1721 S. Prairie

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Location: 1721 S. Prairie, (Old 869)
Occupants: Wirt Dexter
Life Span: About 1863-1927
Architect: Arthur Little

Halpin & Bailey’s Chicago City Directory For the Year 1863-64
Dexter, Wirt (Walker & Dexter), h. Prairie av., bet. Old and North

Edwards’ Annual Directory to the City of Chicago for 1870-71
Dexter, Wirt (Walker, Dexter & Smith), pres. Chicago Relief and Aid Society, r. 869 Prairie av.

Edwards’ Annual Directory to the City of Chicago for 1871
Dexter, Wirt (Walker, Dexter & Smith), r. 869 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory for the City of Chicago, 1875-6
Dexter, Wirt (Walker, Dexter & Smith), r. 869 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory for the City of Chicago, 1880
Dexter, Wirt (Dexter, Herrick & Allen), lawyers 23 Portland blk. house 1717 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory for the City of Chicago, 1884
Dexter, Wirt (Dexter, Herrick & Allen), lawyers 23 Portland blk. house 1721 Prairie av.

Lakeside Annual Directory for the City of Chicago, 1885
Dexter, Wirt (Dexter, Herrick & Allen), lawyers 23 Portland blk. house 1721 Prairie av.

Inter Ocean, January 2, 1887

The tastefully constructed frame house with modern improvements, No. 1721, is where Mr. Wirt Dexter, the able lawyer, enjoys his repose, for, when he leaves his law office he leaves behind him the cares of his profession and thinks only of his comfortable home and its happy inmates. Short and heavy in build, when astride a cob, his favorite exercise, as he trots down Calumet avenue, Mr. Dexter has the appearance of a well-to-do farmer jogging leisurely along. When his son Sam is home from college he often accompanies his father and is a graceful equestrian. Only an imaginary dividing line separates the grounds of Mr. Wirt Dexter and his friend, Mr. George M. Pullman, of palace-car fame.

1721 Prairie

Chicago Tribune, May 19, 1890

The sudden death of Mr. Wirt Dexter Saturday night was due to heart trouble, of the existence of which, strange to say, neither himself nor his physician had been given the least warning. Although Mr. Dexter had somewhat relaxed the amount of his daily exercise since a fall from his horse over a year ago when he fractured an arm, he was apparently in the best of health when the unexpected summons came.

He was in his office in the Portland Block, having remained much later than usual to dictate some important correspondence to his stenographer. About 7 o’clock he was stricken with a pain in the chest. It seemed to be just over the region of the heart. Crossing the room he lay down on the lounge and told the stenographer to call his family physician, Dr. H. a. Johnson, by telephone.

When Dr. Johnson arrived twenty minutes later the young man was bathing Mr. Dexter’s chest with hot water. The lawyer said that the pain was paroxysmal, and at times he was quite free from it. He had been as well as usual and could not account for the attack. He had experienced neither a chill nor a headache. Dr. Johnson found his skin cool and moist, the breathing normal, pulse weak, and heart feeble. The sufferer’s mental faculties were perfect and there was no paralysis anywhere. The doctor administered a cordial and followed this with an application of a preparation of ammonia, Mr. Dexter felt strong enough to walk, and went steadily down the two flights of stairs to the carriage, Dr.Johnson accompanying him home. He made no complaint of pain or weakness whatever.

When the carriage stopped in front of the family residence, No. 1721 Prairie avenue, Mr. Dexter asked the doctor to settle with the hackman and went alone up to the door, opened it with his latch-key, and walked upstairs. Dr. Johnson found him a moment later lying on the bed. Hot applications of mustard and draughts of stimulants were resorted to. But the pain at the heart became more pronounced, and Mr. Dexter left the bed and sat down inn an easy chair near the fire.

Mr. Dexter’s Life.
Wirt Dexter was born in the little town of Dexter, Mich., in 1833. He came from a distinguished family. His grandfather, Samuel Dexter of Boston, Mass., was a lawyer of renown and a statesman as well, serving asSecretary of Treasury during the last year of President John Adams’ Administration. Samuel and Franklin Dexter, father and uncle, respectively, of Wirt, were also lawyers of prominence. At one time Samuel was Territorial Judge in Michigan and subsequently resumed the practice of law in Dexter, the town that he had founded.

Wirt Dexter attended the public schools in the vicinity of his birthplace and then began a course in the Universityof Michigan. Without waiting to graduate from that institution he went East to attend college. He was a close student and an apt scholar, and early gave promise of the brilliant achievements that awaited him. After finishing his studies in the East he returned to his native State and engaged in the lumber business. He had, however, devoted much of his time to studying law and finally resolved to enter that profession. So in 1865 he removed to Chicago and found a place in the office of Sedgwick & Walker, attorneys. He was admitted to the bar the following year and subsequently became a member of the firm that first employed him. After the death of Mr. Walker, Mr. Dexter formed a partnership with Herrick & Allen, the firm name being Dexter, Herrick & Allen. This copartnership lasted until the day of Mr. Dexter’s death. About the time Mr. Walker died Mr. Dexter, whose fame as a lawyer had early been acquired, became the general solicitor of the Chicago, Burlinston and Quincy railroad company, and his last work was done for that corporation. Coming into a large and lucrative practice early in nis professional life, he was not called on to devote much time to a close study of all branches and details of the law, but his natural legal mind and fine reasoning powers easily made him the master of all the learning necessary for any special case. It has been said that his mind belonged to the order of statesman than of lawyers, and this, with his superior business qualifications, rendered his advice and assistance of especial value in the multiplex interests of great corporations. Among the cases which gave him prominence were those of Jumperts and of Hopps. His work in the Ward will case in Detroit and the Newberry will case in Chicago, both involving great principles and issues, are well remembered.

Mr. Dexter was not a politician. He never held a political office. Of late he had been classed as an Independent, having voted and worked for Cleveland, though previously he had been a member of the Republican party. He was a successful speaker. His speeches were full of meaning, clear, elevated, and comprehensive. He spoke with an earnestness that impressed his hearers with the idea that he was convinced himself of the truth of what he uttered. He never resorted to trickery, and would not advise a lawsuit unless he thought his client to be in the right; and he discouraged litigation except as a last resort. Men knew this, and the utmost confidence was always placed in him.

Mr. Dexter took an active interest in public affairs when he thought the occasion demanded it, although the claims made on him by his professional duties were exacting. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society when this city, during the trying times that succeeded the Great Fire, was receiving assistance from all over the world. He was also President of the Society for many years.

The great lawyer was a man of fine presence and personal magnetism. He occupied a high position, as might have been expected from one so genial and affable. His habits were luxurious and his tastes artistic and refined. He was a member of the Chicago Club, and also of the University Club, but preferred entertaining at his own fireside or being entertained at the home of a friend. He was an admirer of Prof. Swing and attendant at the latter’ s services in Central Music Hall.

Mr. Dexter, although always more or less before the public, had lately been paying unusually attention to his professional duties in connection with the railroad business. He recently appeared with Leslie Carter when the latter’s name was assailed in divorce proceedings, but that was because Mr. Carter’s father had been a warm personal friend of Mr. Dexter.

One of the now dead lawyer’s famous speeches in Battery D several years ago in defense of struggling Ireland. He showed a wonderful knowledge of his subject, and his eloquence and earnestness won for him a host of among the Irish all over the world.

His public utterances on the labor question, has assumed so much prominence of late have commanded general attention and respect from all parties of the controversy, not only on account of their eminent fairness and lack of prejudice, but from a philosophical knowledge of the subject which went beyond symptoms and struck at causes.

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