William Butler Ogden was born on June 15, 1805 in Walton, New York. The land rush in the Midwest brought him here, where he became very wealthy in real estate. He also designed the first swing bridge (one which turns ninety degrees to allow river traffic) over the Chicago River. Holding much property within the city, he donated the land for Rush Medical Center.
He ran for office under the Democratic Party and defeated John H. Kinzie, a Whig. His term of office was from 1837 to 1838 -- a term of one year, which was the normal term for the time.
Although Ogden's First impression of Chicago was poor, he became to appreciate the fledgling city. During his term of office, he managed to help Chicago weather the economic storm, though did not run for a second term.
Railroad Pioneer
Instead, Ogden helped to build the first railroad from Chicago in 1848. The Galena & Chicago Railroad ran from Chicago to a point ten miles west of the town. Later he served on the board of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad, then lobbied with many others for the congressional approval and funding of the Transcontinental Railroad.
After the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act, Ogden was named the first President of the Union Pacific. Ogden was a good choice as the first President, and his experience in the burgeoning railroad business was most likely the reason he was chosen. Ogden was a clever man who had much power and many political connections.
When Ogden was named President of Union Pacific, it wasn't fully funded and had not laid a single piece of track. It was still only a dream created by an act of Congress. Several different railroad companies were named to compete for the completion of the railroad out west. Ogden knew that several key areas were needed to link the East (Chicago) to the West. It was Ogden who made the link possible. Ogden Flats, Utah, where the Golden Spike was driven to connect the east and west, was named for him.
Party Flopping
In 1860, Ogden switched to the Republican Party, which shared his view regarding slavery. Though he switched, he did have a dispute with Abraham Lincoln. Ogden felt that the Emancipation Proclamation was premature. Shortly after, he retired from politics and moved back to his native New York.
On October 8, 1871, Ogden lost most of his possessions in the Chicago area to the Great Chicago Fire. Few knew that he also lost a large investment in a lumber yard in Peshtigo, Wisconsin which burned to the ground the same day as the Chicago Fire.
He died on August 3, 1877 and is buried in New York.
Original notes by LaVerne Skender. Permission to reprint given to author.
David Schauer - I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from Illinois State University. I also have a minor in Writing. More to come...
