The 1837 Chicago mayoral election was held on May 2, 1837. It was the first Chicago mayoral election, taking place the same year as Chicago's incorporation as a city. Democratic candidate William B. Ogden defeated Whig incumbent Town President John H. Kinzie by a landslide 38.5 point margin.
Shortly after the election Ogden was sworn in as Chicago's first mayor. This set the precedent of scheduling Chicago's mayoral inauguration for the month of May, a practice which has continued for most of the city's history into the present.[1]
The election coincided with elections to the Common Council. In addition to winning the mayor's office, Democrats took all 10 seats of the Common Council.[2]
Chicago had quickly been becoming a stronghold for the Whig Party.[5] To overcome this trend, Democrats Francis Sherman, John Wentworth, and Peter Pruyne convinced William B. Ogden to run on their party's ticket.[5] Wentworth, being editor of the city's Chicago Democrat newspaper, used the paper to support Ogden's candidacy.[4]
Kinzie campaigned on a platform advocating the extension of Chicago's plank roads into the countryside.[5] Ogden ran a more railroad-centric candidacy, believing that the railroads were the lifeline for the city's future.[5]
Making use of his roots in the city, as the son of early settlers, Kinzie's supporters used the slogan "First born of Chicago" to promote him.[4][5] Kinzie had the backing of old settlers, such as Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard.[5] Detractors of Ogden accused him of being a "transient speculator" whose only aim was to make money off of Chicago before returning to New York.[4][6] However, this line of attack was rendered ineffective by the fact that, by this time, eastern newcomers made up a majority of the city's populace.[4]
Kinzie, being popular figure, initially seemed to have an advantage in the election.[5]
Voting procedureedit
Voting was done viva voce. Individuals would walk up to a table and orally announce their vote, for all to eavesdrop upon.[5] Each ward had a single polling place.[5]
Ogden won in every ward, even defeating Kinzie in his own ward by a single vote.[5][7]
Ward
Ogden
Kinzie
Total Votes
Votes
%
Votes
%
1st
102
61.1%
65
38.9%
167
2nd
182
74.9%
61
25.1%
243
3rd
21
60.0%
14
40.0%
35
4th
34
64.2%
19
35.9%
53
5th
58
96.7%
2
3.3%
60
6th
73
50.4%
72
49.7%
145
Referencesedit
^John, Derek (18 February 2015). "No Conspiracy Required: The True Origins Of Chicago's February Elections". WBEZ. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
^ abOrigin, Growth, and Usefulness of the Chicago Board of Trade: Its Leading Members, and Representative Business Men in other branches of Trade. New York: Historical Publishing Company. 1885–1886. p. 37. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^Goodspeed, Weston A. (Feb 6, 2017). The History of Cook County, Illinois. Jazzybee Verlag.
^ abcdeMiller, Donald L. (2014). City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America. Rosetta Books. p. 98, 103. ISBN978-0-7953-3985-1. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
^ abcdefghijHarpster, Jack (December 3, 2018). Railroad Tycoon Who Built Chicago.
^Pierce, Bessie Louise. A History of Chicago, Volume I: The Beginning of a City 1673-1848. p. 376.
^ abGoodspeed, Weston A. (Feb 6, 2017). History of Cook County, Illinois--, Being a General Survey of Cook County History, Including a Condensed History of Chicago and Special Account of Districts Outside the City Limits; from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time Volume I. Jazzybee Verlag. p. 132.
October 28, 2023
1837, chicago, mayoral, election, held, 1837, first, chicago, mayoral, election, taking, place, same, year, chicago, incorporation, city, democratic, candidate, william, ogden, defeated, whig, incumbent, town, president, john, kinzie, landslide, point, margin,. The 1837 Chicago mayoral election was held on May 2 1837 It was the first Chicago mayoral election taking place the same year as Chicago s incorporation as a city Democratic candidate William B Ogden defeated Whig incumbent Town President John H Kinzie by a landslide 38 5 point margin Chicago mayoral election 1837May 2 1837 1838 Candidate William B Ogden John H KinzieParty Democratic WhigPopular vote 470 233Percentage 66 86 33 14 Mayor before electionJohn H Kinzie as Town President Whig Elected Mayor William B OgdenDemocraticShortly after the election Ogden was sworn in as Chicago s first mayor This set the precedent of scheduling Chicago s mayoral inauguration for the month of May a practice which has continued for most of the city s history into the present 1 The election coincided with elections to the Common Council In addition to winning the mayor s office Democrats took all 10 seats of the Common Council 2 Contents 1 Campaign 2 Voting procedure 3 Results 3 1 Results by ward 4 ReferencesCampaign editProminent Chicagoan W B Egan had been considered a potential candidate however he refused to run 3 Kinzie was backed by individuals such as Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard 4 Chicago had quickly been becoming a stronghold for the Whig Party 5 To overcome this trend Democrats Francis Sherman John Wentworth and Peter Pruyne convinced William B Ogden to run on their party s ticket 5 Wentworth being editor of the city s Chicago Democrat newspaper used the paper to support Ogden s candidacy 4 Kinzie campaigned on a platform advocating the extension of Chicago s plank roads into the countryside 5 Ogden ran a more railroad centric candidacy believing that the railroads were the lifeline for the city s future 5 Making use of his roots in the city as the son of early settlers Kinzie s supporters used the slogan First born of Chicago to promote him 4 5 Kinzie had the backing of old settlers such as Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard 5 Detractors of Ogden accused him of being a transient speculator whose only aim was to make money off of Chicago before returning to New York 4 6 However this line of attack was rendered ineffective by the fact that by this time eastern newcomers made up a majority of the city s populace 4 Kinzie being popular figure initially seemed to have an advantage in the election 5 Voting procedure editVoting was done viva voce Individuals would walk up to a table and orally announce their vote for all to eavesdrop upon 5 Each ward had a single polling place 5 The polling places for each ward were 2 First The Eagle No 10 Dearborn Avenue Second Lincoln Coffee House Third Charles Taylor s House Canal Street Fourth Chicago Hotel northeast corner of Canal and Lake Streets Fifth Canal office North Water Street Sixth Franklin House North Water StreetResults edit1839 Chicago mayoral election 7 Party Candidate Votes Democratic William B Ogden 470 66 86Whig John H Kinzie 233 33 14Total votes 703 100 00Results by ward edit Ogden won in every ward even defeating Kinzie in his own ward by a single vote 5 7 Ward Ogden Kinzie Total VotesVotes Votes 1st 102 61 1 65 38 9 1672nd 182 74 9 61 25 1 2433rd 21 60 0 14 40 0 354th 34 64 2 19 35 9 535th 58 96 7 2 3 3 606th 73 50 4 72 49 7 145References edit John Derek 18 February 2015 No Conspiracy Required The True Origins Of Chicago s February Elections WBEZ Retrieved 4 December 2018 a b Origin Growth and Usefulness of the Chicago Board of Trade Its Leading Members and Representative Business Men in other branches of Trade New York Historical Publishing Company 1885 1886 p 37 Retrieved December 4 2018 Goodspeed Weston A Feb 6 2017 The History of Cook County Illinois Jazzybee Verlag a b c d e Miller Donald L 2014 City of the Century The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America Rosetta Books p 98 103 ISBN 978 0 7953 3985 1 Retrieved 17 May 2020 a b c d e f g h i j Harpster Jack December 3 2018 Railroad Tycoon Who Built Chicago Pierce Bessie Louise A History of Chicago Volume I The Beginning of a City 1673 1848 p 376 a b Goodspeed Weston A Feb 6 2017 History of Cook County Illinois Being a General Survey of Cook County History Including a Condensed History of Chicago and Special Account of Districts Outside the City Limits from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time Volume I Jazzybee Verlag p 132 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1837 Chicago mayoral election amp oldid 1180520316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
