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LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 
 AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 
 STEWART S. HOWE 
 
 JOURNALISM CLASS OF 1928 
 
 STEWART S. HOWE FOUNDATION 
 
 977.31 
 F81e 
 
 I.H.S. 
 
EVANSTON'S YESTERDAYS 
 
EVANSTON'S 
 YESTERDAYS 
 
 Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and sketches of some of 
 
 its Pioneers. 
 
 by CLYDE D. FOSTER 
 
 EVANSTON, ILLINOIS 
 
 1956 
 
Dedicated to the Presidents and Officers of the 
 
 Historical Society who have worked so untiringly 
 
 to preserve the traditions of our city. 
 
 This is Book No 37 
 
 of a Limited Edition of 1500 copies. 
 
 PRINTED IN U.S.A. 
 

 Foreword 
 
 VERY soon after my graduation from college I 
 became interested in the early history of Chi- 
 cago and Evanston. For the material herewith pre- 
 sented I have leaned very heavily upon the files of the 
 Historical Society. Evanston owes a very great debt 
 to Mr. J. Seymour Currey, who spent much of his re- 
 tirement years in the Society's rooms in the Library 
 Building. His History of Illinois and Evanston in two 
 volumes may be found on the shelves of the Library 
 and the Historical Society. His story of old Fort Dear- 
 born is an interesting one. 
 
 Doctor Dwight Clark one time President of the So- 
 ciety spent many hours collecting relics and making 
 contributions to the files. His contributions to the press 
 on some of the phases of our early history are well 
 worth reading. The Doctor served as President of the 
 State Association. 
 
 I have written stories of some of our pioneers. Per- 
 haps I ought to characterize them as "thumbnail" 
 sketches. No attempt has been made to write biog- 
 raphies. This has been done very ably by others. Some 
 of the stories have appeared in the "Line of Type or 
 Two" column of the Chicago Tribune. If I have suc- 
 ceeded in presenting some of the romantic as well as 
 the dramatic, I shall be richly repaid. 
 
 Clyde D. Foster 
 Evanston, Illinois 
 December 1, 1956 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://archive.org/details/evanstonsyesterdOOfost 
 
Wisconsin Ice Flow 
 
 TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND or possibly 50,000 
 years ago Evanston and the North Shore was 
 covered by what is sometimes referred to as the 
 Wisconsin Ice Flow. The vast ice sheet came and went 
 three or four times. The movement of this huge 
 juggernaut left its marks and scars. Possibly the 
 Great Lakes were gouged out of an otherwise level 
 surface. These are evident even to a casual observer. 
 Gravel and sand pits bear mute testimony. One of 
 these pits may be observed in Evanston on Ridge 
 Road. It was known and is still referred to as the 
 Doetsch Gravel Pit. The City of Evanston recently 
 acquired the property comprising some 17 acres and 
 five years hence it will be a breathing spot for a thickly 
 settled neighborhood. Another of the old sand spits 
 may be observed on all the early maps of Chicago. The 
 Chicago River did not originally empty into the Lake 
 at right angles to the shore. Instead a long sand spit 
 extended from Randolph Street to Madison Street. At 
 low water mark early Chicagoans could wade across 
 the sand spit. Excavations for public improvements 
 have upturned huge boulders which may have come 
 from as far north as the Canadian border. Lake Chi- 
 cago, the predecessor to Lake Michigan was probably 
 40 or 50 feet higher than the present lake level. Ob- 
 viously the flow of water was to the southwest, follow- 
 ing the general course of the Chicago-Des Plaines, Il- 
 linois-Michigan Canal Waterway. As the ice sheet 
 melted the shoreline receded, leaving the tell-tale 
 marks already referred to. The Chicago River did not 
 flow backward. Early settlers describe it as a sluggish 
 
 [1] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 stream eventually emptying into Lake Michigan. Lake 
 Chicago may have extended as far west as Milwaukee 
 Avenue and as far south as Dyer, Indiana, following 
 what may roughly now be Route 30. There would ap- 
 pear to be no doubt about U.S. Route No. 6 being an 
 old shoreline. Blue Island and Stony Island are not 
 just names — they were in company with others, islands 
 in Lake Chicago. The old shoreline is very apparent in 
 Winnetka. It begins with the top of the hill where 
 Christ Church (Episcopal) stands and runs in a south- 
 westerly direction through Summit and Palos Park. 
 Automobilists may observe houses at the top of the 
 old bank in Winnetka. The various shorelines in Evans- 
 ton may be marked by Ridge Road, and Ridge Ave. 
 and the most recent being Chicago Avenue, which con- 
 nects with that winding street in Chicago known as 
 Clark Street. The French missionaries and traders 
 dreamed of a waterway from the Lakes to the Gulf. 
 This at one time was a reality. Today it may be se- 
 cured by moving up or down the Chicago River to 
 the Sanitary Canal and from there via the Illinois 
 River to the Mississippi. I am told that tourists from 
 Europe visiting Chicago wish to see the River that 
 flows backward. This is obtained, of course, by pump- 
 ing water over a dam. The same flow is secured in 
 the North Shore Channel of the Sanitary District by 
 pumping water over a dam in Wilmette Harbor. A 
 water shed is evident some 12 miles from the Lake, 
 rising no more than 10 to 12 feet. Rainfall to the 
 west goes to the Mississippi and to the east to Lake 
 Michigan, if not interfered with by man. This water 
 shed in the 18th and 19th centuries was referred to 
 by the name of Mud Lake. Father Marquette and 
 his company pushed their canoes through the weeds 
 of Mud Lake until they struck a tributary of the Des 
 Plaines. Our forefathers had to struggle with the 
 
 [2] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 swamps east of Ridge Road. This accounts for the 
 fact that the first houses were built on Ridge Avenue. 
 Helen Judson, daughter of Philo Judson, who became 
 Mrs. John L. Beveridge, writes as follows: "when I 
 returned the call of Mrs. John A. Pearsons, 1718 Chi- 
 cago Avenue, I came in a farm wagon, both my feet 
 across a board to keep them out of the water, so deep 
 was it across the flat of land on which the depots are 
 now built." 
 
 Green Bay Road is one of the old roads to Green 
 Bay, Wisconsin. Authorities differ as to the location 
 of Green Bay Road. An explanation can be made that 
 at high water time it was on Ridge Avenue. At low 
 water time it is quite probable that travelers to the 
 North came via Clark Street and Chicago Avenue. By 
 ordinance it follows parallel to the Chicago and North 
 Western. 
 
 [3 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 i a 
 
 so S 
 35^.0 
 
 to .g 
 
 
 [4] 
 
* + ++++■*+■** 
 
 Eliza Garrett 
 
 ELIZA GAR- 
 RE T T in all 
 probability never 
 visited Evanston, 
 but her name is 
 connected with an 
 Evanston Institu- 
 tion. Tribute is paid 
 to her almost daily 
 and if we should re- 
 turn within a hun- 
 dred years I antici- 
 pate that the Insti- 
 tute will still be 
 called Garrett Bib- 
 lical Institute. 
 Eliza's husband, 
 Augustus Garrett, 
 was the second 
 mayor of Chicago. Both attended the Clark Street 
 Church. Clark Street Church, to early Chicagoans, 
 meant the First Methodist Church of Chicago. The 
 First Methodist Church is the only Protestant 
 Church to retain its original site. Other churches 
 retreated to residential sections or to the suburbs. 
 It is said that Mr. and Mrs. Garrett came 
 under the influence of the Methodist pastor Peter 
 Ruble Borein, in fact they may have been "con- 
 verted" under his pastorate. If we may digress a 
 moment I should like to record what Grant Goodrich 
 had to say of the Rev. Peter Borein. "He was one of 
 
 Eliza Garrett 
 
 [5 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Top — Heck Hall 
 
 Middle — G. I. B. Building 
 
 Bottom — "Old Gym" 
 
 [6] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the handsomest men I ever saw. Great intellectual 
 power was blended with a singular beauty of feature 
 and expression. His eyes were blue, large and lustrous, 
 and when he was animated they seemed the medium 
 through which his soul was not only beaming, but ac- 
 tually blazing forth. His voice was like the music of 
 running waters — when he sought to persuade, there 
 was a deep earnestness in its tone which was well 
 nigh resistless; and when he uttered the language of 
 warning or denunciation it seemed by an indescribable 
 power, to pierce to the inmost soul. Men of more in- 
 tellectual polish and of profounder thought I have often 
 heard, but never so effectively eloquent — one who pos- 
 sessed such perfect control of will and heart as Mr. 
 Borein." Rev. Borein established a record which has 
 never been broken and never will be broken. Chicago 
 had a population of 3000 at that time and Andreas is 
 the authority for the statement that he converted 300 
 or 10 per cent of the population. Augustus Garrett died 
 soon after his administration as mayor. He left to his 
 wife Eliza a large estate, a large part of which was in 
 real estate. The most valuable piece was at Market 
 Street and Lake Street, the site of the wigwam from 
 which the rail splitter of Illinois was nominated in the 
 summer of 1860. The wigwam is said to have cost 
 $65,000. Mrs. Garrett is reported to have paid $950 for 
 it. Soon after Mr. Garrett's death, Eliza began think- 
 ing in terms of endowing some institution with her es- 
 tate. About this time Rev. John Dempster had started a 
 theological school in Evanston. Grant Goodrich who 
 was her legal adviser and counsel suggested the Insti- 
 tute in Evanston. Not long after this conveyance had 
 been made, Eliza Garrett passed away. The property 
 at Market and Lake had a tempestuous career, but 
 it survived depressions and tenancy changes and is 
 now a valuable asset of the Institute. 
 
•■+++■»■*++ 
 
 Alexander Hesler 
 
 WE HAVE already 
 noted the number of 
 celebrities who came to 
 Evanston after the great 
 fire of 1871. One of this 
 number was Alexander 
 Hesler, famous Lincoln 
 photographer. Hesler's 
 studio was in the Judson 
 block. This building was 
 at the northeast corner of 
 Davis Street and Orring- 
 ton Avenue. The Hesler 
 home was on Forest Ave- 
 nue and Lake Street. An 
 announcement card in the 
 
 Alexander Hesler 
 Photographer of Lincoln 
 
 files of the Historical Society, dated Tuesday, July 9, 
 1872, invites the public to a reception at the studio of 
 A. Hesler and Son for the afternoon and evening of that 
 date. 
 
 Helen Hesler Kilbourn under date of October 22, 1910 
 wrote Mr. Currey of the Historical Society the follow- 
 ing outline of the life of her famous father. 
 
 "With the gaze of the Republic fixed more intently 
 than ever upon the wigged shape of Abraham Lincoln 
 comes an unfailing recurrence of interest in the work 
 of every artist who portrayed his face. Among these 
 most eminent in the days of Lincoln's rise — of the 
 Lincoln Douglas debates and the time of Lincoln's 
 nomination — was Alexander Hesler of Chicago, who by 
 1851, from his earlier studio at Galena, had become 
 
 [8] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 known on two continents as the leading American 
 daguerreotypist of that day. The Crystal Palace of 
 London had given him its highest awards and he held 
 medals, gold, silver, and bronze, the highest awards 
 of all of the Expositions and World's Fairs where his 
 work was exhibited. His unusually fine daguerreo- 
 types; the pictures painted by the half dozen portrait 
 painters in his yearly employ; and the personality of 
 the artist himself made 'Hesler's Gallery,' 113 Lake 
 Street, the gathering place of a coterie of artists and 
 public spirited friends as well as distinguished people 
 visiting the young city. 
 
 Volk, Healy, Story, and Tracey were among the art- 
 ists contributing their works to the Exhibition of the 
 Art Union held in his Gallery through the month of 
 December, 1859, from which in later years grew what 
 is now the Chicago Art Institute. 
 
 His friend Leonard Volk, the sculptor, executed a 
 portrait of Mr. Hesler which has been pronounced by 
 Lorado Taft to be the most delicate piece of modeling 
 of any cameo work done in this country. Of Mr. Volk's 
 bust of Lincoln, Mr. Hesler said: 'Mr. Volk has the 
 only true likeness in clay that has been made, and if 
 Mr. Lincoln is perpetuated in marble by true history 
 this will be the likeness chosen.' 
 
 In August of 1851 under a commission from Harpers 
 he explored the upper Mississippi Valley for charac- 
 teristic scenes and vistas. Having reached the small 
 town of St. Paul, he worked down the river for a few 
 miles, where, near Fort Snelling he came upon a laugh- 
 ing, leaping veil of water known to the region as 
 Brown's Falls. On returning to Galena he carried 
 some twenty views of the cascade, which he had 
 taken in its every aspect. The day after his arrival, 
 Mr. George Sumner, a brother of Charles Sumner and 
 
 [9] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 also a friend of Longfellow, visited the studio and be- 
 came so enthusiastic over the sylph-like views of the 
 falls that the artist presented him with one. In 1856 
 to his surprise, Mr. Hesler received an author's copy 
 of a new poem 'Hiawatha,' inscribed in Longfellow's 
 hand 'with compliments of the author.' At a later visit 
 of George Sumner to the studio, now removed to Chi- 
 cago, he informed Mr. Hesler that while the poet was 
 making his studies for Hiawatha in the books of 
 Schoolcraft and others he had taken upon his strolls 
 of musing in the groves of Cambridge the lovely pic- 
 ture of a western waterfall and further attested by a 
 letter from Longfellow himself, the art of Hesler gave 
 the inspiration by which Brown's Falls sprang to im- 
 mortality as 'Minnehaha Laughing Water.' 
 
 But keen and sympathetic as was his feeling for na- 
 ture; it was the study of the soul in the human face 
 that most delighted him. 
 
 Many of Chicago's pioneers, especially of her jurists 
 and officers in the Civil War, sat for him. His picture 
 of Miss Frances Willard was one she greatly favored 
 and at her request he filled hundreds of orders from 
 that negative. 
 
 Unexpectedly on a February morning in 1857 came 
 his task of a lifetime. A gaunt, lofty figure with long 
 black hair falling carelessly over his forehead, stalked 
 in announcing that he had come 'so that lawyers over 
 at the Court House that want my picture bad enough 
 to buy it can come and get copies.' Many varying ver- 
 sions of this memorable sitting have been given. Here 
 is Mr. Hesler's version: 'A glance at his head and face 
 struck me as one of rare goodness. His hair was very 
 long and I asked him if I might arrange it, to which 
 he replied, 'Fix it to please you.' I ran my fingers 
 through his hair, throwing it off his forehead. The re- 
 
 f 10 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 suit was the picture in profile, showing his magnificent 
 head and a strength of character never since 
 portrayed. 
 
 In 1860 Mr. Hesler wrote Mr. Lincoln that the Re- 
 publican National Convention had requested him to 
 make a more 'dressed up' portrait to compare better 
 with the pictures he had made of Douglas to be used 
 in the campaign. 'He kindly replied that his friends 
 had decided that he should remain in Springfield until 
 after the Election, but if I would come down there he 
 would give me sittings. I went down the last of June 
 and secured a number of good negatives, prints from 
 which, in reduced form were scattered by the thou- 
 sands all over the country and convinced the people 
 that such a noble head was the one to lead and govern 
 this mighty nation.' " 
 
 Buckeye Tavern 
 
 [ii 
 
The Buckeye Hotel 
 
 IF YOU were a weary traveler in the 1850's and you 
 were traveling north of the river, you would have 
 had several choices of places to stay, not all of them 
 good. If you have read Harriet Martineau, English 
 writer, you get a fairly good work picture of some of 
 them. If you erred in your judgment of one, you could 
 not go back as we do today, when we are not impressed 
 with the motel which happened to be the stopping place 
 at 5:00 or 6:00 in the afternoon. If you wished to stop 
 very early in the day, you could have stopped at Trad- 
 ers at the north end of Lincoln Park. From there north 
 the list is a long one: Baers Tavern or Mrs. Patter- 
 son's Tavern at Habbards hill. Taverns of that day 
 were sometimes referred to as the five, six, or 7-mile 
 house. Buckeye Hotel in Evanston was the thirteen- 
 mile or a day's journey. The Buckeye was built in 
 1848 by Isaac Burroughs. It was to be a family affair, 
 for David Warner Burroughs ran it as a hotel until 
 1858. David was Postmaster during a part of that pe- 
 riod. The next occupant was Alonzo Burroughs, another 
 brother who used it as a residence until his death in 
 1897. The Burroughs were Ohio people, and were some- 
 times referred to as that Ohio bunch — hence the name 
 Buckeye. J. Seymour Currey regretted that the apart- 
 ment building now on the site was not named the Buck- 
 eye apartments. A part of the building is now incor- 
 porated in the house at 1204 Noyes St. The Buckeye's 
 menu for supper might have included these items — 
 biscuits, buttermilk, fried pork and venison. After the 
 destruction of the Northwestern Female College in 
 
 [12] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 1856, the inn housed the students and faculty of that 
 institution. John Evans and Orrington Lunt are said 
 to have been guests at Evanston's famous inn. 
 
 Buckeye Tavern 
 Diorama Showing Mail and Passenger Coach 
 
 You will be well paid if you visit the rooms of the 
 Historical Society, if you inspect only the diorama 
 showing mail and passenger coach as it pulls up in 
 front of the Buckeye Tavern in 1849. The diorama was 
 planned and executed under the direction of Miss 
 Kathleen Hubbard, Supt. of Central Museum Labora- 
 tory. Actual working time spent on construction was 
 1560 man hours or 3 months. 15 workers and artists 
 took part in the construction. The cost was in the 
 neighborhood of $2,000. 
 
 [13] 
 
The Vane Family 
 
 IN ANOTHER story I said that the Allen Vane 
 House was at the northwest corner of Davis Street 
 and Forest Place. This is true; subsequently it was 
 moved to 210 Davis Street. In 1903 it was moved again 
 to 1808 Lyons Street to make room for the fine new 
 home of Hugh R. Wilson. 
 
 Allen Vane was born September 25, 1813, in Dor- 
 chester County, Maryland. He engaged in a number of 
 businesses in Chicago. In 1855 he purchased the prop- 
 erty at Davis Street and Forest Place. His first wife 
 was Mary E. Vane, who passed away in 1882. In 1885 
 he married Mrs. Lucy Prescott of Springfield, Massa- 
 chusetts. I remember very well the letters we received 
 from Lucy Prescott Vane. She always placed at the 
 top of her letter a quotation from the Scriptures. The 
 Vanes were identified with the First Methodist Church 
 when they met for worship over Colvin's Store. It is 
 said that Allen Vane and John A. Pearsons used to 
 carry fuel up the outside stairway and make fires for 
 the services. 
 
 The Evanston Press under date of May 17th, 1902, 
 had this to say of the Vane family: 
 
 An old resident says "That house has stood there 
 ever since there was a junction between Sheridan Road 
 and Forrest Avenue; oh my! farther back than that 
 too. Why that house was a social center long before 
 Volney Foster, the father of Sheridan Road ever 
 thought of Evanston. Let me see; the Vanes came here 
 in 1855 and built that house. 
 
 "There were three daughters and three sons in the 
 family, and besides the family, the only black woman 
 
 r 14 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 in Evanston was a member of the household. Black 
 Maria, as she was always called, came to church every 
 Sunday with the family and sat in the pew. She was 
 also a regular attendant at class meeting and her testi- 
 mony was waited for and listened to with the greatest 
 of interest by the members of the class. In times of 
 great religious excitement, such as revivals and camp 
 meetings, Maria was sure to have 'the power,' see 
 visions, and dream dreams. The Vanes came from 
 Maryland with ideas of the South, and as Maria was an 
 old, faithful and devoted servant, she was much es- 
 teemed and made of by the family, besides being a 
 source of interest and curiosity to the younger res- 
 idents of Evanston. 
 
 "The three daughters were great belles and leaders 
 of fashion in the small village. They were pointed out 
 to strangers as the three most stunning girls in Evans- 
 ton. They invariably dressed in the extreme of fashion. 
 When the immense tilting hoop skirt came in, the Vane 
 girls were the first to have them, and the other girls 
 were just green with envy as the Vane girls went by 
 with their spread out, undulating gowns. 
 
 "There were three sons in the family, and last and 
 by no means least in importance, 'Billy' Rawleigh, 
 Mrs. Vane's nephew, as gay a gallant as ever whis- 
 pered lies to a blushing girl. Then came the War of 
 the Rebellion, and Billy went away, leaving many a 
 sore heart behind. There were many girls who thought 
 of him, and I really believe, prayed for him, although 
 he wore the rebel gray and fought the boys in blue. 
 The family married, died, and were scattered abroad 
 through the land, and now you say the old house is 
 going over onto the prairie. Well I am glad they do not 
 tear the old house down sighed the old resident and 
 turned away sorrowful." 
 
 The reporter met another old resident just then and 
 
 [15 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 when asked "Do you know anything of a man who 
 formerly lived here called Billy Rawleigh?" 
 
 "Well I should say I did, everybody knew Billy. He 
 was a great lark. Why he and the Page boys and Will 
 Lord carried half the girls' hearts around loose in their 
 pockets. Poor Billy, he went south and fought as he 
 believed. He came back here only a year or two ago, 
 but he did not make himself known, just looked around 
 sad like, and begged the only one who remembered 
 and recognized him not to make known his presence. 
 Strange to say it wasn't a woman who knew him, 
 though he said he met several who cared for him, but 
 it was a man whose best girl Billy had won away from 
 him in the old gay days." 
 
 r^+*^^^*+^^++*+*+*+*+^++^++++*+*+*+^++*++ ++++*^+*-*--r+>-+*-*-* 
 
 Charles W. Pearson 
 
 NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY and the Methodist 
 Church were stirred to the depths by the pro- 
 nouncements of Charles W. Pearson, Professor of Eng- 
 lish Literature in January 1902. At the General Con- 
 ference of the Methodist Church in 1900 Professor Pear- 
 son read a paper in which he stated that the story of 
 Adam and Eve was a myth and that Christian Churches 
 should abandon all creeds. If Professor Pearson were 
 preaching today his statements would be accepted by a 
 very large body of Methodism. Darwin's Theory of 
 Evolution created such a commotion in the Christian 
 world about this time. The question of the myths 
 and folklore of the Bible and the teaching of the In- 
 
 r 16 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 fallibility of the Great Book has given religious leaders 
 and teachers a great deal of concern. 
 
 Professor Pearson was raised in a Methodist fam- 
 ily, his father being a Methodist minister. At the age 
 of 14 he left his home in England and became a sailor 
 before the mast. He spent several months in India, 
 where he taught in a mission school. Later he entered 
 Northwestern Academy and graduated from the Col- 
 lege of Liberal Arts in 1871. 
 
 The burden of Professor Pearson's thesis was free- 
 dom of thought in matters of religion. Speaking of the 
 pronouncements of Professor Pearson, Charles J. 
 Little of Garrett Biblical Institute is reported to have 
 said: 
 
 "In this day of the world a man can believe what he 
 wants to, but he cannot believe some things where 
 he wants to. It would be indecent to sing a comic 
 song at a funeral, and if Professor Pearson wants 
 to hold such views, as he has a right to, he should 
 have the decency to go where he has a right to 
 hold them — outside the Methodist Church. 
 "I am astonished to know how he reconciles his 
 views with the teaching of Methodism. Emerson had 
 similar views and he had the decency to withdraw 
 from the Methodist Church. Let the Professor go to 
 Mangasarian's Church or to Satter's Church, or if 
 he does not want to go to Chicago, let him hire a hall 
 himself." 
 
 Dr. M. S. Terry of the Institute was somewhat milder 
 in his denunciation; "I think that Professor Pearson 
 was unwise in publishing what he did; It can do no 
 good and may do a lot of harm. I fear that it will 
 cause trouble before it is over. The Methodist Church 
 is founded on the belief in the miraculous and super- 
 natural, and if you take away that belief you destroy 
 the very foundations of the Church." 
 
 [17] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 Rev. F. A. Hardin of the Rock River Conference de- 
 scended to the vulgar level in his denunciation: He 
 declared that "he would like to skin that man, tan his 
 hide, and tack it upon a barn door. He ought to be 
 filled with vinegar, then stood on his head, while the 
 vinegar ran out his ears." 
 
 Professor Pearson had this to say of Dr. Hardin's 
 comment: "By a good many persons this racy rhetoric 
 has been taken too literally. I being to the manner 
 born, and knowing Dr. Hardin's goodness, was only 
 amused by it." 
 
 Rev. Thomas B. Gregory in his review of the book 
 "The Carpenter Prophet" as reported in the Chicago 
 American, had this to say: 
 
 "Than the character of Jesus of Nazareth nothing 
 finer has ever come within the orbit of human ob- 
 servation, and the character of Jesus of Nazareth 
 stands out in the pages of Professor Pearson's book 
 as it does in no other book in the whole range of 
 literature. 
 
 "This is saying a great deal, but I am convinced 
 that it is true. Professor Pearson, the clear-eyed, 
 kindly-souled man, excommunicated by the North- 
 western University on account of his heresy, has 
 walked with the great Nazarene, as with a familiar 
 friend, has got his idea and caught his beautiful 
 spirit and in his wonderful book 'The Carpenter 
 Prophet' he shows him to us as He has not been 
 since he walked about in Galilee doing good." 
 The following item appeared in a recent number of 
 The Alumni News: 
 
 "As a memorial to Charles William Pearson, one of 
 Northwestern's outstanding professors from 1871 to 
 1902, a handsome bronze plaque was recently placed 
 in University Hall just outside Room 207 which was 
 his office for many years. The plaque was made pos- 
 
 I 18 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 sible through the generosity of his daughter, Mrs. 
 Ethel Pearson Martin, formerly of Evanston and now 
 of Ormond Beach, Florida. 
 
 "The following inscription appears on the plaque: 
 'In memory of Charles William Pearson, Professor of 
 English Literature, Northwestern University 1871-1902. 
 a Northwestern University graduate, Phi Beta Kappa, 
 of whom it may be said: He has achieved success who 
 has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who 
 has always looked for the best in others and given 
 them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; 
 whose memory a benediction." 
 
 Professor Pearson withdrew voluntarily from the 
 Methodist Church and resigned his professorship in 
 the University. His latter days were spent as a pastor 
 of a Unitarian Church at Quincy, Illinois. 
 
 First Telephone Exchange 
 
 IF YOU were a telephone subscriber in 1883 and 
 called "Central", your dentist might have an- 
 swered, that is if Dr. Charles A. Garnsey was your 
 dentist. The wires entered the cupola of the Anderson 
 Building and went to a board in Dr. Garnsey's office. 
 No operator was employed for the first few months, 
 and if the calls were heavy enough, Dr. Garnsey would 
 have to excuse himself from the patient in the chair 
 and take care of the incoming calls. This, of course, 
 did not continue very long. The first operator and a 
 very efficient one she proved herself to be, was Miss 
 Laura Douglass. During the Christmas holidays Mr. 
 
 [19] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 James S. Kirk, famous soap manufacturer, sent Miss 
 Douglass a box of candy, also wrote a letter to Man- 
 ager Charles A. P. Garnsey commending Miss Doug- 
 lass for her very efficient work as the telephone op- 
 erator. The Kirks' number was 44, a number they 
 retained for many years. Miss Douglass subsequently 
 went to India as a missionary. 
 
 Public improvements frequently met with opposition 
 on the part of the citizens, and the telephone was no 
 exception. An injunction was issued restraining the 
 company from erecting poles and wires which caused 
 delay, but the company finally succeeded in securing 
 possession of the streets. 
 
 Originally no service was given on Sunday and the 
 Board closed at 7:00 p.m. Increase in the load made it 
 necessary to employ a second operator. 
 
 First telephones are described as being very crude 
 mechanically. Dr. Garnsey, who was somewhat of an 
 amateur, made a private line for the Northwestern 
 Railroad. It consisted of an electro-magnet without a 
 permanent magnet, an induction coil and a battery. 
 Receiver was also used as a transmitter. 
 
 A toll line to Chicago was erected in 1885, but the 
 induction from the Western Union, Chicago Board of 
 Trade and Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph lines made 
 the telephone line very noisy, so noisy in fact that loud 
 shouting into the transmitter could be heard a block 
 away. This reminds me of the old one about the father 
 being told by members of the family that if he stepped 
 out on the porch, it would not be necessary for him 
 to use the telephone. 
 
 In 1883 the Exchange was started with 40 instru- 
 ments, by 1885 it had grown to 400, then to 600 in 1889. 
 In the early days party lines were common. Eight 
 telephones on one line was not unusual. One ring, one 
 
 [20] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and one-half rings, two rings were the signals to the 
 subscribers. Privacy was not guaranteed. Several of- 
 fices might use one phone which was installed in the 
 corridor. 
 
 Telephone No. 1 was assigned to the Water Works, 
 No. 2 to the Fire Hose House, No. 3 to J. S. Jewell, 
 M.D., No. 6 to a member of the Wilson family, No. 7 
 to George Huntoon, No. 8 to the Orvis French House, 
 No. 9 to S. M. Dingee, No. 10 to the Avenue House, 
 Dr. Charles H. Quinlan, owner and proprietor. 
 
 A Student Prank 
 
 STUDENTS are guilty of breaches of good conduct. 
 This probably gave rise to the very old injunction — 
 "Don't have nothing to do with no students." French, 
 in his delightful reminiscences "Old Evanston and 
 Fifty Years Later" tells this one: 
 
 "Across the corner from this 'New' Baptist Church 
 is the Presbyterian Church. At this corner of Lake 
 Street looking east you see a big black 200 pound 
 cinnamon bear chained to a post in the vacant cor- 
 ner lot across the street and south of the First Con- 
 gregational Church. The bear was trapped by J. P. 
 Pierson on a northern hunting trip. 
 
 "One day this bear broke its chain and attacked a 
 passing woman student who in one moment's time 
 looked like a summer flapper on the Wilson Avenue 
 beach. This so excited the men students of North- 
 western University that they felt that for this offense 
 the Pierson family should be deprived of its an- 
 
 [21] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ticipated juicy bear steaks, and that they, the stu- 
 dents, should have the biggest bear barbecue steak 
 dinner ever given in Evanston. Therefore with the 
 assistance of Bill Currey, the expressman Simon 
 Peter Douthit and Messers Waldron and Evans, the 
 bear followed by hundreds of yelling students was 
 given a most exciting ride to the big woods, where 
 plenty of wonderful bonfire wood was available, and 
 with this they built such a fire as you would imagine 
 would be built by hundreds of excited and hungry 
 students. The bear was killed, cut up and broiled, 
 and every edible part very shortly disappeared. No 
 steak ever tasted better than the steak of this stolen 
 animal. 
 
 "According to history Mr. Pierson was consider- 
 ably upset because Mrs. Pierson and the children 
 were deprived of even a taste of the animal and be- 
 cause he was given only an ear as a memento of the 
 
 "Uncle Jim" Lindsey 
 
 ONE of the tinest men I ever knew was James 
 Lindsey. My first picture of Jim was an elderly 
 man seated on a junk wagon drawn by one horse. At 
 that time he lived at 909 Foster Street. 
 
 Maxine Maloney, a Medill Journalism student wrote 
 the story of "Uncle Jim's" life. She has done such an 
 excellent job that I quote it in full: 
 
 "A former Negro slave has been living peacefully 
 within the boundaries of Evanston for the past 48 years 
 
 [22] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 a man who saw the pain and hardships of the period 
 before and during the Civil War. That man is James 
 Lindsey, 1025 Emerson Street, whom tomorrow, Me- 
 morial Day, brings unusual recollections. 
 
 "Children affectionately call him 'Uncle Jim' and 
 the neighborhood gang settles down around his back 
 porch steps when the evenings are nice, to be thrilled 
 with the stories of his exciting life. 
 
 "Uncle Jim is 87 now and his days of active work 
 are over. Yet he is a vital part of the youth life of 
 his section of Evanston. Mothers are grateful to the 
 stooped, smiling, gray-haired old man who entrances 
 their children for hours at a time. What Uncle Jim 
 tells interests more than a child. His life is one con- 
 tinual story of the tragedy of enslaved youth, the fear 
 he suffered, the loneliness, the unnecessary brutality 
 which bosses inflicted on him and his friends. 
 
 "At the time of his birth, October 17, 1849, his mother 
 was working on a plantation along the James River 
 in Virginia. She was taken away while he was crawl- 
 ing on the dirt floor of their cabin, and sold into the 
 hands of another plantation owner. 
 
 "He brings stories over the years about the unbe- 
 lievable cruelty with which plantation owners treated 
 their slaves. He tells of a five-year-old boy who worked 
 in the kitchen of his master and washed dishes, car- 
 ried wood, kept the fire going, ran all kinds of errands, 
 and helped tend horses. 
 
 "Uncle Jim recalls the day when Robert Lee came 
 riding by the plantation at Petersburg, Virginia, and 
 noticed several of the young boys working in a woody 
 place, cutting trees. They had been hurried away from 
 their plantation when Northern troops had come too 
 close for safety. Three-hundred of them were stationed 
 in this wood. 
 
 [23] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "As he thought back upon the scene a melancholy 
 look came over his face, his eyes grew sad and misty, 
 and he represented the typical 'Old Black Joe,' who 
 yearns for his warm Southland. The melancholy 
 passed quickly, however, and into his black eyes came 
 remnants of that very look which he must have had 
 in his youth. He looks proud, and at the same time 
 resentful as he repeats the words of Lee: 
 
 " 'Get back there, you damned niggers! Get them 
 niggers out of the way! The Yankees cut the railroad 
 in two! ' 
 
 " 'Two overseers,' he went on, 'had been particularly 
 brutal to this group of men. They had kept them work- 
 ing continuously and made them go for two or three 
 days without food or drink. The only way we could 
 get anything to live on was to wait until dark and steal 
 over and get corn and parch it on the fire and then 
 eat it during the next day. We had horse meat too, but 
 it was so bad we couldn't eat it.' 
 
 "He told how he and his friends listened eagerly to 
 the roll of the cannons from Wednesday to Sunday. 
 They could tell from the sound who was winning, and 
 finally when they saw Lee come galloping down the 
 road they knew there had been a great Northern vic- 
 tory. Soon part of the famous Iron Brigade came dash- 
 ing by in victorious pursuit. When they saw the Negroes 
 in the woods they stopped and detached several men 
 to investigate. 
 
 "When the Northern soldiers saw the things that had 
 been happening to those prisoned slaves they were en- 
 raged. They found the overseers had made huge 
 paddles, cut holes in them and then soaked them in 
 water with salt and pepper. This kind of a weapon left 
 marks on the backs of slaves for the rest of their 
 lives. 
 
 [24] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 " 'What do you want to do with these?' one of the 
 officers asked of the Negroes as he looked at the fright- 
 ened overseers. 'No one answered, but each man 
 silently walked toward a large tree, and several 
 started to climb, carrying long ropes in their teeth.' 
 
 "Uncle Jim finally made his escape and became 
 acquainted with Major Billy Hamilton, washed and 
 cooked for him, brushed his horses, and was the gen- 
 eral orderly for the major and Colonel Warner. These 
 two men were the first persons who were ever kind 
 to him." 
 
 One part of the story which Miss Maloney does not 
 relate. Uncle Jim told me that he was present at 
 Appomatox and witnessed the surrender of Lee to 
 General U. S. Grant. 
 
 From the Newspaper Files 
 
 WE SUPPOSE we have a good law against shooting 
 birds; but in spite of it the worthless Nimrods 
 are (every) year murdering and frightening off our 
 beautiful feathered friends and songsters. Please don't 
 do it. Find your pleasure in some other way. Perhaps 
 some of our butchers will allow you to sate your thirst 
 for blood by sticking a pig occasionally or knock down 
 a young calf. Try them. You ought to improve your 
 manly instincts in some way. But work to some pur- 
 pose, and don't kill the birds. (From first issue of 
 Evanston Index, dated June 8, 1872). 
 
 [25] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY! 
 
 The river people should remember it as well as 
 others. We are told they were unloading lumber 
 from a pier there last Sunday. Don't let us, the people, 
 have such a report again. Rest on the Sabbath, honor 
 God's laws and Christian sentiment. (Pier referred to 
 may have been Davis Street Pier.) (Index, August 3, 
 1872.) 
 
 We have before referred to the fact that some of 
 our butchers do no small portion of their slaughtering 
 right under our noses in the rear of their stores on 
 Davis Street. It can be legally stopped, and if our 
 village fathers don't stop it, they are very remissive 
 of their duties. The offense is rank, and the neighbors 
 say it smells to heaven. The President of the Board 
 promised us that he would stop it, but he has not done 
 it, and those who live near these bad smelling slaugh- 
 ter houses come to us with sad complaints. But the 
 village officers ought to abolish nuisances. Let the 
 slaughtering be done outside the village. (Index, Au- 
 gust 31, 1872.) 
 
 Died on Monday last somebody's cow. As soon as 
 it had been withdrawn from the milk producing busi- 
 ness, it was pitched out, allowed to remain at the foot 
 of Greenwood Street for a day or two. It may be well 
 to mention that there is a fine, of from five to fifteen 
 dollars for such an outrageous offense against the pub- 
 lic nose (Index, July 12, 1873). 
 
 26 
 
N#s*s#v^#S#s< 
 
 Near Tragedy 
 
 AT THE windows of the doomed building the chil- 
 dren could be seen looking with anxious faces at 
 the crowd below and their voices could be heard calling 
 for the help no one was able to give. So reads in the 
 Evanston Index an account of the Main and Benson 
 Public School fire 47 years ago this month. 
 
 Ten persons were victims of this costly fire which 
 occurred in March 1894. It was during the morning 
 recess that the fire was first discovered by Miss 
 Foster, a teacher on the first floor. She rushed into 
 the only other room on the first floor to warn the 
 teacher. The teachers on the second floor had only 
 one access to the outside and this, a stairway, was 
 already in flames when they heard the cries of the 
 two teachers downstairs, and so it was with the 
 greatest difficulty that they managed to get the chil- 
 dren out. 
 
 Most of the children kept calm and filed out in some 
 semblance of order but several completely lost their 
 heads and, running blindly about were overcome by 
 smoke. 
 
 When the teachers thought all of the children were 
 safe, they came out of the blazing building, their eyes 
 filled with tears and their throats contracted from 
 stifling smoke. Later it was seen that there were about 
 a dozen children left on the second floor of the building 
 but the heat of the flames was so intense that no one 
 could enter the inferno. There were crowds watching 
 beneath the windows but they could offer no assistance. 
 
 However, a daring fire marshal, moved by the 
 
 [27] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ghastly sight, approached the door, pushed it open, 
 and walked down the hall cringing from the white hot 
 walls. No sooner had he entered the room than he 
 tripped over the prostrate body of a small girl. He 
 picked her up, threw her across his shoulder and 
 stumbled out of the room. Making his way back to the 
 outer door, he heard the ceiling crash to the floor be- 
 hind him bringing the children trapped upstairs into 
 the chaos below. But the fire marshal could not turn 
 back, and the ten innocents were enveloped in flames. 
 
 The cause of the fire has always remained a mys- 
 tery, but the fire brought to the attention of the citizens 
 of Evanston the need of razing such fire traps as the 
 Main and Benson School appears to have been. The 
 damage amounted to $50,000, a heavy blow to the cit- 
 izens, but certainly it showed the people that their 
 children's lives should be better protected by the erec- 
 tion of suitable and fireproof public school buildings. 
 
 The above is a story written for the high school 
 magazine "Scribe", March 1941. The story leaves the 
 impression that 10 children were lost. This is not true. 
 All children were rescued. The fire marshal referred 
 to was Samuel Harrison, one time Justice of Peace. 
 
 The Evanston Index under date of March 24, 1894, 
 reports as follows: 
 
 Carrie Anderson aged 8 and Jeanie Johnson aged 12 
 were badly burned about the face and hands. The 
 rescue of Jeanie Johnson by Fire Marshal Harrison 
 did seem providential. She could not be located. The 
 statement that he tripped over her prostrate form may 
 be true. 
 
 28 
 
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The Evanston Hospital 
 
 r 
 
 N THE early nineties, 
 the better care of the 
 sick in Evanston and the 
 North Shore stirred the 
 minds and hearts of our 
 people. Dr. Merritt Cald- 
 well Bragdon made the 
 suggestion to Mrs. Re- 
 becca N. Butler and Mrs. 
 W-ilirlfF * Maria Huse Wilder and 
 
 I,* " ^v* ^ffw ' they in turn interested 
 
 g$? .^m" forty Evanston citizens in 
 
 establishing the Evanston 
 Emergency Hospital Asso- 
 ciation. The date of the 
 incorporation was Decem- 
 ber 4, 1891. $2800 was raised to purchase the small 
 cottage at 806 Emerson Street. Subsequently the house 
 was moved to the west and is now the parsonage for 
 the Ebenezer African Methodist Church. Six beds was 
 the patient capacity of the little hospital. The first 
 patient was welcomed April 15, 1893. Five years after, 
 February 8, 1898, the Administration Building was 
 opened on the Ridge Avenue Site. This Ridge Avenue 
 site, if it had been visited by the palefaces 100 years 
 before, they would have beheld people with copper 
 skins, engaged in chipping stones, the finished article 
 being arrowheads. An appropriate marker relates the 
 story. Contributions in the next 15 years made possible 
 the Cable Memorial Building; the Williams Building 
 in 1907 for the care of maternity patients; Patten 
 
 First Hospital Building 
 806 Emerson St. — 1892 
 
 [30] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Hall for nurses in 1910, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. 
 James A. Patten. 
 
 Mr. John E. Blunt, a member of the Board of Direc- 
 tors, was the first patient to occupy the north front 
 room on the second floor of what was then the General 
 
 Miss Hedwig Johnson, First Visiting Nurse — 1903. 
 
 Building. Mr. Blunt's malady was appendicitis, diag- 
 nosed in the early days as "acute indigestion." The 
 Blunt stay at the hospital was three weeks. I am glad 
 to report that Mr. Blunt is still with us. 
 
 Miss Anna Locke was the Superintendent in 1898. 
 She founded the School of Nursing in the same year. 
 Miss Edith Bird was her assistant. 
 
 The picture of the first ambulance would appear to 
 have been a conveyance for the delivering of gro- 
 ceries. 
 
 [31] 
 
Log Cabin Mystery 1834 
 
 IN 1834 Abraham Hathaway built a log cabin at 
 the northwest corner of Raymond Park. Hatha- 
 way did not own the land. He took possession as a 
 squatter. 
 
 On this site he opened a tavern, which had a reputa- 
 tion of being a counterfeiters' den. One day a peddler 
 stopped at the inn. His horse and wagon remained, but 
 the driver was never seen again. Hathaway said that 
 he bought the horse and wagon. 
 
 A few days after the disappearance of the peddler, 
 Hathaway was seen filling in a good well. When asked 
 why, he replied that the water was not good. Some 
 of his neighbors began digging out the partially filled 
 well, but the work was not followed to conclusion and 
 the mystery of the vanishing peddler was never 
 solved. 
 
 After a brief time Hathaway left for parts unknown. 
 
 O'Flaherty 
 
 THE man most remembered by the Alumni of 
 Northwestern prior to 1915 is probably O'Flaherty. 
 He was a dispenser of fried egg sandwiches and coffee 
 to the undergraduates. His first place of business was 
 on the South side of Davis Street just east of the Simp- 
 son Block. At that time the restaurant was known as K 
 
 [32] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and O's. The K is for Kelly. Ed Kelly does not appear 
 to have been a partner of O's very long. When Kelly 
 first came to Evanston he was a coachman for H. H. C. 
 Miller. Mr. Miller was a Trustee and a good friend 
 of the University. 
 
 My recollection of O's eating place was on the North 
 side of Davis Street, east of what was then the Gar- 
 wood Drug Store. After an evening of hard study we 
 used to say; "Let's go down to O's for a snack." 
 
 O' became famous for betting against the home foot- 
 ball team. He probably came out on the credit side of 
 the ledger, for the Purple did not have the reputation 
 for winning conference championships. At the end of 
 the football season he would give the "N" men a great 
 banquet. It is related by one of the Alumni that he 
 did the job up right. The finest dishes and silverware 
 were used. 
 
 At one time it is said that a postcard was sent to 
 the Evanston Post Office mailed from a European city 
 addressed to O' Evanston, Illinois. The Postmaster de- 
 livered it to O'Flaherty. 
 
 A student at the turn of the century has this to say 
 of the famous Irishman: 
 
 "There (at O's) you were able to get a breakfast 
 consisting of two sweet rolls and a cup of coffee, fa- 
 miliarly known as 'coffee and!' For lunch you could 
 get roast beef or pork, mashed potatoes, a vegetable 
 (usually stewed tomatoes), bread and butter and cof- 
 fee. For dinner you could get a small steak or two pork 
 chops, fried potatoes, bread and butter and a cup of 
 coffee. For these wonderful meals you paid 5 cents for 
 breakfast and 15 cents a piece for lunch and dinner. 
 On Sundays you had an additional choice of stewed 
 chicken which cost 20 cents. You could at all times 
 get ham and two eggs, fried potatoes, bread and but- 
 
 [33] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ter and a cup of coffee for 15 cents. At times O' did 
 his own cooking, waited on tables and the counter and 
 acted as cashier." 
 
 "At one time O' was taken sick and went to the hos- 
 pital. After some days it was reported that he had 
 died. Immediately a large number of his business 
 friends contributed money for flowers for his funeral. 
 O' did not die, and when he got back to operate his 
 restaurant, he learned about the contributions for flow- 
 ers. He at once made a tour and saw everyone who 
 had contributed and gave them hell for doing so, say- 
 ing 'You would not give me any flowers while I was 
 alive and I do not want any after I am dead.' He lived 
 many years after that." 
 
 The student continues further: "I do not believe that 
 any student in temporary financial distress ever had 
 O' say 'No' to him. He was always ready to help a 
 needy student." Thus it will be seen that here was a 
 man who lived at the side of the road and was a friend 
 of man. 
 
 r^^-*^^* *■<*■* ^+^-r*-*<?-r*r *<*+■■+* &-e~*-+-s>-* 
 
 Literary Societies 
 
 BEFORE the days of automobiles, radios, tele- 
 vision, country clubs, movies, etc., etc., Evans- 
 tonians, or the intelligentsia of Evanston, devoted their 
 time to cultural pursuits. There were a number of lit- 
 erary societies. Because of the prominence of the lead- 
 ers in the discussion group I am submitting the sea- 
 son's program of "Ligensia" in full. The program 
 is for the season 1885-1886. 
 
 [34 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 OUTLINE OF WORK 
 
 Essayists Leaders of the Discussion 
 
 September 25 
 
 Theory of the Constitution of the United States 
 
 And its Actual Working. 
 
 Dr. Cummings R. B. McMullen 
 
 E. P. Clapp 
 
 October 9 
 
 Comparison of the Constitution of the United 
 
 States with that of Great Britain. 
 
 A. B. Hull C. W. Pearson 
 
 Miss Anna Savage 
 October 23 
 Is the Enfranchisement of Women Desirable? 
 Mrs. Elizabeth B. Harbert H. G. Grey 
 
 Mrs. J. D. Quinlan 
 November 6 
 Should Emigration be Limited? 
 C. B. Foote F. P. Crandon 
 
 G. H. Horswell 
 November 20 
 The Future of the Working Classes. 
 Wm. Deering H. H. C. Miller 
 
 Miss Mary Poole 
 
 December 4 
 
 The Future of the South. 
 
 M. S. Terry Mrs. H. G. Grey 
 
 Miss Lizzie R. Hunt 
 
 December 18, Annual Meeting for the Election of Officers, Etc. 
 
 January 15, Sixth Annual Reunion and Banquet. 
 
 January 29 
 
 Modern Socialism. 
 
 G. W. Candee Mrs. F. P. Crandon 
 
 O. E. Haven 
 February 12 
 The Health of Americans Today. 
 Mrs. M. H, Wilder Mrs. G. W. Candee 
 
 Miss Kate Quinlan 
 
 [35 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 February 26 
 
 The Genesis of Crime 
 
 Mrs. H. F. Fisk C. B. Atwell 
 
 Miss E. S. Edwards 
 March 12 
 
 The Suppression and Cure of Crime. 
 H. B. Ridgaway Mrs. R. B. McMullen 
 
 Miss Fannie Wiswall 
 March 26 
 Manual and Training Schools. 
 Mrs. M. C. Van Benschoten Mrs. C, F. Bradley 
 
 Mrs. D. A. Kimball 
 April 9 
 
 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Free 
 
 Public School System. 
 
 Miss Ellen L. White G. S. Baker 
 
 Mrt. O. E. Haven 
 April 23 
 University and Higher Education. 
 Mrs. Ellen S. Carhart C. F. Bradley 
 
 Mrs. H. B. Ridgaway 
 May 7 
 Amusements — Their Use and Abuse. 
 Mrs. H. H. C. Miller Mrs. R. F. Queal 
 
 Mrs. C. B. Atwell 
 
 May 14, Business Meeting 
 
 May 28 
 
 The American Pulpit. 
 
 D. A. Kimball W. S. Harbert 
 
 Mrs. A. B. Hull 
 June 11 
 Money versus Culture. 
 Mrs. C. B. Foote Miss Mary C. Burgess 
 
 Miss Kittie Redfield 
 
 [36] 
 
Small Pox— 1890 
 
 DR. EBEN P. CLAPP, contemporary with Dr. 
 Merritt B. Bragdon, Dr. Edward Webster, Dr. W. 
 A. Phillips, and several others held an early position 
 on the Board of Health. In a letter to Dr. Dwight F. 
 Clark under date of April 18, 1940, he states that ex- 
 penses of the department for his first year of service 
 was $35.00. We quote further from the doctor's letter 
 to indicate the advance that we have made in preven- 
 tion of some of the "dirty" diseases. 
 
 "The water problem was easily solved. We were not 
 troubled with any filtration plant, we simply dumped 
 our sewage into the Lake at the foot of Davis Street 
 and a mile north of there pumped our fresh water into 
 the city water supply trusting to our firm belief that 
 the southward drift would carry our filth down to the 
 Chicago River. 
 
 "One morning in early spring I was called to a cot- 
 tage near the lumber yard at the northwest corner of 
 Sherman Avenue and Church Street, to see a colored 
 girl who had a 'breaking out'. After examining, (I had 
 never seen or smelled small pox before) I appealed 
 to Dr. Mann, the then Mayor of Evanston, who had had 
 previous experience with small pox. He took one look 
 at the patient, then gave me a most peculiar look as 
 much as to say, 'Don't you know enough to diagnose a 
 case of this kind?' And I responded to his glance by 
 saying, 'Yes, I think it is, but I was not sure.' He said: 
 'It is' and the interview stopped and our troubles 
 began! 
 
 "As you know Evanston had no 'pest house' and 
 we were unable to find anyone who would welcome us 
 
 [37] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 to their neighborhood. We finally discovered a subdi- 
 vision just east of the hospital which was not occupied, 
 but had vacant streets belonging to the city. We im- 
 mediately took possession of one of these streets; 
 started carpenters laying floors, and sent men to Chi- 
 cago for equipment. Our reply to the men as to what 
 the floor was for, was that we were going to have a 
 dance there. Within a short time we had the floors 
 down and tents erected, and things in readiness for our 
 small pox patient who was promptly moved in — and a 
 yellow flag floated from the tent pole. This was the 
 first of several small pox cases, as there was quite an 
 epidemic of the disease in Chicago — all of them made 
 a good recovery. The friends of the patients were so 
 anxious to see them that it became necessary to keep 
 a policeman on the grounds to keep them away from 
 the tents, and the climax came one chilly morning 
 when the policeman reported to me that the nurse had 
 left and that the patient had had nothing to eat since the 
 day before. So it became my duty to forthwith provide 
 food and care for the patient, which I proceeded to do. 
 I can still remember the chilly back-side of the tent 
 where I changed my clothes fanned by the breezes of 
 Lake Michigan." 
 
 Dr. Clapp refers to the lumber yard on the site of 
 Marshall Fields Store. After the lumber yard was 
 moved, Haven School was built on the site. In fact, 
 the ground is still owned by the school district sub- 
 ject to a long term lease to Marshall Field and 
 Co. Dr. Eben Clapp subsequently removed to Pasa- 
 dena, California. One of the Evanston papers errone- 
 ously reported Dr. Clapp's death. A short time after 
 he came into my office. I mentioned the matter of 
 his demise to which he replied that the report of 
 his death was greatly exaggerated. 
 
 38] 
 
First Road Signs 
 
 THE first road signs were not for automobilists. 
 If you will proceed to the Park at the foot of 
 Davis Street, you may see one of them. The Historical 
 Society of Wilmette has marked two others which are 
 quite well known to historians. One is at the foot of 
 Canterbury Court and the other is in the Parkway on 
 Greenwood Avenue, near Tenth Street. 
 
 The March number of the "Scribe" of 1942, a 
 publication by Evanston High School students inter- 
 ested in the early history of Evanston has done such 
 a good job of describing these road signs that I repeat 
 it in full. 
 
 "Along the shore of Lake Michigan and inland 
 through Highland Park runs a trail of bent trees which 
 point to the site of a long since vanished Indian Vil- 
 lage in Skokie Valley. 
 
 "Raymond E. Janssen, geologist and resident of 
 Evanston, hit upon the scientific explanation that these 
 freaks of nature found throughout the Mississippi Val- 
 ley and Great Lakes Regions were bent by Indians to 
 mark tracks through the forest. 
 
 "Even Evanston has one of these trail trees. The 
 one pictured on Scribe's Magazine cover this month 
 stands near Davis Street and Sheridan Road. A red 
 oak, it was once a Potawatamie trail tree pointing to 
 a large Indian Village. The tree was growing originally 
 near Calvary Cemetery but was moved and later 
 marked for posterity. 
 
 "In an article for the July Scientific Monthly Jans- 
 sen explains the Indian sign posts. 'In order to estab- 
 
 [39 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 lish certain trees as markers, the Indians inhabiting 
 the wooded regions, developed the custom of bending 
 saplings and fastening them in position in such a way 
 that they became permanently deformed,' stated Dr. 
 Janssen. They did this by tying the trees in position 
 with a strip of rawhide, bark or tough vine, and some- 
 times with rocks, stakes, or piles of dirt. 
 
 "Thirty years ago eleven markers lined the five- 
 mile trail to Skokie Valley; today only seven remain, 
 since four were destroyed due to destruction by storm 
 or decay." 
 
 Hitching- Posts 
 
 MR. DWIGHT F. CLARK, former President of the 
 Historical Society wrote a number of Evans- 
 tonians who had hitching posts in their parkways in 
 which he made the request that they present them to 
 the Society. The Doctor made his appeal as an attempt 
 to perpetuate the memory of the horse and buggy days 
 to the present generations. Postmaster George N. Tay- 
 lor cooperated in marshalling the information as to 
 the number and location of the prized mementos of 
 the past. Dr. Taylor reported as follows: 
 1208 Judson Avenue — Iron tree pattern 
 2020 Hawthorne Lane — two slender posts with horses 
 2215 Lincoln Street — Fine horse's head 
 2703 Euclid Park Place — Fine post with horse's head 
 1045 Forest Avenue — Negro in color 
 1310 Maple Avenue — Iron pole topped with ball 
 833 Forest Avenue — Green iron tree pattern 
 1632 Esley Avenue — Two iron horsehead posts 
 
 [40] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The Doctor's appeal did not result in getting the 
 hitching posts for the Society. A few said in reply that 
 the posts had been secured only after an expenditure 
 of time and money. Old timers will remember the 
 weight used which was fastened by a leather strap to 
 the ring in the horse's bridle. 
 
 The Society does have two of the high wheeled bi- 
 cycles which were much in vogue in the eighties and 
 early nineties. After the advent of the safeties with 
 the two wheels of the same size, the high wheels passed 
 to the museum. 
 
 Garrett Biblical Institute in the 
 Civil War Period 
 
 WE GET a reflection of Evanston and Chicago 
 from a letter written July 28, 1861. It was written 
 by Carrie Thompson Salisbury, a bride who came here, 
 from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her husband, Andrew, 
 came to Garrett Institute to study moral science, sa- 
 cred literature and critical readings at the Institute. 
 The letter is addressed to Mrs. Colin B. Cook of Ann 
 Arbor. Only recently was the letter found by Mrs. 
 Cook's granddaughter, Miss Laura B. Harding, 1909 
 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Now we will let the bride 
 tell the story — 
 
 "It is not so beneficial living near the lake shore 
 as I supposed. We have very sudden changes here, 
 more so than in Michigan. 
 
 "The people of Chicago come out here to Evans- 
 ton Grove nearly every Saturday to hold picnics. 
 
 [41] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 On July 4th about 3,000 came for a picnic, some com- 
 ing on street cars, and others on the steam boats, 
 Comet and Lady Franklin. 
 
 "We are pleasantly situated, our rooms command- 
 ing a fine view of the Lake. Andrew likes the In- 
 stitute very much, and thinks there is a great chance 
 for improvement. Dr. Dempster owns the house in 
 which we live, and there are three Doctors of Di- 
 vinity here besides Bishop Simpson." 
 
 The bride also describes a camp meeting, probably at 
 Des Plaines, 
 
 "during which so (many) were converted following 
 Bishop Simpson's eloquent sermon. We did not at- 
 tend it, as it was so far and my health was not good 
 enough to stay on the grounds nights. 
 
 "Andrew and I went down to Chicago on a beauti- 
 ful day. The Lake was clear and calm. The boat was 
 trimmed with evergreens, eight flags bearing the 
 stars and stripes floated over it and there was a 
 splendid band on board. It was a delightful excursion 
 and something altogether new. 
 
 "I doubt not that it will interest you to know that 
 I am so fortunate as to be very happily married." 
 Bishop Simpson, mentioned in the bride's letter, was 
 a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church and ap- 
 peared often in the pulpit of the church when the House 
 of Worship was on the library grounds. He was associ- 
 ated with the Institute which had been started some 
 years previously. The Camp meeting ground on the 
 Des Plaines river was frequently flooded by the over- 
 flow from the banks of the river. Northwestern campus 
 was a favorite picnic ground for Chicago people. They 
 came out by excursion boat, landed at the Davis Street 
 pier and walked with their picnic baskets to the shady 
 oaks on the campus. Dr. John Dempster was a founder 
 of G.B.I. 
 
 [42] 
 
>*•**■■*■*■»■* 
 
 Evanston Poets 
 
 IN FEBRUARY 12, 1903, William C. Levere col- 
 lected and published a little volume which he 
 called Evanston Poets. Some of the contributors are 
 very familiar to old time Evanstonians. In another 
 story I refer to some of the lines of S. E. Kiser, 
 William S. Lord, and Wilbur Dick Nesbit. It may be 
 interesting to note the relationship of the contributing 
 poets to the early tradition of our city. 
 
 The Merwins, Samuel and H. B. contributed much 
 to the cultural life of the university town. Martha 
 Foote Crowe was Dean of Women at the turn of the 
 century. Henry Kitchell Webster lived at the corner 
 of Orrington Avenue and Clark Street. The Websters 
 owned one of the first automobiles. Kate Wisner Mc- 
 Clusky, wife of Franklin McClusky, Realtor, writes 
 about "The Little Missionaries"; George Craig Stew- 
 art, Bishop of the Chicago Diocese, Protestant Epis- 
 copal Church, tells us about "A Trip to a Far Away 
 Land." Elizabeth Harbert, founder of the Womans 
 Club, chose as her subject "The Little Earth Angel"; 
 O. L. Hall, dramatic critic on the Chicago Daily News, 
 writes about "Storms of the Night"; Anna Gordon, pri- 
 vate secretary to Frances Willard and subsequently 
 President of the National Christian Temperance Union, 
 contributes lines on "The Wild Aster"; Elizabeth 
 Bragdon, daughter of Doctor M. B. Bragdon, and later 
 Mrs. Alexander W. Moseley, chose as her subject "To 
 a Lass"; Emily Huntington Miller in the lighter vein 
 wrote about "A Laugh in Church"; J. Scott Clark, in 
 charge of the English Department, raises the ques- 
 tion, "Are All Our Heroes Dead?"; Professor Clark is 
 
 [43 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the author of the University Hymn "Quaecumque Sunt 
 Vera." Frances Willard of the facile pen wrote about 
 "An Old Oak"; while Charles W. Pearson, referred to 
 in another column, dedicates his lines to "Frances E. 
 Willard." Selected at random are other names some of 
 whom dwell among us: Katherine MacHarg, Alice 
 C. D. Riley, E. S. Weeden, Frank H. West, Edna Bron- 
 son, Grace Shuman, Barry Gilbert, and James Taft 
 Hatfield. 
 
 T. R. in Evanston 
 
 THEODORE ROOSEVELT visited Evanston offi- 
 cially on two occasions — the first was in 1893 on 
 June 15th. On that date he gave the commencement 
 address at the Auditorium Chicago. Two thousand Ev- 
 anstonians journeyed to Chicago to hear the 35-year old 
 Police Commissioner of New York City. Northwestern 
 on that occasion conferred upon Theodore the honor- 
 ary degree of Doctor of Laws. The next time T. R. 
 came to Evanston was April 2, 1903, as the 25th Presi- 
 dent of the United States. 10 years had intervened since 
 his last visit to our city. In this interval New York 
 City, Washington, D.C., and San Juan had seen him. 
 Old Guard Republicans thought they had disposed of 
 T. R. when they nominated him for Vice President on 
 the Republican ticket in 1901. A shot at the Buffalo 
 Fair, which took the life of Pres. McKinley, cata- 
 pulted him into the President's chair in Sept. 1901. Old- 
 timers will remember the "Rough Riders" of the cam- 
 paign. Harpers Weekly of April 18, 1903, gives us a 
 
 [44 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 number of poses of the President in Evanston. One 
 was on the steps of Lunt Library with Pres. Edmund J. 
 James of the University. Arrangements were made to 
 bring all of the students of the downtown campus to 
 Evanston. School children were lined up on Chicago 
 Avenue between Davis Street and the University. 
 Each child had a flag with which to greet the Presi- 
 dent as he passed. The Evanston Press got out an 
 extra edition with a reproduction of the famous etch- 
 ing in London Punch; the Original with the Rough 
 Rider mounted hung in the White House. 
 
 Men serving on the various committees reads like a 
 Who's Who in Evanston. Edmund J. James headed the 
 executive committee. Other members included John 
 C. Shaffer, Mayor James Patten, Robert D. Sheppard, 
 George R. Jenkins, Judge L. D. Thoman, Frank P. 
 Crandon, Thomas F. Holgate, John H. Wigmore, Wal- 
 ter D. Scott was the University Marshal while Wil- 
 liam A. Dyche was chairman of the committee on car- 
 riages and Robert O. Vandercook chairman of the com- 
 mittee on decorations. 
 
 William E. Barton, pastor of the First Congrega- 
 tional Church of Oak Park and biographer of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, said of the author of the "Strenuous 
 Life": 
 
 "Here was a man who hurled back into the teeth 
 of the world the lie that American character can be 
 expressed in terms of money. Here was a man who 
 lived greatly and simply and triumphantly and whose 
 personality and ideals kindled the imagination of his 
 country. And no one thinks to ask how much money 
 he had. By force of character, by devotion to the 
 public welfare, by fearless love of righteousness, and 
 by faith in God and in the American people he 
 wrought righteousness, obtained promises, subdued 
 
 [46] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 kingdoms, dug the Panama Canal, reclaimed vast 
 tracts of desert territory, and made it blossom like 
 a rose, and exalted in the minds of all men every- 
 where the world's definition of an American." 
 
 "###^#^#vr###########^###^###^^########4>#######^###«#«^###########^# 
 
 Bailey's Opera House 
 
 IN THE early days of Evanston there was a Lyons 
 Hall and a Connors Hall, but only one Opera 
 House. In order to qualify as an Opera House, it must 
 have a stage, curtains and footlights. Only one build- 
 ing had a hall which filled the requirements, Jennings 
 Opera House. One writer of the time describes it as 
 the last word in architectural beauty and stability. 
 The building which eventually became a part of the 
 Rosenberg Department Store was located on the South 
 Side of Davis Street close to the tracks of the Chi- 
 cago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. The building 
 upon which the ground stood was a duck pond where 
 Evanston youngsters paddled around on rafts and 
 floated sailboats. Purchase price of the two lots with 
 100 feet of frontage was $1300. Richard M. Jennings, 
 son of Michael Jennings, who lived at 1739 Ridge Ave- 
 nue in a house only recently demolished to make way 
 for the Wieboldt Parking lot, related this ancedote con- 
 nected with the Opera House shortly after it was built 
 in 1872. He said that his father leased it to an "amuse- 
 ment club" from Chicago for a picnic and dance. The 
 affair was advertized so effectively throughout Chi- 
 cago that the crowd coming to Evanston on the Good- 
 rich Line Steamer — only an eighth of the number could 
 
 [47] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 get into the hall. The crowd composed of the riffraff 
 of Chicago gave Evanston's two policemen, William 
 and James Carney, a busy time. All of the male popu- 
 lation of Evanston had to be sworn in as deputies to 
 maintain the peace. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was one 
 of the early ventures in drama. I have no doubt that 
 tears were shed over the fate of Uncle Tom and little 
 Eva. 
 
 In 1887 the Jennings family sold to the Baileys, 
 hence Bailey's Opera House. The only picture in the 
 files of the Historical Society show Bailey's Opera 
 House in huge letters across the front of the building. 
 The Bailey family at one time conducted a market 
 and slaughter house across the street where the Na- 
 tional Tea Company is now located. Later the slaugh- 
 ter house actively was operated on land across Sheri- 
 dan Road from the National Kindergarten College. Sub- 
 sequently they built a large brick house on the 
 grounds known as the Bailey House. The last tenant 
 to occupy this house was A. Starr Best of A. Starr 
 Best & Co. 
 
 [48 
 
Mr. Lincoln Slept Here 
 
 Gen. Julius White 
 Entertained Lincoln 
 
 THE greatest celebrity ever 
 to visit Evanston was 
 Abraham Lincoln. The date was 
 early in April, probably April 4, 
 1860. On February 27th of that 
 year Mr. Lincoln delivered his 
 famous Cooper Union speech and 
 overnight he became a national 
 figure. He had spent some time 
 in Chicago for the defense in the 
 Sand Bar case. Julius H. White, 
 later General White, invited him 
 to come to Evanston and Harvey 
 B. Hurd was appointed his escort. Mr. Hurd in relating 
 the incident, said that he and Lincoln occupied the seat 
 in the car next to the stove. Mr. Lincoln extended his 
 long legs under the next seat and related stories to him 
 about his recent trip to New England. 
 
 After arrival in Evanston, he was driven to the White 
 home which occupied the property formerly owned by 
 Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Lake on the northwest corner 
 of Ridge Avenue and Church Street. A crowd had gath- 
 ered in the street and the yard, and Lincoln made a 
 brief address from the front steps. Hurd says that after 
 the first few minutes Mr. Lincoln was at perfect ease 
 and entertained the guests by telling stories during the 
 evening. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln requested that someone volunteer to sing 
 some old-time songs. J. Watson Ludlam consented to 
 sing, provided someone would act as an accompanist. 
 Miss Stewart, then unknown to Mr. Ludlam, offered 
 
 [49] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 to accompany him on the organ. This led to a romance, 
 as Miss Stewart later became his bride. When Lincoln 
 became President, they were invited to the White 
 House. Another incident of the evening took place when 
 Mr. Lincoln, noticing that Mr. Ludlam was a tall man, 
 suggested that they "measure" whereupon it was dis- 
 covered that Lincoln and Ludlam were of the same 
 height. 
 
 The house occupied by the Whites, or at least a part 
 of it, was moved to 1227 Elmwood Avenue, the home 
 later of A. D. Sanders, Sr. From 1227 Elmwood Avenue 
 it was moved to 2009 Dodge Avenue, its present loca- 
 tion. 
 
 There are several houses in Evanston which claim 
 the distinction of furnishing a sleeping place for the 
 martyr President. Mr. Lincoln visited Evanston but 
 once, and Mr. Currey has established beyond a ques- 
 tion of a doubt that the home of Mr. and Mrs. White at 
 the time of Lincoln's visit was at the Ridge Avenue 
 and Church location. 
 
 50 | 
 
William Deerin 
 
 EVANSTON will not soon forget William Deering. 
 The family home was at 404 Church Street, south- 
 west corner of Judson Avenue. Wm. Deering came of 
 Puritan stock. He was a Puritan in the best sense of 
 that word. His early ambition was to be a country doc- 
 tor. Fate was to decree otherwise. Very early he devel- 
 oped a genius for making money. His first marriage 
 was to Abby Barbour, who died in 1856, leaving one 
 child, Charles Deering. His second wife, Clara Hamil- 
 ton, was the mother of James Deering and Abby Deer- 
 ing (Mrs. Richard Howe). Mr. Deering pioneered in the 
 reaper business contemporaneously with Cyrus Mc- 
 Cormick. It was Mr. Deering who developed the bind- 
 ing of grain with twine, a great saving to the farmer, 
 who formerly bound with wire. At the time of the merg- 
 er with the International Harvester Co., the Deering Co. 
 employed 9,000 people and had 60 branches throughout 
 America. He was at one time Chairman of the Board 
 of Trustees of Northwestern University, also President 
 of the Board of the sister Institution, Garrett Biblical 
 Institute. Without Mr. Deering, Wesley Hospital would 
 not have been built when it was. Mr. Deering came to 
 Evanston in 1874. He was identified with the First 
 Methodist Church. After his retirement, he spent a 
 large part of his time at his winter home in Cocoanut 
 Grove, Florida. It was in his Florida home that he 
 died on December 9, 1913 at the age of 87 years. He was 
 buried from the First Methodist Church on Sunday, 
 December 14, 1913. Rev. Charles M. Stuart, President 
 of Garrett Biblical Institute gave the prayer and read 
 the Scripture lesson. Words of tribute were spoken by 
 
 [51] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Bishop Wm. Fraser McDowell. Bishop McDowell said 
 in part: "There are those here today who are saying 
 over together the names of Orrington Lunt and Wil- 
 liam Deering, and are repeating the words of John 
 Bunyan as they do: 
 
 " 'Now I saw in my dream that these two men 
 went into the gate and lo! As they entered they were 
 transfigured; they had raiment put on them that 
 shone like gold, and crowns were given them in tok- 
 en of honor; and all the bells of the city rang again 
 for joy, and it was said unto them: Enter ye into the 
 joy of our Lord.' " 
 Prayer was said by his pastor, Dr. Timothy Prescott 
 Frost. Interment was in Graceland Cemetery. A mod- 
 est stone marks the last resting place. 
 
 Some Pioneer Doctors 
 
 DOCTOR WILLIAM G. ALEXANDER, writing in 
 1936, said that there is a record of 554 physicians 
 who have lived in Evanston since 1854. At the same 
 time Doctor Alexander expressed the opinion that 
 more progress had been made in the science of Medi- 
 cine in the preceding 100 years than in all the time back 
 to Hippocrates. It would be interesting to have some 
 physician take the position that more progress had 
 been made since 1936 than in all the time back to the 
 great Greek physician. Doctor Alexander was not a 
 pioneer in the practice of Medicine. Nevertheless we 
 note a few facts of this good citizen as well as a good 
 doctor. He was born in Gosport, Indiana, in 1871. After 
 
 [52] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 graduating from High School he registered at DePauw 
 University, graduating in 1893. From 1896 to 1900 he 
 taught Chemistry and Physics in the Evanston High 
 School. He received his medical degree in 1904 and 
 served a two-year internship at Wesley Hospital in Chi- 
 cago. In June 1914 DePauw conferred upon him the 
 degree of Doctor of Science. For a time he served as a 
 Director on the Board of the Community Hospital. His 
 civic duties included: membership on the Planning 
 Commission. He was also a Director on the Board of 
 the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and for two years 
 was Vice President of the Chamber. When I first met 
 him he kept bachelors quarters in the Essex Building, 
 now the site of the Chamber of Commerce Building. 
 
 The record of early doctors would not be complete 
 without the name of Merritt Caldwell Bragdon. The 
 family home was at 1709 Chicago Avenue and is still 
 owned by members of the family, two of whom live 
 in Evanston, Merritt C. Bragdon and Mrs. Alexander 
 W. Moseley. Young Bragdon attended the University 
 when it occupied a building, now Old College, at the 
 corner of Davis Street and Hinman Avenue. Bragdon 
 graduated with thirteen other students. At this time 
 he spoke at length on "The Influence of Youth in the 
 World." Bragdon went to Philadelphia for his medical 
 training, there being no medical school at Northwest- 
 ern. After graduation he returned to Evanston, where 
 he began practice under the pioneer Doctor O. H. Mann, 
 the first Mayor of Evanston. After three years he re- 
 turned to Philadelphia to claim his bride. When the 
 bride and groom returned to Chicago, they boarded 
 an Excursion Boat which landed them at the Davis 
 Street Pier. 
 
 The Doctor was a familiar figure on Davis Street. 
 Tradition says that he never wore an overcoat. Doctor 
 Bragdon was one of the founders of the Evanston Hos- 
 
 [53] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 pital when it occupied a six-room house on Emerson 
 Street west of Sherman Avenue. 
 
 Doctor Eben P. Clapp has been referred to in 
 the small pox epidemic. Dr. Clapp practiced in Ev- 
 anston for twenty years. From Evanston Dr. and 
 Mrs. Clapp went to Pasadena, California, where he 
 became interested in the lumber business. He was the 
 last survivor of the Class of 81, Northwestern. He par- 
 ticipated in the founding of the Evanston Hospital. 
 Death came to Dr. Clapp shortly after passing his 
 88th birthday. 
 
 Dr. Edward H. Webster was one of the most popular 
 of the early doctors. My recollection of the Doctor is 
 that he owned one of the first Cadillacs in Evanston. 
 Furthermore it was equipped with the first self-start- 
 er which was rather temperamental. Sometimes 
 it worked and sometimes it did not. Dr. Webster and 
 Dr. William A. Phillips officed at 1604 Chicago Avenue, 
 the University Building, at that time the most up-to- 
 date medical building. 
 
 The First Lady of Wilmette 
 
 IF YOUR house is in a tract of land roughly bounded 
 by Central Street, Evanston; the North Western 
 Railroad; the South line of Kenilworth, and Lake 
 Michigan then you live in the Ouilmette Reserva- 
 tion. Antoine Ouilmette, a thrifty French trader, 
 married a Potawatomi Indian by the name of Arch- 
 ange, which by the way may have been the first 
 North Shore wedding. Antoine was not only thrifty but 
 
 [54] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 shrewd. Having married an Indian woman, he was 
 qualified to represent the whites as well as the Indians 
 in any trading, seeing to it that Antoine was taken care 
 of in the bargain. 
 
 He was on hand at Prairie du Chien when by agree- 
 ment or treaty with the Potawamies, a large tract of 
 land was ceded to the whites. As a part of the agree- 
 ment, Archange Ouilmette received two sections of 
 land bounded as above comprising 1280 acres or two 
 sections and known to early settlers as the Ouilmette 
 Reservation. 
 
 The name Wilmette is the anglicized form of the 
 French name Ouilmette. If you have access to an ab- 
 stract covering a parcel of ground in Wilmette or the 
 north part of Evanston, you will find a conveyance 
 signed by the heirs of Antoine and Archange Ouil- 
 mette. Some of the heirs signed by making "their 
 mark." 
 
 One of the provisions of the grant to Archange was 
 that neither Archange nor her heirs could sell said 
 lands without the consent of the President of the United 
 States of America. By petition dated February 22, 1844, 
 we find several of the children of Archange asking 
 the President of the United States to purchase the 
 land at a price of $1.25 per acre. The names of John 
 Kinzie; Congressman John Wentworth; President 
 John Tyler; M. L. Marcy, Secretary of War; President 
 James K. Polk; and U. S. Grant appear in the records. 
 
 The south half of the reservation was sold to specu- 
 lators for $1.50 per acre and the north half was sold in 
 parcels for a larger sum. 
 
 [55] 
 
Drainage and the Big Ditch 
 
 ONE of the problems confronting the young vil- 
 lage of Evanston was the matter of draining the 
 swamps and boggy ground between the ridges. West 
 ridge, or our present Ridge Road, was also known as 
 "Dutch" Ridge. East Ridge was our present Ridge 
 Avenue, and an old shoreline, the last stage of the 
 Lake, can be traced by following Chicago Avenue in 
 Evanston to the point where it connects with that 
 meandering street in Chicago known as Clark Street. 
 Chicago Avenue was not very far above the Lake 
 level, but in the dry season afforded a road parallel- 
 ing the Lake. I have already referred to the lady who 
 resided on Ridge Avenue returning a social call to 
 one of her friends on Chicago Avenue, her conveyance 
 being a wagon. While riding across the swamp it was 
 necessary for her to raise her feet above the floor 
 cf the wagon to prevent soiling her shoes. 
 
 One of the first attempts at drainage was the con- 
 struction of a ditch crossing Davis Street a little west 
 of the First National Bank Building and continuing 
 north on the west side of Sherman Avenue to a point 
 where it crossed Orrington Avenue at Simpson Street, 
 thence across the campus emptying into the Lake 
 near the present Observatory building. This ditch 
 across the campus was humorously referred to as "The 
 Rubicon." 
 
 As early as 1855 Harvey B. Hurd, Evanston's most 
 public spirited citizen, spearheaded the movement 
 which resulted in the appointment of a "drainage com- 
 mission" authorized by an act of the legislature. The 
 Commissioners named were: Harvey B. Hurd, George 
 
 [56] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 W. Huntoon, James B. Colvin, John L. Beveridge, and 
 John H. Foster. As Mr. Foster lived in Chicago and 
 did not wish to serve, A. G. Wilder was named to serve 
 in his place. The Act of the Legislature was declared 
 unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but not until 
 considerable work had been done in an attempt to 
 drain by ditching following the general course of the 
 present North Shore Channel. 
 
 Neighbors on the east and west ridges could commu- 
 nicate by going as far south as Rose Hill. Signals were 
 sometimes exchanged. When a settler on Ridge Road, 
 for example, decided to go to Chicago for supplies or 
 to get the mail which was usually on horseback, a sig- 
 nal was given to the East side whereupon Mr. East 
 side neighbor would mount his horse and proceed as 
 far south as Rose Hill, where the neighbors would 
 meet and arrange their errands so that only one would 
 make the trip to the city. 
 
 Chas. T. Bartlett, father of Mayor Charles H. Bart- 
 lett, lived for many years at 827 Greenleaf Street. In 
 an interview Mr. Bartlett stated that in the sixties 
 and early seventies commuters would leave as early 
 as 4 o'clock a.m. to be sure of arriving down town at 
 the opening hour of 7 o'clock. 
 
 Box Drains 20x24 were installed on Main Street (Lin- 
 coln Ave.) from Chicago Avenue to the Lake. This 
 drain was later replaced with brick which extended 
 as far west as Florence Avenue. 
 
 Our present Sanitary District was created by Act 
 of the Legislature. The Canal was started in 1892. What 
 is known as the North Shore Channel was started 
 Sept. 24, 1907. First spade of dirt was thrown by Miss 
 Louise Paullin (Mrs. S. G. Ingraham), her father, 
 George W. Paullin, being one of the trustees of the 
 Sanitary District. Col. Robert R. McCormick was 
 President of the Board. 
 
 [58] 
 
*++ + + ■*+■*■*++■* + + 
 
 Frances Elizabeth Willard 
 
 IF WE accept influence 
 upon the thinking of 
 the peoples of the world 
 as a standard of great- 
 ness, then Frances Eliza- 
 beth Willard is incon- 
 testably Evanston's great- 
 est citizen. "Frank" she 
 was to all her friends. Her 
 father was Josiah and her 
 mother Mary Hill. Josiah 
 was manager of a store in 
 Churchville, New York, 
 where Frances was born 
 the 28th day of September 
 1839. Josiah and Mary 
 had heard of Oberlin Col- 
 lege, Ohio, a coeducation- 
 al college in the early days 
 
 of the 19th century. While Frances was still a child 
 the Willard family set out for Oberlin, a five-day jour- 
 ney. A part of the family rode in a carriage. Frances 
 is reported to have said more than once "Mamma, 
 Cissy's dress aches," to which the mother is said to 
 have replied, "Dear child! She already knows it is not 
 her real self that suffers, but this dress of mortality." 
 The mother's reflection gives us some hint of the type 
 of parents Frances had chosen. We will not attempt to 
 record the story of Frances Willard. There are many 
 biographies. The one by Anna Gordon, Frances' per- 
 sonal secretary and successor to the Presidency of 
 
 Frances E. Willard 
 
 59 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the National Christian Temperance Union gives us a 
 picture of her devoted idol. From Oberlin the family 
 went to a farm overlooking the Rock River and not 
 far from Janesville, Wisconsin. Here Frances spent 
 her time caring for pets which she called "love dolls". 
 On her 16th birthday Frances confides to her journal 
 that mother insists that I must have my "hair done 
 up woman fashion." Frances had been running wild so 
 long that she felt like another Samson, shorn of her 
 strength. We have already hinted at the fact that Fran- 
 ces was a high-spirited girl. Her independence is also 
 exhibited when on her 18th birthday she began reading 
 "Ivanhoe". Father was opposed to story books and 
 novels. She answered father's objection by saying that 
 she was now of age and would hereafter choose her 
 own books. 
 
 We now come to Miss Willard's first association with 
 Evanston. The Willard family were Methodists. In Ev- 
 
 Rest Cottage 
 International Shrine 
 Home of the Willards 
 
 [60] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 anston was the Northwestern Female College, founded 
 in the name of Christian education and presided over 
 by a Professor Jones. Evanston is described as a bud- 
 ding village with plank sidewalks, a country store, a 
 Divinity School on the north (Garrett Biblical Insti- 
 tute), on the Main Street Northwestern University (the 
 University Building was then on the corner of Hinman 
 and Davis Street), and on the south end the North- 
 western Female College (the Female College Building 
 being located on Greenwood Boulevard near Chicago 
 
 Frances and Mary Willard 
 
 Avenue). Josiah with his two daughters, Frances and 
 Mary, after a wagon ride from the farm to Janesville, 
 Wisconsin, came to Chicago by train. They had dinner 
 at the Matteson House, where Frances was overawed 
 by the white coated waiters. After introduction to Pro- 
 fessor Jones, Josiah took the two daughters to the 
 Reynolds House for supper. Reynolds House later be- 
 came the Avenue House and now much to my regret 
 the name was changed to the North Shore Hotel. It 
 was at the Female College that Frances was to meet 
 
 [61] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and cherish a very dear friend, Mary Bannister, who 
 later became Mrs. Oliver Willard. The Bannisters 
 played a large part in the history of our city. In 1858 
 the Willard family became permanent residents of 
 Evanston. There is some justification for believing that 
 their first home was at Judson and Church Street 
 later the Deering home. The Willard house was 
 moved from the Judson location to the location on 
 Sherman Avenue in the business district now occupied 
 by the Valencia Theatre. In 1865 or '66 the family built 
 Rest Cottage on Chicago Avenue, now the National 
 Headquarters of the W.C.T.U. Rest Cottage is one of 
 Evanston's shrines and is visited by people from all 
 parts of the world. Across from the Rest Cottage is 
 the Kidder House at 1717 Chicago Avenue. This house 
 was built in 1856 and will soon join the Centenary 
 Group. 
 
 Hitting only the high spots in Frances' career, we now 
 take her to Evanston College for Ladies which opened 
 in September 1871 with Miss Willard as President. On 
 October 9, 1871, one month later, one of the most dis- 
 astrous fires in history visited Chicago, destroying mil- 
 lions of property and making homeless thousands of 
 families. One of the aftermaths of the Chicago fire was 
 the ruining of the financial backing of the College. 
 Northwestern then took over its property and com- 
 pleted the building. President Willard then became 
 Dean Willard of the school. In 1874 Frances resigned 
 her position with the University and became interested 
 in the temperance movement. At the Indianapolis con- 
 vention of the National W.C.T.U. Frances was made 
 National President. This brought her into contact with 
 Lady Henry Somerset of England, an association that 
 continued through to Miss Willard's death in 1898. We 
 will not attempt to recount the ovations to her by the 
 
 [62] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 peoples of the world except to say that at Exeter Hall, 
 London, Miss Willard and Lady Somerset were the 
 only women who appeared before an audience of 5,000 
 composed of members of Parliament, London Co. Coun- 
 cillors, Church dignitaries, labor leaders, temperance 
 leaders, delegates from 50 guilds and other societies. 
 
 In the popular mind Miss Willard is associated with 
 the temperance movement and the abolition of the 
 saloon by state decree. Important as temperance was 
 to her, she by no means confined her efforts to this 
 narrow field. She played an important part in educa- 
 tion for citizenship, physical education and sports, 
 vocational training for girls, equal pay for equal work, 
 minimum wage and the eight-hour day. 
 
 At a convention of the National Women's Christian 
 Temperance Union, three years before being elected 
 President, she said: 
 
 "Ah! it is women who have given the costliest hos- 
 tages to fortune. Out into the battle of life they have 
 sent their best beloved, with fearful odds against them. 
 Oh! by the dangers they have dared; by the hours of 
 patient watching over beds where helpless children 
 lay; by the incense of ten thousand prayers wafted 
 from their gentle lips to heaven; I charge you 
 give them power to protect along life's treacherous 
 highway those whom they have so loved." 
 
 Her oft repeated statement "When I reach Heaven, 
 I want to register from Evanston." Late in 1897 she 
 filled a number of engagements. She addressed meet- 
 ings at Northwestern and Chicago. Thanksgiving Day 
 she joined a party at the James Nortons and another 
 family party at Christmas time. On New Years Day 
 she spoke at Janesville, Wisconsin, and visited her old 
 Forest Home. Frances was now 59. One is not old at 
 59, but Frances had to confess that she was tired. She 
 did reach New York City, where Manager Quan of the 
 
 [63] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Hotel Empire placed at her disposal a suite where 
 she settled down with Miss Gordon and a stenographer. 
 Here she spent her time in the routine of correspond- 
 ence, monthly articles, making dates for conferences 
 and addresses. This continued for a month, but as the 
 hours grew shorter, those associated with her realized 
 that the end might be near. In her exhausted condition, 
 "grippe" made fast work with the victim, and on the 
 17th day of February Frances Elizabeth Willard passed 
 to her reward. Miss Gordon sent the following mes- 
 sage to Katharine Stevenson: "Our precious leader 
 has entered upon the activities that are not succeeded 
 by weariness. The last of her household, she has been 
 welcomed by Christ and his angels to be with her loved 
 ones in Heaven's home. Let us follow her as she fol- 
 lowed Christ. God comfort us all." 
 
 A special car brought the mortal remains to Willard 
 Hall in the Woman's Temple, 120 South LaSalle Street, 
 Chicago. More than 30,000 men and women passed the 
 casket for a last look at the beloved leader, a private 
 service at Rest Cottage, and then the last service at 
 the First Methodist Church. The procession down the 
 aisle was led by Frank M. Bristol, once her student, 
 now her pastor. The pall bearers were University stu- 
 dents from the Senior Class. Miss Willard requested 
 that she be cremated. Miss Anna Gordon is said to 
 have opposed this procedure and so the body was 
 placed in a receiving vault. Later Miss Gordon decided 
 to carry out Miss Willard's request. After cremation, 
 the ashes were deposited in the grave of her mother, 
 Mary Hill Willard. 
 
 On the 17th day of February, 1905, a thousand chil- 
 dren marched up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Nation's 
 Capitol Building. Under the dome of the Rotunda they 
 stood in reverent admiration before a statue carved in 
 white marble. Unlike the statues around it, it was the 
 
 [64] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 figure of a woman — a woman standing at ease beside 
 a pulpit as if she were preaching. After an address 
 by Miss Anna Gordon, the children passed in front 
 of the statue, and as they passed dropped a flower, 
 till the statue stood knee deep in blossoms. In the Sen- 
 ate Chamber Edward Everett Hale, Governor Deneen 
 of Illinois, Senator Cullom, Senator Hopkins, Senator 
 Dolliver, Senator Beveridge, and from the House, Rep- 
 resentatives Foss, Rainey, Graff, Littlefield, and 
 Brooks paid tribute to the greatness of Frances Wil- 
 lard. 
 
 Five years later Frances Willard was admitted to 
 the Hall of Fame on University Heights, New York 
 City. Here she is in company with Charlotte Cushman, 
 actress; Harriet Beecher Stowe, author; Maria Mitch- 
 ell, scientist; Mary Lyon; Emma Willard; and Alice 
 Freeman Palmer, educator. Frances Willard is en- 
 rolled as social worker. 
 
 First Methodist Church 
 
 Originally on Library Grounds 
 
 Moved to Sherman Avenue and Church Street 
 
 [65] 
 
First Methodist Church 
 
 WONDER how many pedestrians rushing east 
 or west on Church Street stop to read the mes- 
 sage on the tablet on the grounds of the Public Library. 
 The inscription reads: 
 
 "The First House of worship in Evanston, dedi- 
 cated July 27, 1856, stood on this site." 
 "For years the most notable gatherings of the peo- 
 ple were held in this building. Here just after the Bat- 
 tle of Bull Run, at a war meeting many Evanston 
 men volunteered for service in the Union Army, 
 among them were Julius White, John L. Beveridge, 
 and William Gamble, afterwards generals in the 
 army" 
 
 I remember the dedication very well. It was on a 
 Sunday afternoon, July 27, 1913, fifty-seven years to a 
 day after the dedication of the church in 1856. William 
 C. Levere, President of the Historical Society, was the 
 presiding officer. Prayer was offered by Dr. Amos W. 
 Patten of Garrett Biblical Institute and Northwestern 
 University, and one time pastor of the First Methodist 
 Church. Bishop William Fraser McDowell of the 
 Methodist Church, President of the Board of Trustees 
 of the University gave the principal address. William 
 T. McElveen of the Congregational Church pronounced 
 the benediction. William C. Levere made the presenta- 
 tion, and the acceptance was made by Mayor James 
 R. Smart. Miss Gala Gamble, grandaughter of Wil- 
 liam Gamble, imbedded the tablet. 
 
 A Daily News reporter, whose story appeared on 
 Saturday, July 26, interviewed two old members of the 
 First Methodist Church. Abby L. Brown, widow of An- 
 
 [66] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 drew J. Brown, one of the founders of the University 
 and a large landholder, was first to be interviewed. I 
 remember Mrs. Brown very well. She lived at 1505 
 Oak Avenue, now the site of Evanston's Municipal 
 Building. She drove to Davis Street with an attendant, 
 her carriage or phaeton drawn by an old white horse. 
 The second to be interviewed was Dr. Henry B. Hem- 
 enway, son of Dr. F. D. Hemenway of Garrett Bibli- 
 cal Institute. The doctor's office was in the Rood 
 Building on the second floor and our Real Estate office 
 was on the first floor. I have the impression that the 
 doctor was not bothered with too many patients. He 
 did enjoy, however, writing for medical journals. Both 
 of their interviews are so interesting that I am tempted 
 to quote both in full. Mrs. Brown was then in her 87th 
 year, but she remembered clearly the social spirit 
 which prevailed when Evanston Methodists congre- 
 gated in the old edifice before the war. 
 
 "We came to Evanston in 1845, late in the fall," said 
 Mrs. Brown, "moving out here from the city because 
 Mr. Brown had his business interests here, he being 
 one of the twelve founders of Northwestern Univer- 
 sity. I did not like the move much, but then like a good 
 wife, I acquiesced. Of course we immediately wanted 
 to take part in the church work of the village, but I was 
 reluctant about entering the old Methodist Church at 
 that time. It was around Christmas time, I remember, 
 and when my husband urged that we attend service, 
 I held back because I thought possibly other mem- 
 bers might think we went so that our children might 
 get a present. They were having the usual Christmas 
 time exercises. Well, we went, and sure enough, Dr. 
 Bannister came down the aisle with a little book which 
 had been on the tree for Jessie Brown. Then in a few 
 minutes a present was announced for Robert Brown 
 
 [67] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and then Carrie Brown. That kind of a spirit of wel- 
 come was only a demonstration of the real church life 
 enjoyed in those early times." 
 
 "I can remember only a few of the pastors of the old 
 church in the Ante Bellum days. There were Dr. Miner 
 Raymond and Dr. J. M. Dandy and many others. I 
 plainly remember the style of architecture of the old 
 building. It was rectangular in shape and they kept 
 building additions so as to accommodate the large con- 
 gregation which was increasing every week that per- 
 son fairly needed a spy glass to see from one end to 
 the other of the structure. 
 
 ''We had many beautiful characters in the church 
 those days. The much loved Frances Willard with her 
 sister and her mother whom we called "Old Saint 
 Courageous," Edward Eggleston, Lyman J. Gage, and 
 I can't remember them all at this instant. But the 
 religious life was one which meant much to the com- 
 munity. It was a great institution, and I am glad that 
 the Society for the Erection of the Evanston Histori- 
 cal Tablets is going to place a tablet in commemora- 
 tion of the old structure." 
 
 "I can remember," said Dr. Hemenway, "the old 
 church and how it was built in an oblong, box-like 
 shape. Later the structure was rebuilt and transepts 
 were placed, making the building cross shaped. It was 
 in 1871, I believe, that it was sold to the Norwegians, 
 who moved it to the lot directly opposite the present 
 site of the post office at Church Street and Sherman 
 Avenue." 
 
 "The entrance of the old church stood about where 
 the reading room of the present free public library is 
 located. The church was enclosed by a fence with 
 gates on the Church street side and also in the rear 
 leading to the grove directly east, there was a hitch 
 
 [68] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 rack made of rails located in this wooded spot; and I 
 can remember vividly seeing the horse and carriage 
 driven by Mrs. Andrew J. Brown hitched there on 
 many occasions. 
 
 Plain, old fashioned seats were placed in the church. 
 There were two side and one center aisles, and in the 
 northeast corner in a sort of enclosure was located the 
 old cabinet organ and space for a chair. Over the en- 
 trance hall was located a classroom. There was no 
 gallery. Gratings were in place for ventilators in the 
 ceiling. 
 
 "Speaking of gratings reminds me of the time that 
 Simon Peter Doughtert, now a dignified member of 
 the Chicago bar, was caught by Squire Bradley and 
 T. C. Hoag, class leader, after he had stepped through 
 the ceiling where he had hidden after he had mischiev- 
 ously dropped some homemade cartoons through the 
 
 Bishop Matthew Simpson 
 
 Preached often from Pulpit 
 
 oj First Methodist Church 
 
 Robert M. Hatfield 
 Early Pastor of First M.E 
 Church and Father of 
 James Taft Hatfield 
 
 [69 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ceiling on the heads of the audience. In scampering 
 over the rafters to get to the hole in the loft, Dough- 
 thert's foot slipped and he went through the plaster- 
 ing. He was caught as he tried to descend from the 
 loft into the class room. 
 
 "Among the early pastors whom I remember were 
 Rev. A. L. Cooper in 1858. I believe that he came here 
 from Vermont, and after finishing in the Theological 
 Seminary, was succeeded by Rev. Charles P. Bragdon, 
 father of Dr. Bragdon and Mrs. William T. Shepherd, 
 now residents of Evanston. Dr. Miner Raymond, a pro- 
 fessor in the theological school was pastor in 1866. 
 Rev. John M. Dandy followed Dr. Raymond, and, I 
 think, was pastor until the church was abandoned in 
 1871." 
 
 "We had many notable 
 characters here in Evans- 
 ton during the life of the 
 old church. There were 
 two bishops, Bishop Simp- 
 son, and President Foster 
 of Northwestern, who left 
 that position and was later 
 confirmed a bishop." 
 
 Present at the dedica- 
 tion on July 27, 1913 were 
 the following who were 
 present at the dedication 
 July 27, 1856: Charles 
 
 Beck, Henry A. Pear- ME church 
 
 sons, George Huntoon, at Church and Hinman 
 
 and Jacob Franklin. Erected 1871 
 
 | 70 
 
The Lady Elgin 
 
 IT WAS the year 1860. Compromises appeared to 
 be at an end. A shooting war seemed inevitable. 
 A tall gaunt man from Illinois had been nominated for 
 the Presidency on the Republican ticket. In Wisconsin 
 Governor Alexander Randall had reason to doubt the 
 loyalty of the Union Guard of Milwaukee. The Gover- 
 nor issued an order disbanding the Union Guard and 
 authorized the Adjutant General to call in the arms in 
 possession of the Guard. Capt. Garret Barry, Militia 
 Commander appealed to his friends and sympathizers 
 to purchase arms for the company. On Sept. 7th the 
 Guard, their wives and children and friends boarded 
 the Lady Elgin at the Milwaukee for a day of sight- 
 seeing in Chicago. About 11:30 on the night of Sept. 7 
 the Lady Elgin left Chicago for the return trip to Mil- 
 waukee. The move was made much against the advice 
 of Capt. John Wilson of the Lady Elgin. Storms at 
 that time of the year of Lake Michigan frequently 
 match the fury of the Atlantic and just such a storm 
 was then raging. Sometime between Midnight and 2:00 
 a.m. the Lady Elgin was rammed by the sailing vessel 
 Augusta, bound for Chicago with a heavy load of lum- 
 ber. The Lady Elgin, after staying afloat for 30 min- 
 utes broke asunder and precipitated the 400 passen- 
 gers into cold waves of Lake Michigan at a point about 
 10 miles off Waukegan. One version of the story recites 
 that the ship drifted as far south as Winnetka before 
 it went to the bottom. Approximately 100 persons were 
 rescued through the efforts of Garrett Biblical Insti- 
 tute students and others who rushed to the scene of 
 the disaster. This is the barest outline of what took 
 
 71 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 place in the early morning hours of September 8, 1860. 
 The story has been written in detail many times. Lloyd 
 Lewis and Delos Avery covered the story for their 
 newspapers. Frank Lester Weekly reported the story 
 of the disaster within two weeks after the tragedy. 
 Dr. Dwight Clark, former President of the Evanston 
 Historical Society, wrote the story for the Illinois State 
 Historical Society in the December issue of 1946. The 
 Historical Society's President, J. Seymour Currey 
 wrote the story for the local papers, the Press and the 
 Index. Mr. Currey spent years interviewing survivors 
 and anyone who could furnish any evidence of the 
 tragedy. The hero of the story is Edward W. Spenser, a 
 Garrett Biblical Institute student. Spenser is credited 
 with the saving of 17 lives, and Charles H. Fowler, also 
 a student in the Institute, is credited with the saving of 
 four lives from the ill-fated vessel. Currey and Dr. 
 D. D. Thompson carried on long negotiations with 
 members of Congress to secure recognization of the 
 work of Spenser and Fowler but without success. 
 
 The name of "Lady Elgin" is intriguing. It arouses 
 the curiosity as to its relationship to the English family 
 who brought the Elgin Marbles to the British Museum. 
 Earl of Elgin was the son of Lord Elgin. He was 
 governor of Canada and Lady Elgin was his wife. 
 The Lady Elgin was built in Canada — have we estab- 
 lished the relationship? 
 
 Herbert Ingraham, member of Parliament and 
 founder of the Illustrated News of London with his 15- 
 year-old son were among the victims. Ingraham's body 
 was recovered and sent to Boston, England, for burial. 
 His son's body was not recovered. 
 
 The Milwaukee Journal under date of September 21, 
 1921, had this to say of the excursionists on the ill- 
 fated vessel. 
 
 "The flower of Milwaukee's young manhood and 
 
 [72] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 womanhood went down with the boat. In many of 
 the homes the memory of the black disaster still 
 lives. During the year 1860 not a family attended St. 
 John's Cathedral but were mourners for a lost mem- 
 ber. 
 
 Until a few years ago the survivors met annually 
 to talk over the tragedy and to pray for their lost 
 companions. 
 
 And this year, although there is but one left, and 
 he unable to leave his invalid chair, requiem high 
 mass will be celebrated as it has been every year 
 since 1860 at St. John's Cathedral, Tuesday at 7:00 
 a.m. in commemoration of those who perished in 
 the wreck." 
 
 From the December 16 issue of 1908, Evanston Index 
 we glean the following story: The Rev. Dr. Torrey 
 was conducting an evangelistic meeting in Los Angeles 
 on the subject "Soul winning." He closed his sermon 
 with an account of the rescue of 17 persons from the 
 lake by Edward Spenser. After reciting the details 
 of the story which he said he had related many 
 times, he closed by saying: "Men and women of 
 Los Angeles, we are standing beside a stormy sea — 
 the sea of life. There are wrecks everywhere. Men 
 and women are going down! They are going down! 
 Let you and me plunge in again and again and again 
 until every last ounce of strength is gone, and when at 
 last in sheer exhaustion we sink upon the shore, let us 
 cry in the earnestness of our love for lost souls, Oh, if 
 I could only have saved just one more!" Someone 
 whispered to Dr. Torrey that Edward Spenser was in 
 the audience, whereupon he was escorted to Dr. Tor- 
 rey's side, and placing his hand upon Spenser, Dr. 
 Torrey prayed that God would make Ed Spenser's last 
 days his best days. 
 J. C. Hartzell, later Bishop of Africa in the Methodist 
 
 [73] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Church, was mentioned by some bystanders as one of 
 the Garrett Students who participated in the rescue. 
 J. Seymour Currey says that Bishop Hartzell was not 
 identified with the saving of lives on the Lady Elgin. 
 He did heroic work in a later Marine disaster which 
 occurred in 1864. 
 
 On June 3, 1908, the Class of 1898 unveiled a tablet 
 in honor of the student who saved 17 lives. Members 
 of the committee in charge of the unveiling were 
 George H. Tomlinson, C. H. Pendleton, and E. W. 
 Engstrom. The tablet was first placed in the reading 
 room of the Orrington Lunt Library, later moved to the 
 "Patten Gym" and now to the "New Patten Gym." 
 
 Edward S. Spenser's own story of the rescue was 
 written under date of May 29, 1908, and is on file at 
 the Evanston Historical Society. 
 
 On file at the Historical Society is the account of the 
 wreck by Rev. J. O. Cramb, also a student at the 
 Institute. Cramb was also identified with Spenser in 
 the rescue work. 
 
 Various stories were told about the burial place of 
 some of the victims who were not identified. The most 
 credible story appears to be the graves of two who 
 were interred at Highwood about a block south of the 
 Entrance gate to Fort Sheridan. The coroner immedi- 
 ately took possession of the bodies which were eventu- 
 ally taken to the basement of the Court House in Chi- 
 cago. 
 
 Henry W. Work, famous author and composer of 
 Chicago, wrote the words and music to a popular bal- 
 lad entitled "Lost on the Lady Elgin", the chorus of 
 which ran: 
 
 Lost on the Lady Elgiri 
 Sleeping to wake no more 
 Numbered in the three hundred 
 Who failed to reach the shore. 
 
 [74] 
 
Blind Pigs 
 
 1VT0RTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S charter pro- 
 1 l hibited the sale of alcoholic liquors within a ra- 
 dius of four miles of the College of Liberal Arts. The 
 College of Liberal Arts was at that time at the corner 
 of Hinman Ave. and Davis Street. Measuring from that 
 corner to Devon Avenue was said not to be four miles 
 as the crow flies. Until the passage of the Eighteenth 
 Amendment there were no saloons north of the north 
 line of Devon Avenue. In other words saloons were 
 located on the south side of Devon Avenue. The pro- 
 vision worked a hardship on those engaged in furnish- 
 ing liquor to the thirsty multitude. This gave rise to a 
 new institution known as "blind pigs." Friends of the 
 University were always on the alert for sightless swine. 
 One of the first operators in Evanston had his place 
 of business in a small building directly north of 
 Brienews Carriage Works at the corner of Ridge 
 Avenue and the Northwestern Railroad tracks. He 
 defied the authorities and so one dark night a vigilance 
 committee imbued with the spirit of the Tea Party of 
 1776 raided the place, poured the contents of the 
 schooners into the sewers. The raiding party wore 
 masks so their identity was not discovered. A writer 
 of the time says that the Evil Spirits cast out on this 
 occasion must have entered at once into other swine 
 which instead of rushing into the sea became fruitful 
 and multiplied and replenished the town with a peren- 
 nial crop of their kind. 
 
 Another suspect location was the Abe Hathaway 
 place located on the north side of Grove Street between 
 Chicago Avenue and Hinman Avenue. The last chapter 
 
 T 75 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 in the history of the Hathaway Tavern had to do with 
 the mysterious disappearance of a peddler who arrived 
 at the hostelry bearing a large and valuable assort- 
 ment of merchandise. He was never seen afterward 
 and it was generally believed that he had been mur- 
 dered and his body buried in a deep well on the 
 premises. 
 
 ►^#N#V#^^4 
 
 Sadie Burge's Diary 
 
 FROM the diary of Miss Sadie Burge, a niece of 
 Orrington Lunt and a graduate of Northwestern 
 Female College, class of 1873. I am quoting some of 
 her impressions of early Evanston. She returned the 
 following year for a visit to her Evanston relatives. 
 
 Under date of July 18, 1874, she closes her first in- 
 stallment after arriving in Evanston with this 
 comment: 
 
 "It is late so I must not write longer, besides, as 
 the girls used to say at College, it is tub night." 
 Two days later she continues: 
 
 "Yesterday it was too hot to do anything but sleep. 
 I think that when we do have a warm day here we 
 feel the heat a great deal more than we do in the 
 South. It is stifling, so oppressive, it seems as if you 
 would suffocate. Now this morning again it is cold, 
 plenty of air stirring, and if it were not for the green 
 leaves, you might think it mid-winter. 
 
 "And so my first experience was a fashionable 
 funeral; for as my relatives are wealthy and move 
 in the best society, they, of course, bury their dead 
 
 r 76 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 in all their customary pomp and style. The house 
 was filled with the lovliest flowers, all hired from 
 the green house for the express occasion. There was 
 a choir procured to do the singing and carriages 
 to take us all down to the cemetery. It all struck me 
 as being so cold and formal. There seemed to mv 
 unsophisticated eyes, no sorrow for the dead and 
 that the family thought more about the way in which 
 things were conducted than of their loss. It reminded 
 me strongly of the descriptions I have read of the 
 funerals of the ancients, where even the mourners 
 had to be hired. I have found out later that I judged 
 harshly and was mistaken about their feelings; any- 
 way, as for myself, when I die, I would prefer to be 
 laid away simply, with only a few friends present 
 and have no fuss or parade made over me. 
 
 "I think Evanston one of the loveliest places I 
 ever saw, now that the trees have leafed out and the 
 grass come out: Don't I remember how delighted 
 I was with dandelions, and how they all laughed at 
 me for thinking them beautiful. The residences here 
 all are, nearly, recently built — the greater part of 
 them handsome buildings. The grounds are mostly 
 well kept and the streets are perfectly level; on both 
 sides are nice sidewalks made of plank. I think the 
 nicest thing about the place — at least the most en- 
 joyable to me, is its drives. There are no ups and 
 downs of hills as it is at home, and no matter how 
 much rain, no sticky mud. Aunt Jennie has a nice 
 carriage with two beautiful black ponies and they 
 are at her guests' disposal all time of the day or 
 night. 
 July 27, 1874 
 
 "How many days have passed since I last wrote 
 and how much has happened during that time. We 
 did not come East by the lakes after all. As we had 
 
 [77] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 to come alone, they all thought it best for us to come 
 by rail. I was determined to come part of the way 
 by boat, anyway, so last Thursday morning the 23rd 
 of July, Lillie and I went down to Chicago by boat. 
 I spent the day at Aunt Cornelia's; we had a real 
 nice time down at the depot that afternoon. All of 
 Uncle Orrington's family were there, Uncle Steph, 
 Aunt Jennie and Lillie, Cousin Susie, Katie and Will 
 to say 'Good Bye,' and to wish us God Speed, and 
 gave us many kind invitations to come again. And so 
 ended my visit to Chicago, one of great enjoyment 
 and not without its lessons, I hope!" 
 
 The Avenue House 
 
 IN ANOTHER story I refer to the Avenue House as 
 the North goal of auto races. The race was not 
 to the swift but to the car which would endure to the 
 end. The Avenue House was built in 1854 by one James 
 B. Colvin, who was at that time postmaster. Colvin 
 also built and operated a general store on Davis Street, 
 corner of Orrington Avenue. It was in this building 
 that the Methodists first worshipped and the first quar- 
 terly conference is said to have been held there in 
 1854. In 1857 Colvin sold his interest to Albert Danks, 
 who operated under the name of The Danks Hotel. 
 Danks was very well known as the composer of a 
 popular song "Silver Threads Among the Gold," which 
 after a half century could be heard every day played 
 by bands and sung by soloists. Within a short time 
 after acquiring the property Danks sold it to George 
 
 [78 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 W. Reynolds, who changed the name to Reynolds 
 House. It was to the Reynolds House that Willard 
 brought his two daughters Mary and Frances on their 
 first trip to Evanston. In 1863 another transfer of 
 ownership was made when Seth A. Mattison asquired 
 it and the name was again changed to the Mattison 
 House. 
 
 In 1864 Ezra Adams appears in the picture as man- 
 ager for Mattison. He sold the property to Dr. Charles 
 H. Quinlan, a pioneer dentist of Chicago. Dr. Quinlan 
 and his brother John D. Quinlan, also a practicing 
 dentist in Chicago were pioneers in the introduction 
 of anasthesia in the practice of their profession. The 
 John D. Quinlan home was at 331 Davis Street, north- 
 east corner of Judson Avenue. Dr. Quinlan changed 
 the name of the Hotel to the Avenue House, a name 
 which it was to keep for 40 years. To the north of the 
 Avenue House was a frame house of some twelve or 
 fourteen rooms which was always referred to as the 
 "Quinlan Cottage." The Quinlan family continued to 
 live there after the death of their parents until the 
 hotel property was sold to William D. Murdock, a 
 real estate operator who at the time of his death was 
 living at 1717 Chicago Avenue, already referred to 
 as the Kidder House, which will soon celebrate its 
 hundredth birthday. To oldtimers the name of Nor- 
 man Ross appears as lessee in 1898 until the demoli- 
 tion of the building in 1917. 
 
 [79] 
 
Where They Lived 
 
 JULIUS WHITE, one of the three Generals from 
 Evanston in the Civil War, first lived at Chicago 
 Avenue and Davis Street. Later the Whites moved to 
 the northwest corner of Church Street and Ridge Ave., 
 where they entertained Abraham Lincoln. Harvey B. 
 Hard, who rode about Evanston in 1860 with the martyr 
 President was a neighbor of the Whites, one block 
 south, at the corner of Davis Street. A. D. Lang- 
 worthy lived at the southwest corner of Davis Street 
 and Sherman Avenue, now the home of the First Na- 
 tional Bank. Langworthy's name is perpetuated in the 
 name of a subdivision comprising land in the Davis 
 Street block. Oscar Mann, our first Mayor, was a 
 neighbor of Langworthy. He later built the Mann Build- 
 ing on the site of his home. Allen Vane lived down near 
 the Lake, corner of Davis and Forest Place. Mrs. Vane 
 always wrote a verse of Scripture on her letterheads. 
 Lyman J. Gage, President of the First National Bank 
 of Chicago, and Secretary of the Treasury, lived on 
 Chicago Avenue north of the Ludlams. Dr. J. D. Lud- 
 lam lived on the site of the Evanston Club. Dr. J. D. 
 Ludlam was the first physician in Evanston, was the 
 first to be buried in Rose Hill Cemetery. Dr. Henry 
 Bannister's home was on Chicago Avenue, north of the 
 Avenue House. To later Evanstonians it housed the 
 Evanston Cafeteria. Dr. Oliver and Mrs. Marcy lived 
 at the Northeast corner of Church and Chicago Avenue. 
 The Marcys are said to have been the first family to 
 own a sidewalk. In that early day, if you moved, you 
 took the sidewalk along with you, as you wculd your 
 furniture. John A. Pearsons and Mrs. Pearsons built 
 
 80 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 one of the first houses in Evanston. It is located at 
 1718 Chicago Avenue. Immediately across the street is 
 the Daniel P. Kidder House. Merrill Ladd, the banker, 
 lived at the southeast corner of Chicago and Church 
 Street. The Bragdon family held forth immediately 
 north of the Marcys. Dr. Bragdon will be remembered 
 as one of Evanston's doctors who never wore an over- 
 coat. 
 
 At 1745 Chicago Avenue you might have called on 
 General John A. Beveridge, later Governor of Illinois. 
 This house was also the home of Abram Weingardner 
 Harris, one time President of the University. The 
 Charles Comstocks lived over on the Ridge. It will be 
 remembered that the Comstock home was formerly 
 the domicile of George F. Foster, one time trustee of 
 the University. 1021 Davis Street was the home of 
 Edward Eggleston, best known for the Hoosier School- 
 master. Evanston Shrine, Rest Cottage, and the home 
 of the Willards is 1730 Chicago Avenue. Miner Ray- 
 mond, pastor of the First Methodist Church, lived on 
 the site of the Georgian Hotel. Just to the east of the 
 Hotel is a Luther L. Greenleaf House. There are sev- 
 eral Greenleaf Houses in Evanston. To the east of the 
 410 Davis was the home of the Boutells. Boutell served 
 as our Representative in Washington. One of the fam- 
 ilies to make their home after the Chicago Fire were 
 the Phillips. Son William, a doctor, married Josephine 
 Patterson, daughter of Robert Patterson, first pastor 
 of the Second Presbyterian Church of Chicago, often 
 referred to as the "Spotted Church." 
 
 [81] 
 
§ 1 
 
 to '£ 
 o 
 
Fountain Square 1876 
 
 r 
 
 Fountain Square 
 Circa 1876 
 
 F YOU were a 
 small boy or 
 girl living in Ev- 
 anston the morning 
 of July 4, 1876, you 
 would have found 
 your way to Foun- 
 tain Square as 
 early as nine 
 o'clock. 100 years 
 had passed since the 
 signing of that fam- 
 ous document proclaiming the right of all men to free- 
 dom from tyranny. John H. Kedzie was Master of Cere- 
 monies. Edward S. Taylor, eloquent and famous orator 
 of that day delivered the speech of the occasion on the 
 subject "Mystery of Water." This oration in which he 
 eulogized the water from the fountain as the greatest 
 symbol of temperance and sobriety has been carefully 
 preserved with great pride by the Evanston Historical 
 Society. At the celebration of the 70th anniversary of 
 that event in 1946 some of the same small boys were 
 present: Augustine F. Johnson 88, of 592 Ingleside 
 Park, a resident of the suburb since 1868, and its first 
 milk dealer; Harry B. Judson for whose grandfather 
 Judson Ave. was named; Mrs. Mary Stevens, 85, of 
 Winnetka; Edward S. Raymond, 76, of 1704 Hinman 
 Avenue; Jean J. Ridgway, 75, of 916 Crain Street; 
 Robert S. Vandercook, 80; Frederick P. Vose, 76; 
 Selden White, 76; Henry F. Witt, 76; George Olm- 
 
 [83] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 sted, 1036 Judson Avenue; Alexander Moseley; 
 Thomas E. Tallmadge, noted architect. 
 
 The address given by George Olmsted on October 16, 
 1946, is so full of old time color that I quote in full: . 
 
 "Fellow Citizens and members of the committee, 
 I greet you! 
 
 "Well, well, — well! Here I am again, after more 
 than seventy years. I presume you would like to 
 know where I have been all this time. I will confide 
 in you. I have been right here for nearly seventy- 
 five years. 
 
 "That was a great day — July 4, 1876. Flags were 
 flying, fireworks were exploding, and people were 
 milling about the Square. The address was delivered 
 by Honorable E. S. Taylor, and some speech it was. 
 It sparkled even more than the fireworks. 
 
 "If you want to get the feel and the atmosphere of 
 that day, I suggest that you go over to the rooms 
 of the Historical Society in the Public Library Build- 
 ing. I am sure the relics and pictures there will give 
 you a good idea of what this village was in that 
 Early day. 
 
 "I am reminded of the famous poem written by 
 Oliver Goldsmith, 'The Deserted Village', the first 
 line of which reads: 'Sweet Auburn! loveliest vil- 
 lage of the plain.' That was Evanston, the difference 
 between Evanston and 'Sweet Auburn,' being that 
 Evanston was not a deserted village. There was a 
 lot of activity around. Don't laugh — I mean just that. 
 
 "My father's dry goods store was right over there 
 — on the South side of Davis Street, the door west of 
 Walters and Andersons Tailoring Emporium (aside 
 to Isak Anderson on the stand as the longest-time 
 merchant on the street) — I guess Isak, that ought to 
 
 [84] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 be good for a suit of clothes. Father's store had 
 quite a wide iron doorstep, and I used to get clear 
 over on one edge, and sit there by the hour watching 
 the world go by; and it was some world, peopled by 
 a lot of wonderful and eminent individuals. If you 
 had been sitting with me in those days, I will tell 
 you some of the people you would have seen: 
 
 "You would have seen some of the Founding Fa- 
 thers of the University, who were, of course, also 
 founders of the village. 
 
 "You would have seen Orrington Lunt, accom- 
 panied quite possibly by his daughter, Cornelia. 
 
 "You would have seen Philo Judson, on whose 
 street I have lived for nearly forty years. 
 
 "You would have seen John A. Pearsons and fa- 
 ther of our former Mayor, Harry Pearsons, who is 
 sitting beside me now. 
 
 "You would have seen Andrew J. Brown. The 
 home occupied the whole block — Maple to Oak, and 
 Grove to Lake — where the City Hall now stands. 
 
 "You would have seen some of the famous pro- 
 fessors of the University — Doctors Bonbright, Fisk, 
 Marcy and others; also President of the University 
 — Dr. Cummings. 
 
 "You would have seen those Union Generals, re- 
 turned from the battlefields of the Civil War — Gen- 
 eral William Gamble, General Julius White, and 
 General John L. Beveridge, the latter becoming 
 Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois. 
 
 "You would have seen members of the Deering 
 family, of Harvester fame, coming up the street 
 from their home, at Davis Street and Judson Avenue. 
 
 "You would have seen Frances Willard, the great 
 
 [85] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 teacher and humanitarian of whose Sunday School 
 class I was a member for over a year. I am a Con- 
 gregationalism but one of the Methodist boys, one No- 
 vember, suggested that I join Miss Willard's class be- 
 cause she gave such wonderful Christmas presents. 
 When my father heard of the plan, he demurred 
 strenuously to my mother. My mother's answer was 
 this: "Don't worry, Hub (she always called him Hub) 
 George may have started on that account, but I 
 shall trust Frances to hold him a long time after 
 Christmas," and that is just what happened. 
 
 "If you had been with me in 1883, you would have 
 seen those two beautiful girls that were summer 
 guests of Miss Willard, her niece, Katherine Willard, 
 and her classmate, Miss Frances Folsom of the 
 seminary at Troy, New York. Miss Folsom, in two 
 years, was married in the White House, to our 
 twenty-second President, Grover Cleveland. 
 
 "You would probably have seen Mrs. James S. 
 Kirk coming down Davis Street from her South 
 Ridge home, which property is now occupied by the 
 St. Francis Hospital. I remember one incident about 
 her trading at father's store. I had the temerity, one 
 day, to ask her what in the world she did with so 
 many pearl buttons. Three or four times a year she 
 would buy ten or a dozen of those large cards of such 
 buttons. Her answer was: 'Sonny, I have a lot of 
 big, strapping boys, and it keeps me busy sewing 
 buttons on their shirts.' 
 
 "Not very much real money passed between the 
 business people on Davis Street. Most of the trading 
 was done by so-called 'contra accounts.' we would 
 buy from the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick 
 maker, from Schwalls Livery or Magnuson's Laun- 
 dry, and the housewives would come to our store 
 
 [86] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and trade their credit out. Unlike this day and age. 
 we got along quite well without money. 
 
 "You would probably like to know just who were 
 occupying the corners on this square in 1876. Well, 
 over there on the Chandler corner was Simpson's 
 Meat Market. Where the First National Bank stands 
 was Haskins Dry Goods Store — my father's com- 
 petitor, and a fine man he was. On the State Bank 
 corner was Garwood's Drug Store; and where the 
 City Hall now stands, there was a vacant lot, de- 
 pressed four or five feet, just west of which was 
 Hobbs Paint and Decorating Store, and beyond that 
 Muno's Bakery. 
 
 "Just south of the Square, in that triangular space 
 was what we called the 'Hay and Wood Market.' 
 The wagons, or often in case of fire wood, the bob- 
 sleds would come in from west of Skokie swamp. 
 
 "You people who live in Skokie (and my daughter 
 did for some time) can hardly believe that that whole 
 area was a swamp which was not drained for a 
 good many years. Some of the people lived there, 
 however, in homes on stilts; and in the spring of the 
 year, when the area was covered with water, you 
 could see the Evanston workmen coming in from 
 those homes in boats, mooring them about where 
 Dodge Avenue is now. 
 
 "I repeat — we had a wonderful village, and the 
 generations since have been carrying on; and (I) ad- 
 jure you to keep up the good work, and see to it that 
 this city never loses its reputation as the finest, most 
 attractive residential town in these United States." 
 
 [87] 
 
William Sinclair Lord 
 
 WILLIAM S. LORD, founder of the department 
 store which bears his name, was born in Syca- 
 more, Illinois. When a boy of nine he lost his father. 
 After attending public schools, he began his mercantile 
 career as a clerk in Haskins Store, which was located 
 at the Southwest corner of Davis St. and Sherman 
 Avenue. Subsequently he purchased the Haskins Store 
 and eventually moved to the Rood Building, 701-703 
 Davis Street, where he operated under the name of 
 Lord's Enterprise. In 1914 he sold the store to A. H. 
 Ullrich, one time jeweler on Davis Street. The deal in- 
 volving considerable money was closed by exchange of 
 cablegrams. Aside from his business enterprises he 
 wrote and published several volumes of "Verses". Cop- 
 ies of these books of verse are on file in the library of 
 Evanston authors, Evanston Historical Society. 
 "Beads of Morning" published 1888. "Blue and Gold" 
 appeared in 1895; "Jingle and Jangle" in 1898 and the 
 "Rock-a-bye Book" in 1905. 
 
 Among the verses is one called "Santa" which is 
 quoted in full. 
 
 You wonder how Santa keeps his youth 
 
 So rosy and round and gay 
 No trace on his forehead of time's rude tooth, 
 
 Though long have his locks been gray. 
 
 His teeth are as many, as sound and white 
 
 As he shoiued in '73 
 His eyes are as bright and as clear of sight 
 
 As ever they used to be. 
 
 [88] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 O'er nose and o'er cheeks does the rich red creep 
 
 And hid in his long white beard 
 Are dimples so deep, should ever he weep 
 
 They'd turn into horns, Vm feard. 
 
 His hands are as kind and as strong and deft 
 
 As ever, to give and make, 
 And what the right does is unknown to the left 
 
 He gives out for goodness sake. 
 
 Why many and many a year ago 
 
 When grandpa and Grant were boys 
 That stout little figure they used to know 
 
 With his burden of Christmas joys! 
 
 And Santa Claus' secrets for youthful age 
 
 I'll tell you in one word — ''Give," 
 It runs through his records on every page 
 
 To give is to truly live. 
 
 f########^##*^######################*###################*#*#**##### 
 
 Curb Service and the Sundae 
 
 CURB SERVICE is not new. For over 70 years 
 there has been a Drug Store at the corner of 
 Davis Street and Orrington Avenue. During the eighties 
 the drug store was run by William C. (Deacon) Gar- 
 wood. On the corner was a big shade tree. Garwood 
 conceived the idea of placing an electric signal bell 
 in reach of the drivers carriages. One could drive up to 
 the drug store and ring the bell. A clerk would respond, 
 take your order, and you could enjoy your ice cream 
 
 [89] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 or soda water under the shade of the tree. Garwood is 
 said to have introduced the ice cream soda to Evans- 
 tonians, and he made money by selling it for 5c a glass. 
 Garwood paid sixty-five dollars per month for the store. 
 It now rents for more than sixty-five dollars per day. 
 Old timer Barry Gilbert wrote the Saunterer under 
 the date April 21, '55, as follows: "I was introduced to 
 the sundae by Charles (Mike) Howe at the Williams 
 Drugstore, September eighth, 1894." 
 
 To which the Saunterer replied: "Hazy Fable put the 
 birth of the Sundae at Garwoods in the '80's. It could 
 have been at Williams (Newton P. Williams). The 1886 
 directory lists both stores — Garwoods at Davis Street 
 and Orrington Avenue; Williams at 414 Davis Street 
 (old numbering) second door east of the Post Office. 
 
 William Lyon Phelps in his famous autobiography 
 has this to say of the origin of the Sundae: 
 
 "Crossing the ocean in the steamer Bremen in 1935, 
 the German head steward asked me the origin of the 
 word 'sundae.' I could not give him any accurate infor- 
 mation, but when I made a comment on this in Scrib- 
 ners Magazine, I got letters from every section of 
 America. One of the most interesting is from the distin- 
 guished owner, publisher, and editor of the Tulsa 
 Tribune in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mr. Richard Lloyd Jones. 
 Mr. Jones' letter follows: 
 
 'Words are full of romance. I too enjoy the history 
 of words, so was I attracted to your references in 
 October Scribner's to the delectable "sundae." Per- 
 haps the dictionary makers did not know what I think 
 I know about the origin of that term. And perhaps I 
 do not know the truth. 
 
 'I grew up as a Chicago kid who did the things that 
 most city boys do. I chased the fire engines all over 
 Chicago and early was as much patron of the soda 
 
 [90] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 fountains as my parents would permit. I remember 
 when the sundae first appeared over the marble foun- 
 tain counter and I remember the soda jerkers of that 
 time relating the story of the origin which was some- 
 thing like this: 
 
 'Evanston, Chicago's godly neighbor, Heavenston 
 as the good Frances Willard used to call it, was in 
 those days at least rather Methodist minded. The 
 piety of the town resented the dissipating influences 
 of the soda fountain on Sunday and the good town fa- 
 thers, yielding to this churchly influence, passed an 
 ordinance prohibiting the retailing of ice cream sodas 
 on Sunday. 
 
 'Some ingenious confection and drugstore opera- 
 tors in "Heavenston" obeying the law, served ice 
 cream with syrup of your choice without the soda, 
 thereby complying with the law. They did not serve 
 ice cream sodas. They served sodas without soda on 
 Sunday. This sodaless soda was a Sunday soda. It 
 proved palatable and popular, and orders for Sun- 
 days began to cross the counters on Mondays. 
 
 'Objection then was made to christening a dish 
 after the Sabbath. So the spelling of "Sunday" was 
 changed. It became an established dish and an estab- 
 lished word, and finally the Heavenston "sundae" 
 appeared in Congregational Connecticut. 
 
 'I do not vouch for this as being totally accurate 
 history of the word which was common gossip in my 
 boyhood at the time "Sunday" appeared at the soda 
 fountains which I patronized. 
 
 'If this story may not be known to you, I just 
 thought it might interest you. So with my warmest 
 personal greetings, as always, I drop it in the mail 
 chute for you.' " 
 
 [91] 
 
The Rubicon 
 
 THE Rubicon was a boundary between the prov- 
 ince of Cisalpine Gaul and Roman Italy, and 
 there was a law that no general returning from foreign 
 wars could cross it under arms. No such restriction 
 was placed upon the Evanston Rubicon, also referred 
 to as Hazards Glen, neither was it immortalized in 
 the River Series. It flowed across the campus and 
 emptied into the Lake at about the location of the 
 Observatory. It may have drained the territory as far 
 south as Sherman Avenue and Davis Street. One early 
 picture shows an open ditch on the west side of Sher- 
 man Avenue. 
 
 Fraternities made frequent use of the Rubicon for 
 their secret rites. The neophyte, blindfolded, was told 
 to find his way through the morass. If he succeeded, 
 he was qualified to proceed further into the mysteries 
 of Eta Heapa Pie. 
 
 From the Review of August 17, 1939, I quote the 
 following. The writer, by some purists, would be ac- 
 cused of fine writing: 
 
 "Years ago, flowing across, what is now the good 
 green sod and close napped green carpets of North- 
 western's Campus, was the Rubicon. Beside its banks 
 lovers strolled — she followed by the billowing bustle 
 and the whisper of many petticoats, while he carried 
 that fence of celluloid collar asked by the mores of the 
 era, with stiff-necked gentlemanliness. 
 
 "Like a languid serpent the Rubicon twined its way 
 between what was then Heck and Dempster Hall, its 
 tired body nudged through the cress of the banks in 
 quiet hurry to blend with Michigan's waters. Its banks 
 
 [92] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 knew the feel of a full moon and the whisper of 
 wind in the elms and the husky sound of young love's 
 first 'I love you.' Its waters sobered the careless 
 drunk, carried away torn love letters, and shivered 
 with the sound of 'Go You Northwestern.' 
 
 "A twenty-foot wooden bridge helped the traffic of 
 Sheridan Road across its back, and where are now the 
 petted soil and flowers of Shakespeare Garden, Mrs. 
 Dennison's ducks once paddled beneath the half-shade 
 of watery willows and shredded the atmosphere with 
 their quacking, while the Rubicon water, in tepid soiled 
 hurry found its mouth a hundred yards beyond. 
 
 "The old Dearborn Observatory now being moved to 
 the new site to make room for the Technology Institute, 
 was first built north of the banks of the Rubicon 
 around 1887. According to James Taft Hatfield and 
 other antiquarians, the new foundation is being built 
 exactly on the bed of the old stream. Test borings 
 revealed remains of the historic water course and 
 builders hailed the site as an ideal site for the Uni- 
 versity's star gazing equipment. 
 
 "Soil and stone have conquered the Rubicon, but the 
 waters still flow sweetly in memory. The pensive 
 senior in saddest dream never could vision the bed of 
 the Rubicon holding part of a Shakespeare Garden and 
 an Observatory. The Song of the Rubicon was taken 
 from 'Songs of Northwestern University,' the oldest 
 song book including Northwestern songs at the Uni- 
 versity Library. It was the gift to the University from 
 Reverend F. M. Warrington." 
 
 THE SONG OF THE RUBICON 
 
 Flow on, foul river, to the Lake 
 Thy tribute wave deliver 
 No more by thee my steps I'll take 
 Forever and forever. 
 
 [93] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 But here will sigh the basswood tree 
 And here the billows shiver 
 And here in thee the ducks will sport 
 Forever and forever. 
 
 A thousand suns shall shine on thee 
 And moonbeams long shall quiver 
 But not by thee my steps shall be 
 Forever and forever. 
 
 And Mrs. Dennison long may 
 
 Thy fowls live near the river 
 
 Still undisturbed from Dempster Hall 
 
 Forever and forever. 
 
 Historical Society's Birthday Party 
 
 ONE of the great birthday parties in our history 
 was held on the night of November 21, 1928. It was 
 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Evanston 
 Historical Society. Long before the night it was evident 
 that the party was to be a great success. So great was 
 the demand for tickets that all could not be accom- 
 modated in the Ball Room of the North Shore Hotel. 
 Charles G. Dawes, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Patten, 
 Miss Cornelia Lunt, Evanston's First Lady, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Walter D. Scott, and Mayor Charles H. Bartlett 
 were guests of honor. Master of Ceremony was Wil- 
 liam J. Hamilton, President of the Society. Vice Presi- 
 dent Dawes asked for a show of hands of those who 
 had been residents of Evanston for sixty years or 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 more. Those who responded were: Fred French, Mrs. 
 Edward Carpenter, Miss Josephine Carpenter, Mrs. 
 Fred Belknap, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gray, Mrs. Wal- 
 ter Lee Brown, Bartow A. Ulrich, and Chester Grover. 
 Next came the fifty years olds, among whom were 
 Mr. and Mrs. Martin M. Gridley, Miss Anna Rees, 
 Fred Smith, Mrs. Towner Webster, Miss Celia Sargent, 
 Miss Nanny M. Hines, W. T. Shepherd, Mrs. 
 Charles W. Northup, J. C. Northup, C. T. Bartlett, 
 Harold Currey, and Charles E. Ware. 
 
 An item on the program in the lighter vein was a 
 meeting of the Village Council wherein members of 
 the Society impersonated the members of the Council 
 in 1872. The pressing problem before the meeting of the 
 Council was what should be done about cows on Davis 
 Street. While there was an ordinance on the books 
 prohibiting cows running at large, residents com- 
 plained of cattle overruning lawns to the destruction of 
 gardens and valuable shrubbery. It was suggested that 
 some enterprising young man might create a job for 
 himself and perform a public service by driving the 
 cows to a pasture on the outskirts of town and again 
 in the evening returning them to their owners at night. 
 It was brought out that some of the cows were expert 
 enough to open gates with their horns. It was sub- 
 mitted that the cowboy business would pay if properly 
 managed and relieved the citizens of a great nuisance. 
 Regarding cow nuisance, the Index had this to say — 
 "about two weeks ago the trustees of the village, in 
 response to urgent appeals of residents on Church 
 Street and Wesley Avenue passed an ordinance com- 
 pelling owners of cows to have them led through the 
 streets by a proper attendant. There are still many 
 cows driven loosely through the streets, and if a lawn 
 escapes injury it is by mere luck. So far as the drivers 
 
 [96] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 are concerned, they are small boys who pay more 
 attention to playing as they go, than herding their 
 cattle. For some years Church Street has been used 
 as a "cow run" to the pastures on the prairie on the 
 west of the village. The residents of the street west 
 of Oak Avenue who have bought property and erected 
 handsome homes naturally desire to keep their lawns 
 in good shape. 
 
 "The career of Mary Todd Lincoln, as revealed 
 by her love of finery, was cleverly told in a series 
 of tableaux skillfully staged by a group of students 
 from the recreation and community leadership depart- 
 ment of Northwestern University under the direction of 
 Miss Charlotte Corpening, dramatic instructor. One 
 of Mrs. Lincoln's own dresses, a lovely figured brown 
 voile creation, and a fascinating block quilt made from 
 pieces of dresses that she wore as Mistress of the 
 White House, were used as tableaux".* 
 
 The Historical Society is the proud possessor of a 
 picture of some of the ladies in costume as they ap- 
 peared at the party. 
 
 Jennie Foster 
 
 IF YOU measure greatness as the influence you 
 have with the growing generation, then Miss Fos- 
 ter deserves a place among the great. She was a 
 teacher in the Central School, Main Street, from 1879 
 to 1925. 
 
 On the night of November 22, 1929, the Parent 
 
 *News Index, November 1928 
 
 [97 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Teachers Association decided to honor Miss Foster 
 with the installation of a memorial plaque and the dedi- 
 cation of the library, to be known as the Jennie Foster 
 Library. Charles H. Bartlett, Mayor of Evanston and 
 one of the former pupils of Miss Foster, made the 
 presentation speech, and Professor F. W. Nichols, Su- 
 perintendent of Schools, acknowledged the acceptance. 
 Five hundred and ninety-five former pupils and friends 
 of Miss Foster came. Five hundred and ninety-five 
 represented the capacity of the room. Skits from the 
 works of Evanston authors were acted by the various 
 grades. The prominence of the authors justifies re- 
 cording them. The first grade presented "Songs of the 
 Child World" by Alice C. D. Riley. Grade II gave 
 the "Rhyming Ring" by Louise Ayars Garnett. The 
 third grade presented "The Twins" by Lucy Fitch 
 Perkins, while the fourth grade gave "Slow Smoke" 
 by Lew Sarett. "South Evanston Forty Years Ago" 
 by Viola Crouch Reeling, was given by the fifth grade. 
 Miss Foster was the first to give the alarm of fire 
 March 24, 1894. 
 
 Frederick E. French 
 
 FREDERICK E. FRENCH, one of the many 
 French's, wrote a story which he called "Old 
 Evanston and Fifty Years After." When I first met 
 Fred French he was credit man for that famous old 
 Chicago House, John V. Farwell and Co. French's 
 story is so full of old time color that I am quoting 
 excerpts from his reminiscences. 
 
 L 98 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "As I look back to those early days, one of the first 
 things I remember is my donkey. The history of this 
 little animal really goes back to the time we were still 
 living in Milwaukee in the house where I was born on 
 the site of the present Milwaukee Post Office. The don- 
 key was one of two brought to the city about the end of 
 the Civil War. The owner sold one of them to a theatri- 
 cal company for use in the play 'Humpty Dumpty' 
 then circulating the principal cities of the United 
 States. My father bought the other one." 
 
 "When we moved to Evanston two years later we 
 brought the little animal with us. I mention this incident 
 for the reason that this family pet gave much pleasure 
 to every child in our little hamlet, from 1867 to 1872. It 
 was as a matter of fact, the only donkey in Cook 
 County. 
 
 "During the Epizootic epidemic in 1872 this noble 
 beast was the only well animal in Evanston; and so, 
 with a little four-wheeled, two-seated wagon I hauled 
 all the trunks of Evanstonians and their guests to and 
 from the North Western trains. At that time the station 
 master was Mr. William P. Turner. If it had not been 
 for his wonderful loyalty and assistance to me at the 
 station end, and the cheerful assistance of the owner 
 of the baggage at the other end, the transfer could 
 not have been made. For this unusual service I charged 
 $1.00 for each trunk. 
 
 "The enterprize was short-lived, however. This gentle 
 beast with its homely ears and shaggy coat shortly fell 
 a victim of the disease which history shows was the 
 same as that which smote 'the horses, the asses, the 
 camel, the oxen and the sheep' of Egypt in the days of 
 Moses. 
 
 "This wonderful little animal was laid away in a 
 piano box with a pillow placed under its head. When the 
 grave was dug in the alley between Hinman and 
 
 [99] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 Chicago Avenue, one hundred feet north of Greenwood 
 Boulevard, every child in the neighborhood was pres- 
 ent. The bones of this Evanston children's pet have 
 never been removed." 
 
 "In those days I always drove on the sidewalk, 
 when there was one, and followed the old custom of 
 speaking to everybody. Today if I did either, I should 
 be promptly arrested." 
 
 "In those days there was very little gossip in our 
 little village. When a new baby came, however, the 
 town began to talk. Did it have the average weight, 
 seven and one-half pounds? What was the color of its 
 hair and eyes? Was it red like most babies? How was 
 the mother getting along? Then the conversation would 
 drift to the baby clothes, baby wagons, etc. The first 
 time I saw a baby I was five years old. It belonged to 
 a family which then lived on Hinman Avenue. The 
 house situated in the center of a large lot, was most 
 commodius, yet as each baby arrived another addition 
 would be added, until finally there were seven addi- 
 tions. Everybody in Evanston envied this large and 
 interesting Bradley family." 
 
 "The situation in the Webster family was somewhat 
 like this. When the last baby arrived, it became neces- 
 sary for the oldest son Ed (then a young medical 
 student) to give up his room to his new baby sister. A 
 room over the woodshed west of the house was quickly 
 lathed and plastered. To this room the young medical 
 student moved his collection of skeletons, specimens 
 and medical books." 
 
 "There were hardships in those early days. Every 
 old timer remembers them: how every good house- 
 keeper cleaned and filled every day the greasy kero- 
 sene lamps with blackened chimneys; how the wood- 
 boxes in the kitchen and living room had to be filled; 
 how hard it was to sweep the floors with a broom; 
 
 [100 J 
 
Stories of Early Evanstori 
 
 how the pumps had to be carefully wrapped during 
 freezing weather; how if a pump did freeze up it was 
 necessary to spend much time pouring hot water in 
 the top and at the same time work the pump handle 
 to make the water start; how during the extremely 
 cold weather free-stone or bricks had to be heated and 
 placed in the beds of unheated bedrooms; how the 
 water had to be heated for the Saturday night baths 
 taken in foot tubs by every member of the family; how 
 the baby would have to be taken out in its carriage 
 over rough walks; how the horse would have to be fed, 
 cleaned and exercised, the vehicles washed and 
 greased, the cow milked and the chickens fed; how the 
 horse and buggy, if used for an evening's entertain- 
 ment, had to be put up by the light of a lantern; how 
 groceries, fruits and vegetables were usually pur- 
 chased by the dozens or bushels; how one bought and 
 liked the only kind of cheese then procurable — the old 
 fashioned rat trap cheese received by the grocer in one 
 big piece and displayed by him under glass." 
 
 "History tells that prior to 1872 the vaults of every 
 important bank were built sufficiently large to contain 
 a watch dog. Following the three terrible days of the 
 Chicago Fire, the vault of the Fidelity Trust and 
 Savings Bank was opened. To the great surprise of the 
 bank officials the noble watch dog was alive, with only 
 its claws scorched. Feeling that this enforced imprison- 
 ment should be adequately recognized, the bank had a 
 facsimile of the faithful animal made out of stone and 
 placed over the entrance of the rebuilt bank. It was re- 
 moved only two years ago when this historic bank 
 building was torn down to make room for the New Ran- 
 dolph Street addition to the Sherman House." 
 
 "The President of this bank in 1871 was A. C. Reed, 
 the father of one of our present oldest citizens, Mrs. 
 E. F. Carpenter." 
 
 noi] 
 
Evanston's First Movie 
 
 EVANSTON'S first movie house was a hole in the 
 wall in the 800 block on Davis Street. The pro- 
 prietors were Bodkin and Keane. A part of the eve- 
 ning's entertainment would be a burlesque skit. Keane 
 told me that when they first began operations, the 
 picture, light, rent and other charges were paid at the 
 end of the week and the remaining cash in the box was 
 divided equally between the two partners. As the busi- 
 ness prospered, a real movie house was conceived by 
 the promoters. The 70 feet upon which a part of 
 the First National Bank has been erected had just 
 been acquired by A. H. Ullrich, jeweler, and subse- 
 quently owner of Lord's Department Store. A ground 
 lease was aquired by Bodkin and Keane, and soon aft- 
 er the Star Theatre came into existence. One of the 
 problems confronting the lessees was an eight-year 
 lease on one of the stores held by one Szymanski. A 
 cancellation of his lease was secured by giving Szy- 
 manski an interest in the theatre. 
 
 Looking Backward 
 
 IN THE Evanston Index May 1, 1897 Frank Grover 
 wrote "Now the spring elections are out of the 
 way, our local statesmen taking a rest, and the public 
 mind ready to seek new channels, I ask the question, 
 
 I 102 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Is it not high time we had an Evanston Historical 
 Society? 
 
 "This society was chartered in November 1899, with 
 Harvey B. Hurd as President, and now after 39 years 
 of collecting and guarding relics and records of Ev- 
 anston life through the years, the Evanston Historical 
 Society lodged in the Public Library lower floor is 
 well worth a frequent pilgrimage. 
 
 "There are echoes of the frontier town north of 
 Chicago which supplied much of the fuel wood to the 
 city. The old fort pike, Green Bay Road led up to 
 Green Bay, Wisconsin; on the edge of Indian territory 
 where the soldiers retired after the war of 1812. The 
 Black Hawk War ended in 1832. The Indian burial 
 ground was where Sheridan Place now is. Each In- 
 dian corpse was hung on a scaffold with his gun, dog, 
 and tomahawk. The last burial there was in 1835. 
 
 "In 1849 the white men all left their weeping wives 
 and sweethearts to follow the California gold trail. 
 They went on horseback, accompanied by their 
 wagons. Two years later, they all straggled back, to 
 a man, some by the way of the Isthmus, but they 
 were poorer than when they started. 
 
 "An insurpassable swamp which extended between 
 the two glacial ridges in Evanston was cut by corduroy 
 roads from Orrington Avenue to Ridge Avenue and 
 along Main Street. In 1837 George Dye high hatted the 
 neighboring log cabins by building the first frame 
 house, half a mile north of the St. Francis Hospital 
 site. The old Snyder farm house, another early land- 
 mark, was at the corner of Ridge Avenue and Grove 
 Street. This was at one time suspected of being the 
 seat of a counterfeit ring. 
 
 "The Buckeye Tavern was built in 1848 at 2241 
 Ridge Avenue just north of Noyes Street. It served as 
 
 [ 103 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the Post Office in 1849, and there classes were held 
 when Northwestern Female Seminary burned. The 
 building is still standing. It has now been moved 
 around the corner to 1204 Noyes Street, and is inhabited 
 today by the Parsons family. 
 
 "The Kidder home at 1717 Chicago Avenue across 
 from Woman's Club was built in 1856 and has incidently 
 always been inhabited by a doctor. The Pearson's 
 home, just north of the Club, was originally built in 
 1854. This property the Club plans to buy for an ad- 
 dition. 
 
 "Evanston history is short, but already it is 
 precious. The enthusiasm of the Historical Society fa- 
 thers caused them to have the architect Oscar Blue- 
 mer sketch plans for a beautiful stone structure to 
 house the records. Permanent housing for these treas- 
 ures should be provided. 
 
 "In 1928, when the late William J. Hamilton pre- 
 sided, the Historical Society announced a dinner at 
 the North Shore Hotel; 75 guests were expected and 
 300 came. The topic for discussion was: 'The Pressur- 
 ing Problem of Preventing Cows on Davis Street.' : 
 
 [104] 
 
Van Doozer and Potter 
 
 Barnabas, 
 -[Damon and Pythias, 
 Van Doozer and Potter, are 
 names associated in the pub- 
 lic mind. Walter Paulison 
 writing for the Northwestern 
 Program had this to say of 
 the famous Halfbacks of the 
 Nineties: 
 
 "Whenever old timers gath- 
 er to discuss the early days 
 of Northwestern football and 
 to reminisce about Purple 
 gridiron heroes of the past, 
 the names of Van Doozer and 
 Potter are invariably linked 
 together. 
 "Van Doozer and Potter! Down through the years 
 these two names have come to symbolize a period 
 of past glories. For many years after this pair had 
 performed their mighty feats, sports writers would 
 refer to Northwestern players as 'he's the greatest 
 since Van Doozer and Potter,' or 'they couldn't 
 carry Van Doozer's and Potter's headgears.' 
 
 "Such was the fame of these two players whose deeds 
 have become almost legendary. Yet they were real 
 flesh and blood heroes and it remained for the late 
 Walter Eckersall, famed Ail-American quarterback at 
 the University of Chicago, to single out Jesse Van 
 Doozer as 'the greatest Northwestern player of all 
 time.' 
 
 Van Doozer and Potter 
 
 [ 105 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "The story of this pair begins in 1892 when Van 
 Doozer reported for the football team along with such 
 other freshmen (the one year rule had not been 
 adopted) as Walter Dill Scott, Alvin H. Culver and 
 others. Scott later became president of the university 
 and Culver served as football coach and a member of 
 the athletic board for many years. 
 
 "During the '92 season Van Doozer and Culver were 
 the regular tackles and played stellar roles in the first 
 games ever played with Illinois and Michigan. The 
 former ended in a 16 to 16 tie and the latter, 10 to 8, 
 in Northwestern's favor. 
 
 "In '94 Van Doozer dropped out of school to play 
 with the Chicago Athletic association team, one of 
 the ranking elevens in the country. Culver, who had 
 graduated, was also a member of the club team. Jesse 
 was switched to halfback where his 200 pound frame 
 made him one of the hardest charging backs in the 
 west. 
 
 "In '95, Van Doozer returned to school and Culver, 
 then enrolled in the law school, was appointed coach. 
 Among the freshmen was a rugged halfback by the 
 name of Albert Potter who had played two years at 
 Baker college in Kansas. Thus began the association 
 of Van Doozer and Potter, the greatest halfback com- 
 bination in midwest football. 
 
 "Van Doozer was elected captain but was not per- 
 mitted to play in the first two games against Wis- 
 consin and Iowa because of a technicality over his 
 membership in the University's Life Saving crew. As 
 a consequence both games were lost. 
 
 "He was finally restored to good standing and cele- 
 brated by scoring four touchdowns in a 34 to 6 rout 
 of Beloit. He and Potter scored eight touchdowns 
 between them in the Armour Tech game which was 
 followed by the big game with Chicago. 
 
 [106] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "Chicago, then the reigning team in the conference, 
 was heavy favorite over the Purple, but 500 North- 
 western hopefuls accompanied the team to Marshall 
 Field. They witnessed one of the most stunning upsets 
 in football history, as an underdog Purple eleven, led 
 by its two smashing, slashing halfbacks, rolled up a 
 22 to 6 victory over Stagg's team. Potter's open field 
 running accounted for three touchdowns. Van Doozer 
 added another and also kicked three goals after touch- 
 down. 
 
 "Van Doozer was reelected captain the following 
 season and Potter was again his running mate at the 
 halfback positions. Despite the outcome of the previous 
 year's game with Chicago, Northwestern was again 
 hardly figured a match for the more powerful and ex- 
 perienced Maroons. Surely, said the experts, the '95 
 game was a fluke, it couldn't happen again. 
 
 "But happen it did, and even more decisively than 
 the previous year as Northwestern rolled up a 46 to 
 6 victory that left the football world flabbergasted 
 and singing the praises of Van Doozer and Potter who 
 were again the key figures in Northwestern's triumph. 
 
 "Van Doozer scored five touchdowns and kicked four 
 goals after touchdown while Potter contributed two 
 touchdowns. Northwestern met Wisconsin for the con- 
 ference championship, but lost, 6 to 0, in a driving 
 rain, the Cardinals scored in the final seconds when 
 a pass from center sailed over Chet Sloan's head and 
 Richards of Wisconsin recovered back of the goal line 
 for the only score of the game. 
 
 "In summing up the '96 season, Casper Whitney, the 
 Grantland Rice of his day, wrote: 'Van Doozer of 
 Northwestern is undoubtedly the best halfback in the 
 west and his record places him close to the most 
 brilliant players in the East.' Quite a concession in a 
 day when most of the experts seldom went out of the 
 
 [107] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 select circle of Yale, Harvard and Princeton to single 
 out any players. 
 
 "The '96 season wound up the college careers of both 
 Van Doozer and Potter as the rule limiting players to 
 four years of competition was passed by the con- 
 ference. Van Doozer served as coach of the team in 
 '97. He died September 20, 1929. Potter was graduated 
 from the dental school, set up in practice in Oklahoma 
 City, where he now lives, having retired in 1939." 
 
 *+■*+■*+■**■***+*■*****++++*+ 
 
 About Davis Street and a Doctor Davis 
 
 Y, 
 
 OU may have won- 
 dered the first time you 
 came to Evanston why there 
 is a Main Street on the 
 south, a Central Street on 
 the north and Davis Street, 
 the principal business street, 
 approximately halfway be- 
 tween. The answer is a very 
 eminent physician, Dr. Na- 
 than Smith Davis, who was 
 elected to the Board of Trus- 
 tees of the University to take 
 the place of a Mr. Reynolds 
 resigned. Streets in early 
 Evanston were named for 
 promoters of the University. Hinman Avenue was 
 named for Clark Hinman, first President of the Uni- 
 versity. Judson Avenue was named for Philo Judson, 
 
 Dr. O. H. Mann 
 First Mayor of Evanston 
 
 [ 108 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Business Manager of the new University. Doctor 
 Davis lived in Evanston for twenty years, the home 
 being at tfye southeast corner of Church Street and 
 Hinman Avenue, subsequently home of Dr. Parker. 
 Dr. Davis acquired so many honors that a recitation 
 
 Railway Station Davis Street 
 
 of them would constitute a story in itself. He was one 
 of the founders of the American Medical Society. In 
 1849 during the cholera epidemic he started a move- 
 ment for better sanitation in Chicago. He gave a course 
 of lectures which formed the nucleus for Mercy Hos- 
 pital. He was one of the founders of the Chicago Acad- 
 emy of Sciences. He was also instrumental in forming 
 the Illinois Microscoptical Society. Not related to med- 
 icine, he helped the Union College of Law. He never 
 used tobacco or liquor which may account for his in- 
 terest in the Washingtonian Home for Inebriates. Dr. 
 and Mrs. Davis first lived at Michigan Avenue and 
 South Water Street. Later they moved to State Street 
 and Washington Street on the site of the Marshall Field 
 Store. 
 
 The Doctor always wore a "claw hammer" coat. It 
 is said that he never had them pressed or cleaned. He 
 wore them until they were threadbare. Change was 
 
 [109] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 made by Mrs. Davis, who is said to have substituted a 
 new suit during his sleeping hours. 
 
 Dr. Frank Billings had this to say of Dr. Davis: "Dr. 
 Davis was one of the greatest physicians of the country 
 and probably did more to improve the standard of 
 medical education in the West than any other one 
 man." 
 
 Shortly after his 84th birthday, the Doctor was given 
 a testimoinal dinner by three hundred of Chicago's 
 leading citizens. At that time the Doctor said: "I am 
 a doctor because I wanted to help the sick, and that 
 has been my aim through life. This is probably the 
 last time I shall address you. I realize that I am near 
 my end and I have endeavored to live so that any 
 day, any moment I could render my accounting to 
 God." 
 
 In passing we may mention a few of Evanston's 
 Great who lived on Davis Street. Near the Lake on 
 the South side of the street was the imposing residence 
 of Hugh R. Wilson; across the street was the home of 
 Allen Vane; Doctor John D. Quinlan, one of Chicago's 
 first dentists, lived at the northeast corner of Judson 
 Avenue. Diagonally across the street was the home of 
 Congressman Boutell; Dr. Miner Raymond lived on 
 the present site of the Georgian Hotel. In the 800 block 
 was the home of Oscar H. Mann, Evanston's first 
 Mayor. 
 
 Early maps of our city indicate that the part of the 
 street west of Sherman Avenue was known as College 
 Avenue or College Street. 
 
 110 
 
Cornelia Gray Lunt 
 
 Miss Cornelia Gray Lunt 
 ''First Lady" of Evanston 
 
 MISS LUNT was often referred to as the "First 
 Lady of Evanston." This was never challenged 
 during her lifetime. Despite her fourscore years and 
 ten, she was the youngest lady in Evanston. So far as 
 I know this statement also was never challenged. At 
 the age of 86 Miss Lunt, with her companion Miss 
 Rachel McFerran, sailed on board the Empress of 
 Britain for England, where she spent a month visiting 
 her many friends in London. 
 
 tin] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The family home was at 1742 Judson Avenue, now 
 home of the modern synagogue, The Evanston Con- 
 gregation Hillel. While she was the daughter of Or- 
 rington Lunt, one of the founders of Northwestern Uni- 
 versity and of Evanston, her fame did not rest on this 
 
 Orrington Lunt 
 Founder of Evanston 
 
 [112] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 count alone. She aided the establishment of the Uni- 
 versity Guild, serving as the first President from 1892 
 to 1895. She also had a hand in the establishing of the 
 Fort Dearborn Chapter of the D.A.R. The first meet- 
 ing was at her home on June 6, 1894. She served as the 
 first Regent, later honored with the perpetual honorary 
 regency. She served on the Board of Trustees of the 
 University for a period of fifty years. Her father, Or- 
 rington Lunt, was a friend of Abraham Lincoln. She, 
 with her father were frequent guests at the White 
 House. It is said that on a pass issued by the President 
 she was able to visit the Army of the Potomac just 
 before its advance on Richmond. 
 
 The last Chicago home of the Lunts was on Michigan 
 Avenue, now the site of Orchestra Hall. After the fire 
 of '71 many Chicago families came to Evanston. It was 
 at this time that Mr. Lunt purchased "Anchorfast," 
 1742 Judson Avenue, the house having been built by 
 Bishop Hamline of the Methodist Church. 
 
 An oft quoted statement of Miss Lunt reflects her 
 philosophy: 
 
 "I love life and I want the river of life to flow always 
 through my home and my heart." On another occasion 
 she uttered the thoughts of a Pioneer, "Life is a falling 
 down and getting up again. One should run. If one 
 cannot run, walk or even creep. To be still is to be 
 stagnant, to die. Age has nothing to do with the world 
 within us. I have lived much because I have so much 
 loved life and all my friends." 
 
 There is some confusion as to what took place in 
 the discovery of the campus for the University. For 
 the purpose of clearing the record I quote from Miss 
 Lunt's "Reminiscences" read before the Historical So- 
 ciety on October 29, 1929. "My father started alone on 
 that quest with fresh hope, buoyant purpose, and a 
 
 [113] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 kindled heart. On he came that bright day, and drove 
 and drove through this region now cultivated and fa- 
 miliar; then almost wild and uninhabited; miserable 
 roads or paths; occasional log houses or shanties, and 
 a few straggling farms; a countryside far and forlorn, 
 the look of which might well make one's courage flag 
 unless sustained and strengthened by that which gives 
 power to the faint: He said he looked at the marshy 
 or heavily wooded land and that where it was valuable 
 or promising it was practically unavailable or wholly 
 beyond reach since funds to purchase a large site had 
 not yet been furnished, nor any sure way to secure it 
 even suggested. In fact he neither saw nor desired 
 anything his eyes fell upon — and slowly discourage- 
 ment settled down upon his spirit, when just about re- 
 turning defeated and depressed he alighted once more 
 from the carriage to walk a little by himself. With a 
 heavy heart and about to give up the hopeless pursuit 
 he took a few steps to the east, standing then upon 
 what we call Ridge Avenue just due west from the 
 College of Liberal Arts. He said that as he walked, he 
 mused when suddenly through the thick growth of trees 
 and underbrush beyond the wide stretch of wet loam, 
 he thought he saw a sparkle of flickering and flashing 
 light. He stepped forward, he stopped to gaze, and 
 through the interlacing branches, he discerned the 
 gleaming water — a moving molten mass of light. It 
 was the Lake. He was nearer than he supposed, he 
 moved rapidly toward it — and could see finally the 
 shining surface through sweep of woods and curve of 
 land. Instantly he felt it was the place. 'Eureka — Eu- 
 reka, I have found it,' was his cry. In genuine gratitude 
 and delight the conviction swept over him then and 
 there that his prayer was answered. He was joyous 
 and rendered thanks as if the picture was living. From 
 
 I 114 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 his own lips I have heard repeatedly that he never 
 wavered a second in belief that he had really seen the 
 site — vouchsafed almost as a vision. Thus you see that 
 he was alone, and can see why his friends and associ- 
 ates so long called him, 'The Father of Evanston.' 
 
 We now quote from the Evanston Review of May 
 20, 1948: 
 
 "More than 1700 guests took advantage of Miss 
 Megowen's hospitality to tour the historic old house and 
 browse through the rooms where the late Cornelia 
 Lunt presided for so many years as Evanston's 'first 
 lady.' The most memorable item among the personal 
 possessions of Cornelia Lunt was not on view as far as 
 we can learn when her mansion had its farewell show- 
 ing a fortnight ago. It was a tiny silver conversation 
 bell. Cornelia used it to regulate conversation during 
 the soirees for which her drawing room was famous 
 throughout the middlewest. When conversation among 
 the notables whom she gathered about her became too 
 confused, or when she decided it was time to change 
 the subject, or when the talk drifted off on tabooed 
 topics, or when she wished to get a remark in point 
 first she would ring the bell vigorously. Then all talk 
 would cease until she gave the signal for it to proceed 
 again. The bell greatly fascinated the late Alexander 
 Woollcott, who was a frequent visitor, and he often 
 thought of introducing the practice into his intellectual 
 gab and gobble colony at Bomoseen, Vermont. 
 
 The day before Christmas, 1924, Miss Lunt, then 91 
 years old, was preparing Christmas gifts when she was 
 suddenly stricken. She lingered through Christmas Day 
 with a doctor in constant attendance. Present at Miss 
 Lunt's bedside were Mrs. Margaret Lunt Gardner, a 
 niece; Miss Rachel McFerran, her companion and sec- 
 retary; Horace F. Lunt of Denver, Colorado, a neph- 
 
 [115] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ew, and Mrs. Merritt Morehouse of Mansfield, Georgia, 
 a niece. Alexander Woollcott, when he learned of Miss 
 Lunt's death, sent the following telegram: "I feel sad- 
 dened and impoverished by the news that I shall never 
 see Miss Lunt again. She was a great woman if I ever 
 met one." 
 
 Doctor Ernest Fremont Tittle, pastor of the First 
 Methodist Church, officiating pastor at the last rites 
 said in part: 
 
 "It was Miss Lunt's desire, expressed more than 
 once, that this service should be simple; and simple it 
 shall be. But her desire for simplicity we shall not 
 interpret as a demand for silence. We might conceiv- 
 ably be true to her, but true to ourselves we could not 
 be if we should allow this occasion to pass with no 
 word of appreciation or of gratitude being spoken. So 
 speak we shall, though briefly and with due restraint." 
 
 Street Names 
 
 Foster Street 
 
 The Foster clan in Evanston was a numerous one. 
 Dr. John H. Foster was owner of the 370 acres, 
 now a part of Central Evanston. The Chicago home 
 of the Doctor was North Clark Street and Belden 
 Avenue. 
 
 William Foster came to Evanston in 1840. He was 
 one of the party of Gold seekers who went to California 
 in 1850. 
 
 John J. Foster, known as the house mover and 
 
 I H6 | 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 builder of the pier at Dempster Street, was also of the 
 party who went in search of gold. 
 
 George F. Foster, one of the University trustees, was 
 prominently identified with the early history of Chi- 
 cago. The Foster home was on the Ridge corner of 
 Greenwood Boul. 
 
 Volney Foster, who lived at 1014 Greenwood Avenue 
 was often referred to as the "Father" of Sheridan 
 Road. He furnished the spirit for the founding of the 
 Back Lot Club, which eventually became the L and S 
 Club at the Evanston High School. 
 
 Miss Jennie H. Foster was a teacher in the Evanston 
 Public Schools for over forty years. 
 
 The second President of the University was Randolph 
 S. Foster. Dr. Foster was elected President in June, 
 1856, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Clark J. 
 Hinman. Frances Willard said that he possessed the 
 best of eloquence to a remarkable degree. The Foster 
 home was at the southeast corner of Church Street 
 and Chicago Ave. The last named Foster is the one 
 whose name is perpetuated in Foster Street. 
 
 Asbury Avenue 
 
 Evanston, a Methodist town, must of necessity have 
 an Asbury and a Wesley Avenue. Asbury of course 
 was named in honor of Francis Asbury, first bishop 
 of the Methodist Church in America. His parents were 
 Methodist and young Francis joined in his thirteenth 
 year. At sixteen he is said to have been licensed as 
 a local preacher. He was a Methodist in the strict 
 sense of that term. "He was remarkable for his strict 
 devotion to the work of the Ministry, and for the faithful 
 discharge of all his duties. At his death Methodism 
 in America had grown from a few scattered bands 
 to a thoroughly organized church of 241,000 members. 
 
 [ H8 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Ayars Court 
 
 Frank R. Grover has this to say of the origin of the 
 name for Ayars Court, now known as Garnett Place. 
 The changed name was made to honor the name of 
 Garnett, a prominent colored dentist of Evanston. Mr. 
 Grover in his statement to the Historical Society re- 
 ports: 
 
 Ayars Court was named for Jaques Ayars, President 
 of the Village Board. Mr. Grover relates that about 
 the year 1886 two or three residents of a cul-de-sac 
 or blind alley running east of Maple Avenue petitioned 
 the Board, stating that they were living on a blind 
 alley without a name and no house numbers which 
 created confusion in the delivery of their mail. The 
 petition was referred to the Committee on Streets and 
 Alleys and before adjournment, Grover and Wilcox, 
 who were members of the Board, recommended that 
 the street be named for Ayars. Subsequently, land west 
 of Maple was subdivided by Hobbs and one of the 
 streets coinciding with Ayars Place, the extension was 
 named Ayars Court. 
 
 Grove Street 
 
 Three churches side on Grove Street — Congrega- 
 tional, First Church of Christ Scientist, St. Marks 
 Episcopal. The home of Edward S. Taylor, Evanston 
 orator, was on the northeast corner of Chicago and 
 Grove Street. Mr. Taylor's house had a large cupola. 
 In October, 1871, friends and neighbors climbed to this 
 cupola to view the Chicago Fire. The Ludlam home 
 was on the northwest corner of Chicago, now the Ev- 
 anston Club. The Ludlam house was moved to 1206 
 Hinman where it housed surviving members of the 
 family. Later the Taylor house became the home of 
 Dr. Allen Clayton. 
 
 [119] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 Forest Avenue 
 
 Forest Avenue should be spelled with two "r's". In 
 fact, early plots of Evanston show Forest spelled For- 
 rest. It was named for Thomas L. Forrest who never 
 lived in Evanston. He was the brother-in-law of Andrew 
 J. Brown, one of the founders of the University. 
 
 Mr. Forrest was interested in land in the vicinity 
 of Forest Avenue. Brother-in-law Brown is said to have 
 designated the avenue Forrest without consent. The 
 Forrests lived at 416 Center Street, Chicago. 
 
 Cornelia A. Wheadon 
 
 CORNELIA A. WHEADON may have been the 
 first lady school teacher in Evanston. Miss 
 Wheadon was 16 years old, and her school house, a 
 one room log cabin, was located at the corner of 
 Greenleaf Street and Ridge Avenue. The year was 1846 
 and no school district had been organized. Ridgeville 
 township did not come into being until 1850. Authority 
 was exercised by three trustees who were appointed 
 by the County Commissioners. Prior to 1846 the teach- 
 ers were men. According to William Carney, the first 
 teacher was James Baker, a relative of the Huntoon 
 family. The second teacher was one Satchell, who 
 taught Carney his letters. The third teacher believed 
 in corporal punishment. Carney remembers him as a 
 ''rough handler, who used to bang the boys heads 
 against the wall." Mrs. Sarah Crain, who was an early 
 settler in the district remembered that Miss Wheadon 
 was "considered pretty young to teach." On December 
 
 [120] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 1, 1846, Henry W. Clarke and wife executed a deed to 
 the township of a parcel of ground approximating one 
 half acre to be used for a school or meeting house 
 site or both and the rear or west part was to be used 
 as a burying ground. In 1872 about 100 burials had 
 been made, and in later years the bodies were re- 
 moved to Rosehill Cemetery. 
 
 Cornelia A. Wheadon was the daughter of Rev. Ed- 
 ward Dwight Wheadon, a local preacher and circuit 
 rider and well known in Methodist circles. Wheadon 
 Chapel was named for "Father Wheadon" as he was 
 familiarly known. Miss Wheadon received her educa- 
 tion in the Chicago Female Seminary, then at the north- 
 west corner of Madison and Dearborn Streets, Chicago. 
 Miss Wheadon did not "board round." She says in one 
 of her letters to the Evanston Historical Society that 
 she boarded with George Washington Huntoon, an 
 early pioneer. Cornelia A. Wheadon Churcher was a 
 regular attendant at the lectures given by the Histori- 
 cal Society. On one occasion a surprise was in store 
 for her. An illustrated lecture was being given, prob- 
 ably by James Taft Hatfield. A picture was thrown 
 upon the screen showing her as a young girl and a 
 teacher at the log school house. The picture had been 
 copied from an old daguerreotype and showed her 
 dressed in the fashion of the day. She complied with 
 a request that she stand up and was greeted by her 
 friends. 
 
 [121] 
 
Camp Good Will 
 
 A VISITOR to Evanston shortly after the turn of 
 the century would have seen a tent colony in 
 the block bounded by Central Street, Sherman Ave- 
 nue, Milburn Street, and Orrington Avenue. The prop- 
 erty belonged to Judge H. S. Towle of Oak Park who 
 very graciously permitted Camp Good Will to use the 
 block for a number of seasons from 1901 or 1902 until 
 he placed the property on the market for sale about 
 1917 or 1918. Camp Good Will originated in Oak Park 
 but was transferred to Evanston to secure a camp 
 site near the lake. The report for the year 1912 had this 
 to say about the work of the Camp. "The work of 
 Camp Good Will had its beginning a dozen years ago. 
 The value of this work is found in the healthier and 
 happier lives of the thousands of mothers and young 
 children who have come for a week's outing as our 
 friends and guests, from the congested parts of the 
 city to enjoy our fresh air, woods and lake and the 
 wholesome entertainment and instruction which the 
 camp furnishes." 
 
 The Public Service Corporations of Evanston fur- 
 nished the gas, electric lights and the telephone. The 
 City of Evanston furnished water and conferred other 
 favors. The incidental expenses such as printing, post- 
 age, etc., was paid for by the officers and directors. 
 Brigadier General F. S. Dickson of the U.S. Army 
 loaned the tents. Report for the year 1911 revealed 
 that mothers and children entertained numbered 1051 
 and the expense for an outing for an individual was 
 less than $3.30. 
 
 The camp was supported by Evanston churches. 
 
 [122] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Some of the larger communions assumed the obliga- 
 tions for a week. Contributors to the 1913 budget were: 
 First Methodist, First Congregational, First Presby- 
 terian, First Baptist, First Church of Christ Scientist, 
 Second Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Hemenway 
 Methodist, Covenant Methodist, St. Marks, St. Lukes, 
 St. Mathews, St. Mary's Church of All Souls, Wheadon 
 Methodist, and Evanston Christian Church. For the 
 season 1912 twenty-two nationalities were represented, 
 the Irish leading with 302, the German with 183 and 
 Polish 143. Families numbered 353; mothers numbered 
 290, boys 435 and girls 529. Religious affiliation, the 
 Catholics were far in the lead with 808, while the 
 Protestants numbered 281. 
 
 Antiquities of Evanston 
 
 THE Avenue House is now the North Shore Hotel. 
 Before it was the Avenue House, it was the 
 Reynold's House. Why did they change the name? In 
 the horse and buggy days, if you lived on the north 
 side, you drove out to the Avenue House for dinner. 
 It was an all day trip. In the middle nineties, it was 
 still the end of the line for an auto trip. 
 
 Test runs were made by auto from Grant's monu- 
 ment in Lincoln Park to the Avenue House. The race 
 was not to the swift, but to the Engine which could 
 endure. One of the judges related to me that after 
 the last auto left Lincoln Park, he went by horse and 
 buggy, arriving before the first automobile crossed 
 the line. 
 
 [ 123 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 If you are old enough, you will remember the gar- 
 golyle which stood on the Avenue House corner. It 
 came from the Chicago Courthouse after the great 
 fire of '71, and if you look diligently, you may find it 
 in the City Yards on Maple Avenue. 
 
 The Last Indian Burial 
 
 THERE is evidence that the tract immediately 
 north of the Evanston Hospital extending as far 
 north as the P. W. Gates home in Wilmette was an 
 Indian burying ground. The last burial there is re- 
 ferred to in Frances E. Willard's "The Classic Town". 
 This is authenticated by old settlers who were boys 
 at that time. 
 
 The deceased was buried above ground and facing 
 the East. The coffin was made of poles and saplings 
 laid up like a log house and bound together at the 
 corners with bands of bark. The Indian's guns, toma- 
 hawk, and his dog were buried with him. The old 
 settlers (boys then) were kept awake many nights 
 by visions of the grinning skeleton which they could 
 see by peeping through the cracks. 
 
 [124] 
 
Who's Who and Where in 1886 
 
 WILLIAM S. LORD was manager of the Enterprize 
 (now Lord's Department Store). William H. 
 Holabird (Holabird and Root) lived on Oak Avenue 
 near Lake Street. Isaac R. Hilt lived at 723 Chicago 
 Avenue (old number) built by D. Kidder in 1856. Sid- 
 ney C. Ingraham, father of our one-time mayor, lived 
 at Ridge and Noyes Street. 
 
 George Kearney was Justice of the Peace, Notary 
 Public, Insurance and Real Estate Agent. John B. 
 Kirk lived on Ridge Avenue at the corner of Lake 
 Street. M. M. Kirkman lived at the southeast corner 
 of Ridge Avenue and Lake Street. Mr. Kirkman is 
 listed as the Controller of the Northwestern Railroad. 
 
 Henry A. Pearsons lived at 718 Chicago Avenue, 
 (old number) Frances Willard, Evanston's most dis- 
 tinguished citizen, lived at 730 Chicago Avenue, (old 
 number) A. P. Wightman, father of C. A. Wightman, 
 was in business at 400 Davis Street. George W. Whit- 
 field, one of the first dentists in Evanston had an 
 office at 316 Davis Street. Jacob Rinn, dealer in coal 
 and wood, lived at the northeast corner of Rinn Street 
 and Chicago Avenue. Charles Rosenberg was a clerk 
 at H. H. Rosenblum's Store at 429 Davis Street. 
 
 Levi C. Pitner, erstwhile real estate man lived at 
 811 Davis Street. Antony Palmer (to his friends "Tony" 
 Palmer) was a barber and boarded on Chicago Ave- 
 nue. Hugh White, noted attorney, lived on Ridge Ave- 
 nue at the northeast corner of Greenwood Avenue. 
 Harvey B. Hurd (Hurd's Statues) lived at Ridge and 
 Davis Street. 
 
 The Reverend Robert Hatfield lived on property 
 
 [125] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 which he subsequently sold to Daniel H. Burnham. 
 James Taft Hatfield was listed as a teacher. N. W. 
 Harris, Chicago Banker, lived at 742 Chicago Avenue. 
 The Evanston Index was published by John A. Childs, 
 the office being at 325 Davis Street opposite the Ave- 
 nue House. The subscription price was $2.00 per year. 
 
 Frank R. Grover, one time President of the His- 
 torical Society, lived at 608 Grove Street. Orvis French 
 was proprietor of the Greenwood Inn. William A. 
 Dyche, second Mayor of Evanston, was a druggist in 
 business at 515 Chicago Avenue. Miss Clow, well known 
 to old timers was a milliner at 619 Orrington Avenue. 
 
 Thomas C. Hoag was listed as the proprietor of the 
 Evanston Bank. The bank headquarters were in the 
 rear of his grocery store at 528 Davis Street. Mr. Hoag 
 resided at 502 Davis Street, which is now occupied by 
 the Pure Oil Company's Gasoline Station. 
 
 Wm. A. Dyche 
 
 Second Mayor of Evanston 
 
 and Business Manager of 
 
 the University 
 
 Dyche Stadium is a 
 
 memorial 
 
 [126] 
 
Frank R. Grover 
 
 IN NOVEMBER 1901 Frank R. Grover asked for 
 permission to move his house at 1508 Sherman 
 Avenue to 1100 Hinman Avenue. The request was 
 granted without delay and 1100 Hinman Avenue con- 
 tinued to be the Grover home. His reasons for moving: 
 annoyance occasioned by two steam railroads, trolley 
 cars in front, noise of the gate men's bells at the rail- 
 road crossings, midnight excursions of the fire and 
 police departments, Salvation Army, escaping steam, 
 smoke and soot from nearby manufacturing establish- 
 ments, Dowie processions and many other disturb- 
 ances. No doubt about Frank Grover making out a good 
 case. Mr. Grover was the first City Attorney and one 
 of his legal duties was the prosecution of the operators 
 of blind pigs. 
 
 Frank Grover made a great contribution to historical 
 research. In the files of the Historical Society we find 
 "Our Indian Predecessors" read before the Society on 
 November 2, 1901, "The First Evanstonian" on Feb. 
 7th, 1916, "Indian Treaties Affecting Lands in the Pres- 
 ent State of Illinois," read before the Illinois State 
 Historical Society in 1915. Aside from his studies of 
 Indians of the North Shore, he had a collection of guns. 
 An attempt to describe them would require several 
 pages. To pick one out of a collection of 400, he was re- 
 ported to possess a Philadelphia derringer of the same 
 type with which Booth shot Lincoln. Mr. Grover was a 
 lawyer by profession. While waiting in court one day 
 for a fellow member of the bar to finish a several 
 hours speech, he wrote the following as a foreword to 
 his collection of firearms: 
 
 127 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "The collector, whether his hobby be ancient coins, 
 postage stamps, books, book plates, clocks, pipes, old 
 China, old furniture, general curios, firearms, or an- 
 tiquities of other kinds is a strange mixture of pro- 
 verbial fool — soon parted with his money — monoma- 
 niac, and intelligent student. His occupation, however, 
 has some advantages to society. It keeps him away 
 from harmful pursuits. At remote intervals his 'col- 
 lections' really interest those few individuals whom 
 he can prevail upon to look at them. The substantial 
 benefits of his calling accrue to himself. In making his 
 collections he sees many lands and visits far away 
 scenes; betakes himself first and last into those out- 
 of-the-way places and by-ways that the average man 
 seldom, if ever, sees. He is not only a traveler but a 
 sojourner in dusty and dirty, but still interesting junk 
 shops and second hand stores in distant cities." 
 
 William C. Levere, writing for the Evanston Daily 
 News, has this to say of Mr. Grover: "He is a many 
 sided man, of catholic tastes, great companionability 
 and diverse gifts. He is a lover of his city, for he has 
 lived here through boyhood, youth and into mature 
 manhood. Those, who know him best, know he will go 
 out of his way, far beyond metes and bounds to be a 
 good friend." 
 
 Frank Grover may have anticipated the approach 
 of death. The following letter was discovered after the 
 funeral. It was read by Judge Orrin Carter at the me- 
 morial service: 
 
 "The years of my life have gone by almost like so 
 many months. There have been sorrow and care 
 and a lot of hard work, but it has been a beautiful world 
 just the same, which I have enjoyed (I hope not too 
 selfishly) as I went along. I have found many true 
 friends and in every one, when I have taken the pains 
 
 [128] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 to ascertain — something worthwhile. If I could speak 
 a little farewell, it would be a prayer of thankfulness 
 for what my true friends have meant to me. To my 
 family there are no farewells to say, for in the sacred 
 temple of the home there has been that love and under- 
 standing that needs no parting words. And now in the 
 evening whatever may be the sunrise in the great plan 
 of human destiny — I meet it ready and unafraid." 
 
 William H. Twiggs 
 
 APRIL 14, 1955 The Saunterer of the Evanston 
 Review had this to say of Evanston's oldest busi- 
 nessman, William H. Twiggs: 
 
 "Back when the legend of Evanston was being in- 
 vented, when Deacon Garwood was dishing out civili- 
 zation's first ice cream sundaes at his Fountain square 
 drug store which had the world's first drive-in service, 
 another Fountain square businessman likewise was 
 nudging into his niche in history. His claim to fame is 
 that he is still here, after 68 years, and is still in busi- 
 ness. No other personage anywhere can make that 
 claim. 
 
 "Having garnered as much book learning as he had 
 time for at the old Benson avenue grade school and at 
 Northwestern academy, under Dr. Fisk, this town's 
 lively patriarch, William H. Twiggs, kicked off his 
 career and his print shop in 1887 at 573 Orrington Ave- 
 nue (now 1573 Sherman, present site of the Quinlan 
 and Tyson office). He had picked up the trade working 
 for printers Ed Kappelman and Bob Milne. W. H. 
 
 [129] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Twiggs — Printing moved around 1909 to 1619 Sherman; 
 then next door to 1621; finally to the present location, 
 1315 Emerson street, which the enterprising printer 
 bought in 1915. Nothing is changed there today — same 
 desk, same pile of confusion, same printer, same type, 
 same press. 
 
 "The press, a large Gordon jobber, is a museum 
 piece. Mr. Twiggs proudly bought it second hand in 
 1890. It was built shortly after the invention of the 
 wheel. At the start it was run by foot power of a 
 village youngster. Then printer Twiggs hooked his fly- 
 wheel to a marvel of the day called a 'gas engine,' 
 powered by illuminating gas. When electricity came 
 to Evanston, the Twiggs shop was wired, the old gas 
 lights were blown out, the gas engine scrapped; an 
 electric motor began spinning the Gordon. 
 
 "The Twiggs shop's first Fountain square neighbors 
 were the Pard, Powers and Schwall livery stable and 
 the town's street market for cordwood, hay and feed. 
 The omnibus that met all trains was hitched in front, 
 and one summer the printer did a lively business in 
 World's Columbian exposition tickets. When the shop 
 was at 1619-21 Sherman, it adjoined a vacant half 
 block (north to Church Street) which Fountain square 
 wags called Twiggs park. This could be because the 
 shrubbery hid empty bottles cast aside by carriage 
 drivers after doleful journeys to cemeteries, and Print- 
 er Twiggs was known as the pillar of Ebenezer A.M.E. 
 church. 
 
 "Ebenezer church from the beginning has held first 
 place in his affections. It was at suggestion of an in- 
 timate family friend, the Rev. J. S. Woods, Ebenezer's 
 second pastor, that young Will Twiggs came here in 
 1884 from Davenport, la. He and Mr. Woods, a theo- 
 logical student, roomed in historic Heck hall, which a 
 
 [130] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 couple of decades later became Evanston's most ex- 
 citing bonfire of the century. The Woods-Twiggs room 
 under the rafters had a small, greedy coal stove. The 
 boys would fill it and, by the time they fell down five 
 flights of stairs to the coalbin in the cellar and toiled 
 back up five flights with a coal hod, it was time to fill 
 the stove again. 
 
 "At Ebenezer Trustee Twiggs has been a member 
 more than 70 years, on the board more than 50, Sunday 
 school superintendent more than 25. 
 
 " 'Twiggs Historical Den,' a print shop nook, has 
 photos and records which reveal he originated the idea 
 and is charter member of Emerson Y.M.C.A., helped 
 found and has gone to the top locally and nationally in 
 Mt. Moriah Masonic lodge, Knights of Pythias, and the 
 old Odd Fellows. 
 
 "This summer he is looking forward to a distinction 
 that comes to few mortals while their faculties are 
 still full of pep. He has friends, the community that 
 owes him much, will celebrate his 90th birthday this 
 coming Aug. 7." 
 
 Grosse Pointe 
 
 ALL of the territory north of Devon Avenue, or 
 what we now term the North Shore, was called 
 Grosse Pointe in the early part of the nineteenth cen- 
 tury. The name, as the spelling implies, is from the 
 French. It will be recalled that the first explorers 
 in the Chicago district were French traders and 
 priests. A suburb of Detroit is called Gross Point, 
 
 [131] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 also from the French Grosse Pointe. Our lighthouse 
 was never been known by any other name than the 
 Gross Point Lighthouse. The Indians first gave the 
 point of land a name which means the eyebrow of a 
 beauty. Sailors often referred to it as "Beauty's Eye- 
 brow" because it had such a lovely aspect from the 
 open lake. Grosse Pointe was later anglicized to Gross 
 Point as Ouilmette later became Wilmette. Frank 
 Grover, one-time President of the Evanston Historical 
 Society gives us an interesting account of the lens in 
 the light house. According to the Grover version, the 
 lenses were purchased in Versailles for $15,000. We 
 next find them in San Francisco, then across the 
 continent to St. Augustine, Fla. They were buried in 
 the Florida sands during the Civil War, the burial 
 place almost lost. From Florida we find them in a 
 Washington, D.C. warehouse. Thence to Evanston 
 arriving early in the year 1874. On March 1st of that 
 year they flashed the first light into the Lake. 
 
 We will now attempt to support the thesis that 
 Father Marquette was the first white man to visit 
 Grosse Pointe. In fact he may have landed near the 
 present location of the lighthouse. Historian Park- 
 man tells of the voyage of Marquette with his ten 
 birch bark canoes down the West Coast of Lake Michi- 
 gan in the year 1674. We quote, "November had come: 
 the bright hues of autumn foliage had changed to a 
 rusty brown. The shore was desolate and the Lake 
 stormy. They were nearly a month in coasting the 
 Western border." In Marquette's diary which is still 
 in existence in St. Mary's College in Montreal, 
 we find the following entry for December 3, 1674. 
 "Having said holy Mass and embarked, we were com- 
 pelled to make a point (Grosse Pointe) and land on 
 account of floating masses of ice." On the next day, 
 
 [132] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Dec. 4th Marquette records in his diary that they 
 landed at the Portage River (Chicago River). 
 
 The name Gross Point was later restricted to the 
 German settlement on Ridge Road, Wilmette, St. 
 Joseph's Parish. Germans in the district came from 
 Traer, Germany, hence New Trier. St. Joseph's Par- 
 ish is one of the oldest, it being the first north of 
 Devon Ave. and Ridge Ave., this part of the city being 
 in St. Henry's parish. 
 
 Here we wish to introduce the colorful figure of 
 the Gross Point priest, Fr. William Naestraeter, par- 
 ish priest for 54 years — Only two districts on the North 
 Shore could sell liquor legally, Gross Point and High- 
 wood. Father Naetstraeter relates that on the first 
 Sunday afternoon he took a walk around the village. 
 His impression was that when Jonah was ordered to 
 Nineveh he did not get anything much worse than 
 Gross Point. What he saw that afternoon led him to 
 preach his next sermon on drunkenness. That after- 
 noon a delegation from the congregation called on the 
 young parish priest and explained to him that if he 
 wanted to be popular and happy, he must preach 
 on other topics. "This is strange," answered the young 
 clergyman. "I thought I had been sent here to tell 
 you what you ought to hear and here you try to 
 tell me. Let me assure you that it was not my wish 
 to come to Gross Point. I was sent by my superiors, 
 and I shall stay until they appoint me elsewhere, 
 which cannot be too soon to suit me. But while I 
 am here, I will preach what I think you ought to 
 hear." 
 
 The next Sunday came another blast against the 
 misuse of liquor. That afternoon the saloon keepers 
 presented a lot of bad boys with an "eighth of beer," 
 on condition that they drink it in front of the priest's 
 house. They started to do so, but Father Naetstraeter 
 
 [ 133 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 came out with his cane and made them think they 
 had made a bad bargain. For 54 years he remained 
 their spiritual adviser. 
 
 During the 54 years of his pastorate he was very 
 successful in real estate operations. He had what we 
 realtors call the real estate sense. He is said to have 
 been one of the promoters of Memorial Park Ceme- 
 tery. The good priest's beneficiary was St. Josephs 
 Parish Church and School. His real estate promotions 
 according to one authority netted $1,000,000. 
 
 *++***^4 
 
 James A. Patten 
 
 ONE writer refers to James A. Patten as the Dick 
 Whittington of Evanston. I assume that the ref- 
 erence is to his being called to the office of Mayor. 
 Mr. Patten's life story is the story of many eminent 
 men in Democratic America. Born of middle class par- 
 ents, they did succeed in giving him two years in the 
 Preparatory School in Evanston. He did not know at 
 that time that he was to return to Evanston where he 
 would become the benefactor for so many of our insti- 
 tutions. After spending a few years at or near Sand- 
 wich, Illinois, he returned to Chicago, where he en- 
 tered the grain business with his brother George under 
 the firm name of Patten Brothers. Mr. Patten was 
 probably best known as the "Wheat King". He stoutly 
 denied that he ever cornered the market. One of the 
 best deals he ever made was the day he was married 
 to Amanda Louisa Buchanan. I am sure that Mr. Pat- 
 ten would endorse this statement. On his 70th birth- 
 
 134 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 day a giant reception was given at the home 1456 Ridge 
 Avenue. Some six or seven hundred friends of the Pat- 
 tens came to the Ridge Avenue Home. Sam Cannon, 
 one of Evanston's best known colored citizens was 
 there. He said that he thought that the colored people 
 should be represented. At this reception Mr. Patten 
 said he was plied with various questions, one being 
 what time should a man get married? Mr. Patten an- 
 swered, whenever you find the right girl, never mind 
 about the money. I was 33. I can vouch for the story 
 about the Gymnasium. As I heard it from Mr. Dyche. 
 Mr. Patten and Mr. Dyche were on a tour of some of 
 the Eastern Universities. As they were riding along 
 Mr. Dyche said that he dozed and was awakened by 
 Mr. Patten saying, "Do you think $100,000 would do it?" 
 Mr. Dyche answered by asking another question, 
 "Would do what?" Answer, "Build a gymnasium for 
 Northwestern." Before very long Patten raised the 
 amount to $150,000. Before it was finshed he put in 
 $300,000. Old timers and some young timers remember 
 the Music Festivals held in "Patten Gym." The public 
 insisted upon calling it "Patten Gym" in spite of the 
 fact that "Northwestern University Gymnasium" in 
 huge letters appeared above the entrance. 
 
 Another of Mr. Patten's benefactions was the beauti- 
 ful YMCA Building. I remember quite well the dinner 
 at the Country Club for the workers and subscribers. 
 It was one of his last appearances in public. Mr. Patten 
 was in a very jovial mood, and at his best. He amused 
 us greatly by telling us how citizens of Evanston would 
 appeal to Mrs. Patten to intercede with her famous 
 husband. What was more remarkable was the success 
 attending the intercessor. Evanston's YMCA Building, 
 as I remember it, cost $1,000,000 and the Pattens fur- 
 nished $225,000 of it. 
 
 When a boy, James A. Patten attended the United 
 
 [135] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Presbyterian in DeKalb County, five miles south of 
 Somonauk. In 1930 the Church was rebuilt by means 
 of contributions from Mrs. Patten and her son John. 
 The records will show that James A. Patten never 
 transferred his membership from this country church 
 to First Presbyterian in Evanston, although he at- 
 tended regularly and served on some of the official 
 boards. There is a tradition to the effect that he always 
 put a $50 bill in the collection basket. 
 
 A reproduction of a portrait of Mr. Patten hangs in 
 the Reception Room of the Evanston Hospital. No 
 attempt will be made to tell of the millions given to 
 Evanston Hospital by the Patten family. Mrs. Patten 
 was the first President of the Woman's Auxiliary. It 
 will be seen that money was not the only contribution 
 made by the Patten family. 
 
 1426 Ridge Avenue was erected in 1901 at a cost of 
 approximately $100,000. The iron fence was a part of 
 one of the fences of the World's Columbian Exposition 
 of 1893. This fence was often referred to as the $50,000 
 fence. It is probable that no one knows what it cost. 
 C. A. Hemphill promoter and builder of Patten Manor 
 very wisely retained the fence. 
 
 A list of the benefactions of the Pattens cannot be 
 made. Contributions to some charities were made 
 anonymously. I have not mentioned the Presbyterian 
 Home in Evanston, United Charities of Chicago, Visit- 
 ing Nurse Association, Glenwood Manual Training 
 School, Boy Scouts of America. 
 
 Edwin Sherman, one time President of the Evanston 
 Hospital Association said that Mr. Patten came to the 
 City National Bank on one occasion and handed to him 
 an envelope. He found later that the envelope con- 
 tained $300,000 market value of stocks given for the 
 benefit of the Hospital. Mr. Sherman said that all of 
 this took place in less than five minutes. 
 
 [ 136 | 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Death came to Mr. Patten, as it will to all men, 
 in December 1928. The Evanston Review commented 
 as follows in its editorial column: "So Evanston 
 grieves the passing of a certain rich man who went 
 beyond the Biblical injunction of giving his all to the 
 poor, for while effacing himself, he gave brains and 
 heart as well as wealth and directed them to the in- 
 telligent prevention and curing of the ills of the world 
 which he has departed." 
 
 The Kickers' Club 
 
 THE so-called Kickers' Club started with a small 
 group of men who met informally for lunch at 
 Alexanders Cafe on the second floor of the Simpson 
 Building, 614-616 Davis Street. The presiding genius 
 was William C. Levere. Other members of the group 
 were Albert H. Bowman, Publisher of the News Index; 
 James Leonard Lee, City Editor of the News Index, 
 Clyde D. Foster, and Ritze Mulder of the Quinlan and 
 Tyson organization. There was a tacit understanding 
 that any member of the group had the privilege of in- 
 viting a friend to sit at the table as his guest, but if the 
 guest showed up the second time he was invited to pay 
 the Treasurer $5.00, and upon delivery of the five he 
 thereby become a member of the Kickers' Club with 
 the right and privilege of kicking about the food or the 
 administration's policy at Washington. This rule has 
 continued to the present day. 
 
 The first formal meeting of which there is a record 
 was at home of Mr. & Mrs. William J. Hamilton in the 
 
 [137] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Ridgewood Apartments. The Kickers' Club on stated 
 occasions resolved themselves into what was known as 
 the Society for the Erection of Evanston Historical 
 tablets. At the meeting Chairman Levere gave a short 
 history of the Club and outlined the possibilities. The 
 following committees were suggested by the Chairman 
 and approved by the membership: 
 
 Committee to see the Board of Trustees of the Li- 
 brary 
 
 James R. Smart, Chairman 
 William J. Hamilton 
 Claude E. Richards 
 
 Committee on Inscriptions 
 
 Clyde D. Foster, Chairman 
 Dr. L. D. Henderson 
 Dr. A. W. Gould 
 C. M. Connell 
 
 Committee on Boulders 
 
 William J. Hamilton, Chairman 
 W. E. Horton 
 John F. Hahn 
 A. S. Cooper 
 
 Committee on Tablet 
 
 Albert H. Bowman, Chairman 
 Joseph Pearson 
 Arthur Bull 
 George Taylor 
 
 It was moved by Dr. A. W. Gould that the first 
 tablet to be erected be placed on the Public Library 
 grounds, marking the site of the first church building 
 in Evanston and the place of meeting of the first Civil 
 War meetings. 
 
 The next meeting which was a week later, the 
 Society met at the apartment of the President at 600 
 
 [139] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Davis Street. At that meeting the members had the 
 pleasure of hearing Frank R. Grover and J. Seymour 
 Currey of the Historical Society. Future meetings of 
 the Society were held for the purpose of discussion 
 and arrangements for the unveiling of the first tablet 
 which took place on July 27, 1913. 
 
 Schwalls Livery Stable 
 
 MR. CLARK, President of the Historical Society, 
 once told me that on the exact spot where my 
 office was located was the stall where his horse was 
 kept in the livery barn. Carl Erickson, who lived at 
 1210 Sherman Avenue, drove the Bus for Schwall. 
 Erickson, when interviewed by the News Index, had 
 this to say of the Schwall Bus Service: "On days like 
 this, with snow piled high, Andy Schwall, who presently 
 came to be sole livery proprietor, would urge his 
 horses to haul the creaking bus to the North Western 
 Evening train. No one ever drove the bus except him- 
 self. 
 
 "The horses would rear and plunge as the train came 
 in, but Andy always managed to get you and all the 
 returning shoppers and all the business men into the 
 bus. He would obligingly hustle your trunk or new 
 dining room table into an express wagon in the rear." 
 
 Next door to the Schwall Livery Stable was the fa- 
 mous "Round House" the unique home that was built 
 first on the site of Hatfield Hall by a thrifty Garrett 
 Biblical Institute student with timbers washed ashore 
 from the lunber boats on Lake Michigan. Moved to 
 
 140 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 1569 Sherman Avenue it constituted Evanston's one 
 tenement. In the two capacities it stood as one of Ev- 
 anston's famed curiosities for a period of 44 years. 
 Imagine living in a flat with pie shaped rooms. Possi- 
 bly tenants did not have furniture, so the irregular 
 shaped rooms may not have posed a problem. 
 
 The Country Club 
 
 THE record would indicate that the Country Club 
 (a club in town) was the consolidation of a num- 
 ber of social organizations: The Evanston Boat Club, 
 the Idlewild Club, the J.J.'s, the N.G.'s, the XYZ's, and 
 the M.A.'s. Everybody attempted to guess the hidden 
 meaning of the initials. The N.G.'s were said by some 
 to be "No Good" to others "Nice Girls." The M.A.'s 
 Ma's Pets, and J.J.'s were the gay crowd. Early in the 
 spring of 1888 Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Clark of Hinman 
 Avenue gave a small dinner party. At the party Miss 
 Virginia Hamline, later Mrs. T. S. Creighton, first sug- 
 gested the forming of a club with pretty grounds and 
 a shelter providing a place to rest after tennis sets. 
 After dinner the men retired to their cigars and as 
 a result of their discussion concluded that the plan was 
 very practical if some prominent man would take the 
 lead. Only one name was proposed and that was the 
 name of Marshall Kirkman. Mr. Kirkman did not know 
 it then but he was to continue as President for several 
 years. In the first cabinet was Frederick W. Clark, 
 1st Vice President, Milton W. Kirk, 2nd Vice President, 
 Thomas S. Creighton, Treasurer and Recording Secre- 
 
 [141] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 tary, and Miss Kate Ashton, Corresponding Secretary. 
 When the organization was formed, it was known as 
 a semi-social, semi-athletic club. This was expanded 
 later to include dramatic entertainments and musicals. 
 No sooner was the club formed until they could an- 
 nounce that one hundred fifty of Evanston's prominent 
 people were members. 
 
 The Evanston Historical Society has in its files a 
 picture of the first "Shelter" which was built on Hin- 
 man Avenue. The "Shelter" was later to be moved to 
 the rear of the Oak Avenue location, where it became 
 the home of Adam Perry, one of Evanston's most re- 
 spected citizens and master of ceremonies at countless 
 numbers of teas, weddings, and receptions. The Shel- 
 ter, consisting of only one large room was to serve a 
 multitude of purposes — in winter the grounds were 
 flooded with water thereby creating a skating rink. On 
 Washington's birthday 1889 a pot luck supper was given 
 at the "Shelter." Prominent men in the club in the 
 early days — A. T. Cutler, George Lunt, George T. Judd, 
 E. A. Chapman, John H. Kedize Jr., J. W. Scott, Wil- 
 liam L. Brown, William Holabird, Charles H. Mathews. 
 Lady directors — Mrs. John B. Kirk, Miss Lunt, Mrs. 
 Andrew Hazelhurst, Mrs. F. M. Elliot, Mrs. W. A. 
 Hammond, Mrs. C. L. Williams, Mrs. T. S. Creighton, 
 Mrs. Milton Kirk, Mrs. Frederick Arnd, Mrs. D. A. 
 Mudge, Mrs. G. P. Fuller, Mrs. G. R. Jenkins, Mrs. 
 W. J. Fabian, Mrs. B. F. Adams, Mrs. E. F. Brown, 
 Mrs. A. C. Buell, Mrs. George Lord, Mrs. M. M. Kirk- 
 man, Mrs. N. G. Iglehart, Mrs. Stewart Clark, Mrs. 
 H. A. Pearsons, Mrs. J. C. Connell, Mrs. C. H. Remy, 
 Mrs. H. R. Post, Mrs. B. J Moore, Mrs. William Hola- 
 bird, Mrs. D. H. Burnham, Mrs. H. D. Cable. The club 
 had a baseball team, a tennis team, a dramatic asso- 
 ciation, a cycling club. It was confidently reported 
 
 I 142 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 in 1894 that no member of the cycling club wore a 
 divided skirt or a bloomer costume. By the fall of 1895 
 one half of the membership took an active part in the 
 club rides. The Woman's Musical Association was di- 
 rected by Mrs. William Holabird as President and 
 Mrs. Arthur W. Underwood as Vice President. In the 
 men's Musical Association we find the names of John 
 R. Lindgren, Charles S. Birch, A. D. Shaw, Thomas 
 Beard, and Robert Holmes. Wm. Gale Hoag, former 
 President of the State Bank and Trust Co. writes enter- 
 tainingly of the Equestrian Association. The Country 
 Club did not forget the children. Children's Day was 
 held twice a year, once in the summer and again in 
 the winter. "The pretty costumes and chubby faces 
 of the children, the curls and dimpled arms of the 
 little girls and the odd manners of the boys, all make 
 a scene that is very interesting." 
 
 Later history of the Club involves the purchase of 
 the ground on Oak Avenue and the beautiful Club 
 House Building which was destroyed by fire. The sec- 
 ond Club Building followed the lines of the first and 
 subsequently was incorporated into our beautiful City 
 Hall Building. 
 
 William C. Levere 
 
 WILLIAM C. LEVERE, police magistrate, Illinois 
 Assemblyman, fraternity fanatic, world traveler, 
 friend of the Yanks on the Western Front World War I, 
 author, lecturer and lover of men. One writer refers 
 to him as Abou Ben Adam, another calls him John 
 
 I 143 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Bunny come to life, while a third nominates him as 
 Irwin Cobb in Kahki. Everyone called him "Billy" five 
 minutes after they met him. He has many monuments 
 but none more pretentious than the Levere Memorial 
 at 1856 Sheridan Road. The Memorial is the National 
 Headquarters for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, 
 Billy's beloved college fraternity. I first met Billy in 
 the fall of 1903. That year I came to Northwestern 
 University as a freshman. It was Billy Levere who 
 extended to me an invitation to join his fraternity. 
 The "frat" house at that time was at 502 Davis Street, 
 now a gas station for the Pure Oil Co. I have said 
 that he was a lecturer; perhaps that is too dignified, 
 for Billy was anything but dignified. It is said that 
 he appeared on the platform with Frances Willard in 
 the interest of temperance. In the files of the Historical 
 Society, I find an affadavit, made by one Robert John- 
 son, a policeman, in which he complains that one John 
 Flood was guilty of misdemeanors on the 23rd day of 
 January 1899. Flood evidently appeared before Judge 
 Levere, for he signed it as police magistrate. I am 
 sure that it was not the John Flood whom I knew, for 
 he was a most estimable citizen. Shortly after his col- 
 lege days, Billy wrote a college story entitled "Twixt 
 Greek and Barb" We of the Chapter corrupted the title 
 to "Twixt Grease and Lard"! 
 
 One of the great days in Billy's career was the time 
 when he was Master of Ceremonies upon the visit to 
 Evanston of Governor William McKinley. The date 
 was June 15, 1895, and the fraternity was housed at 
 2031 Sherman Avenue. McKinley was not a member 
 of the Fraternity while in college, but was a member 
 of a local subsequently admitted as a chapter. As such 
 he was initiated into the Fraternity and wore the SAE 
 pin on the lapel of his coat as he took the oath of office 
 as President of the United States. Billy was fond of 
 
 [ 144 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 saying that the neighbors brought furniture into the 
 house. They wanted a chair upon which the President 
 to be had reposed. 
 
 Billy tried desperately to get into the army in 1917. 
 His Falstaffian figure did not appeal to the examiners. 
 He had never practiced denial when good food was 
 placed before him. There was a field opened to him, 
 and he was superbly qualified for it. I have referred 
 to the fact that he was a lover of men. After the pre- 
 liminaries had been settled as a Y.M.C.A. Secretary, 
 there remained one hurdle. Billy was not a member 
 of an Evangelical Church. Dr. William T. McElveen, 
 pastor of the Congregational Church received him into 
 his communion. Not long after, he was on his way to 
 France. Billy's hut was near the French town of Neuf- 
 chateau. I will not attempt to tell all of the stories 
 of Billy and his activities. Thousands of American boys 
 passed through Neufchateau, and Billy did every- 
 thing he could to make them forget the horrors of war. 
 Billy was a good cook and did the boys enjoy his good 
 old American meals! On one occasion he prepared sev- 
 eral large baking pans with American Soda biscuits 
 and gave instruction to the French cook to roll them 
 into the ovens. After a time Billy went into the kitchen 
 to ascertain what had happened to the biscuits. The 
 French cook replied that he was waiting for them 
 to cool. "Cool" roared Billy. "We want them now." 
 The doughboys quickly dispatched the warm biscuits. 
 
 Billy did not forget security for old age. One invest- 
 ment was a happy one. He purchased 1614-16 Chicago 
 Avenue from Mrs. Harding, a widow of one of Evans- 
 ton's physicians. He was already the owner of 25 feet 
 to the south of this property, making a total frontage 
 of 88 feet, the amount invested in the two pieces 
 was $13,500. Early in the 20's he sold for $88,000 or 
 $1,000 per foot. 
 
 r 145 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 I remember meeting Billy at the station early in 
 1927. He had just returned from one of the inspection 
 trips incident to his fraternity relationship. He looked 
 tired. Not long after he suffered a stroke. One after- 
 noon after a day at headquarters he ordered a cab 
 and went to St. Francis Hospital. Billy was not to re- 
 turn to his desk. On Washington's Birthday 1927 he 
 passed away. 
 
 A service was held at the SAE Headquarters to which 
 members of the Fraternity were invited. Long before 
 the hour for the funeral at the First Methodist Church, 
 friends who had gathered almost filled the Sanctuary. 
 Professor John A. Scott, Professor of Greek, and a long 
 time friend of Billy referred to him as the man who 
 lived by the side of the road and was a friend of man. 
 Billy's grave is in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mem- 
 bers of the Fraternity gather there annually on Feb. 
 22nd to do him honor. 
 
 ^#s#^«s«s#sr4 
 
 George W. Hotchkiss 
 
 AN UNUSUAL agreement was entered into by a 
 group of old timers meeting at the home of 
 George W. Hotchkiss, 1015 Elmwood Avenue. The old 
 timers were the last of the dwindling number of 49'ers. 
 The compact entered into on that occasion was an 
 agreement to the effect that the surviving members of 
 the group would attend and speak at the funeral of a 
 deceased member. In March, 1926 friends and fellow 
 members of the Second Presbyterian Church met to 
 pay their last respects to George W. Hotchkiss. None 
 
 f 146 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 of the 49'ers were there. He was the last of that 
 adventurous group to answer the last roll call. No 
 wonder, for he was then 95, his birth year being 1831. 
 His wife who had been his life partner for 66 years 
 survived him, she being 94 years of age. 
 
 Mr. Hotchkiss came to Evanston in 1877. He was a 
 founder and incorporator of the Second Presbyterian, 
 an enthusiastic Mason, Justice of the Peace, Editor of 
 the Evanston Press, Secretary of the Illinois Lumber 
 and National Dealers Association. 
 
 Only a year before his death, he gave the last address 
 of the compact at the funeral of Clement Studebaker 
 of automobile renown. When seventeen years old he 
 started around Cape Horn for California. It took 154 
 days to make the journey. He signed the petition for 
 the admission of California as a state. 
 
 Mr. Hotchkiss was a life long Democrat and a 
 staunch Unionist. He was as free from partisanship 
 as it was possible for a Union Democrat to be. 
 In a letter to Seymour Currey of the Historical 
 Society, he set forth some of his impressions of Re- 
 publican Evanston politically. His application to enter 
 the Union Army was denied due to a broken leg. During 
 the war he looked after wives and families of absent 
 soldiers and served as township supervisor in Michi- 
 gan. We quote from his letter: "When I came to Ev- 
 anston, I found few Democrats, but a partisanship 
 which recognized any person who did not vote and talk 
 enmity to the South, as a Copperhead, not entitled to 
 any measure of respect from the community. The only 
 recognized standard of citizenship was adherence to 
 the Republican Party with persistent hatred of anyone 
 who recognized that the war was over and talked con- 
 ciliation and friendly relations with our Southern 
 neighbors. In the Hancock campaign, I was the only 
 man in the two villages to display a Hancock flag. 
 
 [147] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 In the elections the only requirement of a candidate 
 was that he should be a rabid and outspoken Repub- 
 lican, to which all minor qualifications as education, 
 intelligence, and fitness for office must be subordinate. 
 Enough that the writer has lived to see a rich meed of 
 friendships among his fellow citizens, and to see the 
 question of ability and fitness taking precedence over 
 political prejudice." 
 
 Silver Threads Among the Gold 
 
 COMPOSED in 1874 by Hart Pease Danks, son of 
 the second proprietor of the Avenue House, then 
 called the Danks House. This song was sung by lovers 
 all over the world. Danks, a singer and composer of 
 sacred songs to the number of 1200 is said to have 
 come across the poem by Eben R. Rexford of Wis- 
 consin. Danks was attracted to the lines which were 
 first published in a Wisconsin Farm Journal. One 
 version has it that he paid Rexford $3.00 for the rights 
 and Rexford being so elated by the increase in his 
 worldly possessions sent him several more verses for 
 which no charge was made. Danks sold the song to a 
 Philadelphia publisher who in turn sent a copy to 
 Chicago, where it was sung by a minstrel group. So 
 great was the popularity of the composition that 
 2,000,000 copies were sold, Danks receiving only a 
 small sum for the love song. 
 
 The woman who inspired the song was Harriet Danks 
 the composer's wife and sweetheart. The prophecy that 
 
 [148] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 she would always be young and fair was never fulfilled 
 due to estrangement of the lovers. Mrs. Danks died 
 at the age of 82 in greatly reduced circumstances in 
 a Brooklyn rooming house. She was buried in New 
 Union Field after a simple funeral service in Lefferts 
 Place Chapel. 
 
 In 1903 an old man was found dead in a rooming 
 house in Philadelphia. His landlady found him kneel- 
 ing at the side of his bed. In his hand was a copy of 
 Silver Threads among the Gold and across it he had 
 written in pencil "It is hard to grow old alone." The 
 stanza which is most familiar: 
 
 Darling, I am growing old 
 Silver threads among the gold 
 Shine upon my brow today 
 Life is fading fast away 
 But my darling you will be 
 Always young and fair to me 
 Yes, my darling, you will be 
 Always young and fair to me 
 
 »S#^#S#^^#S#S#^^S#NtfS^S*S^^S*S#S*N^<r^*S^#SSS*S^#^^S*S*^S*S^^#^ 
 
 Auto Race— 1895 
 
 WHAT is said to have been the first auto race in 
 America was held on Thanksgiving Day, No- 
 vember the 28th, 1895. The starting point was the Mid- 
 way Plaisance, 55th Street, Chicago. Six entries were 
 made. The northern objective was Davis Street, Ev- 
 anston and the distance, 55 miles. A heavy fall of 
 snow on Tuesday before Thanksgiving made the going 
 tough. Only two cars finished. The winning car was a 
 Duryea, designed and built by Charles Duryea. The 
 
 [149] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 driver of the car was Frank Duryea and the time — 
 10 hours and 23 minutes. At his side was Archer W. 
 White, one of the umpires. The other car to complete 
 the circle was a Mueller — driven by Oscar Mueller. 
 The Mueller negotiated the distance arriving at the 
 starting point at 8:53 p.m., whereas Duryea arrived 
 at 7:18 p.m. The Duryea car weighed 700 lbs., and 
 was driven by a 4 horse-power motor weighing 120 lbs. 
 There were four speeds forward and one in reverse. 
 
 Fifty years after, November 2, 1945, veteran cars 
 were driven over the same course, from 55th St. Mu- 
 seum of Science and Industry to Northwestern Uni- 
 versity where lunch was served. In the first car was 
 17 year old Barbara Lohr in a 1910 Sears. She led the 
 procession of 50 antique vehicles. Behind her was 
 Lenox R. Lohr in an Oldsmobile of 1908. Major Lohr 
 was the sponsor of the event. 
 
 Chancellor L. Jenks Sr, 
 
 THERE are two quiet residential streets in North 
 Evanston — one Jenks Street and another Chan- 
 cellor Street. In all probability the streets were named 
 by Chancellor L. Jenks Sr. His son Chancellor L. Jenks 
 Jr. lived for many years at 1217 Ridge Avenue, and 
 at one time acted as President of the Historical So- 
 ciety. Thereby hangs a tale which involved not only 
 the Jenks but historic characters of Chicago. The story 
 was told by Edward S. Taylor, orator of the '76 cele- 
 bration of the dedication of the Fountain to William 
 
 [150] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 C. Levere, also a past president of the Historical So- 
 ciety. 
 
 "During the latter part of 1860 (subsequent, as I 
 remember to the election of Mr. Lincoln in that year) 
 one afternoon about six o'clock while seated at din- 
 ner, my attention was called to the noise of a passing 
 crowd. I soon learned that a fugitive slave had been 
 captured and was about to be returned to slavery. 
 Hastening to the corner of Clark and Van Buren streets 
 I saw in the custody of a deputy United States Mar- 
 shall a comely colored girl about 20 years of age. 
 A few weeks earlier she had escaped from bondage 
 and master, and for a week had been in hiding in 
 Chicago. Prompted with hope of reward, she had 
 been betrayed by one of her people, and an agent 
 of the owner, armed with proper papers, was aiding 
 the marshall to secure her return. A crowd of a 
 thousand surrounded the actors in the scene, almost 
 equally divided in their parties, all intensely excited. 
 The slowly moving procession was halted at the cor- 
 ner as a manly man of middle age pressed through 
 the throng and with determined purpose, seized the 
 burly slave driver and hurled him back. Instantly 
 grasping the girl he passed through the crowd, which 
 quickly closed about the officers. The hero of that 
 hour, who with the courage of his faith secured the 
 release of that slave girl was Chancellor L. Jenks. 
 A few days later Mr. Jenks was indicted in the United 
 States court. 
 
 A little time later he was tried in the United States 
 court, then held in the Harmon Block, corner of Clark 
 and Washington Streets, before the late Judge Drum- 
 mond, was found guilty and fined the sum of $1000." 
 
 Thus closed the incident which at the time oc- 
 casioned almost as much excitement as did the firing 
 upon Fort Sumpter, a few months later. A few weeks 
 
 [151] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ago, shortly before Mr. Jenks started for California, 
 I met him at the Avenue House and referring to this 
 matter, he told me that while stopping at Rockford, I 
 think, some years after the war, he met the southern 
 agent and introduced himself. The agent remarked: 
 'Yes I remember you. You are the man I would have 
 shot, but the suddenness and daring of the rescue dis- 
 armed me and before I had recovered, both you and 
 the slave had escaped." 
 
 ***s***s#v**> 
 
 Mr. & Mrs. Roberr Clark Knaggs 
 
 Count your garden by the flowers, never by the 
 
 leaves that fall 
 Count your days by golden hours, don't remember 
 
 clouds at all 
 Count your night by stars — not shadows 
 Count your life with smiles — not tears 
 And with joy on this your birthday, count your age 
 
 by friends, not years. 
 
 THIS birthday greeting was sent to Major Knaggs 
 on his 91st birthday in October, 1936, by the 
 News Index. At that time Major Knaggs said that he 
 had lived in Evanston for 40 years. The family home 
 was at 1311 Maple Avenue. On that occasion he ex- 
 pressed his philosophy of life. "My life has been a 
 romantic one and now as I look back over the years, 
 I believe I value my friends and my acquaintances 
 more than anything else." 
 
 "I have always tried to look on the bright side of 
 life. My nickname has been 'Smiling Bob' for many 
 
 [152] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 years. It is much easier to smile one's way through 
 life than frown." 
 
 "Evanston has changed a great deal in the past 
 40 years. I remember one day I counted 77 steamers 
 in the Evanston harbor. Now one hardly ever sees 
 a large boat within a quarter of a mile of the city." 
 
 Major Knaggs was a prisoner in the Libby prison 
 at Richmond, Virginia. While in Libby prison he 
 helped lay the plans for the digging of the tunnel 
 through which 111 prisoners escaped the night of Feb. 
 11th, 1864. Major Knaggs was the postmaster of the 
 prison, being well known to the prison officials, and 
 for this reason remained while others escaped. 
 
 Major Knaggs was present and turned the first 
 spade of dirt at the ground breaking for the Masonic 
 Temple at Maple Avenue and Lake Street. 
 
 Mrs. Knaggs was in attendance at the Chicago High 
 School. Her maiden name was Laura Hart Stow. She 
 was one of the company of young women in white 
 dresses who preceded the marching men when the 
 Lincoln funeral train came over the trestles of the 
 Illinois Central Railroad. A picture of the scene is 
 shown in Cook's "By Gone Days." 
 
 It was estimated by the Tribune that up to midnight 
 40,000 persons had passed through the rotunda of the 
 Court House. Before the closing of the casket it was 
 estimated that three or four times that number had 
 passed through the rotunda to view the remains of the 
 martyr President. 
 
 [153] 
 
*#s#s#-#s#s*#s* 
 
 Peter Cartwright 
 
 WHY should a story of Peter Cartwright be in- 
 cluded in a story of Evanston? Dr. Amos W. 
 Patten says that Cartwright visited Evanston in May 
 1868 and that on that occasion he made an address 
 from the east porch of Heck Hall. He was at that time 
 a delegate to the General Conference holding sessions 
 in Chicago. Also he was the father of Mrs. Levi C. 
 Pitner, wife of a prominent real estate man in Ev- 
 anston. A cursory examination of an Evanston map 
 would disclose sub-divisions by E. C. Pitner. Cart- 
 wright, aside from his ministerial duties, took part in 
 the political affairs of the State. He was a member 
 of the legislature in 1828-29 from the Sangamon Dis- 
 trict. In 1846 he was the Democratic opponent of 
 Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln received 6340 votes to 
 Cartwright's 4829. Rev. Peter is sometimes referred 
 to as the "Billy Sunday" of his day. I am sure that 
 he was not as polished a speaker as Billy. As an 
 exhorter none surpassed the pioneer circuit rider. 
 On one occasion he pointed to a lady in front row 
 — "Ye're at the crossroads, sister; ye'U have to 
 choose one or t'other; en the years en the months air 
 gone foremost o'ye, en thars only this here hour left 
 for to choose. Which will it be? Will it be the road thet 
 leads up yander or the one that leads down by the dark 
 river whar the willers air weeping night en day?" 
 Cartwright was a popular speaker at camp meetings. 
 In all probability he spoke at the Desplaines Camp 
 Meeting although his territory was the southern part 
 of the State. It was not unusual for ruffians to under- 
 take a disturbance at religious meetings. In one of 
 
 [154] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Peter's meetings a burly ruffian came to the front 
 of the platform and called to the speaker to "dry up." 
 Cartwright left the pulpit, seized the heckler by his 
 coat, gave him a sound threshing, and jammed him 
 into the "amen corner." The speaker, returning to the 
 pulpit, continued with these words, "As I was saying 
 when I was interrupted. . . " 
 
 On another occasion General Andrew Jackson at- 
 tended one of Cartwright's meetings. A minister whis- 
 pered to the speaker that General Jackson was pres- 
 ent. To the amazement of the audience Cartwright ex- 
 claimed "Who is General Jackson? If he does not re- 
 pent of his sins and become converted, he will go to 
 hell like anyone else." General Jackson is said to have 
 had no resentment against the exhorter and after the 
 meeting congratulated him on his sincerity and high 
 moral courage. 
 
 There is some evidence that he was opposed to train- 
 ing schools for ministers. If so, he changed his at- 
 titude, for he is recorded as a visiting trustee of Gar- 
 rett Biblical Institute. 
 
 The Carneys 
 
 AMONG the first settlers in the Grosse Pointe ter- 
 ritory were John and James Carney. They came 
 about the year 1835 and acquired a large tract of land 
 north of Dempster Avenue through to Church. John 
 Carney's first house was on the site of the Irving Os- 
 borne home at the corner of Ridge Ave. and Green- 
 wood Boulevard. It will be remembered that this was 
 
 155 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the home site of George F. Foster, who subsequently 
 sold it to Comstock. John Carney came from Quebec 
 and James from Boston. Both were born in Ireland. 
 J. C. Currey in an interview with Andrew F. Brown 
 in 1900 said that he purchased the Carney holding of 
 248 acres for the sum of $13,000.00 at the rate of $53 per 
 acre. John Carney died in 1873 at the age of 92. Car- 
 ney's family consisted of six children; Robert, Mary, 
 Kate, James, William born in Evanston in 1845, and 
 John born in Evanston in 1848. Son John had the dis- 
 tinction of being the first Chief of Police when Oscar H. 
 Mann became the mayor under the city form of gov- 
 ernment. He had the further distinction of holding that 
 office for 23 years. Prior to the Mann administration 
 he had been a police officer under his brother James, 
 who headed the police department under the village 
 administration. John Carney passed away in Septem- 
 ber 1899, the family home being at 1506 Asbury Avenue. 
 
 John had the reputation of being a born detective 
 and was greatly feared by law breakers. His specialty 
 was ferretting out horse and bicycle thieves, who op- 
 erated a thriving business along the shore. One of his 
 interesting exploits involved the capture of two horse 
 thieves who had stolen three horses from a Mrs. Ure. 
 Carney followed them to Niles where he lost the trail. 
 At this point the road forked in three directions. Carney 
 guessed the right one by the discovery of a broken 
 whip. Toward evening he espied the thieves just ahead 
 of him. Two were riding and one was leading a third 
 horse. In the pursuit of his prey he came up behind a 
 farmer with a load of hay. He acquainted the farmer 
 with the story. Presently the thieves turned out to let 
 the farmer pass. This was Carney's chance. He seized 
 one by the leg and pulled him off the horse and cap- 
 tured the other by frightening him with his revolver. 
 
 I 156 I 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The next day he returned to Evanston triumphant, 
 with the two thieves and the three horses. 
 
 James Carney, a brother of William and John, was a 
 carpenter by trade. In his old age he drove a carriage 
 for George P. Merrick. Driving Mr. Merrick was a 
 recreation for James Carney. One account gives him 
 credit for rescuing passengers and crew of the Lady 
 Elgin. 
 
 Frank R. Grover interviewed him on his experiences 
 in old time Evanston; fortunately Mr. Grover left a 
 record of this interview. He remembered quite well 
 the Indian Camp on the site of the Charles Deering 
 property just north of the lighthouse. The Indians were 
 of the Pottowatomie Tribe living in wigwams and huts 
 built partly of logs. James remembered visiting the 
 camp in company with a little black puppy. A few of 
 the Indians followed him home. Very much frightened, 
 he ran away and hid in a haystack. His mother gave 
 the puppy to the Indians. James remembered Indians 
 camping near the Foster pier, at Dempster Street. 
 They fished and remained there during the summer. 
 
 He also remembered the stage coaches going through 
 from Chicago to Milwaukee. Evanstonians turned out 
 to see the coaches just as small town residents go down 
 to see the train come in. 
 
 Muskrat houses were very numerous in the aristo- 
 cratic part of Forest Ave. Cows wandered into the 
 swamp and it would be several days before they could 
 get them out. James said he remembered the Indian 
 Chief, Ouilmette. He describes Antoine wearing a coat 
 made of a bright-hued blanket. His statement that 
 Antoine was an Indian Chief was a common error. 
 Ouilmette was a French Trader. 
 
 [ 157 
 
On the Five-Fifteen Circa 1880 
 
 UNDER date of Janu- 
 ary 8, 1883, a Daily 
 News reporter attempted 
 to introduce some of the 
 commuters who rode to 
 Evanston and some of the 
 towns north. In the card 
 playing quartet he names 
 David Rutter, dealer in 
 coal. His warm personal 
 friend was L. A. Hartman, 
 but in a card game a for- 
 midable opponent. Louis 
 Leonhardt, another mem- 
 ber of the foursome, is 
 described as a prosperous 
 fuel and feed dealer. A. N. 
 Young is described as a 
 scientific player — "Arch" Winne, one of the regulars 
 is agent for Black Diamond Steel Co. Dan Shephard 
 evidently was not a card player. He sits well down 
 in his seat behind his heavy black beard and a big 
 cigar. A train character is "Colonel" Henry Kidder. 
 The Colonel traffics in real estate and margins. 
 Henry will be remembered as the son of Dr. D. P. 
 Kidder, 1717 Chicago Avenue. Dr. Kidder's asso- 
 ciation was with Garrett Biblical Institute. "Jim" 
 Raymond, Secretary and Treasurer and General 
 owner of the Western Railway Association. Jim 
 was the son of Miner Raymond, one of the early 
 pastors of the First Methodist Church. Another mera- 
 
 [158] 
 
 Harvey Hurd 
 
 Piloted Lincoln Around 
 
 Evanston 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ber of the Methodist Church was T. C. Hoag, who is 
 described as a prosperous merchant, banker, and 
 general money getter. It will be remembered that T. C. 
 Hoag was the organizer of the State Bank and Trust 
 Company. Thomas Lord is described as a daily train 
 traveler and always as punctual as a clock. The Lord 
 House will be remembered as the one demolished to 
 make way for the Rotary International Building. Its 
 distinctive feature was the pipe organ. One of the Lord 
 neighbors was Harvey B. Hurd, who lived at the South- 
 west corner of Ridge Avenue and Davis Street. Mr. 
 Hurd was also a member of the Methodist Church and 
 a lawyer by profession. Mr. Hurd was a law and real 
 estate partner of Andrew J. Brown, one of the founders 
 of the University. Lest we assume that all of the five- 
 fifteen commuters were Methodists, we introduce 
 George C. Noyes, pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church. Dr. Noyes will be remembered as the man 
 who defended David Swing, a fellow Presbyterian min- 
 ister charged with heresy. Dr. Noyes is represented as 
 being engaged in a spirited conversation with Frances 
 Willard. Miss Willard was evidently not a daily com- 
 muter. Representing another field of endeavor was An- 
 drew Shuman, a journalist. Shuman was given the title 
 of Governor, having occupied the Lieut. Governor's 
 chair at Springfield. The train boy was trying to sell a 
 journal to Charles Comstock and J. H. Kedzie, both 
 Ridge Avenue residents. The Comstock home was for- 
 merly the home of George F. Foster. Comstock and 
 Kedzie are sitting together and each is waiting for the 
 other to buy. Both are good waiters. Comstock had 
 just resigned from the Presidency of the Traders Bank. 
 His church relation is St. Mark's Episcopal, where he 
 was one of the two founders. Chancellor L. Jenks is 
 represented as the padrone of the Italian Quarter and 
 Simon Peter Douthart, a lawyer, who when a small 
 
 [159] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 boy, stepped through the ceiling of the First Methodist 
 Church, is the last of the famous Evanstonians taking 
 the five-fifteen from the Northwestern Station. 
 
 r*S#S#S#N#V#N4 
 
 Volney W. Foster 
 
 ON AUGUST 28, 1904, memorial services were held 
 at the Presbyterian for Volney W. Foster, one of 
 Evanston's most prominent and loyal citizens. The Chi- 
 cago Record Herald of that date says that the Church 
 was filled with his friends and those who had been 
 associated with him in the many organizations in 
 which he had been interested. Speakers included Dr. 
 Newell Dwight Hillis, pastor of the Presbyterian 
 Church, Rev. H. P. Smyth of St. Mary's Catholic 
 Church, and the Rev. Charles J. Little of Garrett Bibli- 
 cal Institute. The following organizations took part in 
 the services: Union League Club of which Mr. Foster 
 was a past President; National Business League, Ethi- 
 cal Club, Sheridan Road Association, Holland Society, 
 Sons of the American Revolution and the Evanston 
 Historical Society. 
 
 Dr. Hillis said in part: 
 
 "Mr. Foster had many admirable traits, but 
 among these high qualities we must make a large 
 place for friendship. He was indeed interested in the 
 production of wealth and the distribution thereof; in 
 politics and reform — If we are to understand Mr. Fos- 
 ter's career we must call the roll of his gifts. He 
 had a powerful physique that endured high pressure 
 
 [160] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 brain action for ten hours a day for thirty years; 
 he had a singularly clear intellect, sanity and poise 
 of judgment, wisdom as opposed to knowledge; he 
 had tact, common sense, wit and humor; he had 
 earnestness, deep conviction, courage and a power- 
 ful will; he had also the power of casting himself 
 fully into any cause in which he was interested." 
 
 The Foster home was at 1014 Greenwood Boulevard. 
 The house was a large frame structure on 100 feet of 
 ground. One of his projects was the organization of the 
 Back Lot Club, a group of young men brought together 
 for the study of business and politics. For Headquar- 
 ters they used the rooms over what was then the stable. 
 Subsequently the Literary and Scientific Club met 
 there. 
 
 Mr. Foster was known as the Father of Sheridan 
 Road, whose dream was that he might live to see the 
 Drive measured by many more miles beside the Lake. 
 He did not live to see the procession of pleasure cars 
 which pass every hour over the beautiful drive. Mr. 
 Foster was also known as the man who brought the 
 squirrels to Evanston. If he was, we are profoundly 
 grateful to him. 
 
 Volney Foster occupied a high place in the councils 
 of the Republican Party. Commenting on the appoint- 
 ment of Volney W. Foster as one of the five delegates 
 from the United States to the International Conference 
 of American States to be held in the City of Mexico, 
 the Mexican Herald had this to say of him — "It is to 
 be hoped that Mr. Foster's arrangements will enable 
 him to accept the appointment, as he is persona gratis- 
 sima in Mexico's most representative circles both offi- 
 cial and social." 
 
 Death came to Mr. Foster at the age of 56. Not many 
 men of his age had attained his measure of success. 
 
 [161] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 At the time of his death he was President of the United 
 States Repair and Guaranty Company; the United 
 States Silica Company; the Chicago, Kenosha and Mil- 
 waukee Electric Railway Co. He was also interested 
 in the North Shore Gas Company of which his son, 
 Albert Volney Foster was Vice President. 
 
 Northwestern Female College 
 
 FINANCIAL difficulties 
 prevented Evanston from 
 claiming a Vassar or a Welles- 
 ley College. It all started about 
 the year 1856 and was first 
 conceived in the mind of Wil- 
 liam P. Jones. The founder 
 was the son of the Rev. W. P. 
 Jones, a Methodist minister 
 for a half century. How often 
 it happens that our leaders 
 are born in a parsonage. 
 Prof. Jones held the position 
 of President of the Northwest- 
 ern Female College from the 
 founding in 1855 to 1862, when 
 President Lincoln appointed 
 him Consul to China. Our Ev- 
 anston institution is best known 
 with its most prominent alumna 
 Miss 
 and 
 
 Prof. Wm. P. Jones 
 
 Founder and First 
 
 President of Northwestern 
 
 Female College 
 
 by its association 
 
 , Frances E. Willard. 
 
 Willard succeeded Prof. Jones as President 
 
 when the college merged with Northwestern 
 
 [ 162 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 University Miss Willard became Dean of the Woman's 
 College. 
 
 Evanston's new College was housed in a four story 
 building located on Chicago Avenue between Lake 
 Street and Greenwood Blvd. The building had many 
 wings and you reached the front door by climbing 
 ten or a dozen steps. 
 
 Northwestern Female College 
 
 In her report to the trustees of Northwestern Uni- 
 versity Dean Willard said: "Daily prayer services are 
 conducted in the Chapel; weekly prayer meetings are 
 maintained, and the Sabbath is carefully honored. 
 Personal counsel and advice are given when needed 
 and more immediate attention upon matters pertain- 
 ing to health and morals is bestowed upon the younger 
 girls. A home is a determining influence in the educa- 
 tion for life; in the home the inmates pass three- 
 fourths of every day." 
 
 [ 163 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The Commencement program for 1870 announces 
 that Miss Lilly Romeyn Winne is to give the Salutatory 
 Address in Latin. Miss Winne was undoubtedly one 
 of the members of that well known family. Other items 
 on the program include: "There's Room Up Higher," 
 "Onward," "The Marble Cross," "Drifting," "Geol- 
 ogy and Man" and "Neglect Not the Gift That is In 
 Thee." These weighty subjects were relieved some- 
 what by a sprinkling of items which were titled "Mu- 
 sic." 
 
 Outdoor exercises and games were not neglected. 
 The grounds referred to as the "campus" had croquet 
 grounds, and a skating rink. Strolling by the lake 
 was permitted if taken in day time or in the evening 
 with a chaperone. 
 
 One writer refers to the student life as the life of 
 a cloister or a "sheltered life." To this college must 
 go the credit for the first printed newspaper in Evans- 
 ton. The first issue of the Casket and Budget appeared 
 in December 1858. The first copy of eight pages con- 
 tained the latest "news flashes," and a poem signed 
 F. E. W. Your guess is correct, the author, Frances 
 E. Willard. 
 
 Northwestern University with its male enrollment 
 
 was only a few blocks away. No males were allowed 
 
 on the Female College campus. William C. Levere, a 
 
 former president of the Historical Society who always 
 
 wrote most entertainingly of the early history had this 
 
 to say in August 7th number of the News Index of 1914: 
 
 "There is still standing on Chicago Avenue just a 
 
 few doors north of Davis Street a little house in 
 
 green and gray which was in those days the village 
 
 store and was later to become more dignified by 
 
 having the village post office installed there. The 
 
 proprietor was a goodly man, who made due al- 
 
 I 164 | 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 lowances for the harmless escapades of youth and 
 was known as the friend of students, both boys and 
 girls. They liked to meet at his store, but this was 
 dangerous, for the fair ones were forbidden to cross 
 its threshold. Dangerous it was, for it harbored two 
 kinds of sweets — college youths and candy. Many 
 were the meetings of campus swains and as they 
 feasted on goodies from the stock of the early mer- 
 
 Rebecca Childs 
 First Woman Graduate 
 Northwestern University 
 
 chant, they would keep a weather eye toward the 
 path which led to the store, and if from either 
 direction any argus-eyed teacher was seen approach- 
 ing, flight was resorted to. 
 
 "The exchange of pleasantries became so inter- 
 esting one day that the four participants forgot their 
 usual caution, and to their horror, they saw one 
 of the strictest of their instructors almost under 
 the eaves of the house. The girls, panic stricken, 
 turned to the storekeeper for succor. As quick witted 
 as he was kindly, the good man hurried them back 
 of the counter and in under it; and here they were 
 safely hidden until the teacher had made the nec- 
 essary purchase and departed. After that the counter 
 became a regular place of refuge in the hour of 
 
 [165 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 danger, and many a dignified society leader of today 
 smiles as she looks back through the years and 
 remembers herself, a pink cheeked daughter of love 
 hiding beneath the counter while the good man of 
 trade and her student beau carried on polite con- 
 versation concerning the weather and airy nothings 
 about anything in particular, until the enemy had 
 gone his way." 
 Mr. Levere continues: 
 
 "When I came to Evanston the School had long 
 since been swallowed by Northwestern University. 
 The building had been removed to a site on Chicago 
 Avenue on the west side of the street, three doors 
 north of Clark Street. It was being used as a student 
 boarding house, and I had two front rooms on the 
 top floor, at a rental which would drive a modern 
 landlord insane. It was then known as "The Lake- 
 side" but in a few years it became so tumbled down 
 
 Old College — First Building of Northwestern 
 University at Hinman Avenue and Davis Street 
 
 [166] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 it took on the more striking name of 'The Asylum.' 
 Permit me to add this was after I had moved to 
 other quarters. My landlord was Frederick Huse, 
 who will be remembered by early Evanstonians." 
 
 "There is at least one portion of the old college build- 
 ing still doing service. It is on the north side of Davis 
 Street between Forest and Judson Avenues, and is 
 used as a residence. It will be recognized by the 
 Square tower on a corner of the building. Another 
 portion stood for many years on the corner of Church 
 Street and the alley in the rear of the public library 
 building. If the walls which still stand could and would 
 speak, I imagine that the stories I have told would 
 not be an instance to the tale they would unfold." 
 
 Snyder Farm House 
 Snyder Farm Second Purchase of the University 
 
 [167] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 (Bonbright et al) 
 University Professors 
 
 [168] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 University Hall 
 
 [ 169 
 
Elizabeth Boynton Harbert 
 Founder of Woman's Club 
 
 Clark Hinman 
 
 First President of 
 
 the University 
 
>s#s#v*sr^#sr^r^#s#v*>*>^< 
 
 Peter Miller 
 
 PETER MILLER, Harness Maker," so the sign 
 read over the shop at 1568 Sherman Avenue. Pe- 
 ter was a victim of the changing times. Autos dis- 
 placed horses. He then turned to making harnesses for 
 dogs. Again the department stores furnished the arti- 
 cle at a price that stifled competition. Peter was born 
 in Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland. He came to Evans- 
 ton in 1882. He was first employed in Christ Thomas' 
 Shop where he made $12 per week. Later he went into 
 business for himself at the Sherman Avenue address, 
 where he continued for 43 years. Peter had a passion 
 for a better world, that is the world of the working 
 man. He thought socialism furnished the answer. I 
 remember as a student attending some of the socialist 
 meetings. Party members met on Sunday evenings 
 when Social themes would be sung set to Christian 
 hymns. Peter claimed to be the most defeated candi- 
 date in Evasnton. He headed the ticket for Mayor in 
 1903 and 1905. Several times he had a place on the 
 ticket for minor offices. 
 
 In World War I the Pro-Germans took over the party 
 machinery. Patriotic Americans were forced to resign 
 and that brought an end to the party locally. Peter 
 was a member of the Evanston Scottish Society and 
 the Saint Andrews Society. His latter days were spent 
 quietly at 1505 Maple Avenue. 
 
 [171] 
 
Tempo 
 
 TEMPO at the turn of the century did not produce 
 heart failures — I glean this from the Index of 
 1904. "Electric car 5479 was thundering past Lee Street 
 when the motorman in charge suddenly bent forward 
 to look at the track ahead of him. A little black spot 
 appeared about half a block away. The passengers 
 wondered why the motorman beat his gong so furi- 
 ously when they could see nothing in the way. They 
 wondered more when midway in the block he stopped 
 his car, alighted and walked on ahead a few yards. 
 They saw him stoop to the level of the street and pick 
 up a tiny sparrow. It had been wounded and in trying 
 to fly with one wing broken had fallen piteously on the 
 tracks. The motorman picked up the bird carefully 
 and carried it to safety. Then he started the car and 
 made up for lost time." 
 
 On my first trip to Evanston I rode the elevated to 
 Wilson Avenue, then took the Broadway car to the 
 City Limits, where another transfer was made to an 
 Evanston car. When we reached Kedzie Street and 
 Chicago Avenue, the motorman stopped the car and 
 proceeded leisurely to an artesian well where he 
 quenched his thirst, after which we proceeded to Davis 
 Street. 
 
 172 
 
The McDowell-Childs-Eldridge 
 Price House 
 
 A NY one of the above names would be applied to 
 -^~*- designate the old frame house which stood at 
 the northeast corner of Sherman Avenue and Lake 
 Street. The name you select would depend upon your 
 generation. 
 
 The McDowells were probably the first family to 
 occupy the house. Mary McDowell, the daughter, was 
 a welfare worker associated with Jane Addams and 
 Hull House. John A. Childs and family lived there from 
 1885 to 1892. Mr. Childs was one of Evanston's early 
 postmasters and a publisher of the Evanston Index. 
 George W. Price moved into the house in 1893. His 
 daughters, Mrs. Stella M. Eldridge and Miss Anna 
 Price were the last owners before the demolition in 
 1939. No one seems to remember when it was first 
 built. Colonel William P. Turner declared that it was 
 there when he came to Evanston in 1871. John B. Flood, 
 an old timer who said that he chased the Indians out 
 of Wilmette, said that he could not remember when 
 the house was built. Mrs. Eldridge said that she would 
 miss the bed of lillies of the valley, the clump of lilac 
 and the ferns planted far back in Evanston's past. The 
 Prices did not modernize by wiring for electric lights. 
 Mrs. Eldridge and her sister Miss Price thought the 
 candlelight and the lamps fitted so well with their soft 
 glow into the mahogany and walnut furniture. The old 
 lamps which originally cost 50c were reserved when 
 
 r 173 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the house was sold. Mrs. Eldridge stated that they were 
 collectors items and would probably sell for $18.00 
 apiece. 
 
 Toll Roads 
 
 THE recent revival in interest in toll roads brings 
 up the question of roads in the early 50's. Toll 
 roads were common, the rights being held by individ- 
 uals and not by the public. John A. Pearsons and Frank 
 H. Benson operated a toll road between Evanston and 
 Chicago. There was a regular procedure under the 
 state law whereby a road could be constructed and 
 tolls collected for its use. The material might be plank 
 or gravel. The road constructed by Pearson and Ben- 
 son was a gravel turnpike and toll gates were installed 
 at Rogers Avenue and Clark Street, and one at Grace- 
 land. The County Board was empowered with the right 
 to take possession of the road and refund the promoters 
 the value of the improvements to be ascertained under 
 the law of "eminent domain.'' One of the promoters 
 of toll roads in the early days was Amos J. Snell. His 
 system of roads was known as "the Snell roads." Snell 
 was foully murdered in his Chicago home in 1888 and 
 robbed of a large amount of money at the same time. 
 One of his toll keepers who was stationed at Belmont 
 and Elston, where he served for fourteen years, said 
 in a newspaper interview that he took in more money 
 than any other gate keeper. He further related that one 
 Sunday when several Bohemian and Polish picnics 
 
 [174] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 were going on in Niles and Des Plaines, he took in 
 $790.00 in one day. The average gate receipts for a day 
 was $400, according to the gate keeper. 
 
 Toll Gate House at Clark Street and 
 Indian Boundary Line 
 
 [175] 
 
Robert Oatman Vandercook 
 
 ROBERT VANDERCOOK was one of the few men 
 of my acquaintance who had a passion for old 
 time Evanston history. He was also a philosopher. 
 Many of his utterances came out of the white heat of 
 his experiences. His latter days were spent at 2610 
 Harrison Street. Death came to him a few days be- 
 fore his 85th birthday. A few events in his life have 
 been gleaned from his obituary, Evanston Review, 
 June 14, 1951. He founded the Evanston Press Janu- 
 ary 5, 1889. As a boy his plaything was a printing press 
 which he purchased from his brother for $1.50. As a 
 student he founded a corporation known as the Univer- 
 sity Press Company, which was a predecessor to the 
 present University Press. For the first six years the 
 Evanston Press was published in the Simpson Market 
 Building, the present Chandler corner. Frances Wil- 
 lard was one time a contributor to the Press. The high- 
 light of Mr. Vandercook's career came at the close of 
 the Spanish American War, when the Evanston Press 
 was sold in the Loop. We will let Mr. Vandercook tell 
 this story, which he did in a communication to the 
 Historical Society. In 1908 he established the Vander- 
 cook Press for the manufacture of proof presses. This 
 is too long a story for record here except to say that 
 the patents which he held gave him financial inde- 
 pendence. He pursued his hobbies of traveling by air 
 and traveling in Europe and South America. We are 
 quoting two of his communications to the Historical 
 Society, the first of which is so full of color of the early 
 history of Evanston that we are quoting it in full. The 
 second tells the romantic story of the scoop dated July 
 
 L 176 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 4, 1898, the headlines being: "Ceveras Fleet Annihil- 
 ated" and "Samson Verifies Destruction of the Daring 
 Spanish Fleet." 
 
 WHEN EVANSTON WAS A VILLAGE 
 By Robert O. Vandercook 
 
 I was brought to Evanston in 1876. That was about 
 the time the first water works in Evanston was started. 
 It was my duty as a small boy to go out into the garden 
 and pump the water for the daily use. We lived on the 
 corner of Church Street and Orrington Avenue. 
 
 Most of Evanston's life then circulated around the 
 University and First Methodist Church. There were 
 other sections of the town that had a more worldly 
 trend. A block east on Chicago avenue lived the Ban- 
 nisters, famous in Garrett Biblical Institute history. 
 Down the street was what is now called Rest Cottage. 
 It was the home of Frances Willard. In the block was 
 the Pearson residence. Harry Pearson, a former may- 
 or of Evanston, was very much of an infant some years 
 later. Across the street was Dr. Bragdon's residence, 
 showing as it does now the typical architecture of the 
 80's. Next was the Hitt residence, built in 1856 which 
 is now one of the purest types of architecture in the 
 city. Around the corner on Clark street was the Hem- 
 ingway home for whom Hemingway M.E. Church was 
 named. On the corner of Church street was the home 
 of Oliver Marcy, one of the most beloved teachers in 
 the University. 
 
 The headquarters of the gang was the Hitt house. The 
 great barn, where the horses and cows were kept, was 
 a hangout for the gang. Among the gang was "Puss" 
 Willard, a niece of Frances Willard, very much of a 
 tomboy, but yet a beautiful girl. 
 
 On the corner of Clark street the Ayres lived, an 
 
 [177 1 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Uncle to Charlie Ayres, who as an architect built a 
 number of homes in Evanston. Across the street sever- 
 al years later, moved the Harrises. The boy, Albert, is 
 now head of the Harris Trust & Savings Bank of Chi- 
 cago. There were the Willard boys, nephews of Frances 
 Willard, Bob and Frank. Both these boys had lively 
 careers. Frank found his highest satisfaction in life 
 by bumming around the country with tramps. He 
 wanted to go to Europe so he stowed away on a liner. 
 On the way over he received a very severe blow on the 
 head which knocked him unconscious for sometime. 
 When he recovered in London, his brain seemed to have 
 settled down to normalcy. He began to write. He wrote 
 stories of tramp life under the name of Josiah Flint, 
 which became one of the biggest sellers in the 
 early 80's. 
 
 In the neighborhood were the Merwins. The father 
 of Sam and Henry. O. H. Merwin was one of the early 
 postmasters of Evanston. Both of these boys achieved 
 considerable literary distinction. Sam was sent over to 
 the Orient by "The Success" magazine, and he gave 
 vivid pictures of the conditions in China and Japan. 
 Henry became editor of "The Golden Book." He went 
 to London and made strong literary connections. Sam 
 cooperated with Icky Webster on a story called "The 
 Short Line War." It dealt with fights and battles over 
 the right of way with early western railroads. 
 
 When Frances Willard returned from her strenuous 
 trips, she used to gather together her old friends and 
 she was the life of the party. She threw aside all her 
 restraints and let herself go. No newspaper account 
 was given of the high old times that were had at what 
 was then known just as the Willard home. 
 
 The great event of the year was a G.A.R. parade. 
 The Chicago Avenue gang of boys or more often called 
 
 [178] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ''The Hitt gang," had the thrill of their lives as the 
 veterans went marching by to the strains of the fife 
 and bugle. William Turner with Lt. Pearson, William 
 Sheppard, George Monteith, and many others who 
 achieved distinction in the Civil War. 
 
 Monteith — the "Old Rustic' 
 This Picture Awarded Prize 
 at Philadelphia Centennial 
 
 Before the fourth of July every boy of the gang began 
 to save his pennies with which to buy black powder. 
 That was preferred because there was a lot more noise 
 in black powder with relation to cost, than firecrackers 
 and most of us had small cast iron cannons. Some kind 
 fate must have watched over those reckless youngsters 
 that kept them from being blown to bits by the reckless 
 handling of the explosives. It was found by the eco- 
 nomical, that the more solidly the charge was rammed 
 down the greatest amount of noise could be obtained 
 with the least expense. One youngster rammed his 
 charge down the cannon so hard with wads, grass, and 
 everything it would hold, that the entire charge came 
 out of the touch hole. As the cannon leaped back, the 
 blaze struck the face of the boy which burned off his 
 eyebrows and took the skin off of his nose. By what 
 decree of fate was his eyesight saved? In later years he 
 used that eyesight to very great advantage. 
 
 [179] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The gang all went to the Benson avenue school. 
 Among the teachers in the primary grades was Miss 
 Hines. Her kindly intuition turned many a boy and girl 
 on the right path. Her grateful pupils after they had 
 reached adulthood, contributed a comfortable support 
 to her declining years. 
 
 About that time, most prominent citizens of Evans- 
 ton had their own cows and chickens. It was one of 
 the duties of the gang to go out to the pastures and 
 drive the family cows home. That was one of the rea- 
 sons why fences were necessary in front of every res- 
 idential block. 
 
 It really seems that there was more real contentment 
 and happiness in those village days where everybody 
 knew everybody else and the hand of sympathy was 
 most generously extended whenever calamity or mis- 
 fortune struck. 
 
 EVANSTON DURING THE SPANISH WAR 
 By Robert O. Vandercook 
 The Spanish War was at the height of its interest. 
 All the Chicago papers had suspended publication be- 
 cause of a strike in the mechanical department. The 
 younger generation can now hardly appreciate that at 
 that time there was no radio, and no news of the great 
 war was circulated in Chicago and vicinity. The op- 
 portunity was grabbed by the Evanston Press. Ar- 
 rangements were made with the Associated Press for 
 their wire. Rennie Hitt, for a long time resident of 
 Evanston, and afterwards for many years a judge in 
 the municipal court in Washington, became our special 
 Washington correspondent. Three editions of the Press 
 were brought out a day, morning, noon, and night. Up 
 to midnight, Friday, July 3rd, the wires from the As- 
 sociated Press were most discouraging and depress- 
 ing. At midnight came a long wire from our special 
 
 [180] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 representative, Rennie Hitt, giving the first informa- 
 tion in this part of the country of the destruction of 
 Ceveras' fleet. Hitt got his message to us way in ad- 
 vance of the Associated Press wires. He filed it before 
 the Associated Press could get priority on the wire. 
 
 The copy only made a comparatively few sticks of 
 type composition. I had plenty of compositors to handle 
 the job before we had to go to press at 6:00 in the 
 morning. 
 
 There was wild exaltation at the Press office. Sam 
 Peeny, the water works engineer who ran the fog horn, 
 was called by phone. When he heard Hitt's telegram, 
 he gave a whoop and started the fires under his fog 
 horn (there was no fog that night). Soon the shrill 
 shriek of the horn was heard for miles around. All 
 the ministers of Evanston were phoned too, and soon 
 all the church bells of the town began ringing. 
 
 Thousands of people soon gathered around the Press 
 office which was then in the Park building, between 
 the two railroad tracks. My foreman and the com- 
 positors went out to mix with the crowd. The spirits 
 circulated at that time were very potent. The messen- 
 ger boy was sent to round up the men. When they 
 came into the shop, not a one of them was sober, or 
 could work. Was the Press going to lose the biggest 
 scoop of the world? No! The addresses of some com- 
 positors who worked in Chicago, but lived in Evanston 
 were known. The messenger boy went to their homes, 
 and told them the story. Several compositors re- 
 sponded to the call, and they were sufficient number 
 to set the type, but there was not a "make up" man 
 in the lot. It was therefore up to me to make up the 
 pages. I had already been in the office for over 36 
 hours, meals being sent to me. "Make up" takes ac- 
 curate touch which is ordinarily rather a nice job, but 
 for an exhausted man, it is quite difficult. 
 
 [181] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The pressman was Frank Hahn, brother of John 
 Hahn, who was once a candidate for mayor, and is 
 very well known in the municipal affairs of Evanston. 
 Frank reported as usual at 6:00 a.m. The forms had 
 just been locked up and tested; the type lifted. As 
 Frank took the heavy forms off the stones, the great 
 strain was over and I fell in a faint on the floor. When 
 I came to, my head was soaked in cold water. A crowd 
 was already surging around the Press office. The 
 doors had to be locked, and the papers, as fast as 
 printed, were handed out a window. News boys were 
 grabbing for papers which were sold for 5c each. One 
 news boy, when reaching up his hands for more papers, 
 shouted, "I just sold a paper for half a dollar to the 
 mayor of Chicago." That excitement continued for 
 about two hours, until the papers from neighboring 
 cities began to arrive. 
 
 I believe the files of the Evanston Newspapers will 
 show that the Evanston Index got out one edition, is- 
 sued after the big scoop on the destruction of Ceveras' 
 fleet. There are quite a few old-time merchants on 
 Davis street who vividly remember those times. 
 
 Samuel E. Kiser and 
 Wilbur Dick Nesbit 
 
 KISER and Nesbit frequently appeared on the 
 same program. Both confessed to being "writ- 
 ers." Mr. and Mrs. Nesbit lived in a house at the 
 northeast corner of Sheridan Road and Milburn St. 
 
 [182] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 When Milburn Park was promoted, the Nesbit house 
 was found to be too large to move through the streets 
 so the movers devised the scheme of cutting it in 
 two and rejoining the halves on a lot fronting on 
 Euclid Park Place. Mr. and Mrs. Kiser lived at 726 
 Clinton Street. At that time there were no houses to 
 the north. Orrington School was still in the blueprint 
 stage. 
 
 W.D.N, followed B.L.T. as line master of A Line 
 of Type or Two in the Chicago Tribune. He once wrote 
 a verse which would have given him immortality if 
 he had written no other. It first appeared in 1900 
 and was written for the Vollard Company, presumably 
 for a greeting card. It sold by the hundred thousands 
 and is still selling as big as ever. I can attest to its 
 popularity. Only recently did I see the version framed 
 and hanging in a Kenilworth home. For Nesbit ad- 
 mirers I quote: 
 
 "All to myself 
 
 I think of you 
 
 Think of the things 
 
 I used to do 
 
 Think of the things 
 
 We used to say 
 
 Think of each golden yesterday 
 
 Sometimes I sigh 
 
 Sometimes I smile 
 
 But I keep each 
 old golden while 
 
 All to myself." 
 
 These lines from Kisers poems always intrigued me: 
 
 "Where the snow had drifted oer the land 
 I saw a sweet young mother stand 
 A babe was lying on her breast 
 to keep it warm 
 
 [183] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 . >•■ ■■■'■■■■;;■. ' 
 
 Early Pioneers 
 
 [184] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 In later years I passed once more 
 A boy was lying on her knee 
 And suffering Joshua! how she 
 Was warming him." 
 
 A History of Block 54 
 
 THIS is a tall story. I heard it from Robert P. 
 Brown, son of Andrew J. Brown, one of the 
 founders of the University. The elder Brown was a 
 young Chicago lawyer who was also real estate 
 minded. His son would have no reason for coloring the 
 facts. I have no doubt that some of the figures quoted 
 could be checked by resorting to an examination of the 
 County Records. Block 54 is bounded by Maple Avenue, 
 Lake Street, Oak Ave., and Grove Street. The block 
 was originally a part of the Carney farm of 140 acres. 
 According to Robert P., his father's house was at 
 the Maple-Grove corner, now the site of the Y.M.C.A. 
 Building. Another house and barn were at the Lake- 
 Oak corner. Robert remembers that there was a curv- 
 ing drive from the house diagonally to the southwest 
 corner. One acre was given over to a garden and 
 the rest was nature's woodland populated with blue- 
 jays and robins. Occasionally a brown thrush or a 
 bright oriole visited this garden of Eden. Mr. Brown 
 remembered little yellow gophers with stripes down 
 their backs, diving into their holes when humans 
 approached. Of the tame fowls there were chickens, 
 ducks, turkeys, which they would let out at four o'clock. 
 One day there was an eclipse of the sun, and all mem- 
 
 [ 185 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 bers of the bird family went to bed early. All 
 of this happened in the early 1860's. 
 
 The first parcel to be sold was the present site of 
 the City Hall. The sale was to the Country Club. At 
 that time the House was moved north to 1505 Oak 
 Avenue. Here the elder Brown lived until his death 
 in 1906. The widow, Abby L. Brown, continued to live 
 at the Oak Avenue address until her death. It will be 
 remembered that she was present at the dedication 
 of the First Methodist Church on the Library Grounds 
 and later witnessed the unveiling of the tablet by the 
 Kickers Club in July 1913. 
 
 I started out to tell a real estate story. Here are 
 the transactions as related by Robert P. Brown, who 
 lived not three score and ten but four score and ten. 
 He relates that his father sold the 450 feet on Maple 
 Avenue for $25,000, the 244 feet on Grove St. was 
 sold for $15,000, and the Country Club site for $25,000. 
 This left the home site on Oak Avenue, which he ap- 
 praised at $10,000 — the original investment was $500. 
 Over a period of 40 years it produced a value of 
 $75,000. 
 
 K#S#S#^#S#v#S*sr^^*V*>»S#S*S#N* 
 
 The Mikado 
 
 WAY back in 1892 the Mikado was given in the 
 open air. The opera was given for the benefit of 
 the Evanston Emergency Hospital which at that time 
 was being operated in a small house on Emerson 
 Street. The staging was at the northwest corner of 
 Davis Street and Judson Avenue. Midsummer Night's 
 
 [186] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 Dream had been done on the open ground, but the 
 committee in charge voted for a regular stage and 
 twenty loggias, ten on each side, all draped with bam- 
 boo and bunting. Seating capacity was provided for 
 1400. Decorations were designed by W. L. Wells. A 
 mammoth Japanese umbrella canopied each box, the 
 boxes being separated by bamboo work. The Tribune 
 writer reported that fairy lamps added their sparkle 
 and weird effect. 
 
 Marshall Kirkman, Vice President of the Chicago 
 and Northwestern Railroad, acted as auctioneer for 
 the sale of the boxes. The following Evanston citizens 
 paid $30 to $50 for the boxes: John H. Kedzie, Hugh R. 
 Wilson, Mrs. Sherman, Frank M. Elliot, F. A. Hardy, 
 W. H. Brown, Curtis H. Remy, C. H. Matthews, 
 P. R. Shumway, F. S. Peabody, B. A. Mudge, and 
 M. M. Kirkman. Performances were given on Thurs- 
 day and Friday nights and Saturday matinee of the 
 first week and Monday night of the second week. Mrs. 
 George Noyes sang the part of Yum-Yum and William 
 Richards the part of Poo-Bah. Both were members of 
 the choir at the Presbyterian Church. Other members 
 of the cast were: Mikado, J. N. Crampton; Nanki Poo, 
 Grafton Baker; Koki, William A. Baker; Pish-Tush, 
 David A. Noyes; Nee Bau, Thomas Richards; Pitti 
 Sing, Mrs. Elizabeth Pratt; Peep Bo, Mrs. William L. 
 Vance; Katisha, Mrs. William G. Spinning; William A. 
 Baker acted as Director. The chorus was reported to 
 be remarkably pretty. As a further evidence of the 
 truth of this fact it was cited that the first five rows of 
 seats were filled by the young men of the town. Re- 
 hearsing covered a period of one month. A strike was 
 threatened by the little boys in the Robin Hood tinker 
 chorus if the young ladies of the garland dance took 
 first place in the Grand March. A compromise was 
 reached. Gross receipts were $3700, which, after a 
 
 [187] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 deduction of $1500 for expenses, left $2200 for the hos- 
 pital, a tidy sum for the year 1892. 
 
 ■*■++*■++*+•*■*++■** 
 
 He Never Quit 
 
 THE next time you are on the Campus of the 
 University stop and read the following inscrip- 
 tion on a bronze tablet: 
 
 In Honor of 
 
 David Thomas Hanson 
 
 Arts 1905 -Med. 1909 
 Captain Medical Corps, 142nd 
 Infantry, United States Army. 
 Cited by the French Government 
 for bravery, — An officer of 
 great courage at St. Etienne, 
 Oct. 8th, 1918. He rushed to 
 the aid of a wounded man and was 
 killed. 
 
 He was a model of devotion, 
 Awarded the Croix de Guerre after 
 death. 
 
 A student beloved of his associates, 
 generous, persistent, self-sacri- 
 ficing. He gave himself without 
 reserve to his Alma Mater and to 
 his country. 
 
 By the Alumni 
 Nov. 1922 
 He played four years on the scrubs — 
 He never quit. 
 
 [188] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "Dave played football at Northwestern four years 
 but he never got his letter. He was a member of the 
 scrub team, those luckless young men who take the 
 hard knocks from the varsity. For Dave there was no 
 applause, no glory, never once did his name appear 
 in the line up. But he never quit." 
 
 The War Department records show that "he was 
 a best beloved officer of his division, and his tragic 
 death makes clear the fact that his devotion to his men 
 led him to make the supreme sacrifice. He was shot 
 by a machine gun bullet while performing an act of 
 heroism in rescuing a wounded comrade." 
 
 The O'Leary Family 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JOHN O'LEARY came to Evans- 
 ton in the early eighteen thirties. They came to 
 Chicago by canal boat and settled on land where Cal- 
 vary Cemetery is now located. A part of the farm was 
 sold to the Catholic Bishop of Chicago. The largest 
 grave yard at that time was located in Lincoln Park. 
 The purchase price of the 160 acres is said to have been 
 on a basis of 60c per acre. The O'Leary farmhouse was 
 near the entrance to Calvary Cemetery. A huge oak 
 tree stood close to the house and it was under this 
 tree that the first Catholic Mass was said. A massive 
 table now in the possession of St. Mary's Church, 
 draped with linen, furnished the altar. 
 
 The O'Learys at one time conducted a tavern at the 
 Cemetery address, the building being subsequently 
 moved to 1209 Chicago Avenue. Some years ago I called 
 
 [189] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and inspected a cabin door which Mr. O'Leary had 
 saved from the wreck of the Lady Elgin. 
 
 The O'Leary family was a large one, the most color- 
 ful member being Ellen O'Leary Lynch. Her last home 
 was at 1604 Jonquil Terrace, Chicago. The parcel of 
 ground upon which the house was built was a part of 
 the original O'Leary farm. Ellen Lynch passed the 
 century mark by one year. On her hundredth birthday 
 August 29, 1938, she lighted 100 candles on her birthday 
 cake. The Chicago Tribune in their story of the birth- 
 day party described Mrs. Lynch as matriarchial. "She 
 wore a festive lace collarette pinned at her breast 
 with a cameo brooch, a pin worn by her mother. Her 
 hair was described as soft white, knotted on top of her 
 head in a fashion so old it is new again." 
 
 One of Ellen's sisters married Phillip Rogers, who 
 owned a large farm to the south of the O'Leary farm, 
 giving the name of Rogers Park to that part of Chi- 
 cago. Another interesting story could be told in 
 which the Rogers family would play an important 
 role. 
 
 The Margarita Club, located at 1564 Oak Avenue, 
 formerly at Lake Street and Oak Avenue, was named 
 by Father H. P. Smythe in honor of Margaret O'Leary, 
 mother of Ellen O'Leary Lynch. A brother, David 
 O'Leary, was one of Evanston's first postmasters. Da- 
 vid studied for the priesthood and for a time was one 
 of the pastors at St. Mary's Catholic Church. At the 
 time of his death he was a professor at the University 
 of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. 
 
 [190] 
 
Dr. Chas. A. P. Garn 
 
 sey 
 
 IN OUR story of early Evanston we have stated 
 that the first telephone exchange was in Dr. 
 Garnsey's office. Dr. Garnsey had some other firsts to 
 his credit. He was a passenger on the first street car in 
 Chicago. In 1924 he stated that he had practiced dentis- 
 try in Evanston for 53 years. This would probably give 
 him the honor of being the first dentist in Evanston. In 
 July 1858 he commenced the study and practice of 
 dentistry in Chicago. When he had served his appren- 
 ticeship, he enlisted in the Illinois Light Artillery "Chi- 
 cago Board of Trade Battery" for the war. The doc- 
 tor's war record was an enviable one. His battery was 
 engaged in 36 battles. He was wounded by an exploding 
 shell at Farming, Tenn. After a short period of con- 
 valescence, he again returned to his company and 
 served to the end of the war. 
 
 In an interview with a News Index reporter under 
 date of January 22, 1924, Dr. Garnsey described his 
 first visit to Evanston: 
 
 "One Sunday afternoon in 1859 he journeyed on foot 
 to a friend's farm which is now the site of St. Francis 
 Hospital on Ridge Avenue. Asking where Evanston 
 was, he was told to keep on walking for two miles and 
 he would come to a little red railroad station which 
 was Evanston. To find Northwestern, then under the 
 process of construction, he was to walk northeast 
 through a cow path that would lead him to the site 
 of the school. 
 
 "Following instructions, the doctor arrived at the 
 little red depot. But then he became lost, and wander- 
 ing down the lane that is now Davis Street he en- 
 
 [ 191 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 countered a swamp. This swamp was directly where 
 Fountain Square is today. Two stores and a small 
 blacksmith shop was all that Evanston boasted of in 
 the way of shops." 
 
 Dr. Garnsey said further that he patrolled the beach 
 at Lake View at the time of the Lady Elgin disaster, 
 when 300 lives were lost. Dr. Garnsey witnessed the 
 raising of the old Tremont House twelve feet on three 
 thousand jack screws. He witnessed the Chicago fire 
 from his office at Wabash Avenue and Washington St. 
 
 Dr. Garnsey at the time of this interview was 82 
 years old, mentally and physically as alert as ever. 
 The doctor stated on that occasion that he had never 
 used intoxicants, nor tobacco, nor profanity and that 
 he lived with a profound faith in Jehovah. 
 
 Dr. Garnsey lived six years longer, his death taking 
 place in February 1931. He is buried in Rose Hill Ceme- 
 tery. Military honors were given by the Spanish War 
 Veterans. 
 
 First Apartment Buildings 
 
 IN 1953 I made some investigation into the oldest 
 apartment building in Evanston. I did not come 
 to a very definite conclusion. When multiple dwellings 
 were first suggested and promoted, the scheme met 
 with great resistance. Building regulations were made 
 much more drastic in an attempt to keep Evanston a 
 city of homes, which meant a city of one family houses. 
 The record indicates that the Hereford Building at 
 the southeast corner of Church Street and Chicago Ave- 
 
 [192] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 nue was built in the year 1900. Myron Hunt was the 
 architect. I managed the building in the year 1908. At 
 that time the owner was Nony Williams. Her heirs sold 
 to John C. Nevins. Dr. Sarah H. Brayton, one of the 
 first women doctors, occupied the first floor apartment 
 on the corner. Another occupant was Mrs. T. P. Stan- 
 wood, one of the first Presidents of the Woman's Club. 
 
 One of the contenders for the honor of being the first 
 apartment building would be the four flat at the north- 
 east corner of Judson Avenue and Dempster Street. 
 
 On Michigan Avenue in the 1200 block is the Mel- 
 wood Building. The name was formed by the first and 
 last syllables of Meloy and Lockwood, original pro- 
 moters of the building. Many a young married couple 
 set up their first home in the Melwood Building. 
 
 Patterson L. McKinnie built some of the first build- 
 ings in South Evanston. One of them is at the southwest 
 corner of Hinman Avenue and Lee Streets. If you ex- 
 amine the rear stairways of this building you will find 
 them built of iron. This is an example of the attempt 
 to discourage this type of investment by making the 
 building regulations conform to fire prevention regula- 
 tions. In the long view it was to the interest of the in- 
 vestor. Another McKinnie Building is at the corner of 
 Judson Avenue and Main Street. He also built a com- 
 mercial building at the corner of Main Street and Chi- 
 cago Avenue. 
 
 Evanston's first zoning ordinance was passed in 1921. 
 Prior to that date piecemeal zoning was resorted to 
 as a stopgap to prevent speculative builders buying 
 corners in residential sections. After a corner was ac- 
 quired it would be quietly announced that a building 
 was projected and in some instances led to the neigh- 
 bors purchasing the vacant to protect their homes 
 against the invasion of the multiple residential build- 
 ing. 
 
 [193] 
 
Perpetual Scholarships 
 
 AFTER the purchase of the Foster tract, the 
 University was confronted with the task of pro- 
 curing funds to erect buildings. A campaign to sell 
 scholarships was launched which consumed the energy 
 of the entire organization for several years. The pur- 
 chase of a scholarship for $100 gave the holder the 
 right to send his children one at a time to North- 
 western, tuition free, and forever thereafter the chil- 
 dren of his descendants, provided the devise was 
 "made by will." This would, of course, impose an 
 intolerable burden upon the University. Fortunately 
 the University had an out in the provision that they 
 must be "passed by will," specifically mentioned and 
 duly probated. Later the University restricted the 
 benefits to members of the male sex only. The total 
 amount raised from these scholarships was $100,000. 
 Assuming that the holders of these scholarships com- 
 plied legally with the provision, 1000 students might 
 be attending the University under the original grants. 
 
 Therese Study Porter 
 
 1024 Lake Shore Drive was probably the best known 
 house in Evanston, at least to Chicagoans of the thirties 
 and forties. It was the home of the "mystery car." 
 Sightseeing buses were often seen to stop in front of 
 
 [194] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 the house to view the ancient car under the porte- 
 cochere. The folklore story ran something like this: 
 Mrs. Porter, former owner and occupant of the house, 
 as a radiant bride was already to depart with her 
 husband on a honeymoon trip to the East; the car was 
 standing in the drive all ready for the trip when her 
 young husband dropped dead. The car was never 
 moved thereafter. The story, like the story of Ann 
 Rutledge and Abraham Lincoln, was too good to let 
 die. In spite of repeated denials by Mrs. Porter the 
 story persisted. Mrs. Porter told me the crowds would 
 trample over her lawn and even broke the glass in 
 an endeavor to get a peek at the inside of the famous 
 auto. 
 
 Mrs. Porter and her husband were much interested 
 in mechanics. She told me that she and her husband 
 drove the first car south of Indianapolis in 1904. 
 
 She was often seen on Davis Street riding in an 
 antiquated Electric. She was fond of animals, especial- 
 ly her dogs which were her constant companions. 
 
 In her latter days she continued to live at the Lake 
 Shore address. Evanstonians will remember the broken 
 glass in the windows which she never replaced. Some 
 old furniture adorned the front porch and the large 
 lot was allowed to go back to the jungle. It was re- 
 ported that she had no heat save a gas grate, and 
 when neighbors furnished her with food it was shared 
 with the pets first. 
 
 Death came to the elderly recluse on Sept. 12, 1953. 
 Her father, Thomas J. Study, was a prominent at- 
 torney of Richmond, Indiana. It was reported that she 
 had prepared a will in 1940, but at last account it 
 had not been found. The Chicago Tribune under date 
 of September 23rd, 1953, is authority for the state- 
 ment that $64,600 was found in her safety box in- 
 
 [195] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 eluding $3,000 in Federal Government Bonds. Her es- 
 tate was estimated to be in the neighborhood of $300,- 
 000. 
 
 Under date of June 23rd, 1955, the Chicago Daily 
 News reported that a diary kept by Mrs. Porter had 
 come to light. She registered comments in her diary 
 on current events with an observation that American 
 Telephone and Telegraph was a "good buy." Regard- 
 ing animals she recorded: "Animals protect you. They 
 do not talk back. They are the only true friends man 
 has." 
 
 It is interesting to note that of the five cousins who 
 contested the will, the youngest was 86 and the oldest 
 101 years of age. Judge Julius Miner awarded the 
 five cousins $22,500 and the balance of the estate 
 went to the Anti-Cruelty Society, the Orphans of the 
 Storm, the North Side Animal Shelter, and the Na- 
 tional Audubon Society. 
 
 Ernest Fremont Tittle 
 
 IN 1918 a committee journeyed to Columbus, Ohio 
 to hear a young preacher who at the age of 33 
 had made a name for himself as a pulpiteer. An in- 
 vitation was extended to Ernest Fremont Tittle to 
 become pastor of the First Methodist Church of Ev- 
 anston. He accepted with the proviso that he be given 
 leave of absence to volunteer for Y.M.C.A. work at 
 the battle front in Europe. Dr. Tittle saw the ravages 
 of war at first hand. It was this experience which 
 led to so many sermons on the evils of the war 
 
 [196] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 system. On the occasion of the celebration of the 25th 
 year of his ministry at the First Methodist Church, he 
 said: 
 
 "If we should now be content to mark time, we 
 should not stay at the point reached. We should be 
 driven back by the forces of inertia and selfishness 
 and this at a time when men of faith and goodwill 
 must put forth their greatest effort." 
 
 Dr. Tittle, never strong, drove himself to the point 
 of exhaustion. In the preparation of his sermons he 
 would first reduce them to writing and then commit 
 to memory. Hence he almost never resorted to notes. 
 Dr. Tittle appeared in the pulpit for the last time 
 July 3rd, 1949. The subject of his sermon was "Hope." 
 What more fitting subject for a last sermon? Dr. 
 Paul Hutchinson of the Christian Century, a long-time 
 friend and member of the congregation wrote the 
 following tribute: 
 
 "If there is such a thing as a great preacher, 
 he was. It is not often that I meet a preacher who 
 seems to have been ordained to that high calling 
 from his mother's womb. Most prominent ministers 
 suggest eminence they might have attained in other 
 pursuits; what a great jurist he would have made! 
 Or what a great corporation promoter! But it was 
 never possible for me to think of Dr. Tittle as any- 
 thing but a Christian preacher, for this he was 
 predestined, ordained — and let his Methodist breth- 
 ren make of such Calvinism what they please." 
 
 [ 197 
 
A Story of Three Irishmen 
 
 OLD timers in Evanston remembered Billy Nor- 
 kett as the station agent at the Main Street Sta- 
 tion of the Chicago and North Western. Billy was also 
 a member of the City Council when the surface line 
 was seeking a franchise for a right of way through 
 Evanston. William O'Leary, a property holder on Chi- 
 cago Avenue, opposed the measure then pending in 
 the Council. O'Leary labored with Norkett to obtain 
 his vote in opposition to the grant. O'Leary was under 
 the impression that he had Norkett's vote against the 
 franchise, but no direct promise was made. When the 
 vote was taken, Norkett voted in favor of the company 
 for the desired permission. O'Leary took Norkett to 
 task severely for his action. In characteristic fashion 
 Norkett replied as follows: "I'll tell you how it was. 
 I couldn't resist when the matter came up. I simply 
 had to vote as I did. They paid me $2000 for my vote, 
 and you must admit I could not resist in the face of 
 that offer." "Look here," continued Norkett, going to 
 the safe and taking out a roll of bills marked $2000. 
 "Here is the money in that roll. Would I have been 
 justified in refusing a thing like that? Why, man I sim- 
 ply had to. Pat O'Neil got $5000 for his vote, as he was 
 the leader in the matter." 
 
 "I'll see Pat O'Neil right off," exclaimed O'Leary in 
 a towering rage, and away he started to Calvary where 
 O'Neil's stone works were. There he met the accused 
 party in the stone cutting shop. "So you got $5000 for 
 your vote in the Council last night, and I know all about 
 it — You got $5000, and I'm going to upset the deal." 
 "Who told you I got that money?" retorted O'Neil. 
 
 [198] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "I just heard it from Norkett at his office in the sta- 
 tion." "Oh, we'll see Norkett about that story," and 
 together they started for the station. 
 
 Norkett was watching for this move, and when he 
 saw them coming up the road he hastily put on his 
 hat and walked off to avoid the meeting. But O'Leary 
 caught sight of him and followed in his wake. Norkett 
 started to run, but O'Leary ran too and after a long 
 chase he overtook the fugitive, both by that time being 
 out of breath, and both overcome by the ridiculous- 
 ness of the situation, laughing heartily. 
 
 "What's the matter?" said Norkett. "Did O'Neil 
 deny he took the money?" "You old joker, you know 
 you were lying to me, you know you were. What did 
 you mean by showing me that bundle of currency?" 
 "Now, be quiet O'Leary, I'll explain everything. That 
 was the railroad's money, not mine. You know I was 
 in a tight place and had to make the best case I could 
 to you." 
 
 Norkett's marvelous bribery story was seen to be 
 one of that inveterate joker's characteristic methods 
 of getting out of an awkward situation. 
 
 On another occasion the Council was discussing the 
 small pox epidemic and what was to be done about it. 
 Norkett is reported to have made the following re- 
 mark about the nursing problem. "Let them that's had 
 it take care of them that's sick." 
 
 [ 199 
 
Miss Celia Sargent 
 
 HOW would you like to have a party in your honor 
 and have 2100 of your former pupils come to the 
 reception at the Woman's Club? Of course that many 
 did not come to the reception for Miss Celia Sargent, 
 but they were all invited, at least every one who had 
 
 
 Dempster St. (Miller) School 
 Miss Sargent Teacher 1873-1923 
 
 a known address. Miss Sargent was a teacher at the 
 Hinman Avenue School, Hinman Ave. and Dempster 
 Street, from 1873 to 1923, the year of the reception. 
 During that time she had kept a careful record of her 
 six year olds and the number finally reached the un- 
 believable number of twenty-one hundred. Miss Sar- 
 gent began at the H. H. C. Miller School when the pupils 
 were housed in a one-room frame building. Sometime 
 
 r 200 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 when you are in the Evanston Historical Society's 
 room, ask to see the guest book. There in their own 
 handwriting you may see the signatures of nearly 
 everyone in Evanston in the year nineteen hundred 
 twenty-three. Some of the names selected from the 
 very first classes: Henry B. Merwin, Harry Pearsons, 
 former Mayor of Evanston, Guy Dart, George Dun- 
 ham, Oliver Eddy, Don de Golyer, John Quinlan, Eliot 
 Williams, Montague Ferry, Chauncey Hobart, Seymour 
 Wheeler, Clinton Merrick, Merrett C. Bragdon. 
 
 Augustus Knight, a former pupil, was the general 
 chairman of the reception committee. Other members 
 of the committee included Mrs. James A. Patten with 
 whom Miss Sargent lived for years; Mrs. William G. 
 Alexander, President of the Woman's Club, H. H. 
 Kingsley, former Supt. of Evanston Schools, J. Sey- 
 mour Currey, Charles W. Spofford, John H. Quinlan, 
 John T. Stockton, and Clinton Merrick. Other commit- 
 tees who represented the five decades were: Donald 
 Miller, Belle Winne Dakin, Jessie Bradley, Philip 
 Shumway, David A. Noyes, Wallace Condict, Donald 
 de Golyer, Horace Dawson, Everett Cook and A. H. 
 Bowman. 
 
 Louise Ayars Garrett, Evanston's beloved poetess, 
 wrote the following: 
 
 Celia stands for heavenly — 
 
 And so you are 
 
 An endless reach of heaven 
 
 Where love has fixed his star 
 
 O friend, your sheltering sky 
 
 Can not grow dim 
 
 For faces of little children 
 
 Smile through like cherubim 
 
 [201] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 John C. Redington of the class of 1884 wrote the fol- 
 lowing letter to Miss Sargent: 
 Dear Miss Sargent: 
 
 I very distinctly remember the year 1885 when my 
 twin brother Paul and myself, in the absence of our 
 parents in Chicago, thought we could dodge school at- 
 tendance by setting all the clocks in the house back 
 one hour, thereby hoping that when the change in the 
 clocks was discovered we would be excused from going 
 to school because in those days tardiness was a much 
 greater crime than being absent. We used the extra 
 hour thus appropriated to watch the building of the 
 Chicago, St. Paul R.R. from the roof of the barn in 
 the back of our house on Chicago Avenue. 
 
 Unfortunately for our plans, however, our dear 
 grandmother was at home and very soon learned what 
 we had done, and summarily led us over to your school, 
 holding us by the ears, and took us before your forum 
 and explained to you just what we had been guilty of. 
 I do not remember what punishment we received from 
 you or our parents when later they returned from Chi- 
 cago, but whatever it was, I know it was probably 
 very well justified. 
 
 This is one of the incidents that I recall during my 
 school career. It hardly seems that it is almost forty 
 years ago. I wish that I was starting over again in 
 the first grade. I have not had anything in years bring 
 me the pleasant feeling that the announcement of your 
 semi-centennial has brought, and I hope that I may 
 be able to be present to extend to you my very af- 
 fectionate regards, and I certainly wish you with all 
 my heart many, many happy years to watch the 
 careers of your boys and girls. 
 
 John C. Redington 
 Dempster Street School 
 1884-1885 
 
 [202] 
 
Evanston in 1866 
 
 ROBERT PATTERSON BROWN, son of Andrew 
 J. Brown, one of the founders of Northwestern 
 University tells such an interesting story of Evanston 
 that I am quoting him in full. He spent his latter days 
 at Saint Petersburg, Florida. His reminiscences are 
 dated January 1930. As stated by him in his story, he 
 was named for Robert W. Patterson, famous pastor of 
 the Presbyterian "Spotted Church." 
 
 "My first recollection of Evanston was in 1863. We 
 lived in Chicago, near the present Newberry Library. 
 In a buggy we drove up Clark Street and the old 
 'Snell' toll road. We called at the home of Doctor 
 John Dempster, a preacher. His name is perpetuated 
 in Dempster Street. The house was situated on the 
 north side of Simpson (another preacher, Bishop Simp- 
 son) Street close to the Lake. There is a house on the 
 site now which may be the same one. It was after- 
 wards occupied by Doctor and Mrs. Zimmerman. Mrs. 
 Zimmerman was a sister of Doctor Edward Eggleston. 
 I remember attending the wedding of Doctor John 
 Evans' daughter which I think was before 1866. The 
 Evans home was at the Northeast corner of Church 
 Street and Hinman Avenue. 
 
 "I would like to show you the town from the depot. 
 Across the tracks were long lines or piles of cord wood 
 for wood burning engines with their flaming stacks. 
 The cars were coupled with links and pins. What a jolt 
 it was when the engineer took up the slack! The car 
 platforms were about twenty inches apart. 
 
 The railroad was given its right of way through Ev- 
 anston by my father Andrew J. Brown, who did not 
 
 [ 203 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 think to ask for a pass and for forty years paid his 
 fare twice a day. My father bought the land from Sher- 
 man Avenue west to beyond Wesley Avenue between 
 Dempster Street and Church Street for $13,000 in 1854, 
 which amount would buy about two feet on Davis 
 Street now. 
 
 Davis Street was originally called College Avenue 
 but was renamed in honor of Doctor N. S. Davis, a fine 
 scholarly man, an honor to his family, and his family 
 a credit to him. 
 
 The first sidewalks were built on Davis Street and 
 consisted of two planks set a foot apart. Gravel walks 
 were used elsewhere. 
 
 Running across Davis Street was the 'big ditch.' 
 It led from way up north on the west side of Sherman 
 Avenue and crossed to the corner of Grove Street and 
 the railroad. It was spanned by a plank bridge. A. D. 
 Langworthy owned the corner of Sherman Avenue to 
 the ditch, and had a very nice house which he after- 
 wards sold to Haskins. Doctor O. H. Mann bought the 
 land west of the ditch on which he built a house and 
 later put up the Mann Block. The triangular space 
 where Sherman Avenue and Orrington Avenue join 
 was used as a wood and hay market, the farmers 
 coming in and standing with their loads all day in 
 winter. 
 
 On the point between Sherman and Orrington Ave- 
 nues was William Russel's paint store and across Or- 
 rington was Monteiths grocery store which he after- 
 wards moved into a house on the corner which he re- 
 modeled. There were a couple of houses in this block 
 to Chicago Avenue. Max Hahn had a shoe store at the 
 alley. 
 
 General Julius White had a quite pretentious house 
 on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Davis Street. On 
 the South Side of Davis Street I do not remember any 
 
 [204] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 stores except the butcher shop at the corner of Sher- 
 man Avenue which was afterwards bought by the 
 Simpson Brothers, George and Robert. That is the 
 business section of Evanstcn as I remember it in 1866. 
 A dusty or muddy street crossed by a big open ditch, 
 a few stores and houses and a two-plank walk. We all 
 had to carry lanterns at night so that we could keep 
 on the boards. Andy Schwall drove a village hack, a 
 roomy carriage. All day the teams were hauling lum- 
 ber and brick for the building of "Heck Hall," the first 
 building put up on the campus. 
 
 I remember the Old Avenue House well. It had no 
 veranda in front. Everyone used the Davis Street door. 
 Mr. Matteson lived next door and later took over its 
 management. That is just plain history, but if you could 
 remember his two daughters, you would have a pic- 
 ture. It was quite the thing for sleighing parties to 
 come up from Chicago in the winter for oyster suppers. 
 
 At the northwest corner of Hinman and College 
 Avenues was the original College building, afterwards 
 called the University. To the left of the front door was 
 the Chapel and on the third floor was the museum. 
 There were two hideous Chinese idols large enough for 
 a man to stand under their flowing robes. There was 
 a string to pull which caused an unearthly groan, and 
 we used to get little boys up there and scare them to 
 death. This museum was moved up into the Garrett 
 Biblical Institute, situated north of Simpson Street. The 
 building burned one of the coldest nights. The Evans- 
 ton Fire Department consisted of one new hand chem- 
 ical pump, no horses. I helped push the Engine through 
 the snow and when we got there, there was no water. 
 
 Down at the end of Davis Street was the home of 
 Allen Vane, the house faced the Lake, the garden and 
 grounds extended back to Judson Avenue. The garden 
 
 [205] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 was lovely with flowers, fruit trees and berry bushes, 
 I think the most pretentious in town at the time and 
 the family was fine. There were several daughters 
 and they were the fashion plates of the town. They had 
 the second pew in front at the Methodist Church, were 
 always beautifully dressed and Mr. Vane complained 
 that they seemed to be always late. It was quite a pro- 
 cession as the family walked down the aisle, and I 
 used to wonder how they could crowd all those hoop 
 skirts into one pew. Harry and Cad were fine boys. 
 
 On beyond was the pier, owned by Mark de Coudres. 
 We used to come down here to fish and to watch the 
 unloading of lumber vessels. It was a great pleasure 
 to watch the lumber fleet go sailing by, sixty-five years 
 ago. December 26, 1864, wintering in the port of Chi- 
 cago, were 4 side wheelers, 13 steam propellers, 45 
 three-masted square rigged ships, 19 two-masted 
 square riggers, and 194 two-masted schooners, also 60 
 tugs. The sailing vessels have almost disappeared, but 
 at that time they were a beautiful sight. We could often 
 count a dozen at once. 
 
 There was another class of schooners sailed over the 
 Chicago bar that we seldom see today. They also 
 were a beautiful sight on a hot day but were so cheap, 
 only costing five cents, that they were soon wrecked. 
 They were spoken of in a jocular manner as 'suds.' 
 Frances Willard never enjoyed the pleasure of "wreck- 
 ing" one. One summer a company tried to run a daily 
 suburban service from the pier to Chicago. From one 
 of these boats I saw Donaldson and Grimwood drift off 
 into the East in a balloon endeavoring to make the 
 first trip across the Lake by the air route. They were 
 never heard of again. 
 
 Turning South, Forrest Avenue was not named after 
 the famous Confederate General but after my uncle, 
 
 [206] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 a Chicago banker. Later one 'r' was deleted because it 
 taught the children to spell 'forest' wrongly. The street 
 was as lovely then as it is now, lined with the same 
 beautiful trees whose branches met overhead. It could 
 appropriately be called Forest Avenue. There were 
 very few houses on it in 1866. Near the north end was 
 the home of Orrington Lunt, the house and grounds 
 were quite spacious, the house still standing, but there 
 have been several houses built into the grounds. Re- 
 turning to Greenleaf Street on the corner or about two 
 hundred feet from the corner was the home of Mr. 
 Greenleaf after whom the street was named. Turn- 
 ing west at Greenwood Blvd. and Chicago Avenue, 
 we find the 'Evanston Ladies Seminary' occupying 
 the whole block to Lake Street. It was started by 
 William P. Jones. It was a handsome building sur- 
 rounded by beautiful trees and bushes and later was 
 used as the first ladies dormitory of the Northwestern 
 University. At the corner of Chicago Avenue and 
 Grove Street was the home of Herman R. Powers. He 
 had quite a family. To the south of him lived the 
 Angles. Diagonally across from the Powers was the 
 home of Ed Taylor. He was superintendent of the Meth- 
 odist Sunday School in 1886 and the only live wire that 
 ever had that job to my knowledge. He actually had 
 a Christmas tree in the church, all lit up too. They 
 did not have another one in that church, though ten 
 years later they had one in the new church with a dozen 
 candles. Ed Taylor was certainly fine, and his two 
 sons were just like him. 
 
 In the block on the west side of Chicago Avenue 
 from Grove Street to Davis Street was the home of 
 Lyman Gage, for years the President of the First Na- 
 tional Bank of Chicago and at one time Secretary of 
 the Treasury. He certainly was a wonderful man in 
 
 [207] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 every way. Next to him lived Doctor Ludlam. Mollie 
 Ludlam was my first teacher in the public school. 
 
 North of Davis Street on the west side of the street 
 was the Post Office in a drug store kept by Mr. Clif- 
 ford. He also had a line of crockery and a few needles 
 and pins. Obadiah Huse lived in this block. He after- 
 ward built a large house on the corner of Church Street 
 where the Woman's Club now stands. Next north of 
 the present Club house was the home of John A. Pear- 
 sons. He certainly was an honor to his grandchildren. 
 Also the Willard Home (now Rest Cottage). 
 
 The second house north of the hotel was that of 
 Doctor Bannister, where I first began my residence in 
 Evanston. In November we moved into our own house. 
 The Bannister House is now a cafeteria and I have 
 eaten there once or twice for old times sake but my 
 white hair does not fit in with the young people I meet 
 there. I can hardly realize that I was just like them 
 in '76. Henry Bannister was not at home that summer. 
 He was with a company which was trying to string 
 wires to Europe via Alaska, through the Behring Sea 
 and across Siberia in an attempt to forestall the laying 
 of the Atlantic Cable. 
 
 Back of the Bannisters facing Hinman Avenue was 
 the Bradley home. There was a lovely family of boys 
 and girls. Luther Bradley became a celebrated car- 
 toonist on the Chicago Daily News. Merrill Ladd lived 
 on the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and Church 
 Street and on the northeast corner, the Bragdons (Oli- 
 ver Marcy did not live there in 1866). The Bragdon 
 boys were very fine boys. North of the Bragdons lived 
 Doctor Kidder. My recollection of him is of a very 
 tall gaunt man with a large crop of whiskers, wearing 
 a stove pipe hat and Prince Albert coat astride a small 
 yellow pony which he rode a great deal. Eva Kidder 
 
 [208] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 was a beautiful girl. The son, Henry M., laid out a 
 subdivision in North Evanston and practically put it 
 on the map. Katherine Kidder, the granddaughter be- 
 came a noted actress. 
 
 North of the Kidders lived the Judsons and General 
 Beveridge, later Governor of Illinois. The General was 
 a very tall striking looking man and Miss Beveridge 
 was stunning. She attended school in the East, and 
 when she returned, she brought the first 'Grecian Bend' 
 to Evanston. She caused quite a sensation as she 
 walked up the church aisle, the first Sunday. She mar- 
 ried Sam Raymond and they were a very distinguished 
 looking couple. 
 
 In 1866 there were very few buildings across the 
 tracks. Will Calvert had a tin shop and George Huntoon 
 had a hay and feed store at the corner of Davis Street 
 and Maple Avenue. I do not think there were a dozen 
 houses. The best houses were on the Ridge. Harvey 
 B. Hurd owned the block to Grove Street, and then 
 came the John H. Kedzie house. I think that James S. 
 Kirk lived in this row. He had a very large family, and 
 they were all lovely. Charlie was the only one I really 
 ever knew well. They sat in front of me at church, and 
 I could not help admire Mrs. John B. The Watsons 
 lived at the corner of Greenwood and across the street 
 lived the Comstocks. 
 
 I have tried to hold this letter down to the year 1866. 
 Manifestly after all these years I could not name every 
 house and householder, though I do not believe there 
 were one hundred houses in the main section. I would 
 like to lengthen it out to 1873 and perhaps 1883. Evans- 
 ton grew very rapidly in the next few years. The young 
 children became young men and women some, in time, 
 became so prominent that any word of mine is useless, 
 but I like to remember them. Many stores were built. 
 
 [209] 
 
Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 The first were in Davis Street between Chicago and 
 Orrington Avenues. McMahon opened an ice cream 
 and confectionary store. John and Tom Connor worked 
 for him and bought him out. John A. Goebel had a 
 grocery store. Towner K. Webster opened the first 
 Gents furnishing. Mr. Bates Iott had the first furniture 
 store at about 817 Davis Street. I. G. Pingree had the 
 first crockery store which he sold to John Wesley. Will 
 Garwood was a prince and also a druggist. O. H. Mer- 
 win opened the first dry goods store located about 
 where 625 ought to be. The Langworthy-Haskin house 
 was torn down and a row of stores put up, and Mr. 
 Merwin moved in. One of the Haskin boys worked for 
 him, bought him out, and it was the Haskin Store for 
 years until sold to Mr. Lord. Meanwhile Mr. Haskin 
 had built a large house at the corner of Hinman Ave- 
 nue, later sold to Simeon Farwell. H. F. Olmsted also 
 opened a dry goods store. Joe Lyon put up the first 
 public hall called Lyons Hall next to Max Hahn's shoe 
 store. George Farmer had the first billiard hall at 
 811 Davis Street, and the store has been a billiard hall 
 ever since, except when billiards were taboo in Ev- 
 anston. The Public Library was opened over a store 
 and the first 'Special Club' was started. The church 
 people were horrified that a dancing club should 'enter 
 their midst.' The hall had a stage and they tried to 
 have plays given by Chicago actors. 
 
 At the time of the great Chicago fire a great many 
 families came in. The day before the fire was Sunday, 
 October 8, 1871. We could not get a Chicago paper. 
 The telegraph office was in the depot and that was 
 closed all day Sunday. There were no trains until 
 the one-forty (the funeral train). We heard on our 
 way to church that Chicago was burning up, and we 
 could get no definite news. (The fire that we heard of 
 
 [210] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 was a lumber yard that burned Saturday night.) 
 On Monday morning we got further news that Chi- 
 cago was burned up, and that the Tribune building 
 had burned at three o'clock. This was the big fire 
 of October 9 which started Sunday night at about nine 
 o'clock. Nearly all of the men took an earlier train 
 than usual. I went down at nine-thirty. Trains only 
 ran to Kedzie and Canal Streets. All the way from 
 Fullerton Avenue down there was a vacant prairie 
 full of refugees. Getting out of the train, Kedzie Street 
 was all burned up. We walked up north and crossed 
 the Erie Street Bridge and over near Franklin Street 
 the houses were just burning. We would watch the 
 flames jump the street and catch the houses across. 
 There was not a drop of water to be had, and it 
 was a very hot day with a strong west wind. 
 
 The first train out was the funeral train at one 
 o'clock. A great many refugees got on at Clybourne 
 Avenue and at Ravenswood. 
 
 Among the early citizens I have mentioned was 
 Rev. Edward Eggleston, a young preacher in poor 
 health. He was associated with Alfred L. Sewell who 
 was publisher of the Little Corporal, a children's mag- 
 azine started during the Civil War competing with 
 the Youth's Companion. Doctor Eggleston became a 
 writer of note and moved to Brooklyn. He bought 
 what was called the "Grout house," a house built of 
 cement and gravel located at what is now 1021 Davis 
 Street. This was one of the first houses built of that 
 material and the cement was poorly mixed. I owned 
 it later and as the foundations were bad it fell into 
 poor repair and tenants were hard to find. 
 
 Alfred L. Sewell started the Evanston Index. I think 
 that the first numbers were run off on a 'Washing- 
 ton' press. No one but an old timer knows what that 
 
 [211] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 was. He had one on Davis Street and soon put in a 
 cylinder press. I used to turn the hand wheel for fun, 
 but it was real work to keep it up. His name reminds 
 me of his nephew, Elwood Leadbetter and skating. 
 
 I think I am the only person alive who ever skated 
 to Chicago on the "Drainage Canal" in 1872. The canal 
 was there but not as large as it is now. In those days 
 we had no skating ponds. We either had to go to 
 Lincoln Park or skate in the ditches. After they had 
 dug a gravel pit at the tank (Ridge Avenue and Emer- 
 son Street) we used to walk up there and skate, but 
 it was certainly a cold walk some days and no place 
 to get warm. Out on the prairie on the north side 
 of Church Street was a wide ditch where we skated 
 sometimes and once in awhile the whole prairie was 
 a glaze of ice. Crossing Church Street about where the 
 present canal is was the "Big Ditch." The first thing 
 we knew we were at what is now Peterson Avenue. 
 We skated west until we came to the Peterson farm 
 house where we got a drink of water, then we skated 
 to the North Branch and down to the Clybourne Avenue 
 bridge of the C.&N.W.R.R. We neither had any 
 money and it was time to eat. The whole North Side 
 was burned up, our friends were all scattered, but I 
 knew where James B. Hobbs was located, Frank Hobbs 
 being one of my earliest friends. So we walked down 
 the railroad track. There were no sidewalks anywhere 
 on any streets in that district, and we were small 
 boys hardly knowing where we were. We finally 
 found ourselves at Ashland Avenue and Monroe 
 Streets. It was New Year's Day, and Mrs. Hobbs with 
 a bevy of Grace Church ladies, all, shall I say, sal- 
 vaged from the fire, were receiving calls. It was a 
 sort of a house warming for North Side people, the 
 first chance they had to get together and swap ex- 
 
 [212] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 periences. They were serving an elaborate lunch to 
 all callers, and I do not believe they were very much 
 pleased to receive two hungry boys. Little boys in 
 those days did not make calls like their fathers. Mrs. 
 Hobbs sat us down behind the dining room door and 
 filled us up. We were too proud to borrow ten cents, 
 so we walked down to Kedzie Street to get the train. 
 Fortunately Ellwood had a ticket that was good for 
 both of us. We arrived home about seven o'clock, two 
 awfully tired little boys. 
 
 There were two and perhaps I ought to say three 
 tragedies occurred in Evanston in the '70's. At Ridge 
 Avenue and Grove Street lived Charlie and Ed Paul. 
 They were very fine boys and I think Charlie was 
 especially liked. One day he and a companion went 
 hunting in the woods at the northwest corner of Ridge 
 Avenue and Church Street. Charlie's companion's gun 
 was accidently discharged and Charlie was killed. The 
 town was small; it was the first serious accident and 
 caused great excitement and sorrow. 
 
 The second accident was years later. The Boutelles 
 lived next door to the Raymonds at Davis and Hin- 
 man. There again were two fine boys, Evarts and 
 Harry. One day Evarts and some companions took a 
 row boat and went down to Calvary Cemetery to hunt. 
 Evarts in drawing his gun over the bow of the boat 
 discharged it and received the full charge in his breast. 
 This made as much sensation as the first accident, 
 the whole town grieved again, the schools were closed 
 on the day of the funeral. Evarts was very much 
 liked and mourned. Harry Boutell has been congress- 
 man for years. 
 
 The third tragic death was that of Rebecca Hoag, 
 daughter of J. C. Hoag. She was the first lady entrant 
 of N.W.A. Her health was poor for a long time; every- 
 
 [213] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 one in town knew of it and the doctors could not find 
 the trouble. After her death they found a broken needle 
 had worked its way into her heart. She was a lovely 
 girl, everyone knew her and missed her. People of 
 today are more callous than they were then. Our at- 
 tention is distracted by so much that we cannot realize 
 what sorrow and excitement such events cause in 
 small towns. 
 
 The Chicago churches would frequently have pic- 
 nics on the campus, coming by steamer and landing 
 at the pier. It was quite a pleasure to us boys. We 
 would join in their games and have a grand time. 
 When noon came, if we did not want to go home for 
 lunch there was always someone older than the rest 
 who would filch a cake or pie out of some unwatched 
 basket. 
 
 In writing of Evanston one should mention Des 
 Plaines Camp Meeting, still running. It was a wonder- 
 ful reunion of all the Methodists in this vicinity. John 
 Pearsons would kindly fix up a wagon with seats and 
 make several trips with the Saints who went to wor- 
 ship and the young people who went for a picnic. 
 Although only ten miles away, it took two hours to 
 make the trip, and the roads were awful. Deacon A. J. 
 promised to pay Charlie Bannister's board for a week 
 if he would go to two services a day, and Charlie 
 took him up on it and went to a 6:00 a.m. and a 
 7:00 a.m. meeting every day. He had a lovely time 
 the rest of the day. 
 
 The Des Plaines Camp location was not of the best 
 so some of the deacons secured a donation of forty 
 acres on the Lake shore for Camp meeting purposes. 
 The land was subdivided, streets laid out, and it was 
 named "Lake Bluff." A tabernacle and hotel were 
 built and for a time it seemed quite popular, but there 
 
 [214] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 was no dancing allowed, almost too much religion 
 for the masses, so it passed out as a camp meeting. 
 There were several houses built and some tents were 
 put up. The tenters would leave their tables set under 
 the trees, all ready for breakfast, so one night the 
 boys got on a tear and went around and stole all 
 the breakfast they could. I remember there was half a 
 roast beef and a part-full freezer of ice cream, neither 
 of which we could eat. And these were all good dea- 
 cons' sons from Evanston. 
 
 We had many revival meetings in the Methodist 
 Church. I remember that Mrs. Van Cott led one. She 
 was a very pretty woman and it was a very mean 
 man who would not promise to love the Lord if she 
 asked him to. 
 
 The new University Building was erected on the 
 campus and the old building moved up back of the 
 Life Saving Station and a rear addition put on for 
 recitation rooms and Chapel up stairs. From this old 
 building have risen all the wonderful buildings on the 
 campus. It ought to have a gold wreath over the front 
 door and a bronze tablet in front large enough to be 
 seen. 
 
 Roe Fisk was a very cute little girl and could always 
 be depended on to give a recitation at any of the 
 church entertainments. I remember one night she was 
 reciting a poem, something about Autumn and one 
 line was "The grapes hung purpling on the vines." 
 She gave it "The purps hung grappling on the vines." 
 That struck me as very funny, and I have chuckled 
 over it all these years. 
 
 Now to mention a few others as they come to mind. 
 Arch Winne and his son Frank were very genial. Ed- 
 win Lee Brown built a large house on Forrest Avenue. 
 
 [215] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 His sons Walter and Ed are well known. William T. 
 Shepherd was another prominent man. J. D. Easter 
 built a large house at Davis and Wesley Avenue. 
 His family were very showy and filled the place va- 
 cated by the Vane family. The Quinlans came in and 
 later took over the Avenue House. The honorable 
 Thomas C. Hoag moved up from Chicago. I certainly 
 will say, even if you do know him better than I, 
 that he was a good substantial citizen and he had 
 a fine family of boys. I wonder if I ought to mention 
 each. Junius, Will, Ed and Ernie. The Phillips family 
 bought the Greenleaf Place. Jessie and Will were 
 fine. I do not want to list these names like a di- 
 rectory, and I want to tell the truth about each one, 
 and if I did this letter would be fulsome. I am not 
 praising anyone, just giving facts. I could do no less, 
 and I could say a lot more of each. Will Phillips was 
 a prominent doctor for years. He married Josie Pat- 
 terson, daughter of the Rev. Doctor Robert W. Pat- 
 terson, who was for years pastor of the Second 
 Presbyterian Church in Chicago the "Old Spotted 
 Church" at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Wash- 
 ington Street. This church was built of limestone that 
 was streaked with black like tar. It was a very hand- 
 some edifice and cost $30,000, a large sum for Chi- 
 cago in those days. There were many handsome homes 
 in the near vicinity. Doctor Patterson lived on Jack- 
 son Boulevard, just off Michigan Avenue. The Doctor 
 was a very large man with a most kindly face and 
 speech. I wish that when they bestowed his name on 
 me, they could also have included some of his lovable 
 character. He has so many notable descendants that 
 I am too feeble to say anything more of him or his. 
 
 Another family to arrive was that of "Dick" Somers. 
 He bought the house at the corner of Chicago Avenue 
 
 [216] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 and University Place, a beautiful large house and 
 grounds. Mr. Somers was manager of the Sherman 
 House and did not spend much time in Evanston, but 
 there were two sons and everyone knew the two ex- 
 ceedingly pretty daughters Ada and Dell Somers. 
 There was another lovely family lived at the corner of 
 Hinman Avenue and Clark Street, the Williams. There 
 were several girls, Lon and Walter. I have lost all 
 track of them for years. The Brainerds lived in the 
 same block on Hinman Avenue. 
 
 I do not remember many of the politicians of the 
 town. Dr. O. H. Mann came in, a very young man, 
 rapidly worked up a good practice and was mayor 
 for several terms. Sam Harrison was on the city pay- 
 roll for years, either Fire Marshal or Justice of the 
 Peace. Joe Lyons was Assessor for many, many years. 
 Frank Grover was one of the small boys once and 
 became City Attorney. I want to mention a number 
 of boys other than those already spoken of. There was 
 Charlie and Frank Rice, George Quinlan, Will and 
 Frank Dyche, Tom Noyes, Ed Taylor's son, Harry 
 Pearsons, the Scott boys, Bob, Will and John A. Hamlin 
 and Fred French. 
 
 As Evanston was such a religious town I think I 
 will wind up this letter with a prayer meeting story 
 told me by Chester Grover and as I knew all the 
 parties to it, I will vouch for it. Mr. and Mrs. X 
 were very devout Methodists. Mrs. X always had 
 a class of boys in Sunday School. She started the first 
 temperance organization in Evanston, a "Band of 
 Hope" composed of small boys. It was her custom to 
 give boys a party about once a year. They would 
 play all sorts of innocent games and when it came 
 time to break up they would sing a hymn and then 
 all kneeling, Deacon X would offer a short prayer. 
 
 [217] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 One night one of the boys found a soft hassock at 
 hand and picking it up threw it at the kneeling deacon 
 knocking him off his balance. The boys immediately 
 forgot their prayers and looked up to laugh, all but 
 one. It was very evident who the culprit was, he 
 kept his head down. So it is, sometimes, the most 
 devout are not always what they appear to be. 
 
 Billy Sunday 
 
 BILLY" SUNDAY, famed Evangelist, returned 
 home in 1918. The News Index of March 1918 
 said that "Billy" struck Evanston with the same force 
 Saturday night that the sensational Evangelist will 
 strike the devil during his campaign of eleven weeks 
 in Chicago. 
 
 At the Sunday service he was accompanied by "Ma" 
 Sunday and his workers. The meeting place was the 
 Patten "Gym." The famed preacher was introduced 
 by Acting President, Thomas F. Holgate. Dr. Holgate 
 said in introducing him that he was a former student 
 of the academy and the first coach of a successful 
 baseball team. Billy's coaching was in 1898, so very 
 few people in the record crowd of 6,000 knew of Billy's 
 connection with Evanston. The Index of March 8, 1898, 
 had this to say of the baseball team at the University: 
 
 "The training which the candidates for the North- 
 western nine are going through with is a new thing 
 for Evanston and is of public interest to the general 
 public who is at all interested in baseball matters, 
 
 [ 218 ] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 more especially as the work is being done under 
 the direct supervision of William A. Sunday, him- 
 self a professional ball player and one of the most 
 popular members of the Chicago team." 
 
 Billy's language was most picturesque. He would 
 have been a great success on the stage. Our boys 
 were not on the firing line early in 1918, but it was 
 evident that we could no longer keep out of it. I quote 
 some "hot shots" in the first meeting at the gym. 
 
 "By the time I get through with Chicago and the 
 United States gets through with that dirty bunch of 
 pretzels across the water they'll all think Sherman 
 was right about war." 
 
 "Nero was a Sunday School teacher compared to 
 the Kaiser. God's hand is in this war. If you can't 
 see God's hand in it, my friends, you're nuts." 
 
 "A left hook to the jaw is many times better than 
 a prayer." 
 
 "A pacifist is too damned cowardly to fight, and 
 too damned cowardly to run." 
 
 "So help me God I'll never again buy anything 
 stamped 'Made in Germany' as long as I live. If 
 I do I'm bughouse — I'm nuts." 
 
 [219 
 
Edward Eggleston 
 
 E 
 
 GGLESTON is known 
 throughout the world 
 as the author of the Hoosier 
 Schoolmaster. As a small 
 boy I was always enchanted 
 when the teacher announc- 
 ed that she would read from 
 the Schoolmaster. Eggle- 
 ston lived in Evanston. The 
 family home was at 1017 
 Davis Street and was not 
 razed until the turn of the 
 century. Here was born 
 Evanston's first kinder- 
 garten. Here impetus was 
 given to the Evanston Pub- 
 lic Library. Eggleston was 
 born at Vevey, Indiana. 
 Later he resided in another river town, Madison, In- 
 diana. Eggleston was a member of the First Methodist 
 Church, and at one time was Superintendent of the 
 Sunday School. 
 
 The Hoosier Schoolmaster appeared in the maga- 
 zine "Hearth and Home" of which Eggleston was the 
 Editor. The story met with instant popularity. Cir- 
 culation of the magazine leaped from 7,000 to 85,000. 
 Publishers in England, Canada and the West began 
 to steal the story. Eggleston introduced a new ele- 
 ment in American literature — the dialect story. His 
 better and more mature works include, "The Mystery 
 of Metropolisville," "The End of the World," "The Cir- 
 
 Edward Eggleston 
 
 Author of Hoosier 
 
 Schoolmaster 
 
 [220] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 cuit Rider," and "Roxy" — all tales of the Hoosier 
 Country. In the year 1898 the City Council ordered 
 the former Eggleston home at 1017 Davis Street to 
 be demolished. When this became known relic hunters 
 and curio seekers flocked to the house to procure 
 souvenirs of Evanston's most historic building. Cam- 
 era fiends came in swarms and 1017 Davis Street be- 
 came Evanston's most photographed house. 
 
 Charles Bragdon, one of his pupils had this to say 
 of him: "You did not see Edward Eggleston unless 
 you saw his smile. I am reminded of what we used 
 to say in Evanston when that unruly lion's head seemed 
 somewhat less rough than usual as he sat in the 
 front pew of the Amen Corner. Mrs. Eggleston has 
 been trying to brush his hair. It is understood that 
 one of her Sunday trials was that same attempt to 
 reduce that wonderful glory of hair to a Sunday basis." 
 
 * "To all appreciating the value of the kindergarten 
 and the importance of the early years of childhood, 
 a most important event occurred, when, in the spring 
 of 1866 Reverend and Mrs. Eggleston commenced 
 their homemaking in our village. Mr. Eggleston was 
 amongst the first of our American Fathers to compre- 
 hend and appreciate the methods and aims of the 
 great Froebel. Finding it impossible to obtain a good 
 translation of Froebel's songs, he studied German for 
 that purpose; translated the songs, built the Kinder- 
 garten and taught the kindergartners and meanwhile 
 superintended the M.E. Sunday School and carried 
 on his literary work." 
 
 I give two quotations from his philosophy of life 
 which are in the lighter vein: 
 
 "Nobody is quite a universalist in moments of in- 
 dignation. Everyone keeps a private and select per- 
 
 * Frances Willard's Classic Town 
 
 [221] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 dition for objects of wrath." About the early Methodist 
 love feasts he said: 
 
 "No one was admitted who did not hold a ticket. 
 Even those who had tickets, some were turned away 
 on account of naughty curls, their sinful 'artificials' 
 or their wicked earrings." 
 
 Daniel H. Burnham 
 
 MAKE no small plans, they have no magic to stir 
 men's blood and probably themselves will not 
 be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and 
 work, remembering that a noble logical diagram once 
 recorded will never die, but long after we are gone 
 will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever grow- 
 ing instance. Remember that our sons and grandsons 
 are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your 
 watchword be order and your beacon beauty." 
 
 The above quotation will be immediately recognized 
 as the motto of an Evanstonian, Daniel H. Burnham. 
 Unless you are an architect, you may think of him 
 in connection with the World Columbian Exposition 
 held in Chicago in 1893, where he was Director of Work 
 for the Exposition. He was a pioneer in City Planning 
 and preached the gospel of beauty not only in this 
 country but to the world. 
 
 The Burnham home site extended from Forest Ave- 
 nue to the Lake and from Dempster Street to Burnham 
 Place. Mr. Burnham purchased the property from 
 Doctor Robert Hatfield, one time pastor of the First 
 Methodist Church, and his brother-in-law, S. A. Kean. 
 
 [222 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 The house was often referred to as the house which 
 Mr. Burnham built. This is not true according to Rob- 
 ert A. Kean, who says that he and his sister were born 
 in the house. The tract is now improved with modern 
 dwellings. 
 
 Joseph C. Hartzell 
 
 BISHOP HARTZELL is sometimes mentioned in 
 connection with the wreck of the Lady Elgin. 
 He may have been present and assisted in the rescue 
 of some of the passengers on that ill-fated vessel. His 
 heroic work in connection with the saving of sailors 
 on board the schooner Storm on May 9, 1864 is equally 
 as heroic as the work of Edward Spencer on September 
 8, 1860. Bishop Hartzell was a student in Garrett Bib- 
 lical Institute at the time of the rescue. He was born 
 of Pennsylvania German parents and at seventeen 
 years of age came to Evanston to secure a University 
 and theological education. Later he was to go to the 
 "Dark Continent" as Bishop of the Methodist Church. 
 The following is a story of the rescue by an anony- 
 mous writer which I have found in the files of the 
 Historical Society. The facts coincide with the story 
 as related by one of the survivors, one Morris Grady, 
 who was living in Coloma, Michigan in January 1903. 
 The report at that time stated that he was hale and 
 hearty and had attained the age of 75 years. The nar- 
 rative of the unknown author continues: 
 
 "Swimming was one of the young student's diver- 
 sions. It was his practice to go out and swim in the 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 breakers after a storm. There was no life-saving sta- 
 tion at Evanston at that time. On the morning of May 
 10, 1864 just as a crowd of theological students were 
 coming out of the dormitory building on the lake shore, 
 a dark object was seen several miles from shore, rid- 
 ing on the rough waters. There had been a severe 
 storm the night before, and the waves were rolling in 
 from the northeast, while the wind had shifted so that 
 it was blowing a strong breeze directly from the north, 
 cold as from the North Pole. With the aid of a field 
 glass it was seen that the dark object was the hull of 
 a wrecked vessel, and that it was being driven south- 
 westerly by the waves and the wind, and must strike 
 sand bars somewhere south of town. Evanston is twelve 
 miles north of Chicago, along the shore, and is the 
 seat of Northwestern University and Garrett Biblical 
 Institute. Dr. Hartzell was then a student in the latter 
 institution." 
 
 "Soon all the students and a large company of towns 
 people were on the shore watching the disabled vessel 
 as it drifted southward and nearer the shore. As the 
 vessel came nearer those on shore discovered five men 
 standing close together on the bow. It was a lumber 
 vessel capsized and the masts were swept away. The 
 five sailors, however, clung to the wreck. After the 
 masts were swept off, the vessel righted. By great ef- 
 forts, clinging to the cordage, the half-frozen sailors 
 were able to get up on the vessel where they could only 
 wait to drift withersoever the winds and waves listed. 
 In this condition the vessel stranded on a sand bar 
 something less than a quarter of a mile from shore. 
 The water was very cold, so cold, indeed, that an old 
 sea captain said no man could live in it five minutes. 
 Every wave that struck the vessel dashed over it 
 drenching the men with icy water. There were no life 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 boats. No ordinary skiff could possibly live. The men 
 held up their hands in mute appeal to the large crowd 
 on the shore — the safe shore that they had so little 
 hope of ever reaching alive. The crowd was utterly 
 helpless. By and by one of the exhausted men on the 
 wreck fell down, and they saw his comrades carry 
 him back, as they afterward learned, drop him in 
 the hold of the vessel so that he would not be swept 
 away. He had perished from the cold. The four returned 
 and stood with their arms extended in a silent appeal." 
 
 "The experience Hartzell had in swimming in the 
 midst of breakers made him think he could reach them, 
 so, with a few of the students he went up the shore a 
 couple of hundred yards, doffed his shoes and heavier 
 garments and tied the end of a small rope to his waist. 
 The vessel was lying with the bow a little to the north- 
 west and Hartzell could see along its side, and par- 
 allel with the shore, a long mast, one end of which 
 was held by the ropes to the deck and the other was 
 several feet from the hull. By every wave that passed, 
 the student could see its end thrown up. His plan was 
 to reach the end of the spar or mast, climb along it, 
 and then up the side of the vessel by the ropes that 
 hung over. He started at least two hundred yards 
 above a point opposite the wreck, calculating that the 
 wind and the waves would drive him southward. The 
 undertow is the chief danger to a swimmer in the 
 breakers. Young Hartzell had on woolen socks, and 
 the first undertow that caught his feet swept the socks 
 off." 
 
 "While the brave swimmer could touch bottom he 
 sprang through the top of each breaker as high as he 
 could. When that could no longer be done, he would 
 then dive through them and make as much space as 
 possible before meeting the next one. The rope was 
 
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Stories oj Early Evanston 
 
 not played out fast enough, and that, together with the 
 wind and waves, drove him rapidly southward. He 
 began to fear that he could not make the lower end 
 of the mast, but he succeeded with not three feet to 
 spare. Then clasping his arms and legs around the 
 mast he shuffled along. When a swelling would come, 
 he would clasp the mast tightly and let it pass, be 
 buried many feet in the icy water and then shuffle 
 along as many feet as possible before the next breaker 
 came. At last he reached the vessel where the ropes 
 hung over, and succeeded in climbing up over the 
 side." 
 
 ''The captian of the vessel slipped forward to meet 
 the heroic student as he gained the deck. The cap- 
 tain's face was without expression as white as snow and 
 looked as if it was frozen. He laid his icy cold hand 
 on the young man's shoulder and said: 'God bless you, 
 you are a man.' The shore end of the rope tied around 
 Hartzell's body was fastened to a larger one. This 
 with a strength that seemed more than human, he 
 pulled out until he could tie one end to the ship. Willing 
 hands came out along the line to meet the men. The 
 captain said to the young savior: 'You go first,' only 
 to get the answer: 'No, I shall be the very last.' The 
 young student helped the half dead crew and captain 
 one by one over the side of the vessel, and with their 
 remaining strength they clung to the rope, making 
 their way through the breakers until they were within 
 reach of helpers near the shore, until at last they were 
 all safe, but scarcely more than half alive. The citizens 
 of Evanston had a largely attended public meeting and 
 presented the young student an encyclopedia." 
 
 Bishop Hartzell wrote the story for the Western 
 Christian Advocate under date of March 15, 1922. I 
 quote the following paragraph: 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "Some months afterward I was sitting in a railway 
 car in Chicago waiting for the train to start for Mil- 
 waukee when a large and fine looking man came to 
 me and asked; Is your name Hartzell? I replied, 'Yes.' 
 Was it you who swam out to the wreck and saved the 
 crew of the schooner 'Storm'? I believe so, was my 
 answer. As I arose from my seat, he put his arms 
 around me, and with tears in his eyes, and with grati- 
 tude manifest in every feature of his face he said "I 
 am the Captain whom you saved." 
 
 As Bishop in the Methodist Church Hartzell was as- 
 signed to Africa. It may be said without contradication 
 that no Bishop ever served a larger diocese. His ter- 
 ritory comprised a whole continent. 
 
 Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary 
 
 MAY 1st 1901 recorded a significant event, in my 
 opinion, of the history of Evanston. It was the 
 50th wedding anniversary of the marriage of Thomas 
 C. Hoag and Maria L. Hoag. A scrapbook of the event 
 is now one of the treasured possessions of the His- 
 torical Society. The Hoag home was at 502 Davis 
 Street, corner of Hinman, now the location of the 
 Pure Oil Co. Everybody in Evanston who was at all 
 well known was invited. Mr. Hoag had already re- 
 tired from an active business life. He and Mrs. Hoag 
 had a California home in Pasadena, where they spent 
 much of their time. The home in Evanston was main- 
 tained and was the scene of the famous reception of 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 May 1st. Mr. Hoag was first engaged in business in 
 Chicago. The Chicago fire wiped out his place of busi- 
 ness at 32 North Clark St. After the fire Mr. Hoag 
 started the grocery business at the Southeast corner 
 of Chicago and Davis Street. In the back of the store 
 he kept a safe, accepting deposits of money. This 
 was the beginning of a private bank which later be- 
 came the State Bank and Trust Co. For a time the 
 banking headquarters were at the Southwest corner 
 of Chicago Avenue and Davis Street. Mr. Hoag held 
 many positions of trust in the little village. He was 
 city treasurer, an alderman, also a trustee, treasurer 
 and business agent for the University. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hoag's church relationship was the First Methodist. 
 At the wedding reception all of the living children 
 were present. Dr. Junius C. Hoag and wife of Chi- 
 cago; William G. Hoag, later to be President of the 
 State Bank and Trust; Dr. Ernest B. Hoag and wife, 
 then of Evanston but later of California. Friends 
 from all over the world sent their congratulatory mes- 
 sages. I mention only a few of names of old timers 
 in Evanston who either accepted or sent messages. 
 Mr. and Mrs. George F. Stone; Mr. and Mrs. E. D. 
 Redington; Mr. and Mrs. George S. Lord; Myra Wil- 
 son Little; Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Merwin; Miss Alice 
 Comstock; N. G. Iglehart; Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. 
 Bannister; Mr. and Mrs. Amos W. Patten; Frank P. 
 Crandon; Mr. and Mrs. George H. Sargent; Mr. and 
 Mrs. E. S. Weeden; Mr. and Mrs. J. Seymour Currey; 
 Miss Kate Quinlan; Mrs. N. W. Harris; Mr. and Mrs. 
 John F. Hamline; Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Lane; Dr. and 
 Mrs. Nathan S. Davis Jr.; Dr. and Mrs. Whitfield; 
 Lyman J. Gage; Anna A. Gordon; Mr. and Mrs. Isaac 
 R. Hitt; Kate and Charlie Bragdon; Mr. and Mrs. 
 Seth E. Bradley; and Frances E. Willard. 
 
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Jacob Rinn 
 
 AVERY great injustice was done to our fellow 
 townsman Jacob Rinn. The plot of Keeney and 
 Rinn's Subdivision shows South Boulevard as Rinn 
 Street. Jacob Rinn dedicated the strip known as South 
 Boulevard. Rinn wanted the west side people to have 
 access to the lake for fishing, bathing, and cooling off. 
 The Council without notice to Rinn changed the name 
 of Rinn Street to South Boulevard. Rinn commenting 
 on the action had this to say: "I must give the gentle- 
 men who made this last change credit for what they 
 did, it was done so nicely behind my back. They would 
 not come near me to sign the petition, and I may 
 say to them that I think they might have waited a 
 few years longer until I had closed my eyes forever. 
 At the same time I wish them all good health and 
 prosperity so long as they live on my street." Thus 
 it will be seen that he bore no malice. Rinn's home 
 was on the southeast corner of South Boulevard and 
 Chicago Avenue. During his lifetime he always insisted 
 that he lived on the corner of Rinn Street and Chicago 
 Avenue. In fact, he had a sign in the yard advising 
 the public of that fact. Jacob came to Evanston in 
 1851. His father bought the farm of 80 acres from 
 a man who acknowledged that he had two wives. 
 "Why have you got two wives?" asked Rinn's father. 
 "If one should get sick, then the other could tend 
 the sick one" replied the man. "In my country," said 
 my father, "they have only one wife." To which the 
 farmer replied, "How about Brigham Young?" 
 
 Jacob delighted to talk of the early days and the 
 hardships endured by him and his family. The follow- 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 ing interview with Jacob by an Index reporter on 
 October 30, 1909, runs as follows: 
 
 "There was no barn on this farm or even a shed, 
 so we had to thresh the rye outside on boards. In 
 •September father took it into Chicago to have it 
 ground into flour. The mill was on the lake shore 
 where the Illinois Central depot on Randolph Street 
 now stands." 
 
 The story continues — "Late in October Jacob was 
 sent to Chicago with a load of sawed and split wood. 
 The wagon was drawn by a yoke of oxen. Jacob was 
 to sell the wood and get the flour which had been 
 ground in September. He was very glad to go to Chi- 
 cago alone, but was not nearly so glad when he got 
 home, as things did not turn out so well as he had 
 expected. He traveled up and down the main streets 
 of Chicago offering this load of wood and could not 
 find a buyer at a fixed price of $1.00. One man offered 
 to trade him a woolen shirt for the load, but he did 
 not want the shirt and needed the money. The day 
 was bitter cold, with four inches of snow on the ground. 
 The Market House was situated in the middle of the 
 present State Street, and in the lee of that building 
 he sheltered himself from the cold winds, standing 
 there for what seemed to be ages, pressing his numb 
 hands to the oxen's sides to keep them from freeizng. 
 At last a man came along, asked what he wanted for 
 the wood, and upon being told that the price was $1.00, 
 offered 50 cents. The offer was promptly accepted, 
 and after unloading he had to go way up State Street 
 to get the flour. They had been very busy at the mill, 
 and by the time his turn came and he was through 
 loading, it was 11:00 at night. Imagine his predica- 
 ment — nothing to eat all day, the oxen not fed, no 
 store open. So he had to walk those oxen the twelve 
 weary miles home, reaching there about 3:00 in the 
 
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Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 morning. When he opened the door his mother was 
 kneeling near the stove and praying: 
 
 "If only Jacob would come home with the flour so 
 I can bake bread." 
 
 As the City Attorney, it was Frank Grover's re- 
 sponsibility to prosecute the "blind pigs" operating to 
 the west of Evanston. Jacob was a witness for the 
 prosecution. Upon being asked what kind of beer he 
 secured at one of the joints, Jacob testified as follows: 
 "You see, I drink parells and parells of peer, and how 
 would I know what kind of peer I was drinking." Evi- 
 dently his testimony did help the prosecution. 
 
 Luther L. Greenleaf 
 
 Luther L. Greenleaf 
 
 LUTHER L. GREENLEAF'S 
 name is perpetuated in the 
 name of Greenleaf Street. His 
 daughter; Helen Greenleaf 
 Simmons writes as follows 
 concerning her father: "My 
 father was born in Derby, Ver- 
 mont, February 7, 1827. He was 
 not a college man but received 
 good training in Derby Acad- 
 demy, a very excellent insti- 
 tution in that day. He there 
 met Elizabeth Hillam to whom 
 he was married in the year 
 1848. For some time he was in 
 
 [231] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 the employ of Fairbanks Scale Company in St. 
 Johnsbury, Vermont, going from there to Boston 
 remaining still in the same business. He came West 
 about 1860, opening the Chicago House of the Fair- 
 banks Scale Company. The firm was known as Fair- 
 Banks, Greenleaf Company, a predecessor to Fair- 
 banks, Morse and Company. He made a home 
 in Evanston early in his western life and was identified 
 for many years with all that was best in the life of 
 the town, being especially interested in the North- 
 western University, of which he was a trustee, and 
 in the founding of the Evanston Public Library." 
 
 Mrs. Simmons does mention the fact that he built 
 a number of houses in Evanston. They were known 
 as the "Greenleaf Houses," the one at 410 Davis Street 
 being one of them. Charles F. Grey once remarked, 
 "Mr. Greenleaf was a man who ought to be remem- 
 bered by the people of Evanston. He helped a great 
 many people to homes that otherwise wouldn't have 
 got them." 
 
 Frances Willard in "A Classic Town" has this to 
 say of L. L. Greenleaf: 
 
 "A man of sensational face, figure, and bearing; 
 one to be noted anywhere, even as was Saul among 
 the prophets; a model of ethical exactitude, warm 
 with brotherly kindness and open-handed in deeds of 
 charity — such was L. L. Greenleaf, long the leader 
 among 'men of means' in Evanston." 
 
 "The years passed on; our college for women was 
 projected, to which, as to every other village enter- 
 prise, he liberally contributed. His gentle wife was one 
 of the charter members of our board of trustees, and 
 when our institution became a part of the University, 
 she was president of our board and signed the paper 
 of agreement." 
 
 [232] 
 
Stories of Early Evanston 
 
 "The Chicago Fire came, and in a night the fortune 
 of the gracious Greenleafs was swept away. With it 
 seemed to go health and hope in that good man, whom 
 we all loved. His wife gathered up the scorched threads 
 of his great and intricate business as best she could; 
 her daily visits to the grimy city were remembered 
 by all who knew the olden time." 
 
 "After awhile the family moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, 
 and kept boarders. I was a guest when in 1878 at the 
 commencement exercises I addressed the Archean 
 Society, of which my brother had been a member in 
 his college days. Going over with the Greenleafs to 
 the church, my host said simply, but not sorrowfully, 
 'If we were in the olden days in Evanston, I should 
 preside at your meeting, but tonight I am one of the 
 crowd. My chief occupation now is to take care of 
 Professor Emerson's horse, and I try to do it well!" 
 
 Professor James Taft Hatfield once related that he 
 once visited Beloit College where he met Mr. Green- 
 leaf. He confirmed Miss Willard's statement that Mr. 
 Greenleaf was engaged in taking care of one of the 
 official's horses. The Professor further testified that 
 Mr. Greenleaf did not display any bitterness over his 
 ill fortune. 
 
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