John H. Kinzie
Encyclopedia
John Harris Kinzie was the eldest son of John Kinzie
, one of Chicago
's first permanent settlers. Kinzie arrived in Chicago
with his parents when he was one year old.
After living with his family in Detroit, Michigan
following the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the Kinzies returned to Chicago in 1816 and from 1818 until 1823, he worked for the American Fur Company
. He spent some time working for the governor of the Michigan Territory
in the 1820s and became an Indian subagent at Fort Winnebago
until he returned to Chicago in 1833. On August 11, 1834, Kinzie became the second president of Chicago. On May 2, 1837 he ran against William Butler Ogden
for mayor when Chicago became a city and lost. In 1857 he was voted president of the Chicago Board of Underwriters and his wife Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie
published a memoir titled Wau-bun that included an eyewitness description of the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Kinzie died suddenly on a railroad train on June 21, 1865.
Kinzie is the maternal grandfather of Juliette Gordon Low
, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA
.
John Kinzie
John Kinzie was one of Chicago's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street in Chicago is named after him.-Early life:...
, one 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...
's first permanent settlers. Kinzie arrived in 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...
with his parents when he was one year old.
After living with his family in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
following the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the Kinzies returned to Chicago in 1816 and from 1818 until 1823, he worked for the American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
. He spent some time working for the governor of the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
in the 1820s and became an Indian subagent at Fort Winnebago
Fort Winnebago
This article is about the U.S. Army fort. For the civil township of the same name, see Fort Winnebago, WisconsinFort Winnebago was a 19th century fortification of the United States Army located on a hill between the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers in Portage, Wisconsin...
until he returned to Chicago in 1833. On August 11, 1834, Kinzie became the second president of Chicago. On May 2, 1837 he ran against William Butler Ogden
William Butler Ogden
William Butler Ogden was the first Mayor of Chicago.Ogden was born in Walton, New York. When still a teenager, his father died and Ogden took over the family real estate business...
for mayor when Chicago became a city and lost. In 1857 he was voted president of the Chicago Board of Underwriters and his wife Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie
Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie
Juliette Augusta Magill Kinzie was an American, historian, writer and pioneer of the American midwest.-Biography:...
published a memoir titled Wau-bun that included an eyewitness description of the Battle of Fort Dearborn.
Kinzie died suddenly on a railroad train on June 21, 1865.
Legacy
John H. Kinzie elementary school is named after him.Kinzie is the maternal grandfather of Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.-Early life:...
, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
.