Uptown in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Allan Pinkerton

Graceland Cemetery, Chicago IL

Photographed By Don Morfe, February 19, 2007

1. Allan Pinkerton Marker

Inscription. In memory of
Allan Pinkerton,
born in Glascow, Scotland,
August 25th 1819.
Died in Chicago, Illinois,
July 1st 1884.
Aged 65 years.
A friend to honesty
and a foe to crime, devoting himself for a generation to the prevention and detection of crime in many countries. He was the founder in America of a noble profession. In the house of the nation’s peril, he conducted Abraham Lincoln safely through the ranks of treason to the scene of his first inauguration as President. He sympathized with, protected and defended the slaves, and labored earnestly for their freedom. Hating wrong, and loving good, he was strong, brave, tender and true.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. A significant historical date for this entry is July 1, 1897.

Location. 41° 57.47′ N, 87° 39.619′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Uptown. Marker is on Center Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4001 North Clark Street, Chicago IL 60613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John A. "Jack" Johnson (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Earl Seymour Wharton Reebie

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(about 800 feet away); Claude Seymour Reebie (about 800 feet away); Louis Henri Sullivan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph R. Scott (approx. 0.2 miles away); Graves Family Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Peter Altgeld (approx. ¼ mile away); Getty Tomb (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Allan Pinkerton. Alan Pinkerton, 1819 – 1884, came to America from Scotland. Working as a cooper in Ohio, he discovered the hideout of a gang of counterfeiters, helped nab the gang, and became a deputy sheriff. His reputation spread, he became Cook County Sheriff, then Chicago’s first detective. When he went private, his trademark was the unblinking eye. He was also an ardent abolitionist, and part of the Underground Railroad.

A memorial stone for Timothy Webster (buried in Onarga, Illinois) is next to Kate Warn who is buried near Pinkerton, their employer. Kate, the nation’s first female private eye, and Timothy helped Pinkerton escort Abraham Lincoln to his inauguration. Webster, in Pinkerton’s secret service, was hanged by the Confederacy

Photographed By Don Morfe, February 19, 2007

2. Allan Pinkerton Marker

as a spy during the Civil War.
Information from the Graceland Cemetery website.

Also see . . . Allan Pinkerton's Detective Agency. (Submitted on September 30, 2013, by Trevor Morris of Fond du lac, Wisconsin.)

<i>Antietam, Md. Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Alexander Gardner, October 3, 1862

3. Antietam, Md. Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Civil War Glass Negative Collection.

Allan Pinkerton Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., April 9, 2016

4. Allan Pinkerton Monument

Photographed By Larry Gertner, November 7, 2020

5. Pinkerton Agency logo

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,083 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 19, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 3. submitted on December 21, 2012. 4. submitted on May 1, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on November 7, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.