Gale, Stephen Francis

Stephen Francis Gale Soundex Code G400

Taken from the Gale School website (http://www.galeschool.com/DidYouKnow.htm) and "Wiki-ized"

Most of us heard that he opened Chicago’s first book store, but there is much more to the story. Stephen Francis Gale (1812-1905), was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1812, and later moved to Boston, Massachusetts. He came to Chicago in 1835, two years after Chicago was incorporated as a village (it became a city in 1837). He opened a book and stationery store on South Water Street near Clark Street. His residence was at Dearborn Street and Washington Street.

Chief Aptakisic, or Half-Day, whose village lay north of the city, left in August 1835. Upon his departure, he presented his ceremonial war club to 23 year-old Stephen Francis Gale, who moved from Boston to Chicago in 1833. The same year he received the club, Gale opened a book stationery store on South Water Street and voted in Chicago’s first town board election. He later ran the Chicago Fire Department and became active in city politics.

Gale became a very successful businessman, making a fortune on real estate deals in addition to his bookstore. In 1839, he published Gale’s Statutes, the first law book published in Illinois.

Stephen served as Chicago's first fire chief from 1844 to 1847 and is remembered for his connection with the "Red Jackets", one of the early firefighting brigades.

He was nominated for Chicago Mayors in 1849, but declined to run. In 1855 he retired from active business and for the remainder of his life he divided his time between his principal residence in Chicago and his summer home back in Exeter, where much of his family still lived.

Stephen Francis Gale died in 1905 at the age of 93. Although he spent most of his life in Chicago, he was buried on the Gale family plot in Exeter. At the time of his death he was half owner of the Illinois Stone Company at Lemont, Illinois and owner of several blocks of West Side real estate, also he was heavily invested in the Pullman Company, of which he was one of the ten charter members.

Although Gale himself declined to run for public office, he was apparently still influential in local politics. In 1915, his grandson -- William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson -- was elected Mayor of Chicago. It was therefore fitting that Gale School, which was completed in 1922 and dedicated in 1923 during Big Bill Thompson's administration, be named after the mayor’s illustrious grandfather. Nevertheless, a scandal erupted in 1923 amid charges of graft and inferior materials being used at several recently constructed buildings, including the Gale School.

Directory of the City of Chicago, Illinois for 1843

Chicago: Fergus Printing Company, 1896

From August to December, 1843

Hydraulic Company, Stephen Francis Gale, Director.

Military Companies: Chicago Guards: Stephen Francis Gale, 3rd Lieutenant.

Chicago Fire Companies: Stephen Francis Gale, 1st Assistant.

http://www.earlychicago.com/

This web site is based on the book A Compendium of the Early History of Chicago to the Year 1835, when the Indians left.

Stephen Francis Gale (1812-1905) born in Exeter, New Hampshire; arrived in May 1833; half brother of [see] Arthur G. Burley; was listed among "500 Chicagoans" on the census which Commissioner Thomas J.V. Owen took prior to the incorporation of Chicago as a town in early August 1833, and voted in the election of the first town board on August 10; opened the second book and stationery store in 1835 on South Water Street, between Clark Street and LaSalle Street; 1839 City Directory: bookseller and stationer, 159 Lake Street. Gale also sold patent medicines, advertising Brandreth’s Pills as sole authorized agent; in 1839 Mr. Gale published the first law book ever in the State of Illinois, a compilation of the statutes of Illinois which became known as Gale’s Statutes; on December 7, 1841, he married Medora Augusta Smith, youngest daughter of T.M. Smith, circuit judge of the Cook County circuit; there were two children: Medora and Edward F. The 1843 City Directory listing is under Stephen F. Gale & Co. (Augustus] H. Burley): books and stationery, 106 Lake, and his residence at 103 Dearborn; in 1844 half brother Augustus was still involved in the business as was a younger half brother Charles Burley, as clerk. In later years he headed the Chicago Fire Department; in 1885 he lived at 55 S. Peoria Street.; Stephen Gale Elementary Community Academy, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace. and Stephen F. Gale Annex School, 7650 N. Marshfield Avenue.; street name: Gale Street, in the NW section of the city. [12, 266, 319, 351] [498]

Gale Street and the neighborhood of Galewood, both on the Northwest Side of Chicago, are NOT named after Stephen Francis Gale, although they are sometimes erroneously attributed to him.