Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-28


life. For the last twenty-five years I
he has been associated in all move +
ments tending TO the promotion OF .
Chicago's growth, and has always, +
when opportunity presented itself, F
interested himself in public affairs.
His father. A. c. Hesing, came
from Germany in 1899 and settled in
Cincinnati. In the year 1854 the
family came to Chicago. Young
Hesing attended the kinzie School
between 1853 and 1861 Then he
went to Germany with his mother to
attend school in that country, and
upon his return entered the Uniyer-
sity of st. Marys of the Lake. Sub
sequently he attended the Chicago
University, prepared for college I'M
der DR.. QuackenbosS, and in 1866 en-
tered Yale College, from which he
graduated in 1870 as b. A. Three
years afterwards he took his degree
as Master of Arts.
Immediately after his graduation
he went to Europe and attended lee
lures at Berlin and Heidelberg, and
there received a sound education in
political economy, science of govern
icfn IL.
in Europe during the entire period
of the Franco Prussian war. He had
intended to take the degree of Doctor
OF Philosophy at the University of Hell
delberg, but the great fire of 1871
called him home and compelled him
| to enter on the serious work of
| life. In November, 1871, he became
associated with the Illinois Stats
Zeitung, which had lost everything
by the great disaster, and began at
the bottom round of the ladder. The
financial crisis Of 1873 was to him,
like to many others, disastrous. 1t
was not until April, 1880, that the
full effects Of this financial crisis had
disappeared, and Washington Hesing
became the managing editor and the
controlling spirit of the Staats-Zeit-
ung, the most important and pros
porous German newspaper west Of
New York
In 1872 Mr.. Hesing entered public
life, having been appointed a mem-
Der of the City Board of Education
| by the then Mayor, the Hon. Joseph
Medill who offered him reappoint-
ment in 1873. Owing to press of
business, however, Mr.. Hesing de-
clined. In August, 1880, he was
elected a member of the County
Board Of Education, and two years
thereafter was honored with its Pres
idency.
His first experience on the stump
was in 1872, when, not % years of
age, he took an active part in the
Grant campaign, making speeches in
the English and German languages
for the Republican party. In 1873
he was active in that movement
which resulted in the success Of the
Peoples party. In 1874 he was ten
dered the nomination to Congress,
but declined and subsequently CON
Quoted the campaign for Carter II.
Harrison for Congress-
The Staatz-Zeitung in the mean
time having become an independent
newspaper, Mr.. Hesing retired from
active politics and it was not until
the school question in 1890 that he
entered the campaign and again IN
terested himself in public life. His
intimate knowledge Of city affairs
and Of the needs of Chicago prompted
Mayor Cregier to appoint him on a
commission which was to devise ways
and means for the lettering Of the
condition Of the city during the
Worlds Fair. Mayor Washburne
also made him a member of what
was known as the Intramura Cou-
mission whose duty il was to consider
the clty's inadequate transportation
facilities and recommend some rem
edy. The report Of that Commission,
which elected much comment, was
written 10y Mr.. lIesing
In the last campaign Mr.. IIesing
took no small part, and leading Dem
ocrats say that to him and the Stats
Zeitung more than 10 anything else,
is due the Democratic victory In this
city, county and state. lie was tel
egraphed Tor by Grover Cleveland in
August last, went 20 Cray Gables and
subsequently, 90 New York, and there
made the prophecy that Il certain