The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-04
WILLIAM ~. OGDEN.
The Close OF n Lite OF Great Usefulness and
Grand Enterprises.

dence. near High Bridge. yesterday was born
in Delaware county. in the State of Nv York.
juno 1j 1905. He is Of the eastern New Jersey
Ogden family and Of an lent and honorable line
age on the side Of both OF his parents Intended
forthe practice of the law. the sudden dcccasc Of
his father when the son was NJ the age OF l6.
called upon him to devote his energies and
very marked abilities to the care Of his fath'~s
business. In the course of his business he was
required to travel much about the country, and
to visit the large cities. AT II he entered into
large mercantile firm. and. after spending
few more years in his native county. he deter
mined to turn his attention westward. AT the
age al IL he entered the military service Of the
state. and was subsequently, for several years.
Brigade Inspector.
In 1894 Mr. Ogden was elected to the Iegiefa-
turc Of this State especially to advocate the con
struction of the Erie Railroad.
In 1885 Mr. Ogden arrived at Chicago. to the
advantages OF which placc his attention had
been especially directed by his brother in-law.
Charles Butler Esq. Of this city. He cstab-
lshcd there land and trust agency, which has
developed into one Of the institutions OF the
West and is still conducted by his brother. Mr..
Mahlon u. Ogden. and his brother-in- law. Ed
win II. sheldon. Esq. His transactions In real
estate have been immense and as the growth
the operations Of the authorities too tardy. and
proceeded to lay out and actually construct
more than hundred miles of streets at his
own cost.
Mr. Ogden WINS quick to discover the courses
and currents Of business and the needs Of the
community. He constructed the first swing
bridge in Chicago. then meyer having seen one.
He was among the first to introduce the roaping
and moving machines into general use. and IL
WAS at his suggestion that the first reaper was
sent 10 the London Exhibition Of 1851. His
efforts TO rosuscitate aud complete the Illinois
and Michigan Canal were untiring.
H. has always been foremost in times Of pub
lie dstrust to maintain the public faith and
credit.
H. was the first Mayor Of Chicago. AMI being
| Cnll"i o. sp"ak 10 public meeting convened t.
DELAY the legal proc ~ " creditors hr rNhpri d
! his fellow citizens not to proclaim thrir own
d.-honor. Aluyoall 'hu-s. said hc. d. MT
! iHrn'-h tho honor 4 an infant city and his
Mr. OIlrn WAS never partisan. hut was
! known H. Democrat OF TIA" Nlndispnian 'h"Nl
| lie has not hes iat.d TO orpus" the nom'nai nn-
| ol his own party when ~" d'"ni"d them unit
| improper. He was often el"otcd to IA" City
! Coun 'ilsof chi 0ago. but preferred 10 -" oui ot
| unlcc II" declined Va" nomination Of his party
! COR Congress IN 1852.
| In tn -irugsl. with the Confedcra ~ h" was
! found VIII the Roluhli an party. helieving that
| III" .u. rnnrh u"nte az slavery must be r"si.t II.
| OF great pul lie spirit. of w"ll-rngul Hi W'-
| tNity. of Immense energy. Of captlvnt ng ud-
,lr. ~ and winning mnnn'rs Mr.. Osd'n has
! don" moro thHu any on" man ON THIS continent
| Northwest TO r'' cunt his relations WIN inc
rut,rpr -"s Of that res'on 10 .nialoeu. n",
! H. was the first lr sid NJ ~ Rush Medical
! College Pr -jd~ui 81 'ho Galenn and 1hi.u-o
! Union RAJ rond Company AMI President 90 tae
Ii. wn- President oi the great National Rlil-
| road Convention held At Phllnd 'plia ~ l-1l -
TAX" mcasur,s to build Il. Pacil Euir.. l
| Compauv of the Buffalo and Mississippi Rail
,,n9 Company in Indiana until mericd M ne
thr STAT" Of Illino =. ard of the Board OF sew
ergs. Conn, ssi9nrr- Of Chirqen
In lsji.5 Mr.. osd,,n visited Europe AND yE,nis
| works. II WINS his cNaminat on Of the canals II
| H9lnnd that first suggested to him tn pratt
waters of Lake Mirhisan through the Chicago
| gui D's PLANES rivers into the Illinois and
H. wn5 Pr'sdeu, and elrrca forward LARGELY
| from his own means tn work " construct IN
90 the Chicago. 81. Paul AMI Fond du La Rail
liowas mn active director of the 7 PITTSBURGH
! Fort WAYNE and Chicago Rnilroad Compnnr
IN the legal steps between the court, of the
! different Stnt"s q, rough witch this roud passes
il was found imposs bic 10 obtain unity Of n'l,nn
OGDEN VAS ,'ndcr.A the receivrrship. with a
snlaryof f2jon per annnm which h" d"rlined
the necessities of the cas-" Ia accept H. no other
nam" could ~. found that was satisfactory. He
d" lined the large comprnsation, rs not war
When III" Union Pacific Railroad Company
WIS organized under the act .ot Congress. Mr.
Ogden WIS chosen its first President hut h $
own affairs. Immense and widespread ~ they
| Wore. demanded that he retire from the post.
Mr. ogden WIS IN" owu"r Of probably the
largest NUMBERING establishment in tn. world
lis factories being situated at Peshtiso. in Wis
lie consented for an important emergency iC
accept n scat in the Illinois Senate in 1850. Nov
rr fond Of o'fice or political life he 'am" for
ward 10 times when great emrrEen les demand
| We m A
He WAS singulariy aiinbe and agreeable IN
addrss n9ipah snylSt an %, = kDnr
the Northwest. including the Rush " li,A
Coll"gr; the Theological seminary Of thr north
S..rne.- tho Astronomical society the Unlv"r-
sity Of Chicago. and the Chicago Women's
Ills nam" wns urged for The Demo crnti' nom
inHtinn for President in 1860. On the groun'
that H. had heeu foremost and immsasurqll,
ahead of Hll other men in protecting the public
credit and advancing public improvements.
Beng IN NV York At NJ tim" The great nr'
tened a. the West 70 ind his rwn homr ia ruins
with it, gathered treasures Of lifetime. an
the appalling loss ~ more than a million o
property. scarcely had h. viewed the wnsi'
before the news reached him from Green Ba,
that his immense mills in prshti.,o with thch
a ''c'ss ions. w're IN ruins. Passing from on
scene N disaster t. smother, he saw the HIT
village completely swept away, and nearly 90,
of H. people burned tu death.
II is own losses here were moro than million
and II half Of dollars. Meeting the disast"
dHtoly commenced and has completed the wprl
~ H. restoration. and the hum of the saw
the qxo Of thowoolmln and tn cheer Of th'
log-drivrr again r'sonnd along forest an
str.nm through this immense property
H. monument VIII hr found on the puhlt
works all over the Northwest
Two years since he married Mss Arnot. tn,
daughter Of Hon. john Arnot ~ Llinrn.
Ms 2"nl for improvnments lei him 70 Gr'a
this city lie expended time and money On t''
work Of an underground rnlr9ad for the it