Chicago's First Thanksgiving

The recurrence of Thanksgiving Day recalls to the mind of an "old settler" the first day set aside in Chicago for the formal giving of thanks.

It was November 25, 1841, just forty years ago, when the population was five thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two. Why the inhabitants of this city had not previously expressed their gratitude to God for blessings bestowed, the old settler was unable to tell; but he knew that in the fore part of November, 1841, some of the religious people circulated a petition asking Mayor Sherman to set aside a day for thanksgiving.

The document was submitted to the city council and November 22, on motion of Alderman Ira Miltamore, who represented the first ward, his honor was directed to grant the prayer. Accordingly, he issued the following proclamation (published in the American of November 23, 1841), which is chiefly interesting on account of the change that lapse of time has brought about with reference to the notice of observance:

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

Whereas, in accordance with the petition of several good citizens, it hath been unanimously resolved, by the common council of the city of Chicago, that the mayor appoint Thursday, the 25th day of November inst., as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.

And whereas it has pleased Almighty God to crown the outgoing year with the abundance of His Providence, and to have continued to the people of our city, as well as of our state and nation, those dispensations of His Goodness, whereby the anticipations of seedtime and the golden promises of an unusually prosperous harvest have been realized and gathered in; and as the Pilgrim fathers, in the wilderness, set apart days of fasting and prayer, in honor of the Divine Goodness in supplying them with the means of subsistence, but more particularly for the freedom they enjoyed in the exercise of every social and religious privilege, so the hearts of their descendants must feel a deeper gratitude that the blessings secured by the toil of their ancestors have descended to them, and that every returning year brings with it additional assurances that the fabric, founded in their wisdom and example, is now adequate to perpetuate similar blessings to their children.

Now, therefore, in view of our many blessings, and in pursuance of the resolution aforesaid, I do hereby appoint and set apart Thursday, the 25th inst., as a day of public thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God.

Given under my hand and the seal of the city, this 23d day of November, Anno Domini, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-one.

Francis C. Sherman, (Attest) Mayor. Thomas Hoyne, Clerk.

A TRADITION.

There is a tradition that a Thanksgiving Day had been previously observed pretty generally throughout Illinois. During Governor [Joseph] Duncan's administration (1834-38) a proclamation signed by him was circulated, calling upon the people to was attending read it from the pulpit. Nearly everybody kept the day, however, only a few being aware that the document was bogus. Peter Borin, who preached in a Methodist church, was the only minister in Chicago who did not fall into the trap which was set, according to the story, by "Long" John Wentworth. As stated, however, November 25, 1841, was the first Thanksgiving Day generally observed in Chicago. Since that time the day has been regarded as a holiday by the ungodly and kept religiously by the Christians.

FROM: 

Chicago: Its History and Its Builders by Josiah Seymour Currey, 1912

Photo Credit: Executive House Thanksgiving Menu, 1961. Chuckman's Nostalgia and Memorabilia