OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 169 
A GIANT OF ILLINOIS’ AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 
67. SAMUEL WaTERS ALLERTON JR., was one of the pioneers 
in the livestock industry of Chicago. He was a strong buyer 
of livestock in the days previous to the general market in Chi- 
cago, and shipped large numbers of animals to the east, to New 
York and Boston. Mr. ALLERTON published in the Chicago 
Tribune the first letter in favor of organizing the Union Stock 
Yards and by his efforts in founding the First National Bank 
and in developing the world’s greatest livestock market, did 
much toward making Chicago the financial center of the west. 
SAMUEL W. ALLERTON JR., was born May 26, 1828, at Amenia, 
Dutchess Co., New York, the youngest of nine children. At 
seven years of age due to the destructive tariff measures of the 
30’s, his father was forced into bankruptcy, and at twelve he 
was required to commence work for himself. In 1842 the entire 
family removed to Yates Co., New York, where a farm was 
rented. Young SAMUEL worked with his father until they saved 
sufficient money to buy a farm in Wayne Co. He then with his 
brother Henry, rented a farm from which they made a profit 
of $1,500. They forthwith bought a small acreage jointly near 
Newark, for $4,500, paying the $1,500 profit down. His brother 
went to work on this farm while he rented another, and at the 
end of three years he had saved $3,200. He then returned to 
Newark where he worked with his brothers and traded in live- 
stock in a small way. Upon taking his purchases to New York 
and Albany he discovered that he knew as much as the dealers 
he met, he therefore told his brother HEnrRy, “I think my serv- 
ices are worth more than $9 a month, and as we now have the 
farm paid for, and $3,000 in money, you take the farm and I 
will take the money.” His brother attempted to dissuade him, 
but seeing that he was intent on trying the livestock trade, he 
agreed to this settlement. HENrRY’s parting advice to him was 
