The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-11
Chicago Antiquities.

SulCdSO <1utANNhVANo'
Hon. John Wentworth, formerly Ed
itor. once Mayor and thrice Member
OF Congress, of chicago, has recently
given lecture in that city ON the early
history of that metropolis of the North
west. MIR. Wentworth has shown most
commendable diligence in tracing out
She earliest events and personages con-
nected with Chicago, aud has presented
n very interesting contribution to the
historic annals OF that city.
From his lecture, as given at large in
The Chicago papers, we learn that the
name which that city now bears is one
Of high antiquity and renown. A little
sver two hundred years ago, in 1871,
Charlevoix's History speaks of "Chi-
eagou' at the lower end Of Lake Michi-i
gan. On an old map in the Congressional
Library at Washington, bearing date of
1855, place ON the shore Of that lake,
Rbeut where the city now stands, is
marked s'Chicagou." And Father Louis
Yiyier, q priest at Kaskasia in 1852
explains the origin .ot this name. In
letter to his Superior he says-"Chi-
Eagou was celebrated Indian chief,
who went to Paris, and the Duchess of
Orleans presented to him splendid
ynuff box, Of which he was very proud,
and fond of exhibiting it after his re-
IMrn."
1t seems that there was no authorized
recognition of such a place as Chicago
until Gen. Wayne's treaty, commonly
called the sTreaty of Greenville," in
a795, when a tract of land six miles.
square was acquired from the Indians
ut the amouth of the Chicago River"
where log iortthen stood.
In 1887 the Northwestern Territory
was organized by the Ordinance OF Con-
gress; and in 1TSS Gen. Arthur st. Clair,
The first Governor, assumed the duties
of that position. At that time the seat
OF government for Chicago people was
at Marietta, Ohio. In 1870 Gov. St. Clair
organized what is now the whole State
OF Illinois into one county, and named it
ST.. Clair, after himself. At the same
Aime Indiana was all in one county,
named Knox, and Ohio in one county
hamed Hamilton.
The first election held in Chicago was
in 1928. the records OF which have been
lost. Three years later, in 1926, an elec.
sion was held, the poll-books of which
still remain, and show the whole vote OF
that city to have been just thirty five.
And still four years later, In 1880, the
poll-books show vote OF but thirty-two,
indicating falling of In population OF
nearly twelve per cent.
In 1925 the whole amount Of property
listed for taxation in Chicago was
H,O47, the number of tax payers was
thirteen, and the amount of tax assessed
was $40 At. That was but fifty years
sgo, and now Chicago has over $500, ,O0O, )
boo OF taxable property, and in 1876 as
pessed taxes to the amount OF So, 900, ,905
1t was during tie sB1ack Hawk war;
In 1892, when Abraham Lincoln, then q
young man, served as a captain, that
the first steamboat ever reached Chica.
70; and strangely enough this boat
brought with it the cholera, which had
lust then fer the first time appeared on
the American Continent. This steamer
was In the Government service and had
sn board troops and supplies for the army
then operating against the Indians. At
Bhat time the 'sCity of Chicago con-
bisted Of but Eve dwelling houses, and
three Of those were butlog cabins, That
was only forty -four years ago. A.
At that time Chicago had but one
mail per MONTH brought from Fort
Wayne'by 'spony express" that took
fourteen days to make the journey one
way; and during which time the mail
barrier had to sleep In the woods, and
barry corn for mis- pony and provisions
Tor himself.
The first hotel was erected in 1926, and
sailed after an Indian chief, "Saugan.
ASH" In 1888 the first newspaper, the
AChicago Democrat was issued there
4 In 1887 the first Mayor of the town was
jnaugurated. And thatis less than forty
years ago, where now is city contain.
ing one.third oil million OF Inhabitants
In the course of his lecture Mr.. Went.
worth very naturally lamented the loss