The Gambler King of Clark Street: Michael C. McDonald and the Rise of Chicago's Democratic Machine

Acknowledgments

 Acknowledgments Because there has never been a published biography of Michael C. McDonald, what has been told about the Gaslight Era gambler over the years has been told anecdotally: snippets of information found here and there, daily transcriptions in the press, and the published memories of veteran reporters and contemporaries . Stories were retold and handed down through the generations. It was the anthologies of early Chicago history written by Herbert Asbury, Bessie Louise Pierce, Henry Justin Smith, Finis Farr, Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan, and Frederick Francis Cook, among others, that created the image of McDonald left to us today. My personal interest in Mike McDonald and his era dates back to 1983, when I began gathering resources for my third book, Chicago Ragtime. And so began a fascinating two-decade research project. I am fortunate to live in Chicago and work with a community of exceptionally talented local historians and genealogists who share an interest in the era’s politics and aspects of the notorious. Rick Kogan, eminent author, WGN radio talk-show host, and Chicago Tribune Magazine editor, provided help with certain aspects of information retrieval. I tapped author Dick Bales’s deep understanding of the methodology of tracking down historical Chicago property records. And Dorman Nelson of Granada Hills, California, and Brenda Mason of Kincardine, Ontario, supplied useful clues in the early and later phases of genealogical research into the McDonald family tree. The librarians at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the Newberry Library and Robert Medina of the Chicago History Museum were of great service. Rose Keefe, one of the best of a new generation of historical crime writers, dug into Ancestry.com on my behalf. Chicago-area genealogist Mike Karsen helped solve some of the lingering mysteries surrounding Dora Feldman McDonald and her family roots. In addition to serving as my graduate thesis adviser many years ago, Steven Reiss of the Northeastern Illinois University history department faculty has worked with me on several notable projects over the years. Mark Dunn, also of NEIU, has closely studied the careers of “Parson” Davies and “Oyster Joe” Mackin, both integral figures in the life of xiii Mike McDonald. His willingness to exchange information is most appreciated. Additional thanks and appreciation go to my old friend and academic mentor, Bernard Brommel, professor emeritus at NEIU; James Durney of Irish Public Television; Christopher J. Carlin, author and retired chief deputy of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and a former chief of police for the City of Niagara Falls; former Chicago alderman Dick Simpson, who read the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions; Bob Kostoff, Niagara Falls historian, who followed up on a research request; Carol Jean Carlson, for formatting assistance; Mary Claire Hersh; Denise Lindberg; Karl Kageff of Southern Illinois University Press; John Wilson, for his fine copyediting; James J. Conway; Kay Henderson; Robert Remer; Dan Kelley; and R. Craig Sautter. I am grateful to all of you. xiv Acknowledgments The Gambler King of Clark Street  ...