Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-18
LONG JOHNS" LIFE.
Some OF the Incidents OF Went
worth's Stirring Career.

CHICAGO, Oct. II Especial Telegram to
THE BEE. Long John" Wentworth, who
died here yesterday, was perhaps the best
known mau in Chicago. He came to Chicago
in 1896 from New Hampshire, where he was
born twenty-one years before. Soon after
his arrival he bought the Chicago Democrat.
He did Job printing in connection with the
publication Of the paper, aud when Stephen
A. Douglas came to town John Wentworth
printed his hand bills.
"We didn't have enough men to do the
work." said Mr. Wentworth, land worked
the hand press while Douglas linked the
roller
John Wentworth went to Harvard to finish
his law schooling, and while he was away a
movement in favor OF sending him to Wash
ington was started. He came back in lS4l,
and in 1Si3 was elected to sit in congress.
He was reelected in 1874, 1916
and 1913. There was some oppo-
sition to Mr.. Wentworth in 1850,
and with his usual sagacity he declined to
run. In 1852 he was selected from new
district and he went to congress again.
Trouble had grown between him and Ste
phen A. Douglas, due to feeling of rivalry,
and this term Mr., Wentworth was in opposi-
tion to the Little Giant" His trouble with
Douglas probably led him to join hands with
Abraham Lincoln and others in the forma-
ton of the republican party. He fought the
Kansas Nebraska bill and others of Douglas
measures, and he came out OF congress to
find that the Douglas people were sharpen
ing their knives for him. His political craft
told him this and he stayed out Of the race,
declining a nomination offered him by his
personal following, and with the rise Of the
republican party he changed his politics.
He was elected mayor of the town IN 1857
and again in 1860, His administration of the
city was one of the most notable and charac-
teristic portions of his career. He seemed to
infuse some of the bristling pioneer spirit
into the veins of the town, which civlliza-
ton now appeared to- be making slug
gish He built the frs first fire fire engine;
appalled, the citizens with it, He received
the prince of Wales, then slender lad of
twenty, who was making a tour of the coun-
try under the guidance OF the duke OF New
castle. II was a common sight in those days
to see the boy trotting around town beside
the tremendous form Of the big mayor, who,
at every block, waded through the muddy
streets, dragging the young prince after him
TO introduce to some citizen and constituent
from the Tenth ward Possibly he learned
his taste for rye whisky from those excur-
sions with Chcago's honest mayor.
"Mr. Wentworth" he said in parting, 81
have enjoyed my visit to Chicago immensely,
and would like to return the favor"
"Never mind" said Mr.. Wentworth, ''we
treat everybody that way out west"
The prince of Wales sent to Hon John
Wentworth, month or two later, two fine
Southdown bucks, whose descendants are
now on his farm.
His later years had been PASSED in quiet
way, strongly unlike the turbulence that
marked the first of his career, Most OF the
time he was in his room at the Sherman
house, seeing few persons, but busy with his
books aud papers.
Mr.. Wentworth's wealth is hard 10 esti-
mate, because of his proverbial closeness of
mouth regarding money affairs Old timers
who know much of his property and had
watched him building it say he leaves at
least 100000 or s5,0OOOOO, and possibly
twice that much. His farm at Summit is one
of the finest in the state and its nearness to
the city makes its value almost fabu
lous. Besides this Mr.. Wentworth owns
much downtown property. Until the mid
die of the seventies he had sixty acres be-
tween Thirty-irst and Thiry-ninth streets
and Wentworth and Michigan avenues. He
subdivided this and sold much Of it, but much
OF il also he kept, and it is now one OF the
most popuous and valuable parts OF the
town. The great part of the estate probably
goes to Roxanna Wentworth, his only child.