The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-17
CHICAGO'S HISTORY.
It's Progress from u Small Govern
Inent outpost to u Great city.

The first record we have Of the name
Of Chicago originated in this way:
In the year 1913 a party of five
Frenchmen, under the head Of Louis
Joliet, from Canada, started to discover
the source OF the Mississippi river.
They were not very successful in their
expedition, and on their return took a
different route. They were accom-
panied by priest, missionary among
the Indian tribes, and approaching the
shores OF Lake Michigan, they soon
came to a creek which the Indians
called Chicayon. From this is derived
the name Of Chicago river.
In l79j the United States made a
treaty with the Indian tribes inhabiting
this part OF the country, acquiring sew
eral tracts of land, among which is re-
corded tract Of land six miles square
at the mouth of the Chicago river,
which, at that time, entered the lake a
short distance below its present mouth.
The first white man who settled in
this neishborhood was John kinzie.
He crossed the lake from Michigan in
1904
lie commenced to deal with the In
dians for their furs and peltrles; this
was the commencement OF commerce.
About this time a fort was built in
the shape of block-house. Chicago
consisted Of but five houses, besides the
fort.
The commerce was, Of course, small.
On the 18th Of August, 1872, occurred
a great massacre, forming dark and
bloody epoch in the early history OF
Chicago, and in which the Potawato,
mics, Miamis, Winnebagoes, Sauks,
Foxes and Kickapoos participated.
In 1915 treaty Of peace was signed,
and in 1916 all the territory lying be-
tween the Illinois and Chicago rivers
WAS ceded to the United States. The
design was to build a canal to connect
the Illinois river with Lake Michigan
Four wears after the massacre the
United States troops returned and erec
ted a fort, which remained until the
year 1851, when il was removed by the
CITY authorities.
In 1880 Chicago had twelve house:
and three suburban residences, on what
is now known n Madison street. The
population, including haltbreed lndl
ans and negroes, numbered about one
hundred souls. August 10, 1888, the
town Of Chicago was organized. There
were only twenty-eight voters. In lo3s
the Indians were removed. March
1887, the town was incorporated as 6
city, and the first election was helc
May |, the same year. The city theI
contained four stores, three hundred
dwellings, twenty dry goods and variety
houses, FIVE hardware stores, three
drug stores and nineteen groceries anc
provision stores, ten taverns, twenty-sl'
regular groceries, seventeen lawyers anC
five churches.
The first circuit was held in 1881.
Such is the early history OF Chicago
Only little over sixty years ago tn
first white man made it his home-ant
still later great city has sprung up
marble palaces have arisen-and tn
waters OF Lake Michigan have tloate'
millions OF commerce. Fifty years az
the savages OF the wilderness satishe'
their thirst for blood in terrible havo
and carnage-and now the fire-fend ha
gloated over unparalleled destruction.
In 1910 Chicago was on the extrem
Indian frontier, and unknown except a
a government post. In 1871 1t ha
grown to a city with reputation 70
progress known the world over A cit
built up, it may be said, from the fir
log cabin, embracing scarcely halt tn
space OF an ordinary lifetime, yet con
prising the history Of centuries.
1t rests upon the verge Of the almo'
illimitable territory which lies beyon