1872 Chicago Firefighter Directory

By Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr

In 1872 Chicago was just recovering from the awful tragedy caused by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, i.e. a conflagration that burned from October 8-10, 1871. Steam engines, antiques by modern standards, were sorely tested in controlling fires that often burned uncontrolled for hours and days. The earliest hook and ladder fire truck was two years in the future. My directory lists the names, addresses, and business affiliations of firemen who worked in Chicago in 1872. Many of these men were employed by railroads. Some of the railways still exist, like the Illinois Central. Lots of them went out of business before the end of the 19th century, or early in the 20th century. Among these were the Pittsburgh Ft. Wayne & Chicago and the Chicago & Alton Railroads.Various steam engines like the Long John and Jacob Rehm were property of the city of Chicago. My directory records the firemen who were assigned to the various fire engines. I hope that the reference I am publishing will be useful in multiple ways. It's a fine resource for historians who are interested in the history of the U.S. and Chicago. Also, it's a tool for those who want to study the individual ancestries of the firemen who are noted in the text.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr
• Release date: Jul 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301196555

Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr

I am a soon to be retired Duke Medical Center library researcher, who enjoys writing. I have been writing on Wikipedia for years and have begun to writeebooks. My pastimes include selling books on EBay, genealogical research, baseball (Pittsburgh Pirates), collecting antique furniture and coins, and spending time with Kingsley, my cocker spaniel.

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1872 Chicago Illinois

Directory of Firemen

Published by Robert Grey Reynolds Jr. at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 by Robert Grey Reynolds Jr.

This directory includes profiles of firemen who worked in Chicago in the year following the Great Chicago Fire of October 18, 1871. The listings of firemen were researched from the 1872 United States Business Directory of Chicago. I have supplemented the directory of firemen with many photos. Some of them are from the late 19th century. Other images are from the early 20th century. A few are current photographs of buildings that replaced edifices that stood in yesteryear. Unfortunately, some of the residential addresses of Chicago firemen are not recorded. In other instances, the addresses of fireman are listed, but the companies they worked for are not. I hope that the directory will be useful to persons who are interested in the history of Chicago. Also, readers who are related by ancestry to individuals mentioned in this e-book, can use it as a useful tool for additional research. It was enjoyable for me as a writer\researcher to compile this reference.

Ablard, John M. He was employed by the Michigan Central Railroad

Figure 1 Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman. He lived at 523 South Clark. Figure 2 Clark Street Looking South (Stereoscopic Views) Bailey, James. He was a fireman who stayed at 672 May Street. Bandle, Louis. A fireman, he boarded at 399 West Lake Street.

Figure 3 Tower 18 Railroad Junction, Lake & Wells Baxter, William. He was a fireman who boarded at 185 Meagher.