The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Rev. Jesse Walker
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024
1. The Rev. Jesse Walker Marker
Arriving at Fort Dearborn
June 25, 1825
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 25, 1825.
Location. 41° 52.986′ N, 87° 37.826′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. It is on Washington Street east of Clark Street. The marker is on the eastern side of the Chicago Temple Building, beneath a stained-glass window depicting Walker's arrival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 77 West Washington Street, Chicago IL 60602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 20 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Founding of the First Methodist Church (here, next to this marker); The First Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago (here, next to this marker); Founding of the Arthur Dixon Bible Class (here, next to this marker); Second Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago
this page online
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024
2. The Rev. Jesse Walker marker and stained glass window
More about this marker. The window is one of 10 on the eastern side of the Chicago Temple building depicting the history of the First Methodist Church of Chicago.
Regarding The Rev. Jesse Walker. Jesse Walker was 59 years old when he arrived in Chicago and founded the city's first Methodist church. The Virginia native was a Methodist "circuit rider" an itinerant preacher who established Methodist congregations in new settlements around the Midwest he had previously founded the first Methodist church in St. Louis. Walker died in 1835 and was buried in a pioneer cemetery; in 1850 his remains were moved to Plainfield Township Cemetery about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.
The First Methodist Church of Chicago is believed to be Chicago's oldest Christian church congregation. After Walker founded it around 1831,
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024
3. Chicago Temple historical stained glass windows
10 stained glass windows offer a history of the Methodist church that has stood at this spot for almost 185 years.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. A memorial to Jesse Walker and his wife Susannah at the graveyard where they are buried, in Plainfield, Illinois
Also see . . .
1. The 'Mother Church of Chicago Methodism': 100 years of the Chicago Temple Building. A Chicago History Museum article looks at the Chicago Temple Building on its 100th anniversary in 2024.
Excerpt: "The First Methodist community began meeting in 1831 as part of a circuit led by Rev. Jesse Walker, first meeting in a home where Merchandise Mart stands today. By 1834, they met in a newly constructed log cabin on(Submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)the north bank of the Chicago River. Just a few years later, the cabin was rolled on logs across the river and moved to the churchs current location at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Clark Street."Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 20244. Chicago Temple stained glassThe window is one of 10 on the east side of the temple that depict the history of the First Methodist Church of Chicago. Daley Plaza and the Daley Center are across the street.
2. Jesse Walker (Wikipedia). (Submitted on February 26, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Jesse Walker on Find a Grave. (Submitted on September 29, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
4. Living Landmarks of Chicago: The Chicago Temple.
Excerpt: In 1825, Jesse Walker visited what would become Chicago for the first time, even though he was fifty-nine years old and had been riding the circuit for nearly a quarter of a century. The old preacher became determined to bring his church to a place whose population consisted mainly of soldiers stationed at Fort Dearborn and a few traders. 'Chicago got into Walkers mind and clung to it like a cockle burr,' said Almer Pennewell in A Voice In the Wilderness: Jesse Walker, 'the Daniel Boone of Methodism.'(Submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by W.E.S. Trowbridge, artist; Chicago History Museum (ICHi-005945), circa 1902
5. Wolf Point (Chicago, 1835)
This drawing of Wolf Point (the confluence of the Chicago River and its two branches) includes a depiction of Jesse Walker's cabin. Caption from the Chicago History Museum: "Painting of Wolf Point at the confluence of the branches of the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois, 1835. Wolf's Tavern, Miller's House and the cabin of Reverend Jesse Walker are visible."
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 819 times since then and 275 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
