Chicago Tribune, September 9, 1890
Trial Over a Skipper’s Home.
There is a civil suit in Justice Going’s court which is both novel and interesting. George Streeter, an old sea captain, was arrested on a writ of forcible detainer sworn by N. K. Fairbank. It seems that Streeter was the skipper of a schooner which three years ago stranded near the shore directly off the foot of Superior street and the lake. All efforts to get the boat to float again proved futile, and the heavy surf scraped its keel upon the rocks and sand until it spring a leak and floundered. It was allowed to remain where it was, and Streeter took up his abode on it with his wife and family. But soon the need for new land necessitated the filling in of the lake to widen the possessions of N. K. Fairbank, who now wishes through the aid of the law to dispossess the defendant of his property. Streeter demanded a trial, and a jury was selected. The case was continued until this morning at 10 o’clock.
Fairbank’s Boulevard
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
- Fairbank’s Boulevard
Greeley Carlson Atlas of Chicago
1891
Inter Ocean, May 9, 1899
The capitol of “the District of Lake Michigan” was ruthlessly razed to the ground by employes of N. K. Fairbank yesterday afternoon. Not only the capitol building itself but all Streeterville was utterly destroyed, and one shingle was not permitted to rest upon another. This was done under guard of a force of Chicago police officers and private watchmen employed by the Newberry Library, N. K. Fairbank, and John V. Farwell, who claim to own the land and who have pad taxes on it for many years.
It was a sad wreck that presented itself to view yesterday where once roosted the proud capitol of “the District of Lake Michigan.’ A litter of boards and shingles, dotted here aud there with groups of kettles and other kitchen utensils in various stages of useless-ness, with other household goods, occupied the foreground, while to the eastward extended garbage heaps and ash piles for over a thousand feet, and beyond that the new boulevard and then the lake. It was as if the foot of the Goth or the Vandal had swept over the territory, wiping out all signs of human habitation save the solitary watch towers of the victors. One for Watchman Russer of the House of Newberry and one for Watchman Duggan of the House of Farwell stood grim and warlike. For the forces of the Houst of Fairbank no habitation was left. caught but the bivouac in the raw lake wind. And the sun went down in a golden glory, lighting with its last slanting rays a scene like the virgin prairies save for the ruins of the architecture of the Streeter civilization, now forever lost to the world. The silent garbage heaps and the native ash piles spake no word of the glories of days gone by. They simply lay in silence in the gloaming, reeking with smells and shedding dust alike upon the just and the unjust. Nature had recovered her own.
Patrol of Private Watehmen.
As a matter of detail, the houses wera mostly boathouses belonging to the Mays and the Corbins, but Mr. Fairbank, stirred to profoundest depths by the warlike events of the past week, had decided to clean the land he claims and to permit no further occupation by the enemy. The private watchmen of Fairbank and Farewell and the Newberry estate walk their lonely beats by night and by day alert and ready for an expected onslaught by the forces of Streeter.
The cases against Captain Streeter and his captured forces were called by Justice Kersten at the Chicago avenue police court yesterday, but as Attorney W. S. Forrest, who is to conduct the prosecution, was not able to be present, the cases were deferred for ten days. The case against James Burns for carrying concealed weapons was dismissed, as Burns is a constable and entitled to carry around a battery of artillery, if he deems it necessary, in his business. The charge of constituting. an unlawful assembly made against Captain Streeter’s followers, calls for a maximum penalty of $100, but the captain himself is booked for an aggravated case of refusing to disperse, which leaves him liable to a maximum fine of $200. if found guilty. If such a catastrophe should our, Captain Streeter threatens to appeal to international law and the comity of nations, and to beg for an interference of the powers, as in the case of Crete.
“The District of Lake Michigan is not a part of the United States.” declared Captain Streeter yesterday, “and If necessary I wil! appeal to the powers to stop an unwarranted interference with sovereign territory.”
‘Why not ask Henry Wade Rogers to get up an anti-expansion meeting to protest against Inspector Heidelmeier’s war of con-quest?” suggested a spectator.
“Yes, and get Professor Laughlin to demonstrate that the title of the district is not worth the expense of suppressing the disorder,” chimed in another.
May Arrest J. V. Farwell.
“Not a bad idea,’ responded Captain Streeter. “I’ll send out the secretary of state to open negotiations with these broad-minded gentlemen.
Captain Streeter expressed himself as particularly pleased at the letter of John V. Farwell, published yesterday. in which the merchant announced that he had sent guns to bin representative on the section of ash piles claimed by him, and advised said representative to shoot down the Streeter forces like mad dogs if they invaded the sacred, if noisome, atmosphere.
“That is plainly inciting to riot.” announced Captain Streeter, “and I will have Mr. Farwell arrested on that charge. We will show these people that this game of arresting folks works both ways. And the captain laughed long and hard at the thought of getting the veteran merchant into a police court.
The continuance of the cases yesterday was fought fiercely by Attorneys D. R. Carmichael, Joel Baker, and M. E. Ames, who represented Streeter and his claim to sovereignty. When it was decided adversely Captain Streeter was called upon to give a dollar each for new bail bonds, and he did so, wringing bis hands in grief.
Captain Streeter is not alone in fighting this case. Men who have watched the affairs of the disputed district say that he has sold many lots under his somewhat doubtful title, and some estimate that he has realized as much as $50,000 from such sales. It is also rumored that the city is not fighting the case alone but that N. K. Fairbank and John V. Farwell have employed Attorney Forrest, and propose to push Streeter and his men to the wall and end the dispute here and now.
New Clalmant Springs Up.
Another complication results from the claim of William H. Cox, who laughs alike at both the claims of the Fairbank-Farwell-Newberry alliance and those of Captain Streeter. Mr. Cox, assisted by Mr. Sparks, who acts as his guide, philosopher, and friend, claims that he holds the title by purchase from the Indians of all made land from Thirty-Ninth street to Lake Superior. His claim is along these lines:
- When the Northwest territory was ceded to the United States a treaty was made among the United States, the various Indlan tribes, and foreign governments, which fixed boundary lines, admitted that the sovereign title of the land was in the Indians, and covered many other interesting points. Among these was to grant the United States the right of highway over the waters of the great lakes. Subsequent purchases from the Indians specify the shore line at that time as the eastern boundary of the purchases. Hence all the right the United States has to any territory east of the old shore line is for use as a navigable highway, the ultimate title still resting in the Indians or their assigns.
Cox claims to be an assign, and he has a dark, deep, mysterious plan, Mr. Sparks says, to recover his own. Here is a chance for a three-cornered fight or a triple alliance. Meantime, the sun is expected to appear in the east each morning as usual and to disappear In the west each evening.
- Fairbank’s Boulevard
Chicago Directory Company
1905
- Fairbank’s Court
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906
Chicago Tribune, June 22, 1899
- Plan originated by Corporation Counsel Walker when an Alderman said to be the least expensive proposed.
Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1899
Asks for Loop Ordinance.
Alderman Coughlin, as chairman of the Council committee named to further the plans for the fall festival, called on Corporation Counsel Walker to ask him to draft an ordinance for two temporary street car loops on the North Side, to give better access 1o the proposed stadium. The plans are for an extension of the trolley line in Indiana street east from State street to the Lake Shore drive, north just west of the drive to Ontario street, west in Ontario to Fairbank’s court, and south in Fairbank’s court to Indiana street. The other Is to be east in Chicago avenue to the Lake Shore drive, south to Ontario street, west to Fairbank’s court, and north to Chicago avenue.
The ordinance also will call for the closing of Ohio street east of Fairbank’s court during the two years the stadlum is to remain standing and for street car privileges to hold for the same time. The ordinance will be presented to the Council on Thursday.
Chicago Tribune, July 8, 1900
Chicago Tribune, March 28, 1903
Nathaniel Kellogg Fairbank, for thirteen years president of the Chicago club and for nearly a half a century a leading figure in the charitable and business life of Chicago and the west, died at 4:30 o’clock yesterday morning in his home, 1801 Michigan avenue. His death was due to a paralytic stroke which he suffered a year ago.
Owing to his advanced age, 73 years, all hope for his recovery had been abandoned and his death was not unexpected by his family. He began to fail a week ago and it was soon apparent that the end was near. Arrangements for the funeral have not been completed, but it probably will be held on Monday. The Rev. Robert Collyer of New York will be asked to conduct the service, and the pallbearers will be selected from his friends among the membership of the Chicago club, of which he practically was the founder.
Mr. Fairbank, as the founder and active head of the N. K. Fairbank company and the Fairbank company, a benefactor of Newsboys’ home, St. Luke’s hospital, the Thomas orchestra, and other public institutions, had long since taken front rank among Chicago citizens. He leaves an estate estimated at $2,000,000.
Starts as Bricklayer’s Apprentice.
Born in Sodus, Wayne county, N.Y., in 1829, of parents who were able to give him a start in life, he was kept in school until he was 15 years of age. Then his parents met with financial reverses and he was forced to start out for himself. His first employment was an apprentice to a bricklayer in Rochester. He served out his time and then became a bookkeeper in a flour mill. He soon acquired an interest in the business.
Attracted by the opportunities in the west he came to Chicago in 1855, after a short time spent in Buffalo. In this city he became the western representative of David Dows & Co., a New York grain and commission house. He joined the board of trade in that year, when that institution was only seven years old, and remained one of its leading members for nearly fifty years.
Big Deals on Board of Trade.
The board of trade was housed at that time in what was called the “shanty,” a frame building abutting on the south branch of the Chicago river not far from Madison street. B. P. Hutchinson, Sidney Kent, Asa Dow, and Mr. Fairbank, were among the largest operators on the exchange. Mr. Fairbank’s first big deal was in September wheat in 1872. The price reached $1.60, the second highest price ever known on the board. The deal was a failure, but those concerned in it paid up in full. In the year following and in still other years Mr. Fairbank took part in successful deals.
Mr. Fairbank became interested in the making of lard and cottolene through buying into the firm of Smedley, Peck & Co. This firm became in time N. K. Fairbank & Co., Joseph Sears and W. H. Burnett being taken into the concern. The firm did an extensive business for years and until it was sold out to the first cotton seed oil trust. In order to keep his name, however, the company paid Mr. Fairbank $1,000 a month as nominal president of thr concern.
Aids Public Building Projects.
Just after the Chicago fire George B. Carpenter went to Mr. Fairbank with plans for a new music hall, which was badly needed. Mr. Fsirbank started the subscription with $25,000 for himself, and personally secured many of the contributions which finally built the Central music hall. A few years later, when another musical need of Chicago developed, he personally offered to subscribe $100,000 of $900,000 more should be raised. This offer stood for several years and was finally dropped before the project for the present Auditorium was started.
Mr. Fairbank was a director in the Commercial National bank and of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad company. He was also interested in the construction of a railroad in Arizona, now part of the Santa Fè system.
When the Chicago club was looking for a permanent home, in 1874 he practically built the structure opposite the Palmer house, in Monroe street, where this club and subsequently the Columbus club were housed. Of the total cost $85,000 was borne by the members and $50,000 by Mr. Fairbank himself. In recognition of his efforts the Chicago club elected him its president for thirteen successive years.
Mr. Fairbank was married in 1866 to Miss Helen L. Graham of New York, who died several years ago. He left four sons and three daughters. They are Mrs. Benjamin Carpenter, Misses Margaret and Nathalie Fairbank, and Kellogg, Dexter, Wallace and Livingston Fairbank. Mr. Fairbank was a member of Grace Episcopal church, and one of the supporters of St. Luke’s hospital. He was a member of the Calumet, Chicago, Union League, and Washington Park clubs.
Resolutions deploring the death of Mr. Fairbank were adopted In the afternoon at the annual meeting of the sales representatives and executive staff of, the N. K. Fairbank company.
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