William Butler Ogden (June 15, 1805 – August 3, 1877) was an American politician and railroad executive who served as the first Mayor of Chicago.
He was referred to as "the Astor of Chicago." He was, at one time, the city's richest citizen. ==Early life== Ogden was born on June 15, 1805, in Walton, New York.
From 1840 through 1841, he served on the Chicago Common Council as an alderman from the 6th Ward.
From 1840 through 1841, he served on the Chicago Common Council as an alderman from the 6th Ward.
From 1847 through 1848, he served as an alderman from the 9th Ward. Odgen was booster of Chicago both during and after his tenures in elected office.
"In 1847, Ogden announced a plan to build a railway out of Chicago, but no capital was forthcoming.
From 1847 through 1848, he served as an alderman from the 9th Ward. Odgen was booster of Chicago both during and after his tenures in elected office.
By 1848, Ogden and Scammon had raised $350,000—enough to begin laying track.
As president of Union Pacific, Ogden extended the reach of Chicago's rail lines to the West coast." In 1853, the Chicago Land Company, of which Ogden was a trustee, purchased land at a bend in the Chicago River and began to cut a channel, formally known as North Branch Canal, but also referred to as Ogden's Canal.
After the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act, Ogden was named as the first president of the Union Pacific Railroad.
As part of the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act, Congress named several existing railroad companies to complete portions of the project.
Whoever speculates will damn this project. As history now shows, eventually Ogden and many others got their wish. ===Later life=== On October 8, 1871, Ogden lost most of his prized possessions in the Great Chicago Fire.
William Butler Ogden (June 15, 1805 – August 3, 1877) was an American politician and railroad executive who served as the first Mayor of Chicago.
In New York, he named his home in the Highbridge, Bronx (named after the bridge now called Aqueduct Bridge over the Harlem River connecting Manhattan and the Bronx) Villa Boscobel. Ogden died at his home in the Bronx on Friday, August 3, 1877.
The funeral was held August 6, 1877, with several prominent pallbearers including, Gouverneur Morris III, William A.
Ogden left money to his hometown of Walton N.Y which was used for the construction of a library, completed in 1897, which bears his name, the William B.
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