Chicago Fire of 1871

William Huelster Journals

Parish pastor with the Evangelical Association Financial agent of the College when it moved from Plainfield to Naperville, resigned in 1880 in midst of conflict with Bishop of the Illinois Conference. Journals originally kept in German, transcribed into English by the author towards the end of his life in the 1920s. Donated to the North Central College Archives by his descendants in 2001.

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Monday Oct. 9, 1871 This morning up early – pac’d my grip to return home. Rev. C. Brill, whose guest I had been, one of the delegates to the Gl. Conf. to be held in Naperville this week accompanied me. In Owatona, we learned thru Tel. Dispatches that the city of Chicago was on fire – and more than half of the city had already been destroyed. In the afternoon we took train and went thru to Milwaukee Wis. Tuesday Oct. 10 We arrived in Milwaukee at 5 a.m. Here we heard that is was impossible to travel thru the strts. of Chicago. I went thru to Chicago – arriving at the N. Side per Ch. & N. W. Rr at 11 a.m. It was a terribly awful sight as I took hack from the NW Depot to C. B. & Q on the SW Side – 16th Str - on each side of the strt. On Canal, all buldgs in ashes, men standing wringing their hands in agony – saying here are the ruins of a lifetime of labor and bus. All in ashes. Arrived home 5 p.m. found my loved ones all well. Thanks to God.

Thursday November 2, 1871 This morning we were up real up early and at 6a.m. we took train for Chicago. Wife and nephew Wm. accompanied me. We walked several miles thru the devastated streets of main fire district – a sad sight. We took in a large bundel of clothes along for the sufferers. Oh what a sight of woe!

 

Thursday November 2, 1871 (continued) We took car up to N. Side – had lunch at Rev. Dickower’s – visited a while and walked over more streets where all homes had been destroyed – and already here & there temporary huts were erected to shelter some of the homeless. Grt. Poverty & misery. May God have mercy! In the eve 7p.m. we arrived home safely and tired but greatful for our home undisturbed!