Chicago Fire of 1871

Henry and Susie Rassweiler Journals

Henry graduated from North-Western College (as North Central was named from 1864-1926) in 1868. Married Susie Harlacher (daughter of one of the founders of the College) in 1868 Professor of Mathematics and Natural Science from 1868-1883 President of the College from 1883-1888 Remained in Naperville and was one of the founders of Grace Church.

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October 1871 Monday 9 This morning we received the startling news that Chicago the proud city of the West is on Fire. “The heart of the city is burned out!” “Five square miles of ruins!” “$200,000000 of property consumed!” “Hundreds of lives lost”! “One hundred thousand people without home or shelter!” All is excitement. The world’s record of fires affords no parallel case. It is indescribable! Tuesday 10 In company with most of the male members of our school and hundreds of others. I went to Chicago - to ruined punished Chicago - to behold the ruins wrought by the “Great Holocaust”. I cannot describe what I saw. For further particulars of this event of the world the readers of our Journal are referred to History whose pages in the future would be incomplete without a record of the “Great Conflagration.” Wednesday 11 The fire excitement still runs high. Evening, the heavens in the direction of Chicago are so brightly illuminated that through our window a glare is thrown over our bed.