EUithorpe, A. C.
Fake, Henry,
Fergus, Robert,
Filer, Alanson,
Flood, Peter F.
Follansbee, Charles,
Freeman, Robert,
Freer, L. C. Paine,
Fullerton, A. N.
Gage, Jared,
Gage, John,
Gale, Abram,
Gale, Stephen, F.
Gates, P. W;
Germaine, George H.
Gilbert, Samuel H.
Goodrich, Grant,
Goodrich, T. W.
Goold, Nathaniel,
Graff, Peter,
Granger, Elihu,
Newport, R. I.
1106 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Montague, Michigan.
Plymouth, Indiana.
Geneva, 111.
273 30th Street, Chicago.
Winfield, Dupage Co., 111.
Chicago.
Joliet,^Ill.
St. Louis, Mo.
Chicago.
Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago.
62 W. Jackson Street, Chicago.
Matteson, Will Co., 111.
144 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago.
Chicago.
244 Illinois Street, Chicago.
Racine, Wis.
93 S. Sangamon Street, Chicago.
1027 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
Naperville, 111.
247 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Evanston, 111.
Wynetka, 111.
W^netka, 111.
Galewood, 111.
45 S. Peoria Street, Chicago.
52 S. Canal Street, Chicago.
1 1 Boston Ave., Chicago.
^^^ Walnut Street, Chicago.
40 Rush Street, Chicago.
Milwaukee, Wis.
248 State Street, Chicago.
42 Curtiss Street, Chicago.
Kaneville, 111.
RECORD OF OLD SETTLERS.
15
Grannis, Amos,
Grannis, S. W.
Grant, James,
Gray, Charles M.
Gray, Franklin D.
Gray, George M.
(iray, John,
Gray, Joseph H.
Gray, W. B. H.
Graves, Henry,
Greene, Russell,
Gurnee, ^^'alter S.
Hackett, John,
Haddock, E. H.
Haines, E. M.
Haines, John C.
Hall, Benjamin,
Hallam, Rev. Isaac W.
Hamilton, P. D.
Hanchett, John L.
Harmon, Isaac D.
Harmon, Isaac N.
Harmon, E. R.
Harrington, A. M.
Harrington, James C.
Hastings, Hiram,
Hawley, John S.
Heald, Hamilton,
Hickling, William,
Higgins, Van H.
Hilliard, Lorin P.
Hitchcock, Rev. Luke,
Hoard, Samuel,
Holden, Charles N.
Horton, I).
1 1 12 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Park Ridge, 111.
Davenport, Iowa.
1 171 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
^;^T, Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago.
Jefferson, 111.
Hyde Park, 111.
Lake Ave., near 38th St., Chicago.
Cottage Grove Ave., near 33rd St.
New York City..
Beloit, Wis.
Cor. Mich. Ave. & 30th St., Chicago.
78 5th Ave., Chicago.
.185 S. vSangamon Street, Chicago.
Wheaton, 111.
New Caanan, Conn.
Chicago.
5 Hubbard Court, Chicago.
309 30th Street, Chicago.
52 River Street, Chicago.
52 River Street, Chicago.
Geneva, 111.
Geneva, 111.
20 Adams Street, Chicago.
Aurora, 111.
Oak Ridge, 111.
104 Calumet Ave., Chicago.
Kenwood, 111.
Chicago.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
205 Morgan Street, Chicago.
542 W. Monroe Street, Chicago.
447 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
t6
CALUMET CLUB.
Howe, F. A.
Hoyne, Thomas,
Hubbard, G. S.
Hubbard, Thomas H.
Hugunin, James R.
Hugunin, I.. C.
Humphreys, A. A.,
Hunter, David,
Hunter, George W.
Huntington, Alonzo,
Huntoon, George M.
Jones, Fernando,
Jones, N. A.
Kehoe, Michael,
Kennicott, Jonathan A.
Kennicott, Joseph E.
Kettlestring, Joseph,
Kimball, Harlow,
Kimball, Mark,
Kimball, Walter,
Kimball, Martin N.
King, Tuthil,
Knickerbocker, H. W.
Knight, Darius
Kuhl, John,
Laflin, George H.
Laflin, Mathew,
Lane, Elisha B.
Lane, George W.
Larrabee, William M.
Lathrop, Samuel,
Leavenworth, J. H.
Lind, Sylvester,
Lock, William,
Loomis, Henry,
Wabash Ave., Chicago.
88 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
243 White Street, Chicago.
Bank of Commerce, New York.
Chicago.
Cor. Blue Island Ave. & i6th St.
Washington, D. C.
Washington, D. C.
Willmette, 111.
94 Dearborn Street, Chicago.
Evanston, 111.
Chicago.
811 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
390 \\'. Twelfth Street, Chicago.
Kenwood, 111.
Dunton, 111.
Oak Park, 111.
Oakland, California.
984 Prairie Ave., Chicago.
930 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Jefferson, 111.
831 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Naperville, 111.
939 Indiana Ave., Chicago,
Cor. Chicago & Ashland Aves.
585 Michigan At'e., Chicago.
6 Park Row, Chicago.
321 W. Madison Street, Chicago.
Morris, 111.
91 Adams Street, Chicago.
Bristol, 111.
Milwaukee, Wis.
Lake Forest, 111.
475 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Burlington, Vermont.
RECORD OF OLD SETTLERS.
Loomis, H. G.
Magill, Julian,
Maher, Hugh,
Malony, Mathew S.
Manierre, Edward,
Markoe, Hartman,
Marshall, James A.
Marsh, Sylvester,
McCarthy, Owen,
McClure, Josiah E.
McDonnell, Charles,
McDaniel, Alexander,
McKee, David,
Mcintosh, David,
Metz, Christopher,
MiUiken, Isaac L.
Mills, John R.
Miltimore, Ira,
Morgan, P. R.
Moore, Robert,
Morris, Buckner S.
Morrison, Daniel,
Morrison, Ephraim,
Morrison, Ezekiel,
Murphy, James K.
Murray, R. N.
Myrick, Willard F.
Nichols, Luther,
Noble, John,
Norton, Nelson R.
Ogden, Mahlon I).
Osborn, Andrew L.
Osborn, William,
Page, Peter,
Pardee, '1 'heron,
Naperville, 111.
Paris, France.
Michigan Ave. & 51st St., Chicago.
Belvidere, 111.
Chicago.
New York City.
Chicago.
192 S. Sangamon Street, Chicago.
684 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Chicago.
AVillmette, 111.
Aurora, 111.
107 22nd Street, Chicago.
Monee, Will Co., 111.
1 1 20 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Janesville, Wis.
Chicago.
Chicago.
Lytle, N. E. cor. W. Taylor St.
Chicago.
172 W. Monroe Street, Chicago.
125 Clark Street, Chicago.
152 EaSalle Street, Chicago.
Naperville, 111.
142 Vernon Ave., Chicago.
106 S. Peoria Street, Chicago.
743 Sedgwick Street, Chicago.
Alden, Minnesota.
Elmhurst, 111.
La Porte, Indiana.
Chicago.
661 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
815 \\'. Washington St.. Chicago.
CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
* Parker, John,
Parker, Thomas L.
Peacock, EHjah,
Peacock, Joseph,
Peck, Ebenezer,
Peters, George,
Pitkm, Nathaniel,
Pierce, Asahel,
Pierce, Smith D.
Plum, William B.
Pool, Captain J. W.
Porter, Hibbard,
Porter, Rev. Jeremiah,
Porter,, Rev. J. G.
Prindeville, John,
Prindeville, Redmond,
Rand, Socrates,
Raymond, B. W.
Rees, James H.
Reis, John M.
Reis, Jacob,
Reis, John P.
Rexford, Norman,
Rexford, Stephen,
Richards, J. J.
Rogers, Edward K.
Root, J. S.
Rue, John C.
Rumsey, George F.
Rumsey, Julien S.
Ryan, E. G.
Saltonstall, F. G.
Satterlee, M. L.
Sawyer, Nathaniel,
Sawyer, Sidney,
Hinsdale, 111.
98 State Street, Chicago.
196 S. Peoria Street, Chicago.
15 Walton Place, Chicago.
New York City.
Wis.
Mich. Ave., N.-W. cor. 40th St.
Belmont, Iowa.
Aurora, 111.
149 W. Washington St., Chicago.
N.-W. cor. Mich. Ave. &: 33rd St.
Fort D. A. Russell, Wy. T.
92 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
213 Elm Street, Chicago.
161 N. Carpenter Street, Chicago.
Calumet Ave. & 23rd St., Chicago.
Chicago.
Blue Island, 111.
Blue Island, 111.
Evanston, 111.
359 Ontario Street, Chicago.
Buffalo, New York.
131 S. Jefferson Street, Chicago.
70 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
70 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
Madison, Wis.
128 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
830 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Lake Forest, 111.
301 Ontario Street, Chicago.
RECORD OF OLD SETTLERS.
19
Scammon, J. Y.
Scott, WilLird,
Scott, A\'illis,
vScoville, William H.
Shapley, ^Morgan L.
Sherman, A. S.
Sherman, Ezra L.
Sherman, Frank T.
Sherman, J. S.
Sherman, O.
Skinner, Mark,
Smith, D. S.
Smith, Elijah,
Smith, George,
Smith, Joseph F.
Snowhook, W. B.
Sollett, John.
Soules, Rufus,
Spaulding, S. F.
Speer, Isaac,
Stanton, D. D.
Stearns, Marcus C.
Steele, J. W.
Stevens, Thomas H.
Stewart, Hart L.
Stone, Lewis W.
Stow, H. M.
Stow, W. H.
Strail, Milo,
Sturtevant, A. D.
Surdam, S. J.
Sweeney, John,
Swift, R. K.
Talcott, E. V>.
Taylor, A. D.
Hyde Park. 111.
Naperville, 111.
199 W. Washington St., Chicago.
Chicago.
Meridian, Bosque Co., Texas.
Waukegan, 111.
Riverside, 111.
1253 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
East Northfield, 111.
284 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
154 Lake Street, Chicago.
402 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
215 37 th Street, Chicago.
Aberdeen, Scotland.
83 Warren Ave., Chicago.
61 LaSalle Street, Chicago.
157 S. Jefferson Street, Chicago.
Waukegan, 111.
Randolph St., S.-W. cor. 5th Ave.
Norwich, Conn.
475 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
42 Rush Street, Chicago.
U. S. Navy, Erie, Pa.
1 1 75 Prairie Ave., Chicago.
Mich. Ave. & 43rd St., Chicago.
Chicago.
Chicago.
Brooklyn, New York.
180 Warren Ave., Chicago.
Chicago.
Chicago.
606 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
398 W. Taylor Street, Chicago.
20
CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
Taylor, E. D.
Taylor, Ezra,
Taylor, Reuben,
Taylor, William H.
Temple, Peter,
Toner, John,
Towner, N. K.
Tripp, Robinson,
Turner, John,
Turner, John M.
Turner, Leighton,
Tuttle, Frederick,
Tuttle, Lucius G.
Underwood, John M.
Vail, Walter,
Vallette, Henry F.
Vandercook, Charles R.
Van Nortwick, John,
Van Osdel, John M.
Wadhams, Carlton,
Wadhams, Seth,
Wadsworth, E. S.
Wadsworth, Julius,
Waite, George W.
Walter, Joel C.
Walton, N. C.
Warner, Seth P.
Warner, Spencer,
Waters, Benjamin,
Watkins, John,
Wentworth, John,
Whitehead, Rev. Henry,
Wicker, Charles G.
Wicker, Joel H.
Chicago.
Chicago.
714 W. Washington St., Chicago.
Brookline, Mass.
Lexington, Mo.
Ypsilanti, Michigan.
683 Wabash Ave., Chicago.
Ravenswood, 111.
1263 Indiana Ave., Chicago.
Evanston, 111.
72 T Michigan Ave., Chicago.
998 AA'abash Ave., [died July 15, '79
132 1 State Street, Chicago.
Newburgh, New York.
Wheaton, 111.
1 32 1 State Street, Chicago.
Batavia, 111.
41 Clark Street, Chicago.
South Bend, Indiana.
Elmhurst, 111.
393 Dearborn Street, Chicago.
New York City.
Hyde Park, 111.
619 Michigan Ave., Chicago.
Austin, Cook Co., 111.
17 Bryan Block, Chicago.
Joliet, 111.
Sherman House, Chicago.
73 Randolph Street, 'Chicago.
Yankton, Dakota Territory.
St. Joseph, Michigan,
RECORD OF OLD SETTLERS.
Wilcox, S. X.
Wilde, George W.
Willard, A. J.
Willard, E. W.
Williams, E. B.
Williams, Giles,
Wilson, John L.
Winship, James,
Wolcott, Alexander,
Wood, Alonzo C.
Wright, George S.
"Wright, Truman G.
Yates, H. H.
Belvidere, 111.
79 Clark Street, Chicago.
Newport, R. I.
Palmer House, Chicago.
New York City.
Windsor Hotel, Chicago.
Chicago.
240 Lexington Street, Chicago.
Racine, Wis.
Chicago.
The Reception.
^JtfT an early hour, upon the evening of Tuesday, 27th
^^^ May, 1879, the settlers of Chicago, prior to 1840,
began to assemble in large numbers in response to the
invitation of The Calumet Club, at the Club House, cor-
ner of Michigan Avenue and Eighteenth Street, and the
members of the Club were there to give them a cordial
greeting. By 8 o'clock, there was an assemblage of Chi-
cago's pioneers that exceeded in number the expectations
of the most sanguine.
Mr. Cobb called upon Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, the
oldest living Chicago Clergyman, born in 1801, who was
here in 183 1, to make a prayer.
Mr. Beggs responded as follows :
Oh Thou who inhabited eternity, we, Thy children, the
workmanship of Thy hands, and the purchase of Thy
blood, bless Thee for this occasion. We bless Thee for
all the privileges that we enjoy and have enjoyed. Under
this roof are assembled many who have helped build up
this city, and consecrate many churches and perform many
good works therein; and we invoke Thy blessing upon
them. We thank Thee that the savages ha\'e, in so short
a time, given way to civilized man, and that where ignorance
and barbarism so recently prevailed we now have churches,
schools, railroads, and telegraphs. We ask Thy blessing,
not only upon the old pioneers here assembled, but upon
the whole people of Chicago, and especially upon those in
authority. Watch over this city, we pray Thee, and make
it a great moral force, setting a good example to all the
cities of the world, and aiding to bring millions to Christ.
May her i)rogress ]je still onward, and may she become as
noted for temperance, law, and order, and every Christian
virtue, as for her commercial enteri)rise.
24 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
We particularly ask Thy blessing, oh Ciod, upon the
members of this Calumet Club, who have shown this
appreciation of the merits of the fathers of this city, and
may they use their organization to continue the good
works which their fathers have begun, and labor to pro-
mote Chicago's advancement in wealth, learning, temper-
ance, morality, and pure and undefiled religion. And, if
we the old settlers may never meet again on earth, may we
all meet in Heaven and enjoy Thy presence forever. All
of this we ask for Christ's sake. Amen.
At the close of the prayer, Mr. Cobb stated that it
would be gratifying to the audience if Mr. Beggs would
give his experience in early Chicago.
Mr. Beggs said:
Gentlemen: — My age and infirmities are not my only
embarrassment here to-night, for in 1868 I published a
book detailing my early Chicago experience, and a repeti-
tion of which here would be injustice to others whom I, in
common with yourselves, wish to hear to-night. Some of
you I know have read that book, and others, undoubtedly,
have read some of the many extracts which your newspa-
pers have made therefrom. Under this twofold embarrass-
ment, you must excuse me from making remarks which I
otherwise would be happy to make. I should do injustice
to my own feelings, however, if I did not express my
thanks to The Calumet Club' for their invitation to be
present this evening, and my gratitude to Divine Provi-
dence for sparing my own life for an occasion like this,
where so many of Chicago's pioneers are assembled in fra-
ternity. I commenced preaching in Indiana in 1822. M.Y
Conference then embraced the States of Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, and Arkansas. In the fall of 1830, I was sent
by the Bishop to supply the churches in the Tazewell cir-
cuit in Illinois, which embraced the entire country north
of the Sangamon River to Peoria, and east to the head
waters of the Big Vermillion River, a circuit of 300 miles
around, and I endeavored to preach every day. In the
summer of 1831, I planned a visit to Chicago, holding two
Camp-Meetings on the way, the first at Cedar Point and
the second at Plainfied where I now reside. From the
latter place I came in company with Father Jesse Walker
SPEECH OF REV. STEPHEN R. BEGGS. 25
to Chicago, and was invited to the room of Elijah D. Har-
mon in Fort Dearborn, whose sons are among the invited
guests here to-night. At my first meeting, which was in
that room, I had a congregation of twenty-five. My next
service was in the log school-house north of what is now
Washington Street, on the first block west of the river,
upon or near what is now Canal Street, and near Wolf
Point. I invited all to come forward who wished to enroll
themselves in the Methodist Church. Ten responded.
Among them were William See, who was made class-leader,
who moved to Racine, Wisconsin, and died there; Elijah
Wentworth, Jr., the first coroner of Cook County, who
died at Galesburg, Illinois, i8th November, 1875; his
mother, Lucy (Walker) Wentworth, who died at Chicago
of cholera, 2 2d July, 1849, ^.nd his two sisters, Mrs.
Charles Sweet, now of St. Joseph, Michigan, and Mrs.
Elijah Estes, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose daughter is
now the wife of Rev. Isaac Lineburger, at Dixon, in this
State. This same log school-house afterwards served as
chapel and parsonage for the itinerant clergyman. Here
were his kitchen and his parlor.
At the Methodist Conference, held at Indianapolis, 4th
Oct., 1 83 1, I was appointed to Chicago, and held my first
Quarterly Meeting in January, 1832, being the first ever
held here, and there was also the first Methodist com-
munion service. Mr. T. B. Clark, of Plainfield, carried
provisions upon an ox sled to sustain the people through
the Quarterly Meeting. Thus did I commence my work in
Chicago. Please accejjt my thanks, gentlemen, and excuse
me from speaking further.
Mr. Silas B. Cobb stated that the President, Gen.
AxsoN Staokr, had been unexpectedly called away, and
he would therefore, as Chairman of the " Old Settlers "
Committee of The Calumet Ci.ub, introduce to them a
gentleman, who was more familiar with addressing public
assemblies than himself, to express the object of the Club
in giving this reception, antl its i)leasure at the numerous
attendance. This Club was organized 27th of May, 1878.
During the one year of its existence, it has given art, scien-
tific, musical, and social receptions; but it remained for it
26 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
to achieve its greatest success in the Hne of entertainments
by doing honor to the remaining few of the founders of
Chicago on this, the first anniversary (May 27, 1879) of its
estabhshment in its Ckib-House.
I will now introduce to you Gen. Henry Strong.
Gen. Strong then made the following address of wel-
come :
Fellow-Citizens: — You, the "Old Settlers" of Chicago,
we give you hearty welcome here to-night.
It has seemed to us especially fitting that this Club,
whose name is the symbol of peace, should give this pubHc
expression of honor and gratitude to the men who founded,
if not a political empire, still, an imperial city; imperial in
in all those higher powers which now control the world, in
education, and commerce, and manufacturers, and all the
arts of peace; in everything most admirable in the life of a
people, founded upon the security which peace affords.
I appreciate the honor of the duty imposed upon me, in
the absence of its President, by The Calumet Club, to
stand before you, the survivors of the founders of this great
city, and to express the satisfaction and pleasure we feel in
extending to you this formal welcome and uniting our con-
gratulations with yours, as we contemplate the splendid
result of your enterprise, your courage, and your faith. We
only wish that our room permitted us to invite to meet you
here thousands of others of your fellow-citizens, who would
gladly unite with us in this friendly greeting.
I see before me here to-night the survivors of the men
who have principally contributed to make Chicago one of
the powers of the earth, not as an independent State, it is
true, but none the less a power, and a power all for good,
whose benefactions are felt all over the civilized world, as
every ship that crosses every ocean, bearing the commerce
of the greatest of all nations, carries to the hungry millions
of Europe the various food which your commercial enter-
prise and wisdom have caused to be garnered here; of the
men who not only secured the commercial pre-eminence of
the city, but who, deeply, impressed with the truth that the
highest civic greatness cannot be attained by wharves, and
warehouses, and marts of trade alone, but must rest upon
SPEECH OF GEX. HENRY STRONG. 2/
the personal security, the intelHgence, and the morahty of
the citizen, were careful to lay broad and deep the founda-
tions of free and universal education, and gave the earliest
encouragement to every association for the promotion of
every department of science; of the men, also, who were
leaders in developing every public enterprise, — in moulding
the jurisprudence of the State — and largely to whose innate
love of liberty this great Commonwealth is indebted that
the foot of the slave never stained her virgin soil, and that,
in her earlier history, resisting the encroachments of the
slave power, she continued a free State, and in the end
gave to the Union the President who freed all the States,
and the General who commanded and conquered armies
greater than Marlborough, or Napoleon, or Wellington ever
saw.
You left your boyhood homes in the older States to
found in a wilderness by this beautiful lake a commercial
metropolis, surpassing in all that constitutes the highest
municipal achievement any and all of the renowned cities
of antiquity, and, even within the lifetime of its founders,
rivaling the great Capitals of Europe, which date far back
in the early centuries of our Christian era.
We are told in classic story that when the founder of
Rome had selected the spot upon which he would build
the city, he measured the circle of its proposed circum-
ference by a Hne made from the hide of a bullock; and
thereon erected a wall of stone for the protection of its
future citizens. He little thought that the small area so
defined and platted would prove but the nucleus of the
"Seven-Hilled Rome'"' of the Caesars, to whose power all
the nations should do homage; whose standards would be
borne in triumph wherever there was a people to conquer
or treasure to ac(|uire, and whose literature and language
have come down to us through all these centuries as i)ure
and authentic and full of life as if written but yesterday,
the ever-enduring monument of her imperial greatness.
So methinks when you, the youthful pioneers who
founded Chicago, first laid out her village streets in 1830,
on the swampy borders of yonder sluggish stream where it
joins the lake, and erected here your humble homes, while
all around you was primeval nature; or, when later, in 1837,
you extended over that less than half section of land a city
28 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
charter, you little dreamed that you would behold grow up
about you, in your day, a city more than rivaling, in the
noblest municipal accomplishments, the vaunted greatness
of the mistress of the ancient world. You erected no walls
of stone to protect your citizens. You sent forth no con-
quering standards to replenish your coffers with the spoils
of nations, but, guarded by the security of law and culti-
vating the virtues of peace, you have seen the infant city
distance in her mighty strides to greatness everything the
world has hitherto beheld.
No such municipal achievement was ever known on
earth, and all the stories of Oriental and classic fable have
been more than realized in this Western wild.
It is said of Athens that when Cecrops decided the right
to the .possession of the Acropolis in favor of Athenae
and against Neptune, that all the gods concurred, and the
city was ever after under the especial protection and foster-
ing care of the Goddess of Wisdom, of Arts, and of Science.
Yet Heroditus, the contemporary of Pericles and Thucy-
dides and Sophocles, describes the Athens of the golden
age, and in her highest glory, aside from her- public build-
ings, as a squalid city, with mean and dirty dwellings for
her people. It is true that splendid temples were erected
even upon her harbors, but justice was sold in her courts,
the citizen was without personal security or abundant food,
education was a sham, and all the warehouses that lined the
three harbors of that most celebrated commercially, of all
the classic cities, contained not half the grain of one Chicago
elevator. Tacitus, writing in the first century of our era,
says of London, that it was even then a "great place of
trade and merchandise." Yet you, who are still in vigorous
manhood, have seen the little prairie town, which its chron-
icler describes as "presenting no cheering prospects, and
containing but a few miserable huts," within your Hfe-time
rise to such pre-eminence that in her system of public educa-
tion, in the general intelligence and personal comfort of her
citizens, and as a distributing commercial metropoHs Of
those products of the soil most necessary for the support of
mankind, take the lead and now maintain it, of that the
most wealthy, the most populous, and the most powerful,
of all the cities of the globe, ancient or modern, upon whose
growth twenty centuries look down.
SPEECH OF GEX. HENRY STRONG. 29
But so it has always been that Empires, States, and cities
have been founded by heroic men, who have had the ambi-
tion to better their fortunes, and the courage to risk and
endure perils and privation, and the faith to trust a destiny
their own bold enterprise should carve out.
More than forty years ago, Harriet ]Martineau, who was
here, wrote of the then Chicago: "It is a remarkable thing
to meet such an assemblage of educated, refined, and
wealthy persons as may be found there living in such small
inconvenient houses on the edge of the wild prairie."
AMien you founded this commercial empire upon the bor-
der of the great natural highway of lakes and rivers extend-
ing from the Valley of the Mississippi to the Atlantic sea-
board, and in the midst of a larger area of rich arable land
than ever surrounded any other city on the earth, you de-
monstrated your sagacity by recognizing that profound
truth in political economy, that the natural wealth of the
adjacent soil is the surest foundation of municipal pros-
perity. Were London surrounded as Chicago is, by 300,000
square miles of soil rich as the Valley of the Po, the future
of England would not be hanging in the balance to-day, as
it is. Were the thin and sterile plains of Germany like in
quality of soil to the rich alluvial prairies of Illinois, Bis-
marck would not to-day be exhibiting the remarkable spec-
tacle of the greatest Imjierial Chancellor urging upon the
Legislature of his country the adoption of a duty upon food,
to protect her exhausted soil from the competition of Chi-
cago wheat. Were the sunny hillsides of Normandy, Brit-
tany, and Lorraine covered with the deep black loam of
Iowa, Kansas, and Minnesota, Republican Erance would
not to-day be crying out against the invasion of American
breadstuffs. A few years ago, when it cost three cents per
ton ])er mile, during the greater part of the year, to carry
Chicago wheat, and beef, and pork to the seaboard, and
before that era when the cultivator and the reaper took the
])Iace of the hoe and the cradle, the self-contained states-
nnen of Europe hardly knew of our existence, and they put
their noble fingers all over the map of the United States,
and Canada too, when they would l)e looking for Cliicago.
They have found it now. And now, when Chicago wheat,
and corn, and beef — both fresh and salted — and i)ork, and
lard, and butter, and cheese, and evervlhini; that feeds man-
30 ■ CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
kind, are hurried to the seaboard, both by rail and water, at
less than one -half of a cent a ton per mile, and whole
fleets enter the harbors of Europe laden with the product
of your young Empire, these political financiers of the old
monarchies wake up to the knowledge of the fact of the
existence of the wonderful young city, which seems to be
exhaustless in its resources, and is disturbing the balance
of trade throughout the world. And to-day you founders of
Chicago witness the strange if not anomalous spectacle of
your municipal bantling throwing into commotion the three
leading nations of Europe, and causing their hoary states-
men to take down their long-shelved industrial creeds, and
even to revise again what were supposed to be the postu-
lates of political economy; and all Europe, wonderful to
relate, is discussing the re-enactment of corn-laws.
When we contemplate these astounding results, how our
incredulous minds turn back to verify for themselves the
almost fabulous story of the date and origin of such a mu-
nicipal prodigy; to try to discover the succession of events
and their cause, which have produced this miracle of civic
growth and power. And, sure it is, we find your story true.
You were a part of Peoria County but a little while ago, and
some of you, gentlemen, before me were here, when Archie
Caldwell brought from the Commissioners of that county
his license to keep a tavern in Chicago, and to charge six
and one-quarter cents for a gill of whiskey, and twelve and
one-half cents for a night's lodging. That was a first-class
hotel then. You doubtless often sampled that whiskey (to
keep off the ague, to be sure), reposed upon those spring-
beds, and admired the wolf so artistically painted upon the
tavern-sign?
We have also the written evidence of your primitive con-
dition, when officeholders were so scarce that Richard J.
Hamilton had to bear the accumulated burden of Recorder,
Clerk of the Circuit Court, Notary Public, School Commis-
sioner, and I don't know how many others — a veritable
c pluribus unu??i of dignities. And, were it not destroyed
by the fire, we could also prove by the record that less than
forty years ago your local school tax was only $685; and
that conservative Mayor, Chapin, wished to convert the
"big school-house," as he called it, into a big insane asylum
in which to confine Kinzie, and Scammon, and Foster,
SPEECH OF GEN. HENRY STRONG. 3 1
and Jones, and the other pioneers in education who insisted
upon large provision being made for the education of the
coming thousands of the youth of Chicago.
Were they Hving, I would call also Heacock as a wit-
ness— the sagacious, enterprising, "Shallow-Cut" Heacock
— the fundamental canon of whose hydraulic faith was that
water would not run up hill. He was right, and you boys
had to knock under, or the canal would not have come.
And Garrett, too. Auctioneer Garrett, him of the pro-
phetic soul, who, with Abraham's faith, predicted the future
greatness of Chicago, founded the Garrett Biblical Institute
of Evanston, and, when short of change, was wont to send
back to his laundress to be rewashed, the shirts he could
not redeem ; who indulged in silent oaths at the stupidity of
Rees and Kimball, and others of his incredulous friends,
who would not permit him to make them rich by conveying
to them for $20 per acre land now in the very centre of the
city, to be paid for, too, when they should J3e able to pay
for it.
But we have the living witnesses here to-night. Hubbard^
Gurdon S. Hubbard, the oldest of this Trojan band; and
Beaubien, the Apollo of the early settlers; and Caton, and
John Wentworth, and Scammon, and Drummond, and Skin-
ner, and Hoyne, and Blodgett, and Grant, and Morris, and
Goodrich, and the Burleys, and Cobb, and Walter, and
Arnold, and Raymond, and King, and A\'illiams, and the
Wadsworths, and Beecher, and the Kimballs — Mark and
Walter, and Laflin, and Dickey, and Van Higgins, and Car-
penter, and Carter, and Gray, and Stewart, and the Rum-
seys, and Stearns, and Boone, and Freer, and Taylor, and
Wright, and Eldridge, and Follansbee, and Gale, and Bots-
ford, and more than one hundred others whom I may not
stop to name, gathered from all parts of the land, — the men
of that little log and clapboard village, from some of whom
we shall hear to-night the story of that miracle of municipal
progress.
And there were the women, too, — the noble, fliithful
women, your wives, who nursed the infimt Chicago, and who,
in all these years of waiting, shared your sacrifices, lightened
your burdens, and sustained your faith. I wish they could
be here to-night; for 1 know 1 speak the sentiment of every
heart in this Club when I say we deeply appreciate and shall
32 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
never forget, the equally important share they had in pro-
moting in every worthy way the prosperity of the youthful
city. They would be thrice welcome here.
Gentlemen, you saw the infancy of this city, and you see
it to-day. Yesterday a hamlet: to-day a continuous city,
covering an area of more than fifty square miles. Yesterday,
not a single vessel had entered this port. Now more ves-
sels enter and leave this port every year in the season of
navigation than in the same months enter all three of the
largest Atlantic ports. Yesterday, you built your houses of
logs. Now the lumber that is yearly sold in Chicago would
freight a continuous line of vessels 250 miles in length, and
would load a freight train 1400 miles long. Yesterday, you
could not give away a lot of ground. Now, every week
there are more voluntary sales of real estate than in all the
cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, and I think
I might safely throw in St. Louis and Cincinnati. These
are prophetic sales, too; prophetic of future growth, for the
purchasers are largely from the other cities I have named.
They talk of bankrupt Chicago. The largest loaning
agency in Boston, who has also loaned millions of dollars
here, said, not long since, that he only wished Boston loans
paid their interest as promptly as Chicago's.
Yesterday, you fattened your yearly pig and made your
own pork. You bought and sold none. Now, the hogs
and the hog-product sold and made here yearly exceed
thirteen hundred million pounds, a line of living hogs that
would reach nearly a quarter around the globe. The lard
made by one Chicagoan is known the world over. Yesterday,
the neighboring farmer dragged in through the mud his few
bags of wheat or corn. Now, one hundred and thirty mill-
ion bushels of grain are sold yearly in Chicago,- — I mean
are actually received from the adjacent country. Instead of
the back room of the store where you kept your wheat, there
are now elevators with a capacity of fifteen million bushels.
Yesterday, the aggregate sales of stock, and merchandise,
and manufacturers' products of all kinds, were less than ten
thousand dollars yearly. To-day, they are seven hundred
and fifty million dollars. The annual sales of one dry
goods house are over twenty million dollars. Yesterday,
the prairie-schooner was your only means of transportation.
Now, twelve thousand vessels yearly enter your port, and ten
SPEECH OF GEX. HENRY STRONG. 33
thousand miles of railway have their head-quarters here, not
including the Eastern lines, nor lines in the far West not
controlled here, but which look to this city as their market.
Yesterday, was heard the anvil of the single blacksmith.
Now, may be heard the hammers of the largest rolling mill
corporation in the world, employing in all its branches over
four thousand men, and supporting over twenty thousand
people, with its capital stock above par, while even Pitts-
burg mills barely survived the late panic. Yesterday, you
waded through mud between your stores and houses. To-
day, there are 1223^ miles of contiuous street railway; 650
miles of streets; 7.8 miles of boulevards; and 844 acres in
improved parks. Yesterday, you dug your shallow wells in
the surrounding swamp. To-day, you have 430 miles of
water mains, and are annually supplied with 19,564,000,000
gallons of the purest water in the world. Yesterday, you
groaned under a debt of seven thousand dollars, and feared
municipal bankruptcy. To-day, the obligations of the city,
if non-taxable, would stand on a par with the bonds of the
Federal Ciovernment, and the municipal debt is less per
capita than any other large city on the continent.
I hurriedly mention these few facts, showing what clothes
your infant wears, because some of you now residing at a
distance are not aware how the child has kept on growing
since you left. Why, they thought they had destroyed it
by fire a few years since. I'll tell you now (otherwise you
might not know it by what you see) they did burn it up;
that is, they burnt several hundred million dollars of build-
ings and property. But the men you left here, and others
that came in, built it right up, better than before; for you
can't burn jjluck, and enterprise, and courage, and faith.
They are the indestructible gifts of God, and the best legacy
you, the founders of Chicago, shall rccr leave your children.
I wish time would permit me to speak of other evidences
of growth, in education, in charities, in art, of intellectual
and moral growth. I only give you this assurance that your
child stands well up toward the head of the form, and that
one of the largest publishers in America told me that of a
certain class of books, of a desirable kind, Chicago is the
best market in the Union.
Hut I cannot let this occasion pass witliout a word of
tribute to the lionored dead, vour frienilsand fellow-pioneers
34 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
in the great work of civilization, which you and they accom-
pHshed. Kinzie, and Ogden, and Clarke, and Garrett, and
Brown, and Sherman, and Hamilton, and Heacock, and
Dole, and Hallam, and Turner, and Newberry, and Peck,
and Dyer, and Brainard, and Egan, and Lisle Smith, of the
silver tongue, and Wilson, and Calhoun, and Manierre, and
Butterfield, and Couch, and Harmon, Elijah Wentworth,
Sr. and Jr., and Clybourn, and Moore, the Millers, and
Spring, and Russell, and Murphy, and Loyd, and Curtiss,
and Woodworth, and Hogan, and Hubbard, and Dyer, and
a long roll of noble, manly men, have gone, and them we
lament to-night. But the recollection of their virtues we
will ever cherish, as we do of the founders of the Republic.
Their work lives after them, and will live for all time. When
the stately buildings which now adorn our marts of business
and our beautiful avenues shall have crumbled to dust, the
memory of these heroes of peace shall survive, forever fresh
in the hearts of the citizens of Chicago. If, indeed, it be
permitted to mortals in the dim hereafter to visit again the
scenes of their labors here below, then are they with us
here to-night; and you, spirit-band of Chicago's founders,
you also, we welcome at this reunion.
Hail, ye noble shades ! The forms that onceye wore among
us have been laid by the side of yonder lake, whose waves
shall sound your requiem through all the coming years, but
your spirit shall ever dwell here to inspire us and all who
shall come after us, the beneficiaries of your labors, with
your enterprise, your patience, and your faith. And you
who still survive: I utter the heartfelt prayer of every
member of this Club in wishing that you may long be
spared to witness the prosperity of our beloved city.
At the close of Gen. Strong's address, Mr. Silas B.
Cobb stated that he was confident that every person pres-
ent was desirous of hearing from ex-Chief-Justice Caton,
and he should therefore call upon him not only to respond
to Gen. Strong, but also to act as President during the
remainder of the evening.
SPEECH OF HOX. JOHN DEAN CATOX. 35
Ex-Chief-Justice John Dean Caton took the Chair and
said:
Gentlemen of The Calumet Club: The pleasing duty
has been assigned me by my associates of years gone by of
expressing our feeUngs toward you for your kind words and
generous hospitaUty. It is a task I feel quite unable to
perform. Words are wanting which will adequately ex-
press the sensibilities which are awakened in the bosom of
each one of us, whom your generous forethought has brought
together here ; who, forty years or more ago made the little
hamlet of Chicago their home, and devoted their energies
to laying the foundations of this great city. It is gratifying to
us to know that as we are passing down the road that ends
where we cannot see, those who are rising up to take our
places in the labors of life feel kindly toward us, and appre-
ciate what we have done, or at least attempted to do. As
I look about me and see gathered here friends of so many
years ago, I am transported back to the time when we were
all young. Even then there were old men here, at least so
they seemed to us, among whom I may recall Col. Jean
Baptiste Beaubien, Dr. Elijah D. Harmon, and John Wright.
They have long since passed away, but their names should
never be forgotten. The old men called us boys then, with
more main-spring than regulator, but we thought we were
well-balanced men. You call us old men now, but we feel
somewhat boyish still. It is a pleasant retrospect to go back
in memory forty years — let me go back forty-six years, when
I here set my stake and commenced the business of life.
There were then not two hundred people here. I was an
old resident of six weeks' standing before two hundred and
fifty inhabitants could be counted to authorize a village in-
corporation under the general laws of the State. Col. Beau-
bien i)resided at that meeting, and at his request I sat be-
side him as prompter, for official honors and responsibilities
were new to iiim.
When we had attained the dignity of a village-corpora-
tion, with the wild waters of the lake on the one hand, and
the broad and brilliant i)rairie, still untouched by the hus-
bandman's plowshare, on the other, we thought we were a
great people, and even then though feebly discounted the
future of Chicago. Of those who were present at that mem-
36 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
orable birth, I rejoice to see many here present. How can
I express our feeHngs of gratitude to that Divine hand
which has so long sustained us, and bounteously lengthened
out our days and again brought us together under condi-
tions of so much happiness, and in the enjoyment of so
goodly a measure of health. I think I can count twenty at
least who were here forty-six years ago, when Chicago had
no streets except on paper; when the wild grass grew
and the wild flowers bloomed where the court-house square
was located; when the pine woods bordered the lake north
of the river, and the east sides of both branches of the river
were clothed with dense shrubbery forests to within a few
hundred feet of their junction. Then the wolves stole from
these coverts by night, and prowled through the hamlet,
hunting for garbage around the backdoors of our cabins.
Late in 1833, a bear was reported in the skirt of timber
along the South Branch, when George White's loud voice
and bell — he was as black as night in a cavern, and his
voice had the volume of a fog-horn, and he was recognized
as the town-crier — summoned all to the chase. All the curs
and hounds, of high and low degree, were mustered, with
abundance of fire-arms of the best quality in the hands of
those who knew well how to use them. Soon bruin was
treed and despatched very near to where the Rock Island
depot now stands. Then was the time when we chased the
wolf over the prairies now within the city-limits, and I know
some here were of the party who pursued one right through
the Httle hamlet and onto the floating ice near old Fort
Dearborn. O, those were glorious times, when warm blood
flowed rapidly, no matter how low stood the mercury. Then
in winter the Chicago River was our skating-rink and our
race-course. Let me ask John Bates over there if he re-
members when we skated together up to Hard Scrabble — -
where Bridgeport now is — and he explained to me by pan-
tomime alone, how the Indians caught muskrats under the
ice? And let me ask Silas B. Cobb if he remembers the
trick Mark Beaubien played on Robert A. Kinzie to win
the race on the ice that winter. See now how Mark's eye
flashes fire and he trembles in every fibre at the bare remem-
brance of that wild excitement. This was the way he did
it. He and Kinzie had each a very fast pony, one a pacer
and the other a trotter. Mark had trained his not to break
SPEECH OF HON. TOHX DEAN CATOX.
0/
when he uttered the most unearthly screams and yells which
he could pour forth, and that is saying much in that direc-
tion, for he could beat any Pottawatomie I ever heard,
except Gurdon S. Hubbard and John S. C. Hogan. The day
was bright and cold. The glittering ice was smooth as
glass. The atmosphere pure and bracing. The start was
about a mile up the South Branch. Down came the trotter
and the pacer like a whirlwind, neck and neck, till they
approached Wolf Point, or the junction, when Kinzie's pony
began to draw ahead of the little pacer, and bets were two
to one on the trotting nag as he settled a little nearer to the
ice arid stretched his head and neck further out, as if deter-
mined to win if but by a throat-latch. It was at this su-
preme moment that Marks tactics won the day. He sprang
to his feet in his plank-built pung, his tall form towering
above all surroundings, threw high in the air his wolf-skin
cap, frantically swung around his head his buftalo robe and
screamed forth such unearthly yells as no human voice ever
excelled, broken up into a thousand accents by a rapid
clapping of the mouth with the hand. To this the pony
was well trained, and it but served to bring out the last inch
of speed that was in him, while the trotter was frightened
out of his wits, no doubt thinking a whole tribe of Indians
were after him, and he broke into a furious run, which car- •
ried him far beyond the goal before he could be brought
down. Hard words were uttered then, which it would not
do to repeat in a well-conducted Sunday School, but the
winner laughed and fobed the stakes with a heartiness and
zest which Mark alone could manifest.
There is an inspiration in the memory of those glorious
days of fun and frolic which quickens the pulse to full
youthful vigor, and now to see so many of those around me
who were the life and soul of those hilarious times, trans-
ports me back to them, and makes me feel as if no long
years of toil had rolled along since then. We forget for
the moment the intervening time, and remember only the
broad unbroken ]>rairie, which then extended for miles
around the spot where this hall stands. But you must not
think that all our time was si>ent in fun and frolic. Our
sports were but ei)isodes, while our days and nights were
spent in labors inspired and sustained by vigorous health,
indomitable will, and :rfull appreciation of the life-long task
38 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
before us. We felt and knew that wisdom and energy and
industry could alone build up such a city as its geograph-
ical position seemed to require. The spirit manifested by
those who commenced the work would be likely to make
its impress upon the teeming throngs which were already
hastening to join us from the East and the South, and the
wonderful work wrought by those who joined and came
after us, and which have just been so truthfully and so elo-
Cjuently described, we flatter ourselves were in part at least
the followings of what we began.
To us of the olden time, who as your guests feel ourselves
so much honored, contrasts are continually presenting them-
selves. The7i and now ever present themselves side by
side. Here I commenced my judicial career at the age of
twenty-two as a justice of the peace. On the 14th of July,
1834, a judicial election was held in this town, including
the village and surrounding country, for one justice of the
peace. The canvass was very warm and active by the
friends of the two candidates, though no party-politics were
involved in the contest, as I think there never should be in
judicial elections. One candidate received 172 votes, and
the other received 47 votes. But 219 voters could be found
in Chicago and vicinity. Probably this was the last election
ever held here when every voter came to the polls. Indeed,
I regret to say that the most -enterprising and thorough-
going men here have rarely taken time to go and vote,
and their example has been too largely followed, though
not by the baser sort. At the last presidential election,
three years ago, Chicago polled 62,448 votes, and yet a
large number of voters took no interest in the matter, or at
least took more interest in their stores or their shops. I
doubt if much more than two-thirds of the voters in this City
have voted since 1840. How can we resist noticing the
contrast between 219 in 1834, and 62,448 in 1876, espe-
cially when we remember that the latter number was heavily
handicapped.
On that same 14th of July, an event occurred of a com-
mercial character which should render it memorable, and
deserves to be recorded. On that day the first commercial
vessel that ever passed the piers into the Chicago harbor —
the "Areadne," Capt. Pickering. Early on that morning the
friends of the successful candidate assembled at the piers,
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN DEAX CATOX. 39
which consisted of a few wooden cribs, and dragged the
schooner across the bar into deep water, where all got on
board and sailed in her up the river to the Point where the
election was held, shouting merrily, and were answered by
those on shore manifesting an appreciation of the important
event. She was gaily decorated with all the bunting which
could be raised, and we thought presented a splendid ap-
pearance, the rigging manned by all who could climb the
shrouds. This kindled an enthusiasm which lasted till the
last vote was polled, and no doubt contributed more to the
success than the merits of the candidate. The most active
and efficient man on that day, as I remember, was the late
George W. Dole, who was always thoroughly in earnest,
whether electioneering for a friend or attending to his com-
mercial affairs. His memory should be ever cherished, and
his name never forgotten when the founders of this City
are recalled.
The contrast in the hotels and of the mode of living in
Chicago, is scarcely less striking. The first night I slept in
Chicago was in a log-tavern, the name they went by then,
west of the junction of the rivers, kept by W. W. Wattles.
The next day, I learned that the best entertainment was to
be had at the crack boarding-house of the place, kept by
Dexter Graves, at five dollars per week. It was a log-house
near the middle of the square just north of the present Tre-
mont House. If it was a log-house I assure you we had
good fare and a right merry time too. There were seven
beds in the attic in which fourteen of us slept that summer,
and I fear we sometimes disturbed the family with our car-
ryings on o' nights. I know of but one of those fourteen
boarders besides myself now living. Edward H. Haddock
knows who slept with me in that attic. Haddock was a sly
fellow then, for before one of us suspected what he was at
he made sure of the flower of that family, and a real gem of
priceless value she was, who still survives to promote the
haj)piness of those around her. Young ladies were in de-
mand here in those days.
The first frame-tavern ever built in Chicago was Ijy Mark
Heaubien, upon whose geniality advancing years seems to
have no influence. I am sure there are some here present
who were then his guests. There he kept tavern, to use
his own expression at the time, like — the Judge hesitated.
40 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
(A voice— ''How?") "Shall I say it, Mark?" (Mr. Beau-
bien answered, "Yesl") Well, then, he said he kept tav-
ern "like hell I"
To go back to that primitive time, and to think of those
who are gone and those who are left, we may gratefully ac-
knowledge that a very large proportion have been spared
through so many years of active life. Gen. Strong has
recalled the names of a number of the prominent early
settlers of Chicago who have passed beyond the reach of
your hospitality. Allow me to recall the names of two who
have been taken from the ranks of my own profession, and
who came to Chicago the same year with myself — 1833.
Their learning and their talents would have made them
conspicuous at any bar. All who knew them will join me
in paying a tribute of respect to the memories of Giles
Spring and James H. Collins. Besides these there were
several other lawyers who located in Chicago during the
same year, among whom I may mention the name of
Edward Casey, a most genial gentleman. All of these are
long since gone, and I alone am left to represent that ear-
liest Chicago bar.
[Here a question was raised by some of the old-timers as
to whether Mr. James H. Collins came in the year 1833,.
but Judge Caton settled it, stating that he finished his legal
studies in Mr. Collins' office in New York, and came di-
rectly thence to Chicago, when he wrote back to his former
preceptor an account of the country, on the receipt of
which Mr. Collins made his arrangements to come West^
and arrived in Chicago in September, 1833, and in Febru-
ary following he entered into partnership with Mr. Collins
in the practice of the law, constituting the firm of Collins
& Caton.]
Resuming, Judge Caton said: To those who have not
been eye-witnesses, it seems incredible that in the adult life-
time of so many of us here present a city of half a million of
inhabitants has grown up from nothing, and that what was
then a rich wild waste for five hundred miles or more
around, has been subdued, cultivated, and populated by
millions of hardy, industrious, and intelligent agriculturists.
The marvel is the groiutJi of the country rather than the
city. The latter was compelled by the former, and indeed
has never kept pace with it.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHX DEAN CATOX. 41
Still, to those who have witnessed all this, it seems more
like a dream than a reality. To those who have not wit-
nessed the growths of cities and country in this occidental
land, many can hardly believe that he who addresses you
now opened the first office for the practice of the law in
Chicago. They have often called me the father of the Chi-
cago bar, and proud I am of such a progeny. In numbers
they are truly great, and in ability, in learning, in integrity,
and in patriotism I will proudly compare them with any
other bar in the United States. I have ever tried to so
bear myself that no one should blush at the mention of my
name, and I most gratefully acknowledge that they have
always shown me a filial affection, ever treating me with the
greatest respect and confidence, omitting no opportunity
to do me honor. This is a consoling reflection, and a sweet
experience in the decline of life.
Would time permit, it would not be unbecoming in me
to follow my friend who in your behalf has extended to
lis so cordial a welcome in the great changes which have
been here wrought in so short a time — for remember that
the period of one human life is but a day in the life of a
people ; but I must forbear. Really it seems like mystery
that what was but yesterday a very little village — for it
seems but yesterday that I was a very young man — has to-
day grown to be so great a city. Sometimes despotic power
has builded cities in the frozen North and in the genial
South; but a Peter and a Constantine, with national re-
sources, could never equal the magic results which we have
here witnessed as the voluntary works of freeborn enterprise,
here in the temperate zone, where no ancient civilization
had left its work. It lacks but antiquated ruins and crum-
bling columns to persuade the traveller that he is in some
great city of the old world, where modern architecture has
wiped out many of the evidences of departed grandeur and
supplied its jjlace with the improvements of later times.
But the end is not yet. If we saw the very beginning you
too have seen but the beginning. When the youngest man
among you shall have i)assed through the active scenes
which lie before him, and shall feel that his work is nearly
done, he will stand amid a succeeding generation, and tell
those who shall have arisen to take the i)laces of him and
•his contemporaries, of what he remembers of the present
42 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
time as of the beginning of Chicago, or at least of its early
youth. Then our voices will be hushed, to be no more
heard forever, and may we not fondly hope that he will still
kindly remember us, and that we here lived and labored
before his time. So, too, may we hope that this Calumet
Club may flourish those forty years or more to come, and
that its members still will stretch forth the hand of welcome
to those who shall survive from now to then, as cordially
as you have extended your courtesies to us.
If we have talked only of Chicago and its progress, we
must not forget that Chicago is not phenomenal, but it is
the whole great West that is phenomenal. We have other
great cities in this grand, magnificent valley, whose growth,
whose enterprise, and whose greatness, should equally com-
mand our admiration; many of whose early founders are
yet spared, to hear the expressions of gratitude, and to re-
ceive the honors which they so richly deserve. Let us not
say that there is a rivalry between these great cities of the
West; but there is a noble emulation as to which shall do
most for the honor and the glory of our beloved country.
Nothing would be so agreeable to me as to talk to you
by the hour of ancient Chicago, when the wild waters of
the lake, on the one hand, were rarely vexed by the ships
of commerce, and the wild flowers which covered the broad
prairies, on the other, were undisturbed by cultivation, and
uncropped by flocks and herds — save the wild deer that
roamed at large over their broad bosoms; but I fear you
will think I am becoming a little senile in my enthusiasm.
Especially do I like to talk of the olden times, when I see
around me so many of those old-time friends, with many of
whom I have not clasped hands for twenty or thirty years.
Here is my old friend, Mark Beaubien, of whom I have
so often spoken — because he is so worthy of mention, and
because his name is so closely interwoven with all our
sports and joyous gatherings, when we were all young
together. He used to play the fiddle at our dances, and he
played it in such a way as to set every heel and toe in the
room in active motion. He would lift the sluggard from
his seat, and set him whirling over the floor like mad I If
his playing was less artistic than that of Ole Bull, it was a
thousand times more inspiring to those who are not edu-
cated up to a full appreciation of what would now create a
SPEECH OF HON. HEXRV W. BLODGETT. 43
furor in Chicago; but I will venture the assertion that
Mark's old fiddle would bring ten young men ?.nd women
to their feet, and send them through the mazes of the
dance, while they would sit quietly through Ole Bull's
best performances — pleased, no doubt, but not enthused so
that they could not retain their seats. That was long years
since; but if he has that same old fiddle still, he can, I
doubt not, draw the bow now in such a way as to thrill
those at least in whom it will awaken pleasing memories
of days and nights when young blood coursed wildly and
joy was unrestrained. To show you that this is so, and
how he did it then, I call on him to play some of those
sweet old tunes, if he has that same old fiddle yet.
After the close of his remarks, the President said:
The old settlers, and the members of The Calumet
Club, are very desirous of hearing from Judge Henry W.
Blodgett, who is the oldest settler among us, so far as
residence is concerned. He came here in 1831, and we
would like to know something of Chicago at that early day.
Judge Blodgett came forward and said:
Mr. President: K there were not so many old settlers
here to catch me at it, I might venture to draw another kind
of long bow from that our friend, Mark Beaubien, has been
exercising, and tell you some stories about the time before
Judge Caton came here and opened his law oftice. As it
is, I am warned by these witnesses, and must keep within
the limits of fact. But I doubt whether I ought to consume
much time here this evening on the score of being an old
settler, for I am not certain that a lad, who, even as long
ago as 1 83 1, was taken from the valley of the Connecticut
and brought by his i)arents to the western shores of Lake
Michigan, can by such involuntary action claim to be an old
settler, when compared with those who came even later, of
their own free will, upon the impulse of their own courage
and enteri>rise. If it were needed, I can bear witness to the
wondcrfiil growth of this city, already so graphically and
truthfully portrayed. As I have said, I do not claim to be
an old settler, and do not admit being an old man; l)ut in
this crowd I rather claim to l)e one of the boys, .And yet
my memory reaches back to the time when every man,
44 CALUMET CLUE OF CHICAGO.
woman, and child in Illinois north of Ottawa, and east ot
the Rock River, were gathered here in little old Fort Dear-
born, and we only mustered enough men and boys over ten
years old to carry a hundred muskets. To-day, the territory
from which those settlers had fled for refuge to the Fort now
numbers nearly a million inhabitants, who will compare for
intelligence, public spirit, and average wealth with the pop-
ulation of the same area in any country. I mention this
fact only for the purpose of emphasizing the statements in
regard to the growth of this city and its adjacent territo-
ry, which have been so appropriately put together by Gen.
Strong. That within the brief years compassed by my rec-
ollection, this whole empire of the Northwest, with this city
as its commercial centre, should have sprung into existence,
is a fact worth pondering upon; and those who pioneered
the way to such results have certainly some good grounds
for boastfulness. But is it not about time that we stopped
talking about infant Chicago, about this wonderful prodigy
of youthfulness? Have we not passed the stages of child-
hood and adolescence, and is not Chicago now a mature
and developed city, no longer a problem, but a fixed fact ^
A place that has suffered the vicissitudes this community has
passed through — that has stood no less than three financial
panics and reverses, one "Chicago fire,'"' and innumerable
small ones, has certainly had experience enough to be ma-
tured by this time. So let us cease talking about young
Chicago, as if we were still trying an experiment, and its
ultimate result was a matter of doubt, and count our future
as assured and guaranteed.
As short speeches only should be in order on an occasion
like this, I will only add that I am rejoiced to meet so many
of the old settlers here to-night, and am thankful that the
members of The Calumet Club have by their generous and
hospitable thoughtfulness brought this reunion about, and I
trust we may have more such meetings in the future.
At the close of Judge Blodgetts remarks, the President
said:
I will next call upon Judge James Grant, now of Iowa,
who came here and joined me in the practice of the legal
profession in 1833.
SPEECH OF HON. JAMES GRANT. 45
Judge Grant responded:
Mr. President: To-night I have not voice enough to
talk ; I have not ears enough to hear. Every foce that I
see is a reminiscence of the past. Every eye that I behold
brings back to me pleasant memories of what has gon^ be-
fore. Forty-five years is a long period in the life of a man
in any age, or any country; but in Chicago it is a short
lapse of time. You cannot count its progress by years or
by days. Like Minerva from the brain of Jove, it sprang
into maturity from its existence. A Chicago man never
dies. You may die, I may die, and those who come after
us may die, but the Chicago man, like the king, and like
liberty, is immortal.
Fifty years ago it required forty days on horseback (the
then most expedient way of travel), to go from Raleigh, the
capital of North Carolina, to the few log-cabins on Lake
Michigan, where I made my early home. The same journey
I have done by the railway and steam engine in forty-eight
hours; and the same means of commerce has, in thirty
years, converted the log huts into an imperial city, built of
marble, with five hundred thousand enterprising people,
more potent in the world's history than Rome in the days
of Augustus Caesar. So, in all parts of civilized society,
the raihvay, by the annihilation of space, has increased the
use and duration of the time which is allotted to our exist-
ence to such a degree that we live longer and accomplish
more in fifty years than in the nine hundred years of the
age of Methuselah.
The President then called upon Hon. John A\'ent-
WOkTH.
Mr. Wkntworth responded:
Mr. President: I was gratified to receive an invitation
to attend this union of the old settlers of Chicago, and still
more gratified to find enclosed in the invitation a printed
list of the others who had been invited. It is with pleasure
also that I learn that since the list was printed, others,
whose residence at that time were unknown, have been in-
vited. 1 have long wanted such a list, ^^ list of our living
])ioneers, a directory of our living historians. Men often
call upon me to make entjuiries concerning past events;
46 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
and. when I feel unable to give them correct answers, I try
to think of some person now living who can. But it has
been difficult to tell who were living; and, if living, where
they lived. Now I have a directory of the living. This
list furnishes me with an index to the voluminous unwritten
history of Chicago. -There is scarcely an event in our early
history with which some person, whose name is here re-
corded, is not associated. Every name I look at suggests
some chapter in our history. I prefer to speak from this
list, as the room is too crowded for me to recognize all, and
yet there are many who are prevented by the various neces-
sities of life from attendance. I feel safe in saying that all
absent old settlers are with us in spirit, and will look with
interest for our proceedings. I have tried to shake hands
with all, and I have noticed no one yet w^hom I have not
readily recognized. And all have seemed to know me, and
I think there is no one here who has not at some time voted
for me for some position, dependant upon his concurrence
with my views upon the measures of public policy then
pending.
When I first entered the room, I exclaimed "History,
Chicago's History I" and whilst I was remarking to some
older settlers than myself, that I had lived in the State long
enough to have shaken hands with all our Governors but
three, I noticed in the crowd Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard (who
was here in 1818) who must have shaken hands with the
other three. And now my eye catches a glimpse of Col.
Edmund D. Taylor who has shaken hands with every Gov-
ernor Illinois ever had, State or Territorial. I tell you, Mr.
President, if I am to make a short speech, it is going to be
dangerous to look around, and quite as dangerous to keep
looking at this list. Chapter after chapter of our history is
flitting across my mind so rapidly that my tongue cannot
keep pace with my thoughts. Col. Taylor must be the
oldest Illinoian in the room, if not in this part of the State.
He came here when Illinois was a territory in 1814, con-
taining a population of about 12,000 people, and there were
a few slaves then; and the capital was at Kaskaskia. He
was elected to the House of Representatives from Sanga-
mon County, 2d August, 1830, when the capital was at
Vandalia, and again, 6 August, 1832. He was elected to
the Senate 4 August, 1834, and, often participating in our
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WEXTWORTH. 4/
early canal -legislation; he received a commission from Gen.
Andrew Jackson, as receiver of public monies at Chicago.
In him you see the man who sold at the sale commencing
15th June, 1835, the first acre of land for the U. S. Govern-
ment in this region, and the very lot upon which we are
now so agreeably enjoying ourselves was sold by him at
$1.25 per acre, and his first sale amounted to nearly a half
million of dollars. Our more recent settlers, who are
accustomed to high-priced lands, will not think this was
much of a sale. But, when they consider the price, they
will appreciate the magnitude of the sale, it being near
400,000 acres. So here to-night we have the first chapter
in our land history. We can here begin at the section-
corner. Col. Taylor was born in old Virginia, and he has
not changed his landed jurisdiction much; for he is to-night
in what was once a part of the State of his birth. And
this reminds me that, not long since, some one wrote me
in behalf of the Historical Society of Virginia, asking me
the names of our prominent citizens who had emigrated
from that State. My knowledge of birthplaces has not kept
pace with our directory. So, in ignorance of the present,
I referred him to the past, claiming that, if Chicago was col-
onized from any quarter, it must have been from old Vir-
ginia. I referred him to David McKee whose name is
upon this list. If not here to-night two of his brothers-in-
law are, Williard and Willis Scott. He was one of the very
first men who were married in this City. He was married
by the original settler, John Kinzie, 23d January, 1827.
'He was the first blacksmith in our City and carried our only
mail once a month to and from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
There was another Virginian, to whom I referred him,
.Archibald Caldwell, who kept the original Wolf- Point
Hotel, now Tlvmg~near Kershena, Wisconsin, whom I am
sorry not to see here, but here is Willis Scott (not a Wr-
ginian) whose first wife was his sister, lienjamin Hall is a
X'irginian wliose second wife is a sister of our honored
President, to-night, Judge John Dean Caton. He is now
living at Wheaton, 111., with a head full of early history.
.And our chai)lain here to-night. Rev. Stephen R. Heggs, was
born in Rockingham County, Virginia, 30th March, 1801,
the same month in which Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated
President. There may l)e other Virginians living, but of
6? cr^ Vi^-^A
48 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
the deceased my memory recalls James Kinzie (our first
sheriff); his brother WiUiam Kinzie; Archibald Clybourne
(Justice of the peace in 1831); his father Jonas Clybourne
and his brother Henly Clybourne; our early presiding-
elder, Rev. Jesse Walker; John K. Clarke, (the celebrated
hunter); David Hall; and Samuel, John, and Jacob Miller.
There is another man here to-night who revives in my
mind not only a great deal of our City's and our State's
history, but of that of the entire North-west. He was at
Detroit when Gen. Hull surrendered the American army in
1 81 2. All of you have read the particulars of that surren-
der; but few of you ever heard of them from an eye-wit-
ness. And this may be the last occasion when any of you
will be able to look upon a man who was present upon that
occasion. So 1 speak to you of Mr. Mark Beaubien as a
gentleman of unusual interest. It is over forty years since
I heard his narrative, and also heard him sing a song, in
ridicule of the surrender, made by the inhabitants, which he
sung in my office yesterday with the same vivacity with
which he sung it before our City was incorporated. And he
accompanied it with his fiddle— the same old fiddle. And
who is there here to-night who has not heard that fiddle?
How well it has been preserved we will show you after the
refreshments have been finished. We are too old to dance
upon an empty stomach. Among my pleasant recollections
are those of frolics to the music of that fiddle, made up of
Indians, half-breeds, Canadian French, and Americans.
And our Indians were no common Indians. They were
chiefs with their families. The chiefs disliked to leave us.
Long and long after their tribes departed, the chiefs re-
mained; and, w^hen they did go, many would revisit us.
Who does not remember Chamblee (Shabonee) and Robin-
son (Chechepinque), who died amongst us, and Billy Cald-
well (Sauganash) who died 28th September, 1841, at Coun-
cil Bluffs, Iowa, with his tribe — although passing much of
his time with us? I remember meeting at Mr. Beaubien's,
Sauganash and Shabonee. Mr. Beaubien told the story of
the surrender of Detroit by Gen. Hull, and its recapture by
Gen. Harrison. Then Sauganash and Shabonee gave an
account of the battle of the Thames and the death of
Tecumseh ! When the Americans made the attack, Tecum-
seh, Sauganash, and Shabonee were sitting upon a log in
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WEXTWORTH. 49
consultation. Shabonee was aid to Tecumseh, and Sau-
ganash held a commission as captain in the British army
under the name of Billy Caldwell. A wonderful man was
this Billy Caldwell, and there are several in this room who
have been upon hunting excursions with him. He owed
allegiance to three governments without any renunciation.
He was Captain Caldwell of the British army, Esquire
Caldwell of the State of Illinois, and Sauganash, Chief of
the Pottawatomies. He was appointed justice of the
peace i8th April, 1826, being the first appointment after
Chicago was set off from Fulton County to Peoria.
Many of us remember the part played by Mr. Beaubien
and his fiddle at the marriage of the daughter of the Indian
chief, Joseph Lafromboise, to Thomas Watkins, a clerk in
the post-office, where I, for the first time, saw the original
"war-dance."' The company was made up, in about equal
numbers, of Indians, half-breeds, Canadian French, and
Americans. A few days thereafter, we remember that an
elegant party, for those times, was given in honor of the
newly-married couple by a nephew of Mark Beaubien, and
the fiddle came to the front again. His name was Medore
B. Beaubien, and he was a member of the first board of
trustees, elected in 1833, nearly a half-century ago. He is
the earliest -elected officer of Chicago now living, and the
bride of that occasion, now living, is his second wife. He
is the business agent of the Pottawatomie Indians, and is
the mayor of the city of Silver Lake, Kansas. His name
is upon this list, as also is that of his partner, in Chicago
mercantile business in early times, Valentine A. Boyer.
Our friend, Mark Beaubien, erected the first hotel upon
the south-side, and named it after his friend Sauganash;
and it was there that I took my dinner, upon the first day
of my arrival here, 25th October, 1836. Near his hotel,
he established the first ferry acro.ss the Chicago River. At
his house, the first election for trustees was held on loth
August, 1833. Some one may ask if I wish it understood
that the whole population was running after Mark Ik'au-
bien and his fiddle, in those days. The facts would be
otherwise, if 1 did. For here were Philo Carpenter, (irant
( Goodrich, both now present, (to .say nothing of the many
noble dead) who were organizing bible societies, tenii)er-
ancc societies, home and foreign missionary societies, and
50 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
otherwise sowing the seed which has made our City the
most reverential and moral city of its size in the world —
— the City of churches — the City where ambitious and des-
titute congregations send for their best preachers, and from
which vacant dioceses select their best bishops. I was
much interested in a recent lecture upon early Methodism
in Chicago, delivered by Grant Goodrich. It is often said
that the good die young. The gray hairs and bald heads
in this assemblage contradict the assertion. The old set-
tlers of Chicago are passing their threescore years and ten,
and are still invoking Providence to point out to them
paths of usefulness.
I see Willis Scott here, who had to go to Peoria in 1830
for his marriage license. There are several persons here
who were here when the first steamboat arrived to bring
Gen. Scott and his troops for the Black-Hawk war. Here
is Judge R. N. Murray, who was one of Gen. Scott's sol-
diers, and marched under him to the Rock -River Valley.
There are persons here who have lived in Fulton County,
Peoria County, and Cook County, and never changed their
residence. If John Watkins* is not here, he ought to be,
for he taught our first district-school, and was the first clerk
of our first school-district, and is living near Joliet. Philo
Carpenter and Grant Goodrich were upon the executive
committee of our first bible -society, formed in 1835, ^^^
it would be difficult to name any good cause in which they
and Tuthill King were not engaged. Deacon Carpenter
was the master-spirit in forming the first anti-slavery society,
and knew better than any other man the safest, if not the
shortest, route from Chicago to Canada. There are several
attorneys here who were in active practice before our City
was organized, and both the members of the firm of Good-
rich and Fullerton yet live here. And here is J. Young
Scammon, who published the second volume of the Illinois
supreme - court reports, and now we are upon our nine-
tieth volume. If our State had adopted the plan of most
states and only published one volume each year, he would
be much over one hundred years of age by this time. And
here is ex-Chief-Justice John Dean Caton, whose opinions
have helped make up those reports. And here are the
names of Joseph N. Balestier, Isaac N. Arnold, Andrew
* See letter of John Watkins in Appendix.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WEXTWORTH. 5 I
J. Brown, Henry W. Clarke, Hugh T. Dickey, Grant Good-
rich, James Grant, Thomas Hoyne, Alonzo Huntington,
Buckner S. Morris, ]Mahlon D. Ogden, Mark Skinner, and
Wm. B. Snowhook. Here are physicians who were here
before our City was organized :* Dr. D. S. Smith, Dr. L. D.
Boone, (since mayor), and Dr. John W. Eldridge, who was,
in 1840, elected one of the presidential electors who cast
the vote of this State for Martin Van Buren. He was one
of the first men to appreciate me. For he went to a Dem-
ocratic congressional convention in the winter of 1837-8
and voted for me when I was constitutionally ineligible,
being but twenty-two years of age. Stephen A. Douglas
secured the nomination, and the man who introduced me
to him, Isaac Cook, who kept, at his Eagle, the most fash-
ionable resort for Illinois politicians, is with us to-night.
And here are a dozen men who heard the first public dis-
cussion ever held in this City, that between Stephen A.
Douglas and his successful competitor, John T. Stuart, of
Springfield, the only man now living, of either branch of
congress, who entered congress from Illinois before I did.
Dr. Eldridge, however, got his man in 1843, ^rid Douglas
also had to wait until I went with him. Our first medical
college was chartered in 1837, and here to-night are three
of the original trustees. Grant Goodrich, Edmund I). Tay-
lor, and John D. Caton. How many old merchants are
there here to-night on this list? Philo Carpenter, Tuthill
King, Devotion C. Eddy, Mathew S. Molony, Horatio (i.
Loomis, Wm. H. Adams, Wm. Osborn, Gurdon S. Hub-
bard, J. Milo Strail, Eli B. Williams, Oren Sherman, E. S.
Wads worth, W. H. Taylor, Edwin Blackman, V. A. Boyer.
James E. Bishop, Samuel J. Surdam, Edmund D. Taylor,
Stephen F. (iale, M. L. Satterlee, Ed. K. Rodgers, Sidney
Sawyer, M. B. Beaubien, Walter Kimball, Jabez K. liols-
ford, Joel C. Walter, (ieorge Chacksfield, Ik^ij. W. Ra\ -
mond, T. B. Carter, and others. Col. Hubbard, in 1835,
advertised that a schooner had just arrived bringing him
fresh goods only twenty days from New York. .\n(l here
is Arthur G. lUirley, the oldest continuous merchant in
our City. I found him e. clerk in the store of John Hol-
brook when I came here. He was in business in 1S3S, and
I still buy my crockery of him. He was burned out in
1839, as well as in 187 1, going into the fire like the sala-
mander and coming out like the plKenix.
52 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
This list furnishes the index to the whole history of our
fire-department. Late in 1835, Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard
engaged our first hand -engine in New York, but not in
time for it to reach Chicago that year. Capt. John M.
Turner was the first foreman of Hook and Ladder Company
No. I, and was promoted from that place to be our first
chief-engineer, nth March, 1837, the oldest now living, and
here are the names of some of his successors: Alanson S.
Sherman, Luther Nichols, and Stephen F. Gale. We have
here to-night eight members of the original fire-company
organized in 1835, ^^^■- Jabez K. Botsford, Isaac Cook,
Silas B. Cobb, Charles Cleaver, John L. Wilson, Wm. H.
Taylor, Grant Goodrich, and Tuthill King. Would you not
like to see them running with the machine now ? The fire
company held its meetings in the Presbyterian church, for
whose dimensions, as compared with our present engine
house, I refer you to Deacon Benjamin W. Raymond. Our
early clergymen are well represented on this list also. Be-
sides our venerable chaplain, who tells us he was here in
1 83 1, I see the name of Rev. Jeremiah Porter, who was
here in 1834, and of Luke Hitchcock, and Flavel Bascom,
who came after. There were no baptismal fonts in those
days. But purer than old Jordan ever was, the Chicago
River was good enough for immersion. I remember upon
one cold day early in February, 1839, seeing seventeen
immersed, and Chicago's honored architect present here
to-night, John M. Van Osdel, was one of them.
This list shows that our early surveyors are nearly all
living. Here is the name of Amos Bailey, who was county-
surveyor before our City was organized, and of Asa F.
Bradley, his successor, who held the office until 1849, ^^^
James H. Rees, our first city-surveyor, and here by my side
sits Alex, Wolcott, our present and long-time surveyor,
elected in 1855, a settler of 1834, who has waded every
marsh in our county; and, whilst sitting in his office, can
describe the precise spot where we can find any section-
corner. And here also is the name of E. B. Talcott, who
was town-surveyor under the government of the Trustees.
Here is the name of Augustine D. Taylor, who saw the first
printing-press landed at our Chicago harbor in 1833; and
here is Walter Kimball, who was in the office when the first
newspaper, the Chicago Democrat^ was struck off, Oct. 28*
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WEXTWORTH. 53
Too late for him to attend, an invitation was sent to Capt.
Morgan L. Shapley, at Meridian, Texas, who was employed
at Buffalo in June, 1833, to come here and assist at the
commencement of the works at our harbor. A. V. Knick-
erbocker should be here, son of the first clerk of the harbor-
works, who continued in that capacity many years. And
here is C. B. Dodson, one of the first contractors. Lt. A.
A. Humphreys, now general and chief of engineers at
Washington City, who took charge of the harbor-works as
early as 1838, could give us some very pleasant reminis-
cences of early Chicago, and so could Col. Jesse H. Leav-
enworth, who succeeded him. I do not find the name of
Jefferson Davis upon this list, nor see him present. But he
was engaged in the survey of Lake Michigan about 1832,
and I was surprised to learn, upon my first acquaintance
with him, how many of our early settlers he knew and how
kindly he spoke of them. He contended that Calumet
instead of Chicago should have been the city.
Vou have the whole history of our canal here. Besides
Col. Edmund I). Taylor and Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard who
participated in the early canal - legislation, you should
remember that one of the first board of canal trustees is
present in the person of Col. Hubbard himself, who was
elected representative from Vermillion County in this State,
6th August, 1832. And here is E. B. Talcott, one of the
first engineers. There was a grand celebration here upon
the 4th of July, 1836, and the people all went to Bridgeport
to see Col. \V. B. Archer (for whom Archer Avenue is
named), as acting commissioner take out the first shovel-
ful of earth, and two of the marshals, Walter Kimball and
Edmund D. Taylor, are now present. And there are a
great many of the original canal -contractors here present,
and others are upon this list. Now we nre in the habit of
considering contractors a sort of business -tramps, making
their homes wherever they overtake a job. But not so with
our contractors. Representing in Congress the entire canal
line from Chicago to La Salle, 1 think I had a personal
ac(|uaintan(e witli all of them. With a little reflection, 1
thmk 1 could i)oint out the jol) of each man. And how
few ever left our State I They mostly remained among us
and have ranked among our leading citizens; one governor,
several mayors, senators, rei)resentatives, taking an active
54 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
part in developing our resources and in advancing our
moral and educational interests. They were a very far-
seeing body of men also. Do you not suppose that George
Armour had his great elevator in view when he was digging
the canal? Here is Gen. Hart L. Stewart who knew if he
took a boy for the canal's first congressman, he would
finally grow to it ! He was vice-president of the congres-
sional convention which assembled at Joliet, May i8th,
1843, over thirty-five years ago, our deceased Lt.-Gov. John
Moore being president. And while upon the subject, let
me remark that here is W. T. Burgess, one of the secreta-
ries, and also upon this list Hugh T. Dickey, the other, and
also Col. W. B. Snowhook, Henry W. Clarke, Col. Julius
M. Warren, and Judge R. N. Murray, who were delegates. If
my twelve years in Congress were of any service, you can
thank these men who helped set the ball in motion.
I see the president of one of the old boards of town-
trustees, Eli B. Williams, and one of his colleagues, Asahel
Pierce, here, and in justice to that board it should be said
that it was wound up without owing a dollar. And that is
the way that every corporation should wind up. But we
have had scarcely another wound up in the same way. I
do not see Nelson R. Norton present, who built our first
draw-bridge upon Dearborn Street in 1834; and the old
steamer Michigan, Capt. Chelsey Blake, was the first to
pass through it. He also built, in 1835, ^^^^ sloop Clarissa,
the first sail-vessel launched on Lake Michigan. He resides
at Alden, Minnesota. He was the whig candidate for alder-
man from the old sixth ward at our first charter-election,
and is the only man upon that ticket now living.
If you ask what were the principal entertainments in
those days, I would answer: The meetings of the debating
society, in which all the citizens took an interest. Col.
Hans Crocker, now living at Milwaukee, Wis., was the first
secretary in 1835. ^^"^ ^^""^^ year, one of the questions was:
"Are the frequent Indian disturbances owing to the clem-
ency extended to the Indians by the General Government?"
Grant Goodrich, now present, lead the debate in the nega-
tive, and I think he would do so again if the debate should
be opened. As this question has never been settled, and
as the man who led the debate in the afiirmative is not
living, I will appoint Major-Gen. Philip H. Sheridan to take
SPEECH OF HOX. JOHX WEXTWORTH. 55
his place. We had occasional theatrical performances. My
-earliest recollection in this respect runs back to the time
when Joseph Jefferson, who has gained such a reputation as
Rip Van Winkle, made his appearance at about ten years
of age. Little did we then think that the lad that we were
applauding as a. matter of encouragement, was to receive
upon his merits the applause of the nation. When I hear
of Joe Jefferson's fame, I cannot forget that it was Chicago
people who gave him his first "send off.'' Thei^ are many
persons here present who remember when the Indian tribes
all through the Xorth-west assembled at Chicago to receive
their annuities. And still more remember when the Indians
Avhere finally removed from all this region of country, and
our Fort Dearborn was abandoned by the national troops.
There are many persons here to-night, who attended the
first meeting called to take into consideration the provisions
of our city charter, on the evening of 23d January, 1837.
All went pleasant until we came to the limitation upon our
city debt. Hon. Henry Brown, the historian, the name of
whose son, Andrew Jackson Brown, is upon the list, in the
advocacy of a liberal policy, contended that the child was
then living who would see fifty thousand people here. A
gentleman, whose name I afterward learned was Walter L.
Newberry, was very active in opposing the debt -policy;
and, when the negative vote was called for, he seized me
by the coat -collar, as I was sitting, and said, "Stand up,
young man," I responded, that I was not a voter. He
asked, "Don't you intend to live here, and don't you expect
to get rich?" I admitted that I did. He gave my collar
an extra pull, and said, "Well then, stand up! (iive these
men the power, and they will abuse it, until they bankrupt
us!" And up I stood, and I have been thus standing on
similar votes and occasions ever since. Ever after, upon
all matters of taxation, Mr. Newberry and I acted together.
I became associated with him in banking, in rail-roading,
in the board of education, and in many other capacities,
and found him an inveterate foe to the generally -received
doctrine, that a man's moral responsibility was any less for
his jjublic and corporate action than for his individual
action. He believed in .saving as well as in earning, and
was one of the very few, if not the only one of our re-
j)uted millionaires, who proved to be such after his death.
56 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
His farewell words to me were of the same meaning as his
first: " Keep up the fight I"
Our first mayor, Wm. B. Ogden, is dead; but upon this
list is the name of our first city -clerk, Isaac N. Arnold;
and you all see the city -clerk under our fourth mayor,
Thomas Hoyne. And the publisher of the first corporation
newspaper is now addressing you. Here are two of the
members of our first board of aldermen, John Dean Caton,
of the third, and Asahel Pierce, of the fourth ward, these
two wards then embracing the whole west- side. In Judge
Caton's ward, there were but 38 votes; and in Mr. Pierce's
59, making only 97 votes on the entire west- side. There
were only 709 votes in the entire City. The house where
the first election in the fourth ward was held, then known
as the Green -Tree Hotel, afterward the Chicago Hotel, just
west of the Lake-Street bridge, n.-e. corner of North-Canal
Street, is the oldest building in our City. It was, at one
time, the best place for j^ublic meetings and parties on that
side of the river.
The name of the second mayor, Buckner S. Morris, is
upon the list. But Edward H. Hadduck and Eli B. Wil-
liams, of the first ward, and Cxrant Goodrich of the sixth,
who were upon his board of aldermen are present. Mr.
Hadduck was one of the judges of election of the first Avard
at our first municipal election, the year before ; and is the
only one of the judges at that time now living. 1 was chal-
lenged because I was a boy, and Mr. Edward H. Hadduck
administered the oath. Strange as it may seem, the same
charge of being under age met me again when I first run for
congress, and I suppose I was the youngest man in con-
gress when first elected. I did not begin to fill up, although
as tall as I am now, until about 35 years of age, and my
whiskers were so late in coming, and so many persons were
going into the business that I never cultivated the crop.
Our third, who was also our sixth mayor, Benjamin W.
Raymond, is here to-night with both his aldermen from the
third ward, in 1839, Ira Miltimore"* and William H. Stow;
and also Charles McDonnell, of the second, and Alanson S.
Sherman, of the third ward, in 1842 ; and this is the same
Sherman who was mayor in 1844. Here are the names of
Julius Wadsworth, of the first ward, and John Gage, of the
* Died 10 June, 1879.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WENTWORTH. 57
third ward, in 1840, and here is the name of John Davlin, of
the first ward, and I see present Chas Follansbee, of the first,
and Peter Page, of the second, of the board of 1841. Here
is the name of Hugh T. Dickey, alderman of the first, in
1843. Here is EHhu Granger, one of the aldermen from
the fifth ward, in 1844. Here are J. Young Scammon, of
the first, in 1845, Levi D. Boone, of the first, and Wm. M.
Larrabee, of the sixth, in 1846; Robert H. Foss, of the
fourth, William B. Snowhook and James Lane, of the ninth,
in 1847. John C. Haines, of the fifth, in 1848, afterward
mayor, William H. Adams, of the third, and Amos G.
Throop, of the fourth, in 1849, ^^^ Isaac L. Milliken, of the
second, in 1850. I will carry the details no farther. I
wanted to show you in the destruction of so many records,
how much of personal memory there is to substitute for
them. Although the mayors prior to and including 1850
are all dead but three, we have here some member of every
board covering that period, and there are a large number,
about thirty here, who have been aldermen since. And
Alderman Throop, of the board of 1849, is in the council
now. And here is Amos Grannis, an old settler, his col-
league, of the present year, from the fourth ward. It seems
that young America yet has some appreciation of the old
settlers. I will add, however, that we have seven other
mayors here on this list of old settlers, Walter S. Gurnee,
Charles M. Gray, Isaac L. Milliken, Levi D. Boone, John
C. Haines, Julien S. Rumsey, and myself I notice in this
room, five of our sheriffs, Isaac Cook, William L. Church,
John L. Wilson, Timothy M. Bradley, and John Ciray. Also
we have three postmasters. Hart L. Stewart, Isaac Cook,
and Samuel Hoard; four state-senators, Edmund I). Taylor,
Samuel Hoard, Henry W. Blodgett, and John C. Haines;
one speaker of the house of representatives, Elijah AL
Haines, and six members of the house, Isaac N. Arnold,
Thomas Drummond, Augustus H. Burley, J. Young Scam-
mon, Mark Skinner, and Hart L. Stewart. Three judges of
]>rol)ate are here, Walter Kimball, Mahlon D. Ogden, and
'i'homas Hoyne. Two members of congress are here, Isaac
N. Arnold, four years under Abraham Lincoln, and myself
twelve years, at different periods, commencing with John
Tyler and ending with Andrew Johnson. Were it appro-
jjriate I could give some very early history, having served
58 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
with men who were born before the American Revolution,
and with one, John Quincy Adams, who heard the guns at
the battle of Lexington. Siifficit to say, that I have repre-
sented twenty -two counties running east to the Indiana
State line, west to the Mississippi River, north to the Wis-
consin State line, and south to the Quincy, Springfield, and
Wabash districts. It takes twelve men to represent that
territory now.
Here I see AVilliam Lock, S. J. Surdam, and James A.
Marshall, members of the first masonic lodge ever organ-
ized in Chicago, and the eighteenth in the State, old "La-
Fayette,'' with Carding Jackson, master ; and here are
members of the first odd fellows lodge also, and the ninth
in the State, old "Union," A. G. Burley, S. B. Walker, E. W.
Densmore, Jerome Beecher, D. Horton, and H. H. Husted.
Here are two members of the first board of water -com-
missioners, H. G. Loomis and A. S. Sherman; and one
member of the first board of sewerage -commissioners, Syl-
vester Lind.
Two U. S. district-attorneys, Thomas Hoyne and Mark
Skinner are here. Two State's-attorneys are here, James
Grant and Alonzo Huntington. In 1840, July loth, John
Stone was hung. Mr. Huntington prosecuted, at the trial^
and here is Robinson Tripp, who, with myself, was upon
the jury. But, prior to that, in 1835, there was another
murderer, Joseph F. Norris, who took a change of venue to
the nearest county, then Iroquois, where he was convicted
and hung, loth June, 1836, from the limb of a tree. James
Grant, now present, was the prosecutor, and the late Henry
Moore, with whom I commenced the study of law in this
City, defended him. I need not tell you that we have one
supreme -court judge here, John Dean Caton. And then
we have here, or upon this list, three circuit -court judges,
or judges under diff"erent names with equivalent jurisdiction,
Hugh T. Dickey, Buckner S. Morris, and Mark Skinner.
One U. S. district-judge, Henry W. Blodgett is here. And
who does not know that that veteran in jurisprudence, our
U. S. circuit -judge, Thomas Drummond is here, his origi-
nal commission bearing the signature of "Old Rough and
Ready,'' General Zachary Taylor. And this suggests, what
a museum of commissions we could establish here to night,
and full of all sorts of historical reminiscences. Col. E. D.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WEXTWORTH. 59
Taylor would bring forward his commission from General
Andrew Jackson, as receiver of public monies. And Ed.
H. Hadduck his commission for the same office from Gen.
W. H. Harrison. Jackson, Harrison, Taylor! What sug-
gestive names ! And then our U. S. District Judge, Henry
W. Blodgett, present to-night, could bring forward his com-
mission from the more recent General Ulysses S. Grant.
And Mark Skinner could bring his as U. S. district-attor-
ney; and Eli B. Williams, as register of the Chicago land-
office from John Tyler; and Hart L. Stewart, as postmaster,
from James K. Polk; and Wm. B. Snowhook, as collector,
of the port, from Franklin Pierce; and Isaac Cook, as post-
master, from James Buchanan; and Samuel Hoard, as post-
master, from Abraham Lincoln. The appointees of Presi-
dent Van Buren, and Acting-President Millard Filmore are
numbered with the dead. Acting-President Andrew John-
son knew not the old settlers, and President Rutherford B.
Hayes has not recognized us as yet. If he wants his name
in such a museum there is still an opportunity.
I should have stated that the first collector of our port is
here, Col. William B. Snowhook. And here is the history
of the first railroad built from Chicago, from its organization
to its final "gobbling up.'"' I see my colleagues, Benj. W.
Raymond, Silas B. Cobb, and Edward K. Rodgers, here.
And here are the names of William M. Larrabee, our secre-
tary, and Edward B. Talcott, our superintendant. The
modern railroad-men change our name from old settlers to
old fogies, as we paid our debts and never omitted a divi-
dend. We paid our president $1000, and I audited the
accounts for the love of it.
The first bank was started here in 1835, the Chicago
Branch of the Illinois State Bank, and here I see three of
its original directors, (iurdon S. Hubbard, Edmund D. Tay-
lor, and Walter Kimball. And here is also Ezra E. Sher-
man, the teller.
Our school boards are well represented here, although I
see no one here whose ai>pointnient bears date i)rior to
mine, in 1838. Isaac N. Arnold is still in the board, and
here are also Edwin lUac knum, Charles N. H olden, Philo
Carjienter, Samuel Hoard, and Mark Skinner, once of the
board.
Who does not remember the old au( lion -house of (iar-
60 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
rett, .Brown & Co., where the meUifluous voice of the late
mayor, Augustus Garrett, was heard every evening in sell-
ing lots all over the north-west. Here is the name of Na-
thaniel J. Brown, of that -firm, if any one wants to know
the extent of the town-lot business in those days.
If any of you wish information of wars, I w^ould say that
here are men w^hose experience leads them to the war of
1 812, Black-Hawk war, and several other Indian wars, and
the Mexican war, as well as to the w^ar of the rebellion.
The Mexican \var is considered a small affair as compared
with the latter; but its importance will be highly appreci-
ated when we consider that it gave us our Pacific posses-
sions, and that the Pacific railroad was its legitimate con-
sequence.
I notice among those who have given us this splendid
entertainment several young men, and it is but natural that
they should enquire if we had no society -men in those
days. Our early settlers were generally society- men, but
they never let society interfere with their business. If our
accompHshments have not already been demonstrated, per-
haps we can make a more pleasing demonstration, when to
the tunes of Mr. Beaubien's fiddle, that same old fiddle, we
shall ask you to join in the dance of your parents and
grandparents. Oh I that that fiddle could speak I How
many pleasant memories would it revive. I notice a gen-
tleman here who was a model of a society-man. He was at
his place of business promptly every day and at parties
every night. After sunset, he would go farther to attend a
party, dance longer, and be back at his place of business
earlier the next morning than any other man in the City.
He has lived in pleasure and to profit. He brought nothing
here; his notes never went to protest, and now he has
nearly means enough to pay the debts of almost all our
modern society-men. If the society-men of these days
would but follow his example, work as well as play, save as
well as earn (to use a granger-phrase), they would find a
great deal more corn on their Cobb. I notice also here
the ever-pleasant countenance of our old-time master of
ceremonies, the Lord Chesterfield of the frontier. When
DuPage County was created from Cook, our people did
not object to losing the territory, but they solemnly pro-
tested against setting off Col. Julius M. Warren. But, when
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN WENTWORTH. 6 1
the new county elected him to the legislature, Chicago
found it had an additional member. Every hotel-keeper
within a radius of fifty miles would give, at least, one party
during the year, and as no party could be a success without
Col. Warren, he always had the naming of the days, and
when his name was printed upon the invitations as man-
ager, no weather could prevent a crowd. Nor must I for-
get James A. ^Marshall, who is in our midst, the great
innovator u^^on old-fashioned dances. He introduced the
quadrille, and those who were too old to learn, objected to
coming to a frolic and then having to sit still while the
(juadrille was danced. The matter was compromised at
first by having quadrilles while supper was being eaten, thus
makinjT Mr. Marshall and his followers eat at the second
table. Mr. Beaubien soon found out that he could call
quadrille changes while fiddling, and whoever went into his
hotel by day could hear him practising, caUing out, "Bal-
ance all," "Forward two,'' "Cross over,"' "Chasse',' "Dos-a-
dos,"' etc., until the Indians, half-breeds, servant-girls, stage-
drivers, barkeepers, and all his guests, were well posted.
Then our friend Marshall stirred up a furious tempest by
introducing the waltz. Most parents disapproved of it,
their daughters rather liked it, but the clergymen opened
a tremendous battery upon it. Previously they had not
objected to the attendance of the members of their church.
Sometimes, they would even permit their daughters to
attend our parties and would come themselves to accom-
pany them home. And they would coiiie early. For they
liked our suppers.
(ientlemen, in my zeal I have forgotten the length of
time I have been talking. Nothing is so near my heart as
the restoration and pi^rpetuation of our history destroyed
by the fire. I want to re-estal)lish the old landmarks, and
here is the material to do it with. There never will be so
many old settlers together again. I look ui)on this list as
an index to our history. I see different and interesting
<hapters in every countenance. Let each one write out
what he remembers and leave it with his friends or, what
is better, with the Historical Society; being as particular as
possible as to dates.
You called ui)on me for a si)eech; but I have ])referred
lo inau_L,airate a class in early history. Here, in this list of
62 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
invited guests, is my roll of scholars. I have prepared
blank text-books, and named a few chapter-headings, under
which you can write your experience or add other chapter-
headings, and write under them as your experience may
best dictate or your memory best serve you. And, if you
but do what you are able to do, in this aspect, posterity
will be under obligations to The Calumet Club of Chi-
cago, for bringing us together to-night, as profound and
many times more lasting than even we are under for its
unparalleled hospitality.
The President called upon Judge Grant Goodrich.
judge CtRant Goodrich responded:
Mr. President : The first thing which struck me on
entering this room to-night, was the contrast which those
present presented, to the persons composing the first
gathering I ever attended in Chicago; here nearly all I see
are gray-headed men, then, there was not one to be seen.
It was a happy thought of this Club to project this meet-
ing, and it has been most felicitously carried into execution.
It is fitting that those who laid the foundations of such a
city so recently, who were active in shaping and promoting
its marvellous career, should meet to exchange fraternal
greetings, and congratulations over the changes which have
been wrought here within a period so recent. If those
men, who by des|olating wars, have destroyed kingdoms,
states, and cities, deserve to be remembered, surely those
who founded such a city as this, and settled and developed
the surrounding country, covering it with fruitful fields and
happy homes, may well rejoice over their achievements,
and deserve to be remembered for the good work which
they have done.
How changed, Mr. Chairman, is all here, and around
here, since you and I first looked upon it. In May, 1834,
beside the garrison, and the former employe's of the
American Fur Company, there were scarcely one hundred
inhabitants. So far as I can remember, there were but
eight frame dwelling-houses in all the territory now covered
by the City. The timber extended down from the south
branch of the river, to near Madison Street, and the under-
growth, to near Randolph and the Public Square. On the
north-side, it came to near the main river,, as far as Clark
SPEECH OF HON. GRANT GOODRICH. 63
Street, then, shaded off toward the lake to Indiana Street.
No street, south of Lake, was distinguishable, and in the
spring, it was doubtful whether every street had a bottom.
Between here and Xaperville, where a few families had
located, there were but two dwelling-houses. In a south-
erly direction, but one at Blue Island, until you reached
Yankee Settlement, on Hickory Creek, where a few eastern
immigrants had made their claims, and built their cabins.
The broad prairies, those garden fields of nature, lay with
all their wealth of verdure and fertility, bright with many-
colored liowers, heaving in ridges of billowy green, waiting
for the immigrant's herds and plow. No wonder, when
opened to the pioneer, they were settled so rapidly. Our
friend here. Col. Julius M. Warren, will remember that in
early June, 1834, that beautiful prairie which lay between
the Dupage and Fox Rivers, had not a single house upon
it, but before the summer was gone, it was covered by set-
tlers, as a flock of pigeons would light down upon a harvest-
field.
It is not wonderful that those who see Chicago to-day,
with all her commercial, mercantile, and industrial facilities,
cannot realize its condition, as it was 45 years ago. These
men around us to-night are the survivors of those young
men, whose enterprise and perserving industry, whose bold
conceptions and fearless execution of sagacious plans,
largely contributed to make Chicago what she is, the marvel
of the world.
As you have said, Mr. Chairman, those young men who
came here with us, and have gone to their graves, deserve
and should receive a share of whatever meed of praise is due
to the pioneers of Chicago. A more enterprising, energetic,
intelligent, and determined band of young men never
embarked their fortunes upon the sea of life. 'I'hey were
full of hope and pluck ; prepared to endure cheerfully, the
privations and labors necessary to win success. ^Iutual
deijcndence begat among them a beautiful spirit of frater-
nity and brotherhood, 'i'hey had faith in each other and
faith in Chicago. Its future greatness became their theme
of thought and conversation, and tiie inspiration of great
jjlans and deeds.
I (lid not, like judge lUodgctl, (onie liere involuntarily,
but of SL-t jiurpose. It came about in this wise: When
64 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
stud)'ing my profession, I belonged to a debating society,
and the question was proposed, "where the waters of the
great lakes could most advantageously be connected with
those of the Mississippi"? In looking over the maps, I hit
upon Chicago, and reading all I could find upon the sub-
ject, resolved that when I should graduate I would seek my
fortune there.
We had toils, struggles, deprivations, and disappoint-
ments; but they were borne with cheerful courage, and
have been crowned with grand and successful results. We
sometimes had our fun too. Our highest expectations hung
upon the construction of the lUinois and Michigan Canal.
In the winter of 1834-5, Gurdon S. Hubbard, John H.
Kinzie, and others, visited the legislature at VandaUa, to
urge the passage of a bill to commence the work. They
succeeded in getting it through the house of representa-
tives, and securing the pledges of votes enough to carry it
in the senate; but, two senators who had agreed to support
it, changed their minds, and secured its defeat. The indig-
nation at Chicago was hot and fierce, and she must give
some signal expression of it. A cannon was procured, effi-
gies of the offending senators made, and placed on the
bank of a cellar, where the Tremont House now stands,
and John and Robert Kinzie, and others, performed around
them the ceremonies which the Indians practised around
prisoners, devoted to mockery, torture, and an ignominious
death, after which one was shot into fragments from the
mouth of the cannon. The other one was laid upon a rude
bier, and carried upon the ice on the river, escorted by Geo.
White, as master of ceremonies, the town bell-ringer and
the only negro here. The effigy was then placed over a
can of powder, which was exploded, up-heaving the ice, and
blowing the senator high in the air, and tearing him into
fragments, amidst the shouts and jeers of the multitude.
We were compelled to furnish our own amusements, and this
is a specimen of the way in which it was done.
We have passed through great vicissitudes; have seen,
and many have felt, the extremes of material prosperity and
adversity. To secure the business, growth, and health of
the City, we have seen great obstacles met and overcome.
I may properly allude to a few of them. The original sur-
face of most of the land on which the city stands, was only
SPEECH OF HON. GRANT GOODRICH. 65
from four to six feet above the river, which was on a level
with Lake Michigan.
When an effective system of sewerage became a necessity,
the daring plan was conceived and successfully carried out,
of lifting the City up six feet, in order to secure it. And
such confidence was felt in the skill of the engineers and
mechanics having it in charge, that while dwellings, entire
blocks of stores, huge warehouses, and hotels, were being
raised up bodily, traffic and business continued to be trans-
acted in them without material interruption. So, also, when
a supply of pure water became indispensible, a tunnel was
driven out two miles under the lake, and an unfailing sup-
ply of purest water was brought and distributed throughout
the City. When the passage on the bridges over the river
became thronged, and interrupted by the growing com-
merce upon it, highways were tunneled under the river
bottom, and free passage secured. When her commercial
and lumber fleets were multiplied beyond the capacity of her
rivers to accommodate them, miles on miles of new chan-
nels were dredged into the land for their use. When 2200
acres of the City was swept by a tempest of fire, of nearly
every store, of every warehouse, and their contents, and of
thousands of dwellings, leaving 150,000 of its inhabitants
without a roof to cover them, or a bed on which to lie,
Chicago's pluck and energy did not fail, but proved equal
to the emergency. Her crowning achievement, the rebuild-
ing of the City, is justly entitled to be regarded as the
grandest and most marvellous exhibition of human industry
and energy the world ever witnessed.
I am glad I have lived to see such a city rise from what
it was, to what it is. We ought all to be thankful, that (iod
has permitted us to be actors in such wonderful achieve-
ments, and to see the realization of more than our wildest
dreams.
I will only add, that 1 i)ray that those who may come
after you, may leave behind them as creditable and benefi-
cient a record as has been made by the early i)ioneers of
Chicago,
'I'hk Pklsidkn r then called upon J. N'orxc; Sc.xm.mon.
Mr. ScAM.MON responded :
Mr. pRi.sinKNT: - I wish to hear from so man\- of the
66 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
gentlemen present, whose faces I have not seen before for
many years, but whom I saw nearly forty-four years ago,
when I came to Chicago, that I shall refrain from making
a speech. I shall not make any remarks, except to correct,
on my own account, and on account of the old settlers
here, an error in the address of which we have Hstened to
with so much pleasure. I wish to tender my thanks to
Gen. Strong, for the very eloquent, able, classical, and truly
historical address which he has made at this meeting, and
to express the wish that it will not be allowed to pass into
oblivion, but will be printed in a permanent form, and
placed, if not in the archives of this Club, at least, in the
archives of the City, and of the Historical Society, and in
the libraries of all the old settlers, and of the new settlers
who wish to learn and remember the history of Chicago.
I wish, in this connection, to correct one or two state-
ments. It was said, that Mayor Chapin recommended
the sale of the first great scliool- building, or of its being
converted into an insane asylum, for the purpose of con-
fining gentlemen in it who had been instrumental in wast-
ing the people's money in building "big school-houses."
It was not Mayor Chapin who made that proposition.
John P. Chapin was one of the most noble men who lived
in Chicago. He was an early mayor, but subsequent to
Mayor Garrett, succeeding him in ofiice, in 1846, and was
one of our largest and most influential and enterprising
merchants, — a man who always stood at the front, in favor
of every true enterprise, and every measure that tended to
improve and extend the power, influence, and prosperity of
the City of Chicago.
There is one other man, now departed to his long-home,
however, who deserves a great deal of credit, in relation to
the schools of the City, and I beg permission to say a few
words in his commendation. That man was Dr. Josiah C.
Goodhue, and if I recollect right, he was one of the first
aldermen of the City. He was one of the committee who
designed the seal of the City, which I recollect was called
*'Dr. Cioodhue's little baby." He it was to whomwe are
indebted very much for our present school -system. The
public schools had been tried in Chicago, and proved to
be a failure. "\Miile he was a member of the first council,
— I think every member of the council was democratic, —
SPEECH OF HON. J. YOUNG SCAMMOX. 6/
one evening he came into my office, which was very near
then where it is now, on the south side of Lake near Clark
Street, and lamented over the condition of things in Chi-
cago. It was after the panic of 1837, which was vastly
worse than the panic of 1873, ^^^ everything was very
depressed. "Xothing," he said, "could be done here in
the West. The people of Chicago had voted down the
free school-system." (You will recollect in 1835, the people
voted down the first local free-school bill we had obtained
from the legislature for Chicago), and he said we could not
have any schools. I said, playfully, to Dr. Goodhue, we
can have free schools, and if you will put the matter into
my hands, I wi.\\ establish a free-school system that will be
satisfactory to the City of Chicago. He said he would do
it. I said, "You can not do it; you and every member of
the council are democrats, and I am a whig."' He said:
"That makes no difference. If you will take hold of it,
you shall have unlimited power to do what you choose, and
the council will sustain you." I said, if he would do that,
I would give as much time as was necessary to it; but I
said, he could not get the council to agree to it. He said,
" I think you are mistaken; I think you can have your own
way about everything. I will consult the council, and let
you know next week." About a week afterward, he came
to my office, and told me that the council were all agreed,
and if I would take hold of the matter, I might write my
own ordinances and laws, and they would give me supreme
power, within all reasonable bounds. I did so. I wish to
say this, not for the purpose of recounting anything I have
done, but to give to the common council of Chicago, which
differed from me in politics, and which you, Mr. Chairman
(Judge Catox), was a member, and to Dr. Goodhue, the
credit of the first act which culminated in the permanent
establishment of the public schools of Chicago. The coun-
cil put the whole matter into the hands of one of their
political opponents, who was then supposed to be an ambi-
tious man, and one who never lost that reputation, until
his wings were scorched by the Great Fire, in order to fur-
ther the great cause of public instruction ; and we are in-
debted now for our excellent school -system to the stone
that was first laid l)y Dr. (ioodhue. I wish to say as to the
first board, of which I was a member for several years, —
68 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
it was selected upon non-partizan and non-sectarian ideas,
and served faithfully and conscientiously. The memory of
some of its leading members is perpetuated in the naming
of our schools.
The first public -school building which was erected in
Chicago, was called Dearborn School, and it was on the
north side of Madison Street, east of Dearborn. It was
built in 1844, while I was in the board.
It was, at that time, the practice to select those who were
supposed to be good men for the places of aldermen, and to-
insist on such men taking their turn in serving the public.
Mr. Edward H. Haddock, one of our oldest and wealth-
iest citizens, who is here this evening, and who had served
a term as alderman of the first ward, came to my house one
morning in the spring of 1845, and said: "You must run
for alderman in this ward this year; and if you will run,,
John Calhoun (who was a democrat, and my neighbor,)
Avill run with you, and you shall be elected without any
opposition." I said I had too much to attend to, but he
insisted and I finally consented to do so. When the thing
was made known to the leading men of the whig party, to-
which I belonged, they said the first ward was the only
whig ward, and we ought not to forego our right to put two
whigs in the council. I then said I would not run. But
Mr. George W. Meeker, who was one of the board of
school-directors, while walking with me up Dearborn Street
met Alvin Calhoun, a prominent partizan whig, and said
to him, we are going to nominate Scammon for alderman
to-night. Mr. Calhoun replied, "We can't elect Scammon. ''^
Said Meeker, "Why not." He responded: "I have noth-
ing to say against Scammon. He is a good man, excef>t
that he goes in for building too big school-houses. The
people don't want their money wasted in that way ;" and I
could not get the nomination, or if I did I could not be
elected. The whig nominating convention was held that
night at the old Mansion House, on the north side of Lake
Street, between State and Dearborn, and I was nominated
with very slight opposition. But I declined to run so long
as any one was opposed to my nomination. Mr. Haddock
then said I had no right to decline; and he offered a reso-
lution, which was almost unanimously adopted, that I
should not be permitted to decline. In consideration of
SPEECH OF HON. J. YOUNG SCAMMOX. 69
the ground of opposition stated to Mr. G. W. Meeker, in
my presence as before stated, I concluded to run, and to
test the question whether "big school-houses" were unpop-
ular, and to see whether it was true, as Alvin Calhoun had
said, "that no one who built great school-houses could be
elected." Mr. Calhoun had stated, in the conversation
alluded to, that Scammon "was crazy on the subject of
schools, and the people would not allow their money to be
wasted." I made up my mind 1 would try that single ques-
tion, and I got both a larger vote and a larger majority
than any man had ever had for alderman in the City; and
this seemed to settle the question as to the popularity of
big school-houses.
In 1845, Augustus Garrett, the democratic candidate,
was elected mayor at the same time; and when Mr. Mahlon
D. Ogden, who is now present, and who was also elected an
alderman at the same election that I was elected an alder-
man, and I took our seats in the council, the mayor read
his message in which he denounced the extravagant school-
policy, and proposed that the public school-house on Madi-
son Street, which was too large to be ever filled with
scholars, should be sold or converted into an insane asylum.
I wish to do justice to the memory of the late John P.
Chapin and to the memory of Dr. Goodhue, in relation to
the great question of public instruction. I am sorry I have
not time tp allude to other matters, or more than to men-
tion the name of a great man to whom, in my opinion, we
are indebted more than to any other, and to whom the
whole North-west is indebted for public improvements, —
more than to any other man, since J have lived in Chicago
— a man who came to Chicago in 1835, ^Villiam B. Ogden.
If one minute more will be allowed to me, I wish to pay
a tribute of respect to one of five or six lawyers I found
here in 1835, ^'^'hen I landed upon the then harborless shore
of Chicago, — one of our best citizens, who is now lying on
a sick-bed on the other side of the river. He and I had an
office together over forty-two years ago, precisely where my
office is now. He was a man, Mr. Chairman (judge John
Dkan Caton), you knew well. He was the second mayor
of Chicago, and elected over a leading democrat, while he
was a whig, in a city where the democratic majority was
.so large that the year before every officer was a democrat,
70 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
but he had been a partner of Edward Casey before. He
was with Judge Goodrich afterward, and you and I know
he was the best lawyer ever in the City of Chicago or any
other place, on the wrong side of a question that, had no
merits in it. He not only had that character, but what was
better, that of a good lawyer, a good man, and a good citi-
zen, and he made a good judge of our courts, to which
office he was elected by the people. I refer to the Hon.
Buckner S. Morris. Peace to his last days, and to his
memory. I am sorry he is not here. He was one of us in
the olden time. We liked him then, and we do not forget
him now.
The President then called on ex-Lieut.-Gov. William
Bross, who said:
Mr. President: — I lack some nine years of being tech-
nically an old settler, that honor belonging only to those
who were here previous to 1840. It would not be modest
in me, therefore, to make much of a speech, and I will only
occupy your attention for three or four minutes to say that
although I came here in 1848, after the canal was finished,
I have seen every steam railroad built in Chicago; I have
seen every horse-railway built, and drove the first spike to
fasten the first rail laid on the corner of State and Randolph
Streets ; I have seen Chicago become a great city, burn up,
and built up again. And during these early years of my
residence in Chicago, I looked over its early records before
the great fire. In 1852-60, I was thought to be the great
wild man of Chicago, and everybody said I was publishing
all sorts of nonsense about this great City, but I leave it to
you, Mr. Chairman, if I ever half kept up with the truth.
In the early records is found two or three things of curious
interest; one was in reference to friend Beaubien, who kept
tavern vigorously, and run the ferry at Wolf Point. His
love for his fiddle was well known, and besides he often
took part in pony races with his Indian neighbors, and
hence, lest he should forget his duty as ferryman, they
passed an ordinance that he should ferry the people of
Cook County day and night without stopping. Another
thing I will mention. We hear a good deal about rapid
transit in these days. A gentleman who has been con-
nected with rapid transit from the organization of the City
is here to-night, and is connected with it still. I refer to
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM. BROSS. /I
Mr. Cobb, the President of the Chicago City Raihvay, who
commenced his career early' in the history of this City, by
putting in a ferry at the enormous expense of $9.60 across
the river at Dearborn Street. You see that it has resulted
in making him President of the City Raihvay Company,
and one of the solid men of the City.
At the close of this speech, the guests were invited into
the supper-room. After refreshments they returned to the
original reception rooms, which had been cleared for dan-
cing. Mr. Beaubien took a position at the head of the
rooms with fiddle in hand, and the guests all went forward
and shook his hand as a valued friend of olden-time, and
congratulated him upon his well-preserved appearance and
good spirits.
He sung a song, accompanied by his fiddle, in ridicule of
Gen. Hull'.s surrender, which he learned at Detroit in 181 2.
He and Col. Gurdon S. Hubbard indulged in a conver-
sation in the original Indian tongue, which terminated in
their giving a specimen of Indian dancing, to the great
merriment of the company.
Hon. John Wentw()Rth assumed the roll of floor-man-
ager and, with a voice loud enough for the deafest to hear,
called upon Col. Julius M. Warren to lead Silas B. Cobb
to the head of the hall for "Monnie Musk." He called
upon all over seventy-five years of age to form on next,
then all over seventy, all over sixty-five, all over sixty, all
over fifty-five, all over fifty. He then recjuested the younger
members of the Club to stand back and see how their
fathers and grandfathers danced when Mark P>KAUr.iEN
handled the bow.
The "Virginia Reel," and several olden - time favorite
dances were afterward gone through with. .Many olden inci-
dents were revived, and stories told. And tlie settlers of
Chicago, i)rior to 1840, took their leave with many expres-
sions of gratitude, and hoping, without reasonably expecting,
that some day they might all meet again.
72
CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
The names of the invited guests are published. Some
made no response. The infirmities of age, in some instan-
ces, would not permit a response, and there may have been
a mistake, in other instances, as to the present post-office
address. But of the settlers of Chicago prior to 1840, one
hundred and forty-nine registered their names out of the
large number invited. And there were several persons who
recognized the whole number, and shook hands with them,
as familiar acquaintances. Many left without knowing that
there was a registry being kept. A few called afterward
and signed the registry, and all Chicago settlers, prior to
1840, are now requested to do so.
The following tables may be of interest, as showing the
places of birth, the years of arrival, and ages of those who
signed the registry during the evening: —
Connecticut ..16
England 10
Ireland 6
Kentucky i
Michigan
1818
T826
1831
1832
50 -•
51 -
52 -.
53 -
54 -
55 -
56 -
57 -
58 -
59 -
60 .
PLACES OF BIRTH.
Maine 3
Massachusetts .10
Maryland i
New York 63
N. Hampshire- 5
YEARS OF ARRIVAL.
1833 16
1834 15
1835 22
1836 40
New Jersey 3
N. Carolina i
Pennsylvania . . 6
Vermont 21
Virginia 2
1837 20
1838 II
1839 12
Total 149
AGES.
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
3
72
6
73
8
74
19
75
10
76
14
77
7
78
6
79
6
80
6
81
I
82
Appendix.
Response from Chicago's First School-Teacher.
JoLiET, 111., 2 2d June, 1879.
Messrs. Silas B. Cobb, Fi'ankli?i D. Gray, Mark Kimball,
Marcus C. Stearfis, yames N. Rees, Frederick Tuttle, and
Joel C. Walker, Committee of Reception, Calumet Club.
Gentlemen: — If your invitation had reached me in
time, the infirmities of age would have prevented my
-attendance. Nevertheless, I thank you for your kind
remembrance. It certainly would have afforded me great
pleasure to have embraced such a golden opportunity to
meet old friends whom I can never expect to meet again
on earth.
I arrived in Chicago in May, 1832, and have always had
the reputation of being its first school-teacher. I never
heard my claim disputed. I commenced teaching in the
fall, after the Black-Hawk war, 1832. My first .school-house
•was situated on the North-Side, about half-way between the
lake and the forks of the river, then known as Wolf Point.
The l)uilding belonged to Col. Richard J. Hamilton; was
erected for a horse-stable, and had been used as such. It
was twelve feet square. My benches and desks were made
of old store boxes. The school was started by private sub-
scription. Thirty scholars were subscribed for. But many
subscribed who had no children. So it was a sort of free-
school, there not being thirty children in town. During my
first cjuarter I had but twelve scholars, and only four of
them were white. The others were quarter, half, and three-
(juarter Indians. After the first C|uarter, I moved my school
into a double log-house on the West-Side. It was owned
.by Rev. Jesse Walker, a Methodist minister, and was loca-
ted near the bank of the river where the north and south
branches meet. He resided in one end of the buikling,
and I taught in the other. On Sundays, l''ather \\'alker
l)reached in the room where I taught.
In the winter of iS:»2-3, Billy Caldwell, a half-breed
74 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
chief of the Pottawatomie Indians, better known as Sau-
ganash, offered to pay the tuition and buy books for all
Indian children, who would attend school, if they would
dress like the Americans, and he would also pay for their
clothes. But not a single one would accept the proposi-
tion conditioned upon the change of apparel.
When I first went to Chicago, there was but one frame
building there, and it was a store owned by Robert A. Kin-
zie. The rest of the houses were made of logs. There
were no bridges. The river was crossed by canoes.
I was born in Scipio, Cayuga County, New York, in
1802. I left Chicago in 1836, and have resided in Joliet
and vicinity ever since. I had the acquaintance, when in
Chicago, of Col. Richard J- Hamilton, Thomas Owen,
(Indian Agent), George W. 'Dole, John Wright, P. F. W.
Peck, Philo Carpenter, John S. C. Hogan, Col. John B.
Beaubien, Mark Beaubien, John H., Robert A., and James
Kinzie.
I will now give you the names of some of my scholars:
Thomas, William, and George Owen; Richard Hamilton;
Alexander, Philip, and Henry Beaubien; and Isaac N. Har-
mon, now a merchant in Chicago.
I remember Stephen R. Beggs, who sometimes preached
in Father Walker's building where I taught school.
Respectfully yours,
JOHN WATKINS.
Response from Norman K. Towner.
Ypsilanti, May 22, i8'/g.
Gentlemen : I am honored by the receipt of your kind
invitation to meet the old settlers of Chicago at a reunion
on the 27 th.
I regret my inability to be with you on so memorable an
occasion, and all the more when I see in the list of names
represented so many, familiar in the early days, who, by
daily toil, discharging daily duty, helped lay the foundation,
hard and strong, of that magnificent superstructure which
by the name of Chicago is known over two continents by
those who have the ability to buy and the enterprise to
cook good bread and good meat.
While glad to see so many yet left among the living, I
cannot but note the absence of so many of their fellow-
LETTER OF NORMAN K. TOWNER. 75
workers, like John B. Turner, George W. Dole, William B.
Ogden, William H. Brown, Walter L. Newberry, John H.
Kinzie, — "stalwarts" in the grand army of peace, — and
others of lesser power or opportunity, who, a faithful day's
work done, have laid them down to merited rest.
Pardon me for glancing at some of the first steps taken
in securing the full benefits of Chicago's position at the
head of lake navigation. How elated we were when on a
certain Fourth of July the pioneer shovelful was thrown —
and I am glad to see the vigorous arm that tlirew it still
left among you (I refer to the Hon. Gurdon S. Hubbard) —
that was to open the water-way across the jjrairies and en-
able old Father Michigan to reach over and join hands with
Miss Sippi. Next the old Galena & Chicago Union Rail-
road, the first spoke in that now vast wheel of which Chi-
cago is the hub, slowly but persistently stretched westward
until it laid hold of the valley of Rock River and made it-
self felt as an added commercial channel. Then pantingly
came the Michigan Central and Southern to shorten the
Eastern way and make us independent through winter's
cold as well as summer's heat. We had, too, some gala
days; conspicuous that of the River and Harbor Convention,
when our Fire Brigade was taxed to its utmost to aid the
City make a decent demonstration in honor of its guests.
But our little band had Biirley firemen, two, at least, a
Bishop to bless it, sound timber that for lack of better name
we called Ujuierwood, a Gale to blow it onward, and even
a Cobb to "shell out" in its behalf.
We were not totally lacking for military glory. Under
the lead of the gallant Hunter we charged down the line of
the Illinois (S: Michigan Canal in bristling sleigh-loads, saw
the rebellion, dispersed it, retired to our homes again while
"the enemy" went to his shanty.
I am confident, gentlemen, you will so enjoy this present
reunion as to be induced to hold fre([uent future ones.
May you long live to do so. Yet, in the nature of things,
it must be expected that another decade will thin your
ranks, rcfjuiring those that may be left to stand the closer
together.
Again thanking you most heartily for your kind invita-
tion, I bid you good-by, invoking the blessing of the Su-
])reme RuTer upon each and all. Most sincerely and truly
vourold friend, N. K. T()WNKR.
'j6 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
Response from Rev. Flavel Bascom.
Hinsdale, III, May, 1879.
Gentlemen: I have received your card of invitation,
and examined with pecuHar interest the names of invited
guests. Those names were once so familiar to me, and
represent old-time friends so highly valued, it would afford
me the greatest pleasure to enjoy the proposed social re-
union. But, to my sincere regreat, a previous engagement
for that same evening, in another part of the State, makes
my attendance at your reception impossible.
When I remember the relation of these early settlers to
the buildirtg and rebuilding of Chicago; how much of its
greatness is due to their enterprise and sagacity, it affords
me much satisfaction to have known them, and to have
my name recognized as entitled to a humble place among
theirs. Wishing them a happy reunion now, and a still
happier one in the hereafter, I remain yours, very truly,
F. BASCOM.
Response from Maj.-Gen. David Hunter.
Dear Gen. Sheridan : — Many thanks, for the very kind
manner in which you have conveyed to me the invitation
of the gentlemen of The Calumet Club, to be present at
their reception to the "old settlers of Chicago." I am
very much tempted to accept, but my age and many infirm-
ities admonish me, that it is too late for me to join in such
a grand frolic; but how I should like to be with you.
More than half a century since, I first came to Chicago
oh horseback, from Saint Louis, stopping on the way at the
log-cabins of the early settlers, and passing the last house
at the mouth of Fox River. I was married in Chicago,
having to send a soldier one hundred and sixty miles, on
foot, to Peoria, for a license. The northern counties in the
State had not then been organized, and were all attached
to Peoria County. My dear wife is still alive, and in good
health; and I can certify, a hundred times over, that Chi-
cago is a first-rate place from which to get a good wife.
Be pleased to convey to the gentlemen of The Calumet
Club my best regards and thanks for their kind invitation.
Very sincerely,
DAVID HUNTER.
Washington, D. C, May 24th, 1879.
LETTER OF REV. JEREMIAH PORTER. JJ
Response from Judge Ebenezer Peck.
Messrs. S. B. Cobb and others, Covwiittee on Invitatioiis :
Chicago, 24th May, 1879.
Gentlemen: I acknowledge the receipt of your invita-
tion from The Calumet Club, to be present on the 27 th
instant, at a reception to be given to the old settlers of
Chicago.
I am pleased to be recognized and remembered as one
of those old settlers, and my eager desire is to be present
at a place where I may meet so many of those with whom
I was acquainted in by-gone days (when this now great city
was only a very small town), and for whom I entertain
much respect, and of whom I have many pleasant recol-
lections; but unfortunately for me, my age and infirmities
compel me to deny myself the great enjoyment I should
receive could I be present at a meeting of pleasure like
that pfoposed.
While you and your guests will be recounting and enjoy-
ing pleasant reminiscences, I shall be in my room lament-
ing that I am prevented by fate from enjoying them with
you. \'anished years and early ties are not always pleasant
concomitants. May the ever-ruling Power kindly bless you
all and keep you happy.
Sadly but thankfully yours, an old settler of 1835, offers
his congratulations.
K. PECK.
Response from Rev. Jkre.miah Porter.
Messrs. S. B. Cobb, F. D. Gray, Mark KUnball, Etc., Coni-
jnittec The Cabinet Club Reception:
Fort D. A. Russell, Wy. T., May 24.
Dear (iENTLEMEN : Thanks for your kind invitation this
liour received to meet the "Old Settlers of Chicago'' on
Tuesday evening ne.xt.
My distance, a thousand miles west of your wonderful
City to which 1 went with United States troops forty-six
years ago this month, and the cradle of its first infant
church I then began to rock (two survivors of which, be-
side Mrs. Porter and myself, Mr. Philo Carpenter and Mrs.
Charles Taylor, remain unto this day), must be my apology
for not being with you to greet them and some others
whose honored names I find among your invited, who saw
78 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
with me the first 300 who then, and eariier, laid the founda-
tions, far out of sight, hke those of E. W. Blatchford's shot-
tower — eternal foundations, on which a city, in less than
half a century, has sprung, of more than half a million of
people. To review with them and others who have been
co-workers since in its intellectual, commercial, scientific,
and Christian wonderful prosperity, would be an event of
peculiar joy for a lifetime. But I must not trespass on your
time. Living voices present with you will thrill your hearts
with joy in this review, as they tell what God hath wrought
for your Garden City, the Queen of the West, and yet the
central city of the continent; and, perhaps, to be the largest
before our children are as old as we now are. In conclu-
sion, allow me to send, as a matter of interest for your
reading at leisure, a sermon of Dr. Arthur Mitchell, now
pastor of the church I organized, preached on the forty-
fifth anniversary of that event. I am, gentlemen, very
gratefuUv yours,
JEREMIAH PORTER,
Post-Chaplain, United States Army.
Brief letters of regret were also received from the follow-
ing early residents : —
Berdel, Nicholas, Englewood, 111.
Bishop, James E. (i836)Denver, Col.
Black, Francis, (1836) Hampton, 111.
Blasey, Barnhard, Grant Park, 111.
Boggs, Charles T. Chicago.
Boyer, Valentine A. Chicago.
Burley, Charles, Exeter, N. H.
Chamberlain, Rev. J. S. (May 20, '39)Robin's Nest, 111.
Clarke, John L. Chicago.
Cleaver, Edward C. Chicago.
Corrigan, WilHam, (Oct., 1836) n (Died July 15 '79.
Davlin,
John, _
Waukegan,
111.
Dewey,
Dennis S.
(June
II
, i839)Monticello.
Dickinson, Augustus,
Chicago.
Flood,
P. F.
(June
20
, 1 83 5) Chicago.
Haines,
John C.
(i835)Waukegan,
111.
Lind, Sylvester,
Lake Forest, 111.
Loomis
, Henry,
(i836)Burlington,
Vt.
^IcClure, Josiah E.
Chicago.
REMARKS OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE. 79
Metz, Christopher, (Oct., i837)Chicago.
Morris, Buckner S. Chicago.
Taylor, W. H. Brookline, Mass.
Temple, Peter, Lexington, Mo.
Turner, John, (April, i835)Ravenswood, 111.
\'ail, Walter, Xewburgh, New York.
Wadsworth, E. S. (i836)Chicago.
Wright, Truman G. Racine, Wis.
(From the Chicago Tribime, May 28, 1879.)
The spacious parlors of the Calumet Club were thronged
last evening with the venerable, but, as a rule, hale and
hearty, representatives of a former generation, — the men
who came to Chicago when it was not Chicago, properly
speaking, but a thriving young village at the head of Lake
Michigan; the pioneers of civilization, in a word, the "old
settlers'' of Chicago, whose coming here dates prior to
1840. It was a collection unique in its character, and one
whose like is seldom seen. The representatives of all the
walks of life, the veterans in years and in experience, the
silver-haired, and the less venerable on whose heads the
frosts of age had as yet touched but lightly, — all were there,
and every last one of them insisting that he was just as
young in spirits, if not in years, as he was forty years ago.
And, to tell the truth, the unchecked and unrestrained frisk-
ness of even some of the older heads was proof positive of
the lingering existence of a \ery pardonable desire to be
boys again, or, if not boys, at least very young or middle-
aged men. There were those who had not met for years,
— some had not looked into each other's faces for a quarter
of a century, — and the result of such a coming together as
that of last evening was the renewing of old and tried friend-
shii)S, the fervid clasj)ing of many a hand, the utterance of
many a heartfelt "God bless you.'
The idea of this most pleasant reunion dates from the
last annual meeting of the Calumet Club, when a resolution
was introduced by Mr. Joel C. Walter, and unanimously
adopted, j)roviding for the ajjpointment of a committee to
invite all the old settlers whose names and addresses were
obtainable, to attend a reception given them by this young
but progressive organization, representing Chicago's wealth
and culture. Messrs. S. li. Cobb, Franklin I). Gray, Mark
80 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
Kimball, James H. Rees, Joel C. Walter, Marcus C.
Stearns, and Frederick Tuttle were appointed as such
committee, and immediately set about preparing for the
success of the event which passed off so happily last even-
ing. Some difficulty was experienced in securing a full list
of the venerables whose advent here dates back prior to
1 840, but if any were omitted — and they must have been
very few — it was not from any lack of desire on the part of
the Committee to do the full measure of their duty, but
simply from the inherent difficulty of the task, increased by
the absence of anything like a complete list of the veterans
living in Chicago and vicinity. A number of the invited
ones sent letters of regret at their inability to be present, —
a regret which was shared equally by themselves and those
who were so fortunate as to be able to attend.
The veteran guests of" the Club began to arrive shortly
after 7 o'clock, and an hour later, when the programme of
speech-making was to have been taken up, the later arrivals
were still pouring in, and the era of handshaking and of
renewing old acquaintances, and of refreshing old memories
seemed but to have commenced. The evening's exercises
were accordingly deferred until something like half an hour
later, and, apparently, to nobody's lasting regret, for the
calling up of old reminiscences was something in which all
could and did take part, and with a deal of zest, too, that
revealed the pleasurable pride the veterans took in dipping
into the past.
An effort was made to get a complete registry of the
names of all the old settlers, but, owing to the crowd, the
process of registering was accompanied with some consider-
able difficulty. In addition to this, a number of the guests
were compelled to leave at a comparatively early hour, and
before they could get an opportunity, so great was the press-
ure upon the space and the accommodations, to put down
their names. ''' '■' '^ ''
The gathering was called to order at 8:30, by Mr. S. B.
Cobb, Chairman of the Committee on Reception, '^ *
"" * * and, the programme being com-
pleted, the Chairman further announced that the Old Set-
tlers would adjourn from business to lunch.
And the old settlers didn't stay upon the order of their
going, but repaired at once to the lunch-rooms adjoining.
REMARKS OF THE CHICAGO JOURNAL. 8 1
In one of these a long table was set with a cold supper of
sandwiches, salads, and ices, reinforced by the delicious
concoction of the fragrant berry. Such as could not get
within this room were served in the reading-room. The
table in the main supper-room was rendered additionally
attractive by a clever imitation in wood of Fort Dearborn,
placed directly in the centre. Ample justice was done the
collation, which was attractive to the eye as well as to the
palate, and the veterans' organs of speech naturally became '
even more loosened than before as they put the cheer
where it would do the most good. After supper, Mark
Beaubien got out his fiddle, "rosined"' the bow, got the
venerable instrument in tune, and in less time than it takes
to write it "Long John" Wentworth had a number of choice
spirits under way to the accompaniment of the liveliest kind
of dances. The veterans, ably assisted by some of the
young men who weren't exactly following out Long John's
advice with regard to keeping such hours as would result in
a surplus of corn on their Cobb (no more were the veterans
themselves), scampered around at an equally lively rate,
and the fun was of the fast and furious, though innocent,
kind that a lot of happy children might indulge in. In
short, it was glorious, and the old fellows, as well as the
young fellows — to whom it must have been a novelty —
enjoyed it for all it was worth. The festivities were drawn
out until some time after midnight, when the gathering
broke up, amidst many repetitions of the unanimous ver-
dict that the old settlers' reception had been an unqualified
success, — one far beyond the most sanguine hopes of its
])romoters, — and amidst a general wish that the reception
might not be the last of its kind.
(I-'rom the Chicago Evening younial, ^hly 28, 1879.)
It was a happy thought on the part of Thk Calu.mkt
Club to tender a reception to all known survivors of the
Chicago of forty years ago. That Club is composed, for
the most part, of young and middle-aged men of business,
those upon whom now rest the burdens of commercial
affairs. Their club-house, on the corner of Michigan Ave-
nue and Eighteenth Street, is admirably fitted for such a
purpose. Over half of the large number of invitations were
accepted, and a delightful evening was spent in reminiscences
82 CALUMET CLUB OF CHICAGO.
of early days in Chicago, to say nothing of the pleasures
of music, dancing, and a choice and well-laden table. The
proceedings extended until a late hour, but no one showed
signs of weariness. After the refreshments followed the
best part of the feast. That delightful Apollo, Mark Beau-
bien, discoursed music familiar to the ears, and the heels,
too, of the old settlers, and several old-fashioned dances
were improvised, and about midnight the company dis-
persed, all agreeing that the occasion had been one of rare
delight.
It is to be hoped that this reception will prove the first
of a series.
NAMES
OF THE
Ofb ^tmnB of (Chicago,
WHO CAME PRIOR TO 184O,
REGISTERED
AT
The Calumet Club of Chicago.
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FERGUS' CHICAGO PUBLICATIONS.
HISTORICAL.
1— ANNALS OF CHICAGO: A Lecture delivered before the Chi-
cago Lyceum, January 21, 1840 By Joseph N. Balestier, Esq.
Repubhshed from the original edition of 1840: with an Introduction,
writen by the Author in 1876; and, also, a Review of the Lecture,
published in the Chicago Tribune, in 1872. Price, 25 cents.
2-FERGUS' DIRECTORY OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO-
1S39; with City and County Officers, Churches, Public Buildings,
Hotels, etc. : also, list of Sheriffs of Cook County, and Mayors of the
City since their organiation , together with the Poll- List of the First
City Election (Tuesday, May 2, 1837). List of Purcha.sers of Lots
in Fort Dearborn Addition, the N'o. of the Lots and the prices paid,
etc., etc. Compiled by Robert Fergis. Price, 50 cents.
3— THE LAST OF THE ILLINOIS, AND A SKETCH OF
THE POTTAWATOMIES: Read before the Chicago Historical
Society, Dec. 13, 1870. Also,
ORIGIN OF THE PRAIRIES: Read before the Ottawa Academy
of Natural Sciences, Dec. 30, 1869. By Hon. John Dean Caton,
LL. D., late Chief-Justice of Illinois. Price. 25 cents.
4-AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE EARLY MOVEMENT
IN ILLINOIS FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF SLAVERY:
Read at the Annual Meeting of the Chicago Historical Society, Dec.
5, 1864. By Hon. \Vm. H. Brown, E.\- President. Price, 25 cents.
5-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY SETTLERS OF
CHICAGO. Part I. Hon. S. Lisle Smith, Geo. Davis, Dr. Philip
Ma.xwell, John J. Brown, Richard L. WiLson, Col. Lewis C. Kerchi-
val, L'riah P. Harris, Henry B. Clarke, and Sheriff .Samuel J. Lowe.
By Wm. H. Blshnell. Price, 25 cents.
6-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY SETTLERS OF
CHICAGO. Part II. Hon. Wm. H. Brown, Benj. W. Raymond,
Esq., Hon. J. Young Scammon, Chas. Walker, E.sq., Thos. Church,
Esq. Price, 25 cents.
T— E.^RLY CHICAGO : A Lecture delivered in the Sunday Course,
at McCormick's Hall, May 7th, 1876. With Supplemental Notes.
2d Lecture. Portrait. By Hon. Joh.n We.ntwokth. Price, 35 cents.
8— EARLY CHICAGO; A Lecture delivered in the Sunday Course,
at McCormick's Hall, April nth, 1875. With Supplemental Notes.
ist Lecture. Portrait. By Hon. John Wentwokth. Price, 35 cents.
9 -PRESENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF CHICAGO:
An Address delivered before the Chicago Lyceum, Jan. 20th, 1846.
By Judge Henry Brown, author of " History of« Illinois."
RLSE AND PROGRESS OF CHICAGO: .\n .Address delivered
before the Centennial Library Association, March 21st, 1876. By
James A. Marshall, Esq.
CHICAGO IN 1836; "STRANGE EARLY DAYS." By Har-
riet .Martinkai-, author of "Society in .'\mcrica," etc. Price, 25c.
10 ADDRESSES READ BEFORE CHICAGO HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, by Hon. J. Young Scammon, Hon Lsaac N. Arnold,
Wm. Hickling. E.sq., Col. G. .S. Hubbard, and, Hiram W. Beckwlth,
E.sq.; sketches of Col. John H. Kinzie, by his Wife, Juliette A. Kin-
zie; Judge George Manicrre, Luther Haven, Esq., and other Early
Settlers; also, Billy Caldwell and Shabonee, and the "Winnebago
Scare," July, 1827, by Hiram W. Bcckwith, Esq. ; and other original
important matter connected with "Early Chicago." Price, 25 cents.
In Press, will be issued Aug. 4, 1879.
11 EARLY MEDICAL CHICAGO: An Historical Sketch of the
First Practitioners of Medicine. By Ja.mks Nevins Hvdh, A.M.,
M.D. With Steel Engravings of Professors J. Adams Allen, N. S.
Davis, and the late Daniel Brainard. Price, 50 cents.
rZ2SUS PSnTTINa COMPAITT, 244-8 minois Stroot, CmCASO. ILL.
t^ Sent by Mail on receipt of Price by the Publishers.
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