USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 36
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The periodical movement was made towards the establishment of a collegiate institution, a charter for that purpose having been obtained at the last session of the legislature. The leaders in the project and trustees of the pro- posed school or college were from among the most liberal and representative men in the city, John Wood, Willard Keyes. Samuel Holmes. E. Grove, R. S. Benneson, S. C. Sher- man, HI. Foote, G. L. King. S. II. Emory. W. MeCandlish, JJ. R. Dayton. O. H. Browning, L. Kingman. L. Bull and C. A. Savage, and the Rev. J. J. Marks, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was selected as the president of the institution.
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It was the design that there should be two departments (male and female) separately lo- cated, but to be under one general supervision or charge. A block of ground, at the southeast corner of State and Twelfth streets, was donated by Governor Wood, and one also by Mr. Keyes, on Eighth and Vine, conditioned on the sum of $75,000 being subscribed by citizens. The enterprise was not completed as originally intended, but was a partial success, resulting in the support of two very excellent schools for several years, each of a much higher pre- tension and proficiency than any that had pre- viously existed in the city.
Amusements kept even pree with all the other several advances. Å theatre with regn- lar performances six evenings in the week, was the leading contribution in this line. It was located in the city hall and continued during nearly all the earlier portion of the year. The management was in the hands of Thomas Duff. the veteran actor ; was well conducted and pop- ular, giving far more satisfaction to the public than it probably did in a financial sense to its proprietor.
Beside the theatrical amusements before mentioned. other like gaveties and attractions, such as are incident to a city, were frequent and continuous during the year, far more than at any previous period. Military and firemen and society displays and parades, and exeur- sions to neighboring cities and incursions of similar associations to Quiney, were of com- mon ocenrrence.
The city had taken a long step forward in metropolitan appearance. While it would not be kind to say that its people put on city airs, it was however the evident fact that the place had assumed a city air, such as was observable now for the first time. The many and handsome buildings erected during this and the last year ; the liberal improvements and expenditures
which the city had made ; the enlarged variety of occupations which had been rapidly estab- lished ; the prosperons show of business with its accompanying flush of money and free expen- ditures of the same, and largely the effect of the increased and quickened facilities for travel and communication with other places near or distant, which invited also a corresponding advent of strangers and passing travelers to the city, far in excess of what had ever been, these were among the causes which gave the city its peculiarly lively and attractive appear- ance.
It would be safe perhaps to say that there were ten visitors during this year to one com- ing into the place five years before. It was not longer than that period past, when, when- ever a stranger made his appearance, the whole community, village like, would note his com- ing, inquire and soon find out who he was, what he was after, ete. Not so now. This year marked a social change in that respect which was permanent. People came and went with as little notice, unless some peculiarity attached to them, as they did in London or New York, or do in Quincy today. A new era had now commenced. With its landing alive with activity and laden with piles of shipment for its daily line of steamers: with its punctnal railroad whistle. telling the time and also the coming and going of travelers by the score; its rity nuisance and necessity. the noisy but convenient "bus line to all parts of the city"; its hotels thronged with guests, and, influenced by all the new surroundings, the people as- suming, unconsciously to themselves, a more quick, prompt manner and action, personally and in business, Quincy now. thirty-two years from the date of its founding, seventeen years subsequent to its incorporation as a city, fully exhibited the characteristics of sneh. and felt itself to be one.
HISTORY OF QUINCY
PART II.
EDITORIAL PREFACE.
In taking up and carrying on the history of Quincy from the point at which it was left by Col. Tillson, and then in following with a general history of Adams County. a topical method has been employed. The chronological plan pursued by Col. Tillson was not deemed practicable with the time at command. In thus tracing in a topical way the leading fea- tures of the history of the city and the county, all available historical works have been con- sulted and information has been received from innumerable persons. In a number of in- stances credited articles will be observed and to the authors thereof and to all other persons who have contributed so generously to their time, thought and labor, or of information, I desire to express my sincere obligation.
CICERO F. PERRY. Quincy, Ill .. May 15, 1905.
INTRODUCTORY.
"I cannot play upon any stringed instru- ment ; but Hean tell you how to make a little village a great and glorious city."-Them- istoełes.
It was not by accident that John Wood and Willard Keyes were attracted by the site of what became Quincy. Those pioneers were men of intelligence and good judgment. They saw and were convinced, not merely for the present but also for the future. Whether in looking over the then wilderness these men perceived as by intuition those peculiar na- tural advantages which are making Quiney so famous for manufacturing, they at least saw many things calenlated to attract and hold population. Nor were those far sighted pioneers impressed by the material view-point alone: They also saw and were duly impressed with the natural scenie advantages of which our people are so justly proud. Standing upon our noble bluffs, at present Indian Mounds park. or Riverview park. the gaze of the pioneers swept the majestic Mississippi River far away to the north and far away to the south and across the river to the west far he- yond the dark blue forest lines -- views not ex- ceeded in grandenr along the entire length of the great river. Easily may we under stand how those glorious views from the fine bluffs, now happily secured to the people of Quiney forever, made a powerful impression upon the minds of the first settlers. They found the material outlook equally inviting and it goes without saying that the material advantages were fully appreciated by such men. They realized full well the importance of a settlement being surrounded by good soil. and they were judges of soil. All around the site of the proposed settlement, and for an indefinite distance, they found the very best basis for that essential calling-agriculture.
In considering the matter of trade and com- merce, there at the feet of the grand bluffs Howed the mighty stream, a potent, conven- ient means for conveying to the outside world
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the products of the rich lands, of the forest, or ot handicraft, and the means, as well, of bringing needed commodities into the settle- ment. Other pioneers came and also saw that it was good-and thus Quiney was born.
Eighty years is a long time in the life of a human being, but it may be little more than childhood in the life of a city. Athens is 3.000 years old ; London, 1,800; Edinburgh, 1,300; and Vienna, almost 900 years old. St. Angustine. Florida, the oldest city in the United States, is only 340 years old. Quincy. which was founded May 1, 1825 -eighty years ago today, May 1, 1905- can only be called "old" in comparison with cities that are very, very young, as the life of cities destined to live are measured.
And nothing could be more certain in the natural order than that Quiney is destined to live. While nmushroom growth has never been hers, such has been the excellent character of her population, sncb their thrifty progres- sive methods, that the Quiney of today has reached a degree of inherent strength and solidity the extent of which is most gratifying and encouraging. Striking proof of this in- herent strength was seen during the financial panie of 1893. While all over the nation banks were tottering, not one of the banks in Quiney was affected. But why should a city not be financially strong, in which so many manufacturers depend so largely upon their own capital, a city in which there is between $8,000,000 and $9,000,000 in the savings banks ?
It is not alone by striking increase in pop- nlation that the true worth or the real prog- ress of a city is measured, and the life of Quiney presents innumerable facts amply justi- fying satisfaction and pride. Pre-eminently a manufacturing city, the enterprise and merits of our magnificent industries have made mar- kets in all parts of the world, and which are constantly being enlarged with corresponding profit and fame to Quiney. Essentially a city of homes, the large number of our tasteful and elegant residences are constantly in evidence and steadily increasing. Such has been Quincy's progress in education that our pub- lie and private schools and higher institutions of learning rank with the best, and in our splendid colleges are students representing all parts of the United States. Quiney's profound interest in religion is made clear by the very great number and the beauty of our churches.
The record of individual attainments is no less pleasing than the history of general prog-
ress. "Quiney has never lacked in men of ability," onee remarked a venerable pioneer, and the manifestation of that ability has not been limited to local affairs. It has been seen in the state legislature, the halls of congress, the I'nited States Senate; on the State Bench and at the State Bar: in Medieine and other learned professions: in education, authorship, the drama. music: in the pulpit and foreign mis- sion fields; on innumerable hard fought battle- fields: in all honorable walks of life may be found plain evidences of the notable or dis- tingnished ability of Quiney men or women who have thus reflected lustre upon their beautiful home city.
All things considered, it is doubtful if the future for Quiney has been at any time in its previous history as encouraging as it now is at the end of the eighty years of Quincy's life. This exceptionally bright prospeet is due to various causes, but in the main to one reason of pre-eminent importance-the satisfactory condition of the city's bonded indebtedness. For a generation or more Quiney's bonded debt hung as a dark cloud over the fair city, injuring its credit abroad, deterring imigra- tion and investment, discouraging our own people. What the population of Quiney might be today but for that tremendous drawback, ix wholly speculative, but that our population would be much greater is bevond question. About a decade ago, a plan was perfected by which the city's indebtedness is being extin- guished in a manner not burdensome, and with such rapidity that in a little more than a de- rade the last vestige of the debt and interest will be paid. But in many important ways the coming of that great day of financial deliver- ance-an event worthy of a jubilee -- has al- ready been discounted. One of the results is that the credit of Quiney is now second to none in the United States, while the effects at home have been highly stimulating and en- vonraging, bringing renewal of confidence and a fine spirit of progress calculated to produce fruit of great moment to Quincy.
With the ground thus fallow, with the city about to enter upon a new era of local im- provements, with our manufacturing, merean- tile and other interests all in a Hourishing state, all of the conditions now point to a new epoch in the life of Quincy, to a degree of progress that is to place on beautiful city in the prond position to which destiny should accord it by reason of its magnificent natural and acquired advantages.
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS-SUCCESSIVE LIST OF MAY- ORS-ERA OF IMPORTANT LOCAL IMPROVE- MENTS-ADOPTION OF GENERAL LAW- CITY HALL BUILDING, ETC .- PARK AND BOULE- VARD WORK.
It is the intention in this part of the work to avoid. as far as may be. repetition of pioneer history of Quiney given by Col. Tillson. In certain instances. as in the successive list of mayors, some repetition is advisable. Two of the most important events in the life of the city. namely, the refunding of the city's bonded debt, and the final settlement of the water works question, are dealt with, re- spectively, in separate chapters. Following is a snecessive list of the mayors of Quincy :
Ebenezer Moore. 1840-1: Enoch Conyers, 1842-3: John Wood. 1844-7; John Abbe, 1848; Enoch Conyers. 1849: Samnel Holmes. 1850-1; John Wood, 1852-3: James M. Pittman, 1854-5; John Wood, 1856: Sylvester Thayer. 1857; James M. Pittman, 1858: Robert S. Beneson, 1859: Thomas JJasper. 1860; I. O. Woodruff, re- signed, 1861 : Thomas Redmond. filled vacancy, 1861. elected till 1864: George F. Waldhaus. 1865; Maitland Boon, 1866: James M. Pittman. 1867: Presley W. Lane. 1868: B. F. Berrian. 1869: J. G. Rowland, 1870-2; Frederick Rear- iek, 1873-4: J. M. Smith, 1875: E. Il. Turner, 1876; L. D. White. 1877: W. T. Rogers, 1878-9; J. K. Webster, 1880-1: D. F. Deadrick, 1882-3: James JJarrett, 1884: Jonathan Parkhurst, 1885-6: James M. Bishop. 1887 : E. J. Thomp- son. 1888; James M. Bishop. 1889; George Il. Walker, 1890; E. JJ. Thompson. 189] : John P. Mikesell. 1892-4: John A. Steinbach. 1895 to 1905.
A list of the heads of the fire department since the Board of Fire Engineers was estab- lished in 1865. is as follows: E. M. Miller, 1865-6: T. J. Heirs. 1866-8: Henry Meisser, 1868-70: Henry Lageman. 1870-2: John J. Metzger, 1872-4: J. H. Avers. 1874 (died in 1875): John A. Steinbach. 1875-84: John J. Metzger. 1884: Jos. Esterly. 1885-91: George Schlag. 1891-4: John J. Metzger. 1894-5: George Schlag. 1895. incumbent 1905.
Chiefs of Police: Oliver Gerry, 1867: John (. MeGraw. 1868-9: Isaac Abrams. 1870: John C. MeGraw. 1871-2: Jacob Metz. 1873-4: Gil- bert Follansbee, 1875: John A. MeDade. 1876: John C. McGraw. 1877-SI: Dennis Sliney. ISS2-3: Ilarry Ilale, May 6. 1884 to Sept. 5. 1884: Henry Ording. 1884-7: A. P. O'Connor. 18sa-9: John Ahern, 1890. incumbent 1905.
Following is the list of city officials selected. with the exception of the police magistrate. at the election held April 4. 1905. the terms of office being two years, excepting for justices of
the peace and constables, whose terms are four years: Mayor. John A. Steinbach: city clerk. John A. Berlin: city attorney. Thos. 1. Scherer: city engineer. Fred L. Hancock : city treasurer. Howard J. Wheeler: police magistrate, Wm. Scheid. AAldermen : first ward, HI. B. Coffield and Thad. M. Rogers: second ward. George Koehler and W. A. Diekason ; third ward, Gottlieb Schantz and Otto J. Berg- mann: fourth ward, C. Il. Achelpohl and Joseph Nanert ; fifth ward. A. C. Bickhaus and John J. Moriarity : sixth ward. John Ilor- belt and W. H. Collins: seventh ward. W. K. Abbott and Chas. C. Crooks. The present ap- pointive city officials are: Chief of Police, John Ahren: chief of the fire department. George Schlag: city corporation counsel. Theo- dore B. Pape: special tax collector. Homer D. Dines: president of the board of health, John Ahern: secretary board of health and police clerk. W. P. Hild : superintendent of the board of public works. Thomas Redmond. Board of Local Improvements: John A. Steinbach, presi- dent : Ilenry P. Walton, secretary: Fred L. Hancock, publie engineer: market master, Adam Ilelfrich. These are the town officials elected April 4th : Assessor, Henry Steinkamp; supervisor-at-large, A. B. lummert; assistant supervisors. Jas. R. Albright, John A. Connery, Wm. J. Cunnane, Henry Geschwindner, Ru- dolph B. Kiefer, John Schanf, Daniel L. Sulli- van. F. P. Taylor. Justices of the Peace: John 1. Allen. F. Wm. Ileckenkamp, Ben Heckle. Robert A. Lowry. J. P. McDonnell. Constables : W. A. Bradney. Simon J. Fischer. Daniel Me- Intyre. Herman Tansman, JJacob Wihle.
Merely the length of time that Mr. Steinbach has been retained as mayor would indicate some strong attraction for such popular sup- port. and this is found in the good manage- ment of the city's fiscal affairs. Without de- traction of credit due to others, in the con- ceiving. shaping and formulating of these ex- cellent fiscal policies, notably with regard to the manner in which the city's bonded in- deltedness is being paid, and the plan by which the city may in the near future become the owner of the water works, especial and great credit is due to Mr. Theodore B. Pape, the city's corporation connsel for the last de- cade. The office of corporation counsel was created by ordinance in 1895. on which Mayor Steinbach appointed Mr. Pape to the position. in which he has been retained ever since. with highly important benefits to the people. A lawyer of the first class. possessing judgment of the highest order. Mr. Pape has not merely safeguarded the city's legal interests most admirably, he has also been the city's general
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adviser and financial genius. Mr. Pape for- mulated both the plan for refunding the city's debt, and that by which the eity may finally, and with comparative ease, become the owner of the water works-services whose great value will be recognized by future generations even more clearly than they are now. By far the greater part of Mr. l'ape's services to the people have been due solely to his fine public spirit and are quite beyond the legal work for which he has been so inadequately compen- sated.
Another city official meriting especial com- mendation for pubhe spirit is Mr. Henry P'. Walton, the city superintendent of streets for the last ten years. In his seventy-third year. possessing independent means, the services of this venerable citizen also have been due to his desire to help further the interests of the city.
LOCAL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Of the state legislation affecting the organic life of Quiney, the law in 1883, allowing special taxes of three mills each, for lighting, water and sewers, had a notably good effect on Quincy, whose revenue previously had been so inadequate as to lead to very serious results. These results had included a debt repudiation movement, which was stopped by the courts, with the result that the city was compelled to pay the costs as well as the indebtedness.
In 1887, in line with its generally progres- sive trend, the city began an era of local im- provements, which lasted four years, or till 1901, and with benefits of great importance to the city, in the way of street paving and sewer work, etc. The first brick street paving was laid on the east side of Washington park. in the spring of 1887. During the four years, street paving to the average extent of about two miles or at a cost of abont $65,000 a year. was laid, although not all of it was brick. The rost was met mainly by special taxation of contiguous property. the city paying for pav- ing street intersections. At the time that the improvement era was brought to an abrupt «lose by act of the state legislature, the cost of brick paving had been redneed to abont $2.75 per front foot. The board of local im- provements had been giving very car ful at- tention to the permanent improvements. seek- ing as far as possible to avoid inflicting hard- ships on property owners, and there was no publie evidence of dissatisfaction. Yet with- ont the knowledge of the city, the state legis- lature, at the instance of a coterie of private citizens passed a law which has effectually stopped such extensive improvements up to this time, 1905. The obstrueting law requires
consent representing half the property front- age before paving or sewer work may be done by special taxation or special assessment. This act was obviated by an amendment in 1903, but the amendment proved to be unconstitu- tional. Among the unfortunate effects of the law of 1901, was its stoppage of extensive sewer building plans contemplated by the city, to which the city proposed to contribute out of general taxes, $10,000 a year. The initial work, was the building of the trunk sewer from Third and Oak streets to Fourth and Cherry, shortly before 1901. It was the intention to
continue this work, by stages, the eity and con- tignous property contributing to the cost, till the trunk sewer had been extended to Locust street and east, whence laterals would drain the northeastern portion of the city. Owing to the obstrueting law, this great and extreme- ly desirable work has been in abeyanee. also much private building. There had been com- paratively little sewer work done during the improvement era-not nearly so much as was called for by public and private needs.
In this connection these statisties are given, from the report of City Engineer Hancock for 1904: Area of the city in square miles. 5.6. miles of brick street paving. twenty-two (fractions omitted here) : Macadam paving, eleven : total paving. thirty-four miles: miles of streets unimproved, fifty-six : miles of brick sewers. five: tile sewers, twenty ; total sewers, twenty-six miles.
By popular vote in 1895, Quiney abandoned its special charter and adopted the general law of the state, thus putting the city in line with other general law cities. One result of the progressive step, in which movement, former County Julge Carl E. Epler took a leading part, was to lengthen the term of elective city officials one year to two years. Under the gen- eral law. the city was redistricted into seven wards, an increase of one ward.
QUINCY BOULEVARD AND PARK ASSO- CIATION WORK.
In line, also, with what might be termed the local improvement renaissance of the city. the Quiney Boulevard and Park Association was incorporated July 23rd, 1888, the initial work having been begun by private citizens.
The first work of the Association was to con- vert narrow country lanes into wide and well graded boulevards.
The first revenues of the Association were derived from membership fees ($5.00), private subscriptions from citizens generally and own- ers of property abutting on the boulevards. As complaints were made abont the burden
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falling upon a few citizens, the Association in- terested itself in framing laws which was after- wards passed, permitting citizens whose in- debtedness was above the constitutional limita- tion, to levy a special tax of from one to three mills for park and boulevard purposes.
The proposition for a one mill tax was sub- mitted to the voters of Quincy. but was de- feated. In 1895 the proposition was submitted a second time, and was adopted by a slender majority. Later, a proposition was submitted for an increase in the park tax from one to two mills. It was twice defeated, but in 1902 when submitted for a third time. it was carried by a small majority.
The following is a summary of the park aereage of Quincy, acquired through the Quincy Boulevard and Park Association.
Madison Park, the title to which is in the City of Quiney, was formerly an abandoned ceme- tery, and upon petition to the City Council, it was turned over to the Association, for its care and improvements, in 1888, though improve- ments were not commenced until 1892.
Riverview Park .- In November 1891 the City of Quiney at the instance of the Associa- tion, completed the purchase of this site on the River Bluffs-about five acres at a cost of $7,000. The money was taken out of general revenues. In 1895 an additional four acres was purchased at a cost of $3,000, of which $300 was raised by publie subscription.
South Park .-- This site was the old Watson Springs property. and at the suggestion of the Association was purchased in 1895, by the city. of Judge B. F. Berrian at a cost of $375 per acre for 5216 acres, or $19,500. Afterwards an additional two acres was purchased of Cyrus HI. Whitney at a cost of $700. on which was built an imposing stone bridge over Curtis ('reek, at a cost of $6,000. In 1904, a second addition to this park of seventeen aeres was purchased of W. H. Purpus and others for $5.400. Later Judge B. F. Berrian donated to the city an additional ten acres to South Park.
Indian Mounds Park .- In 1896. the eity de- elining to buy what is now Indian Mounds Park, the association purchased, the following year. ten acres of this property for $3,000. later adding four acres at a cost of $1.000. taking title to the fourteen acres in the Quincy Boulevard and Park Association. Afterwards the Association leased twelve acres adjoining, from the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, of Hartford, Conn.
Primrose Park. containing about ten acres. was given to the City of Quincy by JJudge B. F. Berrian, in 1896.
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