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Walter S. Gurnee facts for kids

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Walter Smith Gurnee
WalterSGurneeSenorAnderson.png
14th Mayor of Chicago
In office
March 11, 1851 – March 7, 1853
Preceded by James Curtiss
Succeeded by Charles McNeill Gray
City Treasurer of Chicago
In office
1843–1845
Preceded by Francis Cornwall Sherman
Succeeded by William L. Church
In office
1840–1840
Preceded by N.H. Bolles
Succeeded by N.H. Bolles
Personal details
Born (1813-03-09)March 9, 1813
Haverstraw, New York, U.S.
Died April 17, 1903(1903-04-17) (aged 90)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting place Sleepy Hollow, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Children Augustus C. Gurnee
Residence Chicago, Illinois
Signature

Walter Smith Gurnee (March 9, 1813 – April 17, 1903) served as Mayor of Chicago (1851–53) for the Democratic Party. The Village of Gurnee, Illinois is named for him.

Biography

Gurnee was born in Haverstraw, New York and arrived in Chicago in 1836 after spending time in Michigan. Once in Chicago, he established a tannery, which, by 1844, employed between thirty and fifty men. He was a founding member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Prior to becoming the mayor of Chicago, Gurnee was the primary partner of Gurnee & Matteson, a saddlery and leather firm. Gurnee did well enough in this business, and in his tannery, that he amassed a large fortune before moving to New York City.

Gurnee campaigned for the mayoralty on the issue of public ownership of the city's water supply. Once in office, he fought against the merger of the Illinois Central and Michigan Central railroads, originally planned to meet up south of the city. He was elected to two terms, winning the mayoralty in 1851 and being reelected in 1852.

Gurnee unsuccessfully attempted to stage a return to the mayor's office in the 1860 mayoral election. He lost to "Long John" Wentworth, who had previously served a term as mayor as a Democrat, but had switched to the Republican Party.

Walter Gurnee Mausoleum 2010
The mausoleum of Walter Gurnee
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