The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-12-27
written for The Catholic Bulletin by
James J. CressWeII.)

James J. cressweII)
When the legislators of the newly
made state of Illinois were seeking a
site for the future capitol, the embryo
city of Chicago made no protest be-
cause the obscure Indian village of
kaskaskia was selected by the solons
Up to this time Chicago was known
only as a wild, marshy region, given
over to hunters and trappers, and
visited occasionally by some intrepid
missionary seeking the scattered
sheep of the fold Not until about the
year 1888 did the future city of Chi
cago experience it's first boom. At
this time it was rumored that Con-
gress was about to cut canal con-
Meeting the place with the Illinois
river, thence down the Father of
Waters to the ocean. This would give
a two-fold highway to the worlds
commerce. But Congress had no
money, and the scheme fell down.
Not so, however, with the thousand
dollar notes, now piled up, like cord
wood, which were given for the city
lots. The courts held that the notes
must be paid at full face value, while
the lots came down to plain fifty and
twenty-five dollar figures. Many were
ruined financially, while others hastily
left the city rather than face their
obligations.
However, this ambitious future
Queen City of the Lakes continued to
grow and in the year 1857 counted the
startling number of about fifty thou
sand population. The Honorable John
Wentworth was mayor. Long john
as he was familiarly styled, made a
most efficient official. AS yet there
was no paved street. In this year the
first attempt to pave the streets was
made, and Clark street, then the most
important, was selected for the honor.
Owing to the fact that no grade was
established, or at least observed, a
most chaotic condition existed Each
man built his house just where he
thought it ought to be; likewise his
portion of the sidewalk. There were
no bridges as yet over the Chicago
river, and kind of raft or fiat boat
guided by rope made fast on either
side, furnished the only means OF
navigation. The pedestrian was ex
pected to pull and tug at this soggy
rope if he expected to reach the other
side. The proposition was fairly UP
to him-no pull, no crossing.
Old CITY Cemetery,
The old city cemetery unmindful OF
the future beauty and attractiveness
it would give the place, under the
more genial title of Lincoln Park, was
still doing business over on the north
side. Here the visitor might yet read
on the marble slab the same quaint
expressions of human pride and hui
man woe.
"The boast of heraldry, the pomp OF
power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth
e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour
The paths of glory lead but to the
grave"
Here the agnostic who in life be-
lieved that death was the end of al
things took care to have engraved
upon his tomb, II shall live again
The divorcee, whom the courts coulG
not separate too quickly in life, was
proud to have inscribed upon his OF
her monument the glaring absurdity
United in DEATH" while the default
ing bank cashier was satisfied with
the terse sentence, "Mourned by all,
which in all probability was nearest
the truth.
Pioneer Catholic Churches.
The Catholic churches at this time
(1857) numbered about half a doze1
in the entire city St. Mary's OF
Wabash avenue was the Cathedral
while st. Patrick's over on the Wes
Side, was the best known and mos
prominent The Rev. Father Dunno
was long the faithful and beloved pas
tor of this church. He was the yer!
Nestor of the clergy and laity in those
early days and did more to shape
Catholic interests in that rapid!
growing city than any other individual
At this time sectarian zeal was yer!
active, but not always honorable il
securing adherents to it's teachings
Often their meeting houses would b'
placarded on the outside, INSTRUCTION
for Catholics" Into one of these
folds" a young Celt, one Denis
O'Brien, believing the place to be
genuine, leisurely ambled.
"Mr. O'Brien, can you tell us some
thing about our glorious Reformation
in England?" "Yes, sir, twas Harry
an Bess an ould Cranmer the frs
reformation began, an it was com
plated in Scotland, sir, be wan JohI
Knox, whom Macauley, the historian
calls the 'rufian' of the Reformation.
You are excused, Mr.. o'Brien." Here
upon, some twenty young fellows
headed by O'Brien walked out ant
over to Father Dunne's school.
The Jesuit Fathers had alread.
erected the Church of the Holy Fam
lily out on Twelfth and May streets
This location was considered by man!