{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = | image = Edward Cullerton (Chicago alderman) circa the 1910s.jpg | caption = Cullerton, circa 1915 | office = Chicago Alderman<ref name=centennial>{{Cite web |url=http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm |title=Centennial List of Mayors, City Clerks, City Attorneys, City Treasurers, and Aldermen, elected by the people of the city of Chicago, from the incorporation of the city on March 4, 1837 to March 4, 1937, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the years during which each official held office. |access-date=December 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052355/http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/LIB/AldermansList.htm |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=until>{{cite book |last1=Ahern |first1=M. L. |title=Political History of Chicago: (covering the Period from 1837 to 1887) Local Politics from the City's Birth; Chicago's Mayors, Aldermen and Other Officials; County and Federal Officers; the Fire and Police Departments; the Haymarket Horror; Miscellaneous |date=1886 |publisher=Donohue & Henneberry, printers and binders |pages=116–120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxkVAAAAYAAJ |language=en}}</ref> | term_start1 = 1901 | term_end1 = February 1, 1920 | predecessor1 = Nicholas R. Finn | successor1 = ''N/A'' | alongside1 = Charles J. Byrne (1901–02)<br>Charles J. Moertel (1902–04)<br>Peter K. Hoffman (1904–08)<br>Otto J. Novak (1908–10)<br>Frank P. Danisch (1910–12)<br>Frank W. Bewersdorf (1912–14)<br>Cleophas F. Pettkoske (1914-16)<br>Herman Krumdrick (1916–20) | constituency1 = 11th Ward | term_start2 = 1898 | term_end2 = 1900 | predecessor2 = Vaclar Klinka | successor2 = Charles J. Byrne | alongside2 = Rudolph Hurt | constituency2 = 9th Ward | term_start3 = 1888 | term_end3 = 1892 | predecessor3 = Madison R. Harris | successor3 = Frederick Rohde | alongside3 = Henry C. Bartels (1888–89)<br>Joseph E. Bidwill (1889–92) | constituency3 = 9th ward | term_start4 = 1876 | term_end4 = 1888 | predecessor4 = Fred Sommer | successor4 = Edward P. Burke | constituency4 = 6th ward | alongside4 = Fred Lodding (1876–79)<br>John J. Altpeter (1879–83)<br>Charles F. L. Doerner (1883–87)<br>Charles A. Monear (1887–88) | term_start5 = 1871 | term_end5 = 1876 | predecessor5 = William Batterman | successor5 = James H. Hildreth | alongside5 = P.J. Hickey (1871–72)<br>Patrick McClory (1872–76) | constituency5 = 7th Ward | office6 = Member of the Illinois Senate from the 3rd district | term_start6 = 1873 | term_end6 = 1874 | predecessor6 = George W. Waters | successor6 = William Honan/Conrad L. Neihoff | alongside6 = Constantine Kahn and Thomas M. Halpin | office7 = Member of the Illinois State Board of Equalization from the 2nd district | term_start7 = 1892 | term_end7 = 1896 | predecessor7 = Andrew T. Powers | successor7 = John J. McKenna | birth_date = 1840 | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois | death_date = February 1, 1920 | death_place = Chicago, Illinois | party = Democratic | website = }}
'''Edward F. "Foxy Ed" Cullerton'''<ref name=centennial/><ref name=nbcretirement>{{cite web |title=Timothy Cullerton Retirement Ends Family's 38th Ward Dominance |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/timothy-cullerton-retires-38th-ward-alderman-chicago/2075665/ |publisher=NBC Chicago |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=17 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="sudo1">{{cite web |last1=Sudo |first1=Chuck |title=Cullertons To Release 111-Year Grip On City Council Seat |url=https://chicagoist.com/2014/07/17/cullertons_to_release_111-year_grip.php |website=The Chicagoist |access-date=21 June 2020 |date=17 July 2014 |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621172901/https://chicagoist.com/2014/07/17/cullertons_to_release_111-year_grip.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> (1841–1920) was a politician who was a longtime alderman of the Chicago City Council, and also served as a member of the Illinois Senate.
==Early life and career== Cullerton was born in Chicago in 1842.<ref name=Ahern>{{cite book |last1=Ahern |first1=M. L. |title=Political History of Chicago: (covering the Period from 1837 to 1887) Local Politics from the City's Birth; Chicago's Mayors, Aldermen and Other Officials; County and Federal Officers; the Fire and Police Departments; the Haymarket Horror; Miscellaneous |date=1886 |publisher=Donohue & Henneberry, printers and binders |pages=123–124 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qxkVAAAAYAAJ |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Cullerton's family were some of the original settlers of Chicago.<ref name="sudo1"/><ref name=herguthsfondeles>{{cite web |last1=Herguth |first1=Robert |last2=Sfondeles |first2=Tina |title=State Sen. Thomas Cullerton charged with receiving money from Teamsters while doing little to no work |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2019/8/2/20751700/state-sen-thomas-cullerton-charged-with-getting-paid-teamsters-doing-little-to-no-work |website=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en |date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
Cullerton was educated in public schools.<ref name=Ahern/> He dropped out of elementary school to work as a canalboat driver.<ref name="Schmidt1">{{cite book |last1=Schmidt |first1=John R. |title=On This Day in Chicago History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XfJ2CQAAQBAJ |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en |date=28 January 2014|isbn=9781625847317 }}</ref>
Cullerton was a successful saloon (hotel) keeper.<ref name=nbcretirement/><ref name="sudo1"/><ref name=Ahern/><ref name=dna1>{{cite web |last1=Cherone |first1=Heather |title=As Cullerton Era in Chicago Politics Ends, Alderman Hopes Legacy Lives On |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150428/portage-park/as-cullerton-era-chicago-politics-ends-alderman-hopes-legacy-lives-on/ |publisher=DNAinfo Chicago |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=28 April 2015 |archive-date=24 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624134154/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150428/portage-park/as-cullerton-era-chicago-politics-ends-alderman-hopes-legacy-lives-on/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Political career== Cullerton was a Democrat.<ref name="Schmidt1"/>
In 1871, Cullerton was elected an alderman of the Chicago Common Council for the 7th ward.<ref name=centennial/><ref name=nbcretirement/><ref name=Ahern/><ref name="Schmidt1"/> He had been elected by a large majority.<ref name=Ahern/> He continued to serve until 1876.<ref name=until/> Cullerton also simultaneously served as an Illinois State Senator, having been elected to its 3rd district in 1872, holding the seat from 1873–1874.<ref name=dna1/><ref name=Ahern/><ref name=pearson1>{{cite web |last1=Pearson |first1=Rick |title=Illinois Senate President John Cullerton talks about Blagojevich, bipartisanship and changes brought by social media as his time in Springfield comes to an end |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-senate-president-john-cullerton-20200103-27qggmvcb5cohcrlwksi3beczy-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=3 January 2020}}</ref><ref>Multiple sources: *{{cite web |title=Illinois Blue Book, 1900-1901 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/24220/rec/17 |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |language=en |date=1900}} *{{cite web |title=Illinois Bluebook 1909–1910 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/25285/ |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |page=129 |language=en |date=1909}} *{{cite web |title=List of the members of the twenty-eighth General Assembly, Board of Equalization and of Congress, 1873-1874 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/47028/rec/1 |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |language=en |date=1873}} *{{cite web |title=Official directory of the General Assembly of Illinois, 1897 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/45116/rec/56 |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |page=50 |language=en |date=1897}}</ref> In the Illinois Senate he distinguished himself by standing as an opponent to the West Side Park Commissioners' taxation scheme, and also became well-versed in parliamentary procedure.<ref name=Ahern/> From 1892–96, Cullerton served as the 2nd district member on the Illinois State Board of Equalization.<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois Bluebook 1909–1910 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/25285/ |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |page=129 |language=en |date=1909}}</ref>
thumb|Sketch of Cullerton, circa 1886
In 1876, Cullerton was elected an alderman of what, that year, was renamed the Chicago City Council for the 6th ward.<ref name=centennial/> In 1888, he was redistricted to the 9th ward, where he served until 1892.<ref name=centennial/> During part of this tenure, he was Chairman of the Finance Committee.<ref name=Ahern/>
thumb|1915 campaign poster In 1898, Cullerton was again elected alderman for the 9th ward. He served until 1900.<ref name=centennial/>
In 1901, Cullerton was elected alderman for the 11th ward. He served until his death in 1920.<ref name=centennial/><ref name="Schmidt1"/> At the time of his death, having served as an alderman for a cumulative 48 years, he was the longest-serving alderman in the history of the Chicago City Council, a record he would continue to hold for many years.<ref name=corrupt>{{cite book |last1=Gradel |first1=Thomas J. |last2=Simpson |first2=Dick |title=Corrupt Illinois : patronage, cronyism, and criminality |date=15 February 2015 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0252097034}}</ref><ref name=cohen1>{{cite book |last1=Cohen |first1=Richard E. |title=Rostenkowski: The Pursuit of Power and the End of the Old Politics |date=2000 |publisher=Ivan R. Dee |isbn=978-1-4617-0229-0 |page=235 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PXr9AAAAQBAJ |access-date=21 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Cullerton died in his home on February 1, 1920, at the age of 78.<ref name="Schmidt1"/>
In 1897, Cullerton unsuccessfully ran to rejoin the state assembly, seeking election to its 5th district seat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official directory of the General Assembly of Illinois, 1897 |url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/bb/id/45331/rec/56 |website=www.idaillinois.org |publisher=State of Illinois |access-date=25 July 2025 |pages=appendix page 48 |language=en}}</ref>
Cullerton had a reputation for being shrewd and for being quiet, giving root to his nickname "Foxy Ed".<ref name="Schmidt1"/> He was despised by proponents of clean government, but well-liked by voters in his own ward.<ref name="Schmidt1"/>
==Legacy== Cullerton Street in Chicago, previously known as 20th Street, was named for him shortly after his death.<ref name="Schmidt1"/><ref name=pearson1/> His residence, at the time of his death, had been on this street.<ref name="Schmidt1"/>
===Family political dynasty=== Cullerton began what has become a Cullerton family political dynasty.<ref name="Schmidt1"/><ref name=dna1/>
For a cumulative period of 112 years, at least one member of the Cullerton family sat on the Chicago City Council.<ref name="sudo1"/> A series of Cullerton's descendants would hold the aldermanship of the 38th ward, including P. J. Cullerton,<ref name=centennial/> <ref name="DeBat">{{cite web |last1=DeBat |first1=Don |title=Cook County Assessor Scrambles to Fix Tax Data Integrity |url=https://www.loopnorth.com/news/mobi/integrity0324.htm |website=Loop North News |access-date=22 July 2025 |date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> William J. Cullerton, Thomas W. Cullerton, and Timothy Cullerton. Also, family in-law Thomas R. Allen held this seat.<ref name=nbcretirement/><ref name=betterknow>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Better-Know--An-Alderman-Timothy-Cullerton-38th-Ward-166758626.html |title=Better Know an Alderman: Timothy Cullerton |date=20 August 2012 |publisher=NBC Chicago |access-date=2013-01-30}}</ref>
P. J. Cullerton was an ally of Richard J. Daley, and served as Cook County assessor,<ref name=corrupt/><ref>{{cite news |first=Maureen|last=O'Donnell|title=William J. Cullerton, Chicago's top flying ace of World War II, dies at 89 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/17582382-418/william-j-cullerton-chicagos-top-flying-ace-of-world-war-ii-dies-at-89.html |work= Chicago Sun Times |date=2013-01-14 |access-date=2013-01-25}}</ref><ref name=cohen1/> and 38th ward alderman,<ref name=centennial/><ref name="DeBat"/> and 38th ward Democratic committeeman.<ref>{{cite web |title=P.J. Cullerton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/668133150 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Chicago Eagle |access-date=13 August 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=20 Mar 1934}}</ref>
Patti Jo "P.J." Cullerton, served as the 38th ward Democratic committeewoman for over 20 years.<ref name=nbcretirement/><ref name=dna1/>
John Cullerton (his great-grandnephew) served as president of the Illinois Senate, and Tom Cullerton served as an Illinois state senator as well.<ref name=nbcretirement/><ref name=herguthsfondeles/><ref name=dna1/><ref name=pearson1/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cullerton, Edward}} Category:Chicago City Council members Category:Democratic Party Illinois state senators Category:1840s births Category:1920 deaths Category:19th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly Edward