The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-01
How The Pinherton Agency Begun

He remained in Chicago but a short
time, and journeyed to Dundee, in Kane
county, about 3s miles northwest Of
Chicago, where he began business for
himself. He prospered rapidly and his
establishment increased to such a de-
gree that he resolved to settle perma-
nently in the beautiful locality; but cir
cumstances interfered and opened up to
him the possibilities Of q new career
which by nature and inclination he was
so we'll qualified to adorn. Mr.. Pinker.
ton will be pleasantly remembered by
many of the old residents of Dundee
now living. While employed in his
business as q cooper he had frequent oc-
casions to visit some of the islands
of Fox river to procure material for his
stock, and while on one of these he dis
covered the existence of gang ofcoun-
terfeiterc, who made the Island their re.
treat and there established their head.
quarters. Having a natural love for ad.
venture and being a stranger to fear he
determined to investigate the entire OPP
erations of these counterfeiters, which
he eventually succeeded in doing-ef-
fectually breaking up the existence Of
the gang and securing the arrest and
conviction of John Craig, the leader and
prime mover, together with the most
prominent and dangerous of his asso.
ciates.
This exploit gained for the young
cooper considerable renown, and shortly
afterward he was appointed deputy
sheriff of Kama county, the duties of
which position he filled in such an
efficient manner that numerous bands of
horse thieves and counterfeiters were
either captured and %punishedor forced
to leave the country, while wrong-doers
generally were inspired with a whole
some fear of his vigilance and relentless
pursuit. The reputation which he
gained in this capacity Don spread to
Chicago and attracted the notice of
William l.. Church, who was then
sheriff of Cook county. This gentleman
Immediately offered Mr.. Pinkerton the
appointment Of deputy sheriff, with in
creased powers of usefulness and added
remuneration, and he at once accepted.
He continued in this position during the
term of Mr.. Church, and also under his
successorin office, Sheriff G. +. Bradley.
When Mr.. Boone was elected mayor
of Chicago he appointed Allen Pinker-
ton as q detective of the city force.
This was the first appointment of a
detective in Chicago, and was the initial
step in the career of this greatest de-
tective of the age.
In the year 1852 Mr.. Pinkerton be-
came impressed with the importance of
establishing a detective agency which
would be independent of political in
f%uence, and by whose efforts the crimi-
nal could be punished without fear of
personal favor. He accordingly as
ISOLATED with him Mr.. Edward T..
Rucker, an attorney at law, and secur-
ing the patronage of several railroad
companies, then in their infancy, they
started the "Pinkerton detective
agency" the first institution of
its kind in the United States. Mr..
Rucker continued with him only about
a year, when Mr.. Pinkerton undertook
the entire management of the constant
ly increasing business. When the agen-
cy was first established it employed
some four or five men, among the most
prominent being George H. Bangs,
afterward general superintendent, and
who renamed with Mr.. Pinkerton
until his death, which occurred last
year, and Timothy Webster, who, while
in his employ, was taken rs a union spy
and executed at Richmond, Va. during
the war of the Rebellion. From that
small beginning the detective force
under Mr.. Pinkerton's orders increased
steadily, until it now numbers nearly
800 men.