Inter Ocean, April 25, 1892
The interesting and important question of who the first white, child born in Chicago was, has again been brought to public attention. The agitation over this most momentous matter is said to have begun many, many years ago and has broken out periodically ever since its first time of asking. Ever and anon the “Anxious Inquirer” the “Constant Reader,” or some one else asks for information on the subject. This generally transpires after the remote country obituary correspondent has again telegraphed the startling news announcing the death in his city of the important historical personage referred to.
The latest dispatch of this nature came from Marshalltown, Iowa, on April 12. It claimed the distinguished honor for Mrs. E. S. Holmes, of that city. The memory of even the “oldest inhabitant” of Chicago does not so much as remotely recall to mind Mrs. E. S. Holmes, nor is there any reference to her in the several historical works abounding in information concerning pioneer life around Chicago. The poor lady herself, having just died, can not of course give the precise information desired, and the naked statement of the obituary correspondent vouchsafes boldly and alone for the claim which he makes, Because George Washington’s body. servant and George Clark, the original of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom, have been so often discovered, died, and were buried, is ho good reason that Chicago’s first born shall be similarly treated. It is for this reason that The Inter Ocean determined to trace with fidelity and accuracy, the history and obtain for its readers, as well as to forever settle the disputes of the claimants, the exact facts in the case.
Mr. Robert Fergus came to Chicago in 1839 from Scotland, which country had the honor of his birth. His trade was that of printer, having served his apprenticeship in a large publishing house of Glasgow. At an early age, however, be manifested a predliection for the collection and retention of important historical data, entering into his laudable work with the ardor and vigor of Franklin himseif. The majority of the historical works of Chicago and Illinois have been set up, their proofs read, and their pages printed under the direct supervision of Robert Fergus. He is now 77 years old, but mind and memory are keen and active. When The Inter Ocean representative shook hands with Mr. Fergus the old Scoth-American sat on the regulation high stool of the composing room. He held his “stick” in his left hand, and was distributing long primer type to the box where it belonged.
There is a slight Scotch accent in Mr. Fergus’ speech, but he is easily enough understood.
“It is not true that Mrs. Holmes was the first white child born in Chicago,” he said. “My memory has it that John Kinzie’s daughter, Ellen Marion, was the first born, John Kinzie’s father, like myself, was born in the old country. He died in New York. His son John first went to Canada, then to Detroit, and then came here. He was a very likely man, too, knowing all about silversmithing, and making pretty ornaments, which he traded to the Indians for animal eking and hides. I think his name was McKenzie by rights, but the Indians could not get it better than Kinzie, and it made little matter to him as long as they liked him and he made money. Ellen Marion Kinzie was his second child; a boy, John Harris, was first born, but at Sandwich, near Detroit, in 1803. In 1804 Kinzie bought La Mar’s house, and there Ellen Marion was born, outside of Fort Dearborn. Her mother was Kinzie’s second wife, and the name of her first husband was McKillip. Her parents lived in Detroit, His first wife was named McKenzie singularly enough, and had been run away from Virginia by the Indians. She left him and went back there, why nobody ever said. Kinzie was known as the ‘Indian’s Friend,’ and Julette, the wife of one of his sons, was so good she was called the ‘Female Bishop of Illinois.’ She belonged to the Episcopal Church and helped to build old St. James, part of whose walls fell on our premises in the big fire. But here is my son George and he can tell you more.”
George H. Fergus is now the active head of the Fergus establishment. He is a man of deep research, who records everything. In fact it is his daily business to do so. Carefully referring to books and papers, Mr. Fergus said:
- Ellen Marion Kinzie, eldest daughter of John Kinzie, was the first white child born in Chicago. It was on Dec. 20, 1804. She was married here by John Hamlin, justice of the peace of Peoria, July 20, 1823. Esquire Hamlin was a relative of the Hon.Hannibal Hamlin, and also of John A. Hamlin of the Grand Opera House, Her husband was Dr. Alexander Wolcott, Indian agent here from 1820 to 1830, who died here Oct. 25, 1830, his will being the first ever probated in this county. Mrs. Wolcott again married in Detroit May 26, 1836, her husband being the late George C. Bates, who died recently in Colorado. She died in Detroit Aug. 1860, leaving one son, Kinzie Bates, since a captain in the United States army. The house which the children of John Kinzie were born was the first erected in Chicago, and the site is now owned and covered by the soap factory of James S. Kirk & Co.
Mr. Fergus, when asked if he had absolute proof that Ellen Marion Kinzie was born Dec. 20, 1804, said: “I know the date is correct. I found it in my many researches and fixed upon it accurately, but just now the record is not at hand. You may reply that it is correct. No, I haven’t picture of Ellen Marion Kinzie and it is strange I have never thought to obtain it. If there is one in existence either Mrs. William Gordon, of Savannah, or. her brother, Arthur M. Kinzie, of Chicago, would have it. Mr. Arthur Kinzie is paymaster of the Wells French Car Company, but has been away since January last. Yes, I know all about the other claimants. There is nothing in them. I helped Mr. Wentworth on his historical works conducted the correspondence with Mrs. Noble, who is R. E. Heacock’s daughter, and claimant. She is wrong and 80 are the rest.
- Where the First White Child Was Born.
For the first few years of its existence, Chicago consisted of only Fort Dearborn and the house and trading establishment of John Kinzie. It was here, in December, 1804, that little Miss Ellen Marion Kinzie made her appearance. The drawing was made in 1832. The cabin was situated north of the river, near the present site of Tribune Tower. Illustration published in Chicago Magazine, March, 1857.
An examination of the local histories establishes thoroughly the accuracy of the Fergus statements. In volume I of Andreas’ History are found many references to the birth and life of Ellen Marion Kinzie, all fully corroborative of the foregoing, and while her autograph as Mrs. Bates appears there is no portrait. She was educated primarily at Detroit and then later in Connecticut. In Hurlburt’s Chicago Antiquities, on page 82, is found the following:
- The first person known of white parentage in Chicago was a daughter of John and Eleanor Kinzie. The event happened in what was afterward known as the Kinzie House, on the North Side (so Mrs. Whistler tells us), and the little one first saw the light of day on the shore of the Divine River (a name sometimes applied to the creek here in former days, though hardly divine now, if purity is an essential attribute), on one of the days of December, 1804. In due time she was given the name of Ellen Marion, and her playmates in early life were often Indian children, with whom she gathered summer flowers on the sedgy bank of the quiet stream.
Mr. Hurlburt made an earnest but unsuccessful effort to secure this “Chicago’s first born’s” picture.
Mr. John Wentworth, in his reminiscences, also paid a good deal of attention to the history of the Kinzies, and seems, as the following from “Fort Dearborn” will prove, to have accepted the facts as The Inter Ocean now relates them. He says:
- Dr. Alexander Wolcott was Indian agent here as early as 1820, and so continued until his death, in 1830. He was succeeded by Colonel Thomas J. V. Owen, of this State, who was born in Kentucky April 5, 1801, and was one of our first Board of Town Trustees, in 1833, who died here Oct, 15, 1835, whose wife (now living at East St. Louis, in this State) was daughter of the Hon. Miles Hotchkiss, and niece of our United States Senator, Elias K. Kane. If you will go down to Lewiston, in Fulton County, you will find upon the list of marriages there the following:
‘By John Hamlin, J. P., July 20, 1823, Alexander Wolcott and Ellen Marion Kinzie.’
Mr.Hamlin resided at Peoria, and was on his way home from Green Bay when he performed the ceremony. Chicago had neither clergyman nor justice of the peace then. But this trouble was soon avoided by the appointment of Mr. Hamlin as one of the justices of the peace for Fulton County upon the 2d of December following. We had to wait until we became a part of Peoria County before we had a second one, who was ‘Billy’ Caldwell (Sangamon), who, was appointed April 18, 1826. Mrs. Woloott remarried in Detroit, in 1836, the Hon. George C. Bates, of that city (where she died Aug. 1, 1860, leaving Kinzie Bates, born there April 18, 1838, now Captain United States Infantry), more recently of this city, but now of Leadville, Col. It is claimed that she was the first white child born in Chicago (1805); the place of her birth being on the North Side, at the historic home of John and Eleanor Kinzie, and I know not why she can not be said to have been the first white person married here.
The first discussion of this matter came up in 1854, when on March 14 of that year the Weekly Gazette sprang it on the public in the bold antiouncement that Ellen, the daughter of Richard J. Hamilton, enjoyed the proud distinction of being the oldest inhabitant among sixty thousand people, although she was but 22 years of age, the claim being made also that she was the first person born in Chicago. This may be true if the word “incorporated” had followed “Chicago.”
Miss Hamilton, now Mrs. Ellen Keenan, lives with her son at the Yorkshire, No. 1837 Michigan avenue, this city. She has talked freely in private on the subject, and when first approached assented to saying something for publication, promising to return in a few moments. She did not do so and it was learned the next day “she had changed her mind.”
The next assertion came from the Republican in 1866, when its editor proclaimed his positive knowledge that the daughter of Russell E. Heacock, now Mrs. Serena R. Noble, of California, who was born in Fort Dearborn in 1828, should be accredited the much-desired distinction. Mrs. Noble recently wrote to Chicago on the subject, believing that she was heir to certain property.
“Long” John Wentworth is said to have once met a daughter of General McNeil on State street, who asked if she was not Chicago’s first born. Knowing the lady was unmarried and not wishing to offend her, he answered that he did not know the date of the great event.
Leave a Reply