USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 53
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From time to time after the incorporation of Peoria as a city, the limits of the municipality were extended by various means. On February 12, 1863, the entire township was taken in, and in 1869 the boundaries were further extended. Then in recent years South Peoria and West Peoria have been annexed and by the acquisition of North Peoria there was added to the jurisdiction of the cor- poration the north half of the northwest quarter of section 4, township 8 north, range 8 east ; the south half of section 33; the south half of the north half of section 33 ; the southwest quarter and the south half of the northwest quarter ; and so much of the southeast quarter of section 34, township 9 north, range 8 east, as lies west of the road to Springdale cemetery.
At the time Peoria became a city, according to a census taken in January, 1844. the population numbered 1,619. During the following decade this number had increased to 11,858-a remarkable growth.
It is not exactly known when Drown issued his first directory, but in March, 1851, his second "Directory and Historical View of Peoria," was published, but dated as the year 1850. These directories of Drown's were published for sev- eral years. Omi E. Root began the publication of his annual directories in 1856.
At various times the original city charter has been revised and the time for holding city elections changed. In 1861 the annual election was changed to the second Tuesday in March : in 1863, to the second Monday in April; in 1867, the time for holding the annual election was fixed for the same day as the township election ; in 1869, the entire charter was revised, which fixed the time for the annual election for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, officers elected to take their seats on the first Tuesday in January, ensuing. This con- tinued until the adoption of the general incorporation law, since which time the elections have been held on the third Tuesday in April.
The chief executives of the village and city of Peoria, since their incorpora- tion to the present time, are named below :
VILLAGE OF PEORIA
1835-36-Rudolphus Rouse, 1836-37-George B. Parker, 1837-41-Rudolphus Rouse, 1841-42-Peter Sweat, 1842-43-Lewis Howell, 1843-44-John King, 1844-45-Halsey O. Merriman.
CITY OF PEORIA
1845-William Hale, 1846-Charles T. Stearns, 1847-48-William Mitchell, 1849-Jacob Gale, 1850-Dennis Blakely, 1851-George C. Bestor, 1852-Jona- than K. Cooper. 1853-54-George C. Bestor, 1855-Charles C. Ballance, 1856-57
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-Gardner T. Barker, 1858-59-William R. Hamilton, 1860-John D. Arnold, 1861-William A. Willard, 1862-Gardner T. Barker, 1863-Mathew W. Mc- Reynolds, 1864-Jacob Gale, 1865-66-Henry T. Baldwin, 1867-Philip Bender, 1868-70-Peter R. K. Brotherson, 1870-72-Gardner T. Barker, 1872-74-Peter R. K. Brotherson, 1874-76-John Warner, 1876-78-Leslie Robison, 1878-82- John Warner, 1882-84-Frank Hitchcock, 1884-86-John Warner, 1886-88 Samuel A. Kinsey, 1888-90-John Warner, 1890-93-Charles C. Clarke and John Warner, 1893-95-Philo B. Miles, 1895-97-William M. Allen, 1897-99-John Warner, 1899-1901-Henry W. Lynch, 1901-03-William F. Bryan, 1903-05- E. N. Woodruff, 1905-07-A. B. Tolson, 1907-09-Thomas O'Connor, 1909- E. N. Woodruff.
GROWTII IN POPULATION
In 1838, four years after the village of Peoria had been incorporated, a pub- lication styled "A Gazetteer of Illinois," made its appearance in Peoria and its editor, Dr. J. M. Peck, in an interesting "local" appearing in his paper estimated the population of Peoria at that time as being in the neighborhood of from 1,200 to 1,600. But there could not have been that many, or else the increase was slow for the next ten years, for the reason that in January, 1844, when Peoria was given its city charter, there were only 1,619 inhabitants of the place. How- ever, the next decade indicates the rapid progress of the embryo city. In June, 1855, the census showed a sevenfold increase, or 11,858, and from thence on the growth in population presaged the future important city of Illinois, each census showing an increase, as follows: 1860-14,045, an increase of 8,950 in ten years ; 1870-22,849. an increase for the decade of 8,804; 1880-29,259, an increase of 6,410; 1890 -- 41,024, an increase of 11,765; 1900-56,100, an increase of 15,076; and in 1910-66,950, an increase of 10,850.
BUSINESS PROGRESS
From Drown's and Root's directories, the "Peoria Transcript" and other pub- lications of the early days, much valuable information has been obtained in rela- tion to the progress in building, business and wealth of the new city of Peoria. N. C. Geer, publisher of the "Peoria Transcript," in 1859 issued a thirty-two page pamphlet, in which was given a descriptive account of the city, its manufactories and other industries. The city even at that date had begun to attract manufac- tories. In 1844 they were making here daguerreotypes, threshing machines, horse powers, corn threshers and cleaners, reaping machines, leather, copper and tinware, plows, wagons, carriages and brass and iron foundry products. There were also wholesale concerns dealing in groceries, leather goods, hard- ware and drugs. By 1854 there were three financial concerns-the Central Bank, Robert A. Smith, cashier, located on the corner of Main and Water streets; N. B. Curtiss & Company, on an opposite corner ; and J. P. Hotchkiss & Company, at No. 13 Main street. The sale of merchandise for the year was estimated at $1,855.562; the exports and imports at $3.127,000. In 1856 the value of the manufactories were estimated to be: Distilleries, $540,000; breweries. $25,000; flouring mills, $500,000; foundries, $128.000; planing mills, $297,000; agricul- tural implements, $150,000; plow factories, $85,000; carriages and wagons, $125,000 ; cooperage, $138,000; lightning rods, $120,000; marble and stone cut- ting. $36,000 ; cabinet furniture, $75,000 ; saddle and harness, $36,000; tin, copper, brass, etc., $28.000 ; fish, $85,000; boatbuilding, $40,000; candle and soap fac- tories, $26,600 ; stone and earthenware, $7,300 ; and others not mentioned, bring- ing the total up to $3,251,000. Real estate was quoted at $150 to $300 per front foot for first class business property ; desirable residence lots from $400 to $3,000 each. The exports and imports for the years 1856 and 1857, amounted to $9,831,000, and consisted of the following articles : barley, beer, beeves, broom
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corn seed, coal, corn, corn meal, hominy, starch, hides, flaxseed, clover, timothy, flour, hogs, lumber of all kinds, millet, oats, plows, rye, shorts, dressed sheep and calves, wheat and whiskey.
LOG BUILDINGS DISAPPEAR
By the year 1856 practically every log building had disappeared and given way to frame and brick structures. There were at that time about two thousand frame and one thousand brick buildings in the city. In 1854 the firm of Walker & Kellogg. dealers in grain, pork and other produce, erected one of the largest packing and grain houses in the Illinois valley. It was 60 feet wide and extended back on Elm street 250 feet from the river bank. It was one and a half stories high, with basement. The latter was constructed of brick and the superstructure was frame. It was also at this period that the Peoria Gas Light & Coke Company established its plant at the foot of Persimmon street, and had then about four miles of pipe laid in the streets. Mention is also made of the erection of a large flouring mill by the firm of William and Isaac Moore, on North Fayette street ; also that Walker & Kellogg had built a fine brick structure for a warehouse just above the building they had erected the previous year. It is also noted that the Peoria & Bureau Valley railroad had built its freight depot, engine house, black- smith shop, machine shop and round house at the foot of Evans street, where they are to this day. The two warehouses of Walker & Kellogg and Grier & McClure, during the year, handled 648,847 bushels of wheat ; 1,475,000 bushels of corn ; 340,000 bushels of oats ; 26,625 bushels of rye ; 26,527 bushels of barley, or in all. 2,517,000 bushels.
CITY BUILDINGS
The "Market House," which was situated in the middle of Washington street, between Main and Hamilton, was probably Peoria's first public building, but when it was erected has not been definitely ascertained by a search of the records or by inquiry among those who might have "facts and figgers" stored away in their memories. It was a modest structure, however, and served more than the purpose for which it was originally intended. For many years it gave shelter to the fire engines and might well be designated as the first engine house.
The records in the office of the city clerk show that on March 21, 1848, a committee was appointed to purchase for $300 lot No. 3 in block 6, for a city hall and engine house. That committee consisted of Dennis Blakely, Lewis Howell and Charles W. McClallan. The building-a two-story structure-was erected, and as a matter of course the first floor was devoted to the fire company, and the cellar was used as a calaboose. In the second story were the council room, police magistrate's, city clerk's and other offices. In 1858 lots were pur- chased on Madison avenue and Fulton street, 144 feet on the former and 171 on the latter, and in 1859 a new city hall was erected thereon, at a cost of $10,000. This was a brick structure, with stone trimmings, two stories in height, and a tower for the bell 60 feet in height. The engine room was located on the ground floor, also the mayor's and police offices, and in the rear the city prison. The council, clerk, city engineer and other city officials were assigned to rooms on the second story. In 1859 a market house was built adjoining the city hall, at a cost of $10,000, but was never patronized to any considerable extent. It was torn down with the other old building to make way for the new city hall.
PRESENT CITY HALL
In 1898 the present city hall was completed, at a cost of $234,592, and is one of the finest structures in the city. It is four stories high and built of rough brown stone. A tower extends up from the roof, in which is hung the old alarm bell, formerly used in the tower of the old city hall, simply for preservation, as
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the telephone and electrical appliances of the present day have superseded the fire bell for all time. On Fulton street, adjoining the city hall, is the city prison, which was erected at the same time.
THE COLISEUM
Another monument to the progressive ideas of the citizens of Peoria is the magnificent mammoth building at the corner of Adams and Hancock streets, which was completed in May, 1901, and named The Coliseum. To provide a site for the building the city in the year 1900 purchased the lots for $12,000. As Peoria became a popular convention city, the need for such a structure became apparent and the city authorities took the initiative in erecting an auditorium suit- able for the accommodation of large public meetings, conventions and other as- semblages. The Coliseum was inaugurated by the holding of a musical festival, which lasted several days. As one enters the vast interior, which consists of one main audience room, he sees before him a large stage, to which are attached dressing and ante rooms. Along the main street wall and side walls are gal- leries. The seating capacity is about 4,000. Cost, $59,761.65, which was paid by the Peoria Street Railway Company, under a clause in its franchise.
TIIE WORKHOUSE
In 1878 the city council and the county board of supervisors held a meeting and entered into an agreement for the erection of a workhouse, the cost of which was to be paid by the city and county, jointly. A committee of six, con- sisting of three members from each body, was appointed to purchase grounds and erect the building. This joint committee selected a tract of land adjoining the waterworks, consisting of six and one-fourth acres, upon which a brick building, two stories high, was erected, and with the grounds cost about $18,000, of which the county paid $8,000. The building and grounds were occupied on the 9th day of April, 1879, and Alexander Furst was placed in charge as warden. The inmates are composed of that class of offenders against the law found guilty of the violation of the ordinances of the city, and other misdemeanors. They are compelled to work during the period of their sentence at occupations that can be carried on upon the grounds.
WATERWORKS
The water first used for culinary purposes by the settlers of Peoria was ob- tained from springs and wooden cisterns. For other uses the Illinois river was depended upon. The construction of these wooden cisterns was an important adjunct to the cooper's trade. as can be seen by a glance at the advertisements in the newspapers of the day. They were made somewhat similar to a common railroad water tank, hooped with iron and set into the ground. To render the water palatable, ice was used, which was handled by the merchants. In 1833 Stephen Stillman devised a plan to utilize a spring of water, which bubbled forth from a spot in front of what is now St. Francis Hospital, by conveying it in wooden pipes to the public square, and as a new court house was in contemplation and no adequate supply of water nearer than the river, the county commissioners entered into a contract with Stillman, granting him the exclusive right to conduct the water to the square. The pipes were made of logs, bored through from end to end by hand. which was the usual way of making pump stocks at that time. After the court house was completed a public well was sunk at the west corner of the square by Dr. Rudolphus Rouse, who had been employed by the county commissioners for that purpose and this well was in use for many years. An act of the legislature, February 1, 1843, empowered the "Peoria Water Com- pany" to improve any spring within two miles of the corporate limits. In the
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PEORIA'S FIRST PRETENTIOUS CITY HALL Site of present City Hall
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spring of that year the company excavated about the spring in the northeast corner of section 8, near Spencer street, and strengthened the well with a sub- stantial wall. They conducted the water through leaden pipes into the residence portion of the city and business houses in the neighborhood of the public square. They also extended the pipes as far as Hancock street, between Madison and Monroe.
At a session of the town trustees in 1844 it was resolved that a meeting of the citizens be called to assemble at the court house for the purpose of devising means to protect property from fire. But no substantial results transpired from that meeting, but by an act of the legislature, March 3. 1845, the trustees of the town were authorized to construct a general system of waterworks with the power to take any springs within two miles of the corporate limits. Nothing. however, seems to have been done under this act. At the March term, 1846, of the county commissioners' court William H. Fessenden, Peter Sweat and A. P. Bartlett were appointed a committee for the construction of two cisterns in the public square for fire purposes.
In 1857 another offer was made to provide the city with a sufficient supply of water. The "Peoria City Hydraulic Company," with a capital of $250,000, was authorized to construct waterworks, its franchise to run fifty years. The company was privileged to conduct the water from the Illinois river within two miles of the corporate limits through leaden, iron or other aqueducts and to dis- pose of the water to consumers upon equable terms : and that the profits should not exceed fifty per cent of the capital stock paid in. Under the charter the property of the company was to be free from taxation by the city, in considera- tion of which the city and the fire companies were to have the water free of charge. It was also provided that the city should have the right to purchase the works by paying cost and interest on the money expended at not to exceed twelve per cent per annum. The city was empowered by another act of the legislature to issue bonds to the amount of $100,000 in aid of the waterworks company. This movement for a public water supply also came to naught. In the meantime there had been disastrous fires, the losses from which could not be prevented for the lack of water, so that protection from fire became so imperative that the city council was prompted to take the matter into its own hands, and on January 19, 1864, a resolution was adopted by that body that a committee of three in connection with the city engineer and surveyor be appointed by the mayor to inquire into the expediency of erecting waterworks for the city. to report plans and probable cost. Pursuant thereto a committee was selected, consisting of Aldermen Frederick Bohl. P. R. K. Brotherson and Patrick W. Dunne, but before it had finished its duties the city engineer, Mr. Russell, and Alderman Dunne had retired, and Isaac Underhill and Michael B. Loughlin sub- stituted as members. On June 21st, 1864, the committee reported a plan with estimates and cost and recommended that an amendment of the city charter be procured so as to authorize an issue of bonds to the amount of $300,000. An act to that effect was passed by the legislature and at an election held on the Toth day of April, 1865, the proposition of issuing that amount of bonds was defeated by a vast majority. Out of an entire vote of 2,300, only 203 votes were cast in the affirmative. The matter was again taken up at the meeting of the council, February 4, 1868, at which time a resolution was adopted under which the mayor appointed a committee consisting of John H. Francis. Enoch Emery and Michael B. Loughlin, with instructions to employ a suitable engineer to make plans, surveys and estimates for the work and authority to visit such places as they might deem necessary to procure requisite information. This committee after visiting several places, including Chicago and St. Louis, reported to the council and urged that body to pass an ordinance establishing a system of waterworks in the city of Peoria. The committee's report and suggestion were adopted and an ordinance passed. At the same time an ordinance was passed creating a department of the city government to be called the water-
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works department, which was to be under the direction and management of a committee of the city council, to be composed of five members and appointed by the mayor. Under the ordinance. the mayor appointed for the waterworks committee John H. Francis, Enoch Emery, Gardner T. Barker, Samuel A. Kinsey and Larkin B. Day. Soon thereafter an ordinance was passed authorizing the mayor and clerk to issue bonds to the amount of $300,000, and on April 11 the mayor was authorized to borrow the money necessary for the construction of the proposed waterworks.
The waterworks committee reported on May 25th that it had engaged Joseph A. Locke, assistant engineer of the waterworks at Louisville, Kentucky, to make preliminary surveys and estimated costs of the undertaking, and that the en- gineer had determined that the cost, exclusive of the grounds, would amount to $310,000. This included a reservoir to cost $52,250, the same to be located on the bluff at an elevation of 200 feet from the river.
After investigating various systems used in different cities the Holly system was adopted, not only for the reason that it met the best judgment of the com- mittee, but also that it would save the city about $100,000 in expense. Under an ordinance dated July 21, 1868, the waterworks were erected on a tract of land containing eleven acres on the river bank at the foot of what is now Grant street, which belonged to John Birket. The land was purchased for $2,200, the offer of the city, after some quibbling with the owner. The contract for the erection of buildings was given to Valentine Jobst, and for laying the pipes to Patrick Ilarmon.
On the 15th of April, 1869. the works were completed, 2514 miles of water pipes had been laid and 200 double fire hydrants set up, at a total cost of $431.790. The amount realized from the sale of bonds was $453,020.65. In 1880 the Holly machinery was discarded and sold for $1.750, its first cost having been about $40,000. In place of the Holly pumps and machinery, Worthington pumps were substituted at a cost of $15,130.
Under an amended and perfected ordinance passed August 5, 1890, the en- tire system of waterworks belonging to the city was sold to a company consisting of John T. Moffatt, Henry C. Hodgkins, John V. Clark and Charles T. Moffatt. and as part of the consideration the purchasers agreed for themselves and their assigns to take up and pay outstanding waterworks bonds issued by the city. They then turned the waterworks over to the Peoria Water Company, Incor- porated, which reconstructed the system by the erection of new pumping works near the upper bridge and a reservoir situated on the bluff three miles from the court house. The water is obtained from a series of wells sunk near the river, is pure, sparkling and inexhaustible in supply. At the pumping station are pumps, whose capacity is 21,000,000 gallons per day. The reservoir's capacity 1S 19,000,000 gallons.
The first water supply from the new station was on December 1. 1890, and the new company completed its improvements in May, 1891. Financial com- plications soon overtook the waterworks company, however, and to prevent fur- ther loss a receiver was appointed January 9. 1894, who operated the plant until 1898, when it was purchased by a syndicate of bondholders, by whom a new company was organized. styled the "Peoria Water Works Company," which has operated the waterworks up to the present. Its officers are : President, Howard Knowles : vice president, Edwin R. Lancaster ; secretary, C. E. Davenport ; treas- urer. D. J. Forbes ; manager, Henry B. Morgan : chief engineer, Robert R. Mar- tin.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
In the beginning when things in the village of Peoria began to assume the appearance of being under organized rule, every man who controlled a home or had a place of business, was required to have at hand at least two leather fire
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$. Winther Hurean, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
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U. S. WEATHER BUREAU STATION
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FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE TRUCK
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
buckets. The inhabitants of the village were apprised of a fire when a bell was rung from one of the prominent buildings, which notified the "bucket brigade" to turn out and subdue the flames. The method of procedure was for two lines of men with buckets, who were often joined by women, to be formed, extending from the burning building to the river. Along one line the buckets filled with water would be passed from one person to the other and when emptied on the flames would again reach the river by being passed down the other line.
No regularly organized fire company was in existence in the town of Peoria until in the fall of 1846, when Mayor Charles McClallan and Lewis Howell, as a committee of the council, bought two fire engines and hose, at a cost of $1,200, which were shipped to Peoria from Boston, by way of New Orleans and from the latter city by water. These engines were kept in the market house on Wash- ington street, and it may be said that this was the beginning of the present fire department of the city of Peoria.
There is no record at hand from which it can be determined when the first fire company was organized but it is known that the engines first purchased were worked mostly by men who volunteered their services and those called upon by the marshal, who had no choice in the matter, and upon refusal to do their duty as citizens were liable to be fined. Engine Fire Company No. I was organized, however, about the time that the first fire engine was purchased and it was not until two years later, on March 21, 1848, that provisions were made for a per- manent engine house, at which time lot 3 in block 6 was secured for $300, upon which an engine house and city hall was built. Here Company No. 1, having been reorganized, took up its quarters and occupied the first floor of the building until the completion of the new city hall in 1859.
Neptune Fire Company No. 2 was organized early in 1847 as Illinois Engine Company No. 2, with thirty-four members. In 1852 the company moved its en- gine from the old market house to what was known as the Central City hose house on Adams street, between Hamilton and Fayette. The company received a new engine in 1854, reorganized and assumed the name of the Neptune Fire Company No. 2. The Neptune disbanded in 1858 but in the same year Young America Fire Company No. 4, with sixty-six members, was organized and given old engine No. 1. In the fall of 1858 the council turned over to the new organ- ization old Neptune engine, at which time the company's name was changed to Young America No. 2 and moved into the hall formerly occupied by the Nep- tune. Young America No. 2 remained in existence until October 12, 1865. In the meantime it had carried off honors from more than one firemen's tournament held in other cities of the country.
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