Background
John Van Osdel was born in1811 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
John Van Osdel was born in1811 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
While in his teens, John worked with his father, and in his leisure studied all the books on architecture available at the Apprentice Library. After establishing a home for his family, Van Osdel opened an office on Clark Street (on a site between the present City Hall and Post Office) and began the practice of architecture.
The Ogden house as planned, a palatial residence with cupola and a classic portico, was built in the block bounded by Cass (now Wabash), Rush, Ontario and Erie Streets, said to have been the most imposing dwelling in all Illinois, and it stood until razed by the great Chicago fire in 1871.
Another important structure was the Rush Medical College, designed in the Greek Revival and erected in 1844.
Among his best known early buildings was a block of four-story brick
The years between 1850 and 1859 were the most active in Van Odsel's career, during which several important buildings were erected from his plans, including the Palmer House at the northwest corner of State and Quincy Streets (1869-70); Tremont House (hotel), Lake and Dearborn Streets (1851); the McCormick Block, Clinton House, Kendall Building, and the Second Presbyterian Churcb. The latter, built at the corner of Wabash and Washington, in 1861, and designed in the Gothic style (unusual in that early period) was said to have been the most pleasing and interesting church in the city. In addition, Van Osdel was architect of the old Court House Building (on same site as the existing building) completed in 1853. Later he designed under the firm name of Van Osdel and Olmstead. the four-story marble structure at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Madison, built about 1859, commonly known as Bishop Foley s Palace,” the finest and most princely residence in Chicago”.
Other examples of Van Osdel’s domestic architecture were the Peter Schutte house in Chicago, the Joe E. Mattison residence and the home of the late John Wood, both in Springfield, and generally considered the finest examples ot the mid-nineteenth century period. In addition to his public buildings in Chicago, he is credited with having designed the old Court House at South Bend, Ind. Following its erection in 1854, the structure was moved to a new site and is now occupied by the Indiana Historical Society.