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Document 23 –

Petition for Additional Compensation for a Preemption
Claim to Benefit an Orphan
 

September 25, 1847
 

Document 23
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Transcription

           To the Honourable the trustees of the Illinois
               and Michigan Canal

Gentlemen the undersigned your Petitioners resides
on Section 17 Town 39 in the City of Chicago, the
Preemtion on the East Half of the North west quarter
of said section came to Betsey A. Mullan by the
will of her Father, she is now an Orphan of five
years of age, without money or property, which
happened by the long sickness of her father and
Mother. it was her guardian who paid for her part
of block 3 in sub divission of Section 17, which the
trustees thought proper to allow her out of the 80 acres
that her Father proved the preemtion on, and which
all thought she would get at the valueation
Gentlemen there is Twelve hundred dollars worth of
emprovements on the part that she did not get, and
your petitioners would pray that the trustees would allow
her something for those emprovements, as they have the
remainder in their on hands– Gentlemen if we take
away the finces, the ditches and the trees will be all
torn down by the Cattle, and it will again become a
wild prearie– her Father and Mother lost their lives
strugling to empove and make valueable this land, and
the ware the first sttlers on this section, – Your petioners would
request the trustees to take their case in consideration
                                                      Dennis Mullan for himself
                                                      And Betsey A Mullan

Explanation

Betsey Mullan’s parents had settled west of the Chicago River. Pioneer families merely took up land and made improvements on it. Few bothered to seek out the proper owner, usually the federal government, and legally purchase their selected parcel. There was time enough for that when population density forced the issue. The state census of 1845 counted 11,948 persons in Chicago. The federal decennial of 1850 put the figure at 29,963. The issue was being forced in 1847. Preemption laws allowed settlers to purchase the lands they had improved at a set low price. But for town lots belonging to the canal, the trustees determined preemption allowances they judged fair.

Cook County built a poorhouse in 1841 to accommodate a growing number of destitute citizens. This institution filled beyond capacity over the winter of 1847-1848 when people had to be turned away. Private charity too was less than adequate at this time. Uncoordinated church groups provided some food, clothing, and fuel to needy residents. Betsey was fortunate to have had an extended family to rely on for her support.

Points To Consider

What was Dennis Mullan asking for?

What was a preemption?

Had Betsey A. Mullan been dealt with fairly? Why?

What was the difference between a squatter and a settler? Which term was applied with greater respect?

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