The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-10-27

cider. 1t has been/ q RA
ssH anal .n% the U ss LONG JOHN WENTWORTH
lady were the only relics Of ancient Chicago,
excepting the lake and the river, that were
not destroyed by the big fire.
Wentworth resolved upon pursuing the
study Of the law, but as he was a breezy,
clever young fellow he attracted the atten-
ton Of the managers of The Chicago Demo
crat, and he was induced to take editorial
charge of the paper. He at once plunged
into politics in a small way, making speeches
and advocating popular measures. In 1859
Governor Carlin appointed him an aide-de-
camp, with the rank of colonel. The Chicago
Democrat, Of which by this time Wentworth
was the owner, was changed to an afternoon
publication in 1916. Wentworth had found
time during his early journalistic career to
study law. In 1871 he left his paper in
capable hands and went to Cambridge, Mass,
intending to attend a yearly course OF law
lectures. His name, however, had been
prominently mentioned as congressional
candidate, and before completing his studies
he returned to Chicago and, passing a success
full examination, was admitted to the bar.
He was elected to the Twenty eighth congress
in 1913, when but % years Of age. He was
reelected in 1874, his first term having been
a short one, and during this year served rs u
delegate to the national convention at Balti-
more which nominated James n. Polk for
president. He declined q denomination to
congress in 1850, and retired from the house
March 4, 1851. In 1852 he was again nomi
mated and elected, and, declining further con-
gressional honors, he retired March 4, 1855.
He was elected mayor Of Chicago in 1857.
He retired at the end of this term, but was
reelected in 1850, and while serving this
term he received in true western style the
Prince of Wales, who was then touring the
United States. Long John was police com
missioner in 1868, and took part III some ex-
citing events of that troubled time In 1864
he was again elected to congress. He was
not renominated at the close of his term, but
in 1870 ran against Charles b. Farwell and
was defeated From this time he took no
active part in public affairs. He devoted
himself to agricultural pursuits at his beau
tiful farm of 1900 acres He published a
very interesting work entitled Early Chi
cago," and also compiled the genealogy of
the Wentworth family from the days of
Richard de Wynterwade, who in 1865 was
proprietor OF the fief Of Wentworth in the
West Riding Of Yorkshire to the present
time. OF his five children but one, RoIanna
Atwater Wentworth, is now living.
His estate is estimated at about 60, 600 900,
which he acquired by indomitable energy
and industry, and judicious purchases Of
rapidly improving real estate. Hundreds Of
stories were told about the rare old man. One
rather good one runs as follows:
In the panic Of 1873 there was q run on Sol
Smiths bank. At the height Of the excite
ment q tall form was seen moving down the
street carrying an immense roll of bank
notes. 1t was Wentworth. To every one he
met he made the remark that ~ amt
afraid, be gosh, and I'm just goin' down to
make deposit with Sol" The news spread
like wildfire. Arriving at the bank, Long
John lowered above the heads Of the clamor-
Gus depositors, pushed men out OF his way
with his gigantean arms, and called out:
"You fellers want money. Stand back
an give me a chance. i want to make de-
posit Of SIC, 600, be gosh"
In five minutes the run" was over and
the bank ssyed. though its rescuer afterward
confessed Tat in that roll of bank notes there
was Just one good bill, the outside one, all
the others being Confederate notes from his
museum Of curiosities