His wealth garnered him a fair amount of political power . He founded the Illinois Republican Party and became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln . He sold much of his Chicago holdings prior to a trip to England . While away , the property he sold was lost in the Great Chicago Fire . In 1851 he was one of the group of Methodists who founded Northwestern University , and was elected the first president of its Board of Trustees
Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
John Evans (governor)