Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-10-26


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 small way, making speeches
and advocating popular measures. In 1889
Governor Carlin appointed him an ade-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 yearly course of law
lectures. His name, however, had been
prominently men, toned as a congressional
candidate, and before completing his studies
he returned to Chicago and, passing success
full examination, was admitted to tho bar
He was elected to the Twenty eighth congress
in 1913, when but % years Of age He was
reelected i'll 1874, his first term having been
a short one, and during this year served as
delegate to the national convention at Balti-
more which nominated James K Polk for
president He declined a 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 in 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 1906 was
proprietor of the flef of Wentworth in the
West Riding of Yorkshire, to the present
time. OF his five children but one, Roxanna
Atwater Wentworth, is now living
His estate is estimated at about SO, COG, 900,
which lie 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 a run on Sol
Smiths bank. At the height OF the excite
ment a tall form was seen moving down the
street carrying an immense roll of bank
notes, IL was !, entworth. To every one he
met he made the remark that II amt
afraid, be gosh, and I'm just goin down to
make deposit with Sol" The news spread
like wildtire. Arriving at the bank, Long
John lowered above the heads of the clamor-
Gus depositors, pushed men out of his way
with his giSantean arms, and called out:
"You fellers want money. Stand back
an give me chance want to make de-
posit Of $4,000 be gosh"
In five minutes the run" was over and
the bank saved, though its rescuer afterward
confessed that IN that roll of bank notes there
was just one good bill, the outside one, all
the others beng Confederate notes from his
museum OF cur.osities.