Newberry Library - Letters regarding the Illinois Central Railroad Company Chicago and Bourbonnais, Ill., 1853 Jan. 9-1929 Jan. 21

Title Letters regarding the Illinois Central Railroad Company Chicago and Bourbonnais, Ill., 1853 Jan. 9-1929 Jan. 21

Date 1853-1929

Subjects Illinois Central Railroad Company, Railroads

Description Formerly known as Ayer MS 400a.

Summary Five letters, dated in Chicago and Bourbonnais, Ill., Jan. 9, 1853 to Jan. 21, 1929, concerning matters of the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The letter on stationery of "The Illinois Central Magazine", dated Jan. 21, 1929, is addressed to Professor Wallace B. Amsbary of the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago, from C.E. Kane, editor of the magazine. Kane is forwarding to Amsbary typed copies of three letters from 1853 and 1855 on the early history of the I.C. Railroad and the settlement of Illinois around Kankakee and Bourbonnais, which were brought to his attention by C.J. Corliss, associate editor of the magazine and an authority on early Railroad history. In his letter of Jan. 9, 1853, addressed to Robert Schuyler, president of the IC Railroad, Father Chiniquy, a missionary from Bourbonnais, requests a grant of land on which to build a school for children of the French Canadian immigrants who are flocking to eastern Illinois. He believes that these new settlers will help to increase railroad business. A note from R.B. Mason, chief engineer and general superintendent of the Railroad, is appended at the end, endorsing Chiniquy's character and noting his past successes in establishing several French settlements in Illinois. The 1855 letters are from Benjamin F. Johnson at the I.C. offices in Chicago, to company officials W. H. Osborn, and J. Newton Perkins. The one to Osborn, dated Nov. 5th, contains details on the history and development of Bourbonnais, with references to some early French settlers, Vasser and Bellegarde, and the Pottawottamie Indians, led by their chief Shabbonnee. The letter of Dec. 26 to Perkins discusses the need to ship corn, sugar, coffee, and molasses from Cairo to Chicago by rail, as the rivers are frozen. Johnson also mentions the visit of the German scholar, "Dr. [J.G.] Kohl" who is touring the area around Bourbonnais and Kankakee.

Extent 5 items ([9] leaves) ; 28 cm

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts, Records

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Citation Please refer to the catalog record or finding aid for citations. Though it is not required when repurposing Newberry content, please use the credit "From the Newberry Library," and provide a link back to the item in our digital collections website. This helps us track how our collections are used, and provides justification for adding more digitized content in the future

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 3017

BibID 202527

Rights Status Copyright Not Evaluated

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Manifest

Filename 992025278805867_Ayer_MS_3017

Unique Identifier NL11IH4X

Help "Need help finding, searching, sharing, or downloading? Check out our help page!"