Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard
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| Alderman of the Chicago Common Council from the 7th Ward |
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| In office 1860–1862 Serving with John Alston (1860–1861) and Alonzo Harvey (1861–1862)
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| Preceded by | Henry Wendt |
| Succeeded by | James Conlan |
| Trustee of the Town of Chicago | |
| In office 1835 – March 4, 1837 |
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| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1832–1834 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1802 Windsor, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | September 14, 1886 (aged 84) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Graceland Cemetery 41°57′17″N 87°39′43″W / 41.954820°N 87.661890°W |
| Spouse |
Eleanora Berry
(m. 1831; |
| Known for | Early Chicago resident |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard (born August 22, 1802 – died September 14, 1886) was an American businessman. He worked as a fur trader, selling animal furs, and an insurance underwriter, helping people protect their property. He also bought and sold land, hoping its value would increase.
Hubbard played a huge role in making Chicago grow into a big city in the 1800s. He first visited Chicago in 1818 and moved there permanently in the late 1820s. He became one of the most important people in the town. He was even one of its first leaders, called a trustee, in 1833. He built Chicago's first stockyard, a place where livestock are kept, and helped attract people to buy land in Chicago.
Besides his business work, Hubbard was known for being very athletic. Today, Hubbard Street in Chicago and Hubbard High School are named after him.
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Early Life and Work
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard was born in Windsor, Vermont, on August 22, 1802. His parents were Abigail Sage and Elizur Hubbard. Gurdon was named after his ancestor, Gurdon Saltonstall, who was a governor of Connecticut.
Young Gurdon didn't like school and often skipped classes. In 1812, his father, a lawyer, lost his money. Gurdon then went to live with his aunt in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where he continued his education. His family's money problems got worse, so his father decided to move the family to Montreal, Canada, in 1815. Gurdon joined them there.
In Montreal, Gurdon started working at a hardware store in 1816. He became friends with John Dyde. John's father ran a boarding house where William Matthews, an agent for the American Fur Company, stayed. In 1818, the company planned a trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan, and needed 12 young men to work as clerks. John told Gurdon about this opportunity.
Gurdon became very interested in joining the expedition. At first, his family and friends tried to stop him. But he kept trying and eventually got permission from his parents and Matthews. He signed a contract to work for the company for five years, earning $120 each year.
Adventures in Early Chicago
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard first arrived in Chicago on October 1, 1818. He was part of a group led by Antoine Deschamps. Hubbard had a letter of introduction to John Kinzie, a trader in Chicago. Kinzie's son, Morris, had become friends with Hubbard. Even though Hubbard later became a big supporter of Chicago, he didn't make it his permanent home until 1834.
Hubbard traveled a lot throughout Illinois. During these travels, he became the adopted son of Chief Waba of the Kickapoo people. He also married Watseka, who was the niece of Chief Tamin of the Potawatomi people from Kankakee, Illinois.
Hubbard was known for his amazing speed and endurance. Once, he walked for 75 miles (about 120 kilometers) in one night. He did this to warn the town of Danville, Illinois, about an upcoming attack by Native Americans. Because of this feat, he earned the nickname "Pa-pa-ma-ta-be," which means "Swift-Walker." Some people doubted his story, but he proved his abilities. A local Native American tribe challenged him to a walking contest against their best walker. Hubbard won by several miles, and his challenger was exhausted the next day, while Hubbard seemed fine.
Hubbard married Eleanora Berry on May 17, 1831. They were married until she passed away on January 28, 1838, shortly after giving birth to their son.
From 1832 to 1834, Hubbard served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He represented Vermilion County, Illinois. Even though he was a member of the Whig Party in an area that mostly supported the Democratic Party, he was easily elected. While in office, he argued that the Illinois and Michigan Canal should end at the Chicago River. He believed that ending it at the Calumet River would benefit Indiana more than Illinois.
Life and Business in Chicago
When Gurdon Hubbard finally settled in Chicago in 1834, he bought a cabin near Lake Michigan. He quickly became one of the village's first leaders, serving as a trustee.
In Chicago, Hubbard became a very important person in the fur trade. He also opened Chicago's first meat packing plant. This business helped supply meat to Fort Dearborn, a military fort. To support his meat business, he built the first large storage building, or warehouse, in Chicago. It was on the south bank of the Chicago River, near where LaSalle Street is today. People sometimes called it "Hubbard's Folly."
After making money in furs and meats, Hubbard started an insurance business. He was the very first insurance underwriter in Chicago. This meant he helped people get insurance to protect their property. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire caused huge damage to the city. Hubbard almost lost all his money because he had to pay out so much in insurance claims. However, he managed to recover from this difficult time.
Hubbard also owned a steamship called the Lady Elgin. In 1860, this ship sank after being hit by another boat near what is now Winnetka, Illinois. Even though Hubbard received insurance money for the loss, he never gave up ownership of the ship. The Lady Elgin was finally discovered in 1989. Also in 1860, Hubbard was elected as an alderman for Chicago's 7th Ward. An alderman is a local politician who helps govern a city.
In the late 1860s, Hubbard started writing his autobiography, which is the story of his own life. He had written about 800 pages, but this manuscript was sadly destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. After the fire, he began to rewrite it. However, he only managed to finish up to the year 1829 before he passed away.
Later Years and Legacy
After the Great Chicago Fire, Gurdon Hubbard slowly recovered from his financial problems. However, his health began to get worse. In 1883, he became very ill. The following year, he had his left eye removed, and in 1885, his right eye was also removed. Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard died on September 14, 1886. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.
The historian Lloyd Wendt wrote in 1986 that Hubbard "as much or more than any other man ... [made] Chicago the great city it became." This shows how important Hubbard was to Chicago's growth.
Today, several places in Chicago are named after him:
- Hubbard Street, a street in Chicago, Illinois.
- Hubbard High School, a school in Chicago, Illinois.
- Hubbard's Cave, which is a tunnel in Chicago. The Kennedy Expressway (I-90/I-94) goes through this tunnel under several railroads and city streets, including Hubbard Street.
