Henry Hosmer: A forgotten western player

  The January 3rd 1892, Chicago Tribune obituary of Henry Hosmer  made mention of his career as a grain buyer, his membership since 1858 in the Chicago Board of Trade. Nowhere is there a reference to Hosmer as one of the strongest chess players of the American west.  Hosmer's fondness for chess and his membership in the Chicago Chess and Checker Club was noted by Josiah Seymour Currey in his book Chicago: It's History and Builders (1912). Currey writing that:

 " He [Hosmer ] was particularly fond of a game of chess or checkers and displayed a notable skill in the handling the pawns, being regarded as one of the best chess players of this section of the country."

   Hosmer was a native of Concord, Mass.where he was born in 1837. He came west sometime in the early 1850s. Hosmer settled in Chillicothe Ill. near Peoria shortly thereafter; moving to Chicago not until 1877 where he passed away on New Years Day in 1892.

   Although Hosmer tournament play was limited to only two tournaments; playing in both the Second and Third American Chess Congresses his chess skill was apparent by his placing second to George Henry Mackenzie at both tournaments.

The Second American Chess Congress was held in Cleveland on December 4th thru 15th 1871. George Henry Mackenzie winning the Congress with 14 points, Hosmer with 12 points coming in second ahead of Fredrick Elder (11), Max Judd (10) and five others. Drawn games were replayed.

The Third American Chess Congress was held in Chicago on July 7th thru16th, 1874. Mackenzie repeating as the winner with 10 1/2points, Hosmer again finishing second with 10 points ahead of Judd (7) and five others.

   " Mr. Hosmer and Mr. Judd yesterday morning returned their match, of which Mr. Judd won the first game. He had the attack int he second game and played the King Knight's  opening, castling on the forth move. Mr Hosmer played the recognized defense and for a few moves it seemed as though the game was not likely to be a very interesting one. In a few moves afterward, however, Mr, Judd played his Bishop To Queen's second, locking in his Queen, which was standing at queen's Bishop second. the cramped position thus entailed upon him Mr. Judd never recovered from. Mr. Hosmer took prompt advantage of the situation, offered to sacrifice a Bishop, and thereby won a pawn, and kept up such a  fierce assault upon Mr. Judd's entrenchments that the latter surrendered at the twenty-first move. The game was certainly one of the most elegant yet played in the Congress."

( Chicago Tribune; July 10, 1874)

It was hoped that Hosmer would take part in the Fifth American Chess Congress but that was not to be. The tournament book of the Fifth American Chess Congress lamented that the Chicago's  formidable champion Hosmer did not take part.

 Besides his participation in the two Chess Congresses Hosmer played in various chess matches, the Chicago Tribune of June 15th 1870 reported that Hosmer had played a three game match with Max Judd in Detroit. Hosmer winning two of the games the result of the third game is not known. I have been unable to locate any of the games scores from this match.

Hosmer also played a match with the New York player Edward Alberoni on February 1876 at Hosmer's home in Chillicothe. Hosmer ably winning the match, Hosmer 5, Alberoni  0, drawn  2.

There were reports that a match between Hosmer and Capt. Mackenzie was likely, in fact the Chicago Tribune of July 20th, 1879 reporting that, "unless some unforeseen contingency should arise the match may be considered a settled fact." If in fact the match did indeed take place, I have been unable to locate any of the games.

Hosmer also played a number of games giving odds, which was quite common at the time, he also played a number of blindfold games, a sample of which I include below.

In a fact unrelated to chess, Hosmer's father Edmund Hosmer was a intimate friend and financial advisor to Ralph Waldo Emerson, perhaps Hosmer's father and the great man played a game chess while young Henry looked on.

Chicago - Quincy (Illinois) Telegraph Chess Match and Ernest Morphy: An update

 Since my last post on the Quincy Telegraph chess matches, some additional information has come to light on the Quincy - Chicago match , along with the first game of that match, in the chess column of the Chicago Tribune.

' " Chicago then had as perhaps it had as yet powerful players. Morgan was second to no one in the West. Kennicott, Turner, Nicholson  also were very strong players. Quincy had a very strong representation in E. A. Dudley years ago counted the ablest player in the Mississippi Valley - the almost even contestant with Lowenthal, the great Hungarian player and analyst; Ernest Morphy (now deceased ) , uncle and tutor of Paul Morphy, and a very sure, skilled and learned chess veteran. The committee of the Chicago Club was Morgan, Kennicott, Turner, Nicholson and - (?); of Quincy, Dudley, Morphy, Tillson, Rowland, and Martin; and the result was a tie, each winning one game." '

Chicago Tribune, April 30, 1876

  It was thanks to the web site Chess Archaeology ,that I found this particular chess column. Chess Archaeology is an invaluable resource for those interested in chess history.

Quincy Chess Club Telegraph Chess Matches

   What makes the matches of the Quincy Chess Club of more than usual  interest is that on the Quincy Chess Club team was Ernest Morphy, the uncle of Paul Morphy. Ernest Morphy had moved to Quincy Illinois after living two years in Ohio, previously Ernest Morphy had left New Orleans in 1854 for Ohio.

For more info on Ernest Morphy along with some games follow this link .

   "...a match was played between the Chess Clubs of this city [Chicago] and Quincy by telegraph, the result telling in favor of the latter.
  As if to console Chicago for her defeat about the same time Fond du Lac 'laid out' Milwaukee, indicating that enthusiasm and skill in this noble game are by no means metropolitan .
   The return match between Chicago and Quincy was played on Friday night....It was pronounced a much better game than it's predecessor , evincing more deliberate skill and study.
   The game is as follows Chicago (white) winning handsomely , Quincy resigning at the 28th move" 

Chicago Tribune, 24 January 1859

I have been unable to find the score to the first game at this point. As to the final score of the Milwaukee match against Fond du Lac, score was even at one win apiece,


Louis Paulsen, according to the Chicago Tribune had agreed to play a two game telegraph match against the Quincy Chess Club.

   "  ...Louis Paulsen will some time in the next two weeks, play a match single handed with the Quincy Chess Club"

Chicago Tribune, 24 January 1859

"On Tuesday evening Mr. Paulsen, the great Dubuque chess player-(who is distinguished, especially, for his success playing a large of games simultaneously , without seeing the board)-is to commence a match of two games with the Quincy Chess Club,on the same terms ( as to time [ten minutes per move]) as the recent match. On Thursday Mr. [Ernest] Morphy, of the Quincy Club, plays a game with Mr. Kennicott, of the Chicago Club- and at the same time a game is to come off between two members of the Chicago Club and two of the Quincy Club."

The Quincy Daily Whig,  January 24, 1859

   " The chess match between Louis Paulsen... and the combined forces of the Quincy Chess Club, commenced on Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock.Mr. Paulsen playing white, having the first move, chose the favorite opening known as Evan's Gambit. Ten minutes was the time allotted for each move. The game lasted only two hours, the Quincy Club resigning on the 18th move. The players on part of the Quincy Club were Messrs. E. Morphy, Alexander Pearson, John Tillson, J. G. Martin. and G. Rowland."

Chicago Tribune, 27 January 1859

   " The games by wire between Chicago and Quincy resulted Chicago 1, Quincy 1 . In addition to this match Mr. Paulsen has conducted two games, single-handed, against the Quincy club, and was victorious in both instances."

The Chess Monthly, April 1859