Chicago -- July, 2004

This was my first time visiting Chicago.  It is a fascinating city that has contributed much the history of the United States.  The city was first chartered in 1837.  By 1890, it was the second largest city in the United States at over One Million people.  It became the industrial hub of the United States primarily because of the issue of transportation.

One story that I really like concerns the Pullman Palace Car Company which we all recognize as the Pullman Car Company of today.  The company was a struggling builder of more elaborate train cars for travel but, they were not really catching on.  Not until, Illinois' favorite son - President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865.  Pullman arranged for the President's body to be carried home aboard a Pullman coach.  From there the company took off.  In 1894, the great rail strikes began with the Pullman Company.  The person that represented the Pullman Company? Robert Todd Lincoln, the Dead President's only surviving son.  In 1897, George Pullman died and was replaced by Robert Todd Lincoln as president of the company.  Lincoln became wealthy from this company.

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