, 1880-11-14
OBITUARY..

d N
OBITUARY.
BENZ AMIN II. SKINNER.
One OF Chfcagos veterun hotel men has joine,
the vast army OF the dead. B. II. Skinner qui
city passed away Friday night, at 1l:lo o'clock
. after but t1fty hours illness. With Mr. Skin.
ner's name was associated great deul Of CHI
cago's hotel history. It can be fairly suid o
him that he had his ups and downs, and at one
time he was regarded US very wealthy man
But be met reverses OF fortune with heroism
born OF Western pluck, and his heurt and hanG
we're ever open to friend. He WINS u man
among men. charitable and kind to NIL, and by
those who knew him he will long be missed.
| MIR. Skinner Was born In Boston, Nov Is, 1874,
and was the youngest OF seven children, five
sons and two daughters, two Of his brothers,
Samuel F. and Otis 4. Skinner, being able cer-
Kymen In the unlyer6alist Church. Mr. Skinner
was educated In the Boston public schools. and
received portion OF his business education in
that city. He came to Chicago In 1885, and from
that time on embarked In the hotel business
The Chicago OF that day was far
different from the magnificent present
Garden City. In the spring Ut 1877 he leased
what was then known as the New York, House,
an unpre1eptous frame structure on Lake.
between La Salie and Wells Streets, located about
where at present stands the hardware house Of
". G. Blair s Co, The New York House became
popular tavern In that day. Its landlord, then
in the prime OF youthful life and yigor, was
| genial aud pleasant to nlL The River and Har-
Dor Convention had just then been called to
| meet In Chicago, and great preparations uere
| needed to receive the many eminent and distln-
/ guished men then expected. 1t WIS ut that time
that Chicago began to loom up as future great
city; NJ; sktnner's house was the headquurters
| OIL the ataKe-lines, and the hotel BECAME
| notable FOR ita good beds nnd excellent fare,
In ists the hotel was destroyed by fire. utter two
York House did not die. It did not rise phoenix-
Ike from It's ashes, but only short time after
the mere modest one vas DESTROYED more
! the corner Of Randolph and Franklin streets,
where he again carried On the business OF enter
the genial and Successful host TOOK unto unto him
selt s VIE IN me person Of Miss Mary A. shrx-
Sherins Of Cook County. Dir. shri9lay bad also
oeen landlord, and had managed the saugu-
hotel In day. Mrs. Skinner was but year oId
years Mr. Skinner ran the New York House,
be concluded to retire from the hotel business
TOR time. He went TO New York City, where
He staid East for Eve years. In the hotel
business here Up to the time OF his leaving he is
said TO have made great deal Of money, but |
and he returned to Chicago in 1859, when hc |
leaset the Metropolitan Hotel then ut the
avenue. This at that time wiis four-storv
brick structure, capable Of doing a nrgo
business; b. ss, Under the able management, of
degree OF popularity. until it became too limited
IN it's capacity for all who sought its hospitabe
~ anoI F,,n Ihs May hotel south Of Tie Metropolitun,
houses were connected, giving capacity OF Of
that time. sThe house was run without inter
eupttos hy Mr: Skinner for seven years, and it
oine during al hat tms IN opt pophu
business. While sMr Skinner was landlord Of
he Metropolitan he also managed the s. Charles
known Ill over the State, especially in the |
southern portion. where he was an especial
1865 Mr.. Skinner retired from tie Metropoiitan
Vice. e Ss a Briggs House
for Which he ons1thp slia heng n9c nai Ser
in cash, :5,utu and farm on the Nort6 Side, |
reckoued ut SIS oo0 more, for which u short time
the management OF Mr.. Skinner the Briggs
became famous for Its table and attention. For
turned it over to Messrs. woolwortn & Went
worth. Mr.: Skinner was not financially success
fui In the Drggs House, the price paid for it |
It was In the summer OF ISL that Mr. Skinner
left the Briggs, and ut that time the elegant
Bixelow House was being built on the present
site OF the new Post Office. OF this house !
which was to contain 80 rooms, Mr.. Skinner was
to take the management When the terrible fire
Of Oct came the hotei WAS already rtiuilx f,r
nfshed. and in ten days more Mr.. Skinner was to :
have opened it. T,,f the ttre .wnDt r. ouov or1 | {
J.. Inc I'Eelnw house, waach was TO have been
r "as never opEneo. me
scores Of Others Of Chfcawo's cirizens y hari q
olow. but with bis usual grit and pluck be 6
ealllea, thougn Tor couple OF years he retired
IN rhe rnsr III Ia a.1 ,z,o. "a
Rrirp7s HoIs. CORNER ~ csn.i snJ auJ
West Madison stree1s, Wooiworth l. Vent
Softn. who bad occupied it since The
,ar.-e,, Ut, " aet1eng mr, skinner added | :
once Succeeded in rngnintny Drtsf dasI af ~ ~
MD nonunrirv a. ron 1hta hnne, ~ ~ - us | +
vrurs fut nrp}n rst;.G ~ s avsa otee tol tnFes
IS.T he onars1 ~ hars,a- - ~ - US 1att " I
Fla whara 10 nt5 ms.vae a1o:el a. n
hfnr iiEa ..zn .nase h Io teIa!nsu L. 1T sone
lown and he re,nrnnd ~ tha ~ Har;h 'n IL psoAe 8
,,stnad hera f,r enn,n ti,n ~ "SJ 49, -. A. n
I,e rasfa,rant ~ =. St. s.e ul!u .oou PuFcnaseo
ncccssfmIiv IN r. r t;na T ~ "alen ne Ian
SEInner 1vna ~ ~ .uJ @ ,f Ut na " ~ mt II