Chicago, IL

Population in 1850, 30,000. This place is situated on the W. shore, and towards the S. end of Lake Michigan, at the point where the river of the same name enters the lake. ... This place has had a rapid growth, and from its position in the great line of communication between the E. and W., is destined to become a large city. In 1832 it contained only 5 small stores, and 250 inhabitants. Only 4 vessels had arrived during the year before. In 1836, 4 years later, the arrivals of brigs, ships, and schooners amounted to 407, besides 49 steamboats. (Gazetteer of the United States of America, 1854)

Place Unit Type
City or Town
Containing Unit
Date Type
A serious railroad accident in Indiana kills dozens when floods wash away tracks Crime/Disasters
A significant lunar eclipse of the Sun is visible in the morning over much of the eastern United States Science/Technology
Abraham Lincoln returns to Springfield, Illinois where his remains lay in state in the State House Personal
Almost three hundred drown on Lake Michigan in an excursion steamer collision Crime/Disasters
Baggage master killed in the wreck of a Michigan Central passenger train near Chicago Crime/Disasters
Chicago newspaper predicts Lincoln will be Douglas's successor in Senate Legal/Political
Chicago, Illinois is struck with the worst fire in its history up to that point. Crime/Disasters
Chicago's first streetcar line goes into operation on State Street Science/Technology
Democrats take control of Chicago City Council from Unionists in municipal elections Campaigns/Elections
Diminutive Norwegian cargo vessel crosses the stormy North Atlantic to deliver goods to Chicago Business/Industry
Edward Payson Weston reaches Chicago on his 1238 mile walk from Portland, Maine with a day to spare. Education/Culture
Edward Payson Weston reaches Connecticut on his 1200 mile walk from Portland, Maine to Chicago. Education/Culture
Edward Payson Weston sets out to walk from Portland, Maine to Chicago in thirty days. Education/Culture
Eight Ottawa, Illinois residents indicted under the Fugitive Slave Law for assisting a slave escape Slavery/Abolition
Elihu Washburne arrives in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Elihu Washburne dies in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Female correspondent covers the Chicago Convention of the Republican Party Campaigns/Elections
George Washington Ferris, inventor of the Ferris Wheel, born in Galesburg, Illinois Science/Technology
In Chicago, a fire at a railroad yard destroys an engine house and damages locomotives Crime/Disasters
In Chicago, a serious afternoon fire destroys the First Unitarian Church along with other buildings Crime/Disasters
In Chicago, convicted murderers Patrick Fleming and William Corbett die on the gallows Crime/Disasters
In Chicago, firefighters are busy all day with three separate destructive city fires Crime/Disasters
In Chicago, Illinois, a steamer just arrived from Buffalo, New York explodes at the dock killing thirteen Crime/Disasters
In Chicago, rioters attack federal draft enrollment officials arresting two men for refusing to be registered Crime/Disasters
- In Chicago, the American Medical Association holds its first annual meeting since 1860 Business/Industry
In Chicago, the cornerstone of the monument at the grave of Stephen Douglas is dedicated. Personal
- In Chicago, the Democratic Party meets for its national nominating convention Campaigns/Elections
In Chicago, the new impressive offices of the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade are inaugurated Business/Industry
In Chicago, the Union Stockyard's giant livestock market opens Business/Industry
In Illinois, the Chicago Times reopens after its brief military shutdown Lawmaking/Litigating
In Naperville, Illinois, courtroom applauds as wife found innocent in sensational Chicago divorce case Lawmaking/Litigating
In Naperville, Illinois, summing up begins in sensational Chicago elite divorce case Lawmaking/Litigating
In Naperville, Illinois, the first testimony is heard in sensational Chicago elite divorce case Lawmaking/Litigating
In Springfield, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln is formally offered the Republican Party nomination for President Campaigns/Elections
In Springfield, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln receives the news by telegraph of his nomination for President Campaigns/Elections
John Wentworth dies in Chicago, Illinois Personal
John Wentworth once again becomes mayor of Chicago Campaigns/Elections
Juliette Low born in Savannah, Georgia Personal
Landing in Detroit, Prince Albert begins his historic visit to the United States US/the World
Leading Chicago newspaper strongly endorses Abraham Lincoln for President Campaigns/Elections
Leonard Swett dies in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Lincoln addresses Chicago Republicans Legal/Political
Lyman Trumbull dies in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Lyman Trumbull speaks at the People’s Party convention in Chicago, Illinois Campaigns/Elections
Massive fire burns for hours and destroys a furniture business in Chicago Crime/Disasters
- National Agricultural Fair in Chicago, Illinois Business/Industry
New York City's editors meet to condemn infringements of the free press Campaigns/Elections
New York State Republican Convention selects William H. Seward as its choice for President Campaigns/Elections
New York Times reports on runaway slave in Kansas Slavery/Abolition
On Lake Michigan, a Chicago tugboat explodes and kills most of its night crew Crime/Disasters
On Lake Michigan, two bodies are found from a Chicago tugboat sinking three weeks before Crime/Disasters
President Buchanan reappoints Isaac Cook as Chicago Postmaster Legal/Political
President Lincoln's casket lays in state at the State Capitol in Indianapolis, Indiana Personal
President Lincoln's remains reboard his funeral train for the last time in Chicago bound for Springfield, Illinois and home Personal
President Pierce appoints Isaac Cook as Chicago Postmaster Legal/Political
Reaching his home state, President Lincoln's remains arrive in Chicago to a remarkable reception Personal
Regional army commander Ambrose Burnside orders the closing of the Chicago Times for disloyalty Lawmaking/Litigating
- Republican National Convention meets in Chicago, Illinois Campaigns/Elections
Sensational Chicago elite divorce case opens in Naperville, Illinois Lawmaking/Litigating
South of Chicago, an express hits the back of a local commuter train, killing one and injuring many more Crime/Disasters
Stephen A. Douglas dies at his home in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Susannah Evans, the famous Welsh teenage temperance advocate, speaks in Chicago, Illinois Campaigns/Elections
- The annual national convention of the North American associations of the Y.M.C.A meets in Chicago Religion/Philosophy
The cornerstone is laid for the new buildings of Chicago's University of St. Mary's of the Lake Education/Culture
The Great North-Western Sanitary Fair closes in Chicago, Illinois having raised $270,000 Education/Culture
The Great North-Western Sanitary Fair opens in Chicago, Illinois Education/Culture
The Illinois State Legislature strongly protests the military shutdown of the Chicago Times Lawmaking/Litigating
- The National Ship Canal Convention assembles in Chicago with Vice-President Hamlin in the chair Campaigns/Elections
- The Prince of Wales relaxes on an Illinois farm US/the World
The Prince of Wales visits Chicago US/the World
The younger brother of Charles Dickens, living in Chicago, dies of tuberculosis. Personal
Union Colonel James A. Mulligan, hero of the Battle of Lexington, speaks for a Catholic charity in Philadelphia Education/Culture
Usher Ferguson Linder dies in Chicago, Illinois Personal
Young female Chicagoan fined $25 for attending the opera disguised as a man Crime/Disasters
Name Type
Central Depot, Chicago, IL Location or Site
Douglas Monument Park, Chicago, IL Location or Site
Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, IL Location or Site
Tremont House, Chicago, IL Location or Site
Date Title
Abraham Lincoln, Speech to Northwestern River and Harbor Convention, Chicago, Illinois, July 6, 1847
Louisville (KY) Journal, "Negro Stealing," December 14, 1847
Abraham Lincoln to J. Young Scammon, November 10, 1854
Abraham Lincoln to Ichabod Codding, November 27, 1854
Charleston (SC) Mercury, "The Fugitive Law," March 2, 1855
Abraham Lincoln, Speech at a Republican Banquet, Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1856
Lincoln's Notes for Speech at Chicago, February 28, 1857
New York Times, “Seduction, Abortion, and Death in Chicago,” August 8, 1857
Abraham Lincoln to James W. Grimes, August 17, 1857
Abraham Lincoln to Jesse K. Dubois, September 13, 1857
Abraham Lincoln to Richard Yates, September 30, 1857
Stephen A. Douglas to John A. McClernand, November 23, 1857
New York Herald, "The Approaching Conclusion of the Kansas Comedy," January 27, 1858
John Wentworth to Abraham Lincoln, April 19, 1858
Norman Buel Judd to Abraham Lincoln, June 1, 1858
John Wentworth to Abraham Lincoln, June 6, 1858
New York Times, "Insecurity of Railroads," June 10, 1858
John L. Scripps to Abraham Lincoln, June 22, 1858
Joseph Medill to Abraham Lincoln, June 23, 1858
Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln, July 1, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "The Passage at Arms between Lincoln and Douglas in 1854," July 1, 1858
Recollection by Clarke E. Carr, Stephen A. Douglas, July 9, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Mr. Lincoln’s Speech," July 12, 1858
New York Herald, “Senator Douglas at Chicago,” July 12, 1858
New York Times, "Senator Douglas at Chicago," July 13, 1858
Gustave Philipp Koerner to Abraham Lincoln, July 17, 1858
(St. Louis) Missouri Republican, "The Progress of Judge Douglas Through Illinois," July 19, 1858
Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln, July 19, 1858
Abraham Smith to Abraham Lincoln, July 20, 1858
Bangor (ME) Whig and Courier, "Speech of Mr. Lincoln," July 21, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Douglas on the Stump," July 23, 1858
Abraham Lincoln to Stephen Douglas, July 24, 1858
Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln, July 27, 1858
Abraham Lincoln to Stephen Douglas, July 29, 1858
Charleston (SC) Mercury, "Douglas Tottering!," July 29, 1858
Ripley (OH) Bee, "The Most Dangerous Foe," July 31, 1858
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "The Exact Milwaukee Time," July 31, 1858
Thomas C. Sharp to Ozias Mather Hatch, August 11, 1858
New York Herald, “The Illinois Campaign,” August 13, 1858
David Davis to Ozias Mather Hatch, August 16, 1858
New York Times, "Hot Work in Illinois," August 19, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "All Aboard For Ottawa!," August 21, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "Great Debate Between Lincoln and Douglas At Ottawa," August 23, 1858
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "Lincoln and Douglas at Ottawa," August 24, 1858
Recollection by Joseph Medill, Freeport Debate, August 27, 1858
Recollection by Ingalls Carleton, Freeport Debate, August 27, 1858
Recollection by A.A. Terrell, Freeport, August 27, 1858
Richard James Oglesby to Abraham Lincoln, August 29, 1858
New York Evening Post, "Senatorial Canvas in Illinois," September 18, 1858
Lowell (MA) Journal and Courier, "The Senatorial Canvass in Illinois," September 22, 1858
James G. Wright to Abraham Lincoln, October 11, 1858
Horace White to Abraham Lincoln, November 5, 1858
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “The Popular Majority,” November 9, 1858
Norman Buel Judd to Abraham Lincoln, November 15, 1858
Norman Buel Judd to Abraham Lincoln, November 20, 1858
(St. Louis) Missouri Republican, “Judge Douglas,” November 25, 1858
New York Herald, “Mr. Douglas On His Travels,” November 28, 1858
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Mr. Douglas’ Chattels,” December 3, 1858
New York Times, “Sleeping Cars upon Railroads,” December 31, 1858
New Orleans (LA) Picayune, “Quick,” January 2, 1859
Memphis (TN) Appeal, “The Chicago Times, Senator Douglas and the Administration,” January 18, 1859
Charleston (SC) Mercury, "Slave Stealing in Missouri," March 8, 1859
Abraham Lincoln to William A. Ross, March 26, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Beginning of the Presidential Campaign,” April 7, 1859
New York Times, “Post Office Peculation,” June 2, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Cook and His Enemies,” August 23, 1859
Joseph Medill to Abraham Lincoln, September 10, 1859
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Obscene Handbill Nuisance,” September 23, 1859
Charles H. Ray to Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1859
Abraham Lincoln to William E. Frazer, November 1, 1859
Charles Billinghurst to Abraham Lincoln, February 8, 1860
Horace White to Abraham Lincoln, February 10, 1860
New York Herald, “Trouble among the Republican President Makers,” February 28, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Fraudulent Voting,” February 28, 1860
Newark (OH) Advocate, “The Chicago Convention,” March 2, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “A Lesson for the South,” March 9, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “A Pair of Smart Politicians,” March 14, 1860
Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Galloway, March 24, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Wide-Awakes,” April 4, 1860
Newark (OH) Advocate, “Waking Up to Their Danger,” April 20, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Douglas Nomination,” April 21, 1860
New York Herald, “The Republican Press on the Chances of Douglas,” April 22, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The Wigwam,” April 25, 1860
San Francisco (CA) Evening Bulletin, “Seward the Republican Nominee,” April 25, 1860
Newark (OH) Advocate, “‘Old Judge McLean’,” April 27, 1860
(Omaha) Nebraskian, “Monument to John Brown,” May 5, 1860
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “The Coming Conventions,” May 9, 1860
Atchison (KS) Freedom’s Champion, “The Charleston Convention,” May 12, 1860
Entry by Orville Browning, May 16, 1860
- Recollection by Henry C. Whitney, Republican National Convention, May 16-18, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Visit the Mississippi,” May 16, 1860
- Recollection by Murat Halstead, Republican National Convention, May 16-18, 1860
Abraham Lincoln's Endorsement on the Margin of the Missouri Democrat, May 17, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, "The Convention Week in Chicago," May 17, 1860
Joshua Reed Giddings to Abraham Lincoln, May 19, 1860
Richmond (VA) Dispatch, “The Chicago Convention,” May 21, 1860
Charleston (SC) Courier, "A Great Error," May 22, 1860
(Jackson) Mississippian, "The Objects of the Black Republican Party Boldly Avowed," May 22, 1860
Raleigh (NC) Standard, “The Chicago Convention,” May 23, 1860
Ripley (OH) Bee, “The Candidates,” May 24, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “Going – Going – Gone!,” May 24, 1860
Newark (OH) Advocate, “Lincoln and Hamlin,” May 25, 1860
Chicago (IL) Press and Tribune, “The New York Sun on Lincoln,” May 28, 1860
Schuyler Colfax to Abraham Lincoln, May 30, 1860
Newark (OH) Advocate, “Abraham Lincoln,” June 1, 1860
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “Getting Their Eyes Open,” June 11, 1860
Richard W. Thompson to Abraham Lincoln, June 12, 1860
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “The Great Tornado,” June 13, 1860
John L. Scripps to Abraham Lincoln, June 18, 1860
New York Herald, “The Reception of the Nomination of Douglas,” June 24, 1860
Abraham Lincoln to Richard W. Thompson, July 10, 1860
John L. Scripps to Abraham Lincoln, July 11, 1860
John L. Scripps to Abraham Lincoln, July 17, 1860
New York Herald, “The Dreadful Steamboat Accident on Lake Michigan,” September 9, 1860
David Hunter to Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1860
David Wilmot to Abraham Lincoln, October 20, 1860
(Montpelier) Vermont Patriot, “Illinois Sure for Douglas,” October 27, 1860
Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, "Look Out for Illegal Votes!," November 1, 1860
Chicago (IL) Tribune, "Pro-Slavery Tricks," November 6, 1860
New York Herald, "Morality Out West," November 11, 1860
Chicago (IL) Tribune, "The Great Case," November 21, 1860
New York Herald, “Untitled,” November 23, 1860
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “Boy Mail Robber,” December 10, 1860
New York Times,“A Visit to Mr. Lincoln,” December 20, 1860
John P. Verree to Abraham Lincoln, January 1, 1861
Newark (OH) Advocate, “Obtaining Votes Under False Pretences,” January 18, 1861
New York Times, “Rumored Invasion of the South,” January 25, 1861
Abraham Lincoln's Speech at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1861
Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “North Carolina and Secession,” April 4, 1861
Cleveland (OH) Herald, “A Rugged Issue,” April 5, 1861
Chicago (IL) Tribune, “How To Execute It,” April 8, 1861
Memphis (TN) Appeal, "The Underground Railroad," April 9, 1861
Joseph Medill to Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1861
New York Times, “Famine Among the Confederates,” June 20, 1861
John P. Crawford to Abraham Lincoln, August 10, 1861
Abraham Lincoln, Reply to Emancipation Memorial Presented by Chicago Christians of All Denominations, September 13, 1862
New York Herald, “The Pen and the Sword,” May 17, 1863
Abraham Lincoln, Speech at Great Central Sanitary Fair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1864
"The President on Reconstruction," Chicago Tribune, April 14, 1865
"The Great Calamity," Chicago Tribune, April 17, 1865
"The Consequence," Chicago Tribune, April 17, 1865
"The Mask Removed," Chicago Tribune, February 21, 1866
"Mrs. Swisshelm Guillotined," Chicago Tribune, March 2, 1866
"Colored Suffrage in Wisconsin," Chicago Tribune, March 29, 1866
How to Cite This Page: "Chicago, IL," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/9235.