Quincy Township (part 6 of 74)

The military feeling was very prevalent at this period. It was so all over the country'. The jarring relations with England over our Maine and Oregon boundaries, and the feeling that trouble was ahead in Texas and with Mexico, set men to thinking of war, and without any immediate thought of action in that waj^ a military spirit was aroused. There had been a large and very good German company here for a year or two. The noted "Quiney Grays" had been disbanded some time before, but iu 18-43, partially from the membership of that company, the "Quiney Rifles," was organized. Also, now the "Montgomery Guards," a showy Irish company was formed, making its first parade on the 31st of May. These skilled companies proved to be of much needed importance a few months later when the state was suddenly required to call out its military force in this section on the occasion of the killing at Carthage of Joseph and Hiram Smith, and the consequent "Mormon War," as it was called, in Hancock county. Two companies, the "Rifles" and "Guards" were creditably represented three years later in the Mexican War, the captain (Kelly) of the Montgomery Guai'ds being killed at Buena Vista.

The first Odd Fellows Lodge, the Quiney, No. 12, was organized during this year. Dr. David Nelson, the eminent theologian, whose name is associated with most of the early religious and philanthropic history of this section died in October. He had become mentally feeble some years before.

A somewhat singular movement, taking into account the feelings and prejudices of the people in those times, was the presentation to the city council of a strong petition, signed by Judge Richard M. Young, and one hundred and thirty others, asking that provision should be made for the echication of colored children. The result was as singular as the application. A committee of the council, to whom the matter was referred, recommended that an appropriation should be made equal in proportion to that provided for the white children, and as there were eight hundred white children iu the city, for whose education $1,200 had been appropriated, that for the thirty colored children there should be appropriated $45. This recommendation was adopted by the council, but resulted iu nothing of practical value. It is, however, notable as being the first public and official action in the direction of schools for the colored race. It is also a little singular that this proposition was fathered by those who had been always counted as pro-slavery men. Judge Young long after his residence in Illinois, was a slaveholder, and had not a great while before this time advertised for the capture of runaway slaves. Almost evei'y one living north of Mason and Dixon's line was anti-slavery in sentiment, south of that line many thought the same, but the majority there was attached to its home institution. A very few in the north were abolitionists, conscientiously so, and perhaps as many northern men sj-mpathized with slavery and would be willing to see it generally established, but these two classes were small and uninflueutial ; yet so unreasoniug were the prejudices of the day, that it was common to charge the northern man who objected to interference with the institution of slavery in the states where it existed, with being "pro-slavery," and alike also the soutliei"u man who said a word in opposition to slavery, was suspected and assailed as an "abolitionist." This was untrue and unjust all around. Neither of these small factions, represeuted the general sentiment of the north. The extension of slavery beyond its already prescribed limits was altogether another question, and when that issue arose, as subsequent IJolitieal history has unmistakably j^roven, the north showed itself to be almost a unit.

Referring to the school question again, it ajjpeared tliat au examination and report made a few months before this petition was presented on the 7th of February, as to the condition, cost, etc., of the public schools, did not fully agree with the report above named. Then the full statistics showed that there were five private schools in operation in the city, aggregating one hundrecl and .sis pupils, and four public schools with three hundred and ten scholars registered, and with an average daily attendance of two hundred and seventy-five. The expense of sustaining the public schools was stated to be $1,800 per annum, and the cost of each pupil per quarter $1.63. about $6.50 for the year. The general condition of the schools was at this time less satisfactory' than it had been ever before.

cession iniide by the eouiity to the city, of the south half of block one, in the original plat of Qnincy, to be forever used for public purposes only. This was that portion of the block which in 182.5 had been set ajjart as a "burial ground," and used as such until 1837. The city had been gradually obtaining possession of portions of the north half of the block, and finally secured it all. Later the land passed into tl^ie hands of the Board of Education and a large brick school house was there erected, which stood for many years. This arrangement between the city and county, which had been under consideration for some years was a judicious one, as it afterward proved, jDroviding as it has a convenient place for the courthouse, which was erected in 1876, for which no other location could have been so easily secured. Not so satisfactory, however, was the result of another effort, long and quite pei-sistently made, to have a poor house, constructed mutually by the. county and city. After months of negotiation and committee conferences, this scheme, mainly from unwillingness on the part of the county authorities, fell through entirely.

The Quiney Herald made its periodical change of ownfership, as it used to almost annually in those days, Louis M. Booth and E. B. Wallace succeeding E. A. Thompson in the possession and control of the paper, adding much to its credit and influence.

The political excitement which pervaded the country in 18-14 to a degree rarely paralleled at any presidential election, (certainly never exceeded in the west) was felt with full intensity in Quiney. Its enthusiasm had here as everywhere else been preparing during the past four years, and its open activity began at the city election - in April, constantly increasing until the close of the pi'esidential battle in November. The whigs all over the land, miud-

,ful of their sweeping success under Llarrison in 1840, and the treachery of Tyler, which had wasted all the fruits of their victory and rallied by their idolized leader, Clay, were all expectant of national success. This they would have undoubtedly secured but for the introduction of that "side issue" the "annexation of

On the other hand, the democratic party, anxious to redeem their great defeat of 1810, and to regain the ascendency which they had so easily maintained for three successive presidential terms, especially strong in the south and west, were active, earnest and aggressive. The whole country was in motion.

At the city election in Ajjril the whigs placed in nomination for mayor, John Wood, and IL V. Sullivan, F. W. Jansen and G. B. Dinu)ck for aldermen; believing, as it was then thought that it is a party duty, by which only its repute and strength can be sustained, to allow no names to be offered as proper public servitors, save such as are fit and respected. The democrats re-nominated Enoch Conyers, who had held the office for the two years last for mayor, and B. F. Osborne, J. II. Ilolton and James H. Luce for aldermen. Both tickets were exceptionally strong. The whigs elected their mayor by a majority of 113 in a total vote of 793, and all of the aldermen except Jansen. who was beaten three votes by Ilolton.

The mayor's salary, by a party vote, was fixed at $200 per annum, the clerk's at $150. At the state election in August for county officers, members of the legislature and member of congress, the democratic ticket was successful by iiiiexi)(>ctedly large majorities, running in the cDunfy from 119 to 286. Judge Douglas was re-elected to congress over D. M. Woodson by 149 majority in the county, falling somewhat behind his ticket on account of dissatisfaction over his decision in the county division cases. Jacob Smith was chosen state senator over Abraham Jonas by 211 majority, and Peter Ijott, Wm. Hendry and Warren Miller, representatives, over Geo. C. Dixon, W. B. Gooding and John Dunlap. J. j\I. Pitman was elected sheriff' over W. H. Tandy. An abolition legislatiA'e and county ticket received from 133 to 166 votes. At the presidential election in November the democrats carried both city and county by a majority of 215, Birney, the abolition candidate, receiving 149 votes.

There Avere reported as being in the city at this time, 44 stores and 9 churches. W^heat rated at an average of 50 cents per bushel throughout the year, and the crop was unusually large.

The first Mormon war. which broke out in Hancock county during the summer of 1844, produced an excitement in Quiney, such as had not been since the time of the noted Nelson riots eight years before. A similar and almost equal excitement pervaded here two years later in 1846, when there came the second war, which resulted in the thorough expulsion of the Mormons from Nauvoo. These stormy troubles had so long been apprehended, that they

About daylight on tlie morning of the 28th of June the city was roused by the chmg of the cliurch bells and a call for the people to assemble at once at the courthouse. Then and there appeared a delegation of well known citizens of Warsaw, headed by Wm. II. Roosevelt, who, with most exciting declamation and under an extreme evident alarm, which lent sincerity and drew sympathj' to their appeals, announced that Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, and his brother Hiram, had on the day preceding been killed in the Hancock county jail; that several thousand revengeful Mormons were marching upon Warsaw, which place was perhaps by that time sacked and burned. Also that Governor Ford, with his attendants had probably been killed, and they besought the assistance of the jieople of Quincy.

Following this were some equally exciting and intemperate speeches by two or three of our town talkers, who are always on hand on such occasion. While the position of these selfexiled I'unaways from the place where they should have remained for its defense was somewhat derisively viewed, yet the situation was, or was likely to become serious. It was well known that the Smiths were arrested and confined under guard in the Carthage jail, and that Governor Ford with a small escort had gone to Nauvoo on the day when the murders were committed. A committee of twelve citizens had been appointed at a meeting held here a few days before to mediate, if possible in the dissensions between the ]\Iormons and their opponents in Hancock county. Now at once the full force of the city was promptly organized and sent to the scene of action. A special meeting of the city council appointed a vigilance committee consisting of one alde.rman and three citizens from each ward. But the most practical action taken was that of the mayor in detaining the steamer Boreas, about to leave for St. Louis and sending it back to Warsaw, near the middle of the day, with an improvised military battalion of about four hundred men. This was composed of the Quincy Rifles, the German and Irish companies, and a volunteer force of between one and two hundred citizens, variously armed, under the command of Andrew Johnston as captain, and James T. Baker as first lieutenant, the whole under the command of Major Wm. G. Flood, who had been conspicuous in the Black HaAvk war twelve years before.

feeling continued till greatly allayed when Boreas returned in the evening with the news that the Mormons, instead of rising to avenge the death of their prophet, were cjuiet and cowed by their apprehensions and these displays of military force; that no reprisals had occurred; that Governor Ford was unharmed; and that "order reigned in Warsaw." It is strange that it was so; strange that there was not one or more of the many reckless and desperate characters who infested Nauvoo to rouse, as easily might have been done, the feelings of these thousands of credulous fanatics into a wild wave of revenge, which, if it had been set in motion, would have swept destriiction within twenty-four hours all over Hancock county. It was not done, however, and the Jlormons were cowed and powerless for the time.

While there was much m these matters that appeared farcical, and in the conduct of some of the parties concerned even worse, yet there Avas much ground for apprehension, demanding the effective action so promptly assumed by our people. Quincy, from its position as the large.st near neighboring city, was the first called upon to interpose and furnish force to put down these disturbances, and it became a sort of civil and military headquarters during this and the war of two years later, so much so as to connect its history permanently with both occasions.

A detailed account of the ]\Iormon troubles would be too extended for space here. It will be remembered that five or six years before this date the ' ' Latter-day Saints, ' ' as they were selfstyled, when driven from Missoiiri, first found an asylum at Quincy, where their forlorn condition induced a sympathy, which for a long time continued. Settling shortly after in the town of Commerce, in Hancock county, at the head of the Des Moines rapids, they changed the name of the place to Nauvoo, said somewhat doubtfully, to be a word of Hebrew derivation, meaning either "city of beauty," or more probably "city of rest or repose." and here they rapidly increased. Thither flocked by thousands the devotees of this strange creed, most of them from England.

By the state census of 1845, out of a population of about 25,000 in Hancock county, the Mormons' portion was liberally estimated at from 16,000 to 17,000, giving to it the numerical predominance in the county. When they finallv left in 184fi their numbers were yet fairly estimated at from 16,000 to 17.000.

idly to ruin. They straclv against that instinctive sentiment of public justice which will never allow violation. He, imagining that he might have control of the county, congressional, perhaps the state, possibly the national politics, assumed an independence above everything. He took the military rank of Lieutenant-General, claimed the pardoning power for criminal offenses, which is the highest attribute of sovereignity; presented himself as a candidate for the presidency; petitioned and claimed from congress for himself and church a separate state independence, and in all his actions repudiated every idea of subordination to state or federal supremacy.

This was the breaker on which was shattered his and his people's success in Illinois, the perversion of legal justice, of public rights. It was the "stocking" of the courts and juries, the subsidizing of officials and the open resistence to all magisterial authority whenever the tendency of such was "anti-.Mormon" that brought about the crisis and ruin. The Mormons might fill all the county offices and pocket the fees; send members in their interest to the legislatures; dictate who should go to congress; but grievous as these assumptions were they were borne until the quiet fiat went out and was practically enforced that they owned the courts; that no Mormon was to be punished for any oft'ense ; or if he was convicted Joseph Smith would pardon him.

This was too much, and it brought about the civil war, when Hancock and the adjacent counties, hopeless of justice through the courts, turned out their military strength, on an unauthorized and illegal call, to put down and out of existence the Mormon rule in Illinois.

This gathering of troops in Hancock County, ostensibly to sustain and enforce law but really, as everybody knew, for the purpose of driving or scaring away the Mormons, had now forced the attention of Governor Ford to the pending troubles and brought him to the scene. He had been extremely anxious to evade any action. During the canvass of 1842, when he was elected, his opponent. Governor Duncan, crowded the IMormon question into an unpleasant political proiuinence ; and it had now become, with the protection and broad principles which the dominant party in the state had too recklessly given to these people, a very sore subject for the state authorities to handle.

The Govei'nor, Avhen compelled to meet the matter face to face, tried no doubt to act faithfully, but his alternations of boldness and indecision were painfully apparent and did much to imi^air his future reputation as a public num. On reaching Carthage he found this large concourse of troops, several hundred in number, and at once assumed their command. A day or two later he disbanded the larger portion of them.

Smith, with several of his leading associates, on the arrival of the Governor, either from policy or fear, submitted to an arrest, voluntarily presenting themselves at Carthage, where they were put in confinement. Heretofore he had on several occasions defied, evaded or escaped from legal service. The original charge on which he now was arrested was This writ was dismissed and he was rearrested on the charge of rioting; the special offense being his order and action in suppressing the Nauvoo Expositor. This was a paper which had been started at Nauvoo especially opposing Mormonism. But one issixe appeared when Smith decreed it to be a "nuisance" iuul the press and type were openly destroyed. On the 27tli the jail where Smith, liis lirollier Iliram and two others were eontinccl. was attacked by an armed mob, the guards by agreement overpowered, and the Sniitlis were killed. From this came the ex- <-itement at Quincy of the next succeeding days. Governor Ford at the time when these events occurred was in Nauvoo. He heard of them jiist as he left the city on his return to Carthage, and from there on the 29th, with his staff, came to Quincy. People who have gone through the excitement and anxiety of a really great war may not know, yet it is a fact that a small war when people are not used to them is equally absorbing and exciting. The Govei-nor's staj^ was of several days' duration and when he left early in July matters seemed to have quieted down. But they were far from being so. The death of the Smiths did not, as perhaps had been expected, lireak up the Mormon association. On the contrary, with the prestige of martyrdom now attaching to the prophet's name, their niimbers increased more rapidly than ever before.

The Quincy companies that had gone to Warsaw at the time of Smith's death remained but a day or two, but three months later they were again called into the field. As the ]Mornions showed no disposition to leave the state, and their numbers were steadily inerea,sing, a movement was again inaugurated to effect their removal.

A grand wolf hunt was advertised to take jilace in Hancock in September, which was well understood to mean a raid upon the ]\Iormons. The Governor again came to Quincy, having called out from Sangamon and Mor- gau counties aud elsewhere a large force, and with them the Rities and German company, who were again marched up to Hancock county on the 25th of September, and for a few days the city was filled Avith "war's alarms." After a week or ten days quiet was restored and the soldiery returned. An addition to these excitements was the bringing down to Quincy under military guard of William aud Shappe, who had been arrested on the charge of having beeu connected with the murder of the Smiths. The guard was rather fai-cical since these men had voluntarily surrendered themselves. Still, this added to the excited feelings of the time. These men were examined here and bound over for trial. Subsequently, in 1845, trials were had in Hancock county of several men charged Avitli the death of the Smiths, but though it probably was known who took part in that affair no convictions resulted.

The bittcL- strife between the city and county, which had commenced several years before, about the removal of the county seat, still "dragged its slow length along." It had, however, lost its special excitement for Quincy, for the reason that the issue had beeu now changed to a judicial contest over the division of the county, concerning which Quincy felt but a secondary interest. The IMarquette people steadily refused to be thus cut away from Adams county, and they constantly voted at every general or special election, whenever this issue could come in, either against separate organization or for candidates for county offices, who Avere pledged not to ciualify and assume office. These Avere iuA'ariably elected. The circuit aud supreme eoiirt decisions had affirmed the laAV Avhieh established the new county, and ignored all recognition of the territory therein as being a constituent portion of Adams county. But so long as the people in the eastern section of the county reA^olted against this arbitrary expatriation and constantly refused to organize all these .judicial decrees were but paper bullets and totally ineffective.

Consequently for a niuuber of years Marquette remained politically parentless. Four years later than this period, hoAvever, under the operation of the ncAV state constitution of 1847-48 this local trouble Avas cured.

A clause Avas introduced by Mr. Williams and secured by his special action that "all territory which has been or may be stricken off by legislatiA'e enactment from any organized county or counties for the purposes of fonning a new county, and Avhieli shall remain unorganized after the period provided for its organization, shall be aud remain a part of the county or counties from which it Avas originally taken, for all purposes of state and countA'.

Seat Question Again

POPULATION OF CITY AND COUNTY, 19,399. BUSINESS STATEMENT. JOHN WOOD, MAYOR. SPECIAL TAX FOR SCHOOL S. MORNING COURIER. FIRST DAILY NEAA'SPAPER. COLONIZATION SOCIETY FORMED. MORMON TROUBLES CONTINUED. JUDGE C. L. HIGBEE. COUNTY SEAT QUESTION AGAIN.

The first constitution of Illinois prescribed, as a basis for the periodical legislative apportionments, that a census should be taken in 1820 and every fifth year thereafter. The returns as made by Capt. Kelly, AA-ho Avas the state enumerator for the year 1845. gaA^e a population to Quincy of 4,007. First Avard, 1,406 ; Second ward, 1,182 ; Third Avard, 1,419 ; colored, 66; subject to military duty, 987. These figures taken in connection Avith the previous date, shoAV that there had been an almost uniform doubling of the population during each five years since 1825. There are no certain figures for the first ten years. Quincy did not, then, find a place on either the state or national census of 1825 or 1830. In 1825, the year of its location, it had a dozen residents. In 1830 it is estimated that there were about 300. The first reliable figures are from the state census of 1835, AA'hich places the population of the toAA'u at 753. FolloAving this there appears a census made by order of the toAvn authorities in 1837-38 which reported a total of 1,653. In 1840 the national census reported a population of 1,850. A city census, quite carefully taken in 1842, showed an increase on this up to 2,686, and in 1845 there is reported 4.007, indicating an even, regular groAvth through tAventy years. In later years this large regular percentage of periodical increase has much fallen off.

Adams county, including Quincy, at this census of 1845, had a population of 13,511, to AA'hich, adding 5.888 in Marquette, gave a total of 19,399. showiug that the city had about one-fifth of the whole. The relative groAvth of city and county has been as folloAVs: In 1825 "the county, with perhaps 300 in Hancock, had 2,186": Quincy, probably by the end of the year, 50 or more. In 1830 the county population was 2,186, of Avhich some 200, about one-tenth, were in the village. Five years later bj- the state census the county has 7,042 and the town 753, still about one-tenth. Five years farther on, in 1840, the county contained 14,- 476, and the city 1,850, this being one-eighth of the whole. In 1845, as above stated, the city had a little over one-fifth; in 1850 the county had 26,508 and the city 6,902, over one-fourth; in 1860 the county figured 41,323 and the city 12,362, nearly one-third ; in 1870 there were 56,362 in the county to 24,062 in the city, a proportion of three-sevenths, and in 1880 the countv showed 5!),14S ;ind the citv 27,268, almost one-half.

In connection with the census taken at this time a carefully compiled schedule of the business of the city reported, of stores, 29 dry goods, 21 grocery and provision, 1 book, 3 hardware, 2 wholesale grocers, 2 wholesale iron, 2 clothing. 4 druggist, 1 shoe, 2 leather; of shops, 21 shoe, 17 tailor. 9 wagon makers, 3 tin, 13 blaek- .smith, 9 paint, 6 saddle and harness, 4 turning, 2 barbers, 3 machine, 12 carpenters, 1 cigar; of factories, 4 chair, 1 threshing machine, 1 fanning mill, 1 bucket: 2 shingle machines, 1 carding machine, 2 lathe machines, 1 ropewalk: 7 hotels, 3 bakeries, 3 confectioneri-es, 5 pork houses. 4 livery stables, 6 steam flour mills, 3 steam sawmills, 1 distillery, 3 soajj factories, 3 brickyards, 2 tanneries, 3 watch and jewelry stores, 6 butcher shops, 2 printing offices, 16 churches, 3 military companies, 52 licensed teams.

John Wood, the whig nominee, was rechosen mayor at the city election in April by a majority of 138 over J. 11. Holton. The whigs at the same time elected two out of the three aldermen. Dr. J. B. Conyers in the First, Dr. J. N. Ralston in the Third ward : and the democrats elected Sanniel Hutton in the Second ward. This result gave to the whigs for the first time since 1841 the political control of the council and they at once proceeded on the "lex talionis" principle to act up to the extreme extent of their power by making a clean sweep-out of all the former city officials. John L. Cochran was appointed city clerk as the successor of General Leech. Mr. Cochran resigned before his year term of office expired and was succeeded by Judge Snow, who continued to hold the office for two following years and so long as the whigs retained a majority in the city council. At that time and for some years later the office of the city clerk was more important than it is at present.

Its incumbent then was both clerk and comptroller combined, as the daily business of the city passed almost entirely through his hands he was expected to supply whatever was lacking of business education or qualification in the mayor. The first city mayor, E. Moore, chosen in 1840 and again in 1841, was a methodical, practical business man and had been selected for that position over other more popular and representative men for the reason that it was thought best to have such a man to handle the helm at the commencement of the young city's career. His two immediate successors were not practical business men, and their clerks. Woodruff, Leech, Cochran and Snow, were all men of more or less experience and mark in their time, and really ran the city machinery. The duties of the mayor were then very light, except on occasions, mostly confined to overlooking labor on the streets, he being ex-officio street superintendent. Mr. Cochran was an Englishman, a man of rather unusual acquirements, was by profession a civil engineer and teacher, had been prominently connected with the public schools and as a mathematician he had not then and probably has never had his equal in Quincy. He could do what not one in millions can - run up in his mind the addition of four figures and declare the result as accurately as others could add up a single column. He was one of the notable men of the place in his time. A few years later he removed to California.

The city council voted a salary to aldermen of two dollars for each regular and fifty cents for each special meeting; before this time they had lieen ])aid nothing. Urgent requests were made upon the city fathers to organize a "night watch." Init tliej^ decided that the city did not need it and could not afford the expense. The city obtained from the legi.slatiu'e during the preceding winter the relin- (juishment of the raili'oad street (now Broadway) which seven years before had been graded from 'I'wclfth street to the river, and also secured fnnu the LTnited States the title to what is known as the "Tow Head," the point of laud l.ving between the bay and the river, measured then as containing 207 acres, which it in-obably greatly exceeds at present.

Judge Thomas resigned his position as judge of tliis circuit to take a similar place in the noi-tluTii pail of the state and his place was temporarily filled by Judge R. M. Young. In August N. H. Purple was appointed, who held the office for the three following years and until the new constitution of 1848 changed the judicial system. Judge Peter Lott, who had been elected to the legislature in 1844, resigned his seat in February just at the close of the session and was thereupon immediately appointed circuit clerk, displacing C. M. Woods, who had acceptably held the office for many years. At this time, and before 1848.

the judges possessed the power of appointmeDt of clerks. Au indignation meeting of the members of the bar was held at once to make objections to the removal. This movement was not so much aimed at Lott, who was personally popular and more capable than Mr. Woods, but it was intended as a protest against the summary style in which the hitter's head was taken off.

Changes consequent mi the clei/tidu of the democratic presidential ticket in 1S44 were made in the federal offices in Quincy. Dr. Samuel W. Rogers became postmaster; Samuel Holmes and Dr. Pliram Rogers respectively register and receiver of the public land office, and all continued in their respective offices until removed in 1840, when the whig administration came into power.

At the session of 1844-45 the General Assembly passed an act amendatory of the city charter authorizing the assessment of au annual tax which should be applied solely to the support of the city schools. This was conditioned on its approval by a popular vote of the city, and at a special election, held on the 11th of April, although the proposition was persistently and bitterly opposed by the faction which had always fought the free school system, it was adopted by a Jiiost decisive majority and thence became a permanent engraftment upon the city charter. This was a veiy important measure ; indeed, it was the foundation stone of free school prosperity. There was in it, however, this one sei-ious defect - that the money thus raised passed through the possession of the city council and its manner of appropriation rested in their control, and it was not until many years later, when this defect had become seriously apparent, that by the legislative enactment which created the Board of Education and decreed a complete severance of this fund from the other revenues of the city, the independent school system was completed and assured. The assessment of 1-8 of 1 per cent, as authorized by the law, was made.

With this moneyed reliance before them and the obvious need of school room facilities, the school trustees agreed to appropriate $300 towards the erection of a suitable and sufficient schoolhouse and the city council voted an issue of seven ifilOO bonds for the same pui'pose. Finding that the necessary cost of the building woidd be. twelve hundred dollars the council increa.sed its appi'opriation by two hundred dollars more. This was the first public school building in the city, erected on the ground where now stands the Franklin schoolhouse on South Fifth street.

The Morning Courier, the first daily newspaper of Quincy, made its appearance on the first of November. It was a small afl'air and died after a few weeks' sickly existence. The Whig commenced the issue of a tri-weekly which was kept up from time to time, with but little satisfactory result. The newspaper men were all anxious and were urged by the public to "branch out," and several attempts were made to meet this wish by the two qldtime journals during this and the two succeeding years, but they invariably found that the time had not yet come and had to fall back to their previous weekly edition.

The summer was very sickly and said by some to be more so than any sea.son since 1832 and 1834. Business fairly held its own, though not especially active. Wheat averaged through the year about sixty cents, running from about fift.v cents in J)dy to seventy-two early in December, and f-alling to sixty cents at the close of the year. Hogs sold 'during December at about three dollars. There were packed in the winter of 1844-45 a few more than the preceding one. Nearly forty thousand barrels of flour were claimed to - have been manufactured during the year. The milling business had become very large. It was in the hands of men of means and experience and was rapidly extending. Navigation, which had been difficult during the latter part of the year, suspended on the first of December.

A fair amount of public improvement marked the progress of the year. , This was specially shown on Front street, where several large brick w-arehouses were erected, adding miicli to the appearance of the city from the river. The landing was also completed in its extension to the foot of Maine street. Matters of temporary local interest were many. . A vei\v large and general demon.stration was made on the fifth of July, when Judge Lott delivered an eulogy on General Jackson, who had died in the month preceding.

A colonization society was formed in April, with quite a large membership and much seeming eaz'nestness. These societies used periodically to spring up immediately after each presidential election, intended to become a check upon the slavery excitement which always attended these struggles. Annual attempts were made by public lueetings and pressure upon the city council for action by them to obtain a free ferry, but they failed, as usual, the ferry owners offering to transport "all Missourians and Quincyites (excepting wood wagous^i for $400 per annum, but the council Avould not agree to the terms.

dyspepsia, had periodically broken out during the past four or five years - the Mormon and the count.y seat matter - still stayed uneured ; the first of these causing something like the former excitements. With the killing of Joseph Smith in 1844 it would have seemed as if the predominance of the Mormons in Hancock and their influence in the adjoining counties was broken. But it Avas not so. The scepter of the prophet fell into the hands of men of more determination and ability than he had possessed; men who for their own purposes clung to the control of the county, and thus, of course, a bitter feeling and disturbance continued. Men generally went armed and in groups, fearing strife. Fatal collisions and destruction of property still often occurred. Finally the killing of some prominent Mormons, also of Dr. Marshall by Sheriff Deming, and again of Frank Worrell by (as it was charged) Sheriff Backenstos, who had been elected as Deming 's successor by the ilormon vote, and the taking possession of Carthage by Backenstos with an armed force from Nauvoo, causing another flight of the citizens of Carthage and Wai'saw, compelled again the attention of the governor. He ordered out in September the volunteer militia from Springfield, Jacksonville, Quiuey and other places, numbering several hundred men, luider the command of Gen. John J. Hardin, and sent them to the scene of action. Quincy was thus once more "roused by war's alarms." The presence of this iiniDosing force gave temporary quiet to the county. The rifle company from Quincy remained in Hancock county Init a fewdays, but immediately after their return thej^ were ordered back, and from late in October through the following six or seven months as a mounted company, they were stationed in and patrolled Hancock county, successfully preserving order.

The condition of affairs in Hancock was very deplorable and such as could only be controlled by bayonet rule. In the county the "Latter Day Saints," as they called themselves, possessed an overwhelming numerical strength, held all the offices and used their power with consistent boldness. In all the bordering counties, especially in Adams, feeling W'as intensified against them and frequent mass meetings were held denouncing the IMormons and demanding their expulsion from the state. The law seemed powerless. Judge Purple, the successor of Judge Thomas on this circuit, declined holding the usual fall term of court in Hancock.

Charges, countercharges and prosecutions Avere plentifully made by both parties, but punishments failed to follow. Jake Davis, state senator from Hancock, charged with complicity in the killing of the Smiths, Avas relieved from arrest by an order from the senate. Backenstos, indicted for the murder of Worrell, Avith Avhich he Avas undoubtedly connected, had his trial moved to Peoria county in December and there obtained an acquittal. A strange career Avas that of this man - a shrewd, daring adventurer, Avith an almost repulsive, desperado bearing and look. He ran his course successfully here and shortly after obtained a commission as captain in the regular army, Avhere he served for several years and Tuitil his death. What political or other service or merit secured for him such a sinecure, usually so difficult to attain, was a question much asked then and ncA-er yet ansAvered. These neighboring troubles continued to be a source of interest and excitement in Quincy until the final forcible expulsion of the Mormons in the fall of 1846.

Judge C'liainicy L. Iligbee, Avhose sudden and lamented death is in the minds of all at this time, the most satisfactorj^ and popular man Avho had presided in the courts of this section of the state since the time of Judge Purple, Avas singularly and speciallj^ connected Avitli the movement that finally drove the Mormons from the state, a moA'ement AA'hieh began in 1844 and succeeded in 1846. He was the editor and propi'ietor of the Nauvoo Expositor; the paper Avhich Avas destroyed and suppressed by Joseph Smith after the issue of its first number in 1844. Higbee had to run aAvay to save himself from violence. This extreme attack upon the freedom of the press did more than anything else could have done to excite a hot prejudice against the J\Iormous far outside of where their local and personal bearings Avere felt and knoAvn.

The county seat (Avhicli had noAV become a county division) question made its periodical appearance. At the August election Marquette again A'oted not to organize ; Judge Purple affirmed the decision of Judge Douglas (from Avhich Judge Young, AA'hile temporarily holding court, had dissented) that IMarquette Avas attached to Adams for judicial purjjoses and thus the eastern part of the county remained in that most anomalous position of being and yet not being ; paying no taxes, haA'ing no representation and only knoAvn in the courts. As Warren Avaggishly said, "IMarquette Avithout any fault of her oAvn had been se\'eral times punished. She Avas born against her Avish and had been tAviee killed - once AA-hen .she Avas decapitated from Adams and next Avhen she Avas legalh" hung - to Adams."

Mormons Driven From The State

BUSINESS INCREASING. WOODLAND CEMETERY. PROGRESS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. 'MISSION INSTITUTE." MEXICAN WAR. QUINCY SENDS SOLDIERS. ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT. MORMONS DRIVEN FROM THE STATE.

The winter of 1845-46 was exceptionally cold, more so than winters had been for several years, yet the temperature, though low, was even and regular and the season throughout was iiuusually pleasant. Much snow fell early and late, giving a long continuance of good, smooth sleighing. The river, which had closed early in December, opened late in January, affording easy navigation until the 26th of February, when it again iced over; finally becoming free ou the 7tli of March, with a full-bank rise such as rarely occurs at so early a time in the year. Later, however, in August, the lowest stage of water in the upper Mississippi that is recorded during the twenty jirevious years was reached and the summer and fall navigation became difficidt and uncertain. Business throughout this winter, owing to the cause above named, the opening of the river in midwinter, and also to the general high prices, was quite brisk ; more so, probably, than it had been at any former corresponding period. About the same amount of pork was packed as had been during the winter before, but the prices ruled much higher and a larger circulation of money was the consecjuence.

The close of this year (1846) showed a decided increase in the .stability and variety of all branches of business. The flour mills of the city, which had by this time become the most extensive in their manufacture of any of the river north of St. Louis, were estimated to have shipped away nearly seventy thousand barrels of flour during the year, being about double the manufacture of the previous year. The wheat crop of the county and vicinity was unusually large and fine in ciuality, though thei-e was a good deal of fluctuation in its prices, ranging from 65 to 70 cents in the spring down to 38 and 40 in August, and again rising to the first-named figures later in the season. Real estate, which had been "a drug" for several years, began to show a fixed, uniform value commensurate with the steady condition of general business. Sales were not numerous and not at such figures as had ruled in the wild, speculative days of 1836, but they were stable. As a citation of the worth of property at that time, facing the public square, which has always determined the general value of land throughout the citv, the old ''Land

Office Hotel," the "bedbugs 'retreat" as it was quaintly and correctly called, was sold at auction. It was an old two-story frame structure of about one hundred feet front ou Hampshire, near the corner of Fifth, The building was nearly worthless and the property was purchased only at its ground value. It sold for from $38 to $43 per foot. At the present date (1885) the ground value of the same property would be probably estimated at about four hundred dollars pev lineal foot. The city purchased in July, for school uses, three-fourths of the north half of what is now Jett'erson square, fronting on Broadway, for $512.50. A few years after the remaining fourth was obtained at about the same price. This secured to the city the entire ownership of the block. The south half had been bought from the county about two years before.

Woodland cemetery was laid oft' in April. It originally contained somewhat less than forty acres. At the following session of the legislature, by an act approved Januaiy 16th, 1847, authority was gi-auted to Mr. Wood, who had established the cemetery, to make a permanent contract, under which after his death it .should pass into the control and partial ownership of the city.

Eleven years after this time, in 1857, four and sixty-five one-hundredth acres were added, making the final total area of the cemetery a little over forty-three acres. An extensive sale of lots was immediately made and the I'ecord shows that by the 13th of May there had been three burials. Right after and during the succeeding fall and winter a great number of bodies were removed hither from the city cemetery at the corner of Twenty-fourth and ilaine, and a few from the old burial ground on Jefferson Square. But few interments were from this time made in the former cemetery, now ''Madison Square."

Quite a stirring sensation was created on the moi-ning of the 18th of August, a good deal intensified from its blending with political feeling, when the good people of the city awoke to find that again some graceless vagabond had barked the large tree which stood in the center of the public square. This tree had replaced the handsome elm that had been destroyed in a similar manner six years before. Public feeling heated at once against this second exhibition of vandalism and the city council at a special meeting offered a reward of one hundred dollars for the detection of the parties who had connnitted this outrage. The aft'air was ea.sily traceable, like the previous case, to a petty political spite, and the authors and actors were pretty well known, but the difficulty of securing positive proof and shrewd manipulation of the matter by j^arties who were anxious to conceal their own indirect respousilnlity. caused it tt) gradually pass out of thought without any conclusive legal action or exposure.

Tlie Quincy Library, now in the sixth year of its exist euce, reported the possession of eleven hundred volumes, showaug its condition to be fairly prosperous. This was a much favored institution during the early days of the city. Its establishment and management was judicious. Generous donations of standard books, carefully selected, of money, and the earnest, personal care and attention of a number of thoughtful and intelligent men ensured to it a foundation of itermauence. Its resources were, of course, limited, and for several years its main reliable income was derived from the winter course of lectures. These were altogether given by home lecturers, cost nothing, and were popularly attended, being the weekly interesting gatherings of the winter. I\Iany of tliese lectures were of a high order of interest and value, such as few places in the West of equal population could produce. They were almost altogether given by our j^rofessional men, and the qualifications of the representatives of the three "learned professions" in Quincy at this time were very superior. Bushnell, Johnston, Lott, Browning, Warren, Dixon, Randolph, (Jiiiuan, among the lawyers; Giddings. iloore. ]Marks, Foote, Parr, of the clergy ; Taylor, Nichols, Ralston, Rogers, from the medical ranks, and ethers w^ere mostly men of education, culture and experience, and were also personall.v popular and attractive, hence their lectures were always creditably intellectual and fully relished. It was the fashion to go to Ihe lectures and, of course, everybody went. The annual revenue from this source^ although it was not large, proved sufficient to sustain the library outside of its current expenses during the first half a dozen or more years of its existence. The Tri- Weekly Whig, which had lieen started by Bartlett & Sullivan in October, 1845, suspended (ui the 21st of April. This was one among the uuiny unsuccessful experiments made by the two permanent weeklies, the Herald and Whig, to esta})lish daily or tri-weekly journals, each ambitious to be the first in the field, during the first two decades of our city history. They were all ushered into the world with hope and promise, biit all died before teething time, and their many skeletons whiten out past times, like buffalo skulls on the plains, none of thou lasting over a yeai'. The jieriod had not yet ri])ened for sucli enterprises. A fair degree of genei'al and permanent inqirovement in building and business marks the record of this year. The first German Methodist Church, on Jersey Street, between Fifth and Sixth, was completed and dedicated on the of March.

A large woolen factoi-y Avas constructed by Dunsmoor & 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 threestory brick, the third distillery that had been started in or near Quincy, and in about two years' time it shaiecl the fate of its two predecessors - being destroyed by fire. The woolen factory also was bur)ie(l not far from the same time in 1848.

The governor of ilissouri pardoned from the penitentiary on the 2!)tli of July, Tlionqison. one of the trio of "Quincy abolitionists," as the.v were then called, who were sentenced from Marion county in 1841 to twelve years' confinement for the attempted "aliduction of slaves. ' '

The otlu"' two. Work aiul Burr, had been freed from prison some time before. These three youug men, above named, were students at the "Mission Institute." near Quincy, and had probably rendered themselves amenable to punishment 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 exciting days, it Avas almost impossible for any one suspected of having the taint of abolitionism to get a fair trial in the slave states, or even in the border states. Suspicion w^as almost equivalent to conviction in all such 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 neighboring relations of Quincy and with its then and after reputation, is here a pro])ei' and essential portion of the past record of tlie city. The influence which this institution exercised was not the most fortunate for itself or for the city. The original design was to establish a school in the neighborhood of the city whose object should be to educate and qualify young ]ieople of both sexes for duty as Christian missionaries in foreign lands. No purer idea could have been generated and its philanthropic purpose, aided by the great prestige of Dr. Nelson's name as its foiinder 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 causes operating upon the sensitive public sen- tiiiieiit of tlie times and of the locality, prevented it from obtaining the proper hold upon public sympathy and it finally died out after having- accomplished some good in the line of its intention, but hardly anything commensurate with what was expected or the merit of its design. Gradually after this time the estrangement over the slavery question between the people on two sides of the river became allayed ; was less talked about and less thought of.

With the breaking out of the Mexican War Governor Ford on the 25tli of ]\Iay 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 accepted, one and part of another was recognized from Quiney as being "in on time." These were the "Rifles," which, as before stated, 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 np to the full standard and as sncli sei'ved thronghont the war: the other, not filling its ranks, was afterward incorporated with a company from Kendall cov^nty in the second regiment, commanded by Colonel afterward. Governor Bissell. Three of the men from this company were killed at the bloody battle of Bueua Vista, among them T. Kelly, the former captain of the company. The Rifles, numbering ninety -three men, were nnistered into the first regiment, that of Col. John J. Hardin, who was killed at Huena 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 sinnmer 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 Quiney for the regular service and some joined the two additional state regiments, but no complete organization other than those al)ove named went from Quiney to participate in the ^Mexican war.

Parties as usual were active in the spring election. The whigs again nominated John Wood for mayor and H. V. Sullivan, George Brown and Nat'l Summers for aldermen, who were opposed on the democratic side by Timothy Kelly tor mayor and Joseph ^IcClintock, Fred Johnson ami Damon Hauser for aldermen. The election was active and close. Out of a total vote of 971 Wood received 27 majority. McClintock 6, Johnson 44 and Summers 21. The vote M'^as 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 council the political 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 invariably whig; the central belt, with nearly the same certainty was democratic, and the northern section was always more or less debatable. 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 old city officers. Johnson, of the second ward, gave dissatisfaction to some of his constituents by his course on the license questioji and resigned before his term expired, his vacancy being filled by H. 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 records for the vear past reported the Ijond indebtedness 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 during the year-.

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 statement 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 eqiuil capacity with that built the year Ijcfore. Water street, ruimiug- south from the foot of Maine street, eighty feet Avest of and parallel to Front street, was by ordinance laid out. The first ordinance being faulty in description, a second was passed, but the measure met with hosts of opposition. Remonstrances and claims for damages from nearly every proj^erty holder along the river side IJoured into the council, but they were all disregarded and laid on the table. The street was never fully established and in time the tract was made a public lauding. The ferry was free during the year, and an earnest attempt was made to have the city purchase or perpetually lease it, but without success, as no satisfactory terms could be made with the owners of the franchise.

At the August election here, as it was throughoiTt the state, there was less than the iisual political interest felt. The whigs had not yet recovered from their unexpected and crushing defeat of 1844. French and Wells, the democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, carried the county by about 350 majority, Dr. Ellis, the abolition caudidate, receiving 98 votes. Judge Douglas was re-elected to congre.ss, beating Dr. Vandeventer, the whig candidate, 281 votes in Adams county. For the legislature I. N. Morris, Wm. Hendrix and J. M. Seehorn, democrats, were chosen over A. Williams, W. II. 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 election. Smith holding over. E. H. Buckley and Mason Wallace were elected from Marquette county pledged to oppose the organization of the county. Buckley took his seat in the legislature, but Wallace did not, and W. II. Chapman, who had been a candidate, was admitted Avith Buckley and served during the session.

Buckley f.nd Chapman, thus elected and admitted to the legislature, gave their attention to such course as would bring about the best correction of the county difficulties whereof Quincy, as the county seat, was the original bono of contention, and this was judiciously done. Cliiefly througli the iiitinence of the former the name IMarquette 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 about to be called. In that convention, finally, in 1847, the matter came up and was settled at once and forever, l)y the engraftment in the new constitiTtion of a comprehensive clause, presented and pressed to adoption by Mr. Williams, the delegate from Adams county, to the effect that all unorganized counties or i)arts 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 pi^rpose of removing the count}^ seat from Quincy. 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 vexatious 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 com'se, Quincy had to participate in the excitement. The determination of the people of Hancock county, outside of Nauvoo, which A^as shared by those of the adjacent counties, that the Mormons would leave the state was met by an equally dogged determination on the part of the "saints," that they would not go, and though many left, yet many remained, and a large portion of these Avere unable to leave. The military company from Quincy, which had been stationed at Nauvoo during the past winter to preserve order. Avas. Avith the exception of ten men, AvithdraAvn in i\Iay. The idea that such a scpiad could enforce laAv and preserve peace was farcical. The bitter hostility grcAV stronger and stronger. Each act of laAvles-sness Avas foIloAved or oft'set by another. Finally, in the latter part of August, Col. Chittenden, of ]Mendon, in Adams county, one of the most prominent men of the county, Avas taken prisoner by the Monnons. Pie Avas only detained one day and night, but his capture caused the anti-Mormon feeling to break oi;t beyond repression. A large and excited meeting Avas held in Quincy, committees Avere appointed, soldiers enlisted and similar movements made elseAAiiere, resulting in the assemblage of about nine hundred men from Hancock, Adams, BroAvn and the vicinity, under the leadership of Colonels Chittenden and Singleton, finally organized Avitli Tom Brockman, of Mt. Sterling, as commander. This force took position in camp about half Avay lietAveen Carthage and Nauvoo. On the other hand, the Jlormons and those Avho Avere in sympathy Avith them in the city prepared for fight. The oiitcome was easily foreseen.

The population at this time of Nauvoo Avas mainly Avomen, children and men. not all of the most reputable stamp. By the 13th of Sejitember, two Aveeks after Chittenden's cap- 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 api:)earanc"e and the sect dispersed, yet in October the governor had to make his approach for the third time, Avith an artillery force, to restore order and clear out the last of this misguided sect. And they left at la.st. A few settled in northern Illinois under the leadership of a sou of their martyred prophet, another baud established itself on one of the islands in the northern part of Lake Michigan, while the great body of them wended their wav westward to Salt Lake.

Streets

SCHOOL DISTRICTS. SALE OF N. C. R. R. AUTHORIZED. ATTEMPT TO BUY FERRY. CENSUS TAKEN. FINANCE. NEW BUILDINGS. DEATH OF NOTABLE MEN. DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. S. A. DOUGLAS. CITY BOUNDARY EXTENDED. NEVINS ADDITION. WHY NO. 13TH, 15TH AND ITTH STREETS.

Business during the Avinter of 1846-47 was not brisk as it had beeu in the preceding season. 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 throughout the year. About ten thousand barrels less of flour Avere manufactured by the mills in 1847 than in 1846.

The Avinter Avas not severe. The river long remained open, affording fair naA'igation. It first closed on the 8th of January, remained so until the 21st of February, when it opened and continued free to the 20th of Decembei'. It then closed to open again on the next noAV-year day.

At a special election on the 14th of January, John 31. Ruddle was chosen to the legislature to fill the vacancy made by the death of Wm. Hendry. Tlie city council on the 4th of January prepared an application to the legislature for an amendment to the city charter so as to organize the city into separate school districts. The bill for this purpose Avas passed and approved on the 27th of February. It created the "Quincy School District," and placed the entire care and superintendence of the common school undei the control of the city council, authorizing also the appointment annually of a school superintendent, thus separating the schools from their jarevious association Avith the county officials. The laAV was made dependent on its being adopted by a majority of the legal voters of the city. This Avas done at the April election by an almost unanimous A'ote.

At this same session a bill passed the legislature authorizing a sale of the Northern Cross Railroad property, of Avhieh that part lying Avithiu the corporation limits from TAvelfth street to the river had tAvo years before been relinquished to the city. The portion of the road from Quincy to the Illinois river Avas, under the authority of the above laAV, purchased by parties in Adams and BroAvn counties and a company Avas organized as the Northern Cross railroad company. This company, Avitli the aid of county, city and personal subscriptions, constructed the road from Quincy to Galesburg, Avhich 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. AA'hich has since fallen into possession of the Wabash. But a very small portion of the original line of survey was adopted by the ne^v road as it is now completed.

Another of the many efforts made to place the city in posses.sion of the ferry Avas attempted but without success. Carlin and Rogers ofl'ered to sell the entire franchise of the ferry, boat, lands and all for .$10,000, or Avithout the land for .$8,000. This proposition Avas considered by the council on the 1st of Febi'uary and rejectecL but at the folloAving meeting in March they offered to buy, for $4,000, the "boats, fixtures and priAdleges" until the expiration of the lease in 1853. This proposition was not accepted by the ferry oAvners.

A A'ery thorough census of the city for school ])urposes Avas taken by J. H. Luce on the order of the city council. Avhich shoAved that on July 14th, there was a population, of those under tAventy 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 entii'e population of the city Avas 5.401 Avhites, 77 blacks: total, 5,478. The tax assessment Avas fixed for the year as before, at % of 1 per cent for public purjioses and Vs of 1 per cent for school purposes.

The fiscal statement made in April professes to shoAv the financial condition of Quincy at the e.xpiration of this, its scA-enth year of existence as a city. A comparison of this statement Avith that of 1841 and those of subsequent years, may .shoAV AA^iat progress had been made during this period and hoAV much it had cost to make this progress. The manner in AA'hich these annual exhibits Avere made up then and often siuee, has not always given the clearest idea of the situation, since uo two appear to have been gotten up on the same form, each city clerk rendering his statement according to his own fancy or his accountant training, and sometimes, as it was luikindly 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 out 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 value, a condition that continued for the following twenty years, swelling every expense that was incurred .just in propoi'tion to the depreciated value of the vouchers. The cause of this was the large number of vouchers isfsued 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 .since been borne.

In 1840 the city commenced its chartered existence with no liabilities other than the old town of Quincy indebtedness, which became its heritage, amounting to $1,100,:^6, less $355.99 cash received from the town treasurer. So it started out with this light debt of $744.37.

Receipts

Tlie greater portion of this bonded debt originated in the street grading and improvements absolutely neccssaiy 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 our seamed and rugged city site. These improvements comprehended no very extended space. Our limits were small as compared with what they have since become, ancl 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 "improvements" 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 unenclosed forest. A considerable amount of substantial building improvement was (lime during this year, among the most notable of which was the erection of the four three-story Ijrick stores on Ilampsliire .street north of the square on the site of the t)ld Land Office hotel. This was the largest and best block of buildings for store purposes that had yet been constructed in the city. These were still standing. They were immediately occupied and drew to Hampshire street the leading trade of the place, where it has largely remained. Before this time the buildings and business houses on the north side of the sciuare 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 out to the country, made it from this time, the principal business thoroughfare.

Quite a number of notable deaths occurred during this year, among those who had been prominent in the past history of the place. Joseph T. Holmes, 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. He was a native of Connecticut, came to Quincy in 1831, engaged in mercantile and milling pursuits, and was from the time of his arrival leadingly conspicuous in measures of enterprise and advancement. Afterwards he abandoned

The Rev. George Moore, who had been for over six years ministering for the Unitarian Church, died of con.sumption on the 11th of March. He was an eastern man of thorough education and scholarlj' tastes, with a gentleness and refinement of nature and manner that made him attractive in person and vocation, and greatly conduced to the future prosperity of the small society over which he presided.

The Reverend S. S. Parr, a somewhat eccentric but eloquent and forcible pulpit declaimer, who had been for some years preaching at the old Baptist church on Fourth street, in this city, where he always drew ci'owds to his evening sermons, died in August at Hannibal, Mo.

Timothy Kelly, also, the most prominent representative Irishman of earlj times, was killed at Buena Vista, on the 22ud of February. ]Much sympathy was aroused by his death, and public action was taken in regard to his memory, and provision for his family. It is a singular fact about Capt. Kelly, as has been before mentioned, that, owing probably to the careless manner in which military records were then kept, his name, although his service and death in battle are well known, does not api^ear in the Ad.iutant GeneraUs record of the IMexican 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. ixnder the care of Capt. (Judge) Lott. The Quincy volunteers of the First regiment had got back on the 9th of July, all of the original number returning except six, who had died of disease.

A bai'becue 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, immediately 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 bai'- becue was in the height of progress, .Just as Mr. Browning- was about commencing his address, and the barbeciie was abandoned. This clashing of the two occasions, one of jollity, and the other of sadness, was unfortunate, Init accidental. The following of Capt. Kelly's funeral was very large. He was much respected in Quincy.

made to raise a company at Quincy, but it did not succeed. Some twenty enlistments were made hei-e, and one of the four mounted rifle companies commanded by Capt. W. B. Stapp, rendezvoused, aud was mustered in at this place, on the 10th of Augu.st,

This and the preceding year were the "ilexican war times," and there prevailed here, as there did everywhere else, the excitement always attendant upon "war's alarms." Though the IMexican 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 scanned for news from Mexico and Taylor and Scott were constantly followed and formed the .staple subjects of enquiry and conversation.

The first constitution of Illinois, formed in 1818, at the time of the state's admis.sion, had proved, or was thought to be, after thirty years' of operation, inadequate to the vastly increased and varied needs of the state. The real sentiment, however, that induced the calling of the convention of 18-17 to revise the constitution was the pressing need of creating an organic law more stringent, more economic than that at the time existing, one which might better avail in raising the state from its depressed condition, pave a path toward the restoration of its shattered credit, and invite an immigration which was now avoiding it. With a bonded debt, and defaulted interest thereon, the state securities rating at less than twenty cents on the dollar, and auditor's warrants selling at a discount, one can easily conceive the existing necessity' for reformatory legislation. The convention of 1847 met the needs of the matter wisely and Avell, as the spring of prosperity that almost immediately followed after its action has abundantly proved. The legislature had, by an act of February 20. 1847. ordered an election to be held on the 19th of April, for delegates to frame a new state constitution. This election was held, as it happened in Quincy, at the same time with the regular city election. The whigs nominated as delegates to the convention, Archibald "Williams, from Adams and Highland (formerly ]\[arquette) against whom there was but little opposition, and from Adams county, B. D. Stevenson, J. T. Gilmer and Henry Newton : the democratic nominees were : Wm. B. Powei-s. Wm. Laughlin and J. Nichols. Messrs. Williams, Powers, Laugh- lin and Nichols were elected. This couveiitiou met in the following June, and after neai'ly three months of session, framed a constiti;- tion to be submitted to a popular vote for ratification in ilarch, 1848. Its general features may be noticed hereafter. The special bearing that its provisions had upon Quincy and Adams county, was the making of Adams and Pike, a senatorial di.striet, and the final settlement of the county division quarrel, by prescribing in substance that all counties not yet organized, should be re-attached to the counties from which they had been taken. There had been, early in the year, the usual number of meetings and the average proportion of excitement over this vexatioiis old issue, but the constitutional provision above named, quieted it forever.

At the city election, in April. John Wood, whig, was re-elected Mayor, over John Abbe, democrat, and H. T. Ellis. Thomas Redmond, H. L. Simmons (successor to Fred Johnson, resigned) democrats, and G. B. Dimock, were elected Aldermen. This gave the control of the council to the democrats, but after a prolonged and somewhat personal contest, H. H. Snow, whig, was re-chosen clerk.

A native American ticket for the city offices polled about 50 votes. At this same election an anti-license vote was successful, and also the amendment to the school law, before referred to, which had been submitted for popular ratification.

The same rate of assessment as in the previous year - lo of 1 per cent for public purposes, and Ys of 1 per cent for schools, was ordered by the council.

I\rail facilities were now better. Besides the daily stage mails from the east, and semiweekly mails to and fi'om the adjoining counties, there was the twice a week mail from St. Louis, by steamer. Newspaper enterprise was also on the increase. There were the two standard weeklies, the Herald and "Whig, also on the 24th of November, a small daily was issued by Homer Parr, and James Sanderson. This was the second venture toAvai'ds the establishment of a daily paper, and like its predecessor of the previous year, it lived not long. A German Catholic paper, also, the "Stern des Westen" (Star of the West) was started during the month of August. The foundation of the large Catholic Chiirch, the St. Boniface, was laid on May 26th, with impressive ceremonies.

Judge Douglas, who had been a resident of Quincy since 1841. when he was appointed as one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and was assigned to duty on the Quincy Circuit, had been chosen by the legislature, during the preceding winter, to succeed General Semple, as United States Senator. He resigned the seat which he had held in the lower house of Congress by three successive elections, and Wm. A. Richardson was elected by the democratic conventi(ni to succeed him. Douglas was then the foremost man of his party in the state as he soon after this became equally its leader in the nation. He was a citizen of Quincy from 1841 until about 1852, when he removed to Chicago and was by far the most noted in his public career of any of the eminent men that Quincy has placed in political life. Although his state jirominence had not been cradled in this section, it was from Quincy, as he expressed it, that he was "first placed upon a national career, where he was ever after kept." His five years' service, as a representative from this district, was ably followed by that of Col. Richardson, for the next nine years, Avith a subsequent election in 1860, and afterward an election to the United States Senate to fill out the unexpired period of Senator Douglas' term, after the death of the latter.

Col. Richardson was at the time of his election in 1847. a resident of SchTiyler county, which he had represented almost continuously in the legislature, and had just now returned from the Mexican war with a well earned reputation for bravery and skill. As the successor and confidential associate of Judge Douglas, and from his own inherent force of character, his position and influence in the national councils was always high. At the August election, he carried Adams county over N. G. Wilcox, the whig candidate, by 819 majority. At the same election, P. A. GoodAvin, democrat, was elected Probate Judge over Miller, whig, the former incumbent ; J. C. Bernard, whig, over J. IT. Luce, democrat. County Clerk, and J. H. Holton, Independent, Recorder, over Edward Pearson and J. D. Morgan, the whig and democratic nominees. The entire vote of the county was ;il)out 2,100. In the city, the local " whig ticket, was successful.

There was but little political feeling manifested in this election, although, during the canvass, the nu^rits of the constitution, which was to be voted on in the following spring, were much discussed. It was coldly received, generally, by the democratic party, and finally met with much opposition. Several of its features were greatly distrusted. The elective judiciary was an experiment about which many had doubts : the proposed change of the countv court system was another innovation that met -witli (luestiou, and that which locally operated upon it was the reiiuirement of naturalization for the foreigner, before he could be allowed to vote.

Until now. under the constitution of 1818, a six-months' residence in the state was all tliat was re(iuired to vest one with the right to suffrage. A diseus.sion of this que.stion, brought about, among some parties, an examination of the poll lists, which resulted in au estimate, not of course accurate, but approximating thereto, of the probable proportion of the foreign-born population of the city which had, as yet, not been shown in any of the census' taken. From this, taking the names as they were spelled, and as they appeared on the poll books, nearly two-fifths of the voters, even at that early day, were Germans. The great (Jerman immigration, to the city, which had commenced in 1835 and 1836 was now steadily increasing, and reached it's maximum during this and the two following years, being accelerated somewhat by the political troubles in Europe. "Winter came in early, though in a mild form, heavy snows falling late in November, and lying on the ground through most of the season.

The seasons of 181-7 were marked by the same pecidiarity that has been observable during the last two years (unseasonable seasons they might well be called) variable and contradictory, hot Avhen it should be cool, and cold when warm weather woidd seem to be the rule, totally defying the wisdom of the weather prophets and tasking the brains of the "oldest inhabitant" to remember the "likes of such weather," and along with this mutable weather, there were noticed changes among the spots on the sun, similar to those we have recently seen. Whether the new "sun spots" of 1847 had anything to do with the spotted weather of that year, and whether the new sun specks seen in 1884-85 connect in any way with the speckled seasons of these last two years, is a matter for scientific specs to examine into if it is worth the while, not for these sketches to determine : but the facts exist as above stated, and the coincidence is singular.

The most sensational even of its character that had ever occurred here before or since, occurred this year, and created all of the intense local interest that is apt to attend such transactions. It was the trial of Thurston -J. Luckett. for the murder of Wm. ilagnor. The killing was done in the spring. The trial came off at the October term. The two men were printers, and more than usually intimate. A jealous .suspicion on the part of

Luckett caused an estrangement, and finally a re-encounter and murder. They met in the Clay hotel, and IMagnor was stabbed to death. The trial created more interest than any that ever took place in Quincy. The court house was crammed. Luckett had wealthy associations, and nothing that money could furnish was wanting to aid his defense. Browning & Bushnell defended him, aided more or less by almost the entire bar. The prosecution was feebly conducted by the district attorney, who even left the city while the case was progi'essing, and it was indiscreetly handled by Warren, who assisted him. and the result was Luckett 's acquittal. The address of Browning to the .jury, on this occasion, was a most mastei-ly success, which can never be forgotten by those present.

From a partial mention made of a few of the operating manufacttu-ing interests, it appears that there were at this time, eight flouring mills, Avith a daily full capacity of about eight hundred barrels: two saw mills: one planing mill which worked up, during the year, 550,000 feet of lumber; three distilleries. Osborne's. King's and Casey's, manufacturing about 60 barrels per day; one woolen factory, established the year befoi-e, and manufacturing during 1847 about 6,000 yards of flannel Kerseymere: one large tannery; three foundries ; seven saddleries ; twenty shoemaker shops. This, of coui-se, names but a very few of the many industries of the city. Its im- ])rovements had .slowly extended, mostly to the northeast and south. As far south as Delaware street, it was fairly built up. south of that and State street there were scarcely any buildings. North of Broadway, except immediately along the North side of the street, was almost no settlement whatever.

The improved portion of Quincy had not nuich expanded during the first eight years of the city's existence, and its scant proportions as it then appeared, contrasted greatly with the broad circling attractive area dotted with handsome homes and alive with populous movement that now gladdens the eye. The corporate limits continued nearly the same as those that had embraced the village at its city birth, in 1840, with but one change engrafted thereon. Vine, Jefferson and Twelfth, then called Wood street, were yet the boundaries. During this year, 1847. Nevins' Addition com- ])rising the 120 acres lying between Twelfth, Broadway, Eighteenth and Jersey was attached.

OOO, .$2r)() per aure, and it now was platted into lots, 60 ill imiiiber, averaging two acres to each, and under the operation of a clause in the early city's charter, which jDrescribed that when any "land adjoining the city of Quiney shall have been laid off into town lots, and cluly recorded as required by law, the same shall be annexed to and become a part of Qnincy:"' this, then open and unoccupied ground, now its most handsomely improved section, was, on the i-eeording of the plat, in JIarch, 1847, added to the city. The next mateii;d cliaiige in the shape of the city Avas made in IS")?, wIumi. by an amended charter, the uortlieni boiuKhiry was moved threefourths of a mile to Locust street, the soiithern half-mile, to Harrison street, and the dividing line between Townships Eight and Nine, with two rods additional taken of¥ the west side of Township Eiglit, so as to include the whole of Twenty-fourth street, formed the eastern boundary. The legislative action which added to the city about twenty-five hundred acres of "farm land" was strenuously opposed by most of those whose land was thus captured, and many of whom were made citizens against their wish, but the project succeeded and became a law.

Again, what was was known as the Institute, or East Qnincy, a tract of about 120 acres bounded by Twenty-fourth, Broadway, Thirtieth, and a line on the soiith about equidistant from Jersey and York extended, by a legislative addition to the charter was made a part of the city. These comprehend the present existing boundaries. The original city contained almost exactly 800 acres. 120 more with the Nevins Addition : and the enlargement, of 1857 and 1867. have swelled its area to somewhat more than thirty-five hundred acres, precision being impossible because of the irregular outline of the river boundary on the west. Siich is the brief statement of onr territorial changes and expansion during forty-five years.

A short sketch of the Nevins Addition, above mentioned, as having been the earliest extension, will show more clearly than any other section the advances that have been made in property values, and is also Avorthy of note from some bearing that it has had upon the subsequent shaping of the city. This tract of land had cost its owners, as before stated, .'f;30,000. For years it remained on their hands, an expense and unsalable. They often tried to sell it. for less than one-tliird of its original cost, but could not.

to l)e found in Quiney any such sum of money to be invested in land for future speculation. Finally, on the suggestion of their agent, that, if divided into town lots, it might be sold oft' at such prices as would realize them the return of the original purchase, leaving out profit, interest, taxes, etc., they made and recorded a plat and authorized their agents to make sales in such proportion as would nearl.y recover to them the gross amount of the principal of their investment. This called for an average value of $500 to each of the 60 lots. The plat was prepared without properly conforming to the lines of the old city survey, and this neglect has been a source of much subsequent expense and trouble both to the city and to property owners. Some time passed before any sales were made, and then they commenced at very low figures, but such as will strangely contrast with the rates of this time.

Lot 1, measuring 567 feet, on Broadway, and 114 feet on Twelfth, was bought, in 1849, for $400. During the present month a portion of this lot, fronting on Broadway, has been sold at the rate of $25.00 per foot; making a total estimate value to the lot of over $14,- 000. Lot 38, also, 176 feet by 400, reaching from Maine to Hampshire, sokl the same year for $475. The purchaser occnpied and improved the lot at once, sold portions of it at increasing values from time to time and has now, within the last few weeks, sold out what he had remaining, being one-sixth of the entire lot, for $5,000. The other lots were sold generally in about the same proportion, gradually increasing during four or five years; the whole addition, thus sold, realizing to the ten stockholders of the company about $40,000, at prices varying from $3.50 to $7.50 per foot. These figures now seem small, but they are quite an advance on the first public sale of lots in Qnincy twenty-five years before, when, for instance, the entire front on the south side of Jlaine street, between Foiirth and Fifth, was sold at auction by the county commissioners for seventy-six dollars, or ten and three quarter cents per foot.

This was the first large tract of land belonging to non-residents that had been oft'ered for sale, and it was all bought in by local purchasers, in most cases for their own use and occupancy. All the land in and adjacent to the south part of the city, was, and had long been, owned by John Wood, the Berrians, and S. B. Munn ; that on the north by Willard Keyes and three or four other resident owners, and the Droulard quarter, lying immediately east of the "original" town had also been parcelled out to several resident owuei-s. The defects in the plat of the Nevins addition, were, that it provided no cross streets running' north and south, and that neither Jersey nor Vermont street were aligned in conformity with the same streets as they lay in the city. The adjustment of these errors had been troublesome and expensive, and that in regard to Jersey street is not yet fully completed. It was on account of this trouble caused by this irregular siirvey that the now existing requirement was made that all plats of additions to the city shall be submitted to the council for approval before being placed on record.

Maine street, east of Twelfth, had been declared some time before; not running on a direct line ea.st, but slightly deflecting about half its own width so as to clear the north line of the old cemeteiy at Twenty-fourth .street.

The alternate street plan, or double block distance between the .streets which run north and south, was tlnis brought about. It was evident that sooner or later some such streets would have to be made, and the owner of the propert}^ at the corner of Maine and Fourteenth, seeing that if they were opened consecutively, equidistant about 400 feet, as in the city west of Twelfth, his own ground would be cut in an undesirable shape. So, passing by Thirteenth, he secured the laying out of Fourteenth from Broadway to Jersey, alongside of his own property, and similar interests a few years later opened Sixteenth. The Moulton quarter was platted in the same manner, and the streets north and south of these additions have of necessity been made to conform. For the uses that are now made of the ground thus laid ovit, this system of double blocks east and west is not inconvenient, and in some respects is preferable, although not advisable for the older and more business sections of the city.

One can now hardly realize that at the time of which we write, 184:7, there were between Twelfth and Twenty-fourth streets, but nine buildings: the residences of Mr. Moore and ^Ir. Sherman, and their land office near the corner of Chestnut and Twenty-fourth: the ^Morton cottage. noM- Buckley's, and the '"Call and See" hou.se. now White's, on Broadway, the Kingman house and Cooley's cottage, opposite, at the corner of Maine and Twelfth, and another near the corner of Jefferson and Twelfth. East of Twenty-fourth, at the Institute, there were a dozen or more dwellings. South of Jersey and between Ninth and Twelfth, there were only the houses of John Wood and Wm. Gerry, and a couple of cabins on the Berrian quarter, and north of Vine between Ninth and Twelfth, about the same number. So great has been the change in a generation's time.

Wells, Bull. Stone. Morgan And Green

FIRST DIRECTORY. RAIL RO.\D MEETING. HARBOR IMPROVED. FIRE DEPARTMENT. WELLS, BULL. STONE. MORGAN AND GREEN WITH THE .M.A.CHINE." FISCAL FREE SOIL P.\PER. THE TRIBUNE, STARTED. W. A. RICHARDSON ELECTED TO CONGRESS. PRESIDENTI.AL ELECTION. FIRST FIREMAN PARADE.

Another sale of a large tract of land occurred during this year, the history of which better indicates the variations of value in real estate, such as have frequently been mentioned in these sketches, than does that of any other lands now embraced within the limits of the city. Its transfers were few until the time when five or six years later than this (1848) it became a platted addition to Quincy. This is the 160 acres in the northeastern section of Quincy, long known as the "Skiddy quarter," now Moulton 's Addition. I have in my possession and before me the original patent for this quai'ter section (160 acres), granted by the United States in 1818, to Paul Bernard, for services as a soldier in the war of 1812. On the back of this parchment is the conveyance made by Bernard of this tract during the same year to John R. Skiddy, for the sum of fifty-three dollars. The Skiddys kept the land until 1848 when they sold it for .$6,000. It was next platted in 1854 into eighty lots, averaging about two acres each, and sold at public auction for about .'(!40.000, $250 per acre. What its present value is or would be without the improvements on it, any one may make his own estimate.

The new State Constitution, framed by the convention which met at Springfield the summer of 1847, was submitted to a popular vote for ratification or rejection, on the 6th of Mai-cli, ' There was a good deal of uncertainty attending the result. Its merits had been thoroughly canva.ssed and discussed during the preceding six months, and a strong opposition had been developed in some sections of the state. This opposition generally came from the democratic press, but was not sufficient to create a partisan issue. The delegates from Adams County to the convention from both political parties stood by their action there and were sustained. The leading peculiar feature of the constitution was its economic cliaracter, and the four points chietiy in discussion were the reduced rate of salaries; the elective judieiaiy; the clause prohibiting the advent to the state of free negroes, and tlie proposed tax of two mills on the dollar to be solely applied towards the reduction of the public debt. These last two propositions were voted upon separately. Strangely enough the heaviest opposition made, was to the two mill tax, really the best feature in the entire instrument. In Adams county, out of a total vote of 2,241, the majority for the constitution proper was 923, for the negro clause 571, and for the two mill tax 53. The vote was proportionally thus throughout the state ,- the constitution securing a majority of 44,028 ; the negro exclusion clause 28,182, and tlie two mill tax the much reduced majority of 10.431. Only one county (the adjoining county of Brown) cast a majority vote against it.