and was the first man to do a wholesale business in musical instru-
ments here. It was he who inaugurated the installment plan,
which has enabled so many families, without perceptible outlay,
to purchase musical instruments. Mr. Kimball was married, June
22, 1865, to Miss Eva M. Cone, of Chicago.
E. S. Conway, secretary and general superintendent of the W.
W. Kimball Company, was born in Ontario, Canada, March 21,
1850. When a boy, his parents removed to Pepin County. Wis.,
and some time later he went to Lake City, Minn. In 1869, he first
became associated with the leading spirit of the house of which he
is now a partner, and two years later Mr. Kimball appointed him
agent for the State of Minnesota, for the sale of his pianos and or-
gans. In 1872, he also represented the same house as agent for
Wisconsin. Mr. Kimball recognized the value of Mr. Conway as
a business man, and he called him to Chicago, in 1875, to take
charge of his wholesale department. On July 1, 1SS2, Mr. Kim-
ball formed a stock company. Mr. Conway obtained an interest in
the business, and was made secretary of the corporation. He is
also president and general superintendent of the Newport Lumber
Company, of Arkansas, which concern was organized in August,
1851. Mr. Conway has resided at Oak Park since 1875, and, in
April, 18S2, he was elected a member of the board of trustees
of the township in which he resides, and in April, 18S3, he was
made president of the same board.
A. Reed & Sons. — In keeping with the progress of modern
art, and especially in those branches of artistic mechanism which
require rare and peculiar ingenuity and adoption, Chicago is not
at all behind the older cities of the East. In this connection we
can refer to the firm of A. Reed &; Sons, manufacturers and dealers
in pianos, as being typical representatives of that branch of indus-
try. The house is one of the oldest in the West, having been es-
tablished in 1S42, by the founder, Alanson Reed, opening a music
store at the corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets. That
quarter of the city was the fashionable promenade and retail center
of trade, and Mr. Reed did a very properous business. In 1S62,
his sons, Alanson H. and J. Warner Reed, were admitted into
partnership, and the name and style of the firm has ever since been
A. Reed & Sons. At the breaking out of the War, the firm had
established branch houses at St. Louis, Mo., and Nashville, Tenn.
The former store was in charge of Alanson H Reed, and the
Nashville branch was managed by Marvin Reed, a brother of the
senior Reed, and who died in 1SS4. The store at Nashville was con-
fiscated, and the linn closed up their business at St. Louis, the son,
A. If. Reed, coming to Chicago, where he has since been located.
In the great fire of 1S71, Messrs. R'-ed & Sons suffered the same
loss that thousands of others did, but instantly resumed their busi-
ness bv opening a store over a livery stable in the vicinity of Six-
59 6
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
teenth Street, near Michigan Avenue. The firm had adopted the
title of Reed's Temple of Music for their house, and in 1S72, they
erected a building in conformity with the above name, at the cor-
ner of Van Buren and Dearborn streets, which they occupied until
i ; 7>. when thev removed to State Street. They were located in
the Palmer House until 1SS0, and then changed to their place of
business. No. 136 State Street. The house is in its forty-third
year, and its business has constantly grown, until they now aver-
age sales of one hundred and fiftv instruments per month. The
life-long experience of the firm of A. Reed & Sons gives them an
advantage of knowing just what is needed in their business.
Alanson Reed, the head of the firm, was born at Warren,
Mass., November 13, 1814, and is to-day perhaps the oldest repre-
sentative of the piano trade in the country. During his boyhood, he
spent but three months inside of a school-room, being necessitated
from early youth to make his own way. He was early apprenticed
to a trade, and at the age of sixteen was a cabinet-maker. He
then went to work in the factory of Chickering & Co., piano-
makers at Boston, and thoroughly mastered everything connected
with the manufacture of a piano. He remained with them until
1S37, when he abandoned work at the bench, and commenced as a
dealer in instruments. His first venture was one piano shipped to
Columbus, Ohio, then only a little village. At that time, the at-
tention of Eastern men had just commenced to turn toward the
Western country, but the advantages of transportation were such
as did not invite much trade with the new Territory. When Mr.
Reed shipped his piano to Columbus, he was obliged to send it to
Boston, and from there by vessel to New Orleans, thence up the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Portsmouth, Ohio, and from thence
to Columbus by canal. The freight was $37 and the insurance
$16. At such a cost, and with the small population of Columbus
and the surrounding country, he found he was unable to build up
a trade that would result in anything like pecuniary gain. He re-
turned to Boston, and, in 1S42, again tried his fortune in selling
pianos. He first shipped two instruments to Utica, N. Y., one to
Syracuse, one to Rochester, one to Batavia, two to Cleveland,
Ohio, two to Sandusky, three to Detroit, Mich., and three to Chi-
cago. No railroad had then been built west of Boston
further than Albany, N. Y., and the freights by rail to
Albany were entirely too high to admit of sending
goods in that way. So they were shipped by water
from Boston to New York, thence by steamer up to
Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, and then by ves-
sel to Cleveland and Chicago. Mr. Reed followed the
pianos, as they reached their destinations, and after
much labor, succeeded in disposing of them all, until
he reached Chicago. The town had a population then
(1S42) of about six thousand inhabitants. Mr. Reed
offered for sale the three pianos he had shipped here,
but he was unable to get a bid. Parties offered to
exchange town lots for them, but he refused, little
dreaming he would live to see the village grown to
over half a million in population and the town lots
he refused bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in
price. He could not sell the pianos here, at any price,
for cash, and he was obliged to re-ship them to De-
troit. His next venture was the shipment of twenty
pianos to Columbus, Ohio, where he located. The
people, however, were intent on making their fortunes,
and felt too poor to expend their surplus money in
such expensive luxuries as pianos. The prices for such
instruments, were, of course, far greater then than now,
and all agricultural productions were very low, so the
people had cause to refrain from purchasing anything
more than actual necessities. It appeared so unlikely
that sale could be found for pianos, that he was the
object of much well-meant commiseration, the wife of
a prominent State official remarking, "Poor man,
he has come here to starve; he will never earn his salt." The re-
mark was an incentive to Mr. Reed to stay; and stay he did,
remaining there until he built up a business that extended all
through Central Ohio. He afterward removed to Chicago, in order
to obtain a larger field for his operations. Mr. Reed was married
to Miss Hannah I;. Read, of Cambridge, Vt., on January 28, 1839.
They had two sons, who are now partners in the firm of A. Reed
& Sons. Mrs. Alanson Keed died in this city February 2, 1877.
Alanson //. Keed, of the firm of A. Keed & Sons, was born in
Boston, Mass, March 1, 1841. His father removed to Columbus,
Ohio, in the year 1-42, and young Reed was there brought up and
attended the public schools. At the age of eighteen, he was ad-
mitted into partnership with his father, who had established a mu-
sic-house in Chicago. In 1856, the firm opened a branch house at
St. Louis, and the subject of this sketch went there to take charge.
In [86l, on the breaking out of the War, the firm closed up their
business in that city, and he came to Chicago. Upon his arrival
here, Mr. Reed entered the Union College of Law, with the inten-
tion of pursuing a course of study and ultimately entering the pro-
fession of law. He remained there two years, and then returned to
the firm of A. Reed & Sons. Mr. Reed has been identified with
the piano and organ trade since that time, and has seen the insig-
nificant trade of a few thousands a year, grow to a volume of hun-
dreds of thousands per annum. Mr. Reed was married to Miss
Flora Evelyn Lancaster, of this city, on December 1, 1869. On
this date, also, occurred the wedding of his brother to a sister of
Miss Lancaster. Mr. Reed is a member of Apollo Commandery,
K. T., and has always been a staunch Republican in politics.
J. Warner Reed, of the firm of A. Reed & Sons, second son
of Alanson Reed, was born in Boston, June 1, 1842. Soon after,
his father moved to Columbus, Ohio. At fhe age of twelve he
spent considerable of his time, when out of school, in the piano
rooms. At sixteen years of age his entire attention was devoted
to this trade. At eighteen he went East, and served some time in
the piano factories, going through each separate department, till
he had a thorough practical knowledge of the trade which he was
to follow. In 1862, he, with his brother Alanson H., was admitted
into a co-partnership with his father, who had established himself in
Chicago, years before, in the piano business. He traveled over the
Northwest for many years, selling pianos, going into sections of the
country far removed from railroads, having hauled pianos in wag-
ons over a hundred miles. From the age of sixteen to the present
time, Mr. Reed has been constantly engaged in the piano trade, and
if experience be of any value, his should be rated at par, and ad-
vancing. On December 1, 1869, he married Miss Mary Virginia
Lancaster, of this city, he and his brother marrying sisters, and at
the same ceremony. He has three children — Eva Virginia, J. War-
ner, Jr., and Alanson L. Mrs. Reed died on December 13, 1876.
Mr. Reed has always been a Republican in politics. He resides at
Hinsdale, one of Chicago's suburbs, where he has a few acres to
tone up his system.
Lyon & Healy. — An account of this extensive and leading
house will be given in the ensuing volume, which will embrace the
epoch during which the vast increase of their business occurred.
YOUNG AMERICA HOTEL AND RICE S THEATER.
THE DRAMA.
Rice's Theater. — Until 1857, Rice's Theater was
the attractive center of dramatic representation in Chi-
cago. For ten years it had been the chief place of
amusement in the city, and the popularity of Mr. and
Mrs. Rice never waned for an instant. No man had
done so much for the interest and amusement of the
Chicago public as John B. Rice, and his constant in-
crease in favor testified how deeply that public appre-
ciated his labors. But in 1857, he and his wife deter-
mined to retire from the stage, and the theater passed
under other management It also encountered the
competition of its new rival, just erected by J. H. Mc-
yz^?-
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
597
Vicker, and its end was not long in coming. For several
years it led a fitful and unpopular existence, until, in
1861, it became manifest to Mr. Rice that it could no
longer maintain its place as a theater. He then had it
torn down, and on its site erected a handsome business
block.
John Blake Rice, actor, theatrical manager, mayor, congress-
man, a man of broad heart and mind, able and determined, and cheer-
ful through all adversities; was born in Easton, Talbot Co., Md., on
May 28, 1S09, when about twenty-one years of age made his debut as
the Uncle, in " George Barnwell," appearing in the Boston Theater.
Subsequently he went to the West Indies, where he joined a dra-
matic company which played in several of the leading cities. Mr.
Rice rose so rapidly that his friends and admirers, a few years there-
after, organized a stock company and built him a theater in Bangor,
Maine. He and his company played in the principal cities of the
country, and thus it was that he met Mary Ann Warren, the daugh-
ter of the celebrated William Warren, and sister of William War-
ren, Jr. Miss Warren was a young lady of rare accomplishments
and ability as an actress, and, in December, 1837, was married, in
Philadelphia, to the man of her choice. Mr. and Mrs. Rice acted
together as stars, removing from New York to Buffalo in 1839,
where the former managed the Buffalo and Albany museums. In
the fall of 1846, Mr. Rice first came West for the purpose of select-
ing a location for a theater. At this time Milwaukee and Chicago
were the competing points, and the former city threatened to carry
the day, for he transformed an old military hall into a theater, or-
ganized a stock company in Shakesperian selections, put " Black
Eyed Susan " on the stage, and gave that village its first real taste
of drama. Subsequently he erected a brick building, on the site of
the ill-fated Newhall House, which was burned, but not until Mr.
Rice had determined, by a trial of about five years, that Milwaukee
was not a paying town. In May, 1S47, he had contracted for the
erection of a frame building, on the south side of Randolph Street,
afterward known as " Rice's Theater," and opened to the public on
June 28. In the meantime, Mrs. Rice had come on from Buffalo,
and appeared as a member of the company on the I2th of the next
month. The burning of his theater in July, 1S50, was a blow to
his prospects ; but his was a spirit not to be even depressed by such
a calamity, and it still remains in his wife's memory, as a pleasant
recollection of his sturdy character, that upon the night of the fire,
when she was well nigh crushed, he returned to his home, whistling
cheerfully like a boy. He at once set about repairing his fortune,
and a large brick building, completed in January, 1851, was the re-
sult. Kor a time after the opening of the new theater, in February,
Mrs. Rice resumed her place upon the stage as leading lady, In
October, 1857, Mr. Rice retired from theatrical pursuits, and, in
1 861, erected a business block upon the site of his theater, lie also
purchased the property which afterward became the site of the
Crosby Opera House, and in other real-estate transactions ad. Id 10
his competency. His character was above reproach ; his influence
for good, not only in his own profession but with all classes of peo-
ple, had been great ; he was warm-hearted, able, patriotic and popu-
lar ; consequently, when the Union party of Chicago commenced
to look around for a leader, they fixed upon John 15. Rice and in
April, 1865, he was almost unanimously elected to the mayoralty.
Mr. and Mrs. Rice also gave their only son, William Henry, to
their country's cause. He fell at Chickamaugua on September 19,
1863, being at the time of his death captain of Co. "A," 89th Illi-
nois Infantry. In 1867, Mr. Rice was again elected mayor, and in
1872 was elected to Congress from the first District of Illinois, but
did not live to complete his term as congressman. He died in De-
cember, 1S74, at a home he built in Norfolk, Va. He had been
suffering for some time, but, believing a change of occupation and
a prolonged rest at the conclusion of the session would restore him
to health, he refused medical treatment. His case, however, be-
came more alarming, and a removal to Norfolk was suggested ; but
he failed to rally, and his death occurred December 17, 1S74. Mr.
Rice left behind him, of his immediate relatives, his wife, still a
resident of Chicago, and five daughters — Mrs. Kimball, widow of
James Kimball, chief engineer in the navy ; and Mesdames James
W. Odell, William S. Smith, George L. Dunlap, and Orson Smith,
all of Chicago.
McVicker's Theater. — When McVicker's Theater
was built in 1857, it marked one of the most important
epochs in the history of the drama in Chicago. In fact,
so great was the undertaking, it may also be said to de-
note a more comprehensive event, and indicate a grand
step in the progress of dramatic art in the West.
James H. McVicker had long held a position of
honor among the profession, and had achieved success
as a manager. Personally, he was known as one of the
most entertaining comedians on the American stage,
but the enterprise planned by him was far beyond the
limits of his previous efforts, and surpassed anything at-
tempted by W r estern managers.
James Hubert McVicker was born in the City of New
York, on February 14, 1822. His parents, James and Nancy Mc-
Vicker, were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. In 1822, when the son was
born, his father died, leaving a widow and three children without
provision for their future. James, therefore, had but few educa-
tional advantages, as he had to assist in the support of his mother.
He became a printer's apprentice in 1S32, and worked in mechanical
capacities, at different places in New York, until October, 1837.
He then entered as an apprentice in the office of the St. Louis Re-
publican, and in 1840 became a journeyman. Dissatisfied, how-
ever, with the nature of his work, Mr. McVicker then determined to
acquire scholastic knowledge, and, under the most trying circum-
stances, commenced his studies, and successfully prosecuted them,
with that determined perseverance which has made his whole career
successful. Mr. McVicker began his dramatic work in New Or-
leans, in 1840, commencing in the most subordinate capacities, and
growing into favor by steady progress. He subsequently appeared
at theaters in different parts of the country, and, during the latter
part of April, 1S4S, arrived in Chicago. Rice's comedian was
about leaving here, and the young actor was given an opportunity
to test his ability to fill the place. On the evening of May 2, 1S48,
Mr. and Mrs. McVicker made their first appearance in this city —
the former impersonating Mr. Smith, in the farce " My Neighbor's
Wife," and the latter, Susan, in the comedy " Hue and Cry." In
1S51, after the death of Dan Marble, he bought the right to use
that eminent comedian's plays, and began a starring tour through
the United States. In 1855, he >vent to England, where he was
cordially received. For the first time in his life, he then experi-
enced the comfortable sensations which are known only to the pecu-
niarily independent. In 1S56, he undertook the management of
the People's Theater at St. Louis, and met with good success. In
March, iS57,he again came to Chicago, and established McVicker's
Theater.
598
HISTORY OF CHICAGO.
MC VICKER S THEATER.
During 1857, the construction went on, until it was
opened on November 5. When it is remembered that,
up to that period, the best theater in Chicago* was, at
its best, but a modest affair, involving an expenditure of
but a few thousands, there is reason to believe the
people were proud to see an edifice which cost $85,000,
contributing to their delight in the perfect presentation
of standard plays. It was the most substantial, conven-
ient, safe and costly theater building then standing in
the West, and had a seating capacity for two thousand
five hundred persons. The acoustic properties were
very good, and the stage had an area of eighty by fifty-
three feet. The scenery and properties of the theater
were the most extensive, and the finest in quality and
finish, then seen at any Western place of amusement.
The drop curtain was esteemed a work of art, and
represented the cities of Rock Island and Davenport
connected by the railroad bridge.
The theater was opened with a stock company con-
sisting of David Hanchttt, F. A. Munroe, F. S. Buxton,
\V. C. Forrester, A. J. Graver, J. B. Uhl, R. J. Allen,
W. Gay, H. R. Jones, J. Taylor, \Y. S. Higgins, F. Har-
rington. Mr. Havelock, Mrs. E. DeClancey, Mrs. Lottie
Hough, Mrs. Eliza Mann, Mrs. R J. Allen, Mrs. W. C.
Forrester, Mrs. W. Gay, Anna Martin, Alice Mann,
Fanny Rich, Emma Logan, Nellie (lay, Jenny Seacore,
Julia DeClancey, Mary Wright and J. Martin. The
music was under the direction of Louis Chatel, and F.
Harrington was assistant manager. Mr. McVicker took
an active part in many of the plays presented during the
early years, and retained occasional relations for a still
longer period.
•The initial performance consisted of " The Honey-
moon " and "Rough Diamond," in which pieces Mr.
McVicker sustained the comedy element. The Tri-
bune, of November 6, remarked :
" Last evening was an era in the dramatic history of our city.
For the first time since Chicago took rank as one of the first cities
of the Union, she has a theater worthy of her citizens who patron-
ize the drama. Mr. McVicker has labored against a host of adverse
circumstances. He has overcome a succession of obstacles which
were sufficient to have overcome ordinary men, and last evening he
opened to the public, if not one of the largest, certainly one of the
finest and most comfortable theaters in the country. * * At an early
hour the house was filled to its utmost capacity, the twenty-five
hundred seats being occupied long before the curtain rose. The
audience was in excellent humor, and evidently determined to be
pleased. Indeed, it must have been hypercritical to have been
otherwise. After the overture by the orchestra, Miss Alice Mann
pronounced the opening address, written by Mr. B. F, Taylor,* of
the Journal. She was warmly welcomed and heartily applauded.
As Miss Mann retreated up the stage, the scene behind her was
withdrawn, revealing the entire company. The ' Star Spangled
Banner ' was then sung, with fine effect, and rewarded with a per-
fect storm of applause. Obedient to the vociferous demand of the
audience, Mr. McVicker came forward and delivered a happily-
conceived address, which was frequently interrupted with rousing
cheers."
It is recalled, as indicative of the city's transporta-
tion facilities at that time, that Parmelee's omnibuses
were announced to leave McVicker's Theater, for Bull's
Head and Cottage Grove, nightly, at the close of the
performance.
James E. Murdoch appeared at McVicker's Decem-
ber 14, 1857, in the character of Hamlet, followed by
a round of standard characters. Those who witnessed
the finished action of this famous man bore the recol-
Thia add
d In publish it, and
ni>t obtainable, tin- contemporaneous newspapers havinjr
1 "" manuscript copy being extant.
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
599
lection ever afterward in mind. His perfect elocution,
his precision of method, his virile intelligence, and his
devotion to the artistic side of his profession, as well as
the character of the man himself, won admiration from
even those who looked with coldness on the drama.
On January 4, 1858, Miss Charlotte Cushman began an
engagement.
Edwin Booth first appeared at McVicker's on May
31, 1858, in "A New Way to Pay Old Debts," followed
by "Richelieu," "Brutus," and "Richard III." The
press comments were flattering, and forecast the emi-
nence which this great actor was destined to attain.
Miss Mary McVicker, then but a child, appeared at
her father's theater August 22, 1859, in a play entitled
" Gianetta," supported by Messrs. Tilton, Bradley,
Myers, Leighton, Cline, Dillon and Uhl, and Mrs. Mar-
ble, Mrs. Hough and Miss Woodbury. The success of
the young star was most pronounced. She won the
hearts of her audiences, and gained warmest expressions
of praise from the press. After this engagement Miss
McVicker also played Little Nell, appearing in that
character November 7, and soon became a reigning
favorite with Chicago theater-goers.
Mary McVicker Booth, or, as she was best known to her
friends, Mary McVicker, was one of those striking characters occa-
sionally met with in this world, whose career from her earliest
childhood was redundant with exceeding promise. Her debut oc-
curred in McVicker's Theater, on April 1, 185S. The incompe-
tency of the child first cast to take the part of Marie in the " Sea
of Ice," necessitated a substitution, which led to Mary's appear-
ance, and which was a pronounced success, occurring when she
was but ten years old. So marked and varied were her dramatic
powers, that it was decided that she should appear as Eva in
" Uncle Tom's Cabin." Such was her triumph in this character,
that when an attraction was needed, Mary would appear in some
new character, and her popularity did much to aid her father in
those struggling days of the drama in Chicago from 1857 to 1861.
Mrs. Thayer, of Chicago, wrote for Mary a temperance drama