About This School

Biography Information

William Butler Ogden was born into a wealthy family in Walton, New York on June 15, 1805. At the age of 16 his father suffered poor health and William took over the family's lumber business. He later studied law and served in the New York State legislature before arriving in Chicago in 1835 where he began buying real estate. In 1837 he became Chicago's first mayor, defeating John H. Kinzie. He built several railroads including the first railroad from Chicago: the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. At the age of 70 he married Marian Arnot, the daughter of a New York railroad owner. William Butler Ogden died in Boscobel, New York on August 4, 1877.

School History

Ogden School began as School #10 in 1857; it was located on Chestnut between Dearborn and Wolcott  streets. That building was destroyed by fire in 1871. An Ogden School was rebuilt in 1872 on Chestnut between State and Dearborn streets. That building was replaced in 1884 on 9 West Chestnut Street. That building was abandoned in 1953 and closed in 1955. The current Ogden School building at 24 West Walton Street was built in 1953