The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States, Part 50

Author: Kett, H.F., & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : H.F. Kett & co.
Number of Pages: 878

USA > Illinois > Jo Daviess County > The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States > Part 50

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* Selye manufactures his engines at Rochester, New York. They were warranted to throw water from 100 to 150 feet, according to size. His prices, including drag-ropes, suction hose, wrenches, axe, torches, pilot, etc., were: For these designed for twenty men. dis- charging 200 gallons of water per minute, $700: sixteen men, 140 gallons per minute. $600; twelve men, eighty gallons, $400. The committee purchased the largest, and hose and extra, made up the sum paid.

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HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

but when they arrived at Buffalo the house who received them departed from the instruc- tions, and shipped them to Green Bay, and from thence to Fort Winnebago, which accounts for the great delay in getting them, and also for the charges for transportation.

DANIEL WANN, H. H. GEAR, WM. WADDELL.

GALENA, Sept. 17, 1836.

Although the engines, the Cataract and the Neptune arrived early in September, 1836, it does not appear that they were manned until nearly two months later, and not until after the corporation liad assumed the payment of the money advanced by the cominittee. The inference is that the com- mittee very wisely refused to allow them to be used until some provision was made for paying for them. Tuesday, Nov. 8, two fire companies were organized-Galena Fire Association No. 1 and No. 2. The Gazette and Advertiser of Nov. 12 contained the following:

We congratulate our citizens upon the organization of two fire companies. The meeting on Tuesday night last was well attended and great unanimity of feeling prevailed in the election of officers, etc. Both engines are well manned, and by men, too, that can be depended upon in case of fire.

Unfortunately, the Gazette made no report of the meeting, and the names of the officers and men were not considered of sufficient importance to be recorded. Every body in town then, knew who they were, and why publish any thing that every body knew ? Nobody remembers who they were now, and it is only known that of No. 1-the Cataract-George M. Mitchell, and of No. 2-the Neptune-William H. Hooper, were the secre- taries.

Nov. 15, the following fire wardens were appointed : Ward One, John C. Smith; Ward Two, Charles Peck; Ward Three, George Madeira; Ward Four, Matthias Shears.

The same day Samuel D. Carpenter was appointed Town Inspector, and Michael Byrne. collector of tax. An ordinance was passed prohibiting burning coal-pits, brick or lime kilns, or smelting lead within the limits of the town under penalty of five dollars for every day's offense, "and the same are hereby declared public nuisances," and turned over to the Inspector.

Thus far no provision had been made for raising money except by fines, but on the same day the following order is recorded:

Ordered, That P. F. Schirmer and D. B. Morehouse be authorized to borrow on account of the Corporation of Galena three hundred dollars.

Nov. 24, in order to repair the streets the Trustees ordained that every male inhabitant of the town over twenty-one years old should labor on the streets not less than three days in each year.

The first assessment of tax in Galena was made on the 5th of Decem- ber, 1836, as follows :

The list of assessments having been presented by the Assessors: The President and Trustees of the Town of Galena do ordain, That a tax of one half per cent be collected on the assessment for the year 1836.

During the Winter of 1836-'7 the Legislature of Illinois passed " An act to change the corporate powers of Galena." This act required that an election should be held on the first Monday in April, 1837, for the elec- tion of Town Trustees, and on that day seven Trustees were elected, viz .: H. H. Gear, Daniel Wann, John L. Slaymaker, D. B. Morehouse, R. W. Brush, J. L. Kirkpatrick and P. F. Schirmer. On the 10th of April the board organized by unanimously electing D. B. Morehouse, President, and W. B. Green, Clerk.

465

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

The first act of the board was to pass an ordinance regulating the harbor in the Town of Galena, and appointed S. D. Carpenter Wharf and Lumber Master. Geo. W. Campbell was elected Treasurer, and Martin Haines appointed Town Constable, Charles Peck, Collector, W. B. Green, Street Commissioner.

May 3, 1837, the following order was passed :

Ordered, That Martin Haines be, and he is hereby, allowed one hundred and fifty dol- lars per annum, to be paid quarterly, from 1st inst., as compensation for extra services as Town Constable.

The constable was the first salaried officer in Galena.

At a special meeting, May 10, 1837, John Stark, Esq., was appointed attorney and counselor for the corporation.

May 22, 1837. The trustees passed an ordinance for providing a cor- poration seal and fixing the device therefor, as follows:

SECTION 1. The device of the Common Seal of the) Corporation of the Town of Galena shall be a steamboat. ' Shall be so engraved as to represent by its impression the device aforesaid, surrounded by a scroll inserted with the words, " Corporation Town of Galena, Illinois." Said seal shall be circular, and not more than one and seven eighths inches in diameter. *

July 12. The town was divided into five wards, and the following per- sous appointed fire wardens : 1st, J. C. Smith; 2d, Geo. Ferguson; 3d, John Turney; 4th, M. 'Shears; 5th, M. Faucette.

August 16. The collector was ordered to proceed forthwith to collect last year's tax, and the following order was passed, which is commended to officials of later day :

It is hereby ordained that in case any member of the Board of Trustees shall omit to attend any stated or special meeting of the trustees, he shall forfeit and pay to the treasurer, for the use of the corporation, the sum of one dollar; and it is made the duty of the clerk to report all such absentees to the treasurer, who shall thereupon collect the fines. Provided, that the absence from town of any member at the time said meeting is called, shall excuse such member from the payment of such fine.

This does not appear to have been remarkably effective, however, as at the two meetings immediately following the passage of the order, no quorum was present.

August 31. J. L. Kirkpatrick having resigned, Abraham Hathaway was elected to fill the vacancy, and George Ferguson was elected in place of P. F. Schirmer declined to serve.

October 4. Daniel Wann, R. W. Brush, A. Hathaway and Geo. Fer- guson were fined one dollar eaclı for non-attendance. Several others were fined from time to time, but afterwards all fines were remitted, on account of faithful services.

Money was scarce in the town treasury, and on the 5th of October, 1837, the town fathers unanimously passed the following order, on motion of Mr. Morehouse:

Ordered, That the clerk prepare orders on the treasurer, with the seal of the corpor- ation plainly impressed upon them, and signed by him in the usual way, and of the follow- ing denominations, viz .: Of five dollars eaclı, one hundred orders; of seven dollars and fifty cents each, forty orders; and of ten dollars each, twenty orders, making in all the amount of one thousand dollars, which shall, as soon as prepared, be delivered to the treas- urer, who shall be charged with the same. The treasurer shall issue the above orders in exchange for the larger orders now issued or hereafter to be issued by the clerk, who shall continue to issue orders in the usual way upon all accounts allowed and passed by the Board of Trustees.

This was the commencement of the issue of town scrip, afterwards

466

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

more abundantly issued, and which was bought up, some of it as low as six cents on the dollar and funded by the city as its face. A very large amount of corporation paper was issued.

At this meeting, William Bennett was appointed assessor, and a Fourth Road district created on the east side of Fever River, with A. G. S. Wight, supervisor.

January 16, 1838, a tax of a half per cent was levied on the amount of real estate and personal property returned by the assessor.

About this time the building of a public market house was agitated, and on the 19th day of February, 1838, Daniel Wann, J. L. Slaymaker and George Ferguson were appointed a committee to select a suitable site for a market house, and report at the next meeting.

A committee consisting of Daniel Wann, H. H. Gear, and D. B. More- house, was also appointed to correspond with the Commissioners of Public Works, in relation to building a bridge across Fever River.

March 19, 1837, Ordered, That the report of the committee for selecting a market square, designating lots Nos. 65, 64, 63, 62 and 61, between Hill and Perry Streets, fronting on Commerce Street, be, and the same is, hereby received.

Ordered, That Messrs. H. H. Gear and D. B. Morehouse be appointed a committee to attend at commissioners meeting, for laying off the Town of Galena, and request them to declare the lots designated by the committee on the subject of market house, to be left as public property.

The clerk was ordered to make out a complete account of the fiscal con- cerns of the corporation from September 1, 1836, to March 20, 1838, which he subsequently did, as follows:

A Complete Statement of the Fiscal Accounts of the Galena Corporation, from 1st September, 1836, to the 20th March, 1838.

Mar. 20,

RECEIPTS.

1838. To amount received for building walls. $320 25

making sidewalk 777 16

from wharf and lumber master. 925 36

merchant, tavern, and dray lic'ns's 2,680 00

66 fines and circus licenses. 70 00

66 66 tax, 1836 and '7, on real and per-

sonal property 5,048 77

Whole amount of actual receipts.

-$9,821 54

Add small orders given treasurer for change. 3,000 00

Balance orders outstanding 4,718 90

$17,540 44

Amount due and in hands of collector for collection, to wit:

For sidewalk. $454 00

For walls_ 390 12

For balance tax on real and personal property, for 1836 and 1837 3,100 57

Whole amount in hand of collector for collection

- $3,944 69

Amount for sidewalk and walls unfinished and not yet as- sessed, to wit:

For sidewalks $500 00 150 00

For walls

Whole amount not yet assessed $650 00 124 21

Balance against corporation

$4,718 90

467

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

Mar. 20.

EXPENDITURES.

For excavating and filling in Main and Cross streets .. -$5,455 40

Franklin, Bench, and Diag-

onel streets.

2,150 25

For building walls

2,341 39

« making sidewalks

1,731 16

fire engine.

1,078 00

amount expended on wharf.

324 36

paid for printing

120 00

street commissioner

400 00

treasurer

153 06

clerk

200 00

wharf master and inspector

124 00

collector

59 19

assessor.

150 00

constable.

37 50

60 00

Miscellaneous expenses, hook, ladders, etc.

111 13

Whole amount expenditures

Small orders issued and left with treasurer for change.

$14,540 44 3,000 00

Balance orders unredeemed

4,718 90

By balance

$124 21

I, W. B. Green, Clerk of Board of President and Trustees of Galena Corporation, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct account of the fiscal concerns of the said corpor- ation, from the commencement of its operations up to the 20th of March, 1838.

W. B. GREEN, Clerk.

On the 2d day of April, 1838, a new board of trustees was elected, as fol- lows : John L. Slaymaker, Dickinson B. Morehouse, Daniel Wann, Jolin Dowling, John Campbell, Hezekial H. Gear, and Dudley Simmons. On the 3d the board organized by the election of D. B. Morehouse, Presi- dent, and W. B. Green, Clerk. W. B. Green was appointed Street Com- missioner; George W. Campbell, Treasurer ; J. W. Foster, Town Consta- ble and Collector; S. D. Carpenter, Wharf and Lumber Master; John Stark, Attorney.

Messrs. Slaymaker, Morehouse, and Dowling, were appointed a com- mittee to report a plan and estimate for a market house, and the probable expense of filling Market Square. At the next session, April 9, the com- mittee reported a plan, which was unanimously adopted, and Messrs. Dow- ling, Morehouse, and Slaymaker, were constituted a committee to enter into arrangements for building the same, but there is no record to show that anything was done.

May 14, 1838, the location of the northern terminus of the Central Railroad was felt to be of such " deep and vital interest and importance to the inhabitants of the Town of Galena," and the people felt that " they had a right to be heard in the matter," that the board directed its clerk to call a meeting of the citizens, on Saturday the-19th, to consider the matter. On the 21st, on motion of H. H. Gear, the following preamble and resolution was adopted :

WHEREAS, The opening of the " Central Railroad " at Galena is an event of immense importance and interest to the citizens of this place; therefore,

Resolved, That the citizens of this town be requested to meet to-morrow at 5 o'clock, P. M., to take measures to notice the event in a becoming manner.

The location evidently was not eminently satisfactory, for on the 28th, at a session of the board, Mr. Gear moved that the Board of Public Works

45 00

attorney.

refunded on licenses.

$17,540 44

468

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

be requested to cause a resurvey of the termination of the Central Railroad to be made, and this matter was laid over until night, at "early candle light." In the evening, on motion of Mr. Gear, the following was adopted :

WHEREAS, In the opinion of this Board the present location of the northern termina- tion of the Central Railroad, on the east side of Fever River, is a measurc hostilc to the in- terest of this town, and in violation of law; now, therefore, we, the Trustees, in Town Council convened, do hereby protest against the present location of said northern termina- tion of the Central Railroad, and request the Board of Public Works to order a new survey of the line to Galena, in such way as to fully redress the wrong. This protest to be for- warded to the Board of Public works under the seal of the corporation.

The following order, passed June 8, 1838, provided for the issue of an indefinite amount of town scrip :

Ordered, That the President procure a sufficient number of blank orders, properly engraved or printed on bank note paper, and that, when obtained, all orders issued, either in exchange for these now outstanding or otherwise, shall bear interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from date thereof until redeemed.

Subsequently, on the 7th of August, the following appears of record :

Ordered, That the blank orders received, bearing interest at six per cent, shall be signed by the president as President of the Board of Trustees, and by the clerk, and they be authorized to exchange said orders for any previously given out, and for all debts due by the corporation.

The constable, who was chief of police, was, on the 8th day of June, directed to find a place suitable for a jail or lock-up, and reported that the under story of the house on Main and Diagonal Streets, owned by G. W. Harrison, would answer the purpose by putting in a floor.

There was a strong effort made to induce the receiver, Col. John De- ment, who sold the lots and out-lots in the Town of Galena, in accordance with the provisions of the act of July 2, 1836, to receive corporation paper or " town scrip" in payment, and it was argued that inasmuch as. the money was to be expended for public buildings here, the scrip could be paid over to the local authorities as so much money. In anticipation that this paper might be taken by the receiver, the Board of Trustees passed the fol- lowing ordinance on the 18th of July, 1838 :

July 18, 1838. Be it ordained by the President and Board of Trustees of the Town of Galena, That all orders for the payment of money issued by this corporation, and which shall be taken by the land office as payment for lots and out-lots in the town of Galena, to be sold by the United States, shall bear interest from the day of sale at the rate of six per cent per annum, and shall be redeemed in current bank paper in three equal payments- first in 12 months, second in 15 months, and third in 18 months-and that to the faithful performance of this the faith of the corporation is hereby pledged.

Be it further ordained, That the President of the Board is liereby empowered and di- rected to execute, in the name of the corporation, under the seal thercof, a bond covenanting for the faithful performance of all stipulations contained in this ordinance.

Be it further ordained, That the President of this Board proceed forthwith to inake arrangements to procure orders of the corporation to the amount of seven thousand dollars, to be taken in payment by the land office under conditions and stipulations contained in this ordinance.

The sale took place, but the corporation paper, although backed by the foregoing pledges, was not current at the counter of the Receiver. , It had beconie depreciated, and subsequently became almost worthless. It was issued in large quantities; the stuff was, it is said, at one time kept in an old shoe-box under the clerk's counter, and persons so disposed could easily help themselves. Whether any of it that was subsequently funded by the City of Galena was obtained without consideration or not, it is certain that

6 Barner ~SHERIFF ~. GALENA

THE CIARADY

471

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

it was paid out by the town authorities to all who would take it in payment at the rate of about three dollars for one, and it was hawked about the streets at twenty, fifteen, ten, and even six per cent of its face. As before stated, after the city was organized, this paper was funded at par in city bonds, and a considerable portion of the present city debt springs from this source.

After the sale, the town fathers became exercised lest the money, if it should be paid over to the county commissioners, should not be expended to suit them and the people of the town, and on the 30th day of July the board adopted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Receiver of Publie Moneys be and he is hereby requested to with- hold moneys received from the sale of town lots from the county commissioners, until such time as the trustees of the town shall have security, and be notified that said money will be properly appropriated according to law, and that a copy of this resolution be signed by the clerk, and forwarded to Col. Dement, Receiver of Public Moneys .*

Whether this resolution deferred the payment of the money to the Commissioners is doubtful, but there seemed to be a lingering suspicion to that e fect in the minds of the County Court, and they probably concluded thatthe money would be forthcoming if an amicable arrangement could be made with the town, for, on the 8th of September, 1838, the trustees received a communication from the county commissioners, concerning cer- tain public moneys arising from the sale of town lots, now in the hands of the receiver, and the following order was passed:

Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed from this board to make such arrangement with the county commissioners, with respect to these funds, as to them may seem right, and any arrangement they may make shall be binding and in full force on the part of the Town of Galena.

On the 10th, this committee reported that the commissioners and trus- tees had agreed mutually to proceed forthwith to expend said fund in build- ing a jail and market house in the Town of Galena, in such manner as to them may seem most beneficial to the public.

On the 11th, on motion of Mr. Gear, a committee was appointed to meet with the county commissioners for the purpose of making necessary arrangements for the erection of a jail and market house with all possible expedition, and Gear, Slaymaker and + John Atchison were appointed.

There is no subsequent record to show that any further action was taken in the market house matter. The commissioners received the money and appropriated it to building a court house. Later in this history, the reply of the commissioners to the mayor and aldermen of the city will be found, which should be read with the above record of their action in view.

July 23, 1838, the following entry appears of record: "On motion of Mr. Dowling, ordered that P. B. Cook be and he is hereby appointed Clerk of the Board of President and Trustees of the Town of Galena."

September 8, 1838. The first circus license recorded was issued on this date to Mr. Miller, for $20.

October 17, 1838. A draft of a city charter prepared by John Stark, the corporation counsel, was read, and referred to a committee consisting of the trustees, and Win. Smith and John Stark. On the 25th, the committee reported, approving the charter, and it was ordered to be sent to Hon. G.

* John Dowling's protest against this resolution is entered of record.

+ John Atchison had been elected a member of the board in place of D. B. More- house, resigned.

472

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

W. Harrison, senator at Vandalia, with the request that he should secure its. enactment by the legislature.

On the same day, the trustees took measures to prevent the waslı of mud into the river at McKnight's Point, as there was danger that the navi- gation of Fever River might be seriously injured.

December 3, 1838. The first recorded license for a theatre was granted on this date to Mckenzie & Jefferson, for one year; license fee, $75.

In February, 1839, it is evident that intelligence of the passage of the city charter, drafted by Stark, had reached Galena, and on the 18th of that month the trustees passed the following resolution:

Resolved, That whenever the new charter of Galena shall be received, the President of this body shall cause the same, together with the proceedings of this board thereon, to be published.

It required money, or its equivalent, to run a town government. The trustees began to feel the necessity of providing funds. The Galena Cham- ber of Commerce had suggested to them the idea of making a loan. The board received the suggestion kindly, and on the 25th of February, 1839, Daniel Wann, H. H. Gear and John Dowling were appointed to negotiate a loan with some of the Eastern banks for a loan of not exceeding $50,000 for the corporation, for a term of three years or longer.

The committee was not successful; at least, the records do not indicate that such a loan was effected.

The lots set aside for public uses by the United States Commissioners, and called the "market house lots," had been awarded to the county com- missioners, and they had paid for them. It was desirable that the town should possess them, and an arrangement was made by which the county authorities transferred them to the town, as will be seen from the following:

March 4, 1839, Messrs. Gear, Slaymaker and Simmons were appointed a committee to obtain funds sufficient to pay the county commissioners the amount of money paid by them for the Market House lots.

The following order of March 11, 1839, affords some light on the man- ner in which business was done by the town authorities. Sometimes it hap- pened that their creditors did not want " corporation paper," and then they had to trade it off for " good money."

Resolved, That Messrs. Dowling and Gear be a committee to solicit an exchange of $92.25 corporation paper for good money to pay Daniel Sweeney for rock put on Levee.

On the 27th day of March the board received a communication from Hon. G. W. Harrison, state senator, informing the trustees that the city charter had been passed by the late legislature, but it was on the eve of a new election, and the communication was laid on the table.

April 1, 1839, Daniel Wann, John L. Slaymaker, Matthew Faucette, John P. DeZoya, Michael Murphy, Jesse Morrison and F. W. Schwatka were elected trustees. On the 2d Daniel Wann was elected president. On the 3d R. F. Barry was elected clerk; Geo. M. Mitchell, treasurer; John Stark, attorney; Milton M. Maughs, street commissioner and inspector; H. Marfield, town constable and collector; R. F. Barry, wharf master.

A cominunication was received from Hon. G. W. Harrison enclosing a copy of the city charter, which was referred to Corporation Counsel Stark for his opinion. April 29 Mr. Stark made his report, and the following somewhat singular preamble and resolution was adopted, on motion of Mr. Murphy:

473

HISTORY OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY.

WHEREAS, This board has been informed by G. W. Harrison, state senator from this district, that an act passed the legislature of this State at its late session entitled " An Aet to amend the several acts incorporating the Town of Galena," an unauthenticated copy of which aet has been furnished to this board by the said Harrison; and, whereas, this board is advised, and is of the opinion that the act in question has no validity or obligation as a law by reason of sundry provisions therein contained in contravention to and in violation of the constitution of this state and the law of the land, and in derogation of the rights of a portion of our citizens ;

Resolved, That this board will not and does not recognize said act as a law, and that this board will not take any steps to earry the same into effeet.

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The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Illinois Constitution of the United States, Part 50

Author: Kett, H.F., & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : H.F. Kett & co. Number of Pages: 878

Author: Kett, H.F., & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : H.F. Kett & co.
Number of Pages: 878