Near North Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William Butler Ogden
Businessman (1805-1877)
— Chicago Tribute —
Photographed By Sean Flynn
1. William Butler Ogden Marker
Like many early settlers, Ogden was a Yankee. He came to Chicago when it was still a frontier village surrounded by swamp and prairie. Within a few years, Ogden made a fortune in real estate and as owner of a brewery and other businesses. He was elected mayor during the Panic of 1837. Although the country plunged into a recession, Ogden kept the city solvent and persuaded Eastern investors to maintain faith in the young city.
Leaving office, Ogden turned his attention to transportation. In 1848 he built the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad to link the prosperous mining town of Galena in western Illinois to Chicago. When Eastern investors proved skeptical, an undeterred Ogden financed the line by selling shares to farmers and merchants along the route.
Ogden's energetic leadership helped Chicago become the railroad capital of the nation and led to the city's tremendous growth.
Erected 2002 by City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.
this page online
Location. 41° 53.604′ N, 87° 37.563′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near North Side. Marker is on Ontario Street west of Rush Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is on a post a short distance from the entry to Trader Joe's. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 East Ontario, Chicago IL 60611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John B. Murphy Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); McCormick Double House (about 300 feet away); Pizzeria Uno (about 400 feet away); Cyrus Hall McCormick (about 500 feet away); Abraham Lincoln (about 500 feet away); Tree Studios (about 600 feet away); Ruth Page (about 700 feet away); McGraw-Hill Building (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
More about this marker. The marker is well-worn, with residue from stickers placed on it over the past 20 years making it hard to read in parts.
While it goes unsaid on this Chicago Tribute historical marker from 2002, Ogden is closely linked to this block on Chicago's near north side, not far from the Magnificent Mile. In 1836, Ogden built his home on
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023
2. William Butler Ogden Marker
The entrance to Trader Joe's, west of this marker, is to the right in this photo. In the far background on the left of the photo is the landmark Medinah Temple, which in 2023 became the temporary home of the Bally's casino.
Regarding William Butler Ogden. William B. Ogden was born in Walton in Delaware County, New York, the grandson of Revolutionary War veterans on both sides of his family. He first came to Chicago as a representative of his brother-in-law, who had acquired, sight unseen for $100,000, a muddy, forested tract that includes a large portion of the territory that today goes from from Chicago Avenue south to the Chicago River, and from LaSalle Street east to Michigan Avenue.
After selling some of that land for more than the original cost of the whole parcel, Ogden decided to move to Chicago to carry on his real estate career, resigning his position as a New York state senator. In 1837, when Chicago was chartered as a city, Ogden was elected as its first mayor.
Among Ogden's many notable contributions, including serving as first president of Union Pacific Railroad, Ogden was founder or co-founder of many Chicago-area institutions that still exist today, including Rush Medical College, Northwestern University and the Chicago Historical Society.
Photographed By Sean Flynn
3. Ontario Street block with the Ogden marker
The marker is in the center of this photo but partially obscured.
Ogden Avenue, which extends diagonally from Chicago's near west side about 40 miles west-southwest to Montgomery, Illinois, and includes a part of historic Route 66, is named after the former mayor.
Also see . . .
1. Mr. Ogden in Chicago.
Excerpt from Classic Chicago Magazine: "In 1836, when it was time to build a house for himself, his mother and a sister, the bachelor Ogden summoned New York architect John M. Van Osdel, who designed Ogden Grove, a large Greek Revival-style residence with a rooftop observatory on four acres of North Side land bounded by Wabash and Rush, Erie and Ontario. An avid admirer of horticulture, Ogden hired a European gardener to cultivate his grounds and installed a glass conservatory in back of the house."(Submitted on October 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Chicago's First Mayor. WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio) looks at William Ogden's life in Chicago and his impact on the city's development. (Submitted on October 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Courtesy of Chicago Historical Society
4. William Butler Ogden portrait
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 19, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
