Rise and Progress 
 of Chicago : 
 
 AN ADDRESS, 
 
 Delivered before the 
 
 Centetmary Library Association, 
 
 At St. Caroline's Court Hotel, 
 March 2, 1876. 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES A. MARSHALL, Esq. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY, 
 
 244-8 ILLINOIS STREET. 
 1876. 
 
 / 
 
 / 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 CARLI: Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois 
 
 http://archive.org/details/riseprogressofchOOmars 
 
 N 
 
Rise and Progress 
 of Chicago : 
 
 AN ADDRESS, 
 
 Delivered before the 
 
 Centennary Library Association, 
 
 At St. Caroline's Court Hotel, 
 March 2, 1876. 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES A. MARSHALL, Esq. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 FERGUS PRINTING COMPANY, 
 
 244-8 ILLINOIS STREET. 
 1876. 
 
fjL 
 
Rise and Progress of Chicago. 
 
 The moon shines dimly just after the sun has set. To 
 give reminiscences of the early history of Chicago in a 
 form that would be likely to interest you, particularly after 
 having listened to the lofty aspirations and eloquent dis- 
 coursings of a Wentworth, Bross, Balestier, and others who 
 have favored us upon this subject with gems from the 
 well-filled storehouse of their polished and cultivated in- 
 tellects, is a task that I might well shrink from, and be a 
 silent admirer of the rich developments of these faithful 
 biographers, rather than attempt any elaborate description 
 of its early progress myself; but, however much may have 
 been said, there is still room for the further unfolding of 
 its primitive doings and wonderful strides to popularity 
 and greatness. 
 
 It is not our purpose to trace the present popularity and 
 important advancement of Chicago, from the early explorers 
 of the great North-west, down through past ages, to the 
 probable discovery of a point on Lake Michigan, that was 
 destined to be, in the distant future, the Metropolis of the 
 Universe, that, to our mind, would be too chimerical, and 
 fraught with too much uncertainty to command respectful 
 consideration; but, as near as memory will permit, to "hold 
 the mirror up to nature," and relate some of the more promi- 
 nent features of its progress within the memory of its "old- 
 est inhabitants" now resident among us, many of whom 
 deserve honorable mention; we might also name those who 
 have done much toward enhancing the growth, importance, 
 and prosperity of Chicago; but where all have done so well 
 it would be invidious to particularize, we will, therefore, 
 content ourself by at once giving our personal experience 
 of the early rise and growth of the City of the West. 
 
4 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 Let us, for a moment, remove the veil, and take a re- 
 trospect of the past forty-five years, we will then have 
 disclosed to view a barren waste, the abode of the timid 
 fawn, the deer, the wolf, and tawny Indian, whose bark 
 alone skimmed along these majestic lakes, claiming the 
 ownership of their pure and limpid waters. Now mark 
 the change ! These lofty spires that rise to their graceful 
 and giddy heights ; the busy mill and spacious warehouse: 
 the stately mansion and lowly cot, around whose slender 
 portals the woodbine entwines its caressing tendrils. We 
 might extend the view, and admire the dot tings of civili- 
 zation and culture in the innumerable cottages and pre- 
 tentious farm-houses that nestle among the tall grass and 
 fringe the borders of our rivers and woodlands, but our 
 purpose just now is a review of the early history and 
 doings of Chicago. 
 
 When we first landed on these shores, our impression 
 was that it might be a place of some importance, were it 
 not so low, and I ventured to record my hastily-conceived 
 views upon the register of the hotel where we remained 
 for a few hours; my entry ran something like this: "April 
 20, 1832. James A. Marshall, Ogdensburgh, New York; 
 this might be a place of some importance, but the ground 
 is too low." Two or three hours afterward, I chanced to 
 look over the quire of paper dubbed a register, and found 
 added to my remarks, "Solomon 2d." I looked wise for 
 a moment, but felt that my talent had been over-estimated, 
 and have never since undertaken to be wiser than my 
 friend, whom, I afterward learned, honored me with that 
 illustrious appellation. I found the place too small for me 
 to hope to make anything by my profession (a physician), 
 the garrison being supplied with one of the best in the 
 country in the person of Dr. Philip Maxwell, so we shipped 
 at once for Navarino, Green Bay, Wis., where we landed 
 in time to see three soldiers branded and drummed out 
 of camp, also to see the payment of 7000 Indians by Col. 
 Boyd. I remained at Navarino until August 5th, 1834, 
 when I sailed in the Schooner Nancy Dousman, Capt. 
 Saunders, for Chicago. After a very boisterous passage, 
 we arrived on the 15th of the same month, where I have 
 resided, with the exception of one year only, ever since. 
 
 To undertake the recital of all, or even many of the 
 
 
OF CHICAGO. 5 
 
 prominent causes of Chicago's rise and wonderful progress 
 within the past forty-five years, and do justice to the sub- 
 ject, would occupy more time than could be devoted to 
 one lecture, unless it were prolonged to an unreasonable 
 length, and thereby losing much of its intended usefulness; 
 we will, therefore, to relieve our subject from the dull 
 monotony incident to the recital of statistical forms, for 
 the time being, fancy ourselves in an artist's studio, invit- 
 ing him, with canvas, paint, and brush, to create his ideal 
 of a great and marvelous city, of less than half a century's 
 growth, drawing from the resources of his imaginative 
 genius all that could give it eclat and beauty, his subject 
 a low, uninviting marsh, a sluggish stream on one side, a 
 bold, majestic lake in front, an extended prairie behind; 
 with this unseemly background we will watch his progress 
 in filling out the rjicture. On the right, as you face the 
 north, is a group of one -story block houses, surrounded 
 by a high fence; the two-story buildings at the east of the 
 hollow square are the quarters of the commandant and 
 officers; that hip-roofed, square block-house, with a row of 
 small port-holes, is the look-out, where sentinels are placed 
 to watch the approach of hostile Indians, the lower part 
 used as a guard-house — that is Fort Dearborn; the river 
 meandering its way around the east side of the fort, run- 
 ning southward, mingling with the lake at Madison street, 
 east of which is a peninsula connecting the north and 
 south sides of the river (and was the only point, forty-three 
 years ago, of ingress and egress for vessels to and from 
 Lake Michigan, until March, 1833, when the spring freshet, 
 accompanied by a violent storm, forced a direct channel 
 to the lake, which was afterward dredged and piers run 
 out, by direction of the Government, and which now forms 
 the fine harbor for the white-winged messengers that enrich 
 our country by their precious burdens). We will accom- 
 pany our artist a little farther; at the left of the fort, and 
 running west, are a few modest structures, designed, appar- 
 ently, for the double purpose of stores and dwellings, ex- 
 tending west as far as Dearborn street (there the business 
 portion of the village, for a time, rested; south of Lake 
 and east of Dearborn streets, for three or four blocks, was 
 a corn and potato field. The principal forwarding business 
 was done on the north side of the Chicago River for several 
 
6 • RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 years, but the personal interest and enterprise of a few gen- 
 tlemen residing on the South Side, who had considerable 
 real estate unoccupied, changed the channel of business by 
 building warehouses on that side of the river, after which it 
 was transacted there ; indeed, the North Side never recovered 
 its former business prestige, but contented itself by build- 
 ing palatial residences, and being considered the place pai' 
 excellence, and the home of the elite of Chicago). We next 
 observe a ferry crossing the river at Dearborn street, con- 
 nected by a rope attached to a windlass at each side of 
 the river, and a scow in the centre, propelled by hand 
 power, placed there for the convenience of the residents 
 of both sides of the river. This rude piece of mechanism 
 remained there until a Mr. Norton erected a draw-bridge, 
 spanning the river at the same place where the old scow 
 had done such good service for so long a time, but whose 
 occupation, like Othello's, was now gone. It was igno- 
 miniously torn from its moorings to make room for the 
 unwieldy structure that supplanted it. From this time 
 onward the city grew rapidly, and from this time may be 
 dated the commencement of its now universal popularity. 
 We will now leave our artist to finish the picture as it 
 may best suit his own ideality, Some new beauty is now 
 developed — some wonderful advancement made in the 
 growth and importance of the painted city; the unfinished 
 streets show marks of improvement, lined with palatial 
 business structures, ponderous warehouses, elegant and 
 elaborate places of worship, halls of justice clothed in 
 Oriental magnificence, school -houses with substantial ex- 
 teriors are brought to view, avenues laid out and lined 
 with costly marble mansions, parks and boulevards gem 
 the environs with rare exotics and elaborately ornamental, 
 varied, and beautiful foliage, the streets are as smooth as 
 parlor floors; nothing is left undone that imaginative genius 
 could invent to make a city that would be the wonder 
 and admiration of the civilized world. The picture com- 
 pleted is heralded beyond the seas, sent broadcast among 
 the cities of the east, and presented to the wealthy, the 
 intellectual, and the enterprising of our own land; they 
 shrug their shoulders knowingly, acknowledging its great 
 beauty and the consummate ideality of the artist, but 
 think that he has devoted too much to the imaginative 
 
OF CHICAGO. 7 
 
 to assume a reality among the cities of the world, turning 
 from what they supposed the visionary imaginings of a 
 fertile brain and elaborate brush to something more sub- 
 stantial and real. The artist invites their presence to 
 witness the last finishing touch, then with unbounded con- 
 fidence in himself, he traces the name Chicago. The 
 multitude exclaims, "It is no ideal, but a veritable reality, 
 .and now stands the wonder of the universe." 
 
 Thus we have presented, in a feeble way, but a bird's- 
 eye view of the germ of our present great Metropolis; its 
 early outlook by no means calculated to encourage the 
 enterprising explorer, has been brought to view; and 
 watching with marked interest the unparalleled improve- 
 ment o.n every hand, we are awed into silence, and dare 
 not prophesy its future greatness. As the sturdy farmer 
 scans his field but lately cleared of a cumbrous undergrowth 
 of shrubs and thickets, the ground untilled, the seed un- 
 sown — glowing prospects of a rich harvest are least sug- 
 gesting, but, when with implements of agriculture and deter- 
 mined will, he delves and toils from morn till night, faith 
 spurs him on, and slowly, but surely, the planted seed, 
 the budding stalk, and waving grain, insure a harvest, and 
 recompense is nigh. So to the early settler, Chicago stood 
 desolate and alone, the undergrowth of uncivilized Indian 
 habitation lent an uninviting aspect to the eastern world, 
 and advancement, for the time being, seemed impossible; 
 but the rich soil of natural advantages was unearthed by 
 the foresight of our pioneers, the seed planted, then arose 
 in plenteous harvest, the wonderful products of a new-made 
 vineyard, until now, after a growth of forty years, the City 
 sketched upon the canvas, loses its primitive indentity. and 
 stands before the world a marvel. 
 
 This picture, however, portrays but the outward part of 
 Chicago's greatness, it is the internal workings that have 
 given it the wonderful celebrity that it now enjoys. Let us, 
 for a moment, glance at some of these causes which have led 
 to and done so much toward its advancement. First, its 
 location, being at the head of lake navigation and the only 
 prominent lake frontage that the State of Illinois has for 
 the receipt and transportation of her vast agricultural 
 .and mineral resources, thereby enjoying some State pride. 
 Again, the immense lumber interests form a large share of 
 
8 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 consideration; from a beginning, within the time indicated 
 at the commencement of these remarks, of 100,000,000 
 feet, it has now increased to more than 1,500,000,000 feet 
 per annum. The cereal products, too, which here find a 
 market and outlet, have increased from 5000 bushels in 
 the year 1834 to more than 15,000,000 bushels per annum; 
 nor is this all, the pork product advancing from 500 to 
 over 1,500,000 hogs packed every year, aside from those 
 used for home consumption. In our monetary exchange, 
 how wonderful the advance, from $25,000 per week, which 
 at that time indicated marked progress, it now requires 
 more than $20,000,000 to do a week's financial business. 
 The advancement in general business, too, is well calcu- 
 lated to amaze the mere casual observer, from an insignifi- 
 cant sum of a few thousand dollars required to transact 
 our annual business forty-three years ago, the enormous 
 sum of more than $200,000,000 is now necessary to sat- 
 isfy the demands of the thousands who look to Chicago 
 « for their supplies. Out of the fifteen billions of dollars an- 
 nually required to feed and clothe the people of the United 
 States, one hundred and twenty-five millions of that sum is 
 necessary to feed and clothe the citizens of Chicago for the 
 same time. 
 
 We might go on, ad libitum, enumerating the capacious 
 and unparalleled increase in the innumerable branches of 
 industry that are adding so much to the importance, and 
 expanding the area of our city to its present ponderous 
 proportions; but enough has already been noticed to sat- 
 isfy, without doubt, the most sceptical of its admirers. 
 But perhaps the most wonderful rise in values has taken 
 place in real estate; property that, in 1834, sold for $200 
 per lot of 50 feet, has been sold within the past year 
 for $2000 per foot, being an advance of $99,800 from 
 the original purchase; this, however, cannot be considered 
 a fair criterion of the general advancement of real estate, 
 nevertheless, the increase has been, upon an average, 
 since the time specified, about four hundred per cent, 
 of its original value; still, it fluctuated more or less until 
 the commencement of the Canal land sales in 1848, since 
 then, real estate has been reckoned according to prices 
 at which it sold at that time, and for a number of years 
 afterward, sales were negotiated upon Canal time, or 
 
OF CHICAGO. 9 
 
 Canal terms, as it was called — that was, one-fourth cash, 
 balance in one, two, and three years, with interest at 
 six per cent, per annum, payable annually in advance. 
 The wealth of some of our millionaires may, therefore, . 
 be dated from that time, as few could boast of more 
 than their thousands until the Canal sales, which placed 
 an estimated value upon real estate, furnishing a new 
 impetus to all branches of business. To the Canal sales,, 
 then, of 1848 to 1853, when more than $3,000,000 worth 
 of property was sold (all of which I sold at public sale), 
 is due the credit of advancing the pecuniary interests of 
 our fellow-citizens more than any other circumstance since 
 the foundation of the city government. Taking advantage 
 of the low prices at which Canal property sold, they pur- 
 chased, and having the sagacity, some of them, to hold 
 on to their purchases, they increased in value upon their 
 hands, and made them rich. The peculiar location, superior 
 agricultural and internal advantages, railroad facilities, water 
 communication, and enterprise of our citizens combined, 
 is what has given to Chicago its eminence at home and 
 abroad, and not, as some have supposed, the sagacity and 
 enterprise of a few of the more fortunate of our fellow-citi- 
 zens, who, for want of purchasers at the time that they de- 
 sired to sell, were obliged to hold on to their property, there- 
 by becoming wealthy, more by reason of their misfortune — ■ 
 or rather, their good fortune — in being unable to sell. 
 Nevertheless, great credit is due them for their liberality 
 in using their wealth in the erection of elegant structures,, 
 and in otherwise lending their aid in beautifying and adorn- 
 ing our city. 
 
 Many, however, who took a prominent part in the build- . 
 ing up and advancing the growth and prosperity of our 
 City, have passed away, leaving names not recorded in the 
 activities of life, but graven indelibly upon the memories of 
 their fellow-citizens, and are justly extolled for their upright 
 lives and many virtues. Those of the pioneers who remain 
 to witness the further growth of their favorite and patron 
 city speak gently of the departed, but, with pride in their 
 name and tireless enterprise, point to the vast resources of 
 our wonderful City, and say, "these are their eulogies, it 
 needs no marble column to tell of their greatness, their 
 
10 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 deeds are written in the early annals of famed Chicago." 
 Many of them did not live to witness its sudden destruc- 
 tion and succeeding rapid progress. But, in the dawning 
 years of our City's eminence, was established — the energy, 
 strength, and ground work of the enterprise that bid it 
 rise. 
 
 The great and unprecedented increase of our population 
 may be, and, perhaps, is, attributable to the widespread in- 
 formation given of its superior advantages, particularly so 
 since the fire of 187 1. 
 
 A catastrophy that will never be obliterated from the 
 memory of those who witnessed the awful spectacle, a scene 
 of grandeur and sublimity unparalleled in the history of the 
 world's conflagrations, — the accumulated wealth of many 
 years swept away in an hour; the millionnaire of yesterday, 
 to-day walks hand in hand with' poverty; the prospects of 
 a competence in after years silenced forever. Thus we 
 contemplated when viewing the fire of Oct. 9, 187 1. After 
 the great holocaust had given way to smouldering debris, 
 with others, we strolled among the ruins, meeting at almost 
 every step some well-known friend, whose life's earnings 
 had been sacrificed through the carelessness of irresponsi- 
 ble parties. One friend in particular, who had been one 
 of the most unfortunate of the wealthy men of our City. 
 I thus accosted, after offering my sympathy: "Mr. C***, 
 you must be one of the heaviest losers by the fire;" he 
 smiled pleasantly, and answerd, "I have lost heavily, it 
 is true, but I am not discouraged; in ten years, Chi- 
 cago will be a greater City than it ever was, and I shall do 
 my share to make it so;" and he has kept his word. From 
 that time onward, the City was the centre of interest and 
 attraction. Many who came were deeply interested in what 
 they saw, and were conquered by the veritable facts visible 
 before them, and not only remained themselves, but advised 
 their friends to come to this eldorado of the west; the result, 
 as shown, is, that since the time stated, our population 
 has increased a thousand -fold, from 500 inhabitants forty- 
 three years ago, we have now more than 500,000, accord- 
 ing to estimates recently made, and still they come. Our 
 public school -houses — or rather, our school-house — then 
 contained less than 100 pupils; now, more than 40,000 
 
OF CHICAGO. II 
 
 children congregate and occupy seats provided for them 
 in our commodious and imposingly-built public school 
 edifices, fitting these thousands of immortal minds for use- 
 fulness and honor, preparing them to take part in the great 
 panorama of life. Aside from this formidable array of 
 young ideas that sip knowledge from the public fountain, 
 there are a number of private institutions, colleges, and 
 seminaries, occupied by some thousands of the children 
 whose parents prefer this manner of instruction. Thus, it 
 will be seen, that while we have been engaged, and seem- 
 ingly bound to the all-absorbing influence of gain, the 
 rising generation has not been forgotten, means have been 
 provided for the ample development of their mental facul- 
 ties, intellectual aspirations, and moral culture. All honor 
 is due to our sagacious law makers for these timely safe- 
 guards. May free schools, free speech, and a free press 
 continue to be the law of the land, although . the latter has 
 often been abused by the injudicious management of un- 
 thinking and unprincipled men, nevertheless, it had better 
 be so than to interfere with its freedom. 
 
 A due and proper regard for moral and religious rights 
 is incumbent upon all good citizens; the free discussion 
 of their favorite dogmas is allowable throughout the length 
 and breadth of our land, and there let it remain — further 
 recognition is dangerous to the peace and well-being of 
 our country, as well as to our individual privileges. 
 
 It is not to be supposed that these many years of pros- 
 perity and wonderful advancement have been allowed to 
 pass without some intervening incidents, which, at the time, 
 were fraught with more or less amusement and enjoyment. 
 Although time has transformed the ambitious and ever- 
 restless youth into matured manhood, and some into de- 
 clining life, yet, in calling the roll of time backward, we 
 find recorded many laughable, and ludicrous incidents. We 
 will omit several amusing anecdotes for want of time to 
 relate them; there are a few, however, which I think that 
 I shall always remember. Many of our older settlers wilj 
 recollect the old Presbyterian Church, located near the S.- 
 W. corner of Clark and Lake streets. We were in the habit 
 then, as now, of holding Wednesday evening prayer-meet- 
 ings; that most excellent man, Rev. Jeremiah Porter, had 
 left us, in his place was a dashing, eloquent young preacher, 
 
12 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 bran-new from college, but entirely unfitted to occupy the 
 position he was called to fill. After these meetings the 
 pastor would hasten from the speakers desk and offer his 
 services, as a general thing, to one of the prettiest young 
 ladies present. Of course, he was rarely, if ever, refused. 
 Upon the particular evening in question, he approached a 
 young lady of exceeding beauty, proffering his services as 
 chaperon, which were accepted. At the same time, I had 
 the honor of escorting a near relative of the lady alluded 
 to, and for whose domicile we were all bound, the party 
 of the first part taking the lead; the night was extremely 
 dark, and, not having the advantage of street lamps and 
 gas-light, we had to feel our way along; it was just after 
 a very profuse rain, our streets — without sidewalks or 
 any such thing, — were very unpleasant thoroughfares. — 
 We had not proceeded far, when we heard a shriek from 
 the young lady, and an " Oh, dear me ! Where are we 
 going?" from the reverend gentleman. Another shriek, 
 then one more, still louder, en concert, proceeded from out 
 the more than Egyptian-darkness, when the lady at my side 
 exclaimed, in alarm, "Mr. Marshall, what is the matter?" 
 
 "Oh, nothing more," I replied, "than that Mr. has 
 
 led Miss into that slough just opposite your house." 
 
 The fact was, in crossing the street, as they supposed, the 
 night being so very dark, they walked straight into the 
 slough that extended quite across the street and nearly 
 half way down the block; into it they went, until they 
 were nearly up to their waists in mud and water. The 
 more they tried to extricate themselves, the deeper they 
 got into the mire; finally, at the suggestion of the lady 
 whom I was accompanying, I told them to stand perfectly 
 still until I could get a lantern, which I succeeded in doing 
 in a very short time, when I held the light up, so that we 
 could see them and they view themselves, you ought to 
 have seen the. look that girl gave me (in the meantime 
 the lady at my side had her mouth filled with linen cam- 
 bric to keep from screaming right out), then, half laughing 
 and half crying, she paddled her own canoe until she 
 reached terra firma, then rushed for her home, which was 
 not more than fifty feet from them, nor had it been any 
 of the time, although they had been skirmishing in various 
 directions. Meanwhile, the clerical gentleman had drawn 
 
OF CHICAGO. 13 
 
 himself out, covered with mud. Such a countenance ! — it 
 was a perfect black and tan; he shook himself, bade us 
 good night, and left for his study. It may be of interest 
 to some to know that the slough was located on Clark 
 street, between Lake and South Water streets. 
 
 Many very amusing incidents occurred, which are worthy 
 of recital, but a few more must suffice. One, I remember, 
 was of a young lady crossing one of our principal streets, 
 the way seemed clear, so she tripped along very gracefully 
 until she had almost reached the opposite side, when the 
 crust, which had formed from the heat of the sun, gave 
 way, and down she began to go — down, down, down, until 
 she had gone about as far down as she could, and was 
 looking pitifully around for help from some source. A 
 gentleman near by, observing her predicament, hastened 
 to her rescue, and extricated the fair lady from her perilous 
 position. You may be sure she was not as tidy when 
 she again touched solid foundation as when she started to 
 cross the street. Thanking the gentleman for his timely 
 and polite assistance, she wended her way to the nearest 
 convenient place, and, taking a forlorn look at herself, 
 proceeded to adjust her toilet. The finale of this little 
 incident was somewhat romantic, it furnished the means 
 of culminating an acquaintance of friendship merely into 
 one of admiration and affection, the result being that, not 
 long after, the parties engaged in a matrimoninl alliance, 
 which was consummated in a remote part of the town, 
 away from the thickly settled portion of the city — on the 
 corner of Michigan avenue and Madison street. Their 
 wedding tour was a drive to Hard Scrabble and back, a 
 suburban retreat containing one log house, and situate 
 about 4^ miles from town — the site now forming the 
 outskirts of Bridgeport. The wedding cortege consisted of 
 two dilapidated carriages and one buggy, all the available 
 stylish turnouts that the city could boast of, except carts, 
 and which, by the way, were the only means of convey- 
 ance for the elite of the town. A buffalo robe was placed 
 in the bottom of the carts, they were backed up, received 
 their precious freight, taken to their destination, and then 
 dumped down like a load of coal. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these seeming inconveniences, there 
 was more real social enjoyment in our pioneer society than 
 
14 RISE AND PROGRESS 
 
 can now be found in the elegant and costly receptions 
 given -in palatial mansions of wealth and refinement; there 
 was that absence of over-restraint; the strict forms of eti- 
 quette were not so closely observed; there were no million- 
 naires — no foreign Counts to entertain; no Parisian airs to 
 assume as a pre-requisite to initiation into the best society; 
 invitations were not sent on highly -perfumed Paris billets 
 doux, but by oral representation, thus: "George, if you see 
 James, tell him to invite Benjamin and William, and I 
 will invite Byron and Charles, to a little sociable to-night 
 at Maria's (now everybody knew Maria as well as Mrs. 
 Josiah Allen knew Betsy Bobbitt); you bring Andelucia, 
 and I will see that Agnes, Angeline, Elizabeth, and Rose 
 are there. We shall have a first-rate time. Old George 
 White will be there with his fiddle," etc. Mind you, these 
 are no fictitious nanies, but veritable actors on the social 
 stage at the time, some of whom are now living, and, were 
 they present, would at once recognize the truth of what I 
 am repeating. The George White mentioned was black 
 as the raven wing of the night, and was caterer for all 
 first society people. One of the necessary requisites, how- 
 ever, for attending these social gatherings, was, if the party 
 was a new comer, did he belong to the first society? If 
 yea, that was all that was required of him as a passport 
 to our social circle, otherwise no intercourse was enjoyed 
 until initiated into the first. You will observe, then, that 
 certain requisites were necessary before even the nabobs 
 of the east could enjoy these primitive receptions, unless 
 properly vouched for. 
 
 An amusing incident of the olden time, although not 
 reflecting favorably upon the morals of some of the mem- 
 bers of our early associates, nevertheless, shows to what 
 abandon a few of our most prominent citizens would submit 
 themselves under a want of proper restraint. Two promi- 
 nent legal gentlemen had left their office, and, passing the 
 old Tremont House, then located on the north-west corner 
 of Lake and Dearborn streets, they heard an unusual noise 
 in the dining-room. With much difficulty they succeeded 
 in gaining admission, and found five or six gentlemen of 
 the highest respectability having, what they were pleased 
 to call, "a high old time." One was rolling and kicking 
 up his heels on the dining table, divested of his coat and 
 
OF CHICAGO. 15 
 
 vest, and making the welkin ring with his unearthly noise;, 
 another was at the lower end of the room praying; a third 
 was dancing a war dance, with two Indians, around the 
 dining table; a fourth, amusing himself by cutting up capers 
 in imitation of an old-fashioned jig, all on his own respon- 
 sibility; two others were lying fast asleep under the table. 
 Thus they were all employed when these gentlemen gained 
 an admittance. Finding escape by the doorway impossible, 
 they took the next best plan, and jumped out the window. 
 They were fined $5 each for their intrusion, by the parties- 
 having the "gay old time," which they promptly paid. We 
 could give the names of all these parties, but they have 
 passed away, and out of respect to the departed, we will 
 refrain from so doing. We would say, however, that they 
 all became honored members of society, filling City, State, 
 and Federal offices of trust and responsibility with fidelity 
 to the government and honor to themselves. 
 
 In migrating to a new country, many interesting circum- 
 stances occur, which leave a lasting impression upon the 
 mind, notwithstanding intervening events that would be 
 calculated to occupy the popular attention. I recall just 
 now, among others, the Indian payments, which, I think,. 
 occurred as late as 1835 ( a ^ ew tribes remained later, .but 
 not many). Their manner of giving in the number of each 
 household, in order to receive their annuity, was in keeping 
 with their own originality. Selecting one of the more 
 prominent of their number (generally the chief) to receive 
 their payment, the "modus operandi" was in this wise: for 
 the heads of the family, two large notches were cut at the 
 top of the stick, then smaller notches followed underneath, 
 indicating the number of children in each family. Curi- 
 osity led me to inquire of Col. Boyd, the Indian Agent, 
 if he was not occasionally imposed upon, or did they not 
 sometimes make mistakes. He informed me that he had 
 never detected an instance of fraud or mistake in the count 
 during all the payments he had made. After receiving 
 their payment, which was always in silver half dollars, they 
 would at once repair to their wigwams and pass the money 
 over to their squaws for safe - keeping, who would tie it 
 up in one corner of their blankets, often to be removed 
 by some adroit thief, who would lie in wait until they went 
 to sleep, then cut it from the blanket; thus depriving the 
 
16 RISE AND PROGRESS OF CHICAGO. 
 
 • ft «nt rrpfltures of ail their worldly wealth, no one 
 K ^m"r theix behalf, or sympathizing wtth 
 
 ^Tfte^thehplyment, many of them would remain several 
 ,,„ and favor us with a display of some of their pnnci- 
 days, ana iavor shooting pennies, with bow and 
 
 pal amusements uch as shooting 1 ^ ^ 
 
 arrow, from a stick placed some uisut 
 road They also performed a variety of dances, some 01 
 them exceedingly novel, particularly the sick dance. The 
 skk person pLed at the entrance of the wigwam; one 
 
 3 Tb ing eaUy dre sed and painted, each one holding 
 
 This and the S skfn of some animal, generally an otter or 
 
 , £„ ,t the tan of the gong, and there is no mistaking 
 
 of our beautiful city, and enter mo 
 
 social advancement of oui present nigury 
 Society. 
 
 
F 
 
 7 
 RARE 
 
 
Fevgtis' Popular Publications. 
 
 i ANNALS OF CHICAGO: A Lecture delivered 
 
 before the Chicago Lyceum, January 21, 1S40, by J OS. N. Balestier. 
 Republished from the original edition of 1840. with an Introduction, 
 written by the author in 1876, and, also, a Review of the Lecture. 
 published in the Chics.go Tribune in 1872. Price. 25 cents. 
 
 2 FERGUS' DIRECTORY OF THE CITY OF 
 
 CHICAGO, 1839; with City and County Officers, Churches, Public 
 Buildings, Hotels, etc., also, list of Sheriffs of Cook County and 
 Mayors of the City since their organization ; together with Poll-List 
 of the First City Election (.Tuesday, May 2d, 1837); and, also, List 
 of Purchasers of Lots in Fort Dearborn Addition, the No. of the 
 Lots, and the Prices Paid (1839). Compiled by Robert Fergus. 
 Price, 50 cents. 
 
 3 THE LAST OF THE ILLINOIS, and a Sketch 
 
 of the Pottawatomies : Read before the Chicago Historical Society, 
 December 13th, 1870 ; also, 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE PRAIRIES: Read before the Ottawa 
 Academy of Natural Sciences, December 30th, 1869, by Hon. John 
 Dean Caton, LL. D., late Chief- Justice of Illinois. Price, 25 cent>. 
 
 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, December 5, 1864, by Hon. Wm. H. Brown, Ex-President 
 of the Society. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 5 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF 
 
 THE EARLY SETTLERS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. 
 To be issued in monthly parts. Part I. contains Sketches of Hon. 
 S. Lisle Smith, George Davis, Dr. Philip Maxwell, John J. Brown. 
 Richard L. YVilson, Colonel Lewis C. Kerchival, Uriah P. Harris. 
 Henry B. Clarke, and Sheriff Samuel J. Lowe. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF 
 
 THE F.ARLY SETTLERS OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO. 
 To be issued in monthly parts. Part II. will contain Sketches of W. 
 H. Brown, Esq., B. W. Raymond, Esq., J. Y. Scammon, Esq., Chas. 
 Walker, Esq., Thomas Church, Esq. Price. 25 cents. 
 
 7 EARLY CHICAGO: A LECTURE DELIVERED 
 
 in the Sunday Course, at McCormick's Iial.l, May 7th, 1876. By 
 Hon. John Wentworth. Steel engraving of author. Price 35 cent.- 
 
 S EARLY CHICAGO: A LECTURE DELIVERED 
 
 in the Sunday Course, at McCormick's Hall, April nth, 1875, w ' tn 
 additional matter, never before published. By Hon. John Went- 
 worth. Price, 35 cents. 
 
 9 PRESENT .AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF 
 
 CHICAGO: An Address delivered before 1 lie Chicago Lyceum, Jan. 
 20, 1846. By Henry Brown, Esq., Author of "History of Illinois.' 
 
 RISE AND PROGRESS OF CHICAGO: An Address delivered 
 before the Centennial Library Association, March 21, 1876. By Jas. 
 A. Marshall, Esq. 
 
 CHICAGO IN 1836. "STRANGE EARLY DAYS." By Har- 
 riet Martineau, author of "Society in America," etc. Price, 25 cts. 
 
 Sent on receipt of Price, by the Publishers. 
 
 FERGUS PRINTING CO., 
 
 244-8 Illinois Street, - Chicago.