.

THE CHICAGO LITERARY CLUB

March 10, 1997

The Cliff Dwellers, Chicago

“‘EAGLE FORGOTTEN’, REDISCOVERED”

A “Classic” Night, with Commentary on the Author, George Packard

John K. Notz, Jr.

of Harry Barnard’s “Eagle Forgotten” (1938)

“‘EAGLE FORGOTTEN’, REDISCOVERED”

John K. Notz, Jr.

March 10, 1997

During the past several years, I have come, occasionally, across the name of John Peter Altgeld, Democratic Governor of Illinois during four years of the 1890’s, following the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. I believe that my first focus on Altgeld’s career was when I read in the memoir of one of my great grandfathers (Edward G. Uihlein) that he (Uihlein) had been appointed a Chicago West Park Commissioner by Altgeld and had served as such for two years, before being removed, when Republican John Tanner defeated Altgeld at the end of Altgeld’s sole term as Governor. I have attached the posthumous entries on Altgeld and Tanner from the National Cyclopedia of American Biography; from them, one cannot see the bitter partisan rivalry between them that led Tanner to see that Altgeld could not give the customary speech of a retiring Governor of Illinois, when Tanner was inaugurated. (Altgeld’s already-prepared speech was, notwithstanding, published in the newspapers.)

The next vivid memory that I have is of being exceedingly surprised, in reading of the political machinations in the history of the last several years of the Loop’s “Block 37” immediately to the West of Marshall Field’s main store- still, essentially, a vacant lot, used, now, as a skating rink in the Winter and for outdoor art shows during the Summer. The author of that book, bought by me because another of my great grandfather (John Martin Kranz) had operated Kranz’ Candies (wholesale and retail) out of post Great Chicago Fire buildings within that Block. The author of the book on Block 37 had related that Altgeld had controlled The Unity Building on the Dearborn Street side of that block, but he had lost it, before his death, to foreclosure. That Altgeld was in such financial straits that a building in which he had a substantial interest went into ordinary foreclosure surprised me.

I gave a talk at The Caxton Club of Chicago last month and, as I spoke, I asked the bibliophiles present if they knew of a good biography of Altgeld. One spoke up, immediately: “Harry Barnard’s ‘Eagle Forgotten’”. A day or two later, another of those present (one of our Club’s members, John Blew), called me and said that a second-hand book dealer known well to him had a copy in inventory, available to me for $10. I wasted no time; I drove out to the Southwest side and bought it, and an earlier (1924) biography of Altgeld, as well. I have, quickly perused both, for all references to The Unity Building, and there were enough for me to understand the serious financial straits in which Altgeld found himself - the sole investor in a building that was built incorrectly, had cost far too much to build and which lost too many tenants as The Depression of 1893 deepened into 1894.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I joined Mssrs. Wagner, Lackner and Fujimoto at The Newberry Library, as they were starting the research and organization of our own Club’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. I am a part of that committee, and, as I have been preparing myself to focus on 1890-1930 for this effort, I called out a few papers of this period, as samples. I was given a box containing some twenty papers or so - a far from complete set, and none of those that I was seeking were therein. However, one exceedingly interesting to me was: George Packard’s formal “Review” of Harry Barnard’s “Eagle Forgotten”, which follows, after which I will provide to you some information on Mr. Packard, a member of our Club for 55 years; he delivered 30 papers (without counting this “Review” or, probably, others). While many of his papers survive, within the boxes of our Club’s records at The Newberry Library, I found this one only because someone among our past members working on our Club’s history had misfiled it in the 1890’s box. As “Eagle Forgotten” was published in 1938, this “Review”, obviously, was written in 1938 or 1939.

[READ GEORGE PACKARD’S “REVIEW” OF “EAGLE FORGOTTEN” AT THIS POINT.]

Packard was a member of The Chicago Literary Club, 1894-1949 - 55 years. I have attached excerpts from the “Who’s Who”s of Chicago that are, readily, available to me. They are, all, consistent with this excerpt from his ”Review” of Harry Barnard’s “Eagle Forgotten:

“Across the hall from the young attorney’s [Altgeld’s] modest office in the Reaper Block was the struggling law firm of Eastern college-bred men, Peckham & Brown. Altgeld came over frequently to borrow their dictionary and won their interest and, later. their admiration, for his indomitable courage and strength of will. It was that known friendship, plus the [Chicago] “Tribune”, that, in later years, defeated Mr. Brown in his first effort to become a judge, but he, soon, secured his appointment by Altgeld, as Governor, as Attorney for the Lincoln Park [System] Board of [Commissioners] - a position that, incidentally, gave this reviewer the most interesting piece of legal research it was, ever, his fortune to encounter, the study of Riparian Rights in Illinois. My legal destinies have, always, been linked to the firm of Peckham & Brown.”

Inserted within Mr. Packard’s “Review” were two sheets of good quality legal letterhead, on the reverse sides of which he had handwritten an addition to his original fully typed text that became a part of the papers of our Club now in the possession of The Newberry Library. The firm name on those two pages was “Miller, Starr, Packard & Peckham”, including, as a partner, Edward Eagle Brown, “Attorney for The First National Bank of Chicago”, with offices at 1522 First National Bank Building.

I, myself, recall Mr. Brown, during the mid-1950’s, as he had a retirement office immediately adjacent to the Law Department of The First National Bank of Chicago, where I spent two informative Summers as a Law Clerk, during my years at the law school at Northwestern University and before I entered the United States Air Force in 1957. Then, this Mr. Brown was renowned as one of the finest commercial lawyers, ever, practicing in Chicago. During virtually all of the decade of the 1960’s, I officed within Gardner, Carton & Douglas, which, then, shared the 14th Floor of the then First National Bank Building with the predecessor of the current Winston & Strawn, only one floor below the offices of the “Schumacher Firm”, the successor to that of Mr. Packard.

Returning to reread a small portion of Mr. Packard’s “Review” of Barnard’s biography of Altgeld:

“In the latter part of 1894, Altgeld became involved in some far from creditable financial complications, involving the borrowing of funds from officials appointed by him, in a desperate attempt to tide over the collapse of the Unity Building venture in the ranks of millionaires. . . .”

While this is certain to have occurred, “Eagle Forgotten” contains no such statement. Nor does Browne’s 1924 biography of Altgeld. I suspect that Edward Uihlein, was among the officials appointed by Altgeld that Altgeld approached, for borrowings. I, personally, hope that Uihlein responded, just as I hope that Uihlein supported the efforts on behalf of the “Haymarket Conspirators”. as did some prominent Chicagoans, other than Mssrs. Pullman and Field. I have never heard any family discussion of either subject. Uihlein’s memoir mentions neither subject (but I have learned that there were substantial omissions in the subject matter that he covered. Only three of his grandchildren (my mother’s first cousins) still survive; each was but a small child at the time of his death, and no memories of these subjects are likely to exist for them.

I doubt that Altgeld approached his business neighbor, John Kranz, as I have every reason to believe that Kranz was apolitical.

So, in finding this “Forgotten Eagle”, I have come full circle to some connections of my own: George Packard, the writer of 30 papers for our Club has a similar set of fragmentary, albeit unrecorded prior to the preparation of a paper for delivery to our Club, remembrances of John Peter Altgeld to those that I have of Edward Eagle Brown. Had I not pursued my interests in Edward G. Uihlein and in John M. Kranz, I would not have found my way to George Packard’s reliable special knowledge of John Peter Altgeld.

EXCERPT FROM NATIONAL CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY

ALTGELD, John Peter, twentieth Governor of Illinois (1893-1897), was born at Nisder Selters, Nassau, Germany, on December 30, 1847. In 1848, his parents emigrated to a farm in Richland County, OH, where he lived until 1864, when he enlisted in the Federal Army. After the [Civil] War, he taught school, although he, himself, had acquired a limited education. In 1869, he started for the West, traveling on foot to Northwestern Missouri, where, after teaching for a while, he studied law and, in 1872, was admitted to the Bar. He was City Attorney of Savannah and was elected State’s Attorney in 1874. Removing to Chicago in the following year, he, soon, acquired a large practice and, in 1886, was elected to the Bench of the Superior Court, as a Democrat. For a time, he was Chief Justice of this Court. He resigned his position in 1891, and, in 1892, he was nominated for the office of Governor. For the first time in 40 years, Illinois cast her electoral vote for a Democratic candidate and gave the nominee for Governor and other state officials a majority. He was the first governor of foreign birth and the first citizen of Chicago to hold that position. One of his earliest acts was to pardon the anarchists, Fielden, Neebe and Schwab, imprisoned for alleged complicity with the leaders of the Haymarket Riot of May 4, 1886. His chief reasons, as set forth in a widely circulated pamphlet, being that the judge was biased, the jury packed, the jurors therefore incompetent, making the trial illegal, and that the defendants were not proved guilty. During the first year of his administration, the World’s Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago. In 1894, a railroad strike occurred in Chicago, and President Cleveland sent Federal troops, to help restore order. In his general message to the Legislature on January 8, 1895, Governor Altgeld reported that new business methods had been introduced into every public institution in the state; an industrial home for the blind and a reformatory for girls had been established; important legislation regarding factory employees had been enacted; the leasing of convicts to outside parties had been stopped; and women, for the first time, had been appointed on important Boards and to other positions. He urged a liberal policy towards The University of Illinois and reported that, for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Commissioners of The Illinois & Michigan Canal had offered to turn money into the State Treasury. In June, 1895, he convened the Legislature in Extraordinary Session, to take action on important measures neglected during the previous Session, such as taxation of corporations, the abolition of the State Board of Equalization, the securing of Boards of Conciliation or Arbitration, and of fair and unbiased Grand Juries. In April, 1896, the “sound money” Democrats of Illinois endorsed Governor Altgeld’s administration and advocated his reelection; but he declared that he was not a candidate for any position and would not accept the support of advocates of the single gold standard. In spite of his protestations, he was nominated, but he was defeated by John R. Tanner. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Chicago in 1896 and delivered many speeches during the Presidential Campaign of that year. Mr. Altgeld resumed the practice of law in Chicago but, from time to time, appeared as a platform speaker, and he has, also, contributed articles to newspapers and periodicals. “Our Penal Machinery and Its Victims” (1884) was republished in “Live Questions” (1899), a volume comprising his speeches, papers and interviews. He was married at Washington, OH, in November, 1877, to Emma, daughter of John Ford. He died at Joliet, IL, on March 12, 1902.

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EXCERPT FROM NATIONAL CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY

TANNER, John Riley, twenty-first Governor of Illinois (1997-1901), . . . In 1880, he was nominated State Senator for the 44th District and, for the first time, won it for the Democracy. In 1884, he was U.S. Marshall of the Southern District, by appointment of President Arthur, and, in 1886, he was elected State Treasurer of Illinois. He served for a few months of Governor Fifer’s term, as Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner but, resigning this office in 18891, was made Assistant U.S. Treasurer at Chicago, which position he held until [President] Cleveland’s administration, when he was removed for offensive and pernicious partisanship. In 1894, he became Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and effected the most complete organization known in Illinois politics, the phenomenal majority of 1894, no doubt, due to his excellent management of that campaign. In 1896, he was elected Governor by a majority of more that 113,000 over John P. Altgeld. As Governor, he had an unusual number of public duties to contend with. The coal strikes at Virden, Pana and Carterville offered serious problems for solution, but peace and harmony were reestablished with slight loss of life and with general satisfaction to the conflicting interests. Perhaps, no more serious problem confronted the Governor than the financial embarrassment of the state, when he entered office. There were deficiencies in nearly all the institutions and no money in the Treasury with which to pay outstanding bills or current expenses. He made arrangements with business firms to furnish needed supplies at wholesale rates, with the understanding that they were to wait until there were funds with which to pay the bills. He . . . by careful and judicious management brought the state out of this difficulty and restored its credit. . . . His knowledge of men, his broad views of public questions, his close acquaintance with the public affairs of Illinois, with his vigilance and devotion to public duties, made his administration a decided success. . . . He died at Springfield, IL, on May 23, 1901.

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Excerpt from Marquis’ “The Book of Chicagoans” (1907 ed.)

PACKARD, George, lawyer, born in Providence, RI, on May 27, 1868; son of William L. and Mary Eastern (Peckham) Packard; educated in English and Classical School in Providence (1876-1885); Brown University (1885-1880), A.B., 1889; Northwestern University Law School , LL.B., 1891; married in Chicago on January 23, 1893, to Caroline Howe; children: Dorothy, Frank H., Mary. Admitted to the Bar in 1891 and entered the office of Peckham & Brown; Assistant Attorney for The World’s Columbian Exposition (1892-1893); returned to Peckham & Brown in 1893 and engaged in general practice; firm changed to Peckham, Brown & Packard in 1897; with Mr. Brown, who was Attorney for the [North] Park Board, had much to do in 1896-1899 in establishing riparian rights in Illinois in connection with Lincoln Park; on withdrawal in the Summer of 1903 of Mr. Brown, because of election to Circuit Court Bench, Edwin Burritt Smith, W. T. ApMadoc and Vincent J. Walsh were added to the firm, which assumed the style of Peckham, Smith, Packard & ApMadoc. Democrat. Member of The Society for Ethical Culture, Director of The Chicago Law Institute, Children’s Memorial Hospital. Member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, The Chicago Bar Association. Clubs: Chicago Literary, University, Law, Skokie Country. Office: First National Bank Building. Residence: 1922 Barry Avenue.

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Excerpt from Marquis’ “The Book of Chicagoans” (1911 edition)

PACKARD, George, lawyer, born in Providence, RI, on May 27, 1868; son of William L. and Mary Eastern (Peckham) Packard; educated in English and Classical School in Providence (1876-1885); Brown University (1885-1880), A.B., 1889; Northwestern University Law School , LL.B., 1891; married in Chicago on January 23, 1893, to Caroline Howe; children: Dorothy, Frank H., Mary. Admitted to the Bar in 1891 and entered the office of Peckham & Brown; Assistant Attorney for The World’s Columbian Exposition (1892-1893); returned to Peckham & Brown in 1893 and engaged in general practice; firm changed to Peckham, Brown & Packard in 1897; with Mr. Brown, who was Attorney for the [North] Park Board, had much to do in 1896-1899 in establishing riparian rights in Illinois in connection with Lincoln Park; on withdrawal in the Summer of 1903 of Mr. Brown, because of election to Circuit Court Bench, Edwin Burritt Smith, W. T. ApMadoc and Vincent J. Walsh were added to the firm, which assumed the style of Peckham, Smith, Packard & ApMadoc; after the death of Edwin Burritt Smith and the return of Judge Brown to private practice, the firm became Peckham, Brown, Packard & Walsh. Democrat. Member of The Society for Ethical Culture, Director of Children’s Memorial Hospital. Member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society, The Chicago Bar Association. Clubs: Chicago Literary, University, City, Cliff Dwellers, Law, Geneva Golf. Residence: 436 Barry Avenue. Office: First National Bank Building.

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Excerpt from 1926 Marquis’ “Who’s Who in Chicago”

PACKARD, George, lawyer, born in Providence, RI, on May 27, 1868; son of William L. and Mary Eastern (Peckham) Packard; educated in English and Classical School in Providence (1876-1885); Brown University (1885-1880), A.B., 1889; Northwestern University Law School , LL.B., 1891; married on to Caroline Howe of Chicago on January 23, 1893; children: Dorothy (Mrs. F. Farrington Holt), Frank H., Mary (Mrs. Fred W. Copeland). Admitted to the Bar in 1891 and entered the office of Peckham & Brown; Assistant Attorney for The Chicago Exposition (1892-1893); returned to Peckham & Brown in 1893 and engaged in general practice; firm changed to Peckham, Brown & Packard in 1897; with Mr. Brown, who was Attorney for the [North] Park Board, had much to do in 1896-1899 in establishing riparian rights in Illinois in connection with Lincoln Park; on withdrawal in the Summer of 1903 of Mr. Brown, because of election to Circuit Court Bench, Edwin Burritt Smith, W. T. ApMadoc and Vincent J. Walsh were added to the firm, which assumed the style of Peckham, Smith, Packard & ApMadoc; after the death of Edwin Burritt Smith and the return of Judge Brown to private practice, the firm became Peckham, Brown, Packard & Walsh, later Miller, Starr Brown, Packard & Peckham; after the death of John S. Miller in 1922, the firm became known as Brown, Packard, Peckham & Barnes and so continues. Member of American, Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, Phi Beta Kappa, The Society for Ethical Culture, Director of Children’s Memorial Hospital. Democrat. Clubs: Chicago Literary, University, City, Cliff Dwellers, Law. Residence: 436 Barry Avenue. Office: 1522, 38 South Dearborn Street.

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Excerpt from 1936 Marquis’ “Who’s Who in Chicago”

PACKARD, George, lawyer, born in Providence, RI, on May 27, 1868; son of William L. and Mary Eastern (Peckham) Packard; educated in English and Classical School in Providence (1876-1885); Brown University (1885-1880), A.B., 1889; Northwestern University Law School , LL.B., 1891; married on to Caroline Howe of Chicago on January 23, 1893; children: Dorothy (Mrs. F. Farrington Holt), Frank H., Mary (Mrs. Fred W. Copeland). Admitted to the Bar in 1891 and entered the office of Peckham & Brown; Assistant Attorney for The Chicago Exposition (1892-1893); returned to Peckham & Brown in 1893 and engaged in general practice; firm changed to Peckham, Brown & Packard in 1897; with Mr. Brown, who was Attorney for the [North] Park Board, had much to do in 1896-1899 in establishing riparian rights in Illinois in connection with Lincoln Park; on withdrawal in the Summer of 1903 of Mr. Brown, because of election to Circuit Court Bench, Edwin Burritt Smith, W. T. ApMadoc and Vincent J. Walsh were added to the firm, which assumed the style of Peckham, Smith, Packard & ApMadoc; after the death of Edwin Burritt Smith and the return of Judge Brown to private practice, the firm became Peckham, Brown, Packard & Walsh, later Miller, Starr Brown, Packard & Peckham; after the death of John S. Miller in 1922, the firm became known as Brown, Packard, Peckham & Barnes and, in 1926, changed to Packard, Barnes & McCaughey, now Packard, Barnes, McCaughey & Schumacher. Member of American, Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, Phi Beta Kappa, Chicago Ethical Society (ex-President), Law Club. Clubs: Chicago Literary, University, Cliff Dwellers (Vice-President). Recreation: golf. Home: 436 Barry Avenue, Chicago, and (Summer) Mackinac Island, MI. Office: 1517, 38 South Dearborn Street, Chicago.

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CH02/21136675.1

04/04/06