Coming to Chicago, Barclay opened a saloon on West Madison street.
Back in 1894, West Madison, from Halsted to Elizabeth, was the real
red-light district, full of saloons and concert halls. Barclay's place
was the headquarters of revelry, but Sam himself kept a good name for
personal honesty and unbounded generosity to his friends.
When the red-lights went out on Madison street, Sam leased a saloon at
15 North Clark, where for some time he held the same kind of sway he
had maintained west of the river. This place was ultimately lost, and
he went over in Garfield park district, without much success.
"Sam" Barclay, former husband of Mrs. "Mike" McDonald II, 451 West
Lake street, freely discussed his life with Mrs. McDonald.
It was an interesting story, in which he told of Mrs. McDonald's
attempt to commit suicide once in Kansas City, of brawls in his
saloon, the "Half Moon," and of how "Mike" McDonald, assisted by
"Bunk" Allen, lured his wife away from him. Here is what he said:
"They have printed stories that are not true about this
case. Mrs. McDonald's mother was a Mrs. Feldman, who at one
time lived at 619 Harrison street. At the time I knew her
Mrs. Feldman had been divorced from her husband and he was
living in the Ghetto.