Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 13

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 13

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with their affairs evenly wound up. The average annual deposits in the four banking institutions in operation at this time (1883) is about $2,500,000, which will afford some idea of the general business of the city.

CHAPTER XV.

1837-8.

DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS ORGAN- IZE. PERSECUTION OF DR. NELSON. THE ABOLITIONISTS.

About this period commenees the religious denominational history of Quiney. The dif- ferent elements of protestant belief which from numerical feebleness, had for the past five or six years united in the one chureh, "God's Barn," on Fourth street between Maine and Jersey, began gradually to separate and form the several societies which now represent their religious creeds.

This church, the Congregational, the first founded, was also for nearly a half a dozen years, the only place of regular worship, with a permanent pastorate and formal church or- ganization. It was founded December 4th, 1830, by the Rev. Asa Turner, Jr., who con- tinued its pastor for about eight years, with the exception of a year's intermission in 1832, when the Rev. Mr. Hardy, officiated. Its first organization was as a Presbyterian church, and as such it continued until October 10th, 1833, when it was reorganized under the Congrega- tional system. the reason for this change prob- ably having been the diversity of ereed among its members who eould more easily harmonize under the Congregational form of government than any other.

When founded in 1830 it had fifteen mem- bers, four of them Presbyterians, three Con- gregationalists, three Baptists, and five "from the world" which probably meant of miscel- laneous beliefs. During the next eighteen months the membership ran up to thirty-nine. These figures declined in 1832 to thirty-three members. This was the most depressing year in every way that Quincy ever knew: the Indian war anxieties, the deeimating diseases of fever and eholera having a prostrating effeet upon every interest and the church suffered as well as the rest. Out of a population of about 300 in 1833, 33 died of cholera alone, all within a few days after the first outbreak. During the latter part of 1833, and throughout 1834 and 1835, the membership steadily increased,

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

amounting at the beginning of 1836 to one hundred and sixty-eight. These figures indi- cate the proportion of religious sentiment and influence during the six years following after 1830, and some idea of what was the social condition of the place. It should be remem- bered, however, that quite a proportion of the church membership and attendance was from outside the town. In 1835 the Methodist church being the second in the place, was organized, in 1835, the Baptist ; followed in 1837 by the Episcopal, and by the Unitarian and Presbyterian in 1840, all of them having had originally more or less of association with the early church in 1830.

An event ocenrred in the early part of this year. which. though entirely local in its per- sonal relations, assumed, from the principle in- volved, a matter of national interest, and be- came historie. It was one of the incipient shadowing's of that fierce war cloud which broke upon the nation, twenty-five years later, leaving it with human slavery swept away; this being the one redeeming feature amidst the debt and death and desolation that its madness had made. The issues involved were freedom of speech, the sacredness of law and its protection to person; rights which now stand supreme throughout the nation, and that then reigned undisputed in all eases except where slavery was concerned.

The state of Missouri, opposite Quincy, was słaveholding, and had been settled, largely from Kentucky. much earlier than the land on the Illinois side. Slaves could easily escape from Missouri, but the chief means of prevent- ing them from doing so was the willingness of the population in Illinois to aid in return- ing those who were fugitive.

With the feeling on one side of the river that the slavery question must not be dis- enssed, that whoever spoke of it condemningly was dangerous to society, and that the prop- erty rights which they held at home, should be equally respected everywhere; and the feel- ing on the east side of the river that men might say what they pleased, that slavery was wrong and injurions, and must stay at home, and that whenever a black man got away from slave soil, and came under free laws, he became free. there had been gradually grow- ing a distrust between the neighboring see- tions.

Some time in May of this year two persons resident in Marion county, a few miles west of Quincy, Garrett and Williams, were found to have in their possession some anti-slavery papers, pamphlets and periodicals said to be of a very "inflammatory" character, though

what they were was not stated. These papers were seized and burned and the parties with their families ordered out of the state. A few days later, on Sunday, the 22nd, at a camp meeting in the same county, Dr. David Nelson, a resident clergyman preached. Dr. Nelson was an exemplary and able man, has left an emi- nent name. He, though simple in many mat- ters as a child, plain and undistinguished in appearance, was a strong and original thinker.

At the conclusion of his sermon a Mr. Mul- drow handed him a paper with a request that it should be read. It was an article in ad- vocaey of the colonization scheme. Dr. Nelson was a southern man and a colonizationist, and while thinking this to be injudicious and ill- timed, yet at his friend's request, he com- meneed to read, when a Dr. Bosely rose and ordered him to stop. Muldrow interposed and an altercation rose, during which Dr. Bosely was severely, and it was at first thought, fatally stabbed. Intense excitement followed. Nelson was accused of the assault and his life threatened.

Ile escaped on foot to Quiney, where he ar- rived in the night, wet and wearied, followed and almost caught at the river side by some excited and lawless roughs, who doubtless would have given him harsh treatment had they captured him. On the following day a num- ber of persons from Quiney, with some from Missouri, notified the friends of Dr. Nelson that he must be given up. This was refused. There had been no legal claim made for him that he had committed no offense and he was protected. The determination was shown that a demand for the surrender of a man innocent of any wrong should and would be, as it was, resisted. After a day or two of vaporing the excitement died away. and although feeling still existed and sentiment on the slavery issue crystalized itself into opposition. no outbreak or violation of law occurred until the follow- ing year.

There is a mistaken impression that the "Nelson riots," as they were termed, occurred at the time of Dr. Nelson's exodus from Mis- souri. This is not so.

The first excitement, in 1836, was when Mis- sonrians and others strove to take Dr. Nelson prisoner. The second, 1837, was when a por- tion of the Quincy people tried to put down free discussion on the slavery question. These two events, though connected in sentiment. are distinet in point of time and in question at issue, and Dr. Nelson had no especial connec- tion with the threatened lawlessness in 1837.

An event occurred during the latter part of this year which created an intense excitement.

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

and gave a decided influence in shaping the future sentiments and character of the place and has sinee been looked back to as an epoch in its early history. It was what is often mis- takenly spoken of as the Nelson riots, being erroneously associated in date with the flight of Dr. Nelson from Missouri and the attempts to kidnap him, which occurred during the pre- ceding year.

The error is somewhat natural, since the same causes operated in both eases. It was the feeling in regard to slavery which was stirring the nation generally, and especially along the borders of the free and slave states, resulting in the killing of Lovejoy at Alton, and the destruction of his newspaper and other lawless and violent acts.

Anti-slavery or abolition societies were or- ganized in many of the northern cities, and their formation was almost invariably at- tended wtih excitement and often with violence. Such a society had been organized in Quincy. Several meetings had been held and a good deal of feeling aroused upon the subject.

The abolitionists here were few in number, but a very decided class of men. A very large portion of the people were anti-slavery men, but who did not agree with the abolitionists as to their manner of action. When, however, an- other large element of the population, com- posed of men indifferent to or favorable to- wards slavery, and strongly hostile to aboli- tionism and personally so to its advocates, and who regarded the discussion of the subject as hateful, gave ont that there should be no meetings held and that these anti-slavery soci- eties should be broken up, the better elass of citizens united with the abolitionists in the de- termination to vindicate the freedom of speech at all hazards. Organization was completely made; arms of all kinds were procured, from the musket and shot gun to the hatchet and club. These were carefully stored where they could be readily used, under the pulpit of the "God's Barn." Watch by day and night was constantly kept by both parties. So elosely were the chances eounted that a committee from each of the opposing forces passed a night on the river bank, waiting, so as to first seeure the services of one influential and very effective man who had been absent at Galena. It was Capt. N. Pease, a noted early settler, who died a year or two after. The free-speech men nat- urally got him.

The anti-abolitionists who had held several publie meetings denouncing the formation of anti-slavery societies and the disenssion of slavery as a "political and social firebrand,"

etc., finally gave out word that a meeting which had been called to be held in the Congrega- tional church, the old "God's Barn," under the pulpit of which had been seereted a portion of the weapons prepared for defense-should not be held and that they would break it up. With this idea and its threatened intention circulars were sent out through the county to call in the attendance of their sympathizers to help clean ont the abolitionists. At this meeting two elergymen, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Borien, men somewhat locally noted for ability and in- fluence, were to speak, attracting of course a more than usual interest. It was for this reason that the meeting became the occasion of a strug- gle.

The representative men among the abolition- ists were some still well remembered parties, Willard Keyes, Rufus Brown, Deacon Kimball, Dr. Eels, and a few others not needful to name. Sustaining them in the determination that free- dom of speech should be protected were John Wood, N. Pease, Lloyd Morton, J. T. Holmes, H. Snow, Dr. Ralston and scores of others who were not abolitionists, but were roek-based friends of free discussion.

On the other side it is needless to name those who, from politieal prejudiee, or love of rowdy- ism, sought to lead on the bad elements of law- lessness. They are now mostly dead, and those who live are ashamed of, and disapprove, the ac- tions of that time. The moral force of the community was gathered in for the protection of "God's Barn." In numbers they may have been inferior. Parties from Missouri and the county came in. The meeting was held at the church, well protected. Some briek-bats were thrown, a few yells heard, a demonstration was made by the church guardians, there was a scattering of the attacking crowd, and a not small and amusing member of notables were found hiding in alleys and fence corners, all of them next day hoping that nothing would be known about the affair.

CHAPTER XVI.

1839.

PROGRESS. LAST YEAR OF TOWN GOVERNMENT. HAMPSHIRE MAADE PASSABLE FROM 8TH TO 12TH STREET. FIRE ENGINE PURCHASED AND CISTERNS BUILT. THE LICENSE QUESTION. THE FIRST MACADAM. THE CITY CHARTER GRANTED. MORMONS. POLITICS.

Although "hard times" held on unabated, with not the slightest sign of softening during the year 1839, money, searce and scarcely to be

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

obtained, and even when seenred, at a shylock shave -- all the banks of the country, except some half-dozen, having "suspended specie payments," and their paper, of course, a dis- countable quantity in trade; business neces- sarily running light, values low and uncertain; producers finding it to be safer to try and con- sume, thus utilizing their staples, than to sell off at skeleton figures-with all these draw- backs Quincy steadily progressed in popula- tion and improved in appearance, owing infi- mitely less to its people than it did to its nat- ural situation and advantages. The winter of 1838-9 had been unusually mild, and the health of the place in consequence during these two years was exceptionally good. The number of deaths in 1838 was, according to an estimate made with probable correctness, one hundred, and during the first eight months of 1839. counted from the same estimate, forty-eight. This, nearly correct schedule, while not so favorable a record as compared with the mor- tality tables of later times, was a decided im- provement on the showing of the five or six years preceding. With assured health business prospered in a corresponding degree and all the interests of the town surely and regularly rose.

Weather also favored. The river opened as early as January 17th and though iced up for a few days about the 17th of February, con- tinned open until its final closing on the 21st of December. This was the longest term of navigation known for many years before or since, embarrassed only by a most unprece- dented low stage of water through the summer months.

This was a very busy year with the town authorities, and it is due to say, as reference to records will prove, that this was. neverthe- less, a time when there fell upon the public guardians a grave weight of labor and responsi- bility, and which was by them faithfully and judicionsly attended to. It was known to be the last year of the town existence. A city was soon to be made, and the preparations to be made for improvements of various kinds. To meet the rising needs, grades, culverts open- ing streets, ferry and fire questions were with their future importance most earnestly met and provided for. There is no city council for the whole forty-four years of eity life, which could not take valuable lessons from the action of the last board of trustees of the Town of Quincy, who were neither influenced by polit- ical, selfish. sertarian. nor any personal inter- est in their actions for the general interests. The responsibilities resting upon these officials were greatly more comprehensive than ever

before, demanding important attention, labor and time. As an evidence of this, the board at its first meeting in January, 1839, fixed the Day of the secretary at $150. For the several first years the services of the secretary had been gratuitous, and only in the year preced- ing (1838) had there been made any allowance. Then $50 was granted, but now the greatly in- creasing duties and work of the board which called upon the secretary for so large a por- tion of his time made this remnneration proper, and a few months after this salary was ad- vanced by resolution of the board to $250. still a light pay for the services of such officers and of such clerical experts, as were I. O. Woodruff and S. P. Church. A report de- manded by the board in the early part of the year. evidenced that the finances of the town were in sound condition, there being a balance of $2,580.29 in the town treasury.

The grading of Hampshire street to the river having been now done and paid for, movements were made for opening "either Maine or HIamp- shire east from the square." Maine street then. at the intersection of Sixth, was crossed by a gully some twenty feet in depth which made it practically impassable, and farther east from Eighth to Twelfth it was ent across by similar ravines and ridges. Hampshire street east of Ninth was similarly broken and all of this ground was open. There was really no good fixed outlet from the square towards the east and north.

The settled section of the town, considering its population. was not extensive, most of the improvements being along the river bank. or around the square and the streets nearly ad- joining thereto. The greater part of travel passed in and out on the level ridge of Hamp- shire street, diverging near Seventh street by a road running northeasterly across vacant ground to about the corner of Broadway and Twelfth. It appeared necessary, as one of the trustees expressed it, that. "as we now have a street made for the people to get to the town from the river, we ought to give them a way to get out to or in from the country." It was ordered that a Hampshire street should be made passable from Eighth to Twelfth, and several hundred dollars were appropriated from time to time for that purpose, but it was long be- fore the full benefit accrued from this work. The improvement of Maine street east was ignored for the present, but later in the year it was partially graded as far as Eighth street. Mr. Redmond, whose name for the following forty years appears prominent in Quincy his- tory, was the contractor. This was his first publie connection with the affairs of the city.

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

From that time he probably superintended more work and had a more ready familiarity with the city grades and streets than any other man. Beyond this line the street long lay un- improved. From this it may be seen that east of Seventh and Eighth searee anything that could be called settlement existed. It was a stretch of open, broken land, seamed by ravines and mostly covered with hazel bushes, having on it a few cabins and large corn fields.

Mnch interest and action was taken abont this time in regard to protection from fire. A purchase had been made the year before of ladders, buckets, ete., which led to the forma- tion of a hook and ladder company. An ordi- nance was passed requiring the removal of all piles of hay, straw, etc., from within fifty feet of any house, store or shop, and prohibiting the stacking of any such material within the limits of the town, except in "extraordinary cases and by special permission." Later in the vear a fire engine was purchased at a cost of $1,124.58: an engine honse built adjoining the courthouse on the north side, and a cistern con- strneted in front of the same-the latter costing $546 and having a capacity of 300 hogsheads of water. Some of those improvements were not completed until early in the following year.

This purchase of the engine was an event, and the company formed for it became an in- stitution. It was composed of most of the young men of that day. Wells, Bull, Morgan, Stone, MeDade and other now (1886) "gray and reverend seniors." whose veteran muscles would searee qualify them to make a creditable run with the machine as they did forty years ago to the town's admiration, were among its members. A fire engine then was as great a enriosity to the rural people of the west, as the first steamboat was to the Indians, and we believe that this engine was the first one bronght into the state, unless Chicago was so provided earlier.

'The expense attending all this fell heavily upon the resources of the town, but it was a good investment. One hundred dollars of it was contributed by the Quincy Insurance com- pany, a home institution that went into opera- tion during this year. Its stockholders were all local men-D. G. Whitney was president and S. P. Church secretary. Its business was never large and its existence of but few years' duration.

Previous to this year the government of the town had been through its organization under the general incorporation laws of the state, but the aet for a special charter, prepared by the trustees in November, 1838, passed the legisla- ture, and was approved February 21, 1839.

This was a much needed and well devised change ; the new charter vesting in the author- ities much more ample power than they had heretofore possessed.

Pursuant to this law an election for seven trustees was held April 17, 1839, when E. Con- vers, Samuel Holmes, Robert Tillson, Samuel Leech and 1. O. Woodruff, and at a second election a few days later, John B. Young, were chosen.

It will be seen from these names that polit- ical feeling at this period had no bearing, as in- deed, it never had, in the town elections.

The board organized by the election of Mr. Holmes as president and Mr. Woodruff seere- tary.

An excellent and comprehensive series of ordinances was passed which with some slight subsequent revision, continued in operation until the next year, when almost unaltered, they were adopted as the ordinances of the new city. The tax on real estate was fixed at one and a half per cent, and a street tax of three dollars (per capita) or in lien thereof three days' work on the streets, was imposed upon "every citizen entitled to vote for trus- tees," an obligation that promised a handsome addition to the needed revenue, but which then and since, has been rarely enforced.

The publie mind and the policies of the board were greatly exercised for many weeks by the appearance for the first time in Quiney history of the prohibition "Banquo" in a shape similar to that which it now presents, and with the same zealons faculty for exciting public pas- sion and smashing political slates. Heretofore the liquor trade had been only regarded in legislation as a proper and acenstomed source of revenue, and as such, subject to special tav- ern or grocery taxation. The moral or expe- dient features of the matter had never yet been officially considered. These now came before the board with the question of issning grocery licenses for the year, and the record is amusing. both as being the first contest of the kind, and the prototype also of many subsequent efforts on the part of our authorities upon the same subjeet, in seeking the best way "how not to do it."

Three petitions were presented to the board on May 6th, against the issuing of any grocery license, one having 225 signers, who repre- sented themselves as "legal voters," a second with 40 names signed as "residents, not voters, " and a third with 146 signatures of "la- dies," and the next week these were supple- mented by a petition of 280 names asking for license. All these petitions were referred to a committee for report. This committee reported

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

that there had been at the last election 427 votes recorded, that in comparing these peti- tions with the poll books. they found that of the 225 names signed as being legal voters in op- position to license, only 145 of those names could be found on the poll books, that there were ninety-five names signed to the petition which were not on the poll books, and fifteen which could not be read : that of the 280 names affixed to the petition for the granting of li- censes, only 126 appeared on the pool books. that about fifty names they could not read, and it was impossible to say positively which peti- tion had the greater number of legal voters, and the committee's suggestion that all the pe- titions be laid upon the table, was agreed to. The board adopted a resolution that they could not find that a majority of the legal voters of Quincy had opposed the issuance of grocery license, and licenses were thence issued with- out any more delay or question.

The grocery or liqnor license was fixed at $100 per annum, and the license for general merchandise at three-fourths of one per cent on the value of the stock. There were, ar- vording to an examination made October 9th. forty-five stores of all sorts transacting busi- ness in the town. Much was done during this year in the matter of establishing the grades, with a regard to an extended and permanent system. In addition to the opening and grad- ing of many of the central and most important streets, the first macadamizing work was now done, it being a strip of twenty-five feet in width, down the centre of Hampshire street, from Third to Front, leaving the sides of the street so "that the wash from the rains might carry the dirt from the banks down to the river." This strip of macadam was for some time the only work of the kind in town.

Mr. Redmond again appears as the first con- tractor for macadamizing. the price given be- ing $3.6212 per running foot and $1.00 extra for eurbing. Still more careful legislation was had in reference to the prevention of fires, and the office of Fire Warden was created. Edward Wells being the first appointee. This office was continued for a number of years.

Stringent ordinances were passed requiring groceries to be closed on Sunday and prohibit- ing "loud talking." ete., that might disturb religious congregations on that day, with se- vere penalties for their violation.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 13

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228