Powers, Johnny

Chicago alderman Johnny Powers was born February 15, 1852 in Brannon, Kilkenny, Ireland. As an Irish immigrant, he was able to gain control of Chicago’s predominantly Irish 19th Ward as a Democratic Party boss from 1888-1927. His involvement in the “Alderman’s Wars” of 1916-1921 made famous his nickname, Johnny “De Pow” Powers. As Italian immigrants flooded the West side’s 19th Ward, Anthony D’Andrea and his supporters mounted a bloody campaign to unseat Powers. From D’Andrea’s first aldermanic defeat in 1916 to his last in 1921, the violent allies of each alderman killed each other at an astonishing pace (30 deaths were reported in 5 years) until D’Andrea’s assassination in May of 1921, at which time it became clear that Powers reigned triumphant in the 19th Ward, despite his corruption and tolerance of crime.

Anthony D’Andrea was not the only one to challenge Powers’ rule—Jane Addams also fought his backroom dealings, bribery and cronyism. As the director of Hull House, situated in the 19th Ward and an advocate of social reform, Addams strove for proper public educational facilities to house the 3,000 children who could not attend the ward’s overcrowded schools. When a petition campaign that she had spearheaded obtained thousands of signatures, the area school board approved the construction of a new school. Powers, who had close ties to the Catholic Church, killed funds for the project and, in accordance with the ward’s Catholic priests, supported the construction of a new parochial school. Powers’ support of the Catholic parishes led to a Catholic condemnation of Hull House, an establishment which Catholic leaders saw as an encroachment of their parishes.

Addams also accused Powers of not truly caring about his constituents, and used the issue of garbage collection as an example. The position of ward garbage collector was a coveted one, since it was a stepping stone to higher political office. Powers’ appointees then were chosen because of their loyalty to him and the Democratic Party, rather than their commitment to their work. As a result, the streets of the 19th Ward were filthy. Her push for more, better public schools, her non-denominational social reform at Hull House and her opposition to Johnny “De Pow” Powers got Jane Addams branded “anti-Catholic” and strengthened Powers religious support network. Addams realized that the voters continued to re-elect Powers because of what he represented to them, a “rags to riches” story of an immigrant turned successful political boss, instead of what he did for them. Johnny Powers died May 19, 1930, in Chicago. Historically, it is perhaps his role as Addams’ political nemesis for which Johnny Powers is best known.

Next: Hempstead Washburne

Sources:

Schofield, John

John Scholfield was born in 1834 in Clark County, Illinois. His father, Thomas Scholfield, originally from Virginia, was a Pennsylvania Quaker that came to Illinois in 1830 as a pioneer. Thomas married a woman from Ohio and settled on a farm in Clark County. John spent the beginning of his youth working on the farm and attending school; however, when his mother died when he was 16, John left the farm in Clark County and moved to Martinsville, Illinois to live with his uncle.

It was his mother’s wish for him to become a lawyer; thus John was very studious. In addition to his studies, John worked in stables for his room and board. Interestingly, once while working in the stables John waited on a man who would eventually argue a case before him in the Illinois Supreme Court. After two years of working in the stables, John went to Marshall, Illinois and entered an Academy there that was run by a Congressional Minister. Just as John had worked in the stables to support himself in Martinsville, John did chores and worked for the local Sheriff. Although he was busy with work, Scholfield also enjoyed playing sports and was considerably athletic.

In 1851 Scholfield began working as a school teacher; however, he never completely stopped with his own personal studies, and in 1854 Scholfield sold a piece of land he had inherited from his uncle in order to pay for law school. John graduated from Louisville Law School when he was only 22 years old, and immediately entered into the public eye and the legal world. He was elected State’s Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and held this position for four years. At this time, railroads were not yet common, so he had to travel on horseback between the ten counties in his judicial circuit. As a prosecutor, Scholfield became famous for ferociously prosecuting hog thieves.

In his life, Scholfield was actively involved in partisan politics as a Democrat. He made speeches on behalf of Democratic President Buchanan in 1856, as well as Presidential hopeful Douglas in 1858 and 1860. Scholfield himself was elected to the legislature in 1860. In 1869 he was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1870. Scholfield was also a member of the Masonic Order.

Despite his political involvement, Scholfield was always actively involved in the practice of law, which, in addition to his political exploits, won him a spot on the Supreme Court of Illinois in 1873, running against Judge Kingsbury. In 1879 and 1888 he was re-elected without opposition.

Scholfield was known to make his family his highest priority. In 1859, Scholfield married a women from Clark County, Illinoiss, Emma J. Bartlett. The couple had ten children together, eight boys and two girls. Scholfield’s connections in Washington led him to have an opportunity to serve in the United States Supreme Court which he denied. His reasoning for declining was mainly rooted in his desire to live close to his children, knowing he would have trouble supporting them while he was in Washington.

In the last few years of his life, Judge Scholfield suffered from stomach pains. Nevertheless he continued with his duties as a judge. On February 13th, 1893, he died of an inflammation of the stomach wall.

Next: John M. Scott

Sources:

  • “Sketch of a Justices Life.” Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963) Feb. 14th, 1893. Proquest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849-1986). Pg. 1
  • “Relieved By Death.” Chicago Daily Tribune 1872; Feb. 14th, 1893. Proquest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849-1986). Pg. 1
  • The Green Bag. 5.(1893): 148.

Scott, John M.

John M. Scott was born on August 1, 1824 in St. Clair County, Illinois. John’s father, Samuel Scott was born in Virginia but came from a family of Irish immigrants. John’s mother Nancy Biggs was born in Illinois. As a boy, John attended public schooling; however, his parents concurrently provided him with private instruction as well. In his private instruction, John excelled in the study of Latin which would help him in his later study of law. He also exhibited much skill in mathematics which he considered his favorite subject.

Scott began his study of law under the Honorable William C. Kinney in Belleville, Illinois. In 1847, Scott was admitted to the bar, and in the following year moved to Bloomington, Illinois to set up his own practice. After only four years of private practice, Scott was elected to be Judge of the County Court in McLean County. He held this position until 1862 when he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court. In 1867 he was re-elected to the Circuit Court. After eight years of service on the Circuit Court, Judge Scott stepped down in 1870 and ran successfully for the Illinois Supreme Court, beating his opponent, Judge Terry, thus becoming the first native-born person from Illinois to be elected to its supreme court. He was re-elected to the supreme court in 1879, and served three terms as chief justice of the court. In 1888 Judge Scott chose not run again for the supreme court, and stepped down from his position.

While still serving as a Circuit Court Judge, Judge Scott married Charloette A. Perry who was the daughter of a minister in Bloomington. The couple had two children, both of whom died in infancy. Judge Scott had personal contempt for politics, and never sought any office beyond his position as judge. Although he had personal distain for politics he did not resent politicians. As a member of the Masonic order, much of the company he kept were politicians.

After stepping down from the supreme court at age 64, he dedicated the remaining years of his life to local history. Shortly before his death, Scott wrote a 300-page volume on legal history in Illinois entitled Supreme Court of Illinois, 1818: Its First Judges and Lawyers. On January 21, 1898, John M. Scott died in his home, reportedly from a carbuncle on the back of his neck.

Next: Simeon Peter Shope

Sources:

Shope, Simeon Peter

Simeon Peter Shope was born on December 3rd, 1834 in Akron Ohio. As a boy he was incredibly athletic and retained a physically strong physique throughout his life. When he was young, his family moved to Woodfard County, Illinois. In Illinois, Shope attended Eureka College. Shope studied law under Judge Powell and Judge Purple before entering into his own practice. Upon his admittance to the bar, Shope moved to Lewiston, Illinois and began his own private practice.

As a lawyer, Shope quickly became known for his eloquence as a speaker. His oratory power led not only to success in the legal field, but also in the realm of politics. Shope was an avid Democrat and became heavily involved in the party in Illinois. From 1862-1864 Shope served as a representative in the Illinois House of Representatives.

In 1877, Shope was elected Circuit Court Judge of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. He was re-elected to another term as Circuit Judge but stepped down after his second term and set his sights on the Supreme Court of Illinois. Shope successfully ran and was elected to the Supreme Court of Illinois on June 1st of 1885. He moved to Chicago upon his election to the Supreme Court; however, he stepped down in 1894 after serving only one term. Despite his having served but one term, in 1889 Shope acted as Chief Justice to the court. After retiring from the Supreme Court, Shope continued his private practice of law up until his sudden death. In his life time, Shope was a member of a number of elite organizations including the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic Order.

Shope was unfortunate enough to witness the death of all of his immediate family. Shope had lived with his daughter in Chicago, until she died in 1918. Although four grand-children survived him, friends stated that with the death of his daughter, a “light had gone out of his life.” On January 23rd, 1920 Simeon Peter Shope was killed in a car accident in Chicago.

Next: Alonzo K. Vickers

Sources:

The Factory Inspection Reports

The four Annual Reports of the Factory Inspectors of Illinois, filed by Florence Kelley for the years 1893, 1894, 1895, and 1896, the years in which she held the office of Chief Factory Inspector, are official reports to the Governor, a compendium of information on prosecutions under the Factory and Workshop Inspection Act, and a history of the constitutional challenge to the legislation brought by the Illinois Manufacturers Association under the leadership of Levy Mayer.

The details of the inspections, the descriptions of what the investigators saw and found, and the specificity and particularity of the information raise these Reports from the routine, the mundane of government work. In addition to the factual findings, the descriptions of what the Factory Inspectors were doing and how they conceived of their work are extraordinarily articulate and precise. [See, e.g. Appendix A, First Annual Report (p. 24) Details of Inspections in the Garment Trades.] The Reports offer countless examples of how facts can be transposed into argument, or song.

The Annual Factory Inspection Reports were occasionally supplemented by Special Reports, such as the First Special Report of the Factory Inspectors of Illinois on Small-Pox in the Tenement House Sweat-Shops of Chicago, July 1, 1894. Again, the agenda for these Reports was multifaceted, more than the simple accumulation of factual detail.

In addition to being mandated by the legislation, Reports under the Factory and Workshop Inspection Law and the reality they described were powerful tools to advocate for more public schools, or improved garbage collection or the provision of clean water, services allegedly provided by the City to the Nineteenth Ward.

The Annual Reports are legal history, urban history, advocacy petitions, and most importantly writings chronicling how people lived and worked at this time, in this place, as observed by the people, mostly women, who went to investigate.

Next: 3 Pivotal Court Cases

Note To Geneologists: The Factory Inspection Reports and many other Archives documents here include the names and addresses of companies and many references to individuals.

Management notice. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Management notice. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Bedroom. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885.

Bedroom. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885.

Canning room, stockyards. Description: Canning room, stockyards; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-21839. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph, creator - J. W. Taylor. Date: 1890's.

Canning room, stockyards. Description: Canning room, stockyards; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-21839. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph, creator - J. W. Taylor. Date: 1890's.

Floor cleaning. Photograph by Rubenstein UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Floor cleaning. Photograph by Rubenstein UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Men overlooking woman. Photograph by Rubenstein. Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Men overlooking woman. Photograph by Rubenstein. Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Men during an eight-hour strike of the Chicago Typographical Union. Description: Men during an eight-hour strike of the Chicago Typographical Union, Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-15130. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph, creator - unknown. Date: 1905-1906.

Men during an eight-hour strike of the Chicago Typographical Union. Description: Men during an eight-hour strike of the Chicago Typographical Union, Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-15130. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph, creator - unknown. Date: 1905-1906.

Man working. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885

Man working. Photograph by Rubenstein Source: UNITE HERE Archives, Kheel Center, Cornell University Date: Circa 1885


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