As many of the readers of The Reporter either knew Mark Beaubien or have heard of him, we copy from the Kankakee Gazette the following concerning him:
Mark Beaubien, one of the most noted of the early settlers of Illinois, died at the home of his son-in-law, George Matthieu, in this city, on the evening of April 11, at the age of 81 years.
Mr. Beaubien was well known to all the early residents of Chicago. He came to that place in 1826, and on the corner of Lake and Market streets erected a log cabin - the only dwelling, with one exception, on the South side. Here he opened the first hotel in Chicago and called it the Sauganash Hotel. He also worked the first ferry across the river near the location of the present Lake street bridge, and in his intervals of spare time ran pony races with the Indians.
There is a current story to the effect that Beaubien routed out his guests in the morning somewhat after this manner: "Come, boys, get up; we must have ze sheets for ze table." He was indispensable at the social gatherings of early Chicago on account of his musical acquirements. Mark and his fiddle were constantly in demand for the dances which constituted the principal amusement at such times.
He was celebrated for his good nature, and until within a few years possessed a remarkable good memory; but of late his mind has wavered, and previous to his confinement to the house this winter he frequently failed to recognize old friends on the street.
He married his first wife in 1817 and has sixteen children as the result of the union. He married a second time at Bourbonnais in 1848 to Miss Elizabeth Matthieu, the fruit of this marriage being seven children. Of the entire number of his children eleven have died.
The funeral of the old pioneer occurred yesterday morning at nine o'clock at St. Rose (R.C) church, in this city, and the remains were buried in the Catholic burying ground.

Credit: The Momence Reporter, April 21, 1881. A copy of the article is available on Facebook at Momence Genealogy Corner.