BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
ALBUM of GENEALOGY and BIOGRAPHY, COOK
COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Chicago - LaSalle Book Company successor to Calumet
Book & Engraving Co.
1899
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JOHN WENTWORTH.
Probably no man has held in more affectionate remembrance by the
early settlers of northern Illinois than he whose name heads this
article. Nor could an individual be chosen who could more
fittingly be called a type of American growth and greatness.
Towering to a height of six feet six inches and being in his younger
days rather slender, he acquired the name of "Long John," by which
he was sill familiarly known after he had gained a more portly
figure and a most imposing presence. The Hamptonia,
published at New Hampton Academy, thus epitomizes his public life:
"Mr. Wentworth, all through his editorial and
official life, has shown himself not only a man of decided
convictions, but has proved on many notable occasions that he had,
under the most adverse circumstances, the courage to follow them.
He has ever looked upon parties as only necessary organizations for
hte accomplishment of desirable ends, and he has no party
attachments beyond his assurance of right, always having principles
that he wished sustained by the legislation of his country, and
always seeking political organization that would promote this
object. Mr. Wentworth has been remarkable, as a writer
and speaker, for conveying his ideas in the fewest possible words,
and for his success in commanding the closest attention of
promiscuous audiences; also for his habits of untiring industry, and
for keeping such control of his private business that he was ever
independent of political action."
The Domesday Book of 1066 shows that Reginald
Wentworth - then called Rynold de Wynterwade - the
proprietor of the fief of Wentworth in the Wapentake of Strafford,
West Riding of Yorkshire. The subject of this sketch is a
grandson of John Wentworth, junior, who was a member of the
Continental Congress from New Hampshire, and signed the Articles of
Confederation. He was also a grandson of Col. Amos
Coggswell, who joined the Continental Army under the historic
elm at Cambridge, fought with his six brothers through the
Revolution, and aided in forming the Society of Cincinnati at its
close.
John Wentworth, of whom this sketch is written,
was born in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire, sometimes
called the "Switzerland of America," at Sandwich, Strafford County,
the date of his birth being March 15, 1815. His parents were
Honorable Paul and Lydia (Coggswell) Wentworth, He attended
various public and private schools and academies during his youth,
where he was ever ready with new and original work. In 1830,
while attending New Hampton Academy, he was influential in
organizing a literary society for the benefits of the younger
students, in which he developed the basis of that forensic talent
for which he was afterwards noted. As early as 1832 he wrote
articles for the Democratic press, in defense of President
Jackson's financial policy, which attracted favorable attention.
In that year he entered Dartmouth College and was graduated in 1836,
having paid a portion of his way by teaching. He cast his
first vote for Isaac Hill, the Democratic candidate for
governor in New Hampshire, and the same year, with good
recommendations and $100, in his pocket, he left home with the idea
of settling somewhere in the West. After a varied journey,
made partly by state, partly by ars and partly by canal and
steamboats, he arrived in Chicago October 25, 1836. He soon
made arrangements to continue his study of law with Henry Moore,
a pioneer lawyer of the city, but on November 23 was induced to take
editorial charge of the Chicago Democrat. His influence
was so strong in this stern advocate of the people that both
citizens and owners urged him to secure permanent charge, to which
he soon consented and within three years had paid the purchase price
of $2800. Curing these first years he was active in city
affairs and held various offices, writing on many political
subjects, besides making his paper a political power throughout the
Northwest.
In spite of these demands upon his time he continued
his law studies and in 1841 attended lectures at Harvard College.
He turned in time to take part in the campaign of 1842 and was soon
admitted to the bar. The election which should have been held
in 1842 was not held until August of the next year, when Mr.
Wentworth was elected to Congress from the Fourth District by a
large majority. Although but three years above the legal age
and without experience in legislative bodies, he attended to his
duties as successfully as an old parliamentarian and was re-elected
in 1844, 1846 and 1848. He declined the office in 1850, but
was again elected in 1852, from the Second District. The
Democratic Review said of his congressional career:
"Colonel Wentworth's political career has been marked by
untiring industry and perseverance, by independence of thought,
expression and action, by a thorough knowledge of human nature, by a
moral courage equal to any crisis, by a self-possession that enables
him to avail himself of any chance of success, when on the very
threshold of defeat, and by a steady devotion to what he believes to
be the wishes and interests of those who representative he is."
In 1857 Mr. Wentworth was elected mayor of
Chicago by a large majority, and during his term and another which
he served in 1860, he adhered to his old watchward of "Liberty and
Economy." In each case he found the city in debt and went out
of office with money in the treasury. During his first term
the first steam fire engine was bought for the city and named "Long
John," in his honor. In 1860 he had the honor of entertaining
the Prince of Wales, and was assured that in no city were the
arrangements more perfect. In 1861 he was a delegate to the
convention to revise the state constitution and in the same year was
chosen a member of the board of education. He was ever a
friend of education and used his influence to defend the school
funds and school system from various attacks.
Concerning Mr. Wentworth's action on the slavery
question, the famous abolitionist, Zebina Eastman, wrote: "In
politics Colonel Wentworth has ever acted with the old-line
Democratic party; but when the old parties became split up, he went
with such other Democrats as Hamlin, Wilmot, King, Trumbull,
Fremont. Blair and others, into what is known as the Republican
movement. To the success of this movement Colonel Wentworth
has, by public speeches, by writing in his newspaper, and by efforts
in every other way, bent all his energies. And if there is any
truth in the old adage that the tree which bears the best fruit is
always known by its receiving the greatest number of clubs,
Colonel Wentworth is singled out as one of the most effective
laborers in the ranks of the opposition to slavery extension.:
After leaving Congress Mr. Wentworth passed many
happy hours on his extensive stock farm at Summit, Cook County,
though he was often called upon by his fellow-citizens to fill some
public office. He was an able writer on historical and
genealogical subjects and a valued member of the Chicago Historical
Society. One of his important contributions in this line is
the Wentworth Genealogy, in three volumes. He joined
the Masons and Odd Fellows soon after coming to Chicago and was a
member of the Calumet Club. He died October 16, 1888.
On November 13, 1844, Mr. Wentworth was married
to Roxanna Marie, only daughter of Riley and Roxanna
(Atwater) Loomis, of Troy, New York. Five children were
born of this marriage, but only one, Roxanna Atwater, reached
maturity. She became the wife of Clarence Bowen January
27, 1892. Mrs. Wentworth passed away after many years
of delicate health, Feb. 5, 1870.
Source: Album of Genealogy
and Biography, Cook County, Illinois - Publ. Chicago-LaSalle Book
Company successor to Calumet Book & Engraving Co. - 1899 - Page |
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