Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 22

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 22

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ment in building and business marks the rec- ord of this year. The first German Methodist Church, on Jersey Street, between Fifth and Sixth, was completed and dedicated on the 29th of March.

A large woolen factory was constructed by Dinsmoor & Miller, on the west side of Front street, just north of Spring, and immediately north of that Capt. T. J. Casey operated an extensive distillery. This was a large three- story briek, the third distillery that had been started in or near Quiney, and in about two years' time it shared the fate of its two pre- decessors-being destroyed by fire. The woolen factory also was burned not far from the same time in 1848.

The governor of Missouri pardoned from the penitentiary on the 29th of July, Thompson, one of the trio of "Quincy abolitionists," as they were then ealled, who were senteneed from Marion county in 1841 to twelve years' confinement for the attempted "abdnetion of slaves. "

The other two. Work and Burr, had been freed from prison some time before. These three young men, above named, were students at the "Mission Institute," near Quincy, and had probably rendered themselves amenable to Dimishment for the violation of the laws of Missouri, but it was a generally recognized fact that the trial of these culprits had not. been impartial and just. Indeed, in those ex- citing days, it was almost impossible for any one suspected of having the taint of abolition- ism to get a fair trial in the slave states, or even in the border states. Suspicion was al- most equivalent to conviction in all sneh eases, so general and so extreme was the popular prejudice on this subject.

A short allusion to the "Mission Institute," which had so much to do with the neighbor- ing relations of Quiney and with its then and after reputation, is here a proper and essen- tial portion of the past record of the eity. The influence which this institution exercised was not the most fortunate for itself or for the «ity. The original design was to establish a school in the neighborhood of the city whose object should be to educate and qualify young people of both sexes for duty as Christian mis- sionaries in foreign lands. No purer idea eould have been generated and its philanthropie pur- pose, aided by the great prestige of Dr. Nel- son's name as its founder and patron, gave great promise to its beginning, but it labored with limited means, its standard of scholarship was not of the highest and many of its students were deficient in rudimental acquirement. These «anses operating upon the sensitive publie sen-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

timent of the times and of the locality, pre- vented it from obtaining the proper hold upon publie sympathy and it finally died out after having accomplished some good in the line of its intention. but hardly anything commen- surate with what was expected or the merit of its design. Gradually after this time the estrangement over the slavery question be- tween the people on two sides of the river be- came allayed; was less talked about and less thought of.

With the breaking out of the Mexican War Governor Ford on the 25th of May issued a call for three regiments of infantry. Under this call a great number of companies were offered, and of the thirty which could be ac- cepted. one and part of another was recog- nized from Quiney as being "in on time." These were the "Rifles," which, as before stat- ed. had been doing state service in Hancock during the past winter. and a portion of the Irish Company. This company was commanded by Captain James D. Morgan, who in the civil war became a major-general. It was recruited up to the full standard and as such served throughont the war; the other, not filling its ranks, was afterward incorporated with a com- pany from Kendall county in the second regi- ment, commanded by Colonel afterward. Gov- ernor Bissell. Three of the men from this company were killed at the bloody battle of Buena Vista, among them T. Kelly, the former captain of the company. The Rifles. number- ing ninety-three men, were mustered into the first regiment, that of Col. John J. Hardin, who was killed at Buena Vista. This company had a high reputation for drill and efficiency, but did not take part in the battles of the war. and hence lost no men except from disease. Both of these organizations served their year's term of service and returned to Quiney in the summer of 1847. They rendezvoused in June, 1846. at Alton. the city paying the expenses of transportation by steamer to that point. Later in this year, during the war, and in 1847, in answer to subsequent calls, a few men were recruited in Quincy for the regular service and some joined the two additional state regiments. but no complete organization other than those above named went from Quincy to participate in the Mexican war.

Parties as usual were active in the spring election. The whigs again nominated John Wood for mayor and Il. V. Sullivan. George Brown and Nat'l Summers for aldermen. who were opposed on the democratic side by Tim- othy Kelly for mayor and Joseph MeClintock, Fred Johnson and Damon Hanser for alder- men. The election was active and close. Out

of a total vote of 971 Wood received 27 ma- jority. MeClintock 6. JJohnson 44 and Summers 21. The vote was the largest ever cast, being an increase of 169 over that of the pervious year. It will be observed that in all these earlier elections to the city conneil the politi- cal lines were geographically drawn almost as they have continued. not greatly or often changed throughout the following forty years. The southern part of the city was almost in- variably whig ; the central belt, with nearly the same certainty was democratie, and the north- ern section was always more or less de- batable. The result of this election was to make the new council politically a tie, with the mayor having the casting vote. The whigs re-elected Snow as clerk and reappointed most of the owl city officers. Johnson, of the sec- ond ward, gave dissatisfaction to some of his constituents by his course on the license ques- tion and resigned before his term expired. his vacancy being filled by 11. L. Simmons. The mayor's salary was fixed at $200 and the clerk's $150 and fees.

The usual annual statement on the first of April showing its financial condition and rec- ords for the year past reported the bond in- debtedness of the city as $20,640.00 and $700 out as vouchers. The bond debt on the first of April, 1845. was $20.888.38. The schedule of receipts and expenditures showed as dur- ing the year :

Received from wharfage $1.152.33

Received from cemetery. 381.32

Received from taxes 4.833.56

Received from market house 346.09

Received from license. grocery 686.05

Received from license. store. 841.22

Received from license, wagon 203.17

Received from sundries

274.91

$8.718.65

The expenses of the city during this period were $7,621.20, leaving. as the statement says. "a balance of $1,007.45 to apply on the debt." Reference to one item in the foregoing state- ment of the sources of revenue will give some idea of the increasing commercial business of the place. The receipts from wharfage were increased $306.35. about one-third over the same in the preceding year. The tax levy for the year 1846 was established at one-half of one per cent for city purposes and one-eighth of one per cent for school purposes.

The city again assumed the balance of the school debt and ordered the erection of a schoolhouse to be constructed in every respect like, and to be of equal capacity with that built

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

the year before. Water street, running south from the foot of Maine street, eighty feet west of and parallel to Front street, was by ordi- nanee laid out. The first ordinance being faulty in description, a second was passed, but the measure met with hosts of opposition. Re- monstrances and claims for damages from near- ly every property holder along the river side poured into the council, but they were all dis- regarded and laid on the table. The street was never fully established and in time the tract was made a publie landing. The ferry was free during the year, and an earnest attempt was made to have the city purchase or perpet- ually lease it, but withont success, as no satis- factory terms could be made with the owners of the franchise.

At the August election here, as it was throughout the state, there was less than the usual politieal interest felt. The whigs had not vet recovered from their unexpected and erushing defeat of 1844. French and Wells, the democratie candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, carried the county by about 350 majority, Dr. Ellis, the abolition candidate, receiving 98 votes. Judge Douglas was re-elected to congress. beating Dr. Vande- venter, the whig candidate, 281 votes in Adams county. For the legislature I. N. Morris, Wm. IFendrix and JJ. M. Sechorn, democrats, were chosen over A. Williams, W. H. Tandy and Richard Starr, by majorities from 150 to 200. Hendrix died in December, shortly after he had taken his seat. There was no senatorial elec- tion, Smith holding over. E. IL. Buckley and Mason Wallace were elected from Marquette county pledged to oppose the organization of the county. Buckley took his seat in the legis- lature, but Wallace did not, and W. Il. Chap- man, who had been a candidate, was admitted with Buckley and served during the session.

Buckley and Chapman, thus elected and ad- mitted to the legislature, gave their attention to such eourse as would bring about the best correction of the county difficulties whereof Quiney. as the county seat, was the original bone of contention, and this was judiciously done. Chiefly through the influence of the former the name Marquette was changed to Highland ; other boundaries were proposed, but the real action as arranged was to throw the whole issue forward for consideration in the constitutional convention, which was abont to be called. In that convention, finally, in 1847, the matter came up and was settled at onee' and forever, by the engraftment in the new constitution of a comprehensive clause, pre- sented and pressed to adoption by Mr. Wil- liams, the delegate from Adams county, to the

effect that all unorganized counties or parts of counties should with the new constitution revert to the county from which they had been incompletely detached.

Thus was ended this strife of half a dozen years, commenced for the purpose of removing the county seat from Quiney. It was a long, acrimonious, expensive struggle, and at last ended just where it began, with everything replaced in the old position. The city and county had been during the year constantly alive with meetings and excitements over this question and also over the Mormon matters, both of which vexations troubles, happily for harmony, passed now out of existence.

The last year appeared to see the Mormon difficulties overcome, but it was only on the surface. They ripened again in the summer of 1847, and, of course, Quincy had to partiei- pate in the excitement. The determination of the people of Hancock county, outside of Nau- voo, which was shared by those of the adjacent counties, that the Mormons would leave the state was met by an equally dogged determina- tion on the part of the "saints," that they would not go, and though many left, yet many remained, and a large portion of these were unable to leave. The military company from Quincy, which had been stationed at Nauvoo during the past winter to preserve order, was, with the exception of ten men, withdrawn in May. The idea that such a squad could en- foree law and preserve peace was farcical. The bitter hostility grew stronger and stronger. Each act of lawlessness was followed or offset by another. Finally, in the latter part of Au- gust, Col. Chittenden, of Mendon, in Adams county, one of the most prominent men of the county, was taken prisoner by the Mormons. lle was only detained one day and night, but his capture caused the anti-Mormon feeling to break ont beyond repression. A large and ex- cited meeting was held in Quiney, commit- tees were appointed, soldiers enlisted and simi- lar movements made elsewhere, resulting in the assemblage of about nine hundred men from Hancock, Adams, Brown and the vicinity, under the leadership of Colonels Chittenden and Singleton. finally organized with Tom Brockman, of Mt. Sterling. as commander. This force took position in camp about half way between Carthage and Nauvoo. On the other hand. the Mormons and those who were in sympathy with them in the city prepared for fight. The outcome was easily foreseen.

The population at this time of Nauvoo was mainly women, children and men. not all of the most reputable stamp. By the 13th of September, two weeks after Chittenden's eap-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ture, almost all of the residents of Nauvoo had crossed the Mississippi, and the Iowa bank of the river was swarming with these hapless, ragged exiles. The Mormon rule in Illinois was broken to all appearance and the seet dis- persed, vet in October the governor had to make his approach for the third time, with an artillery force, to restore order and clear out the last of this misguided sect. And they left at last. A few settled in northern Illinois under the leadership of a son of their martyred prophet. another band established itself on one of the islands in the northern part of Lake Michigan, while the great body of them wended their way westward to Salt Lake.

CHAPTER XXV. 1847.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SALE OF N. C. R. R. AU- THORIZED. ATTEMPT TO BUY FERRY. CEN- SUS TAKEN. FINANCE. NEW BUILDINGS.

DEATH OF NOTABLE MEN. DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. S. A. DOUG- LAS. CITY BOUNDARY EXTENDED. NEVINS ADDITION. WHY NO. 13TH, 15TH AND 17TH

STREETS.

Business during the winter of 1846-47 was not brisk as it had been in the preceding sea- son. Prices ruled at about the same, but there was a falling off, both in the pork packing and in the milling manufacture, of nearly one-fifth in amount as compared with the same periods in 1845-46, and in the latter branch of business this decreased production continued through- out the year. About ten thousand barrels less of flour were manufactured by the mills in 1847 than in 1846.

The winter was not severe. The river long remained open, affording fair navigation. It first elosed on the Sth of January, remained so until the 21st of February, when it opened and continued free to the 20th of December. It then closed to open again on the next new-year day.

At a special election on the 14th of January, John M. Ruddle was chosen to the legislature to fill the vacancy made by the death of Wm. Hendry. The city council on the 4th of Janu- ary prepared an application to the legislature for an amendment to the eity eharter so as to organize the city into separate school districts. The bill for this purpose was passed and ap- proved on the 27th of February. It created the "Quiney School District," and placed the entire care and superintendence of the common school under the control of the city council. authorizing also the appointment annually of a school superintendent, thus separating the

schools from their previous association with the county officials. The law was made de- pendent on its being adopted by a majority of the legal voters of the city. This was done at the April election by an almost unanimous vote.

At this same session a bill passed the legis- lature authorizing a sale of the Northern Cross Railroad property, of which that part lying within the corporation limits from Twelfth street to the river had two years before been re- linquished to the city. The portion of the road from Quincy to the llinois river was, under the authority of the above law, purchased by parties in Adams and Brown counties and a company was organized as the Northern Cross railroad company. This company, with the aid of county, city and personal subscriptions, con- structed the road from Quincy to Galesburg, which has since become the C., B. & Q., and at a later date. the same interest, somewhat changed. built the other portion from Camp Point to Meredosia, which has since fallen into possession of the Wabash. But a very small portion of the original line of survey was adopted by the new road as it is now com- pleted.

Another of the many efforts made to place the city in possession of the ferry was at- tempted but without success. Carlin and Rog- ers offered to sell the entire franchise of the ferry, boat, lands and all for $10,000, or with- out the land for $8,000. This proposition was considered by the council on the 1st of Febru- ary and rejected. but at the following meeting in March they offered to bny. for $4,000. the "boats. fixtures and privileges" until the ex- piration of the lease in 1853. This proposition was not accepted by the ferry owners.

A very thorough census of the city for school purposes was taken by J. H. Luce on the order of the city council, which showed that on July 14th, there was a population, of those under twenty years of age, of 2.638, thus distributed : South of Broadway, 2,254; north of that street, 339; colored in the whole city, 45. The entire population of the city was 5.401 whites, 77 blacks: total, 5,478. The tax assessment was fixed for the year as before, at 15 of 1 per cent for public purposes and 1g of 1 per cent for school purposes.

The fiscal statement made in April professes to show the financial condition of Quincy at the expiration of this, its seventh year of existence as a eity. A comparison of this statement with that of 1841 and those of subsequent years, may show what progress had been made during this period and how much it had cost to make this progress. The manner in which these an- nual exhibits were made up then and often

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

since, has not always given the clearest idea of the situation, since no two appear to have been gotten up on the same form, each city clerk rendering his statement according to his own faney or his accountant training, and some- times, as it was unkindly asserted, willingly shaping it so as to bewilder and deceive. While this is not probable and figures are said to "never lie" yet there has been sometimes in our city history a good deal of difficulty in finding ont the truths that the figures ought to tell. It was about this time that the city credit began to be clouded and its vouchers bear a discount vaine, a condition that continued for the following twenty years, swelling every ex- pense that was ineurred just in proportion to the depreciated value of the vouchers. The cause of this was the large number of vouch- ers issued and the size of the bonded debt, about $20,000, and yet seeming then as heavy as the nearly one hundred times larger burden that has sinee been borne.

In 1840 the city commenced its chartered ex- istenee with no liabilities other than the old town of Quiney indebtedness, which became its heritage, amounting to $1,100.36, less $355.99 cash received from the town treasurer. So it started out with this light debt of $744.37.

The fiscal statement April Ist, 1847, is as fol- lows :

MHABILITIES.

Bills payable

$22,108.99

Treasury orders

246.92

Vouchers

7,311.63

Tax book

123.76

$29.791.30

RESOURCES.

Less $1,511.43

$29,791.30

RECEIPTS.

Taxes were

$ 4,892.66

Wharfage

1.158.65

Licenses

2,229,27

Sundries

60.02

Balance deficiency

1,386.09

$ 9.726.69

EXPENSES.

Fire department

$ 282.37

Cemeteries

215.69

Salaries, etc.

1.353.90

Volunteers

254.55

Tax titles

353.19

Free ferry

350.00

School, ete.

1,973.23

Nuisances

407.22

Interest

1.050.59

Cisterns

556.53

Poorhouse 628.74

Roads, etc. 2,242.59

Sundries 58.09

$9,726.69

The greater portion of this bonded debt or- iginated in the street grading and improve- ments absolutely necessary at the time. Quincy has been, on account of "the lay of the land," an expensive city to build up. Chicago, Peoria, Springfield and others lie leveled by nature for the settlers' use. Here, the grading plane had to be applied to almost every acre of seamed and rugged city site. These improve- ments comprehended no very extended spare. Our limits were small as compared with what they have since become, and the population was rather compact. The city boundaries were Vine street on the north. Twelfth on the east and Jefferson on the south, and it was within a small portion of this area that "improve- ments" work was done. The population was mostly confined to an area between Broadway and Ninth and Delaware streets. Less than one-seventh lived north of Broadway. a few houses were scattered between Ninth and Twelfth, while south of State and Delaware the land was all either under farm cultivation or was nnenclosed forest. A considerable amount of substantial building improvement was done during this year, among the most no- table of which was the erection of the four three-story brick stores on Hampshire street north of the square on the site of the old Land Office hotel. This was the largest and best block of buildings for store purposes that had vet been constructed in the city. These were still standing. They were immediately ocen- pied and drew to Hampshire street the leading trade of the place, where it has largely re- mained. Before this time the buildings and business houses on the north side of the square were mostly inferior, but the convenience of the street. having the longest level of any in the city and the easiest ascent from the river and also the best road ont to the country, made it from this time, the principal business thor- onghfare.

Quite a number of notable deaths occurred during this year, among those who had been prominent in the past history of the place. Jo- seph T. Ilolmes, who, it may be fairly said, was the leading business spirit of the town in early days, died at Griggsville on the 13th of April. Ile was a native of Connecticut, came to Quincy in 1831. engaged in mercantile and milling pur- suits, and was from the time of his arrival leadingly conspienous in measures of enterprise and advancement. Afterwards he abandoned

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

secular business, studied for the ministry and was pastor of the Griggsville Congregational church at the time of his death.

The Rev. George Moore, who had been for over six years ministering for the Unitarian Church, died of consumption on the 11th of March. Ile was an eastern man of thorough education and scholarly tastes, with a gentle- ness and refinement of nature and manner that made him attractive in person and vocation, and greatly condneed to the future prosperity of the small society over which he presided.

The Reverend S. S. Parr, a somewhat eccen- trie but eloquent and forcible pulpit declaim- er, who had been for some years preaching at the old Baptist church on Fourth street, in this city, where he always drew crowds to his even- ing sermons, died in August at Hannibal, Mo.

Timothy Kelly. also, the most prominent representative Irishman of early times, was killed at Buena Vista, on the 22nd of Feb- ruary. Much sympathy was aroused by his death, and publie action was taken in regard to his memory, and provision for his family. It is a singular faet about Capt. Kelly, as has been before mentioned, that, owing probably to the careless manner in which military rec- ords were then kept, his name, although his service and death in battle are well known, does not appear in the Adjutant General's record of the Mexican war soldiers. on the roster of Company E of the Second Illinois infantry, to which he was attached. A rather unfortunate faux pas occurred when Capt. Kelly's remains reached Quincy. under the care of ('apt. "Judge) Lott. The Quiney vol- unteers of the First regiment had got back on the 9th of July, all of the original number re- turning except six, who had died of disease.

A barbeene was given them on the 17th. which was intended to be a jovial affair. A good deal of preparation was made. and a large crowd gathered at the springs, im- mediately east of where now Dick's brewery buildings stand. Preparations had also been made for a general display at Capt. Kelly's funeral. when his body should arrive. The steamer came with the remains. while the bar- beene was in the height of progress, just as Mr. Browning was about commencing his ad- dress. and the barbecue was abandoned. This clashing of the two occasions, one of jollity, and the other of sadness. was unfortunate, but accidental. The following of Capt. Kelly's funeral was very large. Hle was much re- spected in Quincy.

On the call of the Governor. issned May 5th. for

additional volunteers, an attempt was

made to raise a company at Quiney, but it did not succeed. Some twenty enlistments were made here, and one of the four mounted rifle companies commanded by Capt. W. B. Stapp, rendezvoused, and was mistered in at this place. on the 10th of August.

This and the preceding year were the "Mex- ican war times." and there prevailed here, as there did everywhere else. the excitement al- ways attendant upon "war's alarms." Though the Mexican war was but a fire cracker event, contrasted with our late civil war, and there could have then been nothing equal to the intense interest which absorbed all public thought and action during this late freshly remembered struggle: yet a similar sentiment to a lighter degree existed. and "war talk" was the leading and foremost topic. Papers were eagerly seanned for news from Mexico and Taylor and Scott were constantly follow- ed and formed the staple subjects of enquiry and conversation.

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 22

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