John Wentworth

John Wentworth (March 5, 1815 – October 16, 1888), was the editor of the Chicago Democrat, publisher of an extensive Wentworth family genealogy, a two-term mayor of Chicago, and a six-term member of the United States House of Representatives (serving tenured in that body both before and after his service as mayor).

After growing up in New Hampshire, he joined the migration west and moved to the developing city of Chicago in 1836, where he made his adult life. Wentworth was affiliated with the Democratic Party until 1855; then he changed to the Republican Party. After retiring from politics, he wrote a three-volume genealogy of the Wentworth family in the United States.

A 1994 survey of experts on Chicago politics assessed Wentworth as one of the ten best mayors in the city's history (up to that time). (The others in the top-ten were Anton Cermak (mayor 1931–33); Richard J.) Daley (mayor 1955–76); Richard M. Daley (then-incumbent mayor since 1989); Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (mayor 1905–07); Carter Harrison III (mayor 1879–1887 and 1893); Carter Harrison IV (mayor 1897–1905 and 1911–15); Edward Joseph Kelly (mayor 1933–47); William B. Ogden (mayor 1837–38); Harold Washington (mayor 1983–87) and at the academy of Dudley Leavitt. Known as "Long John" he was 6 foot 6 inches in height. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1836.

Migration west and career Later that year, Wentworth joined a migration west and moved to Chicago, arriving in the city on October 25, 1836. After he supported the 1837 mayoral candidacy of William Ogden, including throwing the newspaper behind Ogden's candidacy, he was appointed by Odgen to serve in the post of city printer.

In his effort to clean up the city's morals, he hired spies to determine who was frequenting Chicago's brothels. In 1857, Wentworth led a raid on "the Sands," Chicago's red-light district, which resulted in the burning of the area.

In 1862, many of the city's Republicans had hoped to nominate him as the Republican nominee for mayor, but Charles N. Holden successfully defeated these efforts and secured the nomination for himself.

A 1994 survey of experts on Chicago politics saw Wentworth ranked as one of the ten best mayors in the city's history (up to that time).

U.S. Congressman from Illinois's 1st district (1865–1867)

In 1864, Wentworth ran for Congress as a Republican, and was elected for his last term (serving March 4, 1865March 3, 1867) representing Illinois's 1st congressional district. While he was in the House, there was a controversial vote to settle a boundary issue between Wisconsin and Illinois, with Wisconsin claiming land as far as the tip of Lake Michigan. Wentworth was promised that if he voted to give the land including Chicago to Wisconsin, he would be appointed to the US Senate. Wentworth declined the offer.

Chicago Board of Education (1860–1863; 1867–1871) From 1860 until 1863, Wentworth served on the Chicago Board of Education. Wentworth again served on the Chicago Board of Education from 1867 until 1871. Per some sources, he was board president in 1869,

Later life After retiring from Congress, beginning in 1868 Wentworth lived at his country estate at 5441 South Harlem Avenue in Chicago. He owned about of land in what is today part of the Chicago neighborhood of Garfield Ridge and suburban Summit.

When an author left a manuscript of a history of Chicago with Wentworth for his suggestions, he reportedly removed what did not refer to him and returned the manuscript to its author with the note, "Here is your expurgated and correct history of Chicago."

Family historian Wentworth researched and wrote The Wentworth Genealogy – English and American twice, which he published privately. The first two-volume edition, also known as the "private edition", published in 1871, was followed by a second, corrected, edition in 1878, which was published in three volumes, for a total of 2241 pages. The total reported cost for both editions was $40,000. The first of the 1878 volumes chronicles the ancestry of Elder William Wentworth, the first of this family in New England, and his first five generations of New World descendants. The second and third volumes discuss the "Elder's" many descendants and others of the name. John was a fourth great-grandson of William.

Death

Wentworth died at his estate in 1888, aged 73. He was buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

At his request, his tombstone was a sixty-foot tall granite obelisk that was imported from New Hampshire on two railroad cars. It was, at the time, the tallest tombstone in the west.