b Nov. 20, 1866, Millville, OH; d Nov. 25, 1944, Chicago.
Lawyer; federal judge; first baseball commissioner; banned “Black Sox” players from Major League Baseball; presided over conviction of IWW leaders in 1918.
Landon, Margaret Mortenson
b Sept. 3, 1903; d Dec. 4, 1993.
Writer; wrote Anna and the King of Siam.
Lane, Albert G.
b May 15, 1841; d Aug. 22, 1906, Chicago.
Educator; superintendent of Chicago Public Schools (1891–1898).
Lane, Frank “Trader”
b Feb. 1, 1895 or 1896, Cincinnati, OH; d Mar. 19, 1981, Richardson, TX.
Baseball executive; White Sox general manager (1950s).
Lane, Hannah
b July 15, 1780, Kingsbury, NY; d Sept. 16, 1853, Worth Township, Cook County, IL.
Arrived in Alsip in 1834.
Lane, Joseph
b Aug. 10, 1773, Champlain, Clinton, NY; d June 10, 1877, Worth Township, Cook County, IL.
Arrived in Alsip in 1834.
Lanigan, James (Jim) W.
b Jan. 30, 1902, Chicago; d Apr. 9, 1983, Elburn, IL.
Classical and jazz musician; violinist with Chicago Symphony Orchestra; string bass/tuba player with original Austin High School jazz band.
Lansett, Peter
b Canada.
Credited with 1820 discovery of coal near Coal City.
Lansing, George
b NY.
Arrived in Lansing area in 1846.
Lansing, Henry
b Chenango County, NY; active 1840s–1860s.
Early Lansing postmaster; operated general store.
Lansing, John
b NY.
Platted village of Lansing in 1865.
Lardner, Ring
b Mar. 6, 1885, Niles, MI; d Sept. 25, 1933, Long Island, NY.
Sports journalist; playwright; lyricist.
Lasker, Albert Davis
b May 1, 1880, Freiburg, Germany; d May 30, 1952, New York, NY.
Advertising executive; philanthropist; pioneered modern advertising methods.
Lasker, Mary
Lathrop, Jedediah H.
b July 5, 1806, Lebanon, NH; d Nov. 23, 1889.
Early settler of Elmhurst; planted elm trees along Cottage Grove.
Lathrop, Julia
b June 29, 1858, Rockford, IL; d Apr. 15, 1932, Rockford, IL.
Social reformer; Hull House resident; first head of U.S. Children's Bureau.
Laughlin, Clara Elizabeth
b Aug. 3, 1873, New York, NY; d Mar. 3, 1941, Chicago.
Travel writer; founder and editor of So You're Going travel monthly.
Laughton, Bernardus H.
active 1820s–1830s.
Indian trader; established trading post in Lyons with brother David.
Laughton, David
active 1820s–1830s.
Early settler; established trading post in Lyons with brother Bernardus.
Lawrence, George R.
b Feb. 24, 1867, Ottawa, IL; d Dec. 15, 1938, Chicago.
Photographer; pioneer in aerial and panoramic photography; banquet photographer.
Lawson, Victor Fremont
b Sept. 9, 1850, Chicago; d Aug. 19, 1925, Chicago.
Owner and editor of Chicago Daily News (1876–1925); philanthropist.
Le Beau, Emily Beaubien
b July 8 or 28, 1825, River Raisin, Washtenaw, MI; d Nov. 4, 1919, Aurora, IL.
Daughter of Mark Beaubien.
Le Grand Saulteur
b c. 1710; d Autumn 1770.
Ojibwa chief; prominent leader from Sault Ste. Marie District.
Leahy, Mary Clemenza
active 1910s.
Nun; one of the first women to earn a bachelor's degree at DePaul, 1912.
Leaner, Arthur
Leaner, George
b June 1, 1917, MS; d Sept. 18, 1983, Chicago.
Record producer; founded “One-derful” record label in 1962.
Leavensworth, Jessie
active 1840s.
Resident near Riverwoods and Deerfield Road in 1841.
Lederer, Eppie
Lee, Charles
active 1800s.
Farmer before 1812.
Lee, William A.
b Apr. 11, 1895, Chicago; d June 16, 1984, Chicago.
Labor leader; head of Bakery Truck Drivers Union (1916–1960); president of Chicago Federation of Labor (1946–1984).
Legge, Katherine
b 1870, Butler County, PA; d Aug. 22, 1924, Pasadena, CA.
Wife of president of International Harvester; husband donated land for memorial park in her honor.
Legler, Henry Eduard
b Feb. 22, 1861, Palermo, Italy; d Sept. 13, 1917, Chicago.
Librarian of Chicago Public Library (1909–1917); proposed network of neighborhood libraries.
Lehmann, Ernst E.
b Oct. 28, 1886, Chicago; d Jan. 18, 1930, Chicago.
Cattle breeder; son of founder of Lake Villa.
Lehmann, Ernst J.
b Jan. 27, 1849, Tetrow, Germany; d Jan. 4, 1900, White Plains, NY.
Originator of the department store concept in Chicago; owned “The Fair Store”; founded Lake Villa and Lindenhurst.
Leigh, Edward Baker
b Apr. 23, 1853, Townsend, MA; d May 17, 1932, Kerr County, TX.
President of Chicago Railway Equipment Co.
Leiter, Levi Z.
b Nov. 2, 1834, Leitersburg, MD; d June 9, 1904, Bar Harbor, ME.
Merchant; partner in Field, Leiter & Co. (later Marshall Field & Co.); president of Commercial Club and Art Institute of Chicago.
Leopold, Nathan,
b Nov. 19, 1904, Chicago; d Aug. 30, 1971, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Thrill murderer; coperpetrator in 1924 kidnapping and murder of Bobby Franks.
Lester, Frederick E.
b July 3, 1828, Clinton, NY; d Jan. 21, 1891.
Merchant; postmaster; founded Wood Dale.
Levy, Felix Alexander
b Oct. 20, 1884, New York, NY; d June 16, 1963, New York, NY.
Rabbi of Congregation Emanuel (1907–1956); president of Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Lew, Gerard
b May 7, 1888, MA; d Mar. 11, 1965, Chicago.
First president of DuSable Museum Board; poet.
Lewis, Allen C.
b 1821, Sterling, CT; d Oct. 27, 1877, Chicago.
Businessman; established Polytechnic School (forerunner of Illinois Institute of Technology).
Lewis, Arthur Morrow
b ca. 1873, England; d Aug. 22, 1922, Chicago.
Lecturer; socialist; speaker at Dill Pickle Club.
Lewis, Benjamin Franklin
b Nov. 23, 1842, Union County, IN; d Feb. 2, 1928, Pasadena, CA.
Publisher of county histories.
Lewis, Evan “Strangler”
active late nineteenth century.
Wrestler; fought in first recognized professional heavyweight championship.
Lewis, Frank J.
b Apr. 9, 1867, Chicago; d Dec. 21, 1960, Chicago.
Businessman; philanthropist; founded Lewis Univ.
Lewis, Henry B.
b 1825, Madison County, NY; d June 6, 1901, Chicago.
Early realestate dealer in Englewood; member of Chicago Board of Trade.
Lewis, Lloyd Downs
b May 2, 1891, Pendleton, IN; d Apr. 21, 1949, Libertyville, IN.
Journalist and managing editor at Chicago Daily News; biographer.
Lewis, Meade Lux
b Sept. 4, 1905, Chicago; d June 7, 1964, Minneapolis, MN.
Boogie-woogie pianist; discovered in Chicago clubs.
Lewis, Samuel
active 1830s.
Music teacher; opened school of music around 1835.
Leyendecker, Joseph Christian
b Mar. 23, 1874, Montabaur, Germany; d July 25, 1951, New Rochelle, NY.
Artist; illustrator; known for magazine cover illustrations; did first Arrow collar advertisements.
Lieb, Hermann
b May 24, 1826, Turgau, Switzerland; d Mar. 4, 1908, Chicago.
Lawyer; county clerk; cofounded Abend Zeitung; owner and editor of Chicago Democrat.
Liesegang, Adolph
active late nineteenth century.
Bandleader; organized band after the fire of 1871.
Lincoln, Abraham
b Feb. 12, 1809, Hodgenville, KY; d Apr. 14, 1865, Washington, DC.
U.S. president; nominated at 1860 Republican Convention in Chicago; cofounded Republican Party in Illinois; congressman (1847–1849).
Lincoln, Benjamin B.
b 1806, VT; d 1855, Palatine, IL.
Arrived in Palatine around 1835; first justice of the peace in Palatine.
Lincoln, Mary Todd
b Dec. 13, 1818, Lexington, Kentucky; d July 16, 1882, Springfield, IL.
U.S. First Lady; hospitalized at Bellevue Place sanatorium in Batavia.
Lincoln, Robert Todd
b Aug. 1, 1843, Springfield, IL; d July 26, 1926, Manchester, VT.
Lawyer; railroad executive; founded Glenwood School; U.S. secretary of war; diplomat.
Lindheimer, Benjamin Franklin
b Oct. 1, 1889, Chicago; d June 5, 1960, Beverly Hills, CA.
Real-estate dealer; racetrack owner.
Lindsay, Vachel
b Nov. 10, 1879, Springfield, IL; d Dec. 5, 1931, Springfield, IL.
Poet; associated with Chicago Renaissance; wrote The Congo and Other Poems.
Lingg, Louis
b Sept. 9, 1864, Mannheim, Germany; d Nov. 10, 1887, Chicago.
Anarchist; convicted in Haymarket Square riot; committed suicide before his execution.
Lingle, Alfred Philip “Jake”
b July 2, 1891, Chicago; d June 9, 1930, Cicero, IL.
Crime reporter for Chicago Tribune.
Little Turtle
b ca. 1752, Ft. Wayne, IN; d July 14, 1812, Fort Wayne, IN.
Chief and military leader of the Miami Indians.
Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice
b Dec. 19, 1820, Boston, MA; d May 23, 1905, Melrose, MA.
Writer; abolitionist; suffragist; founded Illinois Woman Suffrage Association.
Llapitan, Carmelito
b Dec. 14, 1910; d Apr. 2, 1988.
Founded Filipino American Council of Chicago; served as council president 1961–1965 and 1970–1978.
Lloyd, Henry Demarest
b May 1, 1847, New York, NY; d Sept. 28, 1903, Chicago.
Social reformer; economist; Chicago Tribune journalist; wrote Wealth vs. Commonwealth (1894).
Locke, Ned
b Dec. 25, 1919, Redwing, MN; d Feb. 4, 1992, Kimberling, MO.
Ringmaster on Bozo's Circus television show.
Loeb, Jacob M.
b Sept. 17, 1875, Chicago; d Feb. 17, 1944, Chicago.
Insurance executive; president of Chicago Board of Education (1910s).
Loeb, Richard
b June 11, 1905, Chicago; d Jan. 28, 1936, Lockport, IL.
Thrill murderer; coperpetrator of 1924 kidnapping and murder of Bobby Franks; killed in prison.
Loewy, Raymond
b Nov. 5, 1893, Paris, France; d July 14, 1986, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Industrial designer; designed Studebaker car and Coca-Cola bottle.
Logan, John Alexander
b Feb. 9, 1826, Murphysnoro, IL; d Dec. 26, 1886, Washington, DC.
Lawyer; U.S. Army general; state legislator (1853–1854; 1857–1858); U.S. representative (1859–1862; 1867–1870), U.S. senator (1871–1876; 1879–1886).
Logan, Josephine Hancock
b May 1, 1862, Chicago; d Nov. 1, 1943, Chicago.
Arts patron; writer; established “Sanity in Art” committee (1936).
Lohr, Lenox R.
b Aug. 15, 1891, Washington, DC; d 1968.
General manager of Century of Progress World's Fair, 1933.
Long, Birch Burdette
b ca. 1878, Columbus, OH; d Mar. 1, 1927, New York, NY.
Artist; painter; illustrator.
Loomis, Frank D.
b Dec. 14, 1880, Bowling Green, OH; d Nov. 1969, Hopedale, IL.
Executive director of Chicago Community Trust; founded Crusade of Mercy in 1934.
Lorimer, William
b Apr. 27, 1861, Manchester, England; d Sept. 13, 1934, Chicago.
U.S. congressman and U.S. senator; led Republican political machine in Chicago.
Lott, George
b Oct. 16, 1906, Springfield, IL; d Dec. 3, 1991, Chicago.
Tennis player; outstanding doubles player in the 1930s; tennis coach at DePaul Univ.
Loughman, John Patrick
b May 12, 1894, Chicago; d Dec. 5, 1946, Chicago.
Labor speaker; known as King of the Soapboxers; captain of Hobo College.
Louis, Joseph
b May 13, 1914, Lafayette, AL; d Apr. 12, 1981, Las Vegas, NV.
Heavyweight boxing champion; became a professional boxer in Chicago.
Lovett, Harriett
b ca. 1820; d Nov. 16, 1913, Chicago.
Arrived in Chicago in 1835; farmed in Montclare area.
Lovett, Robert Morss
b Dec. 25, 1870, Boston, MA; d Feb. 8, 1952, Chicago.
Reformer; educator; editor; English professor at Univ. of Chicago; Hull House resident.
Lowden, Frank Orren
b Jan. 26, 1861, Sunrise City, MN; d Mar. 30, 1943, Tucson, AZ.
Lawyer; businessman; governor of Illinois (1917–1921); agriculturist.
Lowe, Julia R.
active late nineteenth century.
Physician; led campaign for public baths.
Lozano, Rudy
b July 17, 1951, Harlingen, TX; d June 8, 1983, Chicago.
Labor organizer; community activist; Midwest director of International Ladies Garment Workers Union.
Lubin, Charles W.
b Nov. 16, 1903, Chicago; d July 15, 1988, Chicago.
Businessman; founded Kitchens of Sara Lee.
Luckman, Sidney
b Nov. 21, 1916, Brooklyn, NY; d July 5, 1998, Aventura, FL.
Professional football player; Bears quarterback (1940s).
Ludby, Peter
active 1830s.
Arrived in Dunning in 1839.
Ludmila, Anna
b Jan. 12, 1903, Chicago; d Apr. 18, 1990, Houston, TX.
Ballet dancer; principal dancer of Chicago Opera Ballet in the 1920s.
Lumbard, Frank
active 1840s.
Educator; appointed vocal teacher in public schools, 1847.
Lundgren, Harriet
b Nov. 20, 1907, Chicago; d Jan. 9, 1996, Chicago.
Ballet dancer; principal dancer with Chicago Grand Opera Ballet; conducted ballet school in Chicago.
Lundin, Frederick
b May 18, 1868, West Tollstad, Sweden; d Aug. 29, 1947, Beverly Hills, CA.
Manufacturer; state senator (1894-1898); U.S. congressman (1909–1911); president of Lundin & Co.
Lunt, Orrington
b Dec. 24, 1815, Bowdoinham, ME; d Apr. 5, 1897, Evanston, IL.