Cook County, Illinois - The whole text, 1884 (part 21 of 61)

In 1855 C. 0. Sheffield, as agent of the old type foundry of John T. White it Co., New York, established a branch in Chicago - the only one of the kind west of Cincinnati. It was in a large four-story brick building on Washington Street.

Messrs. Rossetter & Pahlman established the " Chicago Woodenware Manufactory" in 1854. The value of its product the next year amounted to $100,000. At this time it was the only establishment of the kind in the West, and the largest one in the United States. E. \- D. Brunswick established their billiard table manufactory on Randolph Street at an early day. I. Brown started the first match factory on Weill Street. In 1854 Chapman & Atwood established the "Eagle Match Factory." In June, 1854, the first paper box factory was started at No. 71 Lake Street by Wicglc & Co. The first manufacturer of tobacco was A. Meyers, who commenced business in 1849. In 1856 L. Lyon erected a factory for the manufacture of white lead on Halsted Street, corner of Fulton.

The manufacture of musical instruments was started in 1854. During that year R. G. Green started a melodeon manufactory at the southeast corner of Washington and Market streets. The business had been carried on by Mr. Green and partners in an unostentatious way for two years, and assumed a prominent place among the manufactures of the city and county at this time, when he became sole proprietor of the business. He employed twenty workmen, and made three hundred instruments during the year, valued at $25,000. The capital invested was $10,000. Following this first manufactory came additions in 1S55. During that year Knaub & Sons began the manufacture of pianos at 145 North Clark Street. Their invested capital was $3,000. They employed nine workmen, and made the first year thirty pianos', valued at $10,000. H. Stone also began the manufacture of pianos the same year, at the corner of Clark and Water street*. His capital was §200: he employed two workmen and matle, in one year, eight instruments, valued at $2,000. John Preston was also making pianos at this time, hut his capital, the number of operatives employed, or the extent of his husiness. are not matters of record. The summary of this branch of business; for 1855, as shown by the Democratic I'ress. was: Capital invested, $IJ»M0, number of hand* employed, 31; pianos manufactured, 38; mclodeons made, 300; total production) valued at $37,000

Late in 1S55, the first type foundry was started by C. G. Shelrield, at a? Franklin Street, where he advertised a "type foundry and printers' warehouse." His first investment was $15,000, and be employed fifteen hands. Besides the type he manufactured, he kept for sale the first full stock of printers' material ever offered in the city. His advertisement stated that it included everything in the printer's line, "from a Washington press to a bodkin."

As has been remarked, the rev ival of manufacturing dates from the "wholesale" introduction of railroads in 1852. In 185 1 the total capital invested in foundries was $55,000; in agricultural implements, $0,8,000: in wagon and carriage manufactories, $22,300, and in the black smithing busine?s,$io,7oo. fey 1854. $1,650,000 was invested in locomotive, engine and machine shops; $3 10,000 in agricultural implements; $220,000 in wagon and carriage manufactories, and many other lines of manufacture were represented in proportion. A comparison of the value of manufactures for 1854, 1S55 and 1856, shows that within those three years it more than doubled.

In 1854 the value of manufactures was as follows: Locomotives, engine, machinery and iron works, railroad cars, furnishings, etc., $3,200,000; agricultural implements, $350,000; carriages and wagons, $500,000; furniture and cabinet work, $350,000; planing mills, sash factories, etc., $500,000; brass and copper works, $135,- 000; stoves, leather, soaps and candles, and all oilier branches, $2,800,000.

A comparison for the years 1855 and 1S56 is given in detail. No reports were received in 1857, the year of the panic, but upon the authority of the Democratic Press it may be stated that before the end of the year the total value of the manufactures had equaled that of 1S56.

Hcsides the important branches especiallv mentioned were many others which should be recorded as having become established prior to the close of 1856. The following table from the Democratic I'ress gives the essential particulars concerning many of them: of Indiana: on the north by the county of Lake; on the Of the primitive descriptive geography of the west by the counties of Kane and I >u Page, and on the county the following is interesting to the antiquarian: south by the county of Will. It is forty-eight miles * "Chicago, a village in Pike County, situated on Lake from its northern to its southern extremity: it is twen- Michigan. at the mouth of Chicago Creek. It contains ty-five miles wide at its northern line, fourteen miles twelve or fifteen houses and sixty or seventy inhabitants, wide at the southern extremity of the two northern From this place to Green Bay, by way of the lake, tiers of townships, twenty-six miles wide at the norththe distance is two hundred and seventy-five miles, and crn extremity of its two southernmost tiers of townfour hundred to the island of Michillmiackinae. On ships; thence it has a width of nineteen and one-half the south side of the creek stands Port Dearborn." miles across the three townships of Orland, liremen and Schoolc raft in his "Travels'* thus describes the country: Thornton, and a width of fifteen and one-half miles '- The country around Chicago is the most fertile and across the townships of Rich ami Bloom. Its area is beautiful that can be imagined. It consists of an inter- about nine hundred and forty square miles. The rivers mixture of woods and prairies, diversified with gentle traversing the county are the Dcsplaines, Dupage, Calslopes, sometimes attaining the elevation of hills, and timet and Chicago, and the county is intersected by the irrigated with a number of clear streams and rivers, feeders of those streams. The surface of the land is which throw their waters partly into Lake Michiganf prairie, with heavily timbered ridges thrown up by the and partly into .the Mississippi River. As a farming lake during its various periods of recession. The folcountry. it unites the fertile soil of the finest lowland lowing matter is compiled from the 'Geological Survey prairies with an elevation which exempts it from the in- of Illinois: "The soil of the prairies is usually a black iluence of stagnant waters, and a summer climate of or dark brown mold, varying from one to four feet in delightful serenity; while its natural meadows present depth, and is underlaid by a lighter colored sandy or all the advantages for raising stock of the most favored gravelly clay subsoil. In the dry timbered tracts this part of the valley of the Mississippi." Beck also states subsoil comes very nearly to the surface, and generally that: "Chicago Creek, an arm of Lake Michigan, di- throughout the county supports a growth of black, vides itself into two branches at the distance of one white and red oak, butternut, black walnut, bitternut mile inland from its communication with the lake. The and shell-bark hickory, cottonwood, etc., with an under- North Branch extends along the west side of the lake: growth chiefly of hazel. In the damp woodlands of the is about ten or eleven miles in length, and is supplied central portion of the county, we lind, in addition to the from the prairies. The South Branch has an extent of above species, burr-oak, elm, black ash and locally several miles, and communicates with a lake. In wet sassafras, forming a considerable portion of the timber, seasons boats of considerable size pass from this stream On the sandy ridges which skirt the shores of Lake to the Desplaines. and thence down the Illinois. The Michigan the timber is almost entirely composed of the entrance of the Chicago into the lake is about eighty various species of oak - black, white, yellow, red and yards wide. At present it is obstructed by a sand-bar, burr - with an occasional clump of red cedar or white which will only admit beati to pass over it." "Several pine, with cottonwood on the edges of the narrow expedients have been proposed," says Schoolcraft, and sloughs which separate the ridges. The surface depos- "one of the most ingenious, and perhaps practicable, its of Cook County are the Drift proper, and subseis that of turning the Konomic [Calumet bv a canal of quently alluvial and lake deposits." The following table sixteen miles into the Chicago above the fort, and by gives the most reliable data concerning the deeper gethe increased body and pressure of water to drive out ology, taken by Johnston Ross at the boring of a well the accumulated sands." These extracts combine the at the Union Stock Yards: facts of sixty years since with the facts of to-day; some Sort** soil, lake deposits. Quaternary forest * from one tosevhavc merged into tradition by the lapse of time and and mil bed and boulder drift, ( enty feet,

The supply of building stone in the county is very large, and in the lower division of the Niagara group in the Athens quarries is found one of the best building stones in the State, technically known as Athens marble. The limestones quarried on the western banks of the Desplaines in the Lyons quarries furnish good material for rough walls and, provided the beds are of sufficient thickness, good rack for general building purposes. The bituminous limestone quarried in the vicinity of Chicago is also used for building purposes. I he upper beds of the Niagara group furnish good material for rough walls, culverts and flagging, and this material is sometimes utilized in buildings. The Thornton quarries furnished a large proportion of the stone used by the Illinois Central Railroad in the construction of iheir culverts in Cook County.

The beds of limestone in the southern part of the county furnish abundant facilities for the manufacture of excellent quick-lime; the gray limestones of the Niagara group being principally used for this purpose.

1 he clay found throughout the county presents an excellent material for the manufacture of brick. The brick yards at Pullman* display the extent of one scries of yards, and the excellence of the manufacture attained there of the natural raw material. Sand is abundant all over the county, placed there bv the lake as in a storehouse until the amplitude of Chicago's building necessities required it.

There are large beds of peat throughout the county: one at Rose Hill anil another in the vicinity of Blue Island are the best known; and in the northwestern section of Lyons Township occurs a ImhI of marl in a marsh winch ap,>cars have been at one time a shallow lake. The marl was found underneath a thin laver of peat while the Chicago, liurlington & Quincv Railroad was being constructed.

dk^r 5* "T"' l>artS the Nia«arn «ril"P has been disco ered and occasionally small masses have been found in the cavities of large fossil corals Ne her substance has been found in remunerative quan tie? and the experiment of boring for petroleum at W T b! Reads, corner of Chicago and Western avenues was only saved from being a failure as a co.nmer ,a en e prise by striking water.

I here are two exceptions to this rule: The pyrites f iron WhtCfl is sometimes found in small quantify in tl ,c hmes ones of the Niagara group, and l^g-.ron or " dl mil lent ve \|t'h "1 su.fficient Wily to be remunerative. Although no minerals are discover d.l<- in the county, yet the distribution of the gelllog^d W

That the Government survey of Cook Cotintv as appears from a certified copy of the original survey Shows the total number of acres in Cook County to have been less fraction 596,831.

That the total number of acres in Cook County liable to assessment for 1873, not subdivided into town or city lots except the property of railroad companies' is (less fraction 524,610.

That the total number of acres of railroad properly i" ( ikiIs ( :. unty liable to assessment foi 1873, . 1 i| subdivided into town or city lots, is 1 less fraction) 1,567.

That the total number of acres (including town ami city lots reduced to acres in Cook County, occupied bv churches, cemeteries, schools. Poor House' farm. Reform School, charitable institutions, Bridewell, engine houses, Illinois Central Railroad and public grounds, exempt, by law, from taxation, is (less fraction, 4.665.

That the total number of acres in the county of Cook, outside of the city of Chicago, subdivided into lots (not including property exempt by law is less fraction 47,570.

The first surveys were made in 1821, five years after the treaty of St. Louis by which a strip of land twenty miles in width and extending from Ottawa to Lake Michigan was ceded to the United Slates, preparatory to the construction of the Illinois iV Michigan Canal. For precision and brevity the various surveys are described by townships and ranges.

In those cases where the same territory was surveyed more than once, as in Township 40. Range 13. the later survey was made because of inaccuracies in the first

Social, Political And Agricultural

The United States census for the decade ending 1840* gives the population of Cook County as 10,201, and the population of the following towns, then in the county, were thus given :

In 1850 the population of Cook County is given as 43,385 souls; of whom 23,485 were male white persons, 19,522 female white persons .total. 43,007 white", and 209 free colored males, 169 free colored females (total, 378 colored). The population of various sulKltvisions of the county is thus given:

In the census for i860 the population of Cook County is given as 143,947 white, and 1,007 colored; of which totals, 74,162 were male whites, and 69.785 female whites; and 521 free colored males and 486 free colored females; total, 144,954.

Financial

The bonded debt of Cook County, as reported for the fiscal year 1882-83, was $4,951,500, being within a fraction of three and one-half dollars of indebtedness for each one hundred dollars worth of properly at its assessed valuation.

Rkckipts ano ExrtNPITl'RES. - Thr following tabic gives the receipt* and expenditures of the county from 1831 to 1844, the year when the new constitution was adopted :

County Schools

The United States census report for 1850 gives the number of schools in Cook County as sixty-eight, the number of teachers as eighty-eight, and the number of pupits as 3,910. The annual income was $16,396, comprising taxes $13,676, public funds $1,360, and revenue from other sources $1,360. There was then no college in the county, but there were nine academies, employing sixteen teachers, anil furnishing tuition to 477 pupils, their annual income being only $4,000. The statistics of education were, in 1850 j Attendance - 2,585 white males; 2,643 white females ; 1 1 free colored males ; 18 free colored females. Aggregate 5,257, comprising 3,702 natives and 1.552 foreigners. Adults who could not read or write in Cook County in 1850 were 302 white males ; 379 white females ; 47 free colored males ; 34 free colored females. Aggregate 762, constituted by no natives ami 652 foreigners.

The first report of the County School Commissioners, on file in the office of the County Superintendent, is for the year ending October 1, i860, and that furnishes the following compendium : Number of schools, 192 ; average attendance. 22,965. The expenditures for that year jvere $178,972.62, and the receipts $174,- 260.13. Pw the year ending October 1, 1865, the report gives the attendance as 37,880 j the expenditures as $252,379.84, and the receipts as $218,594.75. The year ending July 31, 1870, the figures were as follows: Public schools, 231 ; private schools. 145 ; total, 376; attendance, 49,988 ; receipts from all sources, $1,056,- 714.29; expenditures, $983,770.66, and the value of school property was $4,733,338.06. In the year 1879-80, the public school-houses numbered 297, and the private schools 202 ; total, 499. The number of pupils enrolled was 78,971, and the expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1S80, were $1,615,173.65 ; the receipts for the same period $1,853,894.06, and the valuation of school property at the end of the fiscal year $3,051,430.

Albert (1. I-ane, County Superintendent of Schools, in his report to the Commissioners for the year ending June 30, 1882, exhibited the following :

The total receipts for school purposes, including balance of $220,898.10 in Town Treasurers' hands at beginning of year, were $2,175,347.86, of which amount $1,231,325.10 was for city schools.

The total enrollment in public schools was 93,563 ; in private schools, 36.333 ; total, 1 29,896. There were 1,607 teachers in public, and 883 in private schools. There were but 420 persons in the county unable to read and write.

The same Superintendent, from whose report the last facts arc quoted - Mr. Lane - reports to the Secretary of State for the year ending June 30, 1883, the following facts ; Total number of children in the county under twenty-one years of age, 318,134. The graded schools are taught by 1,587 teachers, and the ungraded by 191 ; of the 1,778 teachers who are em- ployed by the county, 1,590 are females. Cook County is divided into 202 districts, in which there are 311 schools ; nine of these arc high schools, and during the year twenty-two school-houses were built. All the districts in the county have schools except Rich ami Bloom. The 219 private schools in the county nrc attended by 36,454 pupils, and employ 852 teachers. For the support of the public school system of Cook County a tax of $1,809,386.18 was levied. The estimated valuation of school property is $5,426,898.36, the bonded debt 11,921,641, and I he cash on hand principal of township fund, on the joth of June. 1883, §,4,648.07.

Agricultural

In 1840, the only crop noticed in the statistical summary of productions of States as worthy of mention from Illinois, was that of tobacco, wherein the State is accredited with 564,326 pounds.

The following table shows the value of live-stock and agricultural products, and the number of bushels of gram and pounds of wool produced in 1846 in Cook

The census of i860 exhibits farms improved 26- 927 acres, and unimproved 70.623 acres - the cashvato* of farms being $.0,005,774. and of farm impleTDMtl and machinery §394.693- The augmentation of value in the farming interest is particularly noticeable in this decade. I here were also reported 11,312 horses » asses, 20,674 milch cows, 1,79, work oxen. ,9.3,; o'th'er cattle. 8 653 sheep, and .3,587 swine. The value of live stock was 81,250,694, and the value of animals slaughtered was $1 10,834. The amounts of farm prodiicts were as follows: 299,770 bushels wheat, 204:1 bushes rye, 877.062 bushels Indian corn, iM^m bushes oats, 4.941 bushels peas and beans, bushels Irish potatoes. 748 bushels sweet potatoes 4'". 394 bushels barley, and 19,629 bushels buckwheat I here were also produced 4,000 pounds toliacco, .,,667 pounds wool. 4S7 gallons wine. i,i2>,ss9 pounds butter 59.075 pounds cheese, 111,404 tons hav, 555 bushels clover seed, 6,660 bushels grass seeds, 90 pounds hops, 13,500 pounds flax. 7S9 bushels flax seed, 100 pounds maple sugar, 1.521 gallons sorghum, 1.328 pounds bees' wax, 17,803 pounds honey, orchard products valued at $7,373, market produce valued at $51,005, and homemade manufactures valued at $1,112. The acreage of specific farms was also tabulated as : Farms containing three acres and more, three to ten acres, 260; ten to twenty acres, 397: twenty to fifty acres, 959; fifty to one hundred acres, 95 j ; one hundred to five hundred acres, 905; five hundred to one thousand acres, 13; one thousand acres and over. none.

The census report of 1870 furnishes the following statistics : 348,824 acres of improved land, 19,635 acres of woodland, and 17,337 acres otherwise unimproved, while the cash valuation of improved farms was §--',873,349, and of farm implements and machinery $740,468. Of live-stock there were reported 12,770 horses, .27 mules and asses, 23,063 milch cows. 55 work oxen, 14.431 other cattle, 101,662 sheep, and 15,- 521 swine. The total valuation of live-stock was $2.61 2- 441, and the value of animals slaughtered was (387,891. Of farm products there were 144,296 bushels spring wheat, 4,904 bushels winter wheat, 20,171 bushels rye, 570,427 bushels com. 1.584.225 bushels oats, 59,973 bushels barley, 1,098 bushels buckwheat, 4.890 bushels peas and beans, 444,554 bushels Irish potatoes, and S04 bushels sweet potatoes. There were also produced 7.800 pounds tobacco. 57,372 pounds wool, 490 gallons wine, 129.210 tons hav,' 1,088,965 pounds butter, 79,285 pounds cheese, 2,644,960 gallons milk «/</, 4.897 ga!!llI1i sorghum, 103 pounds bees' wax, 3.644 pounds honey, 663 bushels grass seeds, 600 pounds hops, 36,505 pounds flax, and 20,771 bushels flax seed. There were also orchard products valued at $19,327 ; produce of market gardens valued at $149,489 ; forest products worth $20,- 565, and home manufactures valued at $605, reported in the year ending June 30, 1850. There were 3.546 farms in the county, in 1870, varying in size as follows: Under three acrcs^ 6 ; three to ten acres, 127 ; ten to twenty acres, .82 ; twenty to fifty acres, 788 ; fifty to one hundred acres, 1,087 ; one hundred to five hundred acres, 1,343; five hundred to one thousand acres, 9; one thousand acres anil over, 4.

Social, Political And Acrici Ltural

divided into seven districts, Cook Countv being braced in the Fourth District, and being' represented by John Wentworth from 1843 to 1S51, inclusive. The Fourth District was represented by Richard S. Molony up to 1S53, an apportionment having been made the previous year by which the State was divided into nine districts, Cook County becoming a portion of the Second. John Wentworth served during the next session (1853-55); James H. Woodworth, Chicago, from 1855-5; ; John T. Farnsworth, Chicago. 1857-61; Isaac N. Arnold, Chicago, 1S61.65; John Wentworth. 1865-O7; Norman B, Judd, Chicago, 1867-71.

Hy act of July 1, 187;, the Slate was divided into nineteen districts. Cook, DuPage and Lake counties constituting three of them. John A. Logan, of the hirst District, was followed by John I.. Beveridgc December 4. 1871, and resigned January 4, 1S73, the atter s successor having been elected in the person of Charles 15. Farwell, of Chicago. The Second District was represented from 1871-73 by John F. Farn sworth, of St. Charles, Horatio C. Burchard, of Frceport, represented the Third District for the same period.

John B. Rice, of Chicago, elected as congressman from the First District, died in December, 1874, and was succeeded by Bernard G. Caulficld. who served until the end of the term 1873.75. The Second Disnct returned Jasper D. Ward, of Chicago, who served the entire term. Charles B. Farwell, of Chicago, represented the Third District.

Legislative Representation

iFS..*.836 -38 the Senatorial District comprised 0«k and Will counties, and the Assembly District Cook County alone. Peter Pruyne was elected Senator, and Albert G. Leary, John Naper and James Walker, Rt»- rcsentativcs. '

With the gradual formation of new counties the complexion of the district changed. Cook Will and McHenry counties forming the district at the comrnencem.nt of the Assembly for ,838.40. Ebenczer leek, of Chicago, who was returned as Senator resigned, and was succeeded by James H. Woodwonh also of that city. DuPage County having been' organized was added to the district. The Representatives were Gholson Kcrcheval, Richard Murphy and Joseph Naper.

Lake County became a portion of the district for 1842-44. John Pearson being again elected as Senator. Cook County had become a representative district. Isaac N. Arnold, Hart I.. Stewart and Lot Whitcomb being sent to the I.ower House.

Cook and Lake counties formed the Senatorial District for 1844-46, being represented by Norman B, Judd. The Assembly District continued the same, Isaac N. Arnold, Francis C. Sherman and Hart L. Stewart being elected.

By the constitution of ,848, Cook and Lake counties were constituted the Twenty-fifth Senatorial District, and Cook County the Fifty-fourth Representative District, the latter being entitled to two representatives. Senator Judd served until the year 1S60. Up to the time of the new apportionment in ,854, the Representatives were: 1848-50, Philip Maxwell and Francis C. Sherman; 1850-52, Philip Maxwell and Thomas Dyer; 1852-54, W. B. Egan and Homer Wilmarth.

An act of February 27, 1854, apportioned the representation so that Cook Countv was made the Fifth Senatorial District and the Fifty-sixth and Fiftyseventh Representative districts. Each of the latter districts was entitled to two members.

The Representatives, up to the year ,86o, were: '854-56 (Fifty-sixth District), Robert H. Foss and Thomas Richmond; (Fifty-seventh), M. L. Dunlap and George V, Foster.

,856-58 (Fifty-sixth), John H. Dunham and George W. Morris; (Fifty-seventh). Isaac N. Arnold and A. F. C Mueller; ,858-60 (Fifty-sixth), Van H. Higgins and Samuel L. Baker; (Fifty-seventh), Ebenczer Peck and Casper Butz.

William B. Ogden served as Senator from 1860-6:, the Representatives being as follows : (Fifty-sixth District), J. Young Scammon and William H. Brown; (Fifty-seventh), Solomon M. Wilson and Homer Wilmarth.

By act of January 31, 186,, the apportionment was changed, and Cook County was accorded two Senators, and was divided into three Representative Districts, which were entitled to seven members.

Ktfresfntalitet. (59th Dist.) Ansell B. Cook, Arao» 0. Ihroop, William E. Ginther . (tolh) Melville W. Fulitr, Georce W. Gage (Michael Brand! admitted to his seat) ; (6isl) Fr.ncii A. - , Lorenzo Brentano.

Political Affairs

Representatives. ($t)ih) Henry B. Miller, Lester I.. Bond and Jo%eplt S. Reynolds, Chicago ; (60th) Francis Munson and Joshua C Knickerbocker. Chicago ; (61st) Iver Law son, Chicago, and Edward S. Taylor. Evanslon.

The apportionment made, under the constitution of 1S70, divided Cook County into seven senatorial and seven representative districts, being numbered from one to seven, inclusive.

Representatives. (1) James B. Bradwell, John A. Lomax and William Wayman; (2) Solomon 1". Hopkins, Frank T. Sherman, Chatles G. Wicker; (3) E. F. Cullcrton, Constanlinc Kann, Thomas M. Halpin ; Hi John F. Scanlon, Thomas E. Fcrrier, William H. Condon; (5; William A. Ilerling. Ingwell Oleson, Hugh McLaughlin; (6) Otto Peluer, John M. Rountree. George E. Washburn, all of Chicago; (7) Daniel ISoolh, Chicago, and Charles II. Dolton. Dolton Station.

Representatives, (1) James B. Bradwell, Lincoln Dubois and Moses J Wentwurth ; (4) John Hise, George M. Buguc and Solo, mon P. Hopkins; (3) William Honan, Conrad I.. Niehoff. Thomas M. llalpin; (4) Orin L. Mann, William II. Condon and Michael M. Miller; (5) Michael J. Dunne, John S. Arwedson and Carl L. Lindcrberg ; (6) Robert Thiem. John C. Marker and William H. Slick ney. Chicago ; (7) William 11. Skelly, Jr.. Lemonl'; George Dunlap. Norwood Park, and William Freise, Desplaincs.

187673 - Senators. John C. Haines, Daniel N Bash, Miles Kehoe. F'ranci; H. Riddle, John Buehler, Martin A. DeLany and Michael W. Robinson, Chicago.

1S7B So - Senator:, George E. White. Daniel N. Bash. Sylvester Artley. Francis A. Kiddle, William T. Johnson, Martin A. De- Lany and W J. Campbell.

G. Struckman, Clayton E. Crafts, Julius Feder-en, A. Wendell, Mark J. Clinton, Jesse J. Rook. J. OShea, Aug. Mette, Peler Sundelius, Gregory A. Klupp and John F. Dugan.

The Judiciary

Svi'RKMK and CIRCUIT Courts. - Cnder tne constitution of the state of Illinois approved by Congress in December, 181X, the judicial power was vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as the General Assembly might, from lime to time, establish. The supreme judges were to hold terms of the circuit courts, their commissions to expire until the end of the first session of the General Assembly of 1824. Joseph Phillips was appointed Chief Justice Oct. 9, 1S18, resigned July 4, 1822, and his place was filled by John Reynolds, who had been serving with him as an Associate Justice. William P. Foster served as an associate from October 9, 1818 to July 7, 1819, when William Wilson became his successor. The bench until January iS, 1825, consisted in addition to these gentlemen, of Thomas C. Browne. On the 29th of December, 1 834, an act was passed declaring that in addition to the justices of the Supreme Court there should be appointed by the General Assembly five circuit judges. Cook County was included in the Third Circuit, and Richard M. Voting was commissioned as judge January 19, 1S25. The five circuit judges remained in office but two years, however, as by act of January 12, 1S27, they were legislated out of office and their powers returned to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and his three as:.ociates, viz. : William Wilson, (C. J.), Samuel D. Lockwood, Thcophilus W, Smith and Thomas C. Browne. In pursuance of an act passed by the General Assembly January 8, 1829, the Fifth Judicial circuit was created, and Judge Young elected by that body and commissioned January 28, 1S29. He was to preside in the circuit north of the Illinois River. The Justices of (he Supreme Court performed their duties in the other four circuits. The circuit courts continued to be thus held until the passage of the act of January 7, 1S35, which provided that the General Assembly should elect five circuit judges, in addition to the one authorized by law. Richard M. Voting resigned his office January 5.1837, and was succeeded bv James

H. Ralston, February 4, of that year. Judge Ralston served from February 4, 1837 to August 31, 1S37. when he resigned. Judge Peter Lot, his successor, was commissioned September 9, 1839, and elected and ret ommissioned December 20, 1839. As the business of the courts required, the number of judicial circuits was increased until by 1841, the State had been divided in nine. By act of February 10, 1841, the circuit judges were again legislated out of office, and provision made for the election, by the Geneial Assembly, of five associate justices, who with the Chief Justice and three associaics then in office were to preside over the nine circuits. The election resulted in the return of Thomas Ford, who resigned in August, 1S42, and was succeeded by John Dean Caton, who served until the adoption of the new constitution, with the exception of one month (March-April, 1843) when the position was held by John M. Robinson; Sidney Breeze, who resigned in December, 1842, was succeeded by James Temple, who held office but seven months, and was followed in August, 1843, by James Shields, and the latter in turn by Gustavus Koerner, whose term of service did not end until the adoption of the 1S48 constitution. Walter B. Scales, who resigned January 11, 1847, was succeeded by William A. Denning in January, 1S47, Judge Denning holding office until December, 1848. Samuel H. Treat, served until the expiration of his term in 184S. Stephen A. Douglas resigned in June, 1843, being succeeded by Jesse B. Thomas, who served until August, 1S45. Judge Thomas also held office from Jauuary, 1847 to December, 1848. Under the constitution of 1S48 the judicial system was entirely changed, it being declared that it should consist of one supreme court, circuit courts, county courts and justices of the peace, the General Assembly being authorized to establish inferior local courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction. Under its provisions thirty judicial circuits were created, from time to time, to meet the increasing business of the courts. At first the State was divided into nine circuits. The judges were elected by the people for a term of six years, the first election being held on the first Monday of September, 1848. Their powers were the same as those conferred upon former judges of those courts. The Circuit Court of Cook County had had also jurisdiction over Lake County, the two constituting the Seventh Judicial Circuit. By act of November 3, 1849, the court had jurisdiction in both civil and criminal law. Since the re-organization of the judiciary, up to the adoption of the new constitution in 1870, the judges of the Seventh Circuit were : Hugh T. Dickey, commissioned December 4, 184S; Buckner S Morris, commissioned May 24. 1853; George Manierre! comm.ssioned June 25, 1855, ^commissioned July 1, 186,, and died July 9, ,863 ; Erastus S. Williams, commissioned July 9, i863,recommissiuncd June 27.1867 In the constitution of 1S70, Cook County was recognized as a unit in the judicial system. It was lormed into one circuit, the court consisting of five judges Hected every six years. By the provisions of the constitution the then Judge of the Recorder1* Court of the c.tjsW.lliam K. McAllister, and the fudge

H . Farwell, Henry Booth and John G. Rogers, and ttiey were commissioned August 11, 187? Thp commencement of the terms of service of the judges have been : Lambert Tree, December i, 1871 - Eras- division, and the fourth, of the Southern division Each court was to be held by three judges of the Circuit Court, to be assigned by the Supreme Court, and hold office for three years. The law went into effect on the first of July, the election of circuit judges took place in August, and the assignments were made by the Supreme Court in September. The judges of the Appellate Court, with their dates of assignment have been at follows: W. W. Heaton, Dixon, Geo. W. Pleasants, Rock Island, Theodore D. Murphy, Woodstock, Sep.' tembcr, 1877; Joseph M. Bailey, Freepon, (C. J.), Isaac G. Wilson, Geneva, and William K. McAllister, Chicago, June, 1879.

State's and County Attorneys. - By legislative act approved February 17, 1827, a state's attorney was appointed by the Governor and approved by the Legislature. The jurisdiction of this functionary extended over his circuit, the Attorney-General of the State presiding over the circuit in which he resided. H'S term of office was four years. In 1829, two years before the organization of Cook County, Thomas Ford commenced to act as State's or Prosecuting Attorney of this circuit. He continued to serve from 1831-35; James Grant, from 1835-37 ! Alonzo Huntington, from l837-4'; J. Young Scammon and Henry Brown. attorneys pro tern.; and James M. Strode, James Curtis and Wm. A. Boardman, 1841-45; Patrick Ballingall, from February, 1845, to December, 1848 ; A. B. Piatt, from December, 184S, to April, 1S49. The Constitution of 1848 authorized the election of a state's attorney, to hold office four years, with the provision that the General Assembly might provide for a county attorney in his stead. The duties of the official heretofore known as " prosecuting attorney " were confined to the County Court and to the Court of Common Pleas, the latter being the old Superior Court of 1S45. It is necessary also to add that until the Constitution of 1870 went into effect the offices of state's attorney and county attorney were generally held by the same individual. The incumbents of the j>osiiion have been: Daniel Mcllroy.from April, 1849,10 April, 1857, William H. Davis, serving as County Attorney during the latter year; Carlos Haven, from April, 1857, to the time of his death in 1863; Joseph Knox, 1863-64; Charles H. Reed, 18C4-6S; Luther L.Mills, from November, 1868, to date. Under the Constitution of 1870, the first county attorney was elected in November, 1873 - John H. Rountree. His successors have been M. R. M. Wallace, C H. Willett and E. R. Bliss.

Masters or Chancery. - By act of March 3, 1845, the several circuit courts were empowered to appoint a master of chancery for each county. By subsequent legislation, Cook County became entitled to five masters, the present incumbents being Henry Waller, II. L. Wait, Thomas G. Windes, L. J. J. Nisscn and Arno Yoss.

Clerks of the Circuit Court. - The act of February 17, 1827, provided that the clerks of circuit courts should lie appointed by the justices. Under the constitution of 1848 they were made elective, their term of office being four years. They continued also to act as recorders of deeds until November, 1872, when the first election was held for the latter office, under the Constitution of 1870. From the formation of the county up to the present time the clerks of the Circuit Court have been as follows: Richard J. Hamilton, 1831-41; H. G. Hubbard, 1S41-43; Satnu.el Hoard, 1843-48; L. D. Hoard. 1848-56; Wm- \ Church, 1856.68; Norman T.Gassette, 1S68-74; J*«>° Gross, 1874, to date.

Probate and County Courts. - By act of January 2, 1829, probate judges were to be chosen by the General Assembly and hold office during good behavior, or until they resigned. Richard J. Hamilton served from February, 1831, to the fall of 1835, when Isaac Harmon was appointed to the position. From 1837 to 1849 a probate justice was elected by the people. In January, 1837, Charles V. Dyer succeeded judge Harmon, since which time the justices have been as follows: Walter Kimball, elected in August, - 837-39; Mahlon D. Ogdcn, 1839.47 ; Thomas Hoyne, 1847.49. From 1S49 until 1882 a county judge has been elected for a term of four years. The following have served : Henry L. Rucker, from November, 1849, to 1857; William T. Baton, from November, 1857, to the time of his death, in 1861 ; James B. Bradwell, from 1861 to November, 1869; M. R. M. Wallace, F869-73; Mason B. Lootnis, 1S73-82. At the election for November, 1882, Richard Prcndergrast was chosen to the position. The Constitution of 1870 provided that county courts should be courts of record and have original jurisdiction in all matters of probate, but that the General Assembly might provide for the establishment of a probate court in each county having a population of over fifty thousand, the judge of which should serve the same length of time as the County Judge. Under these provisions, J. C. Knickerbocker was the first, and is the present incumbent of the office. The Public Administrator is appointed by the Governor and receives his letters of administration from the Probate Court. Julius Rosenthal has held this office for more than twenty years.

Recorder of Deeds. - Previous to the adoption of the Constitution of 1848 the Recorder of Deeds had been nominated by the Governor, and elected by the Legislature or the people. During that year the offices of Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder of Deeds were consolidated, the incumbents up to that time having been: Richard J. Hamilton, 1S31-39; Eli R. Williams, 1839-43; William A. Egan. 1S43-47 ; Edward S. Kimberly, 1S47-4S. The first election for Recorder of Deeds, under the Constitution of 1870, was held in November, 1872, and resulted in the choice of James Stewart. He was succeeded in 1876 by James W. Urockway the present incumbent.

Superior Court. - By act of March 3, 1845, a special court for Cook County was created and called the Superior Court, with circuit jurisdiction. The judges were elected by the Legislature, and in 1848 the name was changed to the "Court of Common Pleas." Up to this time only one judge had served, Hugh T. Dickey. Judge Dickey resigned in 1848, and was succeeded by Giles Spring as judge of the "Cook County Court of Common Pleas" in April, 1S49. Judge Spring died in May, 185 1, his successor being Mark Skinner, whose term of office expired in 1853. John M. Wilson was elected judge in April, 1853, serving until 1867. In 1859 the name of the court had been again changed to the " Superior Court " and the number of judges increased to three. They were elected for a period of six years, their terms expiring biennially. Grant Goodrich became judge in April, 1859, his term expiring in 1863. Van Hollis Higgins came into office at the same time, and resigned in July, 1865. Joseph E. Gary was elected Chief Justice in November, 1863, and is still on the Bench. In November, 1865, John A. Jameson was elected Associate fusticc and subsequently Chief Justice. In November, 1883, he was defeated by Henry M. Shepard. William A. Porter was elected Associate

Justice in November, 1867. He died before the expiration of his term of office. Sidney Smith was elected in November, 1879. Under the Constitution of 1870, the Superior Court of Chicago was continued as the " Superior Court of Cook County." By an act passed in the year 1875 it was provided that for every 50,000 inhabitants over 400,000 in Cook County, one judge of the Superior Court should be added until the number should reach nine. In obedience to the demands of the census of 1880, an election was accordingly held in November of that year, for four additional judges, their commissions dating from December 1. Rollin S. Williamson, Elliott Anthony, Kirk Hawesand George Gardner were elected.

Criminal COURT. - The Recorder's Court of the City of Chicago was continued by the constitution of 1S70 as the "Criminal Court of Cook County." In criminal cases it has the jurisdiction of a circuit court, all appeals from other courts being taken to it. The terms of court arc held by the judges of the Circuit and Superior courts of Cook County.

County Affairs

Board ok Commissioners. - Section 6 of Article vii. of the Constitution of 1848 authorizes the General Assembly to provide, by a general law, for township organization, and empowers the County Court to assume the control of affairs during the interim hetween the going out of the old and the coming in of the new system. In pursuance of this authority the General Assembly passed an act in February, 1S49, providing that at the next general election in November, any county, that should so desire, could adopt township organisation. A county so voting was to be subject to the provisions of the act in April, 1850. Cook County so decided at the general election in 1849-50, and from November of that year to April, 1850, its affairs were administered by the County Court, as provided by the Constitution. In April, 1850, the first Board of Supervisors assumed the functions of their office. In April, 1851,3 new law was passed, providing for township organization at any general election, the law of 1849 confining this privilege to those counties which should take advantage of the provisions of the act at the general election of that year. By the law of 185 1, that of 1849 was repealed, and a general township organization act passed, applicable alike to counties or townships heretofore organized and those which might thereafter be organized.

Under the Constitution of 1870, township organization was abolished, and it was enacted that the affairs of Cook County should be managed by a Board of Commissioners of fifteen persons, ten of whom were to be elected from the city of Chicago and five from towns outside. The terms of five commissioners were to expire each year, and the election of November, 187 x, was to be for terms of one, two and three years.

The members of the old Board of Commissioners, up to the time of the system of township organization was adopted, were as follows : Golson Kcrchcval, from March to July, 183 1, when he resigned, his successor being Lewis C. Kerchcval, who served until August, 1832; Samuel Miller and James Walker from March, 1831, to August, 1832 ; Rufus Brown and Henry Boardman from August, 1832, to August, 1834; Holder Sisson, from August, 1832, to February, 1836, when he resigned ; Alanson Sweet, from August, 1834, to January, 1836 (resigned); Edward E. Hunter, August,

Under the new order of things the first chairman of It Count>' Board of Commissioners was Henry B Miller, elected in December, 1872. His successors have been S. Ashton, William R. Burdick, A. B. Johnson,

County Clerks. - Under the old constitution and until November, 1849, county affairs were administered by a board of three commissioners, elected by the people. The commissioners appointed their clerk until 1837 Up to that time the appointees had been : Wm. See, from March to December, 1831, when he resigned; Richard J. Hamilton, from December, 1831, elected by the people for a term of four years. George Davis served until August, 1849; Edmund S. Kirnberly, until November, 1853; Charles B. Farwell, until November ,86. ; Launn P. Hilliard, until November, 1865 Edward S. Solomon, until November, 1869. From that t.me until the first regular election occurred

Coroners. - The following have held the office of coroner, the dates given being the commencement of their term of service: 1831, April, John K. Clark- 1832, August, Elijah Wentworth ; 1834, August, Asahti Steele; 1836, August, Orsemus Morrison; 1858, August, John K. Boyer; 1840, August, Edward Murphy re-elected in 1842; t844, August, Orson Smith; 1846' August, Patrick Kclley; 1S48, August, Nicholas Bur' dell, re-elected in 1850; 1852. November, Austin Hmes; 1S54, November, James S. Beach; 1856. November, George P. Hansen ; 1858, November, William James, re-elected 1S60 ; 1862, November, Ernst Schmidt, resigned, January, 1864; William Wagner, i864-'7o; John Stephens, i870-'72 ; Emil Dietzsch, i872-,7S; O. L. Mann. ^S-'So; C. R. Matson, 1880- 82 ; N. B. Boyden, 1882 up to date.

Sheriffs. - The terms of office of the sheriffs of Cook County have commenced as follows: 1831, April, James Kinzic ; 1832, August, Stephen Forbes; 1834, August, Silas W. Sherman, re-elected in 1836; 1838, August, Isaac R. Gavin; 1840, August, Ashbcl Steele; 1842, August, Samuel J. Lowe, re-elected 1844; 1846, August, Isaac Cook, re-elected in 1848; 1850, November, William L. Church; 1852, November, Silas P. Bradley; 1854, November, James Andrews died in 1856; 1856, November, John L. Wilson; 1858, November, John Gray; i860, November, Anthony C. Hesmp;; 1862, November, David L. Hammond; 1S64, November, John A. Nelson; 1866, November, John I.. Beveridgc ; 186S, November, Gustav Fischer ; 1870, November, Henry L. Cleaves; 1872, November, Timothy M. Bradley; 1S74, November, Francis Agncw; 1876, November, Charles Kern ; 1878, November, John Hoffman; 1880, November, O. L. Mann; 1882, November, Seth F. Hancbett.

Surveyors. - Until 1835 County Surveyors were elected by the Legislature. From 1835 until 1872 they were elected by the people for a term of two years. Under the Constitution of 1870 the term of office v,»s made four years. Since the organization of the county the office has been held by Jcdediah Wooley, Jr., whose term commenced April, 1831 ; Addison Collins,

August, 1835; Amos Bailey, March, 1836; Asa F. Bradley, April, 1838; John Van Horn. November, 1849; A'exander Woloott, November. 1855; Edmund Bixby, November, 1857 ; Alexander Wolcoit, from November, 1859, to the present time.

Pionef.r Cou.v rv Legislation. - By the first state constitution it was provided that three commisioners should be elected in each county to transact its business. Accordingly, on the first Monday of March, 1 831, being the seventh of that month, an election was held in the new county of Cook, and Samuel Miller, James Walker and Gholson Kercheval were chosen to that office. The next day they were sworn in by John S. C. Hogan, Justice of the Peace, and William See, blacksmith, proprietor of Calumet ferry, and a Methodist exhorter, was called to the position of County Clerk. Archibald

Miller and Russel E. Heacock were ordered to conform to these rates: Pint of wine, rum or brandy, 37 % cents, half pint, 25 cents; pint of gin, 31^ cents, half pint. |8J4 cents; pint of whisky, iS^ cans, half pint, tij4 cents, gill, 6<{ cents; dinner, 37^ cents, breakfast and supper, 25 cents each ; horse-feed, 25 cents, and keeping the animal over night, 50 cents; lodjjinft per individual, 12% cents; quart of cider or beer, ~i2>4 cents ; and for one pint of either, 6^ cents. Bernardus H. Laughton, Robert A. Kinzic and Samuel Miller weie licensed to sell goods. A scow, to be used as a ferry, was also purchased of the latter, and Mark Beaubien xvas licensed to propel the boat, if he would transport the citizens of Cook County free of charge.

Clybourn was appointed County Treasurer, and an order was passed and subsequently carried into effect that the eighty acres of land, authorized by the enabling act for county purposes, be entered at the government land office. Jesse Walker was employed to transact this business, but was unsuccessful in his mission. The county legislators were very industrious in those days, and it is found that, at their meeting held on the 9th instant, they not only gave Mr. Walker this commission and appropriated $100 (borrowed money) for the purpose, but recommended Jedediah Wooley to the Legislature, for County Surveyor, and divided the county into Chicago, Hickory Creek and DuPage precincts. Judges of election, and gr.ind and petit jurors, were also selected. In accordance with the wishes of the Court the Legislature, then sitting at Vandalia, appointed Mr. Wooley as the first surveyor of Cook County. At a special meeting held April 13, J;im-s Kinzic was appointed Sheriff and John F. Clark, Coroner. It was also ordered that one-half per cent, be levied on town lots, pleasure carriages, distilleries; on all horses, mules and neat cattle above the age of three years; on watches, with their appurtenances, and on all locks. In consideration for the privilege of obtaining tavern licenses Elijah Wentworth, Sr., Samuel »3 goods by the Commissioners Court, among the number of the ambitious being Alexander Robinson, John B. Hcaubien and Medore U. Beaubien, Joseph La Framboise, Mark Beaubien and Olivei Newberry, Brewster, Hogan & Co , Peck. Walker & Co., and Joseph Napcr.

The affairs of the Court of Commissioners in these days were managed with careful economy, the members thereof allowing themselves only Si. 50 per day for actual services, which was, however, the statutory rate.

At the "Court in Course," September 6, 1831, it was provided that the Circuit Court be held in Fort Dearborn, " in the brick house, and in the lower room of said house."

A statement returned April 4, 1832, by the Sheriff of Cook County, shows that the tax for the fust year of its organization was of which $132.28 had been paid into the Treasury, besides $225 50 for licenses. Delinquencies on tax-list amounted to $10.50; on licenses $88.50 ; paid on orders $252.25; balance on hand $15.43. In view of the unsatisfactory result on license fees, it was ordered that all t.ixcs for license " shall be paid before the issuing thereof." The tax of " one-half per cent " was made to cover all kinds of personal property. Mr. Clybourn was reap- pointed Treasurer and the Sheriff was authorized to provide rooms for the April term of the Circuit Court, at the house of James Kinzie, at a cost not to exceed $10.

John K. Clark, the Coroner, reports that the first inquest was held over the body of dead Indian, and the second on " William Jewett, a passenger who was iound dead."

The first marriage ceremony was performed April 23, 1831. by William See, the County Clerk and a Methodist Minister. Joseph Papin and Mary " An " Sargerma were the happy parties united. During the year five couples were made five units.

During the first year the expenses for maintaining county organization were as follows: Commiv ioncrs Court, $96 ; incidental repairs, furniture, etc., $1 13.75 ; the canal, but when the apparently crushing calamity occurred, which no one could foresee, the State in us generosity, equal to the occasion, and on the aoth of October the whole amount, 8* 055 340 ,vas pruned I tO the city. The p^K'SKS J5J noble donation merely was that not more than onethird was to be used in the

The Court House In 1858

TUB New Court House .--Previous to the fire of 1871 important changes and additions had been made to the Court House of i8S7. The hViJfcT Ll ,\ east Uf of the building had bee^ increas Ke . to fbut . was not until the close of the season of ,87o that the new City Hall had been entirely compleied

During the week following the fire, work was commenced upon a new city hall, on the reservoir lot at the corner of Adams and I.aSalJe streets. When cam pleted in January, 1872, both city and county occupied the building. Its cost was about §75,000. The Sheriff, County Treasurer, Clerk, Surveyors, Board of Commissioncrs and some other officers were accommodated in the old court-house. But these temporary expedients were naturally distasteful to so ambitious a city as Chicago and so wealthy a county as Cook; consequently in August, 1872, the county and the city entered into a contract by which the latter was to occupy the portion of the proposed new COUrt.boUM west of the north and south center. This portion was also to be constructed by the city, upon some general plan to be adopted, so that the style of architecture would be uniform. In July, James J. Egan was chosen principal architect on the part of the county; and from the commencement of work upon the building until its completion, that gentleman had the general and active supcrvi ion of its construction. Thomas Tilley was elected the city's architect. L. D. Cleveland was the superintendent. Two plans were submitted to the joint committee of the Beard of Commissioners and Common Council, but they were not uniform. The Mayor of the city, the Board of Public Works and the joint committee had several meetings, but Mr. Tilley did not seem inclined to modify his plan to suit the wishes of the authorities, and Mr. Egan"s modified plan was adopted by the county and city. This was during January, 1876. In the meantime, in August, 1875, contracts had been entered into by the county with Cox Bros., for excavating for the foundation, with Henry Harms for foundation work, piling, etc., and with William McNeil & Son for the cut stone work of the court-house. The McNeil contract was for $540,000.

The first ground for the new court-house was broken August 26, 1875, at about one o'clock r.M. In the center of the Public Square, upon that important occasion, were assembled Commissioners Carroll, Schmidt, Jones, Holden, Conley, Busse, Guenther, Lonigan, Herting, and McCaffrey for the county; Commissioners Prindiville and Thompson and Aldermen Hildreth, Folev, Stout and Mahr for the city; George VanHollen, Thomas Mackin and Ed Walker, ofl.cmont; Architects Kgan and Armstrong; Robert Clark, John M. Rountree, Joseph Hogan, C. F. Periolat, Cox Brothers, and a miscellaneous assortment ot laborers. Commissioner Holden seized the first shovel, and in a moment all the instruments of a like nature had been appropriated. All being in readiness, Commissioner Jones, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, said: " Gentlemen - Now is the time for Writ- The day for resolutions has passed in this matter. When the "breakers" had filled the wagon willi dirt thev were escorted to Periolat's Union Club Rooms and had their pictures taken.

On the 3d of April, 1877, the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution fixing upon the succeeding Fourth of July as the date for the laying of the coiner stone. By eleven o'clock of that day the clouds had broken and the sun shone sufficiently bright to allow the gathering of the officials and prominent citizens bent upon honoring the occasion. Commissioner T I < 1 - den, chairman of the board; Architect Egan, I. Y. Scammon, P. J. Sexton, Judge Hoyden, John Wcntworth, County Attorney Rountrce, Aldermen Cullerton, William McNeil and others were upon the ground. Mr. Holden conducted the ceremonies, which were opened with prayer by Rev. Galusha Anderson. Architict Egan then presented a silver trowel and rosewood mallet to Mr. Holden. After making an interesting historical address appropriate to the occasion, Commissioner Holden deposited the following articles, enclosed in a sealed lin box, which was placed in the corner stone. A parchment scroll, scaled in a glass tube, embodying the names of the commissioners, architect, title page of Peltzer's Atlas; article of J. A. Scammon, entitled "American Consuls; " brass card of P. J. Sexton ; autograph letter of Rev. Galusha Anderson. The corner stone having been declared " square, plumb, level and truly set,'" Mr. Scammon made a few appropriate remarks and the deed was done.

By July, 1877, the contracts awarded amounted 10 §1.313,451, and those to be let §283,700. To meet these expenses, and those to be borne in the future, these expenses, and those to be borne in the future, bonds to the amount of §125,000 had been issued, $2ic,ooo directly appropriated, and over §1,100,000 raised by taxation. It was now estimated that the total cost of building the court-house would be §1,878.000, and the county was in need of funds to the amount of §967,000.

The Court House Ix 187I

superintendent, and contractors of the building, and high executive officials of the United States, state and city. The last issues of the Chicago d.iilv papers, the New York Herald, Tribune and Harper's Weekly, with the last issues of the Real Estate and Building Journal and the fire issues of the Journal, Times and Staats Zeitung; the New York semi-weekly Tribune. one each of 1848, 1S49 and 1850; the Galena Advertiser of 1847; the Chicago Tribune of 1847; the Chicago Times of 1864; a photograph edition of the Inter- Ocean ; last annual reports of the Board of Education and of the West end South Park commissioners ; the proceedings of the County Board for 1S75-76; Sheahan & Upton's book on " Past, Present and Future Chicago;" the city directory; Potter Palmer's "Seven days in Chicago ; " Confederate States bond for §1,000, charred in the Chicago fire; promissory note of Oakes Ames, charred in the Boston fire; late issues of coins and currency of various denominations up to $1 inclusive; last issue of postage stamps; sundry old coins;

In April, 1878, the city awarded the following contracts: Tomlinson & Reed, cut sione, $477<693 < Jolln Angus, masonry. §90.519; P. J. Sexton, iron woik, $105,302.69. Up to December 31, of that year, the amount of work contracted for on the part of the city, was §738.579.64. During the season of 1881 the city hall was roofed in and §228,000 expended upon the building. Of the §12,700,000 which constituted the city's bonded debt §325,000 was on account of the city hall. By vote of the people in November, 1878, the county was authorized to issue §750,000 in bonds, work progressed as rapidly as could be expecti d, considering the magnitude of the undertaking, but was brought to a temporary standstill in October, 1879, on ccount of disagreement between William McNeil & Son and P. J. Sexton. The latter had the contract for the masonry, brick and ironwork, and was engaged upon the county's part of the cupola. Matters were soon adjusted, however, and the work progressed. The estimate then made a» to the expense necessary for the

It is not necessary to trace in detail the business complications between CDunty, city and coi-.traciors during ihc next three years. The Hoard of Commissioners have been to the trouble and expense of collecting all documents bearing upon these nutters, and setting forth in detail every step in legislation which was taken in the construction of the court-house from 187* to i8St inclusive; so that anyone who is curious to know the history of these troubles, how some were settled, and how some are still pending in the courts, cm satisfy himself by going to this voluminous and, a smaller ward and suit of private rooms. The Ad. ministration building, in the center, is 90x158 feet. Attached to the hospital is a training school for nurses. In the yard u a morgue, and ndjomingit a small amphitheatre for demonstrations in anatomy and pathology. In November, 1SS3, the new wing of the County Hospital was completed at a cost of over §280,000. A remaikable feature connected with the constiuction of this portion of the building is that, notwithstanding the magnitude of the contracts, only $698 was allowed for " extras."

The Cook County Hospital is under the control of the Commissioners, and, as there is no city hospital, it takes the place of one. Including the ten acres of

The Court House And City Hall In 1884

Up to that date Si.3io.o00 had been paid for its construction by the county, an excess of §600,000 over the amount called for by the original contracts. To complete the county's part of the rotunda and the north and southwest corner of the structure will require about $75,000. In addition to the above ex. penses, past and prospective, $401,000 is still in dispute between the county and contractors for "extras" claimed, etc,

The City Hall is still in an unfinished state, and it is estimated that before the court-house is entirely completed it will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000,- ooo^ Even now it stands as a magnificent monument to tho wealth of a great citv and county.

Other County Institutions - The County Hospital, a scries of magnificent structures built of red brick with stone trimmings, is situated on \VCst Harrison, near Hood Street. When entirely completed it is designed to accommodate one thousand patients The design contemplates the erection of six pavilions, connected by long corridors. Each corridor is three stones m height with attic, and contains in each story, M addition to a large, well lighted and ventilated ward, ground upon which the buildings are situated, about $3oo,ooo has been spent by the county up to date. A detailed description of this magnificicnt system of structures is unnecessary, as a view of the Hospital, here produced, will give the reader a better idea ol its fine appearance ilun could be conveyed m m«'e words. .

The original hospital building, which subsequently passed into the hands or the county, was erected by the city in 1856, and was situated near the comer 01 Eighteenth and Arnold streets. It cost, when completed, about S75.000. In July. 1871, the county agreed wiih the ciiy that, in consideration of a lease 01 the hospital grounds for five years from October 1. 1871, the latter should change the location ol tne Reform School and vacate blocks r, 3 -",nd 4 by October 1, 1S71. The county was to pay the ciiy 850-000 in lieu of and in full payment for all improvements on the Reform School grounds, said payment to be maae Trom the proceeds of the sale of block 2. The lien 01 the citv on the proceeds of the sale did not affect me title to purchasers of property. The properly was M»" in the fall of 1S76 for a small amount, the new Ho^iim on West Harrison street being occupied in October 01 that year. . .1 e

Situated within the limits of Cook County arc a number of other "medical charities." The United States Government maintains the Marine Hospital, a large and elegant structure two miles north of the city, on the lake shore. It is capable of accommodating 300 patients. The Hospital is under the surgical supervision of the local officer of the Marine Hospital Service, and for its support each officer and seaman of the United States Commercial Marine is taxed ten cents per week.

One medical charity is supported by the city - the Small-pox Hospital, situated on^its western outskirts. It is used as a pest house merely, and is under the supervision of the City Physician.

of private charities, having for their principal object the care of the city and county poor. Among others may be mentioned the Alexian Brothers' Hospital, the Chicago Hospital for Women and Children, the Floating Hospital, the Hahnemann, Mercy, St. Joseph's and Si. Luke's hospitals, the Woman's Hospital of Illinois, the Washingtonian and the Martha Washington homes for inebriates.

The County Jail is located in the Criminal Court building on Dearborn avenue, between Illinois and Michigan streets. The jail proper is on Illinois street, running along about 140 feet. It has two wings, 40x80 feet each. The main cell building is occupied by male prisoners, and contains 136 stone cells, in a doolie block, four tiers in height. In the west wing are forty-eight cells for female prisoners. The guard house is in the center between the east and west wings, and immediately outside of the main cell house. The insane dcpaitmcnt was added on the east side of the jail, about two years ago.

Tne few families who reposed within the shadows of Fort Dearborn first realized that civic authority extended (o their cabin doors in 1823. It was then that the officials of Fulton County, to which this unorganized region was attached, levied a tax of five mills to the dollar upon all personal property in the settlement, exempting only household furniture, as provided by law Amherst C, Ransom, Justice of the Peace, served as Collector, and enriched the treasury bv the sum of * 1 1.42. thereby demonstrating that the total valuation of embryo Chicago was but $2,284. When i'eoria County was created in ,825, Chicago came within its jurisdiction. Even at this time Chicago had but a mythical existence, the name applying sometimes to the river and again to a cluster of cabins on its marshy shores or sandy banks. But the Illinois & Michigan Cana having at length obtained its coveted and magnificent land grant, the commissioners were authorized to ay out towns upon the sections which fell to them EXffi T ^^"^y sur«.ved, and a plat of it pub- I shed by James I hompson, a canal surveyor, on August 4, 1S30. 1 his date marks the birthday of Chicago Z"Tn-^d the- Uearborn -ttlem'ent disap

East of State Street, extending from Madison Street north one mde, was the tract included in the Fort L ear bom Reservation and the Kinzie pre emotion which afterward became additions to the town ' r north of the river had been pre-emp e [ by LUrtKte canal lots, which were not in one body, however, but thc proceeds of which were to be used in the erection of public buildings. Sixteen lots were sold to pay current expenses. The eight remaining constituted thc public square. The result of this generosity on the part Of the State was seen in March, 1832, when, through the architectural skill of Samuel Miller, contractor, there arose upon the southwest corner of the square, the so-called " cstray-pen." Although sometimes designated and dignified as "thc first public building ever erected in Chicago," the "pen" was a small wooden enclosure and quite rootless. Mr. Miller's bid for the work was §20, but he accepted $12 from the commissioners; thereby admitting, as charged bv the county authorities, that he did not do his work 'according to contract. During this year and the next, 1 1S33, general attention was called to Chicago by the valiant efforts which her c itizens were making to obtain a harbor appropriation; ami in addition to this mode of advertising the "canal enthusiasm" was spreading from Chicago all over thc country. Many accessions were, therefore, made to her population, and some of the new arrivals were of that permanent character so valuable to 1 young community. The summer of 1833 saw Chicago with a population of about three hundred and fifty, and her citizens prepared to organize, under thc general legislative act, for the incorporation of towns, passed February 12, 1831. By its provisions citizens of any town containing over one hundred and fifiy inhabitants were authorized to hold a meeting, and decide whether they wished to become incorporated. If the aforesaid citizens favored the assumption of corporate dignity, then the clerk of the convention or meeting, was to give at least five days' notice that an election would be held to choose five Town Trustees, who were to hold office for one year. The Hoard of Trustees were endowed with the usual powers - to abate nuisances, gambling, disorderly conduct; to prevent fast driving and enforce police regulations; to license shows, control markets, take charge of the streets and sidewalks, and to provide the means for protecting the town against fire. The limits of the town were not to exceed one square mile, within which limits thc Trustees were to have jurisdiction. They could call out any citizen to work on the public roads for three days in every year. 1h« tax-levy was fixed at fifty cents on every hundred dollars of assessed valuation. The Trustees were denied the right to impose a fine of more than $$ for breach of any of their ordinances, and two-thirds of the qualified voters of the town, at any annual election, could dissolve the- corporation.

Creation Of The Town

" At a meeting; of the citizen's of Chicago, convened pursuant to public notice given according to the statute for incorporating towns. T. J. V. Uwen was chosen 1'rcsidcnt, and E. S. Kimberlv was chosen Clerk. The oat lis were then administered by Kussel K. lleacocfc, a Justice of the Peace for Cook County, when the following vote was taken on the propriety of incorporating the Town of Chicago. County of Cook, Stale of Illinois:

In pursuance with the requirements of law, Or. Kimberly, acting in his official capacity of Clerk, issued an election notice, which read thus :

" Puhlick notice is hereby given that an election will he holden at the house of Mark llc.iubicn, on Saturday, the loth day of August, at It o'clock in the forcn<«n of that day, for the purpose of choosing five trustees of the Town of Chicago.

An election was held at the time and place designated. Twenty-eight electors were legally entitled to exercise their privilege as freemen, and of that number no less than thirteen consented to assume the role of candidates for office. The enrollment recorded the names of K. S. Kimberly. J, li. Beaubten, Mark Beaubicn, T. J. V. Owen, William Ninson, Hiram Pearsons, Phild Carpenter, George Chapman, John W. Wright, John T. Temple. Mathias Smith, David Carver, James kinzie, Charles Taylor, John S. C. Hogan, Eli A. Rider,

Hamilton, Stephen F. Gale, Kitoch Darling, W. H. Adams, C. A. Ballard, John Watkins and James (Gilbert. There were twenty-eight ballots cast. Ji>hn Miller, being a candidate himself, refrained from voting.

The list of the candidates included the names of T. J. V. Owen, George W. Dole, Madorc B, Beanbien, John Miller, E. S. Kimberly, R. J. Hamilton, James Kinzie. J. T. Temple, J. B. Beanbien, I'hilo Carpenter, John W, Wright, Robert A. Kinzie, and John S. C. Hogan.

The scattering vote was distributed as follows : Philo Carpenter, i ; John Wright, 2 ; R. J. Hamilton, 4 ; James Kinzie. 5 ; John T. Temple, 5 ; J. B. Bcaubien, 6 ; Robert A. Kinzie, 9 ; John S. C, Hogan, 3.

The first meeting of the Board was held two days subsequent to the etection. and no record-book having been provided, the original proceedings were transcribed upon a large sheet of paper, by Mr. Hamilton, the Clerk pro ton. All the members were present, and received the oath of office from Mr. Hamilton, a notary public, and an organization was effected by the election of Thomas J. V, Owen President and Isaac Harmon Clerk. It was ordered by the Board that meetings should be held at the house of Mark Beaubien, on the first Wednesday in each month, at seven o'clock r. M., beginning with Wednesday, September 4, 1833.

At the first regular business meeting held by the Board, on that date, a free ferry was established across the river at Dearborn Street. George W. Dole was chosen Town Treasurer for one year.

At the time of the organization of the town its limits were defined as follows : Beginning at the intersection of Jackson and Jefferson streets; thence north to Cook Street, and through that street to its eastern extremity in Wabansia; thence on a direct line to Ohio Street in Kinzie's addition; thence castwardly to the lake shore; thence south with the line of beach to the northern United States pier; thence northwardly along said pier to its termination; thence to the channel of tin- Chicago River; thence along said channel until it intersects the eastern boundary line of the town of Chicago, as laid out by the canal commissioners; thence southwardly with said line until it meets Jackson Street; thence westwardly along Jackson Street until it reaches the place of beginning.

During the fall of 1833, the citizens felt that something more metropolitan was required than the "est ray pen.'" 'The log jail was therefore built on the northwest corner of the square. One set of contractors failed to build the jail, but the structure was finally completed, ami Officer Beach, father of Dr. J. S. Beach, possessed the keys of authority. As offenders against the laws increased, an addition, in the form of an oaken cell, or jail, was built, separate from the first structure. Dr. Beach, then a boy, states that he had known this small building to contain as many as twenty-eight prisoners at one time. It was during these days that Benjamin Jones was appointed Street Commissioner, but on account of ill-health resigned before his term expired, and was succeeded by O, Morrison and Silas W. Sherman. Isaac Harmon was chosen Collector. On December 4, George W. Snow became Assessor and Surveyor, and John Dean Cnton, Corporation Counsel.

A code of local laws was adopted in November, 1833, regulating the ordinary affairs of the town. The Democrat, which made its first appearance November 26, was designated the official newspaper of the town.

During this month also the limits of the town were extended to embrace the tract bounded by the lake on the cast and State Street on the west, Ohio Street on the north and Jackson Street on the south.

'The corporate limits were again extended, by virtue of an act adopted February 11, 1834, so as to include all land lying east of State Street to the lake shore, from Chicago Avenue and Twelfth Street, except the military reservation, which lay from the river south to Madison Street.

The second election was held August 11, 1834,31 which time J. H. Kinzie, G. S. Hubbard, E. Goodrich, J. K. Boycr, and John S. C. Hogan were chosen Trustees. ' The official roster for that year is: J. H. Kinzie. President; Isaac Harmon, Clerk and Collector; J. S. C. Hogan, Treasurer, resigned in June and succeeded by Charles M. Pettit; James W. Reed, Supervisor of Roads and Bridges, resigned in November, and succeeded by E. E. Hunter, who in turn was succeeded bv J. K. Boyer; N. G. Wright, Fire Warden; Edwards

The first financial obligation incurred by the town was for §60, borrowed in October, 1834, to drain State Street and redeem a large slough.

Several important measures were instituted during 1835. Among them were the establishment, in June, of a permanent Board of Health; the creation, in November, of a Fire Department; the borrowing, in June, of $.\coo. with which to improve the sanitary condition Of the place, as a preventive against the threatened invasion of cholera; and the adoption, in August, of a lengthy and comprehensive code of local laws. November 21, a seal was adopted by the Board, but neither the instrument itself, nor any impression made thereby remains; the few documents which survived the fire of 1S71 being without a copy from which .1 reproduction can be made for use here.

The increase of population and extension of corporate limits suggested the enlargement of the Board of Trustees, and a vote was passed by the Legislature, fixing the number of members at nine.

B King, s Jackson, E. B. Williams, F. C. Sherman, A. Loyd and George W. Dole, Trustees; A. N. Fullerton, Clerk, who was succeeded bv F.henezer Peck, who also acted as Counsel; George W. Dole, Treasurer; John K. Boyer, Street Commissioner; O. Morrison, Collector and Constable; E. B. Talcolt, Surveyor; A. Stole Assessor; J. Bates and J. Haight, Measurers of Wood and Lumber. Minor changes occurred during the vear in these offices.

During the fall of the year (1835.) a one-story and basement brick court-house was erected on the northeast corner of the square, on Clark and Randolph streets. I he county offices were in the lower story the court-room, which was above, being one obW apartment, capable of seating two hundred persons

Chicago their abiding.place. The canal was advancing along the line of completion ; a system of water-works was already inaugurated under the'title of the Hydraulic Company, and, above all else, the hearts of the community beat high with firm faith in the ultimate fulfillment of a lofty destiny for Chicago. Actuated bv a spirit of unequaled courage, the leading citizens of the town determined upon its incorporation as a city. On the iSthof November, 1836, the Trustees ordered that "the President. E. B. Williams, invite the citizens of the three districts of the town to meet in their respective districts and select three suitable persons to meet with the Board of Trustees on Thursday next 1 November 14,' and consult on the expediency of applying to the legislature of the State for a city charter, and adopt a draft to accompany such application."

The meeting was held and a delegation selected as follows: District No. 1 - Ebenezcr Peck, William Stuart, E. W. Casey; District No. 2 - J. Denn Caton, J. IV. Chadwick, William Forsvthe ; District No. 3 - 1. ft Kinzie, W. L. Newberry, T. W. Smith. The result of the union conference was the appointment of a committee, consisting of two members of the Board and one citizen from each of the divisions of the city, to draft a charter. That committee comprised Messrs. Peck, Caton, and Smith, for the people, and Messrs. Peter Bolles and

V\ illiams was chosen to preside over the deliberations of the Board the members of which were S. G. Tr, wbr Km Peter Bolles, L P. Updike, A. D. Taylor WMbmR Ogden.iL Pierce. T. G. Wright and [. Jackson C V Dyer was elected Clerk, but resigned at once" EbeLer leek assuming the duties of oftice, but he in turn wis succeeded ,n September by James Curtis" ThP Tffi^

William B. Ogden for the Board. A charter was prepared and submitted to the people for approval, at a meeting held in the Saloon Building A large majority of those in attendance voted for adoption of the document without amendment ; but that vote was speedily reconsidered, and an animated discussion of the sixtysecond section ensued, relative to the assumption of indebtedness by the proposed city authorities. Some of the more sanguine residents were 90 imbued with the progressive tendencies of the times that they favored the unlimited extension of power in that direction. A more prudent counsel prevailed, however, and the capacity of the corporation to incur debt was limited to $100,000 per year. With this alteration in the original draft, the people endorsed the proposition to change the corporate character of Chicago. Mr. Stuart, secretary of the public meeting, observes that "in the opinion of the chairman, nearly four-fifths of the citizens assembled favored the charter."

Creation Of The City

On the 4th of March, 1837, the charter was passed and approved by the Legislature, and Chicago became a city. The corporate limits were defined in Section 1 as follows :

" Th.it the district of country in the county of Cook, in the State aforesaid, known as the cast half of the southeast quarter of action thirty-three in township forty, and fractional section thirty-four in the same township, the east fourth part of section* six. seven, eighteen and nineteen in the same township: also fracticui.i: «ctwn three, section four, section five, section eight, section nine anu fractional section ten, except the southwest fractional q"arl" * section ten, occupied as a military post until the same shall « private property; fractional section fifteen, section sixteen sc<

" Section 3. The .said city shall be divided into six wards, as follows : All that part of the city which lies south of the Chicago River and east of the center of Clark Street, following the center of Clark Street to the south tine of section sixteen, thence following the said south line of section sixteen to the center of State Street, and a line parallel with the center of said street to the southern boundary of said city, shall be denominated the f irst Ward of said city ; all that part of the said city winch lies south of said Chicago River, west of the First Ward and cast of the South Branch of said Chicago River, shall be denominated the Second Waril of said city ; all that part of the said city lying west of the aforesaid South branch of the Chicago Kiver, south of the center of Randolph Street, and by a line parallel with the center of said Randolph street, to the western boundary of said city, shall be denominated the Third Ward; all that part of said city which lies north of the said Third Ward, and west of the said Chicago River, and to the North and South branches thereof, shall be denominated the Fourth Ward of said

City : atl that part of said city which lies north of the Chicago River and cast of the North Branch thereof, and west of the center of Clark Street, to the center of Chicago Avenue, and lying south of the center of Chicago Avenue, to the center of Franklin Street, and lying west of Franklin Street, and a line parallel with the center thereof to the northern boundarv of Mid city, shall be denominated the Fifth Ward ; and all that part of said' city lying north of the Chicago River, and east of the Fifth Ward, shall be denominated the Sixth Ward."

First Citv Ei.f.ction. - At a meeting held by the Board on March 31 it was resolved to hold an election for city officers on the first Tuesday of May, the polling places being designated as follows : First Ward, Eagle Hotel ; Second Ward, Lincoln's Coffee House ; Third Ward, house of Charles Taylor ; Fourth Ward, Chicago Hotel (Cox's) ; Fifth Ward, Canal Office ; Sixth Ward, Franklin House. The Board also appointed three inspectors for each polling place. Accordingly the election took place upon the day named 1'May i), and the following gentlemen cast their ballots :*

X. Window, |ohn Gormonly, George Dollon, I. Minncy, Michael Lan-.ry, S. llGrlcy. John Murphcv, P. Keller." John Black, William 11. Noble. T honm-o (than, C l)c Wicr, II. l!i:<! J, (>«iuck P. Rogers.

The Municipality. - By the charter of March 4. 1837, under which Chicago was first organized as a city, the elective officers were a mayor, board of aldermen, one clerk, one treasurer and six assessors. 1 he annual election was fixed for the first Tuesday in March. In< royalty of power was fixed in a common council, who were authorized to appoint constables, street commissioners, the city surveyor, organized fire companies, a board of health and a'n educational department, in fact all the departments were but tools in their hands and were expected to obey their ortlers. The Municipal Court, established bv the charter of 1837, wasabouslica by the act of February 15, 1839, and the actions then pending transferred to the Circuit Court of Look County. Among other amendments to the charter, ap- proved February 27, 1841, was that which created the office of city marshal and made it elective. By the act approved February 16, 1847, the city was divided into nine wards and the aldermen therefrom into two classes, so that one alderman should be elected annually from each ward, and hold his office two years. The offices of attorney, treasurer, collector, and surveyor were made elective. One street commissioner and one assessor from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth wards, and a commissioner and an assessor from the Fifth and Sixth, and two other like officers from the remaining wards were provided for.

The Legislature passed an acton February 14, 1851, reducing the charter into smaller compass and creating a board of health. It also authorized the Council to establish a house of refuge and correction for juvenile offenders. The Chicago City Hydraulic Company was incorporated, and a board of water commissioners created by an act of February 15, 1851. An annual election was appointed for the first Tuesday of April, 1854. An act amendatory of the act of February 14, 1851, was approved February 28, 1854, which provided that a city marshal should be elected biennially, and also authorized the Council to elect a superintendent of special assessments. The office of superintendent of schools was created by ordinance of June 23, 1854. In June, 1854, the city adopted a new seal - two circles, under winch were the words "City of Chicago, incorporated March 4, 1837." Within the inner circle is a shield emblazoned with a sheaf of grain. Over the shield an infant reposes on a sea shell; at the left is an Indian, with a bow and arrow; on the right a ship in full sail; beneath a scroll inscribed, '- Urbs in Horto."

Necessarily the establishment of the civic government entailed the formation of the various boards and directories who should exercise supervision over the ramifications of the administration, and following the offices and powers already vested, on February 14, 1855, the board of sewerage commissioners were created by the legislature, and on February 14, 1857, the same body emcted rules for the governance of the Reform School, and provided for the special imposition and collection of taxes requisite for its support and administration. The revision of the charter, which has been alluded to heretofore, was approved on February 18, 1857, and by this charter the distribution of offices was taken from the Council and the Mayor was vested therewith. This alteration was necessitated because of the dissatisfaction that was felt by the citizens with sundry appointments made by the Council, and it was deemed that if the appointing power was concentrated to one individual the responsibility for incapable or unworthy appointees would at lcist be fixed, and it was also considered that with this prospective identity of appointment the appointed persons would be worthy of the man who appointed them. In a number of instances they have been, but in an entirely different sense from that contemplated by the reformers of the city charter. Also, by the new dispensation, .1 treasury department, which had been an adjunct of the Council, was established as a separate department, under the direction of the City Comptroller, and a Police Court was created consisting of the Justice of the Peace, whose election had been already provided for. The Board of F.dueation also was formed of fifteen school inspectors, who were divided into three classes, in lieu of the seven members annually appointed by the Council. As the city expanded - grew like a weed, is more exactly descriptive of its growth - the various necessities were met by the creation of such boards and officials as were requisite, the office of City Marshal being abolished about 1862, and the Board of Public Works created.

Changes in Corporate Limits. - By the charter of March 4, 1837, Chicago was divided into six wards, and its limits fixed as follows : " That district of country in the county of Cook, known as the east half of Section 33, in Township 40, and fractional Section 34, in the same township, the east quarter of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and fractional Section 10, excepting the southwest fractional quarter of Section 10, occupied as a military post, until the same shall have become private property, fractional Section 15, Sections 16, 17, 20, 21, and fractional Section 22, in Township 39 north, Range 14 east, of the third principal meridian." These limits include the territory bounded on the south by Twenty-second Street, on the west by Wood Street, north by North Avenue, and east by the lake, except a fraction of Section 10. as noted above; also the ground on the lake shore lying east of Clark Street, extending one-half mile north of North Avenue, since occupied as the old City Cemetery. The city covered about ten square miles of territory. By the act of March 3, 1843, the southeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, southwest quarter and northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 5, Township 39, Range 14 east, and the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 8, Township 39, Range 14 east, of the third principal meridian, were stricken out of the corporate limits of the city.

February 16, 1847, the city was divided into nine wards and the corporate limits established as follows : "All that part of Township 39 north, Range 14 east, of the third principal meridian, which lies north of the north line of Sections 27, 28, 29 and 30 of said township, and the east half of Section 33, in Township 40 north, Range 14, and fractional Section 34, in said Township 40." By this act the limits were extended to W estern Avenue, taking in all east of Sedgwick Stieet between North Avenue and Fullerton Avenue. About three and a half miles were added to the area. The First, Second. Third and Fourth wards were made to extend from the river to the limits of the city, and the Seventh. Eighth and Ninth from the river north to the extent of the city. February 12, 1S53, the city limits were extended north to Fullerton Avenue, south to Thirty-first Street, and from the lake to Halstcd Street. This excepted the tract lying west of the North Branch and north of North Avenue (Holstein:, and the tract lying west of Halstcd and south of the South Branch (Bridgeport . By the above act the city was divided into three divisions, called North, South and West. The territory annexed was added to the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Seventh wards. The corporate limits of Chicago were extended to Lake Michigan, and one mile from shore by the act of February 28, 1S54. February is, 1857, the city was divided into ten wards, the additional one being taken from the West Division.

February 16, 1863, an act was approved which made Bridgeport and Holstein a part of the city, and which also extended the south limit one mile farther to the south; dividing the city into sixteen wards and embracing an aggregate area of about twenty-four miles. The section lines which ran north and south were State, Halstcd and Reuben streets and Western Avenue, and the section lines running east and west were Fullerton, North and Chicago avenues; Madison, Twelfth, Twentysecond and Thirty-first streets, and Fgan Avenue, or Thirty-ninth Street. On March 10, 1869, an act was passed whereby the limits of the city were defined as at present, and the number of wards were twenty, comprised within Fullerton, Western and Kgan [Thirty-ninth Street; avenues and Lake Michigan.

Street Improvements. - Previous to 1855 the efforts made to gra.de and otherwise improve the streets of the city were unsystematized and spasmodic. The first "road " was located in 1831 from the public square to the western county line. Bill the report of the viewers was rejected by the County Commissioners, because it was believed they had selfish ends in view in locating it as they did. The Commissioners therefore voted that the viewers " have no pay for their services." In April, 1 832, several, streets and roads were authorized; among others the lirst street leading to I.ake Michigan was laid out. It then commenced at the east end of Water Street, and is thus described byjedediah Wooley, Surveyor: " Direction of said road is south eightyeight and one-half degrees east from the street Water] 10 the lake, eighteen chains, fifty links." The street was laid out fifty feet wide. The viewers on this occasion believed that "the said road is of public utility and a convenient passage from the town to the lake! In June, 1832, the County Commissioners ordered that a road be viewed " from the town of Chicago to the house of . Laughton, from thence to the house of James Walker on the I)u Page River, and so on to the west line of the county, and that Elijah Wentworth, R. E. Heacock and Timothy H. Clark should be the viewers " hese men were appointed to the same office to do similar work for a prospective road " from the town of Chicago, the nearest and best way to the house of the Widow Brown on ' Hycory Creek.'"

By March, 1833, the State road leading from Chicago to the left bank of the Wabash River, opposite \ mcennes was completed, and during the spring and summer of that year, various minor roads were laid out thus, even at tins early period, Chicago was becoming a road center. When, later, plank roads commenced to be built Cmcago also took the lead and drew in the trade of all the country around. In August the town of Lli.cago was incorporated, and one of the first official orders of the 1 nistees was given to the Surveyor to p.tch South Water Street from the United States Rcservatton to Randolph Street, on or before \p'if Mg* In these days Benjamin Jones was Street Com' annum 1 he territory within which this law oJrated covered toe country or* mile from the center of he S; :15' I^-nngJuly. ,834, the Survivor was I quired to graduate South Water Street so ihit mo..I«J How from each cross street into t»n riv^" gS

"habited by fro^s « 1, JHSS cor,,or of La Sail*. 1 , ' . uy *ro8*' » smells strong now and in -, fPJ -lays will send out a horrible stench " ViZ'Sl , >W the leading thoruughfare were SnSS2^%& clearing grubbing and grading," Market, Franklin Chicago Avenue, La Salic, Clark and Dearborn ttmS a so Union Desplaincs, Peyton. Canal, Webster, Sprint Harmon, Hamilton, George, Maria, Elizabeth, Catharine streets, and one-half of Division Street, in the same addition, making in all fourteen and one-half miles of streets. Most of this work was accomplished before Mr Pearsons went into bankruptcy in July, 1842.

For several years the work of grading, grubbing and crudely improving the streets went on, but it was not until 1849 that the authorities commenced to generally plank them. As a rule this work amounted to less than nothing, for when the heavy teams broke up thc planks, and wet weather came, the pavement was a dangerous and active weapon, flying up into horses' faces and dashing foot-passengers with mud. As late as 1868 relics of the broken plank could \m seen on Blue Island Avenue, and as late as 1859 West Madison and State streets were laid with this planking. Descriptive of die " pavements" of these early days is the following paragraph taken from Brass's History: