Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1922-09-02
DEATH OF FRANCIS S. PEABODY.

In the death of Francis Stuyvesant
Peabody, Chicago loses one of its best
citizens and Illinois one of its fore
most sons. Able, honest, courageous,
and resourceful he was in a great
measure a self-made man. The Demo
cratic party loses in his death man
who was the very genius of organiza-
ton and victory.
Mr. Peabody, son of Francis B. Pea
body and nephew of Nathaniel Baker,
the first Democratic governor of New
Hampshire, was born in the family
home at Rush and Erie streets, Chi
cagO. in 1859, two years after his
father had made his residence here.
In his boyhood he attended first a
public and later private school
Then he was sent to Racine, Wis.
college for three years; from there go
ing to Phillips academy, Exeter, n. H,
for one and one-half years.
Thus prepared he entered Yale, be-
ing graduated in the class of 1881.
He returned to Chicago and went to
work as a messenger boy in Mer-
which Sol Smith then was the head.
The coal business interested him,
and two years later the firm of Pea
body, Daniels e Co., was formed
Later Daniels disposed of his interest
and the firm became Peabody & Co.
Later the Peabody Coal company was
incorporated.
mr. of form
bank messenger the business grew
until it was the largest in Chicago.
In 1894 it was credited with a volume
in excess of $1O,000,000 yearly.
Mr.. Peabody has been a power in
Democratic politics for more than a
quarter of a century and was one of
the most generous of the campaign
fund contributors. Politically he was
associated with the faction of the
party of which former Mayor John P.
Hopkins and later Roger c. Sullivan
were the leaders He rarely mixed in
local political fights, however, con-
filming his activities more to the state
and national fields.
He was the Democratic candidate
for sheriff in 1894, losing in a close
election. In 1896 he was associated
with the Gold Democratic wing of the
party, but returned to the regular fold
with Hopkins and Sullivan in 1900
In 1908 Mr.. Peabody was the man
behind the movement which resulted
in nomination of Adlai E. Stevenson,
former Vice-preSident of the United
States, for governor of Illinois, and
was active in management of the
Stevenson campaign, which was re-
markable one. Despite the fact that
Taft and the Republican national
ticket carried the state by a tremen-
dOus majority Stevenson gave Charles
S. Deneen a close fight and it was
not until Mr. Deneen was sworn in for
his second term as governor that his
election was conceded by the Demo
Gratis. Stevenson received thousands
of Republican votes, largely through
the efforts of Mr. Peabody.
In 1916 Mr.. Peabody was chosen by
President Wilson to take charge of
the financing of the Democratic ma
tiOnal campaign in the western states,
making his headquarters in Chicago.
He raised the campaign fund which
was spent in the west and it was in
the western states that the Democrats
won the victories which turned the
apparently certain triumph of Hughes
to a Democratic victory. Mr. Peabody
in addition to financing the western
campaign, had a large share in its
management, being associated with
Senator Walsh of Montana, who was
western Democratic manager.
Late in 1919 Mr. Peabody was in
duced to become a candidate for the
Democratic nomination for United
States senator. The Democratic or.
ganizatiOn in Cook county and the