The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-17
OBITUARY.
Hon. John Wentworth, One of Chicago's
Most Widely Known Citizens.

Hon. John Wentworth, One of Chicago's
Most Widely-Known Citizens
CHICAGO, Oct. I6-The Hon John Went
worth. bet ter known as Long John, o man ss
well known rs any in the West, died at
7:45 this morning About q month ago his gen.
this morning He was q man OF wealth, his es-
tate being worth st least :, 100000
For nearly Gfty years Mr. Wentworth had
been one of the most prominent men in Illinois.
He came 70 Chicago in 1886. when IL was little
more than q block house and goose-pond- He
edited the first Chicago newspaper, was one of
the frat men admitted to her bar and her frat
Representative in Congress, where he served
six terms and might have served sixteen
IL he had been willing. He was twice
Mayor OF the city, and has often de-
ciinsd denominations TO that Office and other
honors. He was Mayor when the Prince Of
Wales visited Chicago, and Albert Edward was
pleased to take great fancy to Long John"
and TO send him some sheep and picture and
other things. During the war he was police
commissioner and directed the operations OF
the police when they broke up the plot to free
the rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas and ar
rested all the plotters. When Clement l. Val
fsndiehsm made speech in chicago during the
war in favor of the South ard secession, Mr..
ing him to pieces and then got on the same ros-
trum and made a speech in reply TO the seces-
sioniss that Illinois school-boys still recite. Mr.
Wentworth helped to organize, equip and oper-
ate the first railroad built out OF Chicago and at
his death retained his original interest In it. He
opened banks, organized q fire department, got
street grading and paving under way, founded
tho Historical Society, contributed invaluable
relics snd bits of history, an for forty years
has been 90 authority on every conceivable sub
iect to a great circle Of admirers.
Mr. Wentworth was a gan. ir stature, being
over six and half feat in height and OF very
large frame. There is no coffin in the shops in
Chicago large enough to encase his remains,
and it will be necessary TO make one for the
purpose. II 10 calculated that, with the relaxa-
ton of the tissues, 8 cssket six feet and ten
inches or seven feet in length, inside measure,
will be necessary.
Some years ago, says writer Ia the Chicago
Times was sent to see Mr.. Wentworth by a
city editor. found him in q back room at the
jackson building. on La Sale street, with blg
scrap-book on a table before him. Into the
pages Of this he was pssting :he badges OF every
that he had attended when badge had been be
slowed. He scarcely looked up from bis work
when / went in.
What do you wantT" he asked.
"Why do they call You Long Iohnr 1 in
qu;red.
that - fool question: he said, as he proceeded
with his work. Every body supposes that 1
got that name in Chicago. Well. / didn't.
When was at school was long g-leggei lank
youth. Ny iegs were so long that couldn't get
them under my desk. l put my knees up against
the desk and they came above my head. One
day the teacher called out: Here, Long John,
put your legs down from that desk and l was
called Long John from that day TO this.
brought it out here with me-