Today is the 140th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. The origin remains a mystery but Mrs. O’Leary’s cow still gets the credit. Were your Chicago ancestors affected by the Great Chicago Fire? Where did they live? Were their homes burned? Have you found proof that your ancestor lived in the fire zone? Have you recorded their stories?
My grandmother told me a story about my great great grandfather, Jan Zajicek. She said during the Great Chicago Fire he saved the dining room table. In my mind, Jan was a grown man with a family and it shocked me to no end thinking he saved the dining room table rather than his family. I had not researched this part of my family at the time my grandmother told me this story.
Doing a little research using census records, ship manifests, city directories and his death certificate, I realized that Jan was not man with his own family. He was about 16 years old and still living with his large family. Jan was born in 1855 in Bohemia. An immigrant, he arrived in June of 1868. It is unknown where exactly his family was living in 1871 when the fire occurred. By trade, Jan was a tailor. Is it possible some of the work he did was on that dining room table? Is it possible the story has some truth and he did save the table? Who knows but it is an interesting tale to put in the family history.
There are many records researchers can use to identify whether or not their Chicago ancestors were affected by the Chicago Fire. If they lived in the fire zone, then you know they were. But how do you prove where they lived? What are some resources available to help tell their stories?
Look at
- Chicago City Directories. Researchers can view these at the Newberry Library or the Harold Washington Library. Live in the suburbs? The Arlington Heights Memorial Library also has a set of Chicago City Directories on microfilm.
- Census records. View the 1870 U.S. Federal Census to determine where the family was living in 1870. The census will tell you the Ward in which the family lived and you can find out if that Ward was part of the fire zone. It is possible the family moved prior to the fire, but having an address provides a possible lead. You can view Census records at the Newberry Library, National Archives Great Lakes Branch and online at Ancestry.com to name a few places.
- Search old Chicago newspapers. The Newberry Library, Chicago History Museum, Harold Washington Library, many suburban libraries and online databases hold copies of newspapers.
- Probate records may provide clues if your ancestor died in the Fire. Check with the Clerk of the Circuit Court Archives in Daley Plaza for records.
Ask your family members about stories they may have heard. Pull all the details out of those stories and search for records. Record those more complete stories and share them with others. By recording your family’s stories, you are adding to the rich history of Chicago.
Feel free to post your ancestor’s Chicago Fire stories in the comment section.
Comments