Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-10-25

and-ready warfare into which everybody
plunged for his fortune forced Mr.. Went
worth to the front and made him typical
bluff and hearty Western character.
He was born March 5, 1915, at Sandwich.
Stratford County. N. III. New Hampshire
might be called Wentworth and the mis-
nomer scarce be noticed. Mr.. Wentworth
graduated at Dartmouth college In 1886 and
was the oldest member OF the Alumni As
sociation Of that college in Chicago.
Having left college he came to Chicago
the following autumn, arriving Oct 20, 1886.
Mr.. Wentworth had a Latin grammar in
his pocket. and expected to teach after he
got settled. but, always Interested In poll
tics. he became within a month OF his ar
rival in Chicago editor Of the Chicago Dem
ocrdt. He was stanch friend OF stephen
A. Douglas. Once. when Douglas was to be
billed for q speech In Chicago and Long"
John was short OF help, he took hold Of the
old press and worked it with his own hands
while the Little Giant" linked the rollers.
Mr.. Wentworth never would be anywhere
except at the head. and when Mr.. Douglas
got too big for him In Illinois, Mr.. Went
worth became the Senator's political en-
emy.
AS an editor he was gruff and positive as
in every other relation Of life. He was once
challenged by little man for offensive Ian
guage, signed retractlOn, and the next day
ridiculed the duelist into the butt OF the
town. This was the occasion OF the first use
Of a carcature in Chicago paper. Mr..
Wentworth wanted to be a lawyer. however.
study OF Biackstone In ie4I no Vent 40
Harvard to take n course In law. and came
back to hear himself talked Of for Congress.
He was not IA candidate until 1043. however,
and was elected when only 2S years old. He
was the youngest member OF the AAVlllth
Congress-. He was reelected twice, serv-
ing three terms. After an interim OF two
years he was again returned to Congress,
serving one term. He cut no particular
figure in Congress- but when he became
Mayor in 1857 he had his opportunity. His
imperious will was frequently INDUCED to
its topmost bent. When he thought he was
right he did not stop to parley about his
power to do the thing he wanted to do.
Neither did he scruple about the means OF
doing 1t. He got tired of the disreputable
people on the -sands'-the lake shore at
the foot OF Indiana street-and tore down
their houses. The citizens did not present
any petitions. the Council was not asked.
and no authority was given. but the work
was done and Mr.. Wentworth did part OF
| It with his own hands.
Mr.. Wentworth was member OF the Con-
stitutional Convention in 1861. was elected
to Congress in 1864. and defeated in 1868.
| He was shrewd politician, always declin-
| ing a denomination when he thought he
would be defeated,
Mr. Wentworth was married at Troy, N.
| Y, Nov. Is, 1874, 10 Roxanna Marie Loomis.
| daughter OF the Hon. Riley Lewis. OF Troy.
After many years OF failing health Mrs.
| Wentworth died Feb. 8, 1870. She bore five
| children. all OF whom died young except
| Miss Roxanna Atwater Wentworth, who Is
| yet living. She and Moses ]. Wentworth,
| Mr.. Wentworth's nephew, are his only
near surviving relatives. The latter has
for some years managed his uncle's large
estate.
| He was one Of the earliest Masons and
| Odd Fellows in Chicago. He was on the
| Jury which convicted the first white man
| hanged in Chicago. While in Congress he
| chanced to be the person who carried the
| news Of President Tyler's death to Vice
President Fillmore. He was fond OF tell
ing how, during his first term In
| Congress, he conducted courtshiI
| for young man in Chicago who
| had rendered him material service. The
young lady lived in an Eastern State. Post
age on each letter in those days was 2S
| cents. In order to secure the franking
privilege the loving pair wrote to Mr.. Went
| worth and he in turn wrote what each said
to the other one. They finally arranged d
| marriage through him, and then the cor
/ respondence ceased. For some years' he
| boarded at the same house in Washington
with Henry Clay. and was on the most In
innate terms with the Kentucky statesman
lIWhile his wealth is estimated at $1,000. .0Ot
to $5,OOO.0 600. little of his property is in Chi
cago. though several fine farms are not fal
| distant.
The funeral took place from the Secont
Presbyterian Church, and was largely at
tended. The services were simple in thei
| nature.