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John Wentworth (mayor)
Encyclopedia
"Long" John Wentworth (March 5, 1815 October 16, 1888) was the editor of the Chicago Democrat
, a two-term mayor
of Chicago
, and a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives
.
Born in Sandwich, New Hampshire
, John Wentworth was 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) high and weighing more than 300 pounds (136 kg). He drank at least a pint of whiskey each day and would eat from 30–40 different foods during a single meal.
Wentworth was educated at the New Hampton Literary Institute
, at the academy of Dudley Leavitt
and at Dartmouth College
graduating from the latter in 1836.
Later that year, he left for Chicago, arriving in the city on October 25, 1836. He was managing editor
of Chicago's first newspaper
, the Chicago Democrat, eventually becoming its owner and publisher. He started a law practice
and entered politics. In 1844, he married Roxanna Marie Loomis. He was a business partner of Illinois financier Jacob Bunn, and the two men were two of the incorporators of the Chicago Secure Depository Company.
Wentworth served for six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (March 4, 1843 March 3, 1851 and March 4, 1853 March 3, 1855 as a Democrat
; and March 4, 1865 March 3, 1867 as a Republican
). While in the House, a controversial vote arose by which Wisconsin
claimed land in Illinois
as far as the tip of Lake Michigan
. If Wentworth voted to give the land, including Chicago, to Wisconsin, he was promised a Senate
seat. Wentworth declined the offer.
As a Republican, Wentworth served as mayor of Chicago for two terms, 1857–1858 and 1860–1861. Wentworth instituted chain gang
s in the city and tried to clean up the city's morals
. To do this, he hired spies to determine who was frequenting Chicago's brothels. In 1857, Wentworth led a raid on the Sands, Chicago's red-light district
, which resulted in the burning of the area.
He authored The Wentworth Genealogy – English and American, twice. The first two volume edition was followed by a second, corrected, edition in 1878, at 3 Volumes, or 2241 pages. The total reported cost for both editions was $40,000. The first of the 1878 volumes chronicles the ancestry of Elder William Wentworth, the first of this family in New England, and his first five generations of New World descendants. The second and third volumes discuss the "Elder's" many descendants and others of the name.
When an author left a manuscript of a history of Chicago with Wentworth for his suggestions, Wentworth obliterated everything that didn't mention him and returned the manuscript to its author with the note saying "Here is your expurgated and correct history of Chicago."
From 1868, he lived at his country estate at 5441 South Harlem Avenue in Chicago where he owned about 5000 acres (20 km²) of land in what is today part of the Chicago neighborhood of Garfield Ridge
and suburban Summit
. Wentworth died at the estate in 1888, aged 73, and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery
.
Chicago Democrat
The Chicago Democrat was the first newspaper in Chicago, Illinois. It was published from 1833 to 1861.-History:Publisher was a Jacksonian Democrat, lured west at the end of 1833 from Watertown, New York to start the Democrat inspired by traveler's stories about Chicago after a series of newspaper...
, a two-term mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Born in Sandwich, New Hampshire
Sandwich, New Hampshire
Sandwich is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,326 at the 2010 census. Sandwich includes the villages of Center Sandwich and North Sandwich...
, John Wentworth was 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) high and weighing more than 300 pounds (136 kg). He drank at least a pint of whiskey each day and would eat from 30–40 different foods during a single meal.
Wentworth was educated at the New Hampton Literary Institute
New Hampton School
New Hampton School is an independent college preparatory high school located in New Hampton, New Hampshire, in the New England region of the northeastern United States...
, at the academy of Dudley Leavitt
Dudley Leavitt (publisher)
Dudley Leavitt was an American publisher. He was an early graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy in his native town of Exeter, New Hampshire, and later moved to Gilmanton where he first edited a newspaper and taught school...
and at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
graduating from the latter in 1836.
Later that year, he left for Chicago, arriving in the city on October 25, 1836. He was managing editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Chicago's first newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, the Chicago Democrat, eventually becoming its owner and publisher. He started a law practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
and entered politics. In 1844, he married Roxanna Marie Loomis. He was a business partner of Illinois financier Jacob Bunn, and the two men were two of the incorporators of the Chicago Secure Depository Company.
Wentworth served for six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (March 4, 1843 March 3, 1851 and March 4, 1853 March 3, 1855 as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
; and March 4, 1865 March 3, 1867 as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
). While in the House, a controversial vote arose by which Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
claimed land in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
as far as the tip of Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. If Wentworth voted to give the land, including Chicago, to Wisconsin, he was promised a Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat. Wentworth declined the offer.
As a Republican, Wentworth served as mayor of Chicago for two terms, 1857–1858 and 1860–1861. Wentworth instituted chain gang
Chain gang
A chain gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work, such as mining or timber collecting, as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include building roads, digging ditches or chipping stone...
s in the city and tried to clean up the city's morals
Morality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
. To do this, he hired spies to determine who was frequenting Chicago's brothels. In 1857, Wentworth led a raid on the Sands, Chicago's red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
, which resulted in the burning of the area.
He authored The Wentworth Genealogy – English and American, twice. The first two volume edition was followed by a second, corrected, edition in 1878, at 3 Volumes, or 2241 pages. The total reported cost for both editions was $40,000. The first of the 1878 volumes chronicles the ancestry of Elder William Wentworth, the first of this family in New England, and his first five generations of New World descendants. The second and third volumes discuss the "Elder's" many descendants and others of the name.
When an author left a manuscript of a history of Chicago with Wentworth for his suggestions, Wentworth obliterated everything that didn't mention him and returned the manuscript to its author with the note saying "Here is your expurgated and correct history of Chicago."
From 1868, he lived at his country estate at 5441 South Harlem Avenue in Chicago where he owned about 5000 acres (20 km²) of land in what is today part of the Chicago neighborhood of Garfield Ridge
Garfield Ridge, Chicago
Garfield Ridge is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois, and is located on the southwest side of the city. The northern half of Chicago Midway International Airport is located in this community area.-General information:...
and suburban Summit
Summit, Illinois
Summit is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,637 at the 2000 census. The village is best known as the setting to Ernest Hemingway's 1927 short story "The Killers".-Geography:...
. Wentworth died at the estate in 1888, aged 73, and was buried in Rosehill Cemetery
Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago
Rosehill Cemetery is a Victorian era cemetery on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, USA, and at , is the largest cemetery in the City of Chicago. The name "Rosehill" resulted from a City Clerk's error – the area was previously called "Roe's Hill", named for nearby farmer Hiram Roe...
.