The Mineral argus., 1884-07-31
HOW the PinkertOn Agency Begun

HOW Inc 4nkeGGOA ASSASJ 9SB uus
He remained in Chicago but a short
time, and journeyed to Dundee, in Kane
countv. about 3S miles northwest Of
Chicago. where he began business for
himself. He prospered rapidly and his
establishment increased to such a de-
cree that he resolved &c settle perma-
nently in the beautiful locality; but cir
cumstances interfered and opened up to
him the possibilities of a 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 a 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 a gang of coun-
terfeiters, who made the Island their re.
treat and there established their head
quarters. Having a natural love for adj
venture and being a stranger to fear he
determined to investigate the entire op-
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
captured and punished or forced
10 leave the country, while wrong doors
generally were inspired with a whole
fear of his vigilance and relentless
pursuit. The reputation which he
gained in this capacity soon spread to
Chicago and attracted the notice of
l.. Church, who was then
sheriff of Cook county. This gentleman
Immediately offered MI. Pinkerton the
of deputy sheriff, with in
powers of usefulness and added
enumeration, and he at once accepted.
ae continued in this position during the
ERIN of Mr.. Church, and also under his
uccessor in office, Sheriff G. f. Bradley.
When Mr.. Boone was elected mayor
f Chicago he appointed Allen Pinker-
on as a detective of the city force. :
his was the first appointment of a i
elective in Chicago, and was the initial
IN the career of this greatest de- !.
ective of the age. 2
In the year 1852 Mr.. Pinkerton be-
impressed with the Importance of
establishing a detective agency which o
'ould be independent of political in
uence, and by whose efforts the crimi-
al could be punished without fear of
favor. He accordingly as
with him Mr.. Edward l..
ucker, an attorney at law, and secur- n,
g the patronage of several railroad W
,mpanies, then in their infancy, they b
arted the "Pinkerton detective
the first institution of NJ
kind in the United States. Mr..
ucker continued with him only alb out
year, when Mr.. Pinkerton undertook &C
Ie entire management of the constant
increasing business. When the agen- >,
was first established it employed >
me four OF five men, among the most
ointment being George H. Bangs, vi
terward general superintendent, and ca
no renamed with Mr.. Pinkerton 70
It'll his death, which occurred last us
and Timothy Webster, who, while
his employ, was taken as a union p -
d executed at Richmond, Va, during an
e war of the Rebellion. From that wi
lall beginning the detective force cic
der Mr.. Pinkerton's orders increased
.adily, until it now numbers nearly
0 men. Id