Scots in The Windy City - A History of Scottish Influences in Illinois

Our story begins with the thousands of travelling Scots who emigrated across the pond throughout the 19^th and early 20^th century in search of a better life. Many of these Scots settled within the Chicago area, assimilating easily into American culture and society through a shared language and system of beliefs. A fair few of the emigrants were skilled craftsmen and traders who took that famous Scottish entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic to the areas in which they settled, taking full advantage of the opportunities offered to them in their new lands.

Although famed as skilled craftsmen and traders; the Scots also brought their culture and heritage, which had a lasting impact within the area of Chicago. This ranged from sporting activities such as Highland Games and Highland Dancing; to music and pipe bands; and literature, clothing, tartan and festivals, many of which are still celebrated today. The Scots shared this culture amongst themselves and the wider community forming several Scottish societies, to share their love of all things Scottish.

Within the Windy City, several Scottish groups and societies were formed by emigrants to celebrate and share their Scottish culture. Examples of these groups include ‘Burns Clubs’ which celebrated the work of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns; and traditional pipe bands. Perhaps the most prominent Scottish group formed within Chicago was the Chicago Scots who are still active today. The Chicago Scots continue the work of the early Scottish emigrants as advocates of Scottish culture within the Chicago area, and run regular Scottish events and festivals, ranging from an annual Burns Supper to a Highland Games festival which ScotlandShop were a part of last year and will be again this year. The group was formed as the Illinois Saint Andrew Society in 1845, making it the oldest charitable institution in the state of Illinois. They even have their own tartan! The society created the ‘Caledonian Senior Living and Memory Care Campus’ over a century ago, situated on 5 acres of land in North Riverside, Illinois, to cater for senior members of the community; thus, continuing the Scottish tradition of philanthropy. Through the Chicago Scots and other such groups, the strong links between Chicago and Scotland are strengthened and celebrated. We are proud to have our very own personal link with the current President of Chicago Scots, Gus Noble, who was born and raised here in Duns where we are based.

John Kinzie

John Kinzie was born in Quebec City to John and Anne McKenzie who were Scots-Irish immigrants. Kinzie was a trader and moved to Chicago circa 1802 -1803 with his wife and child, where they were amongst the first permanent European settlers. Kinzie has a street named after him in Chicago, Kinzie Street, and is infamous for committing the ‘first murder in Chicago’ on the 17^thJune 1812, when he killed interpreter Jean La Lima, in apparent self-defense. Kinzie’s son, John H. Kinzie, went on to become a prominent figure within Chicago politics in the 19^th century, serving as president of Chicago in 1834.

Allan Pinkerton

Allan Pinkerton was a Scottish-American detective from the Gorbals in Glasgow, who emigrated to the United States in 1842. Pinkerton settled in Dundee Township, Illinois, located fifty miles northwest of Chicago. It was there he became interested in detective work after encountering a group of counterfeiters and reporting their movements to the local sheriff. This later resulted in Pinkerton being appointed as the first police detective in Chicago. He formed the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1850 in Chicago, who were hired to track down Western outlaws, namely Jesse James’ Reno gang and Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch Gang. Pinkerton also claimed to foil an alleged assassination plot on president-elect Abraham Lincoln in Baltimore in February 1861. Allan Pinkerton passed away in Chicago on 1st July 1884 with the Pinkerton Detective Agency laying the foundations for organisations such as the CIA and the FBI.

West Dundee

West Dundee is a village situated in Kane County, Illinois. In 1835, a tavern and a store were established becoming the cornerstone of the community. As settlers flocked to the town a lottery was held in order to decide who would give the town its name. A man named Alexander Gardiner won the lottery and named the town West Dundee after his hometown, with the pair later becoming sister cities.

Inverness

Inverness is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois. The area was first settled in 1836, with a railway established by 1854, the frontier town became increasingly accessible from nearby Chicago. Arthur McIntosh, one of Chicago’s leading land developers, purchased 1500 acres of land in 1926 for development. The area soon became known as Inverness, after the McIntosh Clan home in Scotland.

Robert Burns Statue - Garfield Park

Garfield Park in Chicago is home to a statue of Robert Burns which pays homage to the famous Scottish poet. His likeness is in the oldest of the three large parks in Chicago’s West Side and purveys the strong links between the city and Burn’s homeland.