John Kinzie
Encyclopedia
John Kinzie was one of Chicago
's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street (400N) in Chicago is named after him.
, Canada
to John McKenzie and Anne McKenzie. His father died before Kinzie was a year old, and his mother remarried. In 1773, he was apprenticed to George Farnham, a silversmith. Some of the jewelry Kinzie created has been found on archaeological digs in Ohio
. By 1777, Kinzie had become a trader in Detroit
, working for William Burnett.
In 1785, Kinzie is said to have been involved with the rescue of two sisters who had been kidnapped by the Shawnee
from Virginia
in 1775. One of the girls, Margaret McKinzie, married Kinzie, the other, Elizabeth McKinzie, married Kinzie's companion, Clark. Margaret lived with Kinzie in Detroit and had three children with him before returning to Virginia with her children. All three of her children eventually moved to Chicago.
In 1789, he lost his business in the Kekionga
(modern Fort Wayne, Indiana
) and had to move further from the U.S. frontier. As the United States continued to expand, Kinzie moved further west.
. Once living in Chicago, they had three other children. Ellen Marion Kinzie, who is believed to be the first Caucasian born in Chicago, was born to John and Eleanor in 1805.
Kinzie settled in Chicago in 1804, where he purchased the house and lands of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable near the mouth of the Chicago River
. That same year, Governor William Henry Harrison
of the Indiana Territory
appointed Kinzie as a justice of the peace.
was built, Kinzie's influence and reputation continued to climb in the area. In June 1812, Kinzie killed Jean La Lime
, who worked as an interpreter at Fort Dearborn. He hid in the woods before fleeing to Milwaukee. While in Milwaukee, he met with pro-British Indians who were planning a series of attacks on American settlements, including Chicago. While these meetings were occurring, an inquest at Fort Dearborn under Captain Nathan Heald
exonerated Kinzie, deciding the killing was in self-defense. It seems La Lime was informing on corruption within the fort. Although the Indians were concerned that Chicago would be on heightened alert, they still launched an attack on Fort Dearborn on August 15, 1812. Kinzie was able to escape unharmed and returned to Detroit with his family. Viewing himself as a British
citizen, Kinzie had a strong anti-American streak in him until the massacre. He returned to Chicago in 1816 and remained until his death.
In 1813, Kinzie and Jean Baptiste Chardonnai, then living in Detroit, were arrested by the British and charged with treason. The charge was corresponding with the enemy (Harrison's army) while supplying gunpowder to Tecumseh
's forces, who were fighting alongside the British. While Chardonnai escaped, Kinzie was placed on a ship and sent to England. When the ship put into port in Nova Scotia
to weather a storm, Kinzie managed to escape and was back in American-held Detroit by 1814.
. When City Cemetery was closed for the creation of the park, he was removed to Graceland Cemetery
.
In 1837, Kinzie’s son, John H. Kinzie, ran to become the first mayor of Chicago, losing to William Butler Ogden
.
Kinzie's granddaughter, Maria Kinzie, married George H. Steuart, a captain in the US cavalry who went on to become a general in the Confederate army.
Another granddaughter, Eleanor Kinzie Gordon, became the mother of Juliette Gordon Low
, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's first permanent European settlers. Kinzie Street (400N) in Chicago is named after him.
Early life
Kinzie was born in Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to John McKenzie and Anne McKenzie. His father died before Kinzie was a year old, and his mother remarried. In 1773, he was apprenticed to George Farnham, a silversmith. Some of the jewelry Kinzie created has been found on archaeological digs in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. By 1777, Kinzie had become a trader in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, working for William Burnett.
In 1785, Kinzie is said to have been involved with the rescue of two sisters who had been kidnapped by the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in 1775. One of the girls, Margaret McKinzie, married Kinzie, the other, Elizabeth McKinzie, married Kinzie's companion, Clark. Margaret lived with Kinzie in Detroit and had three children with him before returning to Virginia with her children. All three of her children eventually moved to Chicago.
In 1789, he lost his business in the Kekionga
Kekionga
Kekionga, also known as Kiskakon or Pacan's Village, was the capital of the Miami tribe at the confluence of the Saint Joseph, Saint Marys and Maumee rivers on the western edge of the Great Black Swamp...
(modern Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
) and had to move further from the U.S. frontier. As the United States continued to expand, Kinzie moved further west.
Marriage and move to Chicago
Kinzie married his second wife, Eleanor Lytle McKillip in 1800. By the time they moved to Chicago, they already had a son, John H. KinzieJohn H. Kinzie
John Harris Kinzie was the eldest son of John Kinzie, one of Chicago's first permanent settlers...
. Once living in Chicago, they had three other children. Ellen Marion Kinzie, who is believed to be the first Caucasian born in Chicago, was born to John and Eleanor in 1805.
Kinzie settled in Chicago in 1804, where he purchased the house and lands of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable near the mouth of the Chicago River
Chicago River
The Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of that runs through the city of the same name, including its center . Though not especially long, the river is notable for being the reason why Chicago became an important location, as the link between the Great Lakes and...
. That same year, Governor William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
appointed Kinzie as a justice of the peace.
War of 1812
After Fort DearbornFort Dearborn
Fort Dearborn was a United States fort built in 1803 beside the Chicago River in what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was constructed by troops under Captain John Whistler and named in honor of Henry Dearborn, then United States Secretary of War. The original fort was destroyed following the Battle of...
was built, Kinzie's influence and reputation continued to climb in the area. In June 1812, Kinzie killed Jean La Lime
Jean La Lime
Jean La Lime . La Lime first arrived in the Chicago area on August 17, 1792 as an agent for William Burnett. In 1800, he worked to purchase the homestead of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable for Burnett for 6,000 livres, although by 1804, it was owned by Burnett's partner, John Kinzie...
, who worked as an interpreter at Fort Dearborn. He hid in the woods before fleeing to Milwaukee. While in Milwaukee, he met with pro-British Indians who were planning a series of attacks on American settlements, including Chicago. While these meetings were occurring, an inquest at Fort Dearborn under Captain Nathan Heald
Nathan Heald
Nathan Heald was an officer in the United States Army during the War of 1812...
exonerated Kinzie, deciding the killing was in self-defense. It seems La Lime was informing on corruption within the fort. Although the Indians were concerned that Chicago would be on heightened alert, they still launched an attack on Fort Dearborn on August 15, 1812. Kinzie was able to escape unharmed and returned to Detroit with his family. Viewing himself as a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizen, Kinzie had a strong anti-American streak in him until the massacre. He returned to Chicago in 1816 and remained until his death.
In 1813, Kinzie and Jean Baptiste Chardonnai, then living in Detroit, were arrested by the British and charged with treason. The charge was corresponding with the enemy (Harrison's army) while supplying gunpowder to Tecumseh
Tecumseh
Tecumseh was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy which opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812...
's forces, who were fighting alongside the British. While Chardonnai escaped, Kinzie was placed on a ship and sent to England. When the ship put into port in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
to weather a storm, Kinzie managed to escape and was back in American-held Detroit by 1814.
Death and legacy
Kinzie suffered a stroke on January 6, 1828 and died a few hours later. Originally buried at the Fort Dearborn Cemetery, Kinzie’s remains were moved to City Cemetery in 1835 in what has become Lincoln ParkLincoln Park
Lincoln Park is an urban park in Chicago, which gave its name to the Lincoln Park, Chicago community area.Lincoln Park may also refer to:-Urban parks:*Lincoln Park , California*Lincoln Park, San Francisco, California...
. When City Cemetery was closed for the creation of the park, he was removed to Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
.
In 1837, Kinzie’s son, John H. Kinzie, ran to become the first mayor of Chicago, losing to William Butler Ogden
William Butler Ogden
William Butler Ogden was the first Mayor of Chicago.Ogden was born in Walton, New York. When still a teenager, his father died and Ogden took over the family real estate business...
.
Kinzie's granddaughter, Maria Kinzie, married George H. Steuart, a captain in the US cavalry who went on to become a general in the Confederate army.
Another granddaughter, Eleanor Kinzie Gordon, became the mother of Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.-Early life:...
, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
.