Pandemics in Chicago-- Part 3: Cholera and Fort Dearborn

Continued from April 21, 2020.  Before I got on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Butler County, Pennsylvania.  You can catch up on the first two posts by clicking on the label Chicago below this entry.

Adam Selzer is quite knowledgeable about Chicago's history and its epidemics and pandemics.  He leads guided tours of cemeteries including one of the bigger ones called Graceland.

One of the epidemics that plagues Chicago in the 1800s was that of cholera.  Multiple outbreaks took place in the city in the 19th century.  He says the first major epidemic took place in 1832 (Chicago became a city in 1837).

It was brought in on a ship by Gen. Winfield Scott who arrived in town by ship with soldiers from the Black Hawk War. Dozens died as they occupied the old Fort Dearborn and Scott later said that the disease scared him more than any enemy because there was no way to fight it; he couldn't fortify his walls against it or even offer terms of surrender.

Fort Dearborn was the site of the infamous Fort Dearborn Massacre in the War of 1812.

--Cooter

Pandemics in Chicago-- Part 2: Graceland Cemetery, Lincoln Park Cemtery and Cholera

Adam Selzer is a local historian who earns a living taking people on small tours/walks around Chicago pointing.  Obviously, right now, die to the "V" those are not underway.  You can go to his Mysterious Chicago Facebook page to take one of his tours ala virtual.

Strangely, he was working on a new presentation "Health Scares Through History" tour through Graceland Cemetery in Chicago when all this "V" hit.

Graceland Cemetery opened in 1860, but you will find gravestones that predate that as many graves were relocated here from smaller cemeteries, family cemeteries and the city cemetery that used to be at Lincoln Park.  This one was closed because people were afraid the bodies buried there were affecting the drinking water.  (They didn't realize it, but these decaying bodies were causing the deadly cholera.

Cholera was major killer throughout the 19th century in Chicago and around the world.

--Cooter

Notable Burials in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery-- Part 2

Jack Johnson--  heavy weight boxer

Cyrus McCormick--  inventor, businessman

Joseph Medill--  publisher, mayor of Chicago

Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe--  architect

Potter Palmer--  businessman.  Owned the Palmer House Hotel and developed State Street in Chicago

Alan Pinkerton--  detective

George Pullman--  inventor, railroad industrialist, Pullman Cars

Louis Sullivan--  architect

Notable Burials in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Harold E. Goettler:  World War I Medal of Honor winner.

David Adler--  architect

John Peter Altgeld--  Illinois governor.  Altgeld Hall at NIU is named for him.

Phillip Danforth Armour--  meat packing

Daniel H. Burnham--  architect

Roger Ebert--  film critic

Marshall Field-- retailer

William LeBaron Jenney-- architect,  "Father of the Skyscraper"