About Ogden, William B. Ogden Elementary School

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.

Do you have some historical information about this school? Submit info »