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Franklin Dwight Cossitt was born in Granby, Connecticut, September 9, 1821. In Granby his family was amont the early settlers. They contributed much to the town. The Cossitt Library reminds people in Granby of the Cossitt's contributions.
At an early age, Franklin and his cousin (Frederick) went to live with their uncle in La Grange, Tennessee Franklin purchased a cotton farm at LaGrange, Tennessee prior to the Civil War. The farm was destroyed by Union troops during fighting in the early days of the war. He moved to Chicago in 1862 and built a successful wholesale grocery business. The Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed his business. Creditors tried to buy him out for ten cents on the dollar, but he refused. He rebuilt his business and paid his debts in full.
Cossitt foresaw the advantages of the higher ground in the north Lyons Township area. He purchased land for development between Ogden Avenue, 47th Street, Bluff Avenue and Fifth Avenue (La Grange Road). Later Cossitt sold a section the land Waiola and Brainard Avenue to Levi Z. Leiter -- a former partner of Marshall Field. Lieter's section was eventually developed by David Brainard Lyman -- Cossitt's son-in-law and the first Village attorney.
Cossitt named his development La Grange and his efforts were successful in development of the La Grange / La Grange Park area. He dreamed of building the kind of town where people cared about having the best for their faimlies. He planted trees, donated property for churches and schools, laid-out the streets and built quality homes. He fought hard to restrict alcohol within the Village -- having seen too many developments turn into "saloon" towns.
Numerous sources used in the compilation of these entries include but not limited to:
Last Modified: 07/28/2002