The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-22

porarily managing the flint works, VIII prooaoiY
be disengaged Mr.. Leighton, senior, Is much
rleased with Ottawa as u glass. making point,
and would remain here permanently II II luce
ments were offered. That he is Thoroughly
lrstclass glass maker has been aoun''htiy
shown by his work here during Che la'l few
weeks, Our people who have been talking oi
starting new company should lake TINS matter
into consideration, for Mr.. Leighton Is 700 Naiu'
able man to be allowed to return 10 Wheeiing'
And those who have made his acquaintance know
him TO be n most perfect and genial gentleman
as we'll as glass maker
CAroy.-A correspondent of the Chicago sun.
day Times submits the question OF changing the
name OF Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, to "Caton
Avenuen The avenue was laid out in 1887, and
the ordinance creating this avenue was intro
duced 10 the common council by John ID. Cation,
then alderman from the Third ward He not
only introduced this ordinance creating the av-
enue, but successfully advocated 1t which led to
its final passage and learn from parties familiar
with the entire proceedings that he assisted the
surveyor, Charles II. Reese, ie laying II out-and
that the right Of way never cost the city one cent
The Third ward which Judge Cation then repre-
scented took in all Of Chicago south OF Madison
st. and west OF the riyer The ward then had
but ~ voters! Blue Island Ave. was first known
as "Hoosier Avenue" because the Hoosiers from
the Wabash country used to enter the city by
that route with OK teams and "prairle schooner
wagons, camping along the street at night.
Judge Cation went to Chicago in lSj3. Another
distinguished citizen and able lawyer, the late
Giles Spring, came & short time before, but being
young was without much practice at this early
day. Cation was employed TO prosecute young
man for stealing money, ana Spring defended,
and thus commenced the early criminal practice
OF Cook county. Judge Cation opened the frat
law Office ever opened in Chicago Some time in
July 1888 he brcught the first suit ever brought
in the circuit court of Cook county. In August
1888 there were about half dozen gentlemen OF
color in Chicago, all from free states. Our stat.
utes had meyer contemplated the possibility OF a
negro coming here from the free states, and so
provided that il negro was found in the state
without free papers he should be prosecuted and
fined, and seid TO pay the fine Some ofllcious
person felt it his duty to prosecute these men
under our "black CODE" and Judge Cation was
employed TO defend them. He appealed to the
county commissioners court to issue free papers
TO them, aud proved that they came from free
states. After hard fight the court although il
was an unheard of proceeding in this state
granted the motion, and gave them free papers
which were accepted as good defense, aud con
sequently the colored brethren were much re
ioiceI In 1886 he built a house on the corner Of
Harrison and Clinton streets, and moved into II
the same year This was the first house built on
theschool section west Of the South branch
The Times correspondent adds: 81 have been i'm
pressed with the idea that inasmuch as eX-Chiei
Justice Cation has so prominently and success
fully figured in the early history of this great
city, and especially SO in regard to the location
OF what is now Blue Island Avenue, that it would
be a well-deserved and high compliment to him,
and of great advantage to the thoroughfare, to
rebaptizc the same rs Cation avenue. The name
would be shorter and have meaning; whereas
it now means nothing, not even running in the
direction of Blue Island proper. Nearly all OF
our esteemed early pioneers have been thus hon
ored by having streets and avenues named after