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HISTORY

OF THE

City of Ouincy, Illinois

BY

GEN. JOHN TILLSON

Revised and Corrected by

HON. WILLIAM H. COLLINS I

By direction of the Quincy Historical Society

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY BY

THE S. ). CLARKE PUBLISHING CO. CHICAGO

HISTORY OF OUINCY

By GEN. JOHN TILLSON

CHAPTER I. formed into the "County of Illinois," and Col. ••ILLINOIS COUNTRY." CONTESTS FOR ITS POS- John Todd was appointed "Lieutenant Com- SESSION. EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY. AN mandant." He was invested with a blended OUTLINE SKETCH OF ITS HISTORICAL SET- military and civil authoi-ity, which he exer- TING, MAY PROPERLY INTRODUCE A HISTORY OP THE ••GEM CITY." cised, nominally, until his death at the noted Blue Lick battle in 1782. After him a French- "What was known as the "Illinois Country" man, Timothy Montlrun by name, appears to for the ninety years which intervened between have been vested with whatever of authority the early discoveries French and the surrender was exercised in Virginia. of the region to the Engli.sh, in 1763, was In 1787, Congress assuming control of the bounded hy the Mississippi on the west, by the country, embracing what is now the States of river Illinois on the north, the by Ouabaehe Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon- (Wabash) and Miamis on the east, and the Ohio sin, entitled it the "North-west Territoiy" and on the south. The Act of Congress defining the elected General Arthur St. Clair its Governor. boundaries of the State, included all the terri- In 1790, Governor St. Clair declared all that tory west of Illinois the to the ^Mississippi, and country lying between the Wabash, Ohio and north to what is the Wisconsin line. Thus now Mississippi rivers and an east and west line the site of the present city of in- Quincy was about on the pai-allel of the present site of cluded in the State of Illinois. Bloomington, Illinois, the County of St. Clair, French explorers first visit The were the to Cahokia being the county seat. Five years the "Illinois for Country" and nearly a cen- later, in 1795. all south of the present county tury, they held undisputed possession. Spain of St. Clair was set off and called Randolph held a claim to the whole region, but it was county. These two counties constituted all of feeble, and she was kept too busy elscAvhere, to Illinois as organized, until 1812. make it good, and in 1763. she relincinished it. In 1800 (May 9th) Congress divided the The country at this time, passed under the au- Xorth-west Territory. All west of what is now thority of the Bi'itish crown. England held it the State of Ohio, was declared the territory of for fifteen years. In 1778, General (ieorge Indiana. The population at the beginning of Rogers Clarlc. in command of a small, but gal- this century, of what now constitutes four great lant army, took possession of it for the colony states, was estimated at 4875 whites; 135 negro of Virginia. At the close of the war of the Rev- slaves, and about 100,000 Indians. William H. olution, England, by treaty, sui'rendered for- Harrison (afterwards President of the United ever her claims to supremacy. States) was appciinted Govei-nor. and Vincennes Virginia had already in 1780. ceded to the w;is selected as the territorial capital. Gov- Confederate colonies all her acquired rights as ernor Harrison's administration was vigorous concjuerer: cession, and made the deed of and and successful. During his first five years, he relinquishment by the celebrated ordinance of concluded ten treaties with the various Indian 1787. During the preceding nine years, a sort tribes, extinguishing their title and securing of quasi sovereignty, pai'tially recognized and the cession of their lands to the Ignited States. less enforced, had been asserted by Virsrinia. By the treaty of November 3rd. 1804. made The entire country north of the Ohio and east with the Sanks and Foxes he received from IMississippi of the had been, in October 1778, thorn the siiiTciider of all the land between the PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Illiuois and ilississippi rivers (embracing tlie ing all the northern portion of the State. Sub- "Military Tract") to which this tribe laid sequently other counties were formed in the claim and the greater portion of which they held southern part of the territory until 1818, the in possession. On the 3rd of February," 1809, number amounted to fifteen. Congress on the Congress formed the territory of Illinois in- 18th of April, 1818, acceding to the applica- cluding what is now the states of Illinois and tion made by the territorial legislature in the Wisconsin. This was the first Federal recog- preceding winter, passed a bill admitting Illi- nition of the name Illinois, although following nois into the I'nion as a State. The constitu- the action of the Virginia colony in 1778, the tional convention representing the fifteen coun- term "Illinois" had been in popular use, gen- ties, met at Kaskaskia in July of the same year erally applied to all the northwestern country. and completed the constitution on the 26th of The word "Illinois" is a French perversion of August, 1818. It was not submitted to the peo- the name claimed by the Indian tribe. M'hich at ple but went into effect immediately. the time of the French advent, controlled the At the first State election September. 1818, principal portion of Avhat now forms the state. Shadrach Bond was chosen Governor and Afterward, overborne and crowded southward Pierre ilenard. Lieutenant Governor, without by superior numbers, it passed out of existence. opposition. The various reuniants to the last retained their original name, "Leui," or "Illini," as the French pronounced it. It is the general Algon- quin term for "superior men." The population of the new territory in 1809, CHAPTER II. was estimated to be about 9.000 whites and somewhat less than 50,000 Indians. FIRST WHITE MEN TO SEE THE SITE OF THE FU- An imperfect census taken in 1810. returned TURE CITY. EXPLORATION OF JOLIET AND MARQUETTE. FIRST INHABITANTS. ITS E.^R- 11,501 Avhites. 168 slaves, and 613 "mixed" ex- LIEST COMMERCE. TOPOGRAPHICAL. clusive of Indians. Kaskaskia became the capital of the infant In the month of May, 1673, Louis Joliet and territor.y. Settlements were sparse. They lay Jaques Marqiiette, with five voyageurs in two along the Mississippi from about Kaskaskia to canoes, started from St. Ignace in Lake Michi- near the mouth of the Missouri ; up the Kas- gan on a tour of exploration. They passed kaskia or Okaw river for a short distance; through Green Bay and up the Fox Rivers; skirting the Ohio river and running up the then through Winnebago Lake, thence west- Wabash beyond Vincennes, by far the larger ward, crossing a portage into the Wisconsin portion of the inhabitants, being of French river. They journej^ed down the Wisconsin, and birth or exti'aetion. on the 17th day of June found themselves upon Beyond the lines above named, the Indians the waters of a great river. To this, they gave held almost undisputed control. Ninian Ed- the name Rio de la Conception. The Indian wards was appointed territorial Governor, an name was, according to some etymologists, ofSce which he retained, by .successive re-ap- "]\Ieach Chasseepe." Its signification was pointments, until the territory became a state. "gatherer of all M'aters" or "great river." He was a gifted, brilliant, imposing man, far Some of the early French explorers gave it the superior to most of his piiblic associates, and name of "Colbert" in honor of their prime min- while his positive nature created for him al- ister. Tlie Indian name of Mississippi has hap- most constant political conflicts, his position, pily survived. high character, and admitted ability, kept liim Spanish explorers had seen the river in its until the day of his death, more than any other, lower waters, and De Soto had been buried in the representative man of Illinois. its bosom, but those Frenchmen were the first The first delegate to Congress was Shadrach to see it in the higher latitudes. Bond. 'a popular man of fair native ability. He. It Avas a thrilling moment to these bold ad- in 1814. was succeeded by Benjamin Stephen- venturers, when, emerging from the mouth of son. Nathaniel Pope (Territorial Secretary) the Wisconsin, their canoes floated upon the succeeded Stephenson in 1816. broad bosom of the swift flowing river. It then Pope was afterwards made United States flowed clear and pure. The plow and spade of District Judge. He held the office until his civilization had not broken up the sloping sur- death, in 1850. face of its vast water-sheds to pulverize the Randolph and St. Clair were the two original soil and transform it into a muddy torrent with counties, but in 1812 Johnson. Gallatin and every serious rain-fall. Rootlets and leaves Madison were formed. The latter comprehend- of the forest and the grasses of plain and PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAJIS COUNTY. prairie, caught, filtered and tempered the flow and halts made, he probably reached the site 1673. of its coutributiuy streams. No city polluted of the present city about the 1st of July, landing upon it with sewage. Innumerable schools of fish We can imagine these explorers is wharf swam iu its waters and bred, by countless mil- the bank of the rivei', which now the lions, in its quiet sloughs and bays. Its banks of Quincy. As their two canoes neared the were lined with virgin forests of elm, sycamore, shore, the Indian dogs greeted them with their walnut, Cottonwood, oak and pecan. They had noisy and wolfish yelps, while the brown men, never echoed to the stroke of the pioneer axe or women and children rushed forward to see for the crack of his rifle. Prairie bottom-lands the first time in their lives, the "pale face." alternated with woodland and stretched away Undoubtedly, JIarquette asked them about the on either side to the distant blull's. Islands bay. It would have appeared to him as a abounded, as now, roofed with a tangle of vines tributary river. Some Indian making a rude anil fringed with drooping willows. Sharply drawing in the sand with ii slick, would answer deflned against a stretch of forest green oc- his inquiries about the geographical features casionally was seen some tall, dead tree, of the country, its forests, lakes, sloughs and bleached by the storms of many years, lifting tributary streams. fur-bearing up its leafless branches, gracefully festooned At this time they all abounded in with the green and scarlet of the trumpet-vine. animals. Jlink, musk-rat, otter, raccoon, wolf, The white and blue heron waded the swamps. fox and beaver were numerous. The Indians The eagle and the halcyon darting from the began to learn that they could exchange the high over-hanging boughs with a splash, broke products of the trap and the chase, for the the mirrored surface of the river. Flocks of calicoes, hatchets and trinkets which men fi'om pelicans covered the low-ljang sandbars, look- the North ottered them iu trade. This was the ing at a distance like banks of snow left by the first rude beginning of commercial transactions retrealing winter. Herds of bull'alo sought the associated with the site of the future city. river to slake their thirst and grazed upon the These early inhabitants of the locality dis- grasses of the ad.jacent bottoms. Deer with appeared, and left as memorials of their ex- lifted heads and wild eyes gazed for a moment istence, the mounds upon the blnt¥s and a few upon the voyagenrs and vanished into the stone hatchets and flint arrow-heads. thickets. Flocks of geese, swan and ducks were In 1805, Gen. Zebulon Pike was sent by the without number, and upon alarm rose into the War Department to explore the Mississippi air with a beating of wings, whicli sounded like from St. Louis to the Falls of St. Anthony. the roll of thunder. He started from St. Louis on Friday, August Those explorers traded Avith the Indians for 9th, 1805. with a Sergeant, three corporals and supplies of maize and venison, Avhile they often seventeen privates in a keel boat seventy-five used the dry breast of the wild turkey, broiled feet long. He was provisioned for four months. upon coals, as a substitute for bread. As he passed up the river, he considered the ad- Following the flow of the great river, they vantages of various points for the location of sought that which was the prime incentive for Forts. The blutt", on which the city of Warsaw of all Ihe dai-ing and enterprise of the age, viz: a was afterwards built, being near the mouth western water route to the East Indies. Mar- the Des ]\Ioines river, and nearer to the Indian quette's joiu-nal tells ns that in thirty days, country, was selected as being a Ijetter strategic site of the (July 17th t. he reached the mouth of the point for military purposes than the Arkansas, about fourteen hundred miles below future city of Quincy. There Fort Edwards

where lie entered the ilississijjpi ; that during was built. this time he nuide a halt of six days, in the In 1813. a military expedition consisting of earlier jiart of his voyage: that during the first two battalions of mounted rangers, started from city I'oiir days he .jurneyed 180 miles. This shows old Fort Edwards, lying east of the in-esent his avei-age daily travel to have been, not far of Alton, and passing through what is now Cal- river from fifty miles per day. h.iun County, eanie northward along the While no special mention or description is to the site of Quincy. Here they struck the made iu his .iournal that would apply to this Indian village and destroyed it. The small locality as it does to Alton. Rock Island and trading with the French was broken up. other points, yet on the rough chart which he This cruel attack was. in part, in retaliation pioneers has left, there is drawn high land at just the for some in.iuries some of the frontier place on the river where onr bluffs appear. had suffered. The Indians were driven north- seek Taking all these facts together, his total aver- Avard, some of them escaping into Iowa to of the age distance travelled i)er day. time consumed revenge afterward, under the leadership chieftain Black-hawk. The site of the future PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

city again became a wilderness. The only extended as far as Eighth street in what is now human being to break upon its solitude was an known as Bei'rian's Addition; a second about

occasional trapper or hunter, landing from his the same distance on State Street ; a third canoe and camping for a night. creeping into the heart of the city and narrow- Little can one who today looks upon the ing down, pushed diagonally across the public broad and beautiful area on which our bustling square, nearly to Third Street, and the fourth, city stands, realize the contrast of the present liroke in about Chestnut and Twelfth, thence scene, with the wild solitude that revives in "with many a winding bout," almost lost at the retrospection of nearlj- a century. One may times, reached nearly to Sunset Hill. East of indeed imagine the aspect of the locality, were Eighteenth Street all was prairie save a short the buildings all removed, the streets aban- thicket spur which ran eastward a few blocks doned and all tokens of life taken away. But from the Alstyne ciuarter near Chestnut, and a permanent changes have been effected ; land- small grove of young trees at what is now High- scape lines are now gone physical features for- land Park, which has greatly increased in size. ; ever effaced, which, only a few survivors ever Between Twelfth and Eighteenth, in John saw. ^loore's Addition, all excepting a small slice off Yeai-s ago, as the first white settler saw it, the northwest corner, was prairie. On the south before axe or plough had desecrated nature's side of Gov. "Wood's large field about 18th and sanctity, the city was marked by alternations of Jefferson there stood about twenty acres of timber and prairie; timber in the ravines, along heavy timber, part of which yet may be seen. the streams, covering also the crest and river Along the rear of the present residences of face of the bluff's ; and prairie generally on the ilessrs. L. Bull, McFadon and Pinkham, lay a level land and the ridges which separated the small thicket, and a similar shaped strip of ravines. The timber was usually heavy except larger gi'owth, stretched across the Alstyne

' ' near the heads of the ' draws, ' where it became quarter, from near Broadway and Eighteenth, gradually lighter or altogether disappeared. to the coi'ner of the Berrian quarter, uniting The prairie was luxuriant, not with the long west of Twelfth with the heavy forest in Cox's swamp grass of the bottom lauds, nor of the addition. prairies in southern Illinois, but with a grass To follow the division line between the about breast high and very thick. It did not, prairie and timber, let one commence in Eigh- as many imagine reach to the river, or even to teenth street on the south line of the city facing the verge of the bluffs. Along the river bank north. On his right all was prairie, on the left from what is now known as Broadway to Dela- timber. The line ran nearly due north almost ware, there stood a scattei-ing growth of trees, to Jeft'erson street, crossing the latter a little while south of the latter point, the rank, west of Eighteenth, pu.shed three or four hun- luxuriant, almost impenetrable vegetation, com- dred feet into Gov. Wood's large field, then mon to our bottom lands, prevailed. The strip turned sharply around in a southwesterly direc- of land below the bluffs, and along the river tion, recrossed Jefferson about Fourteenth, was then mvich narrower than at present; the crossed Twelfth near Monroe, thence ran hills having been cut and blasted away. From thi'ough Berrian 's Addition in a direction some- Broadway south to Delaware the rock cropped what south of west to near Eighth, where out continuously and was always visible at an curving back almost on itself, it enclosed a average stage of water. For keel and steam- pretty little prairie islet of about ten acres. boats, the usual landing place was then and Thence it bore northeasterly, crossing Jefferson long after between Vermont and Broadway; about Ninth, touching Twelfth (but not cross- probably selected, because the trees here were ing) at Payson Avenue, there swinging around convenient to tie to, and the river plateau was toward the west, it followed nearly the line of broader ; also because they were more sheltered (Ihio to Eighth, then north along Eighth to near from tlie wind. It was easy to get into the where Dick's Brewery now stands, thence east; river again from there, as at that time, the irregularly parallel with Kentucky, just touch- point of the "island" lay much higher np than ing the northeast corner of Gov. Wood's gar- at present; in fact the main river channel ran den ; here, veering sharply northwest, it crossed directly over, where, is now the highest growth Twelfth, just north of York, then ran eastward of willows on the "Tow Head." nearly to Eighteenth. The present area of the city, was about From this point, (Jersey and Sixteenth), it equally divided between timber and prairie, the turned west again and passing through the latter slightly predominating. The pi-airie from back pai"t of L. Bull's grounds gradually the east threw out four long arms, or feelers, neared IMaine Street so as to take in the Web- as if striving to reach the river; one of these, ster School House, a few of the trees standing PAST ANJJ L'KESPLNT OF ADAMS COUNTY. tliero yet. From tlie coriu-r of IMiiiiie and reason of this is that along the river front Twi'lt'tli. it ran by a -wavering: line to tlie comer the ravines which ran up into the blutf, were of Hampshire and Eiglith. This part of the city extremely short, scarcely draining as far east (Droulard's quarter between Eighth and as the Public Square, A larger portion of the Twelfth) was ent up by ravines running from city, especially that most easily settled, was north to south, all of them sustaining thickets drained to the east. ot various length, according to the size of the By far the largest portion of the water that i-avine and all jiointing northward. The Post fell ran in the water shed inclines toward the Oflice l)uilding .stands on what was prairie, but east instead of direct to the river, and found just on the southern edge. The line from thei'e its way there finally through the great ravines ran west, slightly inclining to the south, so as that seamed the eastern and central portion of to cross the corner of Sixth and Maine street the place. diagonally. It passed southwest, touched The crest of the bluff inmiediateh' overlook- Fifth Street, followed it down on the east side ing the river, scolloped as it was on the western as fai- as the Engine House, crossed the street, face, by these scant ravines was yet highest there, leaving Robert Tillson's lot, coi-ner of about the line of Second and Third Streets and Fifth and Jersej', part in the prairie and part thence toward the east the land descended for in the brush; thence it went southwest to near some distance. The average height of the bluffs the corner of York and Fourth, crossing Fourth above low water mark was 126 feet. The crest at the alley between York and Kentucky. Bend- occasionally rose into little conical peaks, in ing then somewhat south, then west, then north many of which bones, weapons, and other re- all in this same block, it reei'ossed York near mains of the Indian race have been found. Thii'd. This was the most westerly limit, the The highest among all these was "Mount nearest approach that the prairie made to the Pisgah. " It stood on the south side of Maine, Viver. Immediately west, across Third Street, near Second, and was much the highest peak there lay. embosomed in the thick timber, a on the bluffs, commanding a most attractive pretty little pond, a noted resort for wild view of the river and our rich surroundings in ducks, covering about three acres, its western every direction. Its name was earned first b.y limit reaching nearly to the crest of the bluff. the promising prospects it offered, and after- Vestiges of this little lake existed as late as wards was kept and claimed, so it is said, from 1840 and later. Long before this the timber the many promises there made, when, in later finally had disappeared, and the pond was years, it became the trysting place of negotiat- drained in cutting York Street through to the ing lads and lassies dui-ing the dusky hours. bluff. The streets have shorn away its northern and From hen' the jirairie line went back, passing western face, the vandal grasp of improvement uji north, Third to Jersey, thence diagonally toppled its high head to the dust, the vei-y across l)lock 18, to the corner of ]\Iaine and heart of the haughty hill has been washed into Fourth, thence north along the west side of the waves of the river on which it had frowned Fourth, with the square (all prairie") on the for centuries but there is many a peruser of right, it turned across Fourth .jnst north of these pages who will always cherLsh pleasant Ilanqishire. struck Vermont at Fifth, passed and regretful remembrances of the venerable along the southern edge of Jefferson Square, mount. about one-third of the square being prairie. That portion which was afterward a burying ground ci'ossed Broadway near Seventh, still running northeast, crossed Eighth, then took a nearly direct course to Twelfth. Not cross- ing Twelfth, it bore off in an irregular line to- wards the northwest, and running almost to CH.VPTER III. Sunset Hill, before reaching which, it swept around to the right and north, and again east 1821. and southeast, joining itself to the heavy tim- ber in Cox's addition, making in this part of BIOGKAPHICAU JOHX WOOD. WILL.\RD KETES. the citj' ju.st such a prairie island as we have THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF QUINCY. THEIR EXPLORATIONS. LEGEND OF "TREASURE mentioned in Berrian's addition, oidy a greatly TROVE." PIKE COUNTS' ORGANIZED. larger one. The natui'al drainage of the city was defec- Pioneer histoiy musl l)i> mainly biographical. tive entailing no small amount of difficulty and It is the record of the actions of individuals. expense in providing foi- needed sewerage. The Often seemingly insignificant, they lead to re- PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAIMS COUNTY. suits of high importance. The pioneer goes into into the prairie and known as Indian Camp the wilderness, often prompted by a restless- Point, and coming in their travel, within about ness of tempei-ameut, and unconsciously with his twelve miles of QUINCY on their southern re- axe and rifle, help lay the foundations of city turn, they "put for home," which they reached and state. He builds more wisely and broader on the first of March, having been eleven days than he knows. on their tour of exploration. This little But the founders of the city of Quincy, laid episode indicates how nearly our pioneers came its foundation with clear conception of, and a to fixing their location some years prior to the confident faith in the future of their enter- period of their permanent settlement. Still prise. The actions and tlie utterances of our clinging to their original thought, awaiting the pioneers, so far as we have any record of them, fitting chance for its development, they oc- bear testimony to their firm confidence in the cupied tliemselves with farming and occasional ultimate growth and prominence of the city. explorations with seekers for land, whom their Fortunate it is, that in the later period of their knowledge of the country and skill in wood- lives, they have found solace and satisfaction craft enabled them to efficiently aid. From a for the trials and hardships of frontier life, in private journal kept by the father of the writer, the realization of the prosperity for which they describing a business tour he had made in 1821. had long looked and labored. They foimded from his residence in the southern section of the one of the most prosperous and beautiful cities state through the military tract, we copy the in the State of Illinois. following allusion to our future city fathers. To Governor AVood belongs the distinction "Passed the night with two young bachelors of having been the first actual settler of Quincy. from northern New York. Wood and Keyes by A native of Cayuga County, New York, coming name. These young men propose to be pei'ma- to Illinois in 1S19, in search of a location, he nent settlers and have all the reqiiisites of char- met in the winter of that year with Mr. Willard acter to make good citizens, much as Avill add Keyes, a Vermonter who, like himself, a single, to the character of a community and the de- young and adventurous man, was on the look- velopment of landed values about them." ' out for a fitting place in which to ' settle down It was on one of the land-seeking excursions, for life." as above named, in February, 1821, that Wood They established themselves in all the roj^al at last struck upon the long-thought-of El independence of a log cabin in the "bottom," Dorado. Piloting two men. ]\Iott'att and Flynn, some thirty miles south of where QUINCY now in search of a quarter section of land owned by is and resided there for two or three years on the latter, it proved to be the quarter section the northern skirt of settlement, in what was immediately east of and adjoining his present then Madison, now Pike County. residence, on the corner of Twelfth and State Before anchoring themselves, these two Streets. The primitive beauties of the location men, with others, on the tenth of February, touched his fancy ; and he determined that it 1820, started on an exploring expedition was just what he desired and should be secured, through the sovithei-u part of the Military if within liis power. The locality we have de- Tract. This journej- occupied several weeks scribed in our second chapter. It was a dis- and carried them along the sections next the appointment to Flynn, who was impressed with Illinois River as far north as the base line and its loneliness, and said he would not have a thence east and south towards the junction of neighbor in fifty years. He carried away with the two rivei's. "Wood and Keyes wanted to him these feelings of dissatisfaction. On \-isit and inspect this place. The published Wood's return to his cabin he lost no time in maps of the country, defective as thej" were, pouring into the eager ears of his partner his all showed that here was a bluff bank on the enthusiastic impressions ; and his intention of east side of the river, the only really available returning to plant himself for life. Catching point north of the mouth of the Illinois for a the infection which so blended with his own town, that would always be above overflow. predilections and desires. Keyes, at his first con- It so happened, that tlaese poor boys. Wood venience, borrowed a horse from his nearest and Keyes, rode borrowed horses, and although neighbor, eight miles distant, and going up anxious to go, having at last got in its neigh- alone to look at the promised land and see for borhood, to the bluffs of the river which their himself: needed but a single glance to become imaginations and conversations had fixed upon convinced that he need seek no further, or, as the site of a future city, could not persuade to use his own words, that "not the half had the older heads of the party to go there, and been told." He laid out for the night at the hence, passing through about where now is foot of the bluff near the river, returned on the Camp Point, then only a point of timber, jutting following day. and thenceforth, the purposes "

I'AST AND PRESENT OF ADA:\rS COUNTY. II of the young adveuturei's were fixed. Their twelve times in a newspaper. The only news- home was ehoseu, the site of the future citj' was paper in the country was published at Ed- seleetecl aud they Avaited only the opportunity wardsville. John Wood led the movement, to establisli themselves. which after a few years resulted in the forma- These details are given as indicative of the tion of Adams County. ideas that stimulated our ancestors in their settlement of the place. Circumstance, as has been seen, conspired to lead them to conceal the profound satisfaction which they entertained respecting their future home. Wood, it will be i"emenibered. was "" tongue-tied" by the pres- ence of parties from whom lie expected to pur- chase, and before whom it was not judicious CIlAPTEl! IV to too strongly express himself, and whatever Keyes may have said or thought, could hardly 1822. have been remembered and brought awaj' by JOHJSr W^OODS LOG CABIN THE FIRST BUILDING his sole companion, another man's horse. IN QUINCY. SIXTY DOLLARS FOR ONE HUN- DRED AND SIXTY ACRES. DANIEL LISLE AND The primitive appearance of the place has JUSTUS PERIGO. THE FIRST SETTLERS IN been heretofore portrayed. It was an un- ADAJlIS COUNTY', (THEN PIKE I. FIRST STATE broken Avild with no evidences of past perma- ELECTIONS. EFFORT OF THE PRO-SLAVERY ELEMENT TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION. nent occupation, save the remains of a few rude stone chimneys or fire-places on the river bank Wood and Keyes had but little difficulty in about the foot of Broadway and Delaware securing from Flynu the "refusal" of the land streets. These were known to be the vestiges of whose fertility and surroundings had so fast- the huts erected by French traders who in past ened upon their fancy. Flynn was as zealous to years had occasionally wintered here, or some- get rid of, as they were to acquire it. There times made it a temporary rendezvous in their was, however, a difficulty of another nature and occasional dealing with the Indians. one equally important to overcome. It took There was a tradition connected with the money to buy the land, aud the enormous price locality current among the Indians and fron- asked by Flynn of sixty dollars for these 160 tiermcn, of a ''treasure trove" that may yet acres, was a fabulous sum to our j-ouug ad- start up to the enrichment of some child of venturers. They had, however, twenty dollars fortune. of their own and a neighbor forty miles away, The story, fully as well authenticated as the happened to have the forty more to loan them legends of Capt. Kidd and Aladdin, is. that a and the trade was completed, to the satisfaction wealthy Indian trader by the name of Bauvet, of all parties, in the summer of 1822. In the who lived here about the year 1811. buried two fall of this year. Wood came up and making kegs of French crowns and was shortly after- 'camp" on the bank of the river near the foot ward killed by the Indians, leaving the secret of Delaware street, commenced the erection of of his deposit nnrevealed. The proof of this the first building within the limits of the pres- story will be established by the finding of the ent city. Not very pretentious Avas this lone crowns. structure, no architectural skill elaborated its The site of Quincy was at this time in Madi- style, no "sealed proposals" heralded its con- son Count.v. struction, no scheduled "estimate or written The Legislature on the 31st of January, 1821, contracts," formalized its birth. It was a log formed the county of Pike, embracing all the cabin of the most primitive sort, 20 by 18 feet territory between the Illinois and Jlississippi in size, built without the use of a single nail, a rivers, reaching on the north to the Wisconsin stranger to the aristocracy of "sawed limiber, line. Cole's Grove, now in CaUioim county, and clay chinked, with jiuncheim floor, rough stone .since called Gilead. was the county seat. At the fire place and chimney built of sticks bedaubed same session, February 14rth, a legislative ap- Avith clay. It Avas truly a Avooden structure poi'tionment law was passed making Pike a rep- both in material and maker. With occasional resentative, and Pike and Greene counties a aid from his distant neighbors in Pike, especial- senatoi'ial district. So numerous and sometimes ly at the "raising." ^Ir. Wood Avas enabled to so conflicting were the applications for new complete his home sufficiently to warrant moA'- counties, that on the 30th of January, a law ing in on the eighth of December, 1822. This was passed requiring that all intended applica- cabin, long since destroyed, is remembered by tions to the General Assembly for the forma- some of the old settlers. It stood on the south- tion of counties must be previously published east comer of Front and Delaware streets, 12 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. facing west. Constructed with more care than with an occasional assistant, fouud ample em- was usual in those early days, subsequently, ployment in clearing the premises about his with additions made, a porch attached, white- cabin, "mauling rails," etc., pi-eparatory to his wash liberally used and surroundings attended fai'ming operations in the coming year, keeping to, it became noted for an apj^earance of com- "bachelor's hall" in the single tenement of fort and taste superior to most of the houses which he was the sole occupant in 1822. in the country. The elections in August, 1822, had generally For the first seven years, its ownership was a fortunate result. Edward Coles was chosen a divided or doubtful one between two claim- governor over three contestants, receiving a ants, John Wood, the constructor and occupant, minority vote, but a larger one than any of his and the United States, in which rested the competitors. A. T. Hiibbard was chosen Lieu- ownership of the land. For a while, the gov- tenant Governor. He afterwards resided in erninent claim was the only valid one. Although yuiney and his remains lie in the "old grave Mr. Wood at this time owned the land which yard" now called Jetferson Square. Daniel P. he had purchased from Flynn and which he Cook was again elected Representative to Con- was now preparing to farm, the first soil, in this gress by an increased majority over John Mc- section broken, by a plow (he was a "squat- Lain, his opponent, in 1820. Thomas Carlin, ter") was on the spot where he lived. Then afterwards Governor, was elected State Sena- and for some years later, the squatter on unsold tor from the Pike and (;4reene District, embrac- government land was an intri;der, (in law, a ing what is now Adams, and Nicholas Hanson, "trespasser.") Subsequently, a judicious and representative to the General AssemblJ^ The liberal reversal of the government policy, gave election of Coles and Cook was an advantage to the scpiatter a color of prior claim to the to the cause of freedom that can never be over- ownership of the land on which he had located estinuited. They represented, the former es- whenever it came into market through the oper- pecially, anti-slavery element in the state and ation of the pre-emption laws. E.xcepting the to Governor Coles, his position, example, en- patent on bounty lands, all the laud in this sec- ergy and efficient action perhaps more than to tion south of the base line was not subject to any other man, is due the redemption of Illinois entry or purchase, until 1829. from the designs of the slavery propagandists. At the time of Wood's settlement there were Now. for the first time, fairly entered this fire- but two other white residents within the limits band into the political arena which it inflamed of what now constitutes Adams county. These with intense excitement, to the exclusion of all were Daniel Lisle (afterwards County Commis- other issues, thi'oughout the two succeeding sioner) who lived a short distance south of years, absorbing all minor questions and draw- where the town of Liberty now stands ; some ing a line of division through the political ele- of whose descendants are yet residents in that ments on which the political organizations of neighborhood, and Justus I. Peri go, an old sol- all subsequent time have stood and still exist. dier who had settled in Section 9. 3 S. 8 W. on Jesse B. Thomas was re-chosen I'nited States the quarter section which he had drawn. This Senator by the Legislature this year. land joins the well known "Chatten" farm in Two questions of exciting nature came before Pall Greek township and was probably the first the General Assembly in 1822 and 1823, and in improved, or perhaps we had better say culti- reference to them, the representatives from the vated land in the county. Taking the statement "Kingdom of Pike," as our huge county, three reported to have been made by its owner in the hundred miles long and with an average width early times, it must have been in a singularly of fifty miles, was called, became part of a "cu- advanced condition of culture for those days. rious piece of political history, wliich has oc- The stoi-y is that Perigo, practically con- casionally been published as an illustration of scious of what Adam had been told that it was sharp practice in the early days. The seat of "not well for man to be alone." went for a Nicholas Hanson, representative from Pike, was wife in the southern part of the state, and suc- contested by John Shaw, and after an exami- cessfully dazzled the fancy of a "confiding fe- nation into the question, Hanson Avas allowed male" by the representation that he owned a the place, as was proper, he having, undoubt- farm of one hunclred and sixty acres, on which edly, been elected. The election for United he had two thousand bearing apple trees. Rec- States Senator came on soon after and Jesse B. ord has not perpetuated ]\Irs. Perigo 's com- Thomas, the former member, was re-elected. ments, when, on coming up to the farm, she Hanson voted for him. The other issue to foTind that the two thousand apple trees were which allusion was made above, then came wild crabs. forward. An organized effort was made to in- Throughout the succeeding winter, Wood, troduce slavery into Illinois. AST AM) ri.'KSHXT OF ADA.MS COUNTY 13

ForbickU'ii in tlie Const it lit ion of 1818, it the selection of a county seat which should be could only be legalizetl by the I'cvisiou of the south of the base line. Calhoun county was constitution and in that instrument it was pro- subsecjuently cut ofi" from the lower portion of vided. th:it. to call a convention for such pur- Pike with Cole's Grove (Gilead) as its county pose twii-iliirds of each branch of the legisla- seat, while the county seat of Pike was estab- ture, must order an election and the people lished at Atlas, forty miles south of Quincy, then vote in favor of such call and then the which thus became the legal centre of this part lei;islature order, etc. The senate had a two- of the count\- fell' the next three vears. third majority of pro-slavery men, so that there nil difficulty was found; while in the House they lacked just one of the r('((uisite two-thirds. But where there is a \\]\\ there is a way to shape desired ends. Wrcmy never knows scruples. Consistently with the policy, it ever after possessed, of defying law, right and de- cency when its interests demanded, slavery re- CHAPTER V. solved upon its covxrse. Shaw, a coarse, pliant and not scrupulous man. the unsuccessful con- 18 2 8. testant of Hanson, was sent for and he agreed JKRE.MI.XH ROSE. PIONEER HOSPITALITY. FIRST if the seat would be given to him that he would STE.A..MBOAT TO LAND. FIRST PASSENGER. vote for the convention. So the (piestion de- STE-A.MBO.\TS DESCRIBED. SALE OF LANDS IN •MILITARY TRACT" FOR TAXES. KEYES BUYS cided ten weeks before was reconsidered. Han- A HALF SECTION. son, who had been admitted and held the office for ten weeks, was turned out. Shaw was The legislation bearing especially upon this voted in. and c.isting his vote for the conven- section (what is now Adams County) during tion, it carried, and three days after Shaw's the year 182:^, M'as not extensive or important. admission the General Assembly adjourned. On the 28th of January, Fulton County was These facts have been heretofore published, but formed by detaching that portion of the mili- usually with an important error. Probably to tary tract lying east of the IMeridiau ; and on give piqnanc.v to the story, it has been said that the 18th of Februarj', as stated in the preced- Ihinson was admitted to vote for Thomas, which ing chapter, by the aid of Shaw, the bogus rep- Shaw would not have done, and that Shaw was resentative from Pike, the call for a conven- afterward bnnight in to vote for the conven- tion to revise the Constitution of the State, tion as Hanson would not do. This is not cor- passed the (ieneral Assembly, and thereupon, rect. The senatorial election had no influence commenced the tierce political struggle, which in determining Hanson's claim to a seat. It raged throughout the farthest bounds of the was decided on its merits. The turning him out .state and was ended by the decisive result at was an after-thought, resorted to. when it was the polls eighteen months later. found, towards the close of the session, that one In !March of this year. ^lajor Jeremiah Kose, vote was needed, and Shaw's pliability and with his wife and diiughter, moved up from the general views were known to be just what was lower part of Pike County, where he had been recpiired. Shaw was a rough, course natured residing, and commenced "housekeeping'" in man. of some means and more notoriety, of a "Wood's cabin, its proprietor boarding with most susi)iciously contraband complexion and them. appeariince. and not burdened with any amount The same spring. Wood and IJuse broke and of scruples to unload, that would have pre- put under tillage about thirty acres of the land vented him from voting any way on an,y sub- on either side of State street, just east of 12th, ject (or promising to do .so) to get his seat. lie which AVood had enclosed during the winter, was known as the "Black Prince" of Calhoun. this being the land bought by him of Flynn. The effect of this high-handed defiance of rule and the first cultivated ground iii the vicinity. and i)roi)riety, was most seriously damaging to There was very little immigration during the the cause of the pro-slavery men, and was a year, though a few settlers dropped in at scat- charge during the succeeding canvass which tered points throughout the county. Tyrer, on they could not deny or defend. his land in Melrose, southeast of the city, ilajor At this session, December 30tli, 1822, the Campbell and the AVorleys in the Rock Creek boundaries of Pike Comity were more complete- section, and perhaps half a dozen other fami- ly defined, the base line si.x miles north of lies, or, generall.v, single men, settled in other Quincy being the northern limit, all above, be- localities. The little family of four monarchs ing "attached." Provision was also made for of all they surveyed plodded diligently on 14 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAjMS COUNTY. through the monotonous time, gradually sur- or under the direction of Major S. II. Long, an rounding themselves with more and more of the army officer eminent for his acquirements as a comforts of home, plain as these comforts were, discoverer and civil engineer, steamed up as and extending the sphere of their farming la- high as Keokuk. This was in the summer of the bors as the months rolled along. An occasional 1820 or 1821 ; authorities disagree upon land hunter; a straggling squad of Indians; precise date. the monthly passage by of the military mail On its downward trip, Mr. Asa Tyrer. who cai'rier from below to Fort Edwards (War- afterward located, lived and died east of what offi- was long known as Tyrers' (now Watson's) saw) ; now and then a United States Army cer on his tour of duty; these were the ran- Spring, happened to be on the river bank, hav- dom links that gave them some connection Avith ing roamed here to examine his land. He hailed civilization. the steamboat, was taken on board and thus the "Whoever came, stepped at once into the hos- Engineer became the first steamer that landed pitalities he sought without doubt as to wel- at Quiucy. and Mr. Tyrer the first passenger come or waiting for an invitation. therefrom. It was many years before another Hotels were unknown, or rather it might be was seen. said, tluit every cabin, tent, or camp was a free Before this time, and for many years after- hotel, a "lodge in the wilderness" open to the ward, transportation on the river was carried unasked use of all. Those were the days when on by keel boats, which made their periodical "every stranger seemed a friend and every trips from St. Louis to Fort Cranford, Prairie friend a brother," and the traveler more than Du Chien or Fort Snelling. laden with sup- repaid the care he caused when he opened his plies for the army and the Indians, and what- budget of news and gossip from the far-off ever else of freight might be picked up. The world. ordinary speed of these boats was from eight Such was the social condition tiiroughout the to twelve miles a day, by being eordelled or whole frontier of the west here and elsewhere, poled along the banks except when, witli a and this, like some others, from location or ac- favorable south wind, sail could be raised, when cident, became one of the noted stations for the their progress was greatly accelerated. traveler's hospitable welcome. Statelier struc- Freight usually had a fixed price, that is. the tures have since arisen, from Avhich reach out charge was as great to any intermediate point more tempting offerings of luxury and style, as throughout the whole distance unless the but never has the wearied wayfarer been sol- shipper would guarantee that when his way aced with truer comfort and rest, than in the freight was taken out an equal amount should rough-hewn huts of our pioneer sires. Rugged replace it. Then rates proportionate to dis- as might be the outer seeming, welcome smiled tance would be charged. on the threshold and plenty crowned the board, The con-struction of the Engineer "smoke and in the little clean-kept cabin, from stranger boat" or "fire canoe," as the Indians termed and sojourner faded away all thought of home- the steamboat, was peculiar enough to warrant ly cheer while partaking of the kind hospitality description. Authorities differ somewhat as to of their hosts. the detail of appearance, one writer says that A salient episode in the monotony of the "on the bow running from the keel, was the time, was the appearance of the "Virginia," image of a huge serpent, painted black, its the first steamboat that attempted the naviga- mouth red, and tongue the color of a live coal; tion on the iipper ^Mississippi. It was a stern the steam escaped through the mouth of this Avheeler with a cabin on the lower deck, and no image. The Indians looked upon it with great upper works, not even a pilot house. It was wonder and astonishment. They declared it steered by a tiller in the hands of the pilot, as was the power of the great Spirit ; and said the are canal boats at the present time. It was big snake carried the boat on its back. Some 118 feet long and 22 feet beam, and drew six were afraid to go near the machinery. The feet when moderately loaded. steamer was in command of Lieiitenant Swift, The "Virginia" passed up in May of this but the vessel was not very swift. bi;t as a year with the object of demonstrating the feasi- means of exploration, the boat was a success. bility of navigation by stream of the ]\Iissis- She was a side-wheeler, and the first to ascend sippi from St. Louis to its junction with the the Upper Missouri, and Mississippi." Another IMinnesota (Fort Snelling). This, though the and more reliable authority, the Rev. John M. first boat that passed over the lower rapids, Peck, who writes from his personal observa- was but the second that had ascended to that tion, says "the boat was a small one with a point. Three years before, a government steam- stern wheel and an escape pipe so contrived as and steam er, the "Western Engineer," commanded by to emit a torrent of smoke through PAST AM) I'RKSEXT OF ADAMS COrXTV. 15 th(? head of a serpent with a red forketl tongue could legally occupy the government land, for, projeeting i'ruiu the bow." as we have stated, it did not come into market A steamer, however, was a curiosity in those until about 1830. days. It was not until about the j^ear 1830 The bounty lands Avere first offered for sale, that steamboats fairly superseded the keel under state laAvs, for taxes, in December of this boats on the I'pper jMississippi, and not until a year at Vandalia, Aviien all the lands granted later perioil. that tlieir business became gen- by the goA'ernment to soldiers l.A'ing betAveen eral and regular. The reasons were manifold. the tAvo rivers Avhere default to pay taxes had One was the light amount of business that occurred, Avere i)ut up for sale and this sale offered either way up or down, and unless attracted a great representation of settlers and steamboats had a shipment of government speculators. So extensive, hoAvever, Avas the stoi-es for army or Indian use, it did not pay to amount of land offered in contrast Avith the steam into the wildei-ness. and again the con- niunber and means of the attendant purchasers struction of boats in those days precluded nav- that little or no comiietition occurred, the buy- igation of the upper rivers except during for ers formed in a circle on the day of sale and a short period of the year. the lots Avere bought in turn, and subsequently They were built shiplike on ocean models, divided b}^ the purchasers. Mr. Keyes (AA'ho up round bottomed and deep, drawing more water to this time remained at the old residence in light, than the largest packets now draw five south, six Avest) and Mr. Wood, attended loaded. this sale and purchased sundry lots in the vicin- The steamers of "old times." as recollection ity of Quincy, trusting to their intended occu- pictures them, contrast strikingly with the pancy and the chance of obtaining the other floating palaces of to-day. They were short, title if their tax purchase Avas not redeemed. blunt, broad, with small wheels; the wheel- At this time Mr. Keyes purchased the half sec- house rarely rising above the level of the cabin tion north of BroadAvay and West of 12th floor. The ladies' cabin was located at the street, for the amount of taxes and costs stern of the boat as now, the gentlemen's cabin amounting to about eleven dollars. the complete Avas below and in the rear of the wheel houses. title of Avhich he acquired at a later day. The sides of the cabins were filled with two Atlas Avas uoav and for tAvo year's after the and sometimes three tiers of berths, with long nearest postofSce. To that place a Aveekly mail curtains that during the day were drawn aside. carried on horseback AA'as brought. State rooms were much later inventions; not until about 1836 were these in use, and only then and later, was the custom of making the cabins all lined with staterooms, general. The space now occupied by the main cabin was unfinished and used by the half-fare or CHAPTER VI. "deck" passengers. The roof did not, as now, extend forward over the boiler deck. It ran 1824. about two-thirds the length of the boat with CABIXS OF AVOOD. KEYES. DROULARD. FIRST the little pilot house standing on its forward BL.\CKSMITH. FIRST PHYSICIAN. PRO-SDAV- edge. There was no cover to the boiler deck ERY AGITATION. TIN TEAPOT FOR A BALLOT BOX. FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTON. GOV- and xip through it ran the two chimneys. A ERNOR CARLIN. ROLL CALL OF ARRIVALS. single engine only was used with one escape pipe and especial care was taken to have the In the spring of 1828 Willard Keyes, Avho tAVo escape of the steam as loud as possible, so that or three years before had been keeping "bache-

it might serve as a note of warning to the lor's hall Avith John Wood, about thirty miles country for ten miles or more around. south of A\iiere Quincy uoav is, came up to the A bowsprit from six to ten feet long pro- "blufl's." foUoAving his old "pardner," Wood, truded at the front on the end of which the and liuilt for himself a cabin some tAventy feet flas- staff rested. Some of the earlier built boats si(uare. aiul rather larger and more pretentious nuule use of the bowsi)rit as a scape pipe for than that of Wood's. It Avas located near Avhat the steam as depicted in another part of this is now the corner of First and Vermont streets. chapter. This' "settlement" of Keyes' Avas a "squat," the Some of these seekers for land during this term in those days, applied to a location or and the following year returned and settled in residence on government land not yet subject vai'ious directions but they Avere fcAV and scat- to entry, and Avas in opposition to the laws tered. Only tliose who. as soldiers, had drawn Avhich forbid such settlement and occui)ation. land

eiuptiou under the law which would eutitle him accidently killed—kicked by his horse. The to priority in purchase when the land became three families first named, Wood, then unmar- subject to sale. But the fact of its being frac- ried, with whom was Major Rose and family, tional and the subsequent taking it for the Keyes also a bachelor and Droulard with a county seat under the provisions of a law which family were the people of Quinc}'. Their spe- reserved any quarter section from private entry cial pioneer.ship may be .stated thus: Wood that had been selected as a county seat, before first came, built and settled; Rose then fol- its offer for sale, spoiled the hopes of the pio- lowed, took Wood's cabin, kept house for him neer. He cared little about this, because it and brought hither the finst family; Keyes was was mainly through him that the county seat next in the order of coming, and the first to was located where it now is to the sacritice of settle on what became the original town of his immediate interests in the laud on which Quiney. and Droulard was the first resident he lived. This rough, little cramped cabin be- land owner. Keyes, Wood and Rose were liv- came a prominent building, because put to ing on land tt> which as yet they had not ob- many public uses in those early days. It was tained title. They were "squatters" in fact, the "temple of justice" where the first court as were many of our early settlers at first, but was held. It was the place for public assem- they were the possessors of the entire area, and blages, where the early officials met and the their apparent ownership "fenced in," as it primitive organizations were matured, some- were, the locality so that there seemed "no

times it served for religious meetings (like abiding place" for anyone else until the fol- Wood's cabin, a half a mile south); it was a lowing year, when the establishment of the general free hotel for the wanderer and the county seat on the fractional northwest quar- wayfarer, and the temporary stopping place ter of section two, threw the land open to set- of the immigrant with his family until he could tlement. There were a few settlers around make his permanent location in the neighbor- within a range of thirty miles or more, less hood. This was the second house built in than a hundred in all, men. women and chil- Quiney. dren. The census of the following j-ear gave In the fall of this year came John Droulard, 192 as the population of Adams and Hancock. a Frenchman, and a shoemaker by trade, who Quiet and monotonous was the life they led on had served in the army. He became the owner this edge of civilization; devoted to their sim- of the northeast quarter of section two, town- ple daily task, gathering the news from the ship two south, range nine west, the 160 acres outer world that came thi'ough the meagre now in the center of the cit.y lying innnediately monthly mail or was brought by the occasional east of the fractional quarter on which Keyes traveler or the incoming settler, who were cer- had .settled; bounded by Broadway and 12th tain to be thoroughly pumped of all the news streets on the north and east, on the west by they contained. A^et their isolation and dis- the alley, running from Maine to Hampshire, tance from older communities did not prevent between 6th and 7th, and on the south by a their taking interest in public affairs and the line nearly half way between Kentucky and growing future of the great state whose for- York streets. This was a choice piece of prop- tunes they had linked with their own. And erty, which, in a few years, Droulard frittered the time soon came for this little conununity to away. He erected a cabin near the northeast play a not unimportant part in the movements corner of what is now Jersey and 8th streets, permanently shaping the destiny of Illinois. a little west of where the gas works are situ- During this year, there came up and was set- ated. These three houses. Wood's, Keyes' and tled the most exciting and vital political strug-

Droulard 's, were the only buildings in the place gle that ever att'ected the social, political, moral in 1824:. This same season, Asa Tyrer. who and material interest of the state. had visited the place some years before, came Illinois six years before had been admitted again and set i^p a cabin and blacksmith shop to the union with a free constitution, but was about a mile southeast, near what was long in many respects, practically a slave state. Her known as Tyrer 's Spring, since called Watson's early settlers were mainly from the south, and Spring, named for Ben Watson, the son-in-law most of her public men Avere of southern birth of Tyrer, who long lived there afterward. A and proclivities. Slaves had. without restric- Dr. Thomas Baker, the earliest physician in the tion, been brought here during territorial times county, came also during the summer and es- and even later, and they remaiued here as tablished himself about two miles south, below slaves. Again, by stipiilation in the treaties the bluft". He was a learned and skillful man. which transferred all of the Louisiana terri- A few years later, he moved north into what tory, embracing the valley of the Mi.s.sissippi, to the is now I\Iereer countv, and shortly after, was negroes belonging French and Sp.nn- PAST AND PIJESEXT OF Al)A:\rS COUNTY. 17 ish owners remained shxves for life, and the decisive vote. He resigned before his term children of such slaves so continued until they expired and was succeeded by Levi Roberts, of became twenty-eight years of age. Thus a Fulton county. Fulton and Pike were then a large slave element and interest existed. representative district. Thomas Carlin (after- The election as governor in 1822 of Coles, ward governor) was elected state senator. Dan- an avowed emancipationist, who had brought iel P. Cook was elected again to congress over hither his own slaves from N'irginia and given his competitor, ex-Governor Hond. Illinois was them their freedom, aroused all the latent dis- entitled to but one representative, Ninian Ed- agreeing elements on this subject and stimu- wards, U. S. senator, having resigned, John ilc- lated a struggle as bitter and fierce as always Lean was chosen as his successor. characterized contests over this issue during The presidential election in November, which the after years when the pro-slavery interest resulted in the success of John Quincy Adams, attempted to dominate the nation. It was es- was marked by a feature which is said to have sential to the introduction, and sustaining of had some bearing upon the name given to the slaverj-, such as existed, that the constitution county and town in the following year. At this should be changed. To do this a convention time the whole country between the rivers, must be called. In tlir legislature of 1822-2-3 north of Pike county, was attached to that one vote was needed to i)ass the law calling for county, and called, from its extent, the "King- a convention to be voted for at the next elec- dom of Pike." As there were no organized tion. It was furnished h-nni the "military or authorized voting places north of Atlas the tract.'' settlers concluded to try their own hands in- The scheme by which a majority in the legis- dependently at electing a president. Accord- lature was secured in favor of the convention, ingly on the day of election some twenty or has been related. The measure was adopted more of them assembled, and organized a poll by a majority of one. by electing judges and clerks and made use of From this time, the spring of 1823, for eight- a tin teapot for a ballot box and voted. John een months, until the August election of 1824, Wood came up from Atlas the day before with the state was stirred up with great excitement. a list of the Adams electors. Nobody knew the Voting for a convention, meant and was recog- names of the Clay or Crawford electors. They nized as voting for slaveiy. If a convention all wanted to vote. So, though many of them was called, the apportionment in the state was thought that Jackson or Crawford or Clay was such that it Avould have a majority of pro- the better man, they unanimously voted the slavery members, and there was the certainty Adams ticket. that a constitution recognizing slaveiy would At this presidential election in November, be framed and adopted without submission to a 1824, twenty votes were said to have been east. popular vote, just as the constitution of 1818 This number is not improbable, as men were was jidopted. then allowed to vote, away from home, any- There were but four votes in Quincy, and in where in the state at general elections, and the what is now Adams county there were perhaps qualifications of the voters as to age, citizen- a score or more, but they were earnest and ac- ship, etc., were rarely inquired into. Indeed, tive. The county, which was then Pike, as far some of the voters on this occasion were resi- north as the base line six miles above Quincy, dents of ^Missouri, but who could not find any was canvassed thoroughly, so was all the coun- other place in Avhich to exercise their free- try north as far as Eock Island. Tlie voters man's i)rivilege. There is one point in this old turned out en masse, and on Snndaj' morning, and oft told story of their making use of an the day before the election, nearly fifty had old teapot for a ballot box which is of more gathered here at the "Bluff's," as the plac<.' was than doubtful validity, and which rather tends tlien called. They rode to Atlas, forty iuiles to cloud the whole transaction with some un- south, swinnniuf;- the creeks which were "bank certainty. The manner of voting then in this full." and plumped their votes on the follow- state was viva voce, and not until twenty-four ing day. Of the one hundred votes cast at At- years, was the ballot box system adopted as las, ninety-seven were for "no convention" or the law. Why or how a teapot should have a free state, and three vrere "for the conven- been needed is somewhat of a puzzle. Still, as tion." The "no convention" ticket swept the all the parties are dead and the story now can state by about 1,800 majority, and Illinois was neither be refuted nor proven, it is well enough preserved to freedom. to let it stand and not be too critical in the vin- At this same election. Nicholas Hanson, who dication of the truth of the story. had been so iniceremoniously ejected from the The presidential election had no political previous legislature, was re-chosen by a most character. The contest between General Jack- PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA:\IS COUNTY. son, Heury Clay, John Quincy Adams and Wm. Atlas, forty miles south. Up to this time, none all II. Crawford for the presidency was almost en- but log houses were built in the county, and tirely personal, and based, mainly, on individ- of these were built without iron, all ties and ual preferences or local feeling. These men fastenings being made with wooden pins. had all been more or less closely associated with the late administration of President ]\Ion- I'oe and entertained neai'ly the same general political ideas. This was also the case in re- gard to the local elections and officials. CHAPTER VII. Hanson and Carlin—representative and sen- no party, for there were ator—represented 1825. no parties nor party names, to serve under. AND FIX were of general agreement in public mat- COMMISSIONERS L.\Y OUT THE TOWN They THE COUNTY SEAT. WHY COUNTY NAMED ters but of ditt'ereut stamp of character and ADAMS" AND TOWN "QUINCY." FIRST WED- training, and would have drifted into opposi- DING. FIRST CIRCUIT COURT. MAILS ONCE A WE;EK. DIFFICULTY' IN GETTING TITLE TO tion over the strong political lines that formed SITE OF CITY. FIRST PLAT OF CITY. FIRST a few years later. These two were important SALE OF LOTS. FIRST BURIAL GROUND. FIRST COURT HOUSE. ROLL OF NAMES OF EARLY men in their day. Hanson was possessed of SETTLERS. more than ordinary ability, and had a great deal of intluenee in the legislature and at home. Eighteen hundred and twentj'-five was a no- After he resigned his seat in the house, during table year in the history of Quincy. It was this session, he returned to New York, his na- the natal year of county and citj', and when the tive state. Carlin tilled a large place in the his- former assumed its permanent place in the po- tory of this section and the state. He was state litical structure of the state. In 182-t, and also senator for eight years, soon after came to in 1825, up to the time when the Commissioners Quincy as receiver of the land office, and in authorized by the state, came to locate the 1838, was chosen governor. He was a man of county seat of the new county, there were at limited attainments, of rough appearance and "the blutt's" Init three resident families and habits, but had force of character, good .judg- as many cabins. These last were, as has been ment and personal integrity, qualities which se- related, first, John Wood's cabin, near the cor- cured him public confidence and success. ner of Delaware and Front streets, inhabited by Settlers came slowly drifting into the vicin- John Wood and Major Jeremiah Rose and fam- ity during the year; perhaps a dozen or more ily; second, Willard Keyes' cabin, near where families settled in what afterward became Front and Vermont streets join, in which he Adams county, most of them in the southern lived by himself, and, third, (also third in the portion. None came to Quincy, or the "Bluffs," order of erection), was the cabin of John Drou- as it was then called. These settlers were either lard, a Frenchman. He was a shoemaker by soldiers who had come to take possession of the trade, and the owner of the ciuarter section land which they had drawn as bounty, or par- bounded by Twelfth street on the east, Broad- ties Avho had purchased of the soldiers. No way on the north, the west line reaching to the other than the militai-y bounty lands had, as alley between sixth and seventh streets, and yet, come into market. These settlers passed the south line to a point between York and directly on to their lands and commenced and Kentucky streets. Droulard's cabin was situ- were kept busied Avith their nule improve- ated near what is now the corner of Seventh ments. During the year there moved into the and Jersey streets, on the block northwest of county, Levi Wells, Orestes and Zephania.h the present gas works. Ames, Amos Bancroft, Rial Crandall, James In conformity with the notice referred to in Pearce, L. Budkirk. the Seehorns, Elias Adams, a preceding chapter, application was made to Lawrence Cranford, Daniel Moore, Peter Jour- the Ceneral Assemlily at its session of 1824 and ney and pei-haps half a dozen others. There was 1825 and the same was referred to the Commit- biit little intercourse because the people were tee on Counties, of which General Nicholas few, were busy clearing their lands and lived Hanson, the representative from Pike county, far apart. There was no trading because there which then embraced all the country between was nothing raised to sell, and but little was the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, was chair- wanted. Supplies, such as could not be raised man. He reported a bill, which was passed and at home and were needed, were obtained from approved January 18th. 1825, creating the Clarksville or Louisiaua or sometimes, from St. counties of Adams and Schuyler, providing for Louis. Clarksville, Missouri, Avas then the post- their organization, and dividing the remainder office. Afterward a postoffiee was established at of the Militarv Tract into future counties, each >AST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 19 tiMiipDrarily jittachcd \n cillicr one of llic above Commissioners, ripened to a result. Passing, counties, bill aiilhor-i/.i'd lo iiKb'pi'iulciitly or- with all the people of the place in procession, U-aiiizi" when Die population amoinilctl to three over the broken l)lnffs ;ind through the grassy bundled and fit'ly persons; aiitliority being' woods to the narrow. i)rairie ridge that crept given to the (iovenior to appoint tlie neeessary across what is now Washington S(iuare. they county otiieials. Adams and Sehnyler counties, halted about the si)ot where is now the bronze inider this hiw. Avere aMowod to initiate their statue of John Wood. Here, driving a stake coi-pornte iii-gani/ati(ins whenever the (,'ircuit into the ground, with all the formality and im- Judge siioiild ortler an election for County pre.ssiveness that could be brought to hear, they Coiniiiissioners. This election for Acbuns county officially announced that the Northwest quarter was orilered and held on the 2ik1 of .July. Han- of section two, township two, range nine west, cock county by the law. was attached to and ^vas from that hour the ctumty seat of Adams formed, temporarily, a part of Adams. County, Then, reverently placing their hands The tliree commissioners, appointed in pur- upon the top of the stake they christened the suance of the above legishition. to select the place "Qnincy." county seat for the new county, were Joel John Quincy Adams had been elected Presi- Wright, of ^Montgomery (Joiinty, Seymour Kel- dent and on the preceding -ith of ]\Iarch, took logg, of ^lorgan. and David Dtitton of Pike. possession of the White House, and just about On the 30th of April, two of the Commission- the time of this visit of the commissioners, the ers, Messrs. Kellogg and Dutton, came to "the inaugural address of "The old man eloquent," blntlf's" to perform their allotted task. They Avhich had been delivered to Congress some two had been strongly impressed with the propriety months before, had been bi'ought in the mails. and had come to the determination, as they ex- It formed, of course, a topic for conversation l)ressed it, of locating the county seat "as near 1)etween the Commissioners and the citizens, the geographical center of the county as pos- and Kellogg, a warm Adams man from Morgan, sible." Fate decreed otherwise. Luck, .strat- sore over a recent political struggle, said, "In egy and the impressive treatment they received our county, they've named the county seat at "the blutit's" produced a reversal of this de- Jacksonville, after General Jackson." "Well," sign. They were courteously received on their said some one from the croAvd. "let's call our arrival. One-fourth of the male i)opnlation of county seat Quincy. and we'll see which comes the place was absent (Wood beiug at St. Louis), out ahead, Jackson or Adams." It was car- but the residue (Keyes, Rose and Droulard) ried by a unanimous vote. turned out en masse. The Commissioners ac- As the county had been called Adams and cepted the hospitalities of the place, and when the town christened Qnincy, an attempt was they started on their search for the center of made to have the stream that flows into the the county, twenty-tive per cent of the male river at the foot of Delaware street, named po])ulation (Willard Keyes) volunteered to es- "Johnny Creek," so as to comiJete the se- cort and guide them. One finds, as a curious quence of the cognomen. It failed to stick. commentary on the uncertainty which some- Another query about names occurs in the times attends the action of a person of the most case of "The Bay," which stretches along the assured capacity, that, on this occasion, Mv. foot of the bluffs for about three miles above Keyes' proverbial skill in woodcraft and ex- the city. "Boston Bay" it was called in the jierience as a laud ]iilot. appears to have been earlier times and on the older maps, as some entirely lost. or. left at home; since, notwith- say, because "a Bostonian once navigated his staTiding his valuable and disinterested aid, the craft i;p this bay, mistaking it for the main worthy commissioners after a day's toil, found channel of the river." The more reasonable themselves far nwve likely to reach the cen- theory is. that it took its name from a French ter of the earth than the center of the county. trader by the name of Bouston. or Boistoue, After tlountlering through the briars, bogs, who lived on its east bank. quagmires, swamps and quicksands of ilill A notable event occurred shortly after this Creek, sinking sometimes to their saddle girths, visit of the Commissioners, the first of its kind, happy were the fagged dignitaries, abandoning and hence the cause of no small sensation in their i)rofitless search for the central "Eldora- the infant connnnnity. It was the marriage do," to retrace their steps, and, when the dusk of Amos Bancroft to Ardelia Ames. Whether came on, find shelter beneath the generous roof these young people were stimulated to this step of the cabin of John Wood and Jeremiah Rose. by a laudable ambition to be the first local A substantial supper; a comforting sleep; a pioneers in the good work invented by old hearty breakfast on the ensuing morning, and Adam, or whether they were influenced by that the bewildered judiiinent of llie now refreshed which makes voung folks nowadays "go and do ;

20 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

likewise," it is not now material to inquire; house, since the fact is, that his was the only sufficient is the fact that theirs was the pioneer one of the three cabins in the place that had wedding, the first marriage solemnized in no women or children in it. At this term, lit- Adams County. The venerable Mr. Bancroft tle or no business was ti-ansacted farther than afterward removed to Missouri, where he died what was necessary to the organization of the February, 1875. court. The first formally concluded legal busi- The first election was held for county offi- ness was at the succeeding term in October. cers on the 2nd of July at "Keyes' Cabin," At the session of the County Commissioners where the Presidential vote had been taken the preceding the term of the Circuit Court, the fall before. Whether the old teapot officiated panel of Grand and Petit Jurors being made again is not recorded. About forty votes were out is said to have embraced every qualified polled. These forty votes included probably juryman iu the country except two, and one of almost every man in Adams County; those in those was under indictment. the attached territory on the north, and also John Torcke SaAvyer, the first circuit judge, anybody else Avho chose to vote. Our unselfish Avas no ordinary man. He Avas a native of Ver- and unsuspicious ancestors were not sensitive mont. He possessed acquirements and legal on the suiirage question. Age, residence, or acumen, fully adequate to sustain the char- other qualifications were matters that they in- acter of the local bench in those clays. In one quired into very little. Their reasoning was respect, he Avas far beyond rivalry. Judge SaAV- that any one Avho came along, unless Indian or yer Aveighed nearly four hundred pounds, negro, had a right to vote, if not here some- while, as an illustration of hoAV extremes will where, and hence perplexing questions were often meet, his good Avife could not bring doAvn rai'ely asked. The commissioners chosen, were the scales at ninety pounds. The Avags used to Peter Journey, a Jerseymau by birth, who lived say that it took an active laAvyer to get around at the foot of the bluff about ten miles south the Judge, and Avhen, in the little sixteen-foot Willard Keyes, a native of Vermont, resident, square cabin of Mr. Keyes, AA'here the first court as Ave have stated, about the foot of Vermont Avas held, or eA'en afterAA^ard in the tAventy-tAVO street, and Levi Wells, a native of Connecticut. by eighteen court-room subsequently erected, Mr. Wells then resided in the south part of the his honor took his seat, the room seemed full of coiinty near Paj-son, but soon moved to Quincy, justice. He had a spice of jolly Avaggery at remaining in the city until his death. The es- times: timated population of the county at this time, ]Mrs said he, to a country was seventy. On the 4th of Jiily, the newly landlady as he picked up the plate of butter, chosen officials met for organization at the "Avhat's the color of your coavs?" "Why, house of Mr. Keyes. They appointed as tempo- Judge," she ansAvered, "they're all colors; rary clerk (subsequently making the appoint- Avliite and black and speckled." "So I should ment permanent), Henry II. Snow. Mr. Snow think, by the looks of your butter," was the (or Judge Snow, as he was always named in Judge's reply. He Avas a fair laAA^^er, and a later years) was a single man. He had arrived correct man. He remained in office but two in Quincy but a few days previous. He was a years. The General Assembly at the session of native of New Hampshire, a man of good cler- 1826 and 1827 changing the circuit coui't sys- ical attainment, qualifications much needed in tem, appointed Samuel D, Lockwood, in the those days, and with an unusual fund of gen- l^lace of SaAvyer. He afterAvard removed to eral intelligence. He soon became the incum- Vandalia and" died there IMareh 13th, 1836, bent of nearly all the official positions in the Avliile editing the Vandalia AdA'ocate. county. His name is perhaps, more directly Neither Quincy nor Adams County, in those associated with the records and public business halcyon days, Avere blessed Avith any laAvyers, of the place than that of any other of the ear- but at this first session the Judge was accom- lier settlers. Earl Pearce was appointed con- panied by the Prosecuting Attorney, James stable and Ira Pearce deputed to take the cen- Tnrney. A. W. Cavarly, for many years after sus. The Pearce family, lived near where the a prominent politican from Greene County; Alexander farm now is. five miles south. Joshua Ben ]\Iills. the most gifted man in the state of Streeter, John L. Soule, Lewis C. K. Hamilton his day, Avho died at Galena some tAventy years

and Amos Bancroft were appointed justices of later : J. W. Whitney, the Lord Coke of famous

' ' the peace. ' Lobby ' memory : John Tuimey, and perhai)s Near the close of July or early in August, other members of the bar, from "below." H. II. the first Circuit Court convened, as usual, at SnoAV Avas appointed circuit clerk. He was, as the cabin of Mr. Keyes. No apology was due before stated, peculiarly qualified for positions Mr. Keyes for the public use thus made of his of this character and for many years "sAvung I'AST AND I'KESENT OF ADA.MS COCXTV. 21

ardiind tlic fii'L'lu" iii' [nililic ti-iists, efticieal, State, only the bounty or soldier's patented faitlifiil, and respected liy all. lie was Circuit lands of the Military Tract were within the and County Clerk, Probate -Judge, Justice of reach of immigrants, the Government, or "Con- the Peace. Postman and Recorder, and kept gress" land, as it was called, not being ready singing school besiiles. lie died honored and for entry or offered for sale. A very judicious lamented in ISGU. Colonel James Black of Van- act of Congress, however, had secured to coun- dalia, was the first appointed postmaster and ties the right of pre-emption, or priority of pur- recorder, but a few days' residence disgusted chase, whenever the land came into market, of him with the primitive surroundings and he any one designated quarter-section to be used left, deputizing his duties to j\lr. .Snow, who ;is a county seat. The land above-mentioned soon succeeded to both positions. Levi Hadley liad been, as we have seen, selected by the State was appointed sheriff, an excellent man, who, ( ommissiouers; but the next step, and the most four years later, in 1829, fell from a steam- dillicult, was the raising of the money (about boat and was drowned while on his way to $200) to deposit with the laud office and thus Galena. confirm the pre-emption; and herein "lav the These, and those previously named, were all rub." the county officials ap])ointed or thought neces- The score or two of residents of Quincy and sary at the time. In the year following, au the vicinity as yet had little money. Mount Pis- assessor and treasurer were appointed. Nicho- gah could almost as easily have been lifted las Hanson was the representative, and Thomas from its base as the required amount for such Carlin. of Greene (bounty, was state senator. a purpose have been furnished by our hand- Up to this time. Atlas, forty miles south in ful of pioneers. Pike County, was the nearest postoffice. There Fortunately a ]Mr. liussell Farnham. a well- was received a weekly mail, carried on horse- known, liberal "river trader." the first who back. When Quincy became a "local habita- took out a peddler's licen.se from the county, tion and a name" it received the benefit of this had the money and would advance it if he could weekly mail, but it was many years before the have some personal assurances of its iiltimate mail bag came oftener than once a week. Ac- return. He regarded the infant county as a cess to the world without was by hoi'sebaek, very mythical institution, in a business point of and when not in au especial haste, by keel- view. On being thus assured, he loaned the boat or canoe. Steamboats came "occasional- money ($200) and took the note of the Com- ly," stage coaches were unknown, and roads missioners, dated August 17th, 1825, secui-ed were not yet made. The heaviest duty that by H. H. Snow and David E. Cuyler as en- pressed upon our new county commissioners dorsers. This note was taken up and another was the devising where roads ought to be. given by the commissioners without endorsers, There ran at this time along the river bank, dated September 6th. 1825. i)ayable May 15th, under the bluff, a faintly beaten track, made 1826, with 10 per cent interest from August by the military travel, from Fort Edwards 17th. 1825. This note was held by Farnham, (Warsaw) south. There was also a road from and no payments were made on it until April near the cabin of John Wood up the creek, di- 10th, 1829, when $205 were paid, and on the viding when it reached the higher ground, one 1st of ]\Iay. 1830, the remainder was paid. Mr. path pointing towards Fort Clark (Peoria), Farnham died not long afterward, of cholera, and the otlier eastward, tow'ards the Illinois at Portage de Sioux. river, at Phillips' Ferry. With this money the patent was obtained, but Although the location of the eoiuity seat had not without much tribulation. It was well been established and the name decided, the known that the quarter was fractional, while work was, as yet. far from being done. The the precise number of acres was uncei'tain. The X. W. 2-2 S. 9 W. had. it is true, been declared commissioners deposited as much of the money by the authorized commissioners of Illinois, to as they thought necessary, desiring to use the be the comity seat of Adams Comity, but the remainder for other purposes. They were ad- land belonged yet to the United States, and vised that their deposit was probably too small. Adams CountA- could exercise no ownership Another installment was added and still the over it until the same had been bought and paid matter appearing doubtful, they were informed for. The land was not as yet in the market. A that if they would deposit the whole amount serious, but perhaps unavoidable drawback to ($200) the patent would be at once issued to the ready settlement of the new states was the them for 160 acres, and the difference be re- delay of the Government in completing its sur- funded whenever the exact measure of the veys and throwing the lands open to entry. For quai-ter was ascertained. This was done and nearly ten vears after the admission of the this is the reason why the patent or deed from PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA:M8 COUNTY.

the United States conveys 160 acres, while, as and 36 ; and the front tier of lots along the \vas subsequently ascertained on working- out river from ]\Iaine street south, were marked on the field notes, when filed, the real area was the plat as "unapj^ropriated ground," remain- but 154 acres. ing thus until laid oft' in lots on a supijlemental The deed from the United States was not plan March 4th, 1828. made until the 13th of February, 1832. It con- In 1826, the south half of what is now called veys the N. W. 2, 2 S. 9 W. to 'the "County of Jeft'erson Square was reserved as a "burial Adams and its successors." ground for the people of Adams County." and On the 9th of November the commissioners the lot on Fifth street immediately north of the made an order that there should be a survey court house for school purposes. and plat prepared of the quarter section on The sale occurred as ordered, having been which the county seat was located, and that a duly advertised in the St. Louis and Edwards- sale of lots should be held on December 13th. ville papers, on the 13th day of December. It They appointed Snow surveyor and he, in con- was continued from time to time, as the county junction with the commissioners, laid out the connnissioners ordereil, and the last of the lots town in equilateral blocks, e.xcept where the were sold in 1836, about the time the second diagonal directions of the river and the frac- court house was built. tional proportions on the east and south varied Thei-e was but little speculation in the origi- the iilan. Five streets were platted, running nal "town quaiter. " Although it had been ex-

east and west ; the central one called Maine and tensively advertised, when came the sale day, the others named respectively. York. Jersey. few outsiders were present to buy, and the resi- Hampshire and Vermont, after the states from dent neighbors had no means after buying their whence came the three commissioners and the corn bread and bacon to .spare for speculative clerk, six streets running north and south, purposes. The only foreign purchaser was a after Front were, consecutively numbered from Dr. Mullen, an army surgeon, who happened to the river eastward. be present, at the time of sale and bought a few In making this survey and plat, the leading lots. All the other lots sold were taken by the idea with all was to reserve for the "public town and county people. uses" the highest, most central and level Deeds were not given at once, as the title ground so far as was possible. Tliese surveys had not at the time of the first sale been were made entirely in rods, not feet. The formally received. Several years elapsed before blocks, lots (where not fractional of necessity) complete conveyances were made, and, in the and the streets, were uniformly laid out thus: meantime many of the original purchasers hav- Blocks twenty-four rods square: lots twelve ing assigned their bonds, the title in such cases

rods deep, and .six rods wide : streets four rods was made by the commissioners direct to the wide, except llaine street, which was given five assignees. The terms were one-fourth cash, and rods. Block number twelve (now Washington the remainder in three annual payments. Park) was reserved as a public square. It was The following are some of the prices paid: choice ground for such a use, and in relation Lots 1 and 2, block 19. being the southwest cor- thereto, "many a hard fought battle at the polls ner of Fifth and Elaine, running half way to was made to preserve the public square from Fourth sti-eet, was bought for" .$30.00. The desecration by those who cov;ld conceive no other portion of the groxuid to Fourth street, other utility for the square than to make it the now including the Daneke building and the receptacle of every Iniilding that could be (,)UIX('Y (Newcomb) House, was bought for thought of, from the court house and the jail $46.00. The corner, 99 by 198 feet, on which to the butcher's stall." The tirst butcher in now stands the QUINCY (Newcomb) House Quincy spiked a Avooden bar to a tree in the brought $27.00, the highest pi'ice paid for prop- square, and hung his meat on it. When the erty located around the square. Two hiTudred community consumed the meat, and he con- feet north from, and including the old post cluded it would be ready for further consump- otfice corner on Foiu'th street, was .struck off tion, he killed another animal. Besides the for $29.00. The Park corner (ilaine and reservation above stated, there was also Fourth), 99 feet on Maine street and 198 feet on set apart a strip of land along the river for the Fourth, sold for $18.25. The corner of ilaine purposes of a public landing, and all the tier and Fifth on which stands the Flach's building, of lots on Fifth street, between Elaine and sold (99 feet on :\raine .street and 198 on Fifth) Hampshire for "public uses." Also that por- for $16.25. tion of the present Sixth street with all east The f

[\Uh-1 24 PAST AND PEESENT OF ADA:\I8 COUNTY

CHAPTER Yin. Quincy to Springfield. Tliis was done, but for many years its line was only known by the on the trees through the untraveled 1826. "blazes" forest. A law passed January 27th, 1826, im- POLITICAL. FIRST LEGISLATIVE MENTION OF posed a graded assessment iipon the several QUINCY. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' SALE OF counties of the IMilitary Tract, for the State PRICES. LOTS. FIRST HOTEL AND HOTEL revenue. Under this act, the assessment against FIRST GENERAL STORE. FREE AND EASY SO- CIAL LIFE. Adams county was fixed at $200 per annum. The Judiciary law, which had been operative The second year (,1826) of Quiuey's existence for the past two years was remodeled at the as the county seat saw slight and slow changes session of 1826-27 and new appointments made in its appearance and population. The same of circuit .judges. To the circuit composed may be said of the county, Avhich, however, of the IMilitary Tract, with a few counties east grew a little faster. Trade, that great quiekener of the Illinois river added, Samuel D. Lock- of prosperitj^, was, from lack of production and wood, of Jacksonville, was assigned, succeeding market, as yet almost altogether wanting. John Yorcke Sawyer. Judge Lockwood, a most The general political reeoi'd for this year superior man, held this position until 1831, shows the election of Ninian Edwards, former The county commissioners this year were Levi territorial governor and first United States Wells, John A. Wakefield and Luther Whit- senator, as governor, and Wm. Kinney, a Bap- ney,—the last named, a resident of what is now tist clergyman, as lieutenant governor. They Hancock county. Whitney and Wakefield suc- were men of very different personal aiapearance ceeded Keyes and Journey. Wakefield was a and characteristics. Edwards was a gifted, cpiaint character; he left Adams county soon polished, proud, self-conscious gentleman, while after his terju of office expired, and many years Kinney, a shrewd, aspiring politician, and after came to the surface during the "Border adroit on the stump, had none of these qualities. Ruffian" times of Kansas. His title to im- Joseph Duncan of ^Morgan county, one of the mortality rests on his "Histoxy of the Black best public men of the past, was elected rep- Hawk War," (written some forty-five or more resentative to congress, (Illinois was then en- years ago) ; an amusing publication, made up of titled to but one), over Daniel P. Cook, (a most the narration of some valuable facts, inter- able and popular man, the son-in-law of Gov. spersed with whimsical expressions that Josh Edwards), who had held this office for several Billings or Mark Twain might envy. One of years. these we recall. He describes the army as mov- The special session of the legislature of 1825- ing "at a left angle," 26. passed January 22ud, 1826, a state reap- Frequent meetings of the commissioners' pointment act, under which Pike, Adams, court were necessarily held to provide for and Schuyler, Pulton and Peoria counties and the protect the growing wants and interests of the region north, were constituted a representative new community. At their March meeting they district, which elected Levi Roberts and Henry appointed Levi Hadley county assessor, and at J. Ross to the lower house of the general assem- the same meeting, a sale (the second one) of bly. At the same session, a senatorial district town lots, was ordered to be lield on the ISth of was established, comprising the same counties, the following ^May. Tliis sale, advertised, as with the addition of i\Iorgan. As this law had been the preceding one, in the St. Louis changed the former senatorial districts, a and Edwardsville papers, did not attract, as singular proviso was added, to the effect that was hoped, purchasers from abroad, and the if in the new district thus constituted, the scale of prices does not appear to have material- senator to be elected should be chosen from ly changed. There was then, as now, much Morgan County, the then sitting senator (Car- more land than money in Illinois, and the dis- lin) should hold over and be considered as the tance between the two factors was infinitely senator for the old district of Adams. Archi- greater than at present. A portion of the sup- bald Job was elected from Morgan, and thus posed most desirable lots which had been re- Carlin, who resided in Greene county, remained served from the first sale, were now placed on as the senator. It was charged that there was the market, with what result we shall see. These to a .iob in this legislation, but what it may have prices may prove a curious study speculators been was of but temporary interest and soon of the present day. forgotten. The corner of Fourth and Hampshire, run- The first legislative mention of "Quincy" was ning south on Fourth 196 feet, half way to in that session of 1826, Avhen commissioners iMaine, sold for $35.50. On the north side of were appointed to locate a State road from Hampshire, between Fourth and Fifth, the four PAST AND I'JiESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 25 lots, Xos. 5, 6, 7, 8, comprising all on Ihe north On June (Jtli tlie ferry franchise was granted side of the public square, sold respectivel.y for to Ira Pierce for ten yeai's for the sum of $55. $14.25, .$18, $18.25 and $1:]; total $C5.50. Lot The courthouse was so far completed as to be 8, at the corner of Ilami)shii'c and Fifth, it ready for use during the spring of this year. It Mill lie seen brought the lowest figure. The was occupied luitil its destruction by fire in the reason was that it was cut by a ravine, and the winter of 1885. At the 5th of September meet- front lay some feet lower than the street. West ing a pound or stray pen was ordered to be of Fourth street, on the north side of Ilamp- built, near the courthouse, and at a later meet- shiic. tht' entire frontage of three lots, Xos. 6, ing the contract was assigned to James B. Petit 7 antl 8. 2'J7 feet, running west to lot No. 5, for $51. which was reserved as the market lot, sold for As stated in the preceding chapter at the $24. East of the square, specnlatiou went more meeting of the commissioners, on December wild, 198 feet along the south side of llamp- 4th, it was ordei'ed that the south half of block shire street, embi-aeing the property afterward mie (1) .should be set off for a burial ground for occupied by the Adamy, Peine and Dutcher the peojile of Adams County. This is the south buildings, was sold for $14.25. The entire front half of what is now Jefferson Square, on which of Hampshire street on the north side between the courthouse now stands. It was used as a Fifth anil Sixth streets, was knocked off at biu-ying ground for about nine years, when the $28.25: the corner lot (northeast corner of ground at the southeast corner of Maine and Hampshire and Fifth (1886), 99 feet being a Twenty-fourth streets was purchased for that deep ravine), sold for $3.25. Coi-responding purpose, and no intei'ments were afterwards prices ruled elsewhere, but the above were the made in the old cemetery. IMany bodies were choice lots. It Avill be noticed that most of removed to the new grounds, but many graves these sales were of lots on or touching on Ilamp- could not bo identified, and their contents were shire street. The reason for this was that there- not disturbed. The remains of the ancestors of on was almost the only level land. Fourth many of our present people, are there, along street was broken near JIaine by a ravine which with the many ti-ansient and unknown travelersj ran diagonally across the block, west of the who here died. Governor Hubbard, the second square from southeast to northwest. ]Maine governor of the state, was there interred, but street on Sixth was impassible on account of a his place of burial can not be found, broad ravine some thirty feet in depth. South- Many years later, the north half of this block, east of Maine and the sqiiare, the ground was which Avas a deep ravine, originally considered greatly broken, north of Hampshire the same, as almost worthless, was purchased from pri- while Hampshire street itself from Sixth to rate parties. The ground was used for school Eighth street, ran for some distance on an al- purposes for some years. After much discus- most even ridge and gave the easiest access to sion and question of title between the cit}^, the surrounding country. county, etc., the imposing courthouse, alike our At the same meeting the county commis- county convenience and pride, was erected sioners issued the iarst tavern license to Rufus thereon in 1876. Brown, at the rate of $10 per annum, and estab- Sometime in the summer or fall of this year lished tavern rates also. (1826) Asher Anderson, to whom belongs the Brown opened his cabin hotel at the corner distinction of having been the first merchant to of Fourth and Maine streets, where the locate in Quincy, opened a s)nall stock of goods QUINCY (Newcomb) House now stands. Later in the bar room of Rufus Brown's tavei'n. This in the year, George "W. Hight opened a tavern was a pleasing event, to the people and vicinity, under the hill, on Front .street. This building One can scarcely conceive the thrill that ran still stands. The tavern rates as established by through the little settlement when it was an- the commissioners were for nounced that "a store" was about to be started. Up to this time all trading had been done with Siuiile meal of victuals $ .25 and purchases nuide from transient trading Lodging 121/0 boats. V2 Pt. Avhiskey 12Vo These were either keel or flat or "mackinaw" 14 pt. rum 18% boats, freighted at St. Louis with a miscel- V2 pt. gin 18-?4 laneous assortment of such articles as were the V2 pf French brandy STi/o most in demand and essential to the wants of I/O pt. wine .S7I0 new communities, cotton goods, shoes. hard- Bottle of wine 1.00 ware, crockery, tin utensils, groceries, etc.

Horse feed for night, fodder and grain . . .25 Laden with these, they woidd periodically ap- Horse feed, single 12' o pear at the various landings on the river, lying ;

26 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY. at each for a week or two, and after satisfying and desirous of enjoying his monopoly while the needs of the several localities by disposing the day lasted, he purchased a stock amounting of their stock at fabulous i^rotits, drop down to to over $3,000. The steamboat on which he had St. Louis to replenish. They usually made three shipped his goods, sunk some distance below, or four trips in a season. Sometimes, though but after being luider water for some time, Avas rarely, one settler abler than the rest, would go raised, and came with the damaged freight to to St. Louis, Louisiana or Pahn.yra, where pur- QUINCY. A large portion of the goods con- chases could be made at better rates. sisted of colored prints, muslins, shawls, hand- It should be known that northwestern Mis.s- kerchiefs, ribbons, etc., the hues of Avhich, after ouri was 2nuch advanced beyond the adjacent so long soaking in the water, had all "run to- section of Illinois in its period of settlement, gether." making a most brilliant blending of owing to the fact that the jniblic hindsthere were indechipherable figures and designs. Anderson thrown early into market, Louisiana was. up was in dismay, but. with a wild hope of saving to about the time of the location of QUINCY as something from his wrecked fortune, he ottered the county seat, the general mail depot for the the goods at public auctions, and to his great surroiTuding country. Each week a squad of surprise, and satisfaction, so strongly did these soldiers from Port Edwards (now Warsaw) hotch-pot-colored goods catch the fancy of the were sent down the river to Louisiana to bring settlers, that he realized a profit from their sale up the military mail that came to that point which enabled him to lay in a larger stock than from St. Louis, Palmyra, from the government before. This demonstrates that in crude, as aid that it had received, was like its classic in more pretentious communities, an absurdity prototype of old, a miuature "Queen of the most easily becomes a fashion, and that auction Wilderness." ilr. Wood, relates that during fevers were then as epidemic as now. this year, the day before his marriage, he These times contrast strangely with the ap- walked down to opposite the mouth of the pearances of to-day. It is not easy to imagine, Fabius, canoed over the river, thence footed it looking from within our present svirroundings, to Palmyra to purchase a pair of shoes for his our queen-like city, proud, active, solid, planted "bride to wear" at the ceremony of the follow- with massive .structures,—abiding tokens of in- ing clay, returning the same way that he went. dustry and wealth ; and the full-peopled county, It was a long, hard tramp, but undoubtedly the with the well reaped lewards of toil and thrift good man felt, especially on his return, that he treasures gathered from its willing soil, these was faithfully walking into his lady-love's past scenes of but little over fifty years ago affections. when every habitation was built of logs, every It is pleasant to imagine the visions of Hoor (wliere fioor there Avas) made from painted calicoes, strong brogans, brilliant blue puncheons, every chimney and fire-place either table-dishes, many-colored ribbons, household raised with rough stones "chinked" with mud, articles and all the shopping delights ready to or constructed of sticks and mud, when not a hand, that filled the minds of the people of the brick had been moulded or laid in the county, little hamlet when Anderson announced and and mortar, laths, shingles, and paint, and all opened his budget of goods, and they felt that such articles were as yet iniknown. at last they had a store of their own. The Still, all these deprivations of that whicli stock, of course, was small, of less than one belongs to higher social comfort were scarcely thousand dollars in value, of a miscellaneous then felt, because they were universal. The nature, but suited to the simple needs of the course of life in those days was enjoyable and plain people. good. Most of the people were young and the For the two following years Anderson re- novel, Avild life, suited their careless adven- tained the monopoly of trade. He was enter- turous natures. Their needs were few and Avere prising, generous in his dealings and prospered, easily provided for. Food came almost spon- except that at one time, almo.st his entire ac- taneously. The forests Avere full of game: the cumulation of profits was stolen by a runaway ponds and rivers sAvarmed Avith fish : their cattle and defaulting county official. Soon after he had unlimited pasture ; in their little farm en- came, he established his store on the northeast closures, the rich, ripe soil returned a generoiis corner of Third and Maine streets, where he yield of domestic A'egetables. grain and fruits. continued his business until his death from But little surplus Avas raised as there Avas no cholora in 1833. market of conseqiience. Jeans and linsey An amusing and truthful story is told of a Avoolsey ansAverecl for outer clothing. Those piece of luck that befell him. and which at first, AA'ho could, indulged in calico and shoes, those seemed to be a sad disaster. The second year AA'ho could not did Avithout. after his removal, encouraged by his success The people Avere all alike : they all kncAv each I'AS'I' AM) I'KKSIvXT OF ADA.MS CorXTV 27

otliLT; tlu'.N' were as soeial as ilistaiiees would this class, as civilization advanced and settle- permit, and theii- abundant leisure allowed tlie ments thickened, pulled up their stakes (usually cultivatiDU of this soeiality. Their partial se- they had little else to pull up) and struck out clusion I'l'diii I lie busier wurhl |)ronHited soci;il for a still farther West, where they could find habits, thrown as they were upon their own re- "more room." sources and each other's aitl. Xo dress dis- Th(>re was occasional ])reaching by itinerant tinct inns cxislcil : 11(1 "society sets'" were preachers of various sects and all shades of known. Hospitality was the universal rule. character. Home of these were good and earnest Every man's house was a free resort i'oi- the men. othei's. and most of them, however, were lUMi;hiior or travejci-. thouuh the latter lie a men whose toughiu>ss of cheek and volume of strani;(M'. XCws troni abroad was common pi'op- voice were the only ati)nements for their lack erty. Xewspajiers passed from hand to hand, of mental capacity. The coming of these clergy- and their fortunate recipient was generally re- men was generally known well in advance ((uircil Id i-ead lo a sun-oiindinL;' company. Each throughout the conununity, and as a general ti'a\elc|- or new settler, must unfold liis budt;'et rule, everybody attentleil. of news, all that he had seen or known or had Election day. county court meetings and cir- "hear'n tell" in his distant foi'incr hoine, or cuit court week, of course, brought quite a leai-ned on his way to the West. general attendance of the coinitry folks, and The week days were periods of steady, but the village was then well enlivened by horse easy lalxu-. Suiulays were hours of (piiet rest and foot races, jumping matches and target for some, of whole family visits for others, shooting for turkeys or beef, the day almost in- where a natural exchange was made of all that variably ending oit' with more than one "rough either had learned during the week, and for and tumble" fight. others less reverential or le.ss social, they were There Avere often i)l(>asant social gatherings. good days for hunting and fishing. The the picnic, the ((uilting. the wedding, and if at nu>notony was varied by the arrival of the scant these, dress, polish or manner and fashion were weekly mail or the occasional landing of missing-, substantial profusion and innocent, steamers, which passed rarely, at iiregular hearty .jollity and zest more than made amends. times, and sometimes did not stop, and again by But these primitive times, with their wild fas- the advent of the new settler, which was always cinations and easily entlured toils and cares a sensation—either the "mover," as the better have gone, like the clouds of their accompany- to do imnugrant was called, who came with his ing years, and have left no like, and never can family and household goods in a covered one or there be their like again. The footprints made two horse wagon, or the poorei- "packer." who and the lines then drawn have been swept away trudged along with his woi-ldly possessions by the resistless wave of change, and no similar strapped upon a hoi'se's back, each of the field now awaits the entrance of young and travelei's being accom])anied by a few cattle eager adventurers. Pioneerism and civilization and one or two dogs. They would stay at the now move side by side. As was well said by an village a few days, while the head of the house- old pioneer who thirty years ago visited the hold, if a land-owner, would, under the giud- El Dorado of the Pacific Coast (then just open anee f)f some earlier settler, seek out the cor- to the wondrous rush of the gold seekers! and ners of his land, marked as they wouhl be by again, twenty years latei'. rejjeated his trip, "I blazed trees in the timber and small earth have seen three great Wests in m.v life time: mounds, stone jiiles or half-charred stakes set one in Avestern XeAV York, one in Illinois aiul np on the i)rairies. Almost any of the older one in California, but there is not now and can settlers wei-e thoroughly posted in the finding never be a West like the past. of those surve.v marks. The land found, the settler would select and clear off his building spot, usually near a brook or spring, if jjossible, then with the aid of a few of his nearest neigh-

bors, erect his humble cabin, i)lant his family ciiAi'THi; i:\. therein and settle dowu to the development ami improvement of his future home. 18-J7. The i)oor i)acker. usually having no land of his SLOW GRO\ATH. FIRST SCHOOL. FIRST PREACH- own to look nj). would disa|)pear after a few ING. SCARCITY OF SCHOOL BOOKS. ILLIXOIS- lANS CALLED "SUCKERS." days, and might later be seen or heard of as having "scpuitted'' in the brush near a spring, Quincy was two years old in 1827, but little on some vacant laud belonging either to Uncle occurred during the year worthy of record. Sam or to some eastern non-resident. ]\[ost of The eve teeth of the future "Gem City" cut 28 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY. very slowly. It had very few people, none with might tiu'n up, and there was no great difficulty capital, and the iudneenients to settle here were as to writing, that, of course was a mechanical not tempting. It had not many enterprising studj-, which could take care of itself. men, such as usuallj' take the lead in enter- (4eograph3' was somewhat easily taught, as prising cities. Quiney, like Topsj', had to "come maps will find their way everyAvhere, and more to herself," and "just grow." or less of geographical information is in all Trade was trifling; money was a curiosity. families; but when it came to reading, which, Beeswax and coonskins were the readiest and is instinctively and properly, the first thought most general circulating media; the limited and desire of all, there were no "Readers" to agricultural production from the country ad- be obtained ; each one must furnish his or her jacent, utterly failing as yet to make it, even own reading book. incipiently, the generous and well known mart, The writer recalls the scene, Avhen but a year for which it was so well fitted by situation, and or two later than the date of this chapter, a which it has since become. school was started by Mr, "Pedagogue Sey- True, it -would boast at the commencement of mour," as he was called, we, the writer and his the year, of a courthouse, liotel and store, sad- relatives, presented ourselves with Olney's dle, shoemaker and blacksmith shop, in or just geography, Kirkham's grammar, and "Wor- on the edge of town, and a doctor only a mile cester's readers. Of some forty scholars, all or two away. Its morals were presumably good, but, say half a dozen, were equipped with read- as neither preacher nor lawyer had settled ers, most of them Testaments, two or three the within it. It has some half dozen "first settlers" old ^Methodist green, paper covered little hymn in the country about it, yet there were only iKiok, one or two with an old novel or history, about a dozen families in the town, and most and three of the boys had an outfit unique. One of these had but just begun to be established, had a French volume of Voltaire's life of and were as new as the town. There were, Charles the XII, which neither he. nor his however, during the year, added to the above, parents, nor perhaps the teacher could read, a school house and a groceiy; at one or the another had a congressional pamphlet, which other of which, mental or physical satisfaction probably had been sent to his father on the could be imliibed, though the inhibitions of "propriety of running the mails on the Sab- the latter institution were the more favorite and batli." The last one, who, by the way. figured general. afterward briefly in congress, had a huge book The school was opened late in the year in the (as a reader) nearly as big as himself, which recently finished courthouse, the teacher being in some way had fallen into his family's hands. Rev, Jabez Porter, a Presbyterian clergyman, It was the translation of an enormous volume of from Abingdon, Mass., a man of much more tlie life of Napoleon Bonaparte, We can than ordinary culture, a graduate of a New never forget his reading of the first lines of the England college. He was in feeble health, and book, "Napoleon Bonaparte was born August came West in hope of restoration. He lived for 15th. 1779. at Ajacio, in Corsica," His voice several years, and in the year 1828, commenced always cracked at Ajacio, and broke at "Cor- the first regular preaching known in Quiney (at seeker," as he could not help calling it. the courthouse). He died iu 1831 or '32, His The school business was neither very exten- school was very select as to cjuantity, if not as sive, nor profitable during these days, for the to qiiality. Among the half score of new fam- reason, that, there were but few "young ideas ilies in Quiney and the vicinity, children were to shoot," and also that the older ideas shot a rare and somewhat curioiis luxury, and a few mostly after another fashion. For some years of the scholars were as old as himself, young the log cabin court house was the only build- men and women who had had no educational ing where "school was kept." It was also the opportunities and sought this opportunity to "church" and was made \ise of for all general leai-n how to read and write. purposes, since it was the only structure in the It is touching to think of the difficulties in the place big enough for such uses, or that could be way of those who desired education in those spared. As has been before said, the business days. Of course, spelling, reading, writing and and social features of the place exhibited but arithmetic were the four corner stones, but the little noticeable change since 1826, but there did, trouble was, that no text books could be ob- during this year, sweep over the West a most tained, and pupils had to furnish their own. memorable wave of excitement, which, while Spelling was comparatively the easiest, because it retarded rather than advanced the pros- there were spelling books and primei's. Gram- pects of Quiney for a time, is woi'thy of a pass- mar was ruled by the way the school master ing mention. talked. True, an occasional Lindlev Mi;rray This was the "lead fever" at Galena, equal PAST AM) I'liKSENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 29

(takiug into accouut the dilfei-enee in the con- less coarse toil, and more comforts, was in the ditions of the country) to that hiter furore rich lap of the prairie earth, of the lower sec- which, in 1848, spurred westward that count- tions of the State, and this fever gradually less swarm of eager seekers, crazed by the abated, though continuing for some j'ears. glitter of California's yellow treasures. Strange Among those of our early settlers who moved it is with what an universal and electric grasp, with their families to the mines and spent the the mining mania will take possession of a peo- season there, were the late Levi Wells and John ple. Let but the rumor start that there has Wood. been found in a "hole iu the ground," some- Daniel Lisle, who was the first settler in thing shining and new, and there is at once, Adams county, was this year elected County "down with the sliovel and the hoe," away with Commissioner. He first located not far from the yarilstick and pen, sell oil' the stock, shut the present town of Liberty. Weslej' Williams, up the shop, and all coat tails point horizou- brother of the well known Archie Williams, tally, straight backwards as men frautically was appointed county treasurer. rush to where thej^ hope to get rich in a min- At the March term of the county commis- ute. For one lucky blunderer who returns with sioners' court, it was ordered that a jail be built a better suit of clothes than he wore away, at an expense of not over .$150.50, on lot 6, there are a thousand who do not. Idock 11, with very detailed and precise speci- Out of the hundreds who left t^viincy in 1S48 fications. The upper story of the courthouse for the Pacific Coast, we cannot remember one was ordered to be raised "two logs higher." who came back with fortunes bettered. They Our fathers were evidently getting their heads had, however, acquired "experience." up. This "lead fever" was a hot—yes a melting one. Tiie tide of northern travel was wonder- fully increased in volume. Why it should then have become so, one cannot divine. Lead had been known to exist, and had been worked for CHAPTEi; X. in that section for many years, by the Indians 1828. long ago, but this year on a sudden, all "went for it." The creeping keel boat which until THE '-LEAD FEVER- HELPED QUINCT. JUDGE LX3CK\VOOD AND JUDGE YOUNG. NEW JAIL. this lime, had controlled almost the entire FIRST CLERGYMAN. HOLMES OPENS A STORE. transi)ortation of the river, was now outdone THE SECOND IN QUINCY. GOODS FREIGHTED ON KEEL BOATS. GENERAL APPEARANCE OF by rapid .steamers. These, the Shamrock, and THE TOWN. ADVANCE IN PRICES OF LOTS. Lidiana, and perhaps another which heretofore HIGH PRICE OF GOODS. STYLE OF DRESS. had two or three times during the season, made FASHIONS. THE LOG CABIN COOKING UTEN- SILS AND FURNITURE. trips from St. IjOuIs to "the mines." were now in constant motion, their decks swarming with Quincy was now three years of age. and still people. One-third, probably of the residents growing—or perhaps we should saj' growing of Quincy, (many of them with their families) still, for its growth was very modest and still. moved up "ter Galeny," as the expression There were, however, some influences in oper- went, and made temporary settlement there. ation during this year, that tended materially It was from this streaming northwest of to promote its future welfare. Most of the southern and central lUinoisians (soon to re- "Suckers" by this time had returned, sati- turn) that our State patronymic "Sucker." ated, from Galena, The attention that had been came. There is a clumsy, hnbberly fish in our attracted to Illinois by the "lead fever" excite- Mississippi waters, shaped much like the cat- ment was productive of some valuable results. fish and occasionally nearly as large, known It left stranded on our western or northwestern as the "Sucker" (U' "Kound-mouth." which border, men of enterprise and activity whose swims mostly in the deep water near the bot- industry and energy greatly aided the growth tom and rarely takes the hook. of the State. It was once quite numerous, but now is rarely Now, as before, and for some j'ears. the seen. Its habit was to migrate northward early county progressed in population more steadily in the spi'ing, there spawn, and descend in the than the town. Some political and business fall. It was remarked that many of the fam- changes appear upon the record. The circuit ilies went up at the same time and returned at eoui-t was still presided over by Judge Lock- the same time, with an increased family, like Avood. who was regularly accompanied on his the "Suckers." Hence the imme. ^Fost of the periodic semi-annual visit by a bevy of from emigrants from one section, soon discovered a half-dozen to a dozen of lawyers. A. W. Caver- that a surer source of substantial wealth, with ly, of Greene county, was the prosecuting attor- 30 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. iiey. Judge Caverly died iu 1875 at Ottawa, 111. should be exempted from taxation. It will be He was at the time of his death, the oldest remembered that in the platting of the town practieing lawyer of Illinois ; second only in in 1S25, the west half of block 11 was "reserved legal seniority to Judge Sidney Breeze, who for public i^urposes." On this ground were also passed into death soon after his life-long erected the first two courthouses and jails. friend. Judge Caverly. Judge Breeze's legal Lot 4r, set ajjart as above, is that part of this life from ISIS, had been mainly passed i;pon reserved ground, on which stood the north half the bench, while Caverly practiced as a lawyer. of the lately burned courthouse, the line run- How these circuit riding lawyers managed to ning thence northward along Fifth sti-eet some live was phenomenal, but they did and the like sixty or seventy feet. It does not appear that live yet, and that .same mystery exists today. this order of the court was permanently com- Perhaps they lived off of each other like Sam plied with, nor were the other reservations, but Slick's two boys, whom he described as being the land was graduall}^ disposed of, there re- "so smart that, if shut up together in a room, maining only in the possession of the county they would make two dollars a day each by that central portion on Avhieh the old court- swopping jack knives." house and jail stood and this, after the destruc- The precision, dignity and decorum which tive fire of 1875, and the erection of the present the personal character and recognized capacity courthouse on Jefferson Scpiare, passed at pub- of Judge Lockwood, and also his successor lic sale in private possession. Judge Young, impressed upon the administra- At their meeting on December 4th, the county tion of law in this section, contrasting greatly commissioners ordered that a clerk's office with the laxaties in propriety that too much de- should be built and also a jail. These orders faced the western forum, were of strong and were carried out after a fashion, and completed long effect in early establishing the marked pre- some years later. The second stoiy of the eminence of the Quincy bench and bar, which courthouse, which Avas then the office of the had been since so well maintained. county, the circuit clerk, recorder, and of Judge Judge H. H. Snow continued to be the gen- Snow generally, as he was the official eral office holder of the county and probate "Omnium" of the county, was afterward the judge, county and circuit clerk and recorder law office of the late Senator Browning, and and kept singing school beside. Ira Pierce yet later, when the courthouse was burned in was re-elected sheriff", an office which he held 1S35, was occupied as a carpenter sliop. The for ten years, until he left for Texas. Hugh jail now ordered and finished a year or two White was surveyor, and Wesley Williams later, was a quaint contrivance in the dungeon treasurer. Plerman Wallace succeeded Asa style ; the cell or place of confinement being in Tyrer as coroner at the August election. The the lower story Avhich had grated windows, county commissioners were James White and but no entrance opening except through a trap George Frazier. H. J. Ross, of Pike county, door from the second story floor. The moral im- succeeded Carlin to the State senate: and A. W. pressions entertained by culprits when being Caverly of Greene, John Turney of Peoria, and sent down to punishment might, perhaps, be John Austin of Jo Daviess county, were elected of value to the present time theologians in their State representatives. controversies over what should be the most One can obtain an idea of the spai'seness of forcible and significant version of the word population l)y noting the extent of this repre- "Hades." sentative district, and the distance between the The Iniilding was constructed of large logs. residences of the members. Joseph Dmican. of square hewn, and laid double tliick in the Morgan comity, was re-chosen representative wall. to congress. His district embraced all that Jabez Porter has been mentioned as the first portion of the State north of and including minister to hold regular services. There were Morgan county. His unsuccessful opponent was other clergymen who appeared from time to George Forquier of Sangamon county. The time of various denominations and equally vari- presidential vote of the State and of Adams ous qualifications and characteristics. Somewere connty. was cast for Andrew Jackson over excellent, intelligent men and some otherwise, John Quincy Adams. with a graduated scale of fitness, nnining be- The county commissioners on September 3, tween the two extremes of qualifications and 1S28, ordered that lot 4, block 11, should be re- otherwise. There was a Mr. Bogard from a served "for the sole and only purpose of erect- neighboring county, a very worthy, well-seem- ing thereon a school house or school houses, ing, quiet man on the street, but when in the or an academy or seminary of learning," for pulpit he stamped and roared almost so as to the people of Adams county, and that the same be heard in ^lorgan eountv, his home. There "

PAST AND I'KKSENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 31

WJis llic \ii'\ . .Ml', luiiiriis, \\li(] was iiiiicli L;ivi'ii reason for this was, that these boats rarely ob- to "ilaiiin tliose sins lie had no iiiiiid to and fol- tained many passengers or much freight after low those he felt iiicliiiod to." He dr-opped leaving i)ort, either on the passage np or the into one of .Mr. I'orter's )neetin<4s one Snnday return. Hence the keel boats often laid long at tlie eoui'thou.se, anil when .hidtre Snow com- in poll. It was also somewhat the same with menced tuninj^' at his l)aNs \ iol to lead the sing- the steamboats. Old settlers can remember how ini;-. he left in holy hoiTor and went a ti.shing steamboats, partiality laden, would lie at the St. ill tlie bay. 'i"li('i-<' was also old nnele .Johnnie Louis wharf for days in succession, with steam Kii-ki)ati-ick. one of the i)est men that ever lived up and wheels moving, and in ajjparent instant and who always drew a full eahin when he readiness to move, while the captain would pi'eaehed. His style was not [)attei'ned on vigorously ring the bell alxuit every fifteen min- Princeton or Harvard rules, but it was peculiar utes, constantly declaring that he would "leave and effective. I remember one of his sermons. right away." "He can lie like a steamboat "Clu'istiaiis," he said, "don't go through the captain," was the phrase which expressed the world blindfolded; they know jist whar thaire "idtima thule" of falsehood. bound: that they are on th(> right track to Becoming weai-ied with waiting for a heaven. Sup|)osiii', my brethren, you was going- steamer, ]Mr. Holnies. in connection with two to Atlas, yon wouldn't strike out back in the other young men, one of whom had a stock for prairie, and take round the corner of Kej'es' Hannibal and the other foi- Palmyra, chartered fence. Xo, that M-ould take you to Fort Ed- a keel boat on which he shipped his goods, ward, but you'd take down the river and be about four thousand dollaiT' worth of miscel- sure Von Mas on the right road, because you'd laneous merchandise. see Ihree notches ou the trees, and it's jist so The boat reached Alton on the fourth day with the Christian. He knows he's on the out. This seemed almost as slow as being at St. straight road to heaven, and there's notches all fjouis. ^Meeting there a descending steamer, the along th(> way. I^lack Rover, and finding that it would return lie was a worthy man and did much of good, in a day or two on its last trip np (this was and was better than the usual type of mo.st of November), Hr. Holmes took passage, reaching the wandering i)reachers of the time. Qnincy in advance of his goods, which came Additional to the other favorable influences along safely after a twenty days' trip from operating this year, was the establishment of St. Louis. Keel boats which were then the a store by Charles Holmes and Robert Tillson. most usual mediums of transportation (as Up to this time A.sher Anderson was the only steamers were few and irregular as well as merchant and held the monopoly of the trade. expensive) w'ere propelled up stream sometimes ITis "store," on the northeast corner of ]\[aine by poling: but generally by "cordelling.'' that and 'I'hird streets was the only regular trading is, by passing long lines ahead, fastening them place in the village. There were the occasional to ti-ees on the bank, and drawing the boat up groceries, where the ownership of a barrel or thereby. This slow and monotonous process more of whiskey and nothing else, christened as gave an average daily progress of about eight "grocery." the cabin where the said whiskey miles. Sometimes a favoring south wind bi-isk was i>eddled out by the drink, but no varied enough to overcome the current sprang up, and stock of goods had until now appeared to con- by s]ireading a large s(inare sail, tln^ speed test with Anderson for a share of the general would be greatly increased, with also miU'h sav- trade. The story of IMr. Holmes, \\]\u preceded ing of labor. his partner in settlement, may be woi'tli i-ccifal The first salutation that ^fr. Holmes received as picturing the primitive condition ol' things when his goods were landed was from Elam S. in those early days. Freeman, who died at l^asco, Hancock county, He had a store in St. Louis at that time, about a year and a half ago. Freenum was a and haii])ening to stop over al Quincy. while substantial, excellent man, who ac(|nired the on a tri]) to (falena, liked the jirospects of the title of major from service in the Black Hawk l)lace and concluded to settle here. He found war in 1832-3, He was a blacksmith of herculean much difficulty and delay in getting his goods frame, and used a voice m full keeping with from St. Louis. Steamboats ran oidy occasicnial- his size. "Young man." said he, "have you ly and it was late in the season when sevei'al brought any vises with you." "No." said ]\[r. of them had been up for the yi^ar. The owners Hohues with a characteristic touch of humor, of the keel boats were unwilling to start unless "but from the looks of things here I expect to fully freighted, and always charged the same get some soon.'' for way freight that they did for what w^as to The town was indeed a i'orloi'n looking place. be transported to the end of their route. The Tlii> blufps were uearh' barren of timber and 32 PAST A^D PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. seamed with ragged gullies; along the river's tense to aristocratic elegance or sumptuous brink was strung a scanty fringe of feeble gastronomy, yet the "big bugs" frequented trees. A few cabins lay along Front street look- them in jDrofusion and force. All ot thsse build- ing as if they might have tmnbled down the ings were of logs, mostly round or unhewn. hill and were too feeble to return. These were Brick, i^laster, laths and weather boarding were mostly north of Hampshire street, and extend- factors yet to come, as they did in the follow- ing in a broken string as far up as the little ing year. cove in the bluff, where Spring street comes Continuing the reminiscences of Mr. Holmes through. Among these was the cabin of Wil- —as giving a good insight to the appearance of lard Keyes, about the corner of Vermont street, those pristine daj's and as aft'ording personal and just south of this, with 'some houses be- information in regard to Quincy, it appears that tween, was a little larger double cabin than the his, the second store of the place, was first others, wliieh was George W. Ilight's "Steam- established in a small shanty on Hampshire boat Hotel." Three or four of the buildings street, west of and near Fifth, adjacent to what were groceries, of the style spoken of hereto- was then the "Log Cabin," afterwards the fore, and patronized mostly by boatmen and "Land Office Hotel," owned and kept by Bar- Indians. Thence southward on Front street was zillai Clark. the cabin of John Wood at the foot of Delaware IJequiring larger and safer accommodations street. Between these two points was the cabin for his business than his leaky cabin afforded, of Levi Wells, half way up the hill near State Mr. Ilobues soon after bought of Col. Wheelock street, and fartlier north three or four more 196 feet, fronting, both on ]Maine and Foiirth siich structures hung against the hillside. The streets, being lots 6 and 7, of block 13, diagonal- steamboat landing was at the foot of Vermont ly across from the Quincy House, long after- street. There, the rock from under the bluff Avards known as the post office corner. cropped out at the river's edge, so as to be For this he paid $175, one half cash, the re- visible at an ordinary stage of water. Three mainder in goods or "store truck," as it was or four ragged looking trees grew near the called. He was the recipient of a good deal of bank, convenient for the boats to tie to. These quizzing for having paid such a price for lots appearances continued for many years, even that had been sold two or three years earlier mitil the small landing was made at the foot of for aboTit $30, biit he consoled himself and sat- Hampshire in 1839. isfied his partner Tillson, who arrived in the There were but two routes by which wagons following spring, by the comfortable fact that could ascend the hill : one, south of the village the $175 of "store pay" was a very pliable along the Milnor creek and where now is Dela- sum, taking into account the margins between ware street; the other, by a very steep and ea.stern purchases and western prices. circuitous track, which, wandering upward Prices of goods ruled very strangely, and from near the corner of Front and Vermont were as unfixed on many articles as are mining streets, finally reached the level of the public stock quotations to-day. The arrival of two or square at Hampshire street, between Third and more boats at the same time; the receipt of a Fourth. On the hill the main settlements lay. stock of eastern or southern goods after a long Around the square on the north, west and delay, or earlier than was expected, gave them south, were scattered cabins, about half a dozen a very elastic value, in one direction or the on each side. Near the corner of Maine was other. It is true that a few of the more needed the courthouse. South and southwest of the and more easily obtained staples were held public square and east along Hampshire street, at nearly the same relative cost at all times, or "Pucker Street" as it was nicknamed, for but the profit on these was high. Eastern goods two or three hundred yards were similar struc- especially sold dear. The cost, risk and time tures, with here and there a cabin located involved in their transportation by sea to New farther east. The square was cut diagonally Orleans, thence the slow travel up the Miss- from northeast to southwest by a wagon road, is.sippi. and re-shipment of St. Louis, and their running across it. such as no ravine, but the weighty or bulky and damageable nature wagon road made. It boasted a luxuriant caused the selling figure when they arrived to growth of hazel brush, intersected by footpaths, be well set up. and also supported three or four small trees Prints ranged from 30 to iO cents; hardware and one large white oak. was quite costly: axes, for instance, brought And this was Quiucy. There were then the from $2.25 to $2.50, and all other agricultural store and three hotels, one under the hill, one and mechanical implements were priced in like at the southwest and the other at the north- proportion. Boots and shoes were rated high. east corners of the square. Thej' made no pre- Good crockerv was scarce and sold at a high I'ASr AND KSKXT OF ADA.MS CorXTY. 33

iiKlirc. ( )r(liii;iry mikI phiiii ware was far aiiiusiiig features. The "height of the style," (Ilea pel-, I'or the reasun tliat the tiuaiitity oi' as now seen, will Mcll pass for a patent scare- hciiisehokl utensils was very limited, and the crow forty or fifty years hence, just as a street iieeils ill this ilireetion were made up by the or party exhibition of the full-dress gai'b of a use of gourds and domestic "eartheu ware." generation pa.st, would cause the fair fashion- i'loui-, which brought from $8 to $10 per barrel, ables of to-day, with an "oh! mercy!" shock as also bar-on and all salted provision, was al- and shudder, to pull back and train out yet most entirely imported at this time, and after- further in very defense. ward, until about the year 1832. Sugar, coffee, A brief description of a handsome, conscious rice and southern products generally ruled rustic Adams county belle, as she appeared IdWcr. w lien dashing np to the meetin'-house door on Clotiiiiig was mostly home made. Jeans, horseback, some fifty odd years ago, is thus blue as the best looking, yellow or butternut, told by a lady observer. She had been a l)elle the most common, was the almost universal also in the rural region from which she came male garb. Sometimes Buckskin was used, to the West, and brought with her some rem- \\hich. when carefully dressed, dyed and fitted, nants of her formei- finery, styles, even then made a handsome, indeed often an elegant suit, [lassed out of fashion. Dark grey woolen stock- with wonderful durability of wear. Women ings, cow'hide brogans, w-ith leather shoe- generally wore homespun, the linsey-woolsey, .strings, a very short, sky-blue silk skirt, some- with the priiileil muslin, or calico, to be donned what faded : a black silk waist or sleeveless on Sunday, and on the head the huge horn jacket, also much worn and furnishing its own comb, (-overeresent day would have made a decided sensa- were all bviilt of logs, generally the round log tion. with the bark left on, the interstices "chinked" Fashion is Protean—limitlessly so—and is with strips of wood driven between the logs mostly itself when extreme. It is erpially wor- and then mortared Avith clay, making thus a shiped and intolerant in the ^lodoc wigwam and thick, warm wall, impervious to wind or dam]i. the Paris salon. The London snob or the French The door was fastened by a large, wooden dandy, and their ludicrous imitators here, are latch on the inside: the latch raised by a string not more obects of reverential admiration and which passed to the outside through a hole in imitation than was the aspiring savage, Avho, the door, the string being pulled in at night: to do honor to his white brothers, presented it turned on wooden hinges, which were of two liimself at an Indian coiUK-il i-lothed only with kinds—either a huge imitation of the great gate an old military ehai>eau and i)luiue — e.\hibiting. hinges of to-day, or more commonly a straight as Washington Irving humorously tells us, the upright stick, the height of the door, fastened general officer on top and big Indian at bottom. to it.^ back end, having dull pointed ends above The passion for finery prevails among all and below to revolve in a hole in the floor and (-lasses without regard to "age, race, color or one in the frame above. previous condition." and it ofl(>ii has eminciitlv Tiie lloor was carpetless. and why? First, ;

34 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS (.'OUXTV. because there were uo carpets to be had. and kettle, suspended over the fire by a hook which next for the reason that carpets wouki have hung in the huge chimney. Occasionally, an had a short existence on the puncheon floor. iron crane, turning (ui a hinge and attached These puncheons were made by splitting- to one side of the chimney, took place of the through the center, logs of from eight to ten hook, but these were not common. feet in length and from twenty to thirty inches These two articles were the necessities and in diameter, and laying them along side each answered most of the needs of all. A small other, the tiat side up and the lower or round amoiuit of crockery Avas sometimes seen, but side partially imbedded in the ground. Such limited in quantity. Tinware was common and floors were often convenient to the housewife applied generally to all sorts of uses. The when sweeping, since part of the dirt would great chimney and its broad, cheerful fire-place, drop through the interstices, and so much less whether open and clean-swept in summer, or remained to be swept out of the door. Bed- liright with the blaze of its huge crackling logs of the steads were easily made in the corners in winter, was an essential feature of the house ; room: the walls constituting the head and one giving ventilation at one season and warmth .side, the other side and the foot being supported and light during the other. Occupying with the by a single leg or post. Wooden pegs were fire-place usually half of one end of the house, driven into the walls, on which hung cloth- it was built up outside of and against it. It ing. Near the fireplace, a half dozen rough was mostly made of sticks, completely covered shelves for holding dishes, these usually covered and imbedded in clay. This would after awhile by a cloth in place of a door. A broad, long sometimes burn out. but Avith attention it was board was above the great fire-place, on which very duralile. Now and then the loAver part of would be placed all sorts of things, rarely the chinuiey and the inside hearth Avere made omitting the bottle of bitters (roots or "yarbs" of flat stones mortared Avith clay. in whiskey), the universal panacea to keep oft' These houses, though snuiU, usually about six- the periodical "shake." It is very surprising teen feet, rarely over tAveuty, scjuare and seem- to know how broadly prevalent in those days ingly cramped, had a singular capacity for was the "fever-an-ager."' Indeed, not to be accommodating many, and if constructed with subject to it, was the sanitary exception rather ordiiuiry care, Avere A'ery comfortable and than the rule. healthy at all seasons. Additional to the furnishings above named 'I'he brief descriptions above apply to the was the table, home-manufactured,, heavy and more crude and earlier structures, and more strong, about three feet square (more often especialh' to those in the country, yet it Avas less) for the two-fold reason that there was but such as these that Avere still by far the most little spare space for it and that there were common. There Avere a few more spacious not enough dishes to go around on a larger one and pretentious habitations built according to also three or four stools, a bench and some- the means and tastes of their OAvners Avith times a couple of split-bottomed chairs: the greater care and regard to appearance. The water bucket, or in its place the piggin. these frames of such Avere of square hcAvn logs, the were the sum total of the cabinet ware of the fovir corners of the house sawed otf e\'enly. house. Cloths suspended from the rafters by the heighth sometimes sufficient to haA'e a sort strings, sometimes surrounded the beds, mak- of half story attic above. Avith a clapboard floor- to this attic Avas a ladder ing them more private : but this was not usual. ing. The ascent by For the needs of cooking and eating, no great from the corner of the room beloAV. In these variety was required. It will be remembered better built cabins occasionally Avould be seen that ail cooking was then done either in the fire- a floor of split boards, and perhaps a breadth place or over coals on the hearth. Cook stoves or tAvo of rag carpeting, and a small cupboard, or chair brought from the had not yet come into use : even the inven- bureau, rocking tions so prized, which immediately preceded the former home, or other articles of similar kind. introduction of the stove, these were the tin The families Avho first settled here encumbered oaster and tin baker—had not made their ap- themselves on their long journey Avith as little pearance. The spider, a utensil now i-om- Aveighty or bulky furniture as possible, and the paratively little used, was then of universal use younger families made up in the West could for baking purposes. It was a large, flat iron as yet find neither the articles nor the AA'here- skillet with four short legs, an iron cover, con- Avith to buy. cave on the top. This, when filled with dough The best of the houses Avere the double Avas placed on a .bed of coals, the top profusely cabins, joined by a common roof. Avith the inter- filled with the same, and most excellent was vening space Tisually about fifteen or tAventy the bake. Boiling was done in a large iron feet in Avidth. left unenclosed at one end. Avitli ]>AS'|- AND PRESENT OK ADA.MS COUNTY. 35 doors (iiiciiiiiy on opposite sides into eithei" on their tri[is lo and J'rom Galena and St. Louis. house. As more room eame to be required an Often these i)assed by without having occasion additional cabin would I)e attached wlierever it to stop, having neither passengers nor freight appeared most handy, witliout any anxiety to deliver, and not being signalled to receive about architectural rules so that in the course either. It was these occasional appearances of of time, the group of buildings presented as steamers, of which three or four plied between irregular and as rough an appeai-anee as a the two points named, making a ti-ip once in cluster of oysters. Thus looked Quincy from liiree weeks, which, whether they huided or not, outside and withiii over a half century ago. gave a temporary life and stir to the village The survivors of those times to whom it is a and caused the only break in its every day personal remembrance are but two, i\Irs. Levi monotony. Wells, whose husband was one of the first three There were two stores, those of Anderson and county commissioners elected iu 1825, and who of Tillson & Holmes, which sold everything came to the county in 1824, and a few years that was needed, and took as pay anything in later moved into the village, and Mr. Robert trade, and there were some half a dozen Tillson. who arrived here early in 1829, are groceries which dealt in one single staple ar- the only living residents now here who were ticle, and did therein a more inspiring, if not of matured years and can recall the appearance a more lucrative business than did the general of the place prior to 1830. stores, and were far more popular. The oldest living person now residing here, This year came the second physician, S. W. who was born in Qniney, and was born before Rogers, and the tirst lawyer. Archibald Wil- IS'M). is ill-. Daniel (_'. Wood, eldest son of the liams. There were several mechanical occupa- late. (jOV. Wood. tions represented, each singly, thus having the The descriptions above given may seem need- entire monopoly of the town trade in their own less on account of their being not unfamiliar line. There was the saddler, L. B. Allen, with appearances to many at the present day, but his shop on the south side of Maine, nearly on they form an essential part of these current the highest point of the bluff; east of him. on sketches and must somewhere have a place the same side of the street were Michael blast's therein. tailor and Justus Ensign's hatter shops, and nearly opposite, the store of Aslier Anderson. On Front, near York, was the tannery of Ira Pierce and Jeptha Lambkin's pottery. Col. Freeman, blacksmith, was noi-thwest of the square, and Asa Tyrer and Samuel Seward had a blacksmith and wagon shop southeast of the CHAPTER XI. town. Droulai'd's shoemaker's shop was at his cabin near Avhere the gas works are. The.se 1829. now cover most of the mechanical occupations which SLOW PROGRESS. FIRST MECHANICS. FREEING were here at othei's SLAVES. THE ROWDY. the commencement, though came during the year. Strange it may seem, There was little to attract settlement in the and yet not so, because there was nothing yet a.spect of a ragged looking hamlet containing for them to do, there was neither a cai'penter less than two hundred people, and composed of nor a mason in the place. about a dozen log cabins strung along the river The circuit clerk at this time was H. II. Snow, shore, uninviting in appearance, with the ex- who held this and nearly every other clerical ception of the Keyes' cabin at the foot of Ver- local office in the county—probate .judge, coun- mont. This was im|u-oved in the fall of this ty clerk, surveyor, etc. —for nearly ten years, year by a little frame addition, a ten or twelve from the date of its organization. Another long foot square room, being tlie second frame struc- lived official at this period, was Earl Pierce, ture in the place. Wood's cabin at the foot of who held the office of sheriff by successive elec- Delaware, the first one built, now, however, tion, six terms,from 1826 to 1836; the last term, had I'cceived some log extensions. There were however, being broken by his sudden departure also on llu> hill, scattered irregular around, for Texas in 1837—faithfully, it is said, ad- and near the public square, about a score of liei-inLi' to the charge and possession of a goodly similar ca])ins. amount of the county funds, which he probably As yet no frame or brick house had been thought it unsafe to leave behind him. Offices built, and lath and plaster were yet to come. did not change hands so frequently in those The place was little more than a steamboat days as since, pi-obably for the two reasons that landiiiir for the lioats that passed occasionally. they jiaid Init little, and there were but com- :

36 I'AST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY. paratively few who were qualified by educatiou Qi^iucy was as yet but little more than the trad- to till them. The county commissiouei's. who ing point for this section, business made up were until 1834 (when Quiney Avas incor- from its two stores and two or three groggeries porated as a town) its sole authorities, were and the visit of an occasional trading boat, such George Prazier, Samuel Stone and James as formerlj' had been common on the upper ilis- White. Descendants of all these are now resi- sissippi and Illinois rivers, but now had disap- dents in the county or city. Philip W. Martin, peared. The stocks in these stores were neither long- a prominent citizen of the county and a large nor various. Merchandizing consisted captain in the Black Hawk war, was elected mainly in the retailing at round profits of a County Commissioner in the place of James few dry goods and gi'oceries with farmer's White in September, and at the same time tools, powder and lead. These were generally Charles Holmes, who died in St. Louis in June paid for in money, of which there was but lit- '89, from whose recollections mvich of these tle in the country—most of it being brought in sketches is derived, was chosen cou.nty treas- by the innnigrants, and soon passed into the urer. An auction of a portion of the unsold possession of the merchants and by them soon town lots which had not lieen offered at pre- taken away in i)ayment for their goods, thus vious sales, and of such as had been sold and keeping but little money in general circulation. the purchaser failed to pay for, was had on Few articles of farm production were taken in March -ith. with but small success, and no seem- exchange for goods, these exchanges consisted ing advance on former prices. The village almost solely of peltries, tallow and beeswax. settlement was still very .slow, although county The latter was especially a choice substitute for immigration was pouring in fast, esj^ecially to- cash. wards the ea.stern section in the Clayton and Barter of farui jiroducts. which some years Camp Point neighborhood. later became the main feature of mercantile Among the well known old time settlers of business in the west, had not as yet come into the city and county who were here before, and vogue for the reason that there was. but little who came in this year were Nathaniel Sum- comparatively raised beyond the home wants mers, Robert Tillson, W. P. Harrison, George of the farmer, and also that the outside mar- Chapman. Archibald Williams, Dr. S. W. kets were few and distant, and would not war- Rogers of Quiney, S. S. ]\leachan, Thaddeus rant the merchant in the risks and delay at- Pond and Samuel Ferguson of Burton. Reuben tending the return of his investment in such Doty, Peter Felt,Obediah Waddell, Jacol) Wag- lines. But a small portion of the sales were on ner of Melrose. J. H. Anderson, Thos. Crank, credit, but these, however, with the 100 per Wm. il. Kirkpatrick, W. H. Wade, Peter Orr, cent profit on eastern bought articles and 25 Wm. Pryor of Lima, James Thomas. John per cent on groceries, and a 12 per cent inter- Thomas, John Lierle of Columbus, John P. Rob- est allowable and customary on notes and ac- bins, and Lewis, Duncan, Sterne of Ellington counts at the time gave a handsome margin of Wigle, Yeargain, White and Walby of Gilmer. certain profit for traders who waited for their A jail was contracted for to be erected at a pay. The financial situation of the country was cost of $200. Ferry rates were established five as bad as could be. The times were hard. The same as the year before, and the exclusive feny state was going through one of its many experi- license was given to Hugh White for the nomi- ences of State Bank money. The issues of the nal Sinn of $2 a year. Among the public notices State Bank, chartered in 1820. passed at 25 of the time was what would appear singular cents on the dollar. Yet with all this, the peo- at this later day, the manumission of some ple got along in comfort and cheer, as the wants slaves by John W. Stern and James Anderson. and wishes were simple and few. If the busi- These had been brought from Kentucky by ness bearings appeared hard, the social show- their ma.sters, and under the existing laws of ings were very much harder. The place was the state, it was requisite that if freed the thoroughly frontierish on its surface. master must give bonds for their conduct and Society was not highly refined, but not tame. that they should not become dependent on the Court met twice a year, there was the annual public for support, and must make official an- August election, the occasional preachings, per- nouncement of this, which was done by hand- iodically, brought in a large representation of bills and posters, there being no paper here then the country people, others were drawn in by published. business postponed for these occasions, by legal The social and business aspect of tlie place demands, curiosity and all soi'ts of personal in- had now but little changed from what it pre- ducements, proper and not so proper. These sented in 182.5—changed it may be said in no were the stirring seasons of the year. rare, brief real respect except that there was more of it. but full of action. Trades were made, property —

PA8T ANJ) I'KESKNT dl" ADAMS COINTV 37 cliiuijj-cd liaiids liy sw(ip. Kquiiic excel Iciu'c on they and such ;is they, gave an early coarse and the hoof mill luuuaii .suiieriofity in tiie run. gross coloring to tlie social showing of the jump, wrestle or tist was settled with ns iinich l)lace, but they were slowly passing away and interest antl attraction (though on a minor their peculiarities with them. scale) as the race at present foi- the Derby. A I'edeeinin'r feature of these old-time petty con- tests was that Ihey Avere honest and unfero- cious. Kacli locality was sn])i)osed to have its best man oi' rather its best lighters, each of them ambitious to extend their fame and whip the ueighborini;- boss or bully, and the public days CllAPTEK Xii. were the occasion for settling all this. lietween these times the village enlivement 1835. depended mainly on itself, and njion the quaint HOTKL ACCO.MilOUATIOXS. SKETCH OF THE chai-acters who strayed in from the country, or TOWN. COURT HOUSE BURNED. LORDS BARN. POLITICAL ATTRACTIONS OP THE MILITARY were always loafing about the stores and grog- TRACT. FIRST NEWSPAPER. VARIOUS geries. There were enough of these oddities CHURCHES ORGANIZED. MAIL FACILITIES. the old-time "half horse, CURRENCY. UNSOUND MONEY AND INFLA- half aligator" stock, TION. Lawyers of quincy. physiciaxs. which was so numerous sixty years since all STE.\M MILL. D. G. WHITNEY. HOLMES FAM- ILY. along the ]\lississi]ipi and which is to a partial JOHN W. M'FADON. JOHN TILDSON. BUILDING OF THE QUINCY HOUSE. SOCIAL degree exemiilitied now in the southwestern LIFE. ALEXANDER. CONTESTS FOR COUNTY "cowboy." SEAT. ADAMSBURGH. LA FAYETTE. COATS- BURG. COST OF LIVING. RISE OP THE RAIL- They, especially those from tlie country, were ROAD M.\NIA. ROLL CALL OF NEW SETTLERS. a class of, not exactly rowdies, but, either peri- odical or constant carousers, who. without often Our sketch of (Quincy now passes over an in- making much of mischief in serious disturb- terval of about five years. ances, always succeeded whenever they chose in How did the little town look in 1834-5.' It giving a carminal tint to the town of the most cannot better be pictured than has been done original and ruddy hue. A development of a by a tourist of those days, from whose journal few nights later of the peculiarities of the place we quote: "There it is, sir," said to us that is told by Mr. Holmes. model captain and thorough gentleman (tAvo A week or two after his arrival, he was unusually united characteristics in those days), roused after midnight fi'om sleep by a racket ('apt. James Whitney, of the elegant, commo- in the street, and looking out saw some of the dious, swift-running passenger steamer Orion. "true breed of dogs" as they were headed by "That's it; you'll get oft" in time for supper, two men. one of whom he had a few days be- but you'll do better if you don't. Stay and fore become acquainted with, as one of the take supper on board. Steamboat fare was leading comity officials, parading about the not then always attractive, usually quite the square with a candle box and in it several reverse, but the Orion was an exception, and pieces of lighted candles, shouting: "Rouse ye our next day's gastronomic experience on the neighbors, liehold us, we are the lights of the hill convinced us that the Quincy taverns and world." There were those from the south part the steamboats, in the item of table luxuries ( ?) of the county, who invariably wiien they came about paralyzed each other,—as a quaint old to town, left it in more if not better spirits than settler used to say abonl his store goods in when they came in. They were good fellows. com]iarison with those of his neighboi's. and queer fellows, such as are not seen nowadays, we found thai we had done wisely in accept- each with his eccentricities. There was one, ing the worthy captain's ]U'o|K)sitiou and se- John Thomas, a very woi'thy. kind-hearted man, euriug a square meal on the Orion. There lay who invariably when he became full enough to before us. as our hoarse-breathing craft tore go home, made it his final point to invite every- sturdily through the yellow 'sjjring ri.se' flood body 1o "kcam eout and see me. I'll treat ye of tlie untamed '^leche se(>|)(\' gi'eat water (not keindly if ye come and shoe ye the s\iy keartie." father of waters, as ])o|)ular liinguage has trans- Another witty oddity, used to periodically lated its name). IMeche is the Algonquin word ]iaratle on his big horse Boleway, and announce for great, as, for instance, mechegan (Michi- his set speech, which was "I'm ilike Dodd—in gan), which means great fishtrap. the outline a minute. I'm built from the ground up like a of the lake suggesting a weir or trap for fish. musk rat house, and I don't beg potatoes of a Also mechlemackin;il< or ^lackiuaw means negro.'' These, and such as these were the great turtle, as the island of ^lackinaAV resem- tyi)es of a general and common character, and liles a turtle in shape. Again, tlie Indian word —

38 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY. seepe, from which comes the English or rather where the City Hall now stands, we find noth- American Avord seep, signifies water or flow. ing until at the corner of Fourth. At this time Thus talcen together we find meeheseepe here stood a two-story frame house owned by great flow or great water. Henry B. Berry, perhaps the most imposing "But we are stopping our steamer all this edifice in town. Continuing from Fourth street time, while before us lies under the rays of the east, first comes the log boarding house of declining sun, the heavy grass-green bluff 'Widow Wheat,' where afterward the First Na- dotted here and there with cabin or tree. tional Bank stood; now (1901) occupied by 'Sprinkled along the river bank, as if some- the (Quincy National Bank. There the 'elite' of body had let them fall and thought it not worth the town boarded. Then comes the red grocery the while to pick them up, were what were of Tom King; next Wm. P. Reeder's frame one- called improvements. A little steam mill at story grocery, his frame house alongside, and the foot of what is now Delaware street, was still smaller than either, if possible, is his brick wheezing away, as if in constant expectation kitchen in the rear, and the first brick kitchen of medical aid or inniiediate collapse. Near by erected on the scpiare. and the second in the it lay a couple of somewhat clean looking cab- place ; next, we see the small frame storehouse ins; south thereof was a tangled mass of un- owned by Dr. S. W. Rogers ; then John W. JMc- broken tree and brush and vine vegetation; Fadon's one-story frame .storehouse, where is above, along the water's edge, stood some tum- now ^Montgomery's drug store; farther east bledown looking structures as far up as ]\Iaine comes the long two-story frame 'Land Office street, some used, some used u]i, and some use- Hotel.' with an unrivaled state reputation for less. the liveliness of its beds and the luxuriant "Yet farther on, a rambling row of log, soil deposits on its floors. There the big bugs frame and loose stone building between Maine stopped and .stayed. In the east end of the and Broadway,—and was Quincy. We land at same was the law office of 0. H. Browning, then the foot of Vermont street. the rising, as, for fifty years, he was the lead- "Plere, the rock crops out close to the water's ing representative man of the Quincy bar. A edge. A few dead beat trees dolefully linger little farther on, at the corner of Fifth, was as hitching posts for the landing steamer. Right Robert Tillson's one and a half story log dwell- before us stare the sign 'Steamboat Hotel,' at ing house, some five feet below grade. the corner of Front and Vermont. Shall we "North of Hampshire, on Third, Foiu'th and stop there ? Again comes in our good captain 's Fifth streets, there were scattered dwellings, advice. 'Better not; I see a friend on shore and all north of Broadway, was the 'Keyes who will take you on the hill in his buggy. If farm,' extending from Twelfth to Front street, you go to the Steamboat Hotel it'll be buggy and from Broadway to Chestnut. The original all night with you, and not much better on the cost to ]Mr. Keyes of that splendid property hill, only that you'll get clear of mosquitoes was about eleven dollars, with an addition in and may not be roused by a street row.' "We the way of a bonus for the privilege of secur- take our good captain's advice and again profit. ing the tax title to this half section. He after- Many a grateful and sad memory will often ward olitained. at a much increased figure, the .stray towards the name of this noble gentle- patentee's title, thus protecting his claim to man, who afterwards, drawn by the pride of the whole. Two winding ravines tending north- high adventure, threw a rising fortune into the westerly, wound through this section between stirring strifes of the Pacific Coast, and earned Hampshire and Broadway, and occupied most there as popular a name as he wore Avhen with of the area, leaving but here and there a place us. for a few cabins. The 'Burial Ground' (the "No street was then graded to the top of the south half of what is now Jefferson Park, hill from the river, and we ascend by a wind- where the courthouse stands) was a higher and ing road, starting from about the present cor- more even piece of ground, unenclosed, with ner of Front and Vermont. We cross Hamp- a few trees on it, and a rail pen or pile of shire, between Second and Thii'd, and land brush here and there, indicating the existence at last on level gi'ound near the store of Asher of a grave. Anderson, the first merchant, at the corner of "The north half of this sipiare was a deep Third and ]\Iaine. "Well." we say. 'Where is the ravine. Between Fifth and Sixth, on the north town?' Leaving, very gladly, what we saw of side of Hamijshire. were two cabins (a portion it under the hill, we see first, on the south .side of this ground being badly cut up by ravines. of Hampshire, between what is no-w Second The two-,story brick house of Judge Young, on and Third, a schoolhouse, then further east the ground where the Tremont House stands, along Hampshire, crossing a huge ravine about came later. On the south side of Hampshire, I'AST AM) I'lv'KSK.N'l' (»F ADAMS CDUXTY. 39 being built by Loriiig- H.lJeynoids.llu' two-stoi'y a couple of cabins, one of which had been tised frame, whicii iiiany may remember in later as a schooli'oom. Also the two bri(d< buildings years as beiiii;- tiie tavern icept l)y Joel Kmery, of Dunsmore and ("ai'lin. in jjrocess of erection. wbose musical 'Never Drink a Di'op Again." These were built on the ground origiiuilly re- was a (hiily tnwn iueiii

tending: beyond Eighth, were several log resi- was the first courthouse ; the i)rimeval log tem- dences, one a double cabin, occupied by Jesse ple where, as the town wag used to say, '.ius- Sunnners, another, by Henry Kenii). Thence tice was dispensed with." It was built in 18'2G on to Twelfth, there was a succession of hazel and bui-ned in the winter of the year which we I'ough, then forest, and the whole area cut by are describing (1835). It was, like its suc- half a dozen ravines running south. Hamp- cessor, a foi'tunate structure. Rejoicing at its shire, or 'Pucker' street, as it was in town birth were repeated at its death. The follow- slang, called, was the only outlet from the pub- ing obituary from the Illinois Bounty Laud lic s()uare to the north and east. It ran along Register, the first and then the only paper pub- a ridge as far as Eighth, where the road turned lished in Quincy, in its issue of December 11, northeast, cutting across vacant gi'onml until it 1835. prototypes what was thought, felt and I'eached the Alstyne prairie. said when a like event occurred on the 9th of "On the north side of Hamp.shire where the January, 1875, forty years later; Episcopal Church stands, was a corn field, in ' "FIRE—Our courthouse went the Avay of which stood David Karnes' blacksmith shop: sublunary things amicLst this devouring ele- the only house on that side of the street was ment on AVednesday evening last. There were Droulard's second house, a double cabin, where many present to witness the splendid spectacle the Hushnell residence now stands. l)r(ndard exhibited by the columns of smoke and flame was the owner of this entire quarter section. which shot up to a considerable di.stance as the but it was all whittled out of his hands, and conflagration increased, but if any regrets were he died, as he lived, a poor 'French schent el- expressed for the accident, they did not reach man.' A cabin at the eoi-ner of Twelfth and our ears.' ]Maine was for a short time, we believe, occu- "Back of the courthouse there was a grove pied by ]\rike Dodd. a rare humorist and ec- of hazel and small trees. The square itself centric man. whose descendants now reside in was a rough hazel patch. Near its southeast C

nesota ; and fvirther along Jersev, westward. and sevei'al cabins la.v farther south and west. I'AST AND I'liKSKXT OF ADAMS COLXTV 41

About tilt' corner of Si'cond iiiui Kentucky, on ami pulilished. The omission of the year be- the side of the liill. was a frame house oeeu- fore, to deline the boundaries in the first sec- pieil liy A I'l-hilialil Williams, and on Fourth tion, was corrected, aiul we give the same as .street, neai- ^'urk. was the two-stoi'.v frame they were made, they being the first town boun- biiildinu- of I he iiev. Asa Turner. Ihe first daries, and so continued until enlarged after setth'd (dert:\\iiian of the plaee." Quincy became a city. The section reads: Sueli was tlie phu-e as recalled after the lapse "Connnencing at the teiniination of Delaware of many yeai-s. thouuh crude, rude and ronsli sti'eet. in John Wood's addition to Quinc.v, two is tlu^ ])ieture thai appears from beneath the rods west of low-water mark' in the ^lississippi gathered dnst dl' neai'l.\' half a cen1nr.\'. strange I'iver. thence ruiuiini;' east one mile, thence in its huiiililc cnntrast with the stir and s])ring- north one mile, thence west one mile, thence ing life and luxury of to-day: _\et thei-e is a south one mile to the i)lace of beginning. This fadeless charm in th(> memorial thoughts, and embraces the area now boimded by the river. tiiore is hardl.v one of these now vanished laml- Pa.v.son avenue. Twelfth and Oak streets. inarks that we have iianu'd. to which e\eii yet i'ntil this time all of the corporation action some rect>lleeti()n does not reach back with had been against rowdyism, lawlessness, nuis- mingled sentiments of pleasure, in the progress ances, etc., but on the 17th ol' August the com- whicli liad been made, and regret that the charm mencement of internal improvement legisla- of siin|)le frontier life has passed forever away. tion occurs. This was the ap])ointment of Rog- The preceding picture, while it correctly por- ers. Berry and Snow (who had been appointed trays and general aspect of Quincy early in clerk in the {)lace of Browning, resigned) to 1835, is necessarily defective in detail, for the fix the grade of IIanii)shire street, and an ap- reason that it is a transcript from the tablet of propriation of $V2'i was made for the improve- a long-after reeolleetion, and while precise as ment of Hampshire and an ecinal amount for to what it does delineate, naturally has man.v improving Maine, also $2 was allowed E, ]\Ior- omissions. Tt is observable also that this was a rill for removing a snag in the ^Mississippi river year of raj)id and numerous transitions, and o])posite Quinc.A'. that the exhibit of the spring became a thor- The winter of 18)54-.') had been one of unusual oughly altered appearance at the close of the severity^-more in.jnrious than an.v Ijefore year. These changes, or some of them, will known. There was much hiss of cattle and kill- be noted as we pass on. ing of fruit trees thiMngliout tliis section. Nav- The i)olitical representation of the town and igation, however, opeiu'd as early as the 23d of county was Init little varied. John 'SI. liobin- January and an early business and immigration son and Wm. L. D. Ewing were the V. S. sena- connnenced. surpassing that of all preceding tors (the latter a very gifted man elected to till periods, and which, although ever since con- the place of Elias Kent Kane, deceased). Col. tinued, has never been so especially stirring Wm. L. May, of Springfield, was the repre- and noticeable as it was then. Many influences sentative in congress, his district embracing all contributed to these conditions. Quincy. from of the state north of this line of latitude: Jo- various causes, became a center to which and seph Duncan was governor: Young was still through which, flowed a large portion of that for- on the bencii : Wm. A. Richardson was state's current of immigration both native and attorney, elected by the legislature. The legis- eign, which streamed "westward ho." in lative representation was unchanged. The search of location and home. It was. so to eount.v officials were those of the year before, speak, the entrepot for farming lands, the "El jilace exccjit that at the August election, 11. II. Snow. Dorado" of prcmiised settlement : the only who had iield the office of comity recorder since where could be secured by private purchase 1S25. was defeated at the polls by C. W. Bil- or by government entry, an ownership in the lington. a .joll.\" good fellow, whose good nature rich '.soil of the ]\Iilitary Tract, or. as it was lands." and lameness ( he was a cripple) gave him a pop- more commonly called, the "bounty ular success over the "old judge." This did Congress, shortly after the second war with not matter .trreatly. since Snow still held tlu' England, reserved that jiortion of Illiiutis terri- three other leading county offices. tory lying between the Mississippi and Illinois The town authorities were changed at the livers and south of the southern line of what is Jinie election. A. Williams. S. W. Rogers. J. T. now Rock Lsland county, as bounty to the .sol- Holmes, 0. II. Browning and 11. 1'.. Heriy were diers in the war of 1812. one hiuidred and sixty

chosen trustees : J. T. Holmes was elected presi- acres, or a quarter section was to be patented dent and O. H. Browning clei'k of the board. to every .soldier of the war. This was then, R. R. Williams, treasurer, and Thos. C". King, as now. one of the choicest sections of the state. collector. The town ordinances were revised It measures one hundred and sixty-nine miles 42 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. in length from north to south, ninety miles the slave-worn south, from sterile New Eng- across in its broadest part, with an average land, from the overcrowded old world, at- width of somewhat less than sixty miles. It tracted by the low price of the lands and the comprises two hundred and seven complete not greatly exaggerated tales of their won- townships of six miles square, and sixty-one drous fertility. Here they stopped, bought fractional townships, or such as are irregular their lands and left their money; some settling in their boundaries from bordering on one or near, some going to more distant locations. the other of the two rivers. The entire tract Aiding these influences was also the great contained, as per survey, about 5,360,000 acres, abundance of bank money, a condition that of which 3,500,000 acres were reserved or set two years later was sadly reversed. The steps apart for the bestowment of the soldiers' boun- taken towards establishing a branch of the ties above mentioned, and no lands could be state l)ank. to wliich $120,000 (on paper) was entered or bought from the government until subscribed liere. the prospective Northern the soldiers" bounties were paid—indeed, as it Cross railroad (now the Wabash) also con- happened, not until long after that time. The tributed to give life, vigor and apparent pros- survey of the tract was made in 1815 and 1816, perity. Travel greatly increased. Up to April

and immediately after patents were issued to 17th, tw^nty-.six steamers had arrived ; later in the soldiers. The lands thus patented were in- the season and late in the fall, the arrivals were variably chosen from the evenly measured almost daily, two packets claiming to run semi- quarter sections of one hundred and sixty acres weekly from St. Louis to Keokuk. The first each, neither more nor less, and all fractional steam ferry was started by ]\Ierrill & Co.. about surveys, such as contained more or less than July 10th; wh(j advertised that they would the above-fixed standard, as well as all the cross every hour and oftener if desired, and lands left after the bount.y payment had been claimed thej^ would ci-oss in five minutes' time. completed, were retained by the government The health of the town was greatlj' improved, and sulisecjuently sold, many years later, at the as compared with previous years. The cholera price first of two dollars and after that, of one which had so severely scourged it two years dollar and a (pmrter an acre. earlier, made a slight visitation, two persons About half of the tract Avas tluis given in only (strangers) dying of that disease. boiTnties, and the lands so given were almost A notable event was the establishment of the wholly purchased from the soldiers by eastern first newspaper. Avhich was issued as a weekly,

capitalists, and at the first sale of lands for (111 April 17th, by C. M. Woods. The editorial state taxes in 3823, nearly all of them were and chief ownership was in Judge R. M. bought in by speculators. Thus the title to all Young. It was styled the Bounty Land Regis- these unoccupied lands, some 1.400,000 acres, ter. The following year it changed hands and was in the ownership of non-residents, and had added to itself the name of Argus, by which been since 1823 in the charge of the agency of title it was known for some time and about five John Tillson, afterwai'd and at this time. Till- years alter became the Herald. It is probably, son. Moore & Co.. which was located at Quincy. next to the Journal and Register of Springfield, Most of these lands were for sale and at very the oldest j{nirnal in Illinois, Its appearance low rates, the prices ranging from fifty cents for the first two years contrasts strongly with or less an acre, up to two. three or five dollars, the present day journals. It was printed on a according to title, location, etc., but sales at sheet 16x20 inches, of coarse, dingy paper, and the last named figures were very rare. with the heaviest and blackest of ink. Its po- The unpatented land. Avhich was commonly litical character was "Jackson" or "Repub- called government or congress land, was very lican." the names Whig and Democrat of later gradually placed on market. Indeed, it was years having not then been fully assumed. This not until five or six years after the establish- jiaiier. which gives the earliest continued rec- ment of Quincy as tlie county seat that all the ord of pulilic affairs in Quincy, was well man- public lands in Adams county were thrown aged, but it was largely made up of selections open to purchasers. They were siibjeet to and news from abroad, containing compara- entry, however, at this time (1835), and the tively little of local information. People then government land offices were here located. wislied to learn about the outside Avorld, and Hence all wlio desired to purchase land, either personal gossips answered in the place of local by private sale or government entry, nmst come editors. Among the items was one that would to Quincy to complete their dealings, so it may look strange now. It was the advertising by be readily conceived what an influx of travel Judge Young for his runaway slave. George, and business was thus drawn to the place. and an offer of $50 for his apprehension. There Population flowed in from every quarter, from were at that time quite a member of slaves in I'AST AND I'lJKSKXT OF ADAMS CorXTY. 43

llu' state, tlio owners of whom liiitl been >;iuiriin- bought, nuirked and sold by this foreign stand- teetl tlieii- proijcrty hy tlie treaty, eeding to the ard of money rates. I'liiteil States, the Ijouisiaiia territory. Mail matter came leisurely. Letters from the Initial niovciiieiits wei-e made during this seaboard cities and from Washington were gen- year for tlie formation nl' I he Baptist, iletho- erally about two weeks in transit. There were dist. Episcopal and I'nilarian cliurches. .Mem- four postoffices in the county outside of Quiney bers of these new societies had been eitlier —Liberty, Hear Creek, in the north part of the members of or were altenthint on the First ("on- county. Aslit(Jii in the south, and Walnut I'oint gregationai ('hnrch. The .Methodist Cliui'ch or- in the east. ganized in -lune and the Baptist Church in Au- Postage being so high and re

''J'here ai'e in (^uincy," s.iys this report, eai'eer. down almost to the day of his life's "ton stores, oiu' hiiul iigeiiey, one silversmith. close in 1881. Archibald Williams, heretofore Ihrce cooper shops, six hnvyers, six physicians, spoken of as the first lawyer to settle in Qnincy, three hiiieksniitlis. one priritiii'^' offiee. two link- coming here in 181i!J, filled for thirty-two years ers, one eoaehniaker. I'our tailors, two waiion a foremost position at the bar and earned a rep- makers, three pjastei'ers. two drui;' shops. t)ne utati

established this year by C. J\I. Woods. mercantile life, the elder, EdAvard L., removed Three taverns graced, some say disgraced the to California, and there died. Albert engaged town. They were Rufns Brown's, the first in for a time in l)anking at WarsaAv, 111., afterAvard the place, where now stands the Newcomb returned east and died in 1881, at his home in Hotel; the Land Ofiftce Hotel, kept by W. S. NeAv Jersey. They Avere men of mind, of more Walton, on the north side of the square, just than ordinary originality and vigor of thought, west of Fifth street, and George W. Hight's influential and respected for their intelligence Steamboat Hotel on Front street, about oppo- and hos|)itality, and possessed of some marked site the i^resent railroad depot, better then eccentricities. Alliert. the second brother, held known as "Cattish Hotel." No si^ecial delinea- it to be the sacred and bounden duty of every tion of these need be given. Their reputation American citizen to denoiinee AndreAV Jackson, was long preserved in the expressive vernacu- an obligation Avhieh he patriotically performed lar, current in those days, which we cannot ex- to the last day of his life. hume withoiit offending the tastes of our read- ]\IattheAvs & Co., from Ohio, Avere like Whit- ei"s and also drawing too strongly against the ney and the Pearsons, early .settlers. Their store third eonnnandment. Avas on ;\laine. corner of Third. Subsequently The bonnet store and milliner and mantua- they ojjened a store at Carthage, and later at maker's shop was kept by Mrs. Dr. Nicholas WarsaAv, to Avhich latter place they moved, and and Mrs. Burns, on the west side of Fourth Anally left for the east. There Avere three street, near Maine, after^A'ards immediately op- brothers, of AA'hom only one (James) Ave believe posite. Fortunately, forty-seven years ago is living at this date (1886). "boiighten goods" were not so prevalent, nor Rogers & Dutcher Avere a prominent mercan- Avas "style" thought to be so indispensable as tile and commission firm. Samuel C. Rogers, now, home-made truck meeting the general the senior member, Avas a very superior business want, so that these ladies had little difficulty man. He passed quite a portion of his time in keeping up with the fashionable demands on in NcAV Orleans. He Avas quite an ardent and their tastes and time. litieral Catholic, and that church OAves much D. G. Whitney Avas then, as before and after, to him and to his gifted Avife. Thos. B. Dutcher, the leading merchant, Avho had associated Avith also a man of good business habits, after his him. succe.s.sively, Richard (ireen, and his oavu failure in Quincy. engaged in the commission brothers, Ben and William, ilr. Whitney Avas business at St. Louis, and latterly in Ncav Or- from Marietta, Ohio, and came westward early. leans. Roth of these gentlemen have long been He possessed unusual mercantile enterprise and dead. skill, carrying on several ])ranches of business Stephen and Samuel Holmes Avere brothers

at the same time : an extensive store on the Avest of J. T. Holmes, seA'eral times mentioned. The AST AM) I'liKSFAT OI' ADA.MS COrXTV. 47 lldliiics r;iniil\' was frdiii ('i)muM't icut, and pos- methodical habits, and pi-ecise in expression. sessed ol' Yankee enterprise t(i the amijlest ex- He left a reputation for straightforward in- tent. Stephen died a few years after this time. tegrity such as few men obtain. Sanniel, one of the most enterprisiii>i', rapid- John W. ^IcFadon, located on Hampshire, minded men of the town, was prominent in not far from Fourth, was one of the early mer- many pnhlic matters. es|)eeia!ly devoted to po- chants. He was a native of Baltimore, a man litieal ad'airs. holding- various offiees in the of broad information, derived from unusual op- town and city, mayor several times, register portunities of foreign travel and business as a of the li'ovci-nment land otTiee. representative to ship supercargo, which occupation carried him the general assembly and s|)eaker of the Ih)use, almost over the worhi. He was for some years etc. He died in 1868. The store of tiie Holmes', engaged in business at Kio Janeiro. He brought wlio kept the same und(>r several i-haiiiics of west a snug siun of money, opened a store at linn name, was at the southwest corner of Marcelline, and later at Quiney, he invested Maine and Fifth. Latci' in the year (leo. W. sagaciously in lauds and town lots, and hand- ilrowii. a lirother-in-law, was associated in the ling his business prudently and living frugally, liusincss, and tinaily assumetl it. left at his death, in 18()-1, one of the largest es- •lohn Burns. Jr., a former sea captain, came tates in the couidy, and a name of honor. Mr. from Massachusetts in 1834, to remain. He had McFadon was very averse to political notoriety, visited Quiney the year previous. His store although possessing most positive political at- was at southwest corner of Maine and Fourth, tachments and prejudices; his likes were witli ('apt. Burns afterward moved to Payson, and the Whig party, especially on account of its retiring' from business, returned to Quiney, commercial and financitd policy, and his dis- where he died at an advanced age. The family likes were for the Democratic and Abolition is extensively rei)resented here and in the Pa- parties, although, like most of the Whigs, he cific states. Their homestead for many years was anti-slavery in pi'inciple. When asked once \\as tlie '"Burns place," now owned by Lewis why he never got into public life, "By Jupi- Kcn(hili. one mile north of the city, on Twelfth ter," said he, his favorite expression, "I'm too street. This was a large family of active much of a Whig and a gentleman to be anything and enterprising people. but postmaster at Bear Creek, where they have Joel Riee, who died several years ago, was to have some such man to read the directions a Kentuckian by birth, but came to Quiney in on the letters."

1835, from Cincinnati and began business on • John A. Pierce's store was on ilaine street, Front street, as a general dealer and shipping north side, near Fourth; later removed to merchant, afterward engaging in grain and Fourth, just south of D. G. Whitney & Co. He l^ork jiaeking. A lucky eveid a few years later had been a sea captain and had all the blufif. closed his speculative ventures, which were frank and genialty and general intelligence that really foreign to his cautious, prudent nature. usually attaches to that pursuit, but totally The river froze quite unexpectedly and con- unskilled as a merchant. He returned to New tinned closed for some time, holding in its York the folloAving year, having disposed of his gras]) a steamboat on which Mr. Kice had business to I. 0. Woodruff. shii)ped the product of his entire winter's woi'k, S. R. ]\I. Leroy for a short time kept a store indeed, idmost all that he was worth was in- adjoining the Land Office Hotel; he died dur- vested in the enterprise. He had lo ship in ing the year, leaving an extensive family con- tlic I'ace of declining prices and ol' a certain nection, now represented by the Sullivan. Rich- loss, to what extent, he could not know. He ardson, Dunlap and Lane families of Quiney hail made his negotiations with the Illinois and the Reeds and Belknaps of Keokuk, Iowa. State Bank, and his paymeiils were to be made Levi Wells. mentioned in a former chapter, one to tlie bank and in its papci'. The bank failed of the very earliest of the ))ioneer settlers, was while the steamer lay locked in its icy fetters. at this time engaged in merchandizing in his The depreciation of its paper saved him from own building, neai- the southwest cornel- of the apprehended loss. He i|nil speculation to Fifth and JIaine. |>art of which he occupied as any extent after this experience, as he said, a residezice. To his general store lu' and a Mr. he "didn't think a bank \vonld fail and the Morey, added what was. jierhaps (though river freeze up at the same time again." .Mr. small), the largest assoi-tmeni of druu-uist stock Rice subsecpiently engaged in the iron business, in the place. retiring several years ago. He died about 1878. Tillson i: I'itkin. at the old postoftice. corner Mr. Rice was an earnest j)ublic worker, espe- of Fourth and ]\Iaine, represented the oldest cially during the earlier i)eriod of the cit}'''s then existing mei'cantile house of the town, history. He was of somewhat quaint manner. that of Tillson 6c TTolmes. fouiuled in 1828. Seth —

48 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

L. I'itkin, the junior pai'tuer, was a Counecti- iu public affairs. Wagonmakers, wheelwrights eut mau, of excellent character and business and eoachmakers maj^ be classed together. Of qualifications. ))ut. like manj' siu-h men. seemed these A. C. Root and Carter & Walker ap- to labor under misfortune, ilr. Pitkin was a pear to be the only parties who had shops. relative of U. S. Pentield, and ilr. Penfield and Sam Seward, the first wagonnmker of 1826, Thomas Pope also were clerks in this store at had long since disappeared. Tliere were sev- a somewhat later date. eral carpenter .shops and plenty of carpen- The firm of Berry & Parker, changed during ters, though many were but temporary resi- the year to Berry & Skinner, transacted a live- dents, drawn hither fr(im the neighborhood ly bu.siiiess at the corner of Fourth and Hamp- by the opening opportunities for work, and shire. They were brotliers-in-law. They were many of these were but rough workmen. not successfid in business and have long since Nathaniel Summers, from Kentuck.v, who set- passed away, not far distant in the dates of tled in 1821), was the earliest of the boss car- their death. penters. There were also T. C. King, from

Among the merchants who ai-e yet (1866) Virginia ; J. C. Sprague, a New Yorker, alive and residing here, are Samuel Jackson, Purnell, the Wintei's, Charles Green, Amos W. from Charlestown. Jlass., who opened a store Harris and others. this .vear on Hampshire street, about opposite ]\Ir. Harris nuiy he called the pioneer in the the Tremont House, and Samuel P. and Clark lumlter trade which forms so great a factor in B. Church. New Englauders, but from Pitts- our present prosperity, since in addition to his burg here, who located on Fourth street, on carpenter's shop he established the first lumber the west side, near Jersey. George Hunting- yard of any extent. The only gunsmith was don, long since deceased, opened the first ex- Joseph ilusser, whose shop .stood about where clusively commission house. IMontandon & the Occidental hotel now is. He died a few Kimball late in the year began business imme- years since at La Grange, 'Slo. James 'Slc- diately east of where the Newcomb Hotel Quoid. Walby and Albright were butchers. stands. This was Deacon Kimball and H. L. James H. Luce, who had for some years kept Montandon, the silversmith (of whom here- a chairmaker's shop, on Fourth near Jersey, after). A tin store kept by A. ]Maddock, from Avas still so engaged. Sir. Luce, accidentally Cincinnati, on Front, at the corner of Vermont, shot himself while hunting at Lima lake. Dur- was perhaps the first store of this kind. ing this year there came Wm. Towuley from The grocers, as such, were Thos. C. and Wm. New York, who added to his cabinet making- King and "\Vm. P. Reeder. on Hampshire street, business that of carriage and ornamental paint- near Fourth, and Wm. Curtis & Co. on the same ing. This was an advance on whitewash. street, near Sixth. We say "as such" because Whitewash, to use a solecism, was the chief these professed to be solely grocers, while the coloring material in general use. Paint as yet, fact was, that nearly all of the stores kept more was not in general use. Even "Miod's Barn" or less of an asscu'tment of groceries, hardware was luipainted. remaining so for many years, and eveiything besides that was saleable. mitil it Ijecame somebod.v else's barn. The names above given comprehend almost George Wood, from New York, on the north the entire "class mercantile" of the place. side of the public scpiare. who later in the year There doubtless are some omis.sions, but not associated with himself S. Halsey, and R. B. many. Wilmoth were cabinet nuikers also. Among the C. Brown, on ilaine street, west of the bonnet saddlers and harness makers. Levi B. Allen, store, aiul ^lay and Robidoux, on Front, or before named as the first of the trade in 1825, Water street, as it was then called, between was still in business on JIaine, west of Fourth. Maine and Hampshire, operated small bakeries. Tliere were also Lytle Griffin, who soon moved Conrad Broseal, the early baker does not ap- to Columbus, and Cornelius Conley. B. Pea- pear to have been in business at this time. body carried on a wool-carding business on the Of the blacksmiths who had shops, Harrison north side of ^Maine, about midway between Dills, who came in 1834, from Virginia, and Third and Fourth; he died during the year. The located at the corner of Hampshire and Sixtli, only livery stalde. which, also, was the first to and Jos. Galbraith, a Pennsylvaniau, and David be established in the city, was that of John B. Karnes were about all. The last two. with their Young and Martin Ladner, on the north side of families, are gone. Asa Tyrer, the pioneer Hampshire, west of Third, .just where the wind- blacksmith, of 1825. was not then (1835) work- ing road from the river reached the main town ing. Mr. A. C. Lightf(^ot and a ]\Ir. Sykes, level. There were three or four cooper shops; were the leading stone masons. The fir.st named one was that of George AV. Chapman, at the was a man of considerable influence and energy southwest corner of Third and Hampshire. A PAST AND PIJKSEXT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 49

I'iii'Iit irixid fellow was Cliapniaii: hi' was very the men wild conducted them, we come to what rouiul slioulderetl, for which he cared little, per- were the principal factors in the promising liajjs enjoyed it. as lie used to tell with much prosjjccts of the place. These were the (Govern- glee, how Thoinson, a bitr, noisy harum scaruni ment Land Office (of which hereafter) and the painter, ouee said to him. "Georye. what a "lanil agency" before named, and the Quincy splendid, full chested man you would be if your House, which latter, although built dui-ing the head was turned the other way." He left here two following years, was ])rojected this year a few yeans later for Texas, where he died, .ind :ini| was hor-n u\' the land agency and hence few men had more friends. may lie properly mentioned in this connec-

Wells >.^ .Alorgan (E. Wells and .1. I). .Mor- tion. The "land agency" was that of Tillson,

( jranl had also a cooperate establishment in a Moore i.^- ("ii.. .lolin Tillson. Jr.. F. '. ^Moore, log cabin on the nortliwest corner of the Public Lloyil .Moiton. !'>. F. Willis, and succeeding Square, and a shop run by .lolui Watts, we him on his death jilioiit this time, S. C. Sher- think in connection with the steam mill, was at man, partners therein. It had been established the foot of Delaware .street. There were four by .Mr. Tillson, at Ilamilto-i, now Hillsboro. in tailor shops: that of J. P. Bert, father of the 1820. and in 1834-5 the other parties above present well known Bert famil.v. on Fourth named were associated in th<^ firm and the office street. o|)posite (iod's barn, of Louis Cossoii. was transferred to Quincy. who had bought out Michael Jfast, and was as It was a fortunate circumstance that brought eccentric a Gaul as Mr. Mast was a Teuton, and it to this ]ilace. Had Peoria been selected as IT. B. Swartz, both on the west side of the the state capital in.stead of Springfield it would public s((uare, and 8. Leachman's, on Hamp- have been taken there, and our rival city would shire near Sixth. Mr. Bert died in ISGO. re- then have reaped the advantage of being the gretted as he had Ijeen respected in life. ilr. great land center and of having the big hotel. Cosson, leaving a prosperous tailoring business Few men were as extensively known through- engaged in other pursuits, stearaboating, at the out this section of the state as these agents, last, and died in St. Louis. both because of their personal dealings with so H. L. ^lontanden was the first, and for a long many of the incoming settlers and their fre- time, the only silversmith and jeweler. His (luent periodical trips into all the counties of .shop was at the corner of Maine and Fifth, over the tract. Holmes' store, afterward moved immediately John Tillson came to the west from ilassa- east of Brown's hotel, where he engaged in chusetts in 1819, landing at Shawneetowu on mei-chandise with Deacon E. B. Kimball. The the same day with Gov. Wood. Spendiua' the lattei-. with ilr. AVhite. soon after took the following winter in Edwardsville. recording steam mill of J. T. Holmes & Co.. and ran the deeds and looking into land business of his own same for many years. ]\Iontanden, who moved and othei-s. forseeing what fruitful business to Iowa some years later, was a worthy kind ])ros])ects lay in the lands of the then unsettled of a man and something of a character. Gov. Jlilitary Tract, he established an agency, as "Wood used to tell, with his well known zest, of above stated, near the state capital, for the his calling on Alontanden with a gentleman who i-eason, that, then and for some years after, the desired to have his watch repaired. ^I.. after tax on non-resident lands (which paid state examining, declined to touch it, saying, "I can tax only) was paid at the state capital and not do good blacksmith work on all the watches in the counties as now. This business grew about here, but yours, Mr. T., is too fine a so i-apidly that in two years from that time it watch for me to meddle with." "Well." said comprehended the agency of almost all the non- the would-lie-customer, ''I thank you. and must resident land in the state. So much so that we say that you are too honest a man to be work- have lettei's from the state auditor saying. "We ing at what you can't do." Whether this had have our books now ready, please come and pay any effect in influencing his subsequent change the state tax." Later, when the taxes by law in business can't be known, perhaps it had. were paid in the counties, and the general inter- ests of the business required a location near the lands, I\ri-. Tillson removed with his office to and resided at Quin<-y until his death. He QUINCY AS A TOWN—LAND BUSINESS— was found dead in his bed at the Peoria house THE QT'TNC'Y HOUSE. in 1853, having died instantly, as did his father and grandfather, of heart disea.se. Business Continuing and completing these references pei-plexities shortened a life that otherwise to the various business occupations of this year. might have reached, as has those of many of as summai-ized by .Tudae Snow, and mention of his family before him. to nearlv a centurv. lie 50 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

was a large man, of unusually rapid and power- earlier daj's. An odd .stoiw is told of him, which ful action, both muscular and mental; thought is "ower true." It is said that at the time of but little of rising early and walking from the Nelson riots, he came in from his home, the his home to Vandalia (the capital) twent.v-eight present Buckley place, on Broadway and Twen- miles distant, in time for breakfast and to at- ty-fourth, with a gun loaded to the muzzle with tend to business for the day. His philanthropy shot, slugs, etc., and answered all queries by and sagacious public spirit were part of our saying the he meant to point his gun towards early state history. A modest and unosten- the left of the enemy and pull trigger and tatious man, he contributed to the welfare of swing it round to make a swathe tlirongli them. society in many and substantial ways. In the Fortunately for all hands, no fight came off. town of his tirst residence, which he founded, otherwise the stoiw woidd have been too mourn- fostered and beautified, making it one of the ful to be told. He died in 1862. leaving three most attractive villages in the state, he would children, John T. for many years a circuit .iudge not permit even a street to be named after him. in Kansas; the late Col. Charley Morton, and Many of the earlier beneficial enterprises of the one daughter, Joanna. state received from him origin or aid. To one Seth C. Sherman. Avhose somewhat recent of our oldest educational institutions he private- death and burial on the same day with his wife, ly gave a large subscription, conditioned that is still fresh in memory, was a Vermonter, well another should also contribute and that it educated and of unusual literary tastes and at- should bear the name of the latter. We heard tainments. His library was one of the largest Gov. Wood say to him, "If you had come here and best selected in the place. He moved to when I did there would be twice as many peo- the west about 1830. located at Vandalia, was ple here by this time." editor and lawyer while there, thence came to Francis C. ]\Ioore. whom almost everybody Quincy with the other partners and remained in from Calhoun county to Rock Island used to the business for many years. He. with F. C. know, was a polished, graceful gentleman of and Ebenezer iloore. engaged for a time in small stature, singularly alert in thought and banking about 1856. He was the first collector action. He was born in New York, brought up of internal revenue for this district. He died with a mercantile education, came west in 1834, in 1879. entered into the land office at Ilillsboro, came Connected with the locating of the land busi- to Quincy the following year. He was the lead- ness in Quincy Avas the erection of the Quincy ing partner in the firm of Moore, ilorton & Co. H(n;se. It was, and yet is, a puzzle to some why for some thirty years, when it went out of ex- so large and expensive a building should have

istence. He was a very attractive man ; indus- been built at such a time in the little town of trious, precise in business, kindly, social, .jovial Quincy. Its anomalous appearance may be con- as a boy: a most earnest member of the Epis- ceived when we note that there were not a copal church, of which he may almo.st be called dozen brick buildings in town, only two or three the father and founder, in this city. He was about the square, no building existing over two twice married, leaving a family of eight chil- stories high, and but few such; that no .street dren, three of whom were John L. Moore, Mrs. was graded to the river, the old winding track J. T. Baker and :Mrs. J. G. Rowland. He died from about the foot of Vermont to the vicinity in Omaha, at the residence of one of his chil- of the present City Hall, being the only road

dren in 1874. fi-om the landing to the square : that there was

Lloyd ilorton. "Old Uncle ^Morton." as all no Maine street east of Sixth : that on Hamp- called him, for he was one of those .slow-man- shire all was open country beyond Eighth, that nered men who seem old when young, was a north of Broadway were woods and cornfields, Massachusetts man, a brother-in-law of Mr. that the same appeared three blocks south of Tillson. He came west in 1829, clerked in the I\Iaine, and the contrasted size and elegance of office until 1834, when he became a partner and such a structure may be fairly imagined. It later brought his family to Quincy. He was had been the original intention of ^Ir. Tillson, an odd man. with a slow, drawling speech, much who built it. to erect a hotel costing about intelligence and quaint wit. He bore throiigh twenty thousand dollars. Deacon E. B. Kim- life a proverbial reputation for strong, good ball, who had owned part of the land on which .iudgment and integrity, a special distinction the house was built, was interested in the enter- which few gain who work for it, but which the prise, but the whole was finally taken by ]\Ir. public instinct confers upon some men, and Tillson and the pi-oject enlarged with the fol- i-arely bestows it wrongly. lie had singularly lowing design. A stock company had been cool courage and determination: qualities formed, composed of eastern men who owned needed and tested among the rough scenes of most of the non-resident land in the ililitary PAST AND PRESENT OP ADA]\rs COUNTY. 51

Tract, of which .Mr. Tillsoii wms iiuide general hall house at Milwaukee. It is a little singular agent and snperiiilciulciil. that the Quincy house, the finest hotel of its A hu-ge ])()rti()ii of tlic Ijinds witi' held l)y the time in the west, and the Newhall house, tAveu- tax title. Tinder which, indeed, iiidst of the land ty years later the leading Avestern hotel of its in this section was originally settled and im- tlay. should have been kept by the same jiai'f ies, proved. It Mas exceedingly desirable to secure and been destroyed almost at the same time. favorable legishition so as to (|niet the contests The house has been operated almost constantly over titles. 'I'lic slate legislature was not par- from the first. It Avas closed in the Avinter of ticularly zealous to guard the interests of 1845-6 and 1850-51 for repairs, and once or foreign land owiui-i-s. none the nu)re because tAvice for a brief i)eriod, has been siuc<' tenant- these owiun-s were mostly from the east, and it less. Its landlords after Mr. ^Monroe have been Avas suggested that if the company owned a sub- Mdler & Guttery, 1), W. Miller, O. M. Sheldon. stantial improvement and interest their claims Floyd & Kidder, Boon & Blossom and one or and those of i)ersons who bought from them, tAvo others AA'hose names Ave do not recall, E, S. would be more highly regarded and secure. ]Morehouse, and lastly (jeo. P. Fay. With this object. Mr.'Tillson. built the house It Avas a leading social instituti(ui in its early at a cost, when furnished, of one hiuidred and days, a sort of society hea(l((uarters. (faiety six thousanil tiolhirs. It was transferred to gathered in its halls, and whateA'er Avas done the company, which then became the Quincy by the "Quincy House ladies" and the many House Company. The objects were partially ac- young men Avho boarded there Avas society ex complished, favorable legislation as to time and cathedra. Those Avere generous, joyous times. place of recording deeds, the "possession law,'" Everyl)ody kneAV everybody, himself and fam-

etc., being the fruit of this plan : but the bene- ily, horse aud dog. If you met some one whom ficial results wei'e brief. Between 1835 and you did not knoAv, the first friend you saw 1838 financial reverses came. "Hard times" could tell you who he AA-as. Quincy Avas a kind such as have never since been felt, stagnated of Rns in nrbe. Its scant area and its palatial the business of the country, and the Quincy hotel, combined pastoral freedom Avith toAvn House Comjiany and all connected with it went luxury. Refinement and inirality intertAvined. down, but the benefits to Quincy fi'oni its con- It Avas but a fcAv moments' Avalk from a city struction Avere not (inly innnediate, but iternia- hotel to a fcn-est seclusion. Game and fish Avere nent. Avithin hand reach and plenty as blackberries. Charles Ilowland, from lliddleborough, All this made it an attractive and familiar sum- Mass., was the architect. When built, aud for mer resort from St. Louis and the south. some years afterward, the house stood with its The impression made on a stranger by such lower floor even with the street, but a decline a contrasted condition of things Avas Avell told grade on ]\Iaine street and the lowering of US by Dr. Barflett, one of the keenest of the

Fourth street left the cellar wall on that side old time sport.smen : "I came to Quincy," said about half exposed, and many Avere the pro- he, "knoAving nothing of it and nobody in the phecies that tlie Avail would fall. But houses place, but looking for a place to settle. I got in those days were built to stay, and this has in late at night and only noticed Avith surprise stood and shown a strength under a test such the size and style of the hotel, AA'hich seemed as few sfi'ucfures could bear. It Avas most thor- better than in St. Louis. The next morning I oughly Inult: cost Avas nothing as against com- looked out of my third story AviudoAvs but pleteness. The stone Avork Avas extra solid for couldn't see much toAvn. It Avas country all those days, the bi-iciy Wm. Monroe, formerly of It Avas the center for ucavs from abroad and the Bloomfield house, Bo.ston. JIany will ]ilcas- at home. There Avere no daily pa]Kn-s then, no antly renu'nibei' that ])rince of iienial, jovial telegra])hic ncAvs. It came through the St. landlords, the stately, substantial landlady, and Louis papers, or Avas brought by retiu-ning citi- their three jictive, attractiA^e daughters. They zens. The big reading room Avas the place for are all dead. .Mr. .Monroe, after leaving here concourse in summer and Avinter CA-enings. and Avith his son-in-law. Charley AndreAvs, kept the though the day of the old house is over and its ilonroe hoiise in St. Louis, and latei- tlie Ncav- like Avill come never auaiu. there are not a 52 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

few liugering grey heads of the place who will free state. To Gov. Edward Coles are we in- pleasantly recall those gossii^ gatherings in the debted for the blessing that Illinois was not old office and halls: and the toes of some now then made a slave-holding state, ilr. Wood, stately silvered dames will yet tingle at the immediately after the election, went east and sometime recollection of those eadeneed foot on his way took to Edwardsville, the then state tappings on the parlor carpets when Taylor and capital, the returns from this section. When Baker and Bert and Chick, and the "Monroe the boat on which he traveled stopped at girls," and the "Merend girls" et id gemis Shawneetown, a crowd came on board and omue. struck out fun from joy's freshest foun- asked to learn how the state had voted. The tain as they did in old times, and as only old captain said, "here's a young man just from times knew how to do, with the great landlady Edwardsville. perhaps he can tell you." Wood, seated in her cozy whist coi-ner, and her much thus referred to said that "it was thought at lesser half, the mirth eyed landlord, rubbing his Edward.sville that 'convention' was beaten by generous palms and looking smilingly on. about 1,500." "It's a d—d lie!" said one of The government land office for the public tlie parties, answering more from his wish than land district which comprised the Military his knowledge. AVood picked up a chair and Tract had been located at Quincy in 1831. The but for the interposition of the captain a small office was on the south side of Hampshire street civil war was imminent. near Sixth, where it remained for a number of Nine years after, as John Wood tells it, "a years. But little business was then transacted man, all alone, in a canoe, paddled wp to op- for some time, there being only seventeen en- posite my cabin at the foot of Delaware street, tries during the first year (1831), the reason for landed and staid with me over night. He told this being that at that time no lands north of me that his name was Alexander, that he had Adams county were subject to entry. For come to open the laud office of which he had some reason, to the Avriter imknown, the gov- been appointed Register." While at supper ernment periodically placed only portions of its he said, "I think I've seen you before." Mr. surveyed land in the market, and although the Wood then told him that he was the man who entire Military Tract had been surveyed in at Shawneetown gave him the lie for reporting 1815 and '16, it was not until this year that the result of the election of 1824. "Oh, no," all of the district was thrown open to the says Alexander, "it must have been some other public. d—d fool," and although Wood on every con- The first sale at auction, as lands were then venient occasion hinted at this story of the first from time to time offered, took place June 15th meeting, Alexander's memory could only be re- of this year. From thence until 1857-8, when freshed by the statement that "it was some most of the lands being entered, the office was other d—d fool." transferred to Springfield, this business added The census, taken this year, showed a popula- largely to the growth of'tlie place. The first tion in tlie county of 7,042, subject to military Register and Receiver were severally, Samuel duty 1.319; in the town the population was Alexander (father of Perry Alexander) and 753, and 270 subject to military duty—about Thomas Carlin. They wei'e succeeded in 1837-8 18 per cent in the, county and about 36 per cent by Wm. 6. Flood and Samuel Leech, after in the town. This is a singular contrast, but it whom came, in 1845. Samuel Holmes and Hiram indicates how much more rapidly during the

Rogei's ; in 1849, Henry Asbury and H. V. Sulli- last ten years the county had been settled up, van, and in 1853, A. C. Marsh and Damon and also that the toAvn population was largely Hauser, at the expiration of whose term the nuide up of young and single men. It indicates office was removed. another curious fact in connection with the con- Of Thomas Carlin mention has been made. tests for the removal of the county seat, which Samuel Alexander, the first Register, was a first became a contested question during this man of much force of character, very rough in year. manner, extremely earnest and ultra in politics It will be remembered that in 1825. as has and wielding much influence with his party. been stated in a former chapter, the commis- Gov. Wood, whose oft-told old stories have in sioners appointed by the legislature to select them alwaj's a local relish, was wont to tell of the county seat came here with the intention his first and second meeting with Alexander. of locating the same at the geographical center In 1824 political feeling, fanned by the anti- of the county—a somewhat natural notion that slavery agitation, was at a fever heat. The often prevailed in those days. It is also known ciuestion of "convention" or "no convention" that needing a pilot for that purpose they en- was voted upon. Convention meant a new pro gaged ]Mr. Willard Keyes, an exi)erienced early slavery constitution. No convention meant a pioneer, as a guide, and that 'Sir. K. proved :

I'AST AND l*I!ESENT OF ADA.MS COUXTY. 53

himself to he ii'iiidc, ijliilosoplicr niul frieiul, ami this, we rei)r()duc(> (anticipating seq\U'nt dates guided tlie coiiiiiiissioiiers hack to Quiiiey after liy a year) the following from the Bounty Laud a toilsome day's search for the eeiiter of the Register of Mny 27. 1836 county among the Jlill creek swamps, where they more nearly reached its bottom; philos- opher enough to know where the county seat "SALE OF LOTS IX ADA:\ISBURC4, THE ought to be, and that the best use of knowledge geo(;kapiiical cextke of adams it all, friend is often to not use at ami enough COUNTY, ox TUESDAY, JUXE 21, to his own views and to the then and future in- 1836. terests of tiiwii and county to thus bring about the select iuii which the wearied commissioners "Adamsburg is beautifully situated on a made on llic following day, and the living high, gently rolling ]irairie. in the geographical gr;ititu(le of C^uincy will never forget the centre of Adams county, said to be on the quar- judicious blindness and far foreseeing forget- ter section designated by the counuissioners ap- fulne.ss of this experienced pioneer Keyes on pointed under a late act of the legislature as this pregnant occasion. No objection was made the most central, eligible and convenient point to the selection then nor for years after. for the permanent locatiou of the seat of justice During the year 183-l:-5 however, a move- for said county, liut the gentlemen then owning ment was originated to compel the change of it not being in the state the commissioners fixed the county seat from Quincy to a "geographical He is a proper subject for mention for the center." This was the commencement of that upon a location about two and one-half miles nonsense which nurtured a sectional strife be- east. A vote of the people being taken the lat- tween city and connty, altogether baseless, but ter location of the commissioners was rejected renewed at two later i)eriods. The designation by a very small majority, because of its not be- of "geographical center" was geograj)hically ing sufficiently central : so that a permanent site incorrect —a nuitter of no consequence now, but for the seat of justice has yet to be selected, and one that cut quite a figure then and more so but little doubt remains that Adamsburg will in the contest of some six years later. At the be the place. Its commanding location," etc., August election the vote stood for Quincy 618, etc. "for commissioners' stake" 492; Quincy at the So ran the notice. The intended town above time casting 390 votes—of these 320 were for named was on the southwest quarter of section itself and 70 against. Later, in 1841, when the 10, 1 south, 7 west, which is now in Gtilmer contest lay between Quincy and Columbus, the township, and has been for many years a most vote, as declared, was 1,545 for the former and excellent farm. It was one of the thousand 1.636 for the latter. Still later, on Nov. 18, like speculative towns which dotted the state 1875, there were given for Quincy 7,283 votes, all over and had no existence beyond that of a and for Coatsburg 3.109. paper and a plat and stakes driven in the This strife is now settled forever. These elec- ground. There existed at this time the maddest tions are referred to as showing how slight Avas of manias among farmers and speculators who the sectional feeling in 1835, when, as it will be happened to own a handsomely situated quar- noted. Quincy contained but aboiit one-third of ter section of land, to survey and lay oiit the the votiuLi' population of the county and was same, stake it out into streets, blocks and lots, successful : while in later years, when dema- give the place some pretentious name, advertise gogue inlluciu-es had roused u]) prejudice the if for sale, and then lie back on the lazy dig- city stood about five to six in voting strength, nity of having become a "town founder," and still it won. it u.sually happened that within the two or The "coiiimissiouers" stake." which was three succeeding years the founded town and voted for, as purporting to be the precise the "town founder" were alike found to be geogra]>hical centre of Adams county, and foinulered. Special mention is here made of therefore the proper place at which to locate this town for the local reasons above given, and the county seat, was not (as before said") the as it so well illustrates the town speculative exact centre of the county. Connected with the ci-aze of the day. and also because some notable history of this county seat contest, and as show- names wei'e affiliated with the county seat proj- ing also that the all prevalent central idea for ect. Stephen A. Douglas, James Berdan, Den- a county "seat of justice" was not daunted by nis TJoekwell, leading lawyers and business men its decided defeat in 1835, but still smouldered, of Jacksonville; S. S. Brooks, a well known ready 1o be raked up and revived, as it was printer and managing politician of this state, in 1841 and again in 1875. meeting at each afterward i-ecorder of Adams county, and J. period the same crushing fate. As pertinent to H. Petit, editor at one time of the Quincy " '

54 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Arg'us (now Heraldj and some others nearly as the grading of the ground for the new court- well known, were the incubators of this selieme house exhumed much of this old sepulchral —proprietors of the property which they sup- soil. posed might eventually become, through this There rests, with other honored dust, the geographical idea, the seat of justice of Adams ashes of A. F. Hubbard, lieutenant-governor of county. The project ended almost as soon as it Illinois from 1822 to 1826, a queer character, commenced, and the town of Adamsburg is wliose claim to fame lies more on what he was among the "things that wei"e" not. not. than what he was. and who by this accident The county commissioners in September in- of an undiscovered grave obtains a more widely vited praposals for the construction of a new published notoriety than anything his merits coiirthouse, to be built "of brick of the best or public service could have secured, quality and in the neatest manner, the carpen- of its navigable streams, the Mississippi, Ohio, ters and joiners work to be of the best materials reason that he was the first Quincy man who and finished in the most fashionable stj'le. filled, or rather in his case it may be better said, This was the well reinembered building, com- occupied, a prominent state position. pleted in 1838, and destroyed by tire in 1875. His residence here was brief and his public Three months after this, its predecessor, the career marked only by his absurd and futile at- superannuated old log courthouse which had tempts to supplant Gov. Coles during the lat- stood since 1825, went up in tiames. As much ter "s temporary absence from the state. He justice was done to the public wish when it sought the governorship in 1826 but failed. The went up as had ever emanated from within its following slice from one of his speeches illus- log walls. trates his capacity and character: Two notable departures from life occurred "'Fellow citizens, I'm a candidate for gov- late in this year, the death of the first two per- ernor; I don't pretend to be a man of extraor- manent settlers of the county, Daniel Lisle and dinary talents, nor claim to be e(iual to Julius Justus Pei'igo, who had resided here since about Caesar or Napoleon Bonaparte, and I ain't as 1819 or '20. They were both of the rough great a man as my opponent. Gov. Edwards. stamp of character connnon in those days, but Yet I think I can govern you pretty well. I good men in their waj'. Lisle was one of the don't think it will require a very extra smart early count}' commissioners and his name ap- man to govern you: for to tell the truth fellow pears on the earliest of the quaint court records citizens, I don't think you'll be hard to govern, in connection with a controversy with John no how. ' Wood. Some of his family .still live in the He was Avell described by Gov. Coles as a southeastern part of the county. "historic oddity." A well enough meaning Heretofore there had been no other public man. of sliallow bearings, but inordinate aspir- burial ground than the south half of the block ations, type of a class which we to-day see still on which the courthouse stands, now known as survives. Men, whom the shrewd and sarcastic Jefferson square, which had been reserved for Judge Purple used to speak of as "fellows who cemetery uses when the town was platted in forced themselves on the public, claiming that 1825. A meeting of citizens was called on June they have a mission to fill, which tliey most 2Gth, to initiate measures for the establish- always fool-fill." ment of another cemetery, which resulted two The cost of living at this period was in some years later, in 1837, in the jjurchase by the respects light and again in others heavy. Home town from E. B. Kimball, of eight and 56-100 products were easily and cheaply obtained at acres at the southeast corner of Maine and low prices: imported stuffs were exceptionally Twenty-fourth streets, now [Madison park. The dear. The rapidly rising population, the ac- price paid was ^6i2. There had jn-obaljly been celei-atiiig liusiness and the growing plentitude three hundred or more burials in the first named of money caused these somewhat c(mtrary con- cemetery up to the time of its discontinuance. ditions. Labor prices and the Inisiness situa- Some of the bodies buried were those of strang- tion is i)ictured in the following fi'om the of year: ers, nameless and unknown : other gi'aves con- Regi.ster in November this tained the bodies of those who, through neglect "Business is brisk, boats being ci'owded to of friends to mark them, could not be identified. excess with freight and passengers; great com- Most of them were transferred to the other plaints are made for the want of mechanics to cemetery, and many of these again, at a later construct buildings to shelter the emigrants and period were buried in Woodland cemetery. Yet their goods. At present carpenters are getting there still lie and M'ill forever lie. many undis- from $1.50 to $2.00 per day and found. ]Masons tinguished and unclaimed bones, rotten and for- $2.00, and other mechanics in proportion. Com- gotten, as was noted, when a few years since. mon laborers are getting $1.00 and $1.25. Hands PAST AND TKESENT OF ADA:\rS COUNTY. 55 on a rariii fid .tl.'j.OO to $1^1.00 per niiiiilli: I'lr forever. There was a valid excuse ior this per cord paid for ciittiiig wood, ll is rdiiiul seemingly reckless sentiment and action. very difficult indeed to obtain help at tiiese Our great unopened state had thus far oidy priees. 'I'lie an-ivai of a nnnd)cr of industrious been reached by the water courses. The banks hands would he hailed with joy by a larui' nuin- Illinois. Wabash, and even the Kaskaskia (i)r "' bcr of oui' rilizens. Ukaw, the old Indian name,) were fringed with

\'alut's in these da\"s cannot be easily oi' ac- settlements, but the back eoimtry was still a cui'ately stated. An inipeifcct jn'ice current for grass wilderness, and the instinct of enter- tiie yeai' shows tiie following' averages: Hams, prise craved to reach and i'eai> the richness of this untamed prairie soil. Only l)y the divining i^^iioc: beef. best butter, l(3c : cotifee, 4c: "iOc ; brown suji:ar, 12c: loaf snyai', 20c: whisky, touch of the railroad wand coidd this lui- 30@50c per uallon: cheese, lOc; coal. 20c per bounded fertility be aroused aiul develope

])er cwt. : 900 bbls. of beef and pork ]iut np. ern Cross railroad, out of \vhich the Wabash about ISO.OOO [)onnds of bacon. 1.300 kegs of and ('.. B. & Q. have grown. lard and 2.000 pounds of tallow. I'ork sold at This road was built, (we can hardly say com- about sjill per barrel. idetedj and operated from Springfield to the Th(> above gives, as near as it is |iossible to Illinois, on the present line of the Wabash. oldaiii it. the current business transacted at It is the oldest railroad in the state and the this |i<'i-iod. The season was favorable for oidy one that under the iidernal improvement traftie and travel. Navigation oiiened as early system had even a jiartial finish : and on its as January 2:ird and closed Xovember 2.")tli. charter the two roads above named have been holding good throuuhout the rest of the year. based and extended. With liiis |)eriod awoke that wild railroad Patriotism was vigorous in these primitive mania which, shaping itself into the "internal days. On the 4th of July. Browning made the improvement system"' and luninng to a most speech and Snow read the de

where the railroad meeting above alluded to of well ]

bad breakfast, "I luiderstand : it is well named, Indian town. There was probably but one large th'? land there is two inches above boai'd (a Indian village in the county, in the northern sailor's expression) all over the floor, and you part near Bear Creek, evidences of which long can sample the soil in any of the rooms." exi.sted. Another also, long abandoned, was The cost of learning may be estimated from situated on the edge of Pike county, on the the advertisement of a "select school for yovmg Sny Ecarte (or lost wandering channel, now ladies." by a teacher of more than ordinary known as the Sny Carte Slough or Sny), but cjualification. The terms, per quarter, were: all this section south of the Des Moines rapids Reading, writing, arithmetic and geography, and above the mouth of the Illinois was de- .$2.00; higher English liranehes, $2.50; drawing, batable ground between the Sacs and Foxes, painting, etc., $4.00. Probably the pupils got the Pottowatamies, the lowas of the north, and their money's worth full as well as they do now. tlieir hei-editai'y foes, the Piasaws, Kaskaskias, In February of this year was chartered the the mini, tlie Shawiiees and other hostile tribes State Bank of Illinois, with some singubir in'o- of the south and east. visions. The capital stock was to be $1,.')00.000 "With the year of 1835, of which we are writ- of Avhich $1,400,000 must be subscribed by in- ing, there was a decided increase in permanent dividuals, and $100,000 to be taken by the state population. Among the well known settlers of whenever the legislatm-e chose to do so. The this date were Major J. H. Holton, Capt. Pit- stock .shares were $100 each. It was provided man, Joel Rice, Lloyd Slorton, J. P. Bei-t, the that tiie main bank should be at Springfield, Churches, ilitchells, Stobies, Grimms, MeClin- with a branch at Vandalia, and that six other tocks. A. Konantz, Phelps and many others, also brandies might be located at discretion. A sub- Castle, for a time at Columbus, the Blacks and scription of $250,000 was demanded as a basis Wallaces, of Clayton ; Riehardsons and Cutters, for the location of each branch liank. There of Beverly; Bliven, Prince and Pottle, of Pay- was subscribed on the 10th of April from son ; the Shinns, of Melrose ; Bartholemew, of Quincy and vicinity $120,100. It was not, how- ^lendon, or Fairfield, as it was then called, and ever, until the following year that the branch many others whose names are identified with was located here. the city and county history. This was a somewhat marked year for settle- The French named this slough Chenal ecarte ment. The earlier "old settlers" prior to 1830 or "narrow channel." This was first abbre- were but few, and of these now at this date, viated and called Sny Carte, and now is called (1883) all but two have passed away. Immigra- the Snv. tion subsequent to that period until 1834. was not great : much of it was transitory, and three .successive years of blighting sickliness had told CHAPTER XIII. heavily against the population. With 1834. 1836. however, and the few following years, the tide NEW SETTLERS. NEW WELL ORDERED. EARL of settlement rapidly swelled. During the year PIERCE. MILITIA. MARION CITY. RAILROAD 1834, there had come to stay, the Burns, Brown SCHEMES. LOCATION OP MARKET HOUSE. THE ONLY NEWSPAPER. and Cleveland families. George and Ed. Bond, Edward AVells, J. D. ^Morgan, H. Dills. Adam f'oming with this year was a large number of Schmidt. Kaltz. Ilcrleman. Jolni Schell. "old settlers," men, whose names are well Delebar, F. C. Moore, N. Pease (who had visited known, and some of them are living at this the town before), the McDades and a few other date, (1886). PAST AM) i'UESE.N'l' OF ADAMS ('OUNTY. 57

Aiminir tlioiii there were F. W. Jansen. tlio tracts thrown up, work abandoned, connnit- Glasses. Diekhuts. Jiinkerts. Stewarts. Win. tees of examination, etc.. before they were com- Gerry. \V. II. (in'^t\ Amos Green. S. K. Seger. pleted, making the same proportionate stir C. A. Warren. L. Kingnian. IT. V. Sullivan, J. that a similar (juestion does now. (An allusion T. Baker. (Jeorge IMilier, Wilson Lane, A. E. to the agitation of the question of ownership by Drain, and many beside whose names cannot be the city of tlie water works. Ed.) given. Tiie foi-eign iunnigration, mostly Ger- It seems as if the average town and city man, began largely with this year. father has always been more or less affiicted by The political action of tlie toM'n fatliers was "water on the bi'ain." A strange remissness relatively of as nnich importance and created iu regard to th(> jiublic business of the town as fair a ])i'oportion of interest and criticism both in meeting and recording the same ap- as do the intellectual wrestlings among the city pears. Although monthly meetings of the board fathers of to-day. were prescribed, the record of July 5th adjourns The board meetings were not fr^Mpient. At to "next I\[onday. July 11th." but no record the April and again at the I\Iay session, the again ai)])ears until the next February. Either clerk was ordered to notify the road supervisors the board had nothing to do or it was ashamed specitically of their duties, etc., which shows to tell of it. that supervisors could be as lazy in those days At the August election (and it may be stated as now. that until after 1848. all the general elections, An ordinance was passed on Slay 21st. which except the presidential in November, were held reads somewhat strangely: "Be it ordained on the first ^londay in August). Earl Pierce by the jiresident and trustees of the town of was elected sheritt' for the sixth and last time, Quincy, that all buildings noM" erected or that as before his term expired he "between two shall hereafter be erected on any of the public days" suddenly took a trip, and some other grounds in the limits of this corporation are things, that ditl not belong to him to Texas. hereby declared a public nuisance." As the Pierce had been sheriff since 182ti. and was a old courthouse had just been burned and an- specimen politician of the times. other was in process of erection, this looked like A frank, generous, rollicking manner, and an a wrathful thrust at local architects. The active, adroit, aspiring nature, long nmde pei-- "meaning meant well"—as C. A. Warren was haps the most popular and influential man of wont to say—of this sort of a boomerang ordi- the county, biit constant office holding spoiled nance, and its true intent can be understood, him. He was brigadier general of the state yet it is not certain that a similar one might militia (cornstalk) as it was then termed, of with truth aiid propriety be placed on most of which, the 37th Adams Gountv regiment was a the corporation records of the country. part, otficered by Col. P. W. Martin. :\raj. Wm. At the June election G. W^. Chapman. Joel G. Flood, Paymaster O. II. Browning, Adjutant Rice, Wm. Skinner, E. L. Pearson and J. T. Dr. S. 'W. Rogers, all of the Black Hawk war Holmes were elected as trustees. Holmes was eminence. Thos. C. King was elected coroner, made president and Pearson secretary. The A. \Y. Shinn. Geo. Taylor and John B. Young report of Ti-easurer Williams for the past year were county commissioners. Xo other change gives an insight into the financial affairs of the was made in the other county officers; Wren, town, besides exhibiting another unusual fea- Snow and Frazier remaining in office. ture. Tlis report showed as collected on taxes The legislative apportionment made at the $249.82. and .$."). (10 paid in for show license, session of 1835-6 entitled Adams county to one making .$254.82. of receipts: that he had paid senator and two representatives, under which out $2.58. and hence was a creditor of the town O. H. Browning was elected senator, and to the amount of $:).18. (ieorge Galbraith and J. H. Ral.ston representa- As 'Sir. Williams was again chosen treasurer tives. Joseiih Duncan was governor: Wm. L. by the boai'd and accepted the office, it would Hay representative, and John il. Robinson and appear that the right of the town to owe its W. L. D. Ewing senators in congress, the latter treasurer was recognized and approved by both being succeeded by Judge Richard M. Young, parties. It does not appear that the treasurer who was chosen at the session of 1836-7 for the required the town to make to him a bond. full term, being the fir.st member of either The ])rominent jHiblic improvements at this house of couu'ress from Quincy. time were I lie public mcIIs. two of which were Navigation opened ilai'ch 18th and continued ordered to "be siuik on tiie public square, of good until about December 1st. Time, especially suitable dimensions as .soon as practicable." in port, was not economized as now. The These proved to be well-springs of trouble and Wyoming left Quincy on the evening of IMay contest, ruiuiing through several years, con- l.st for St. Tiouis and got back on the evening : —;

S8 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA^MS COUNTY. of the 4th. heiug uut .seventy-two and a lialf and Indiana, thence to Danville. Decatur, hours, claimed to be the quieke.st trip vet made. Springfield. Jacksonville. IMeredosia, ilt. Sterl- Two regidar packets, the Quincy and O'Connell, ing, Clayton and Quincy—provided they make plied between St. Louis and the rapids. The ari-angements with a ccimpany already char- river was vei'y high early in the season. Hooding tered to make a road from Jacksonville to the low lands and laying a fatal wet blanket Meredosia." If they could not agree on terms over the prospects of many of the expectant Avith this intermediate incorporation "the .iudge cities which had been born from the speculative of the Morgan court" should decide. The first frenzy of the last two years and located in the named company, the "Wabash & ^Mississippi." bottom land. not to build frcnn Jacksonville to ileredosia Jlarion City, or Green's landing as it had until tci-ms were arranged with the other com- been known, ten miles below Quincy, and an- pany. The company was required to expend nounced as its future rival, where some $400.- $20,000 within four j'ears, or to operate within 000 were said to have been invested in lots in ten years, or forfeit the charter. The capital 1835, was almost completely covered by the stock was fixed at $3,000,000, with the privilege irreverent Mississippi and its inflated preten- of increasing the same to .$5,000,000. sions hopelessly dissolved. All the town lots in the original town of Work was begun on the Quincy House and Quinc>" remaining unsold were offered at auc- courthouse, both of which were fini.shed in 183S. tion by the comity commissioners, on April 11. Several other brick, among them the ^Methodist The prices given are of relative intere.st and church, and a large number of frame buildings curiosity now. The north half of what is now were erected, "averaging a new dwelling for a the courthouse block, facing Broadway, sold family, for every day between the tirst of April for $541 : the north half of the block next on and the last of Aiigust," and it Avas estimated the west sold for $736: the two lots of block and recorded that over two hundred non-resi- 10, on Vennont street, between Fifth and the dent )uechanics and laborers found here steady alley, facing the courthouse, brought better employment. Prices ran higher than in the figures, $1,398 ; that part of block 11 on Fifth previou.s year. Flour sold at !}*7.25. wheat 87 street facing Washington Square, excepting cents, potatoes 40 to 50 cents, butter 20 cents, alxuit one hundred feet at the corner of Hamp- bacon I'iiA cents, beef $7.00 per hundred. shire and one hundred feet in the middle, where Another hoped for county seat was laid off the late courthouse stood, was st)ld for $11,657, and advertised as the town of Lafayette, on being an average value of aboiit $58 per foot the S. W. 14, 1 S. 7 W. at the real geographical the ground on the east side of Sixth, between centre of the eoiinty. (I think that this name Vermont and Broadway, opposite the present should be Adamsburg, L. B.) The proprietor court hoTise, was struck off at $488: lot 1, of the town was very liberal in his otters, pro- block 21. at the coi'ner of Jersey and Sixth, posing to give every other lot to the county, brought $200, while lots 6, 7 and 8, on the south and also if it became the countj' seat to give side of the same block, were bought for $957 half the balance of the land, and to the first about $3 per foot. Lots on York street, be- merchant and first mechanic who should settle tween Second and Sixth, realized from $1 to and build a house worth one hundred dollars $6 per foot—the last a high figure, the average any lot that he might choose. It was then and being a little over $2. This section contained yet is a very good farm. at that time the most desirable selections for The railroad movements of the preceding residence lots. Lot 1, block 26, at the corner year In-ought about at the session of 1835-6 one of York, sold for $450. of the first railroad charters granted in the Property at private sale changed hands often state which blended afterward with the inter- some standing improvements. The first large nal improvement sy.stem, and is now the aiul at rapidly rising rates. The liighe.st price Wabash. Being a pioneer enterprise of its kind previously paid for any piece of property in and containing some singular features, the char- the town had been for the Quincy House cor- ter is worthy of a summarized statement of its ner, being about $80 per foot, but this included provisions. It empowers John Williams, James sale above that figure was made in this year, Bell, Wm. Carpenter and Wm. Craig, of being that of lot 7, block 8, on the north side

Sangamon : John W. Murphy, Sanniel Mc- of Hampshire, one hundred feet west of Fourth, Roberts and G. W. Cassicly. of Vermilion at the rate of $100 per fi-ont foot. Matthew Stacy, James Tilton and J. J. Hardin, The sales above described as being made by of Morgan, and J. T. Holmes, E. L. Pearson and the county commissioners were only of unim- J. W. McFaden, of Adams, "to construct a road proved property, and completed the transfer from some point on the line between this state into private hands of all of the original town of I'AST AND IMx'KSKXT OK ADA.MS CorXTV 59

Quincy. except such as was reserved for public longer adherence to the town system, which is |)ur])oses. similar sales haviiifi been lieid t'l'om the simplest, fairest, though not always the time to time since 1825. Almost all of this land strongest system for corporate rule. It is also was purchased by residents. the equalized and consistent basis of our gen- eral iiistitutions. • lohn ^'or(•k(' Sawyer, a pi'oniincnt ot'ticial It was four years later that (^uincy fijiure in I he infancy of (^uiiicy. Inivini; been became a city, and it was luidonhtedly the first cii-cnit jud^e. and holdinu' the fii'st needful tliat it slioidd do so. court in the county, in IS'J."), in Keyes" cabin The Hounty Land Register, still the only on Front strt>et, died this year. .March l.'5tli. at paper in the i)lace. was purchased in Jidy by \'andalia. lie was then th<' editor of the \'aii- John II. Petit, and took the additional name dalia Atlvocate. lietter ednc;i1fd llian He was of Argus. The year following this, it became the average of the profe.ssion iu his time, and the Quincy Argus, and a few years later the was an excellent lawyer, as with ])ei'haps a lleiald, its present title. It was now slightly siniile cxce|)tion, have been all the judiies upon enlarged, having five 2i/i;-inch, in.stead of four this circuit bench. :i-inch columns, as before—on nearly the same •Indj^e Sawyer was legislated out of office two sized sheet 211/^x14, but with a gain of read- years after the formation of this county, aiul ing matter of an inch on the top and half an was succeeded in 1827 by Samuel L). Lockwood. inch on the side margin. The color and textiu-e one of the purest and clearest minded men that of the paper and style of tyi)e were unchanged, ever adoi'iied the bench. In 1831 an additional and such as are never seen nowailays. It now circuit wiis made, compi-ised almost eiitirely of assumed M-hat it had not during its ownership the ^Military Tract. To this IJichard 'SI. Youui;' by ^Ir. Woods, a decided and avowed position was appointed and sustained the oftice with as a denu)cratic .journal, which, under its va- dignity and credit until his election to the rious names, it has alwavs maintained. United States senate, which took place this .vear. As before stated, up to this period, the Adams count.v bench had lieen excei)tioiudlv well tilled. A discord;int public question brolce ont about this time, and several years elapsed before its final settlement. It Avas as to where the mar- CIIAI'TER XIV. k'et should be located. A jjortion of the com- BANKS AND BANKING IN QUINCT. lunnity had been accu.stomed and wished still to see buildings, such as courthouse, market house, The opening lu'anch of the State Hank of Illi- etc., built on the public grounds and the nois diu-ing this year was the commencement of ground to be left unenclosed, while another banking in Quiney. The brief story of this portion desired to have such grounds, as far as institution will be hereafter told, but a skeleton practicable, enclosed for park i)Ui'poses, and sketch of the Illinois banking abortions prior that public buildings should lie erected else- to this period will not be ami.ss here, since it where. 'J'his sti'uggle had been uuule over the will show the tinaiicial movements and mone.v- courthouse location the year before. That be- less condition of the state generally, in which ing decided, it no\v came up ovei' the market Quiney of course had its share. house. It was at one time concluded to double There is a world of financial philosophy to the width of Jlaine street east of Fifth, and be gathered from the baiddnu history of Illi- half way to Sixth, and Iniild the market house nois. thei-ein. This project of course, fell thr(uigh. A bank at Shawneetown was authorized liy but the contest was kept up. to be told more of the territorial legislature of 181tJ, and at the hereafter. next session two others were ordered to be lo- There also now aw(d\c the aspii'ation to be- cated at Kaskaskia and Edwai-dsville. These come a cit.v, a natural notion iu a growing had a brief existence, and in three years' time town, no matter how young the town may be. suspended. In the meantime, however, their This is a feeling that is fosteretl by many in- circtdation had been redundant. Profuse supply terests, but it is a (piestion of serious doubt of money, kimwn to be wcnM bless, stimulated whether many of the little cities which throng speculation of the wildest kind. Everybody the state, instead of being what they are now, was anxious to get and to i/ct clear of these with a form of government entailing increased "rag promises." ami the result was that when expense. p(ditical strife and all its bad conse- the collapse came in 1820 everybody owed quences, woidd not have been bcnctited by a everybody. The first state legislature in 1819, 6o PAST AND PEESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

seeing the need of some financial action, but, tOAvards the establishment of a branch at understanding their business, less, if possible, Quincy. At the special session of 1835-6 some than all legislatures generally do, chartered a changes in the laAV Avere made and there Avere bank with a capital of $2,000,000 to run for more branch banks authorized. The pre-requis- twenty-seven years, the cliarter. however, be- ite conditions haA-ing been comiilied Avith, a ing afilicted with so many absurd features, that branch bank Avas located in Quincy during the although books were opened by law through- latter part of this current year, but it hardly out the state, not a dollar of stock was sub- Avas in complete operation until early iu the scribed. succeeding season. At the foUoAving session, 1820-1. the Illinois The life of this bank Avas very brief, since it State Bank was established with a charter to suspended specie payments, as did almost all run ten years and a capital of $500,000 based the banks in the country under the financial UI30U the credit of the state alone. This bank crash of 1837. The suspensions Avere legalized was born with some most extraordinary fea- by the legislature, and, tAvo years later, in tures, which readily foreshadowed its fate. It 1839, still farther extended in time, and the was in violation of the United States constitii- State Bank and its branches continued a feeble tion, its bills bearing two per cent annual in- existence until their general dissolution in 1842. terest, and being redeemable in ten years. Three For the first year and a half of its existence hujidred thousand dollars in bills not above $20 before suspension this branch bank Avas a valu- were ordered to be issued, loaned oiit on per- able aid to the business of the place, and Avas sonal security for amounts of $100, and secur- such also to a limited extent, hoAA'CA'er, after- ity on real estate at double valuation for sums Avard until it 'Svound up." The institiition Avas betAveen $100 and $1,000. Of course every- located on the southwest corner of Fourth and body borrowed and nobody ever thought of JIaiue, in the tAvo-story frame building "built paying back the amount borrowed. This $300,- by Peter Felt, and afterAvard OAvned and occu- 000 was all that was issued, tlie notes falling iu pied by the Burns familA^ Joseph T. Holmes value almost immediately to twenty-five cents Avas its president, although as a branch bank on the dollar, and the bank became so dis- its business Avas managed by the cashier, that credited that the subsequent legislatures did prince of good felloAvs, most .jolly sportsman not dare to order the full circulation author- and finished gentlemen, Capt. E. J. Phillips. ized by the charter. With many other Aveakening The clerks Avere, first, John Martin Holmes, elements in its organization, the bank stag- the Avittiest man in the West, who, everybody gered through its chartered existence of ten that used to laugh in Quincy yet remembers, years, and Avhen in 1831, it Avas Avound up, it and Avlu)se brilliancies Avould fill A'olumes, after appeared that although only $300,000 had been him C. B. Church, and later and lastly, Quincy 's issued, the loss to the state had been more than late mayor, J. K. Webster, who came in 1840 $500,000. from Galena, Avhere he had been similarly em- The AA'iping out of this Avorthless circulation ]iloyed. and clerked until the bank closed. The did not .still the popular call for more monej', record of this bank, like that of its prede- and the legislature of 183-4-5 took hold of the cessors, Avas a checkered one. Its stock at first question Avith commendable zeal, but Avitli stood at thirteen per cent premium, but a .iudgment that slioAved but little gain from late rapid decline Avithin tAvo years found its notes experience. That the state needed financial leg- at from fifteen to twenty cents discount, and islation was evident, for Avhile the old bank later scarcely quotable at all. Its business was issues had been cleared off by an inci-eased broadly extended, and it Avas not until aboiit debt (the famous Wiggins loan of $100,- 1870, nearly thirty years after its failure, that 000, Avhich made such bitter acrimony, the settlement of its affairs Avas concluded. though it saved the state's credit), yet The banking history of Illinois contains a foreign rag paper took the place of our most instructive and suggestive lesson in its OAvn. In February. 1835, the Territorial experiences from territorial times to the pres- Bank of ShaAvneetoAvn, AA-hich had been ent, and its final record may be properly here dead for tAveh-e years, Avas exhumed and an- giA-en, since like the general financial situation other State Bank Avas chartered, Avith a capi- of the state Avas necessarily that of Quincj'. tal of $1,500,000 and alloAved an increase of FolloAving the failure, before mentioned, of the $1,000,000 more. Six branches of this Avere state bank of 1835. after its three or four years authorized to be located AA'hereA'er and AA'hen of sickly existence, there came a dull decade of as a requirement precedent, $250,000 had been financial uncertainty and business depression. locally subscribed. In April of that year some- The poverty shifts of those days cannot be ap- Avhat more than half this sum Avas subscribed pi'eciated now, especially by the modern shod- —

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA:\rS COUNTY. 6i

dyite, but as evei-ybody was poor, few felt the Subsecjuent business of this character has worse for it. Money, such as it was, was far been conducted by private parties. Business from scarce. Tliereiii, indoecl lay a i;reat trouble. here and generally in tlie state, for several suc- Illinois was flooded with issues of lianks from ceeding years, was very light, especially such other states, many, indeed most of which, were as would naturally dejjcnd upon banking con- of doubtful or unknown condition, and coun- veziiences. These were "hard times," dull, terfeits were countless. So evident was the slow times, and yet endurable and not unen- want for a steadier, safer money currency that joyable, pei'haps the more enjoyable from the the legislature in 1861 passed over the gover- cleprivations. Auditor's warrants, county orders, nor's veto, the "free ])anking law," which, city scrip (almost the oidy monej'cd material having' been subniittetl to the people, was ap- with which state, county or city could jiay their proved by a decided popular majority. Expe- way along, and the only paper that had a seem- rience had taught our legislative solons some ingly sure value) were at a vexatiously varying wisdom, as was evideuceci in this law, which discount, passing at ten, twenty or thirty per was a step in the right direction: a movement cent below their face value and of course the nearly up to the present stable system of a re- public "paid the loss." Peojile worked and liable national circulation. Banks were legal- lived, but all business beyond home living and ized whose notes should be secured by the de- labor was greatly cramped. The mercantile posit of United States or state stocks. Had need for exchange with which to remit eastern the former only been allowed as securities, the payments was embarrassing, though this was present well-recognized principles would have largely relieved by the land agencies. Most (it been reached; that no lasting circulation can be might almost be said all) of the unsettled land created which will harmonize business, repre- in Illinois, not still held by the general govern- sent values, inspire national confidence in its ment, belonged to non-residents who paid their current stability and future redemption except annual taxes through these Quiney agencies, that which is based on the national credit and and their checks on eastern banks, or authority to which the industry of the whole people given the agents to draw upon them for the stands pledged. Little matters it whether the amount of their taxes afforded an exchange paper so authorized and so seciu'ed floats under facility to Quiney merchants such as other sec- the name of "United States Bank Notes," tions of the stat<> did not possess. "Sub-Treasury notes, ""National Bank notes," The later and continuous record of Quiney or "Greenbacks"—these all mean the same banking begins with 1850 when Flagg & Savage a moneyed assurance guaranteed by the nation. opened their baiddng house on the south side Naturally enough it happened that most of of ilaine, about four buildings west of Fifth, the one hundred and ten banks, organized removing in 1857 to the corner of Fifth and under the law of 1851, fortified their circulation Maine. These two, Newton Flagg and Charles by the deposit of Southern State Stocks, these A. Savage, with whom was associated I. 0. rating the lowest in the market and being the Woodruff, who became a partner in 1857, were easiest procured. They were, however, but a the pioneer bankers of Quiney. For some time straw dependence, and with the too certain previous Mr. Flagg anci Lorenzo and Charles foreshadowings of the civil war all such securi- II. Bull had dealt in exchange, the former ties began to decline, and when finally twelve through Page & Bacon and the latter through states seceeded, all these stocks waxed worth- Clarke & Brothei-s, bankers of St. Louis, luit the less and of course, the banks went down. The above was the earliest regular banking house. loss, however, compared with previoiis bank Its business immediately became large and lu- failures, was relatively light, and fell upon in- crative. It suspended in the fall of 1857, re- dividuals and not on the state. The few banks opened a few months after, and the next year that remained in 1863, those with their circu- finally failed. Later in this same year (1850) lation based on T'nited States or Illinois stocks, Jonathan II. Smith and A. C. ^Marsh started, generally became national banks under the pro- under the Quiney house, a bank styled the visions of the law of Congi-ess of that year. The "Fai-mers and Merchants' Exchange Co." It preceding is a scant but correct sketch of early discontinued within less than two years' time. monetary conditions in Illinois and Quiney as About 1853 Ebenezer iMoore. J. R. Ilollowbush well. and E. F. Ilott'man began business as ^loore, Resuming the local banking record and Ilollowbush & Co. Their location was on the bringing it down to the present, it appears that north side of the public square, about midway the death of the State Bank of 1835 suspended in the block. This house, like that of F. & S., all banking operations in Quiney for ten or went down in 1857, both failures being mainly more vears. caused bv the failure of S. & W. B. Thayer's 62 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

distillery and mercantile business, which was with their aft'airs evenlj^ wound up. The then the most extensive business of the place. average annual deposits in the four banking The "Bank of Quincy," owned by J. R. Matte- institutions in operation at this time (1883) son and D. Boon, opened in 1856, at the south- is about -$2,500,000, which will affoi'd some west corner of the square under the Quincy idea of the general business of the city. house, continuing business there for four or five years. In 1857 was started the Quincy Savings and In.surance Co., an incorporated institution, now the "First National Bank," which for three or four years was located at the north- CHAPTER XV. west corner of Hampshire and Fifth, thence removed to its present place, on the northeast 1837-8. corner of Hampshire and Fourth. This is DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS ORGAN- the oldest banking institution in the city. It IZE. PERSECUTION OF DR. NELSON. THE ABOLITIONISTS. became a National bank in 1865. This bank was consolidated with the State Savings Loan About this period commences the religious & Trust Company, which had been founded on denominational historj' of Quincj^ The dif- the business of L. & C. H. Bull. Moore, Sher- ferent elements of protestant belief which from man & Co..—Ebenezer and F. C. Moore and S. numerical feebleness, had for the past five C. Sherman—revived the old bank of Jlooi-e, or six j'ears united in the one church, "God's Hollowbush & Co.. and for about two years Barn," on Fourth street between ilaine and transacted basiness at the same place in 1859- Jersey, began gradually to separate and form 60. H. F. J. Richer began business in 1860 on the several societies which now represent their the south side of Hampshire near Fifth, re- religious creeds. moving about six years since to his present This church, the Congregational, the first place, one block west, where Moore, Hollow- founded, was also for nearly a half a dozen bu.sh & Co., had formerly been. "John Wood years, the only place of regular worship, with & Son" commenced banking about 1862 at the a permanent pastorate and formal church or- southeast corner of ilaine and Fif1,li. Their ganization. It was founded December 4th, business was transferred in 1864 to Flachs, 1830, by the Rev. Asa Turner, Jr., who con- Jansen & Co., who discontinued two years later. tinued its pastor for about eight years, with L. & C. H. Bull's bank was opened in 1861 at the exception of a year's intermission in 1832, its present location on the corner of Maine when the Rev. Mr. Hardy, officiated. Its first and Fifth in the building first occupied by organization was as a Presbyterian church, and Flagg & Savage. E. J. Parker & Co., operated as such it continued until October 10th, 1833, as bankers at the same corner from ISTi to when it was reorganized under the Congrega- 1879, when the firm merged with that of L. & tional system, the reason for this change prob- C. H. Bull. From 1866 there was connected ably having been the diversity of creed among with and owned by this firm, the "Farmers and its members who could more easily liai-monize Merchants' (2nd National) Bank," which dis- under the Congregational form of government continued in 1872. T. T. Woodruff for some than any other. two years, about 1869-70. did a banking busi- When foiuided in 1830 it had fifteen nieni- ness on the west side of the public square, bers, four of them Presbyterians, three Con- where also in 1875 the "German American gregationalists, three Baptists, and five "from Bank," an incorporated institution, opened and the world" which probably meant of miscel- operated for about two years. In 1869 the laneous beliefs. During the next eighteen TTniou Bank (chaz-tered) commenced on the months the membership ran up to thirty-nine. east side of Washington Square, removing in These figures declined in 1832 to thirty-three 1875 to the corner of Fifth and Hampshire; the members. This was the most depressing year building which it had left, being again oc- in every way that Quincy ever knew : the cupied as a bank from 1876 to 1879 by Henry Indian war anxieties, the decimating diseases Geise. of fever and cholera having a prostrating effect The foregoing list comprises all the banking upon every interest and the church suffered as institutions of Quincy throughout the past well as the rest. Out of a population of about thirty-five years. The business of some of 300 in 1833, 33 died of cholera alone, all within them has been very large. Of those that have a few days after the first outbreak. During gone out of existence but two can be said to the latter part of 1833, and throughout 1834 have failed. The others were discontinued. and 1835, the membership steadily increased, PAST AM) 1'];KSH.\T OF ADAMS COUNTY. 63

aumunt iiii: a1 tlii» lic^iiiiiiiiLr nl' lS:5(j to otie what they were was not state:lit. These fiyiu'es indi- were seized and burned and the parties with cate the propoi'tion of reliiiious sentiment and their families ordered out of the state. A few- intiueTiee during- the six years following after days later, on Sunday, the '22nd, at a camp 1830. and .some idea of what was the social meeting in the sanu' county, Dr, David Xelsoji, condition of the i)lace. It should be remem- a resident clergyman jM-eached. Dr. Nelson was bered, liowever. that (|uite a i)ro))ortion of the an exemphuy and able man. has left an emi- eliureh membershi]) and attendance was from nent name. lie. though simple in many mat- outside the town. Ill is:!.') the Jlethodist ters as a child. |)laiii .iiid undistinguished in church l)eiiifi the secMHid in tiie j)lace, was appearance, was a strong and original thinker. of his sei-mon JIul- orsranized, in 1835, the Baptisi : lollowed in 1837 At the conclusion a Mr. b.v the Episcopal, and by the rnitarian and (Irow handed him a papei- with a re(piest that Presbytei-ian in 18-tl). all of them havinji' had if shovdd be read. It was an article in ad- oi'iuinally more or less of association with the vocacy of the colonization scheme. Dr. Nelson early church in 1830. was a southern nuiu and a coloinzationist, and An event occurred in the early part of tliis while thinking this 1(j be injudicious and ill- year, which, though entirely local in its per- timed, yet at his friend's request, he com- sonal relations, assumed, from the principle in- menced to read, when a Dr. l'>osely rose and volved, a matter of national interest, and be- ordered him to stop. Muldrow interposed and came historic. It was one of the incipient an altercation rose, during which Dr. Bosely shadowing's of that fierce war cloud which was severely, and it was at tii-sf thought, broke upon the nation, twenty-five years later, fatally stabbed. Intense excitement followed. leaving it with human slavery swept away; Nelson was accused ui' the assault and his life this being the one redeeming feature amidst threatened. the debt and death and desolation that its lie escaped on foot to (^)uiiicy. where he ar- madness had made. The issues involved were rived in the night, wet aiul wearied, followed freedom of speech, the sacredness of law and and almost caught at \\\r rivei- side by some excit(Hl i-oughs, who doubtless its protection to person ; rights which now and lawless stand supreme throughout the nation, and that woiUd have given him harsli treatment had they then reigned undispr.ted in all cases except captured him. On the following day a num- where .slavery was concerned. ber of persons from Quiney. with some from The state of ]\Iissouri. opposite Qiiincy. was ]\Iissouri, notified the friends of Dr. Nelson slaveholding, and had been settled, largely that he must be given uj). This was refused. fi'om Kentucky, mucli earliei' than the land on There had been no legal claim made for him the Illinois siile. Slaves could easily escai)e that he had committed no offense and he was from I\Iis.sonri. but the chief means of prevent- protected. The deferminaf ion was shown that ing them from doing so was the willingness a demand for the surrender of a man innocent of the population in Illinois to aid in return- of any wrong should and would be. as it was, ing tliose who were fugitive. resisted. After a da\- or two of vaporing the With the feeling on one side of the river excitement died away, anil although feeling that the slavery cpiestion must not be dis- still existed and sentiment on the slavery issue cu.ssed, that whoever s])oke of if condemningly crysfalized itself info opposition, no outbreak was dangerous to society, and that the prop- or violation of law occuri-ed until the follow- erty rights which they held at lioine. should ing year. be efpially i-espeeted everywhere; and the feel- There is a mistaken imi)ression that tlie ing on the east side of the river that men "Nelson riots," as they were termed, occurred nught say what they pleased, tliat slavei-y was at the time of Dr. Nelson's exodus i'vnm ^lis- wrong and injurious, and must stay at home, souri. This is not so. and that whenever a black man got away The first excitement, in 183(;. was when ^lis- from slave soil, and came under free laws, he sourians and others strove to fake Dr. Nelson became free, there had been gradually grow- prisoner. The second, 1837. was when a por- ing a distrust between the neie-hboriim- sec- tion of the Quiney people tried to jnit down tions. free discussion on the slavery (|uesfion. These Some time in ]\Iay of this yeai- two pei'sons two events, though connected in sentiment, are resident in ^farion county, a few miles west of distinct in jjoint of time and in (|uestion at Quiney, Garrett and Williams, Avere found to issue, and Dr. Nelson had no especial connec- have in their possession some anti-slavery tion with the threatened lawlessness in 1837. papers, pamphlets and periodicals said to be An event occurred during the latter part of of a very "inflammatory" character, though this vear which created an intense excitement. 64 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY.

and gave a decided influence in shaping the etc., finally gave out word that a meeting which future sentiments and cliaracter of the place had been called to be held in the Congrega- and has since been looked back to as an epoch tional church, the old "God's Barn," under the in its early history. It was what is often mis- pulpit of which had been secreted a portion of takenly spoken of as the Nelson riots, being the weapons prepared for defense—should not erroneously associated in date with the flight be held and that they would break it up. With of Dr. Nelson from Missouri and the attempts this idea and its threatened intention circulars to kidnap him, which occurred during the pre- were sent out through the county to call in the ceding year. attendance of their sympathizers to help clean The error is somewhat natural, since the out the abolitionists. At this meeting two same causes operated in both cases. It was clergymen, Mr. Fisher and Mr. Borien, men the feeling in regard to slavery which was somewhat locally noted for ability and in- stirring the nation generally, and especially fluence, were to speak, attracting of course a along the borders of the free and slave states, more than usual interest. It was for this reason resulting in the killing of Lovejoy at Alton, that the meeting became the occasion ot a strug- and the destruction of his newspaper and other gle. lawless and violent acts. The representative men among the abolition- Anti-slavery or abolition societies were or- ists were some still well remembered parties, ganized in many of the northern cities, and Willard Keyes, Rufus Brown, Deacon Kimball, their formation was almost invariably at- Dr. Eels, and a few others not needful to name. tended wtili excitement and often with Sustaining them in the determination that free- violence. a society Such had been organized dom of speech should be pi'oteeted were John in Quincy. Several meetings been had held Wood, N. Pease, Lloyd Morton, J. T. Holmes, and a good deal of feeling aroused upon the H. Snow, Dr. Ralston and scores of others who subject. were not abolitionists, but were rock-based The abolitionists here were feAv in number, friends of free discussion. but a very decided class of men. very large A On the other side it is needless to name those portion of the people were anti-slavery men, who, from political prejudice, or love of rowdy- but who did not agree with the abolitionists as ism, sought to lead on the bad elements of law- to their manner of action. When, however, an- lessness. They are noAV mostly dead, and those other large element of the population, com- who live are ashamed of, and disapprove, the ac- posed of indifferent men to or favorable to- tions of that time. The moral force of the wards slavery, and strongly hostile to aboli- community was gathered in for the protection tionism and personally so to its advocates, and of "God's Barn." In numbers they may have who regarded the discussion of the subject as been inferior. Parties from Missouri and the hateful, gave out that there should be no county came in. The meeting was held at the meetings held that and these anti-slavery soci- church, well protected. Some brick-bats were eties should be broken up, the better class of thrown, a few yells heard, a demonstration was citizens united with the abolitionists in the de- made by the church guardians, there was a termination to vindicate the freedom of speech scattering of the attacking crowd, and a not at all hazards. Organization was completely small and amusing number of notables were made; arms of all kinds were procured, from found hiding in alleys and fence corners, all of the muisket and shot to gun the hatchet and them next clay hoping that nothing would be club. These were carefully stored where they known about the affair. could be readily used, under the pulpit of the "God's Barn." Watch by day and night was constantly kept by both parties. So closely were the chances counted that a committee from each of the opposing forces passed a night CHAPTER XVI. on the river bank, waiting, so as to first secure the services of one influential and very effective 1839. man who had been absent at Galena. It was PROGRESS. LAST TEAR OF TOWN GOVERNMENT. Capt. N. Pease, a noted eai'ly settler, who died HAMPSHIRE MADE PASSABLE FROM STH TO 12TH STREET. FIRE a year or two after. The free-speech ENGINE PURCHASED AND men nat- CISTERNS BUILT. THE LICENSE QUESTION. urally got him. THE FIRST MAC.A-DAM. THE CITY CH.\RTER The anti-abolitionists who had held several GRANTED. MORMONS. POLITICS. public meetings denouncing the formation of Although "hard times" held on unabated, anti-slavery societies and the discussion of with not the .slightest sign of softening during slavery as a "political and social firebrand," the year 1839, money, scarce and scarcely to be I'AST AND rHESENT OF ADA^MS COUNTY. 65

obtained, and even when seenred, at a sliyloek before, demanding important attention, labor shave—all the banks of the eonntry, except and time. As an evidence of this, the board some half-dozen, having "snspended specie at its first meeting in January, 1839, fixed the payments," and their paper, of course, a dis- pay of the secretary at $150. For the several countable (pumtity in trade; l)usiness neces- first years the services of the secretary had sarily ruiuiinu' lii;ht. values low and uncertain; been gratuitous, aiul only in the year preced- l)r()duc('i-s iinding it to be safer to try and con- ing (1S3S) had thei-e been made any allowance. sume, thus utilizing their staples, than to sell Then •$50 was gi'anted. but now the gi-eatly in-

otit' at skeleton figures—with all these draw- creasing duties and woi'k of the board which backs Qniney steadily jirogressed in popula- called upon the secretary for so large a por- tion and improved in apiieai-ancc, owing' inti- tion of his time made this remuneration proper,

nitely less to its people than it did to its nat- and a few months after this salary was ad- ural situation and advantages. The winter of vanced by resolution of tlu^ board to $250, 1S;5S-!) had been unusually mild, and the health still a light pay foi- the services of such officer-s of the place in consequence diii'iiig these two and of such clerical experts, as were I. 0. years was exceptionally gooil. The number Woodruff and S. P. Church. A report de- of deaths in 1838 was, according to an estimate manded by the board in the early part of the made with probable correctness, one hundred, year, evidenced that the finances of the toAvu and during the first eight months of 1839, were in sound condition, there being a balance counted from the same estimate, forty-eight. of $2,580.29 in the town treasury. This, nearly correct schedule, while not so The grading of llami)shire sti-eet to the river favorable a record as compared with the mor- having been now done and i)aid for, movements tality tables of later times, was a decided im- were made for opening "either ilaine or Hamp- provement on the showing of the five or six shire east from the square." Maine street then, yeai's ])recediug. With assured health business at the intersection of Sixth, was crossed by a |)ros|)(>red in a corresponding degree and all gully some twenty feet in depth which made it the interests of the town surely and regularly pi-actically impassable, and farther east from rose. Eighth to Twelfth it was cut acro.ss by similar Weather also favored. The river opened as ravines and ridges. ITanipshire street east of early as January 17th and though iced up for Ninth was similarly broken and all of this a few days abo\it the 17th of February, con- ground was open. There was really no good tinued open until its final eUising oti the 21st fixed outlet fr(un the square towai'ds the east of December. This was the longest term of and north. navigation known for many years before or The settled section of the town, considering since, embarrassed only by a most unprece- its population, was not extensive, most of the dented low stage of water through the summer improvements being along the river bank, or months. around the square and the streets nearly ad- This was a verj- busy year with the town joining thereto. The greater part of travel authorities, and it is due to say, as reference passed in and out on the level ridge of Hamp- to records will prove, that this was, neverthe- shire street, diverging near Seventh street by less, a time when there fell upon the public a road running northeasterly across vacant guardians a grave weight of labor and respon.si- ground to about the corner of Broadway and bility, and which was by them faithfully and Twelfth. It appeared necessary, as one of the judiciously attended to. It was known to be trustees expressed it, that, "as Ave now have a the last year of the town existence. A city street made for the people to get to the town was soon to be made, and the ])rei)a rations to from the river, we ought to give them a way to be made for improvements of various kinds. get out to or in from the country." It was To meet the rising needs, grades, culverts open- ordered that a Hampshire street should be made ing streets, ferry and fire questions were with passable from Eighth to Twelfth, and several their future importance most earnestly met liundred dollars were appropriated from time and pi'ovided for. There is no city council for to time for that purpose, but it was long be- the whol(> forty-four years of city life, which fore the full benefit accrued from this work. could not take valuable lessons from the action The improvement of Maine street east was of the last board of trustees of the Town of ignored for the present, but later in the year Quiney. who were neither influenced by polit- it was partially graded as far as Eighth sti'eet. ical, selfish, sectarian, nor any pei'sonal inter- ]\rr. Redmond, whose name for the following est in their actions for the general interests. forty years appears prominent in Quiney his- The resiionsibilities resting upon these officials tory, was the contractor. This was his first were greatly more comprehensive than ever public connection with the affairs of the city. 66 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Prom that time he probably superintended This was a much needed azul well devised more work and had a more ready familiarity change ; the new charter vesting in the author- with the city grades and streets than any other ities much more ample jxiwer than they had man. Beyond this line the street long lay un- heretofore possessed. improved. From this it may be seen that east Pursuant to this law an election for seven of Seventh and Eighth scarce anything that trustees was held April 17, 1839, when E. Con- could be called settlement existed. It was a yers, Samuel Holmes. Robert Tillsou, Samuel stretch of open, broken land, seamed by ravines Leech and I. O. Woodruft", and at a second and mostly covered with hazel bushes, having election a few tlays later, John B. Young, were on it a few cabins and large corn fields. chosen. JMuch interest and action was taken abinit It will be seen from these names that jinlit- this time in regard to protection from tire. A ical feeling at this period had no bearing, as in- purchase had been made the year before of deed, it never had, in the town elections. ladders, buckets, etc., which led to the forma- The board organized by the election of Mr. tion of a hook and ladder company. An ordi- Holmes as president and Mr. Woodruff secre- nance was passed requiring the removal of all tary. piles of hay, straw, etc., from within fifty feet An excellent and c(un]n-ehensive series of of any house, store or shop, and prohibiting ordinances was passed Avhich with some slight the stacking of any such material within the subsequent revision, cimtinued in operation limits of the town, except in "extraordinary until the next year, when almost unaltered, cases and by special permission." Later in the they were adopted as the ordinances of the year a fire engine was purchased at a cost of new city. The tax on real estate was fixed at s|;l,124.58 ; an engine house built adjoining the one and a lialf per cent, and a street tax of courthouse on the north side, and a cistern con- tliree dollars (per capita) or in lieu thereof structed in front of the same—the latter costing three days" work on the streets, was imposed $546 and having a capacity of 300 hogsheads upon "every citizen entitled to vote for trus- of water. Some of those improvements were tees,'' an obligation that promised a handsome not completed until early in the following year. addition to the needed revenue, but which then This purchase of the engine was an event, and since, has been rarely enforced. and the company formed for it became an in- The public mind and the policies of the board stitution. It was composed of most of the were greatly exercised for many weeks l:)y the young men of that day. Wells, Bull, Morgan, appearance for the first time in Quincy history "stone, McDade and other now (1886) "gray of the prohibition "Banquo" in a shape similar and reverend seniors," whose veteran muscles to that which it now presents, and with the would scarce qualify them to make a creditable same zealous faculty for exciting public pas- run with the machine as they did forty years sion and smashing political slates. Heretofore ago to the town's admiration, were among its the lifpior trade had been only regarded in members. A fire engine then was as great a legislation as a proper and acciistomed source curiosity to the rural people of the west, as of revenue, and as such, subject to special tav- the first steamboat was to the Indians, and we ern or grocery taxation. The moral or expe- believe that this engine was the first one dient features of the matter had never yet l)een brought into the state, unless Chicago was so officially considered. These now came before provided earlier. the board with the question of issuing grocerj' The expense attending all this fell heavily licenses for the year, and the record is amusing, upon the resources of the town, but it was a both as l)eing the first c(uitest of the kind, and good investment. One hundred dollars of it the prototype also of many subsequent efforts was contributed by the Quincy Insurance com- on the part of our authorities upon the same pany, a home institution that went into opera- subject, in seeking the best wav "how not to tion during this year. Its stockholders were do it." all local men—D. G. "Whitney was president Three jietitions were presented to the ])oard and S. P. Church secretary. Its business was on May 6th, against the issuing of any grocery never large and its existence of but few years' license, one having 225 signers, who repre- duration. sented themselves as "legal voters," a second Previous to this year the government of the with 40 names signed as "residents, not town had been through its organization under voters," and a third with 146 signatures of "la- the general incorporation laws of the state, but dies." and the next week these were supple- the act for a special charter, prepared by the mented by a petition of 280 names asking for trustees in November, 1838. passed the legisla- license. All these petitions were referred to a ture, and was approved February 21, 1839. committee for report. This committee reported —

i'AST AND i'UESENT OF AUA.M.S COUNTY. 67 llijit tlieiv had been at the last eh>eti(>ii 427 city charter foi- (^nincy. the same to be sub- \()te.s reeordod. that in eonipai-ing tliese peti- mitted to the board and if then approved, to tions with the poll hooks, they found that of tlic be presented to a meeting of the citizens and 22') names sif^-ned as licini;' l(>i:'ai voters in op- if appi-oved likewise liy them a copy to be sent posilinn til licen.se. only 14.') ol' those iiaiiies to the legislature at tlii' special session. A coiihl be found on the poll boojis, that there special session of the geuei-al iissembly had were ninety-live names sisi'ned to the petition been calletl to meet on the !lth of December. which were not on the poll books, and fifteen The charter as pre])ared was presented to the whieh eouhl not be read: that of the 280 names trustees and approved on the 30th of Novem- affixed to the petition fm- the jfrauting of li- ber, and on the following week was approved eenses, only 12t) appeared on the pool hooj^s. by the citizens, some slight alterations being that alioiil fifty names they eould not i-ead. and nnide. it was impossible to say i)ositively whieh peti- Hut although a city charter had been pre- tion had the greater number of legal voters. pared and approved both by the boai'd and the iiiid the committee's suggestion that all the pe- people, all was not yet smooth sailing. Faction titions be laid upon the table, was agreed to. had still its part to play, and there were now The l)oard adopted a resolution that they could stirred up the same elements whieh, existing not find tliat a majority of the legal voters of then, today and forever, did. do and always (^uincy iiad opposed the issuance of grocei'y will, thrust themselves into the \an of every license, and licenses were thence issued ;vitii- public movement, and either destroy the meas- out any more delay or question. ure by reason of the disgust which their asso- The grocei'y or liipior license was fixed at ciation creates, or after being ignored in their .4^100 j)er annum, and the license for general wished for prominence, seek to annoy and em- merchandise at three-fourths of one per cent barrass its success. on the value of the stock. There were, ac- The story is almost ludicrous. At a meeting cording to an examination made October 9th, held on the 13th of December, by the malcon- forty-five stt)res of all sorts transacting busi- tents, it was resolved that the i)rin)osed charter ness in the town. ]\Iuch was done during this was "anti-republican in its features, oppressive year in tlu' nuitter of establishing the grades, in its tendencies and premature in its object and with a regard to an extended and permanent design." A protest Avas made to the legislature .system. In addition to the opening and grad- against its adoi)tion, uidess it should "be first ing of many of the central and most important shorn of its anti-reptiblican features, to-wit streets, the first maeadamizing work was now Fii'st, a property (inalificatior: to the right of done, it being a .strip of twenty-five feet in holding office. Second, imconstitutional restric- width, down the centre of Ilamp.shire street, tion on the right of suffrage. Third, exorbitant from Third to Front, leaving the sides of the l)ower in the council to control and alf'ect (?) s1i-eet so "that the wash from the rains might the interest of the people in relation to ferries." carry the dirt from the baid^s down to the etc. riv(>i'.'" This strip of macadam was for sonn The trustees were gi'eatly exei'cised by the ru- time the oidy work of the kind in town. mored action of this meeting. 3.62t/o per running foot ami ^\.i)0 extra tee. after much delay. rei)oi-ted that the sec- for curbing. Still more eari'ful legislation was retary had twice refused to give them a copy, had in reference to the pi'evention of fires, and but that aftei' calling upon him a third time the office of Fire Warden was created. Edwai'd tht>y obtained what they desired "by offer and Wells being the first appointee. This office was payment of two-bits." Thereupon the tru.stees continued for a ninnber of years. resolved that "in the opii;ion of this board the Stringent ordinances were passed re(iuii'ing proceedings of the meeting are disi-espectful to gi-oeeries to be closed on Sunday and prohibit- this body, both in the getting up i-esolutions. ing "loud talking." etc.. that might disturb as two previous meetings of the citizens had I'cligious congregations on that day. with se- sanctioned the actions of tlu> board (with some vere penalties for their violation. minor amendments) among whom were some Looking with natural ambition and proper of the main leaders and officei's of the la.st meet- .iudgiiHMit to the necessity of soon becoming a ing." city, the trustees, late in XovcMnber. appointed This amusing account of the struggle over Sannnd Holmes, (ienei-al Leech and .1. L. Joints the chai'tei' coiu-ludes the record of op]iosition a conmiittee to examine the city charters of to the city (U-ganizati(ui. The charter became Alton, (,'lueago and St. Louis, and to draft a a law during the current winter, without op- 68 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAJIS COUNTY. position iu the legislature, and was almost were for a time much more numerous than any unanimously i-atified by the people in the fol- other religious or ecclesiastical society, in the lowing :Mardi (1840). place. A financial report covering the period from There were many varieties of religious organ- July 1, 1838, to April 15, 1839, the time when izations here, but as yet, very few church struc- the second town charter went into operation, tures. Until this year the old Congregational showed the expenses to have been $3,460.38, and "God's barn," on Foui'th, was the only finished the receipts $4,338.76. church. During this year, however, the Baptist Thirty steamboats arrived during the last rluu-ch on Fourth also, north of Hampshire, ten days of April. A number of new business and the old Jlethodist church, on Vermont enterprises were begun. Whipple and Wycke south of the courthouse, was nearly finished. started a woolen mill, ju.st north of the town Also the Episcopalians finished and occupied on M'hat is now Cedar creek, and Bond, Morgan their first church, a little long frame building & Co.. a bakery, these two being the earliest on Sixth, north of Hampshire, which they occu- to any extent iu the town. pied for many years. Skillman's circulating lilu'ary was cdin- Relative to this, as showing how much it menced in connection with his liook store. then cost both to build a ehiu'ch and to attend The slavery question was still an issue. An church, we learn that Bishop Chase, then the anti-slavery and a Colonization society were Bishoj) of Illinois, writes that he found in formed. Quincy a neat, small Episcopal church, erected Several large meetings were held to consider at a cost of $400, and that all the pews were the Mormon nuitter. at which strong sympathy taken at a total rental of $200. The good Bishop was expressed for them, and a denunciation of in the same letter says that he passed through the conduct of the ^lissourians, a sentiment tlie flourishing town of Columbus, where there which, a few years later greatly changed. was lieing built a railroad to each river, east This ilormon immigration, which had so sud- and west, and being in the centre of Adams denly commenced in 1838, continued during the county, this place would, from these causes, early part of this year, but later in the year it become the county seat, an opinion which leaves began to flow away towards their new pur- to us the conclusion that he was much more to chase at Naiivoo, and before the next Avinter be relied upon as a prelate than a prophet. In had set in most of these strange people had left Xovenfl.ier the first (merman Protestant church the city. The story of their persecution had was dedicated. This is the brick building still given an impetus to their proselytism, and be- standing on Seventh street, between York and side those who came from Missoiu'i and the Kentucky, which is at the present time the old- eastern states, there were large foreign acees- est church edifice in Quincy that is still used .sions. for religious purposes. These last, like the others, naturally came to Tlie election of Thomas Carlin in 1838 to the Quincy. where Joe Smith, their prophet, tem- governorship of the state caused several porarily resided. Early in April, of this year. changes among the political officials of Quincy Smith (who was a sort of town notoriety), with and this section. Carlin, who had been receiver four other Mormons, fell into the hands of a in the public land office, was succeeded on the party of ilissoiu'ians, who, under some form 8th of January, 1839, by Sanniel Leech, who or pretext of legal process, were taking them had been Eegister, and on the same date, Wm. to the Boone county jail. but. while on the G. Flood, then member of the legislature, was route. Smith and his friends got away, leaving made Register. These were then here and the guards all sound asleep. Smith heralded it everywhere in the west very important offices. forth that the "spii'it of the Lord had put and it is a fact that through all the changes of blindness over his captors' eyes," biit the bet- political interest in the country, these land of- ter believed story was that another sort of fices have been well filled, and especially were spirit had been temptingly applied to their lijjs. they so filled in this land district. The register However this escape may have occurred, had to record all applications for public lands, whether by a miracle or not, it was a most tell- and the receiver to take and receipt for the ing card to be thus played for the benefit of the money deposited to secure the applicant the sect. The condition of these people was very patent and the future ownership of the land deplorable at this time. They crowded together which he desired. in the barns, outhouses and sheds and many in It can be easily seen that with incompetent huts and tents throughout the town. Some of officials in charge of such trusts, how much of them were almost entirely destitute. They kept vexatious trouble might ensue, and with dis- up their religious services and observances, and honest and scheming men in control of tliese I'Asr AND L'KKSENT OF ADA.MS COLNTV. 69

eoni- oiYiees and iu-tiiig- toj^etlu'r, how pluinply lliey Richards, democrat, was eli^cled county eotild i)ad tlu'ir own pockets and del'i'aud tlie mi.ssioner by 3!}8 nui.jority, over J. H. Driskell, applicants for land, by knowing as they must whig; while Andrew .Millei-, whig, beat J. D. and did know from having the surveys iu their Morgan, democrat, for county .judge, 436 votes, own possession, the chunicter and estimate and again J. H. Helton and Enoch Conyers, value of unentered lands. democratic candidates respectively, for record- It was fortunate that the holders of Ihese of- er and treasurer, were elected, the first by 130 fices in the hountx' land district were men and the second by 269 majority over their whig equally of capacity and integrity, and it is well opponents and again J. Williams, the whig known also that after this land district, which, candidate for county surveyor, ran in by a ma- for fifteen years from its establisliment was the jority of 5.5, over a much more skilled man on most important one in the state, was abolished, the opposite ticket. because most of the ])ublic laud within its lim- This was an evidence nut infrequent iu those its had been sold or given to the state as days, but more rare in latter times, of indili'er- "swamp lands." the transferred records ence to partisan lines, and of how much more showed a ilcarer face and less has come np personal merit or popularity than party domi- again.st them for re-examination than any other nation controlled local elections. of of the old land districts of the state. There -J. H. Ralston, having resigned the office appointed was a notahli' line lection. Ebenezer Jloore—who the next and far as it numbers the names of men Avho tlie then following year was chosen as the first ])ast have been prominent and are now remem- mayor of Quincy, a very excellent business man bered. Among these were D. W. ^Miller, E. K. and a lawyer of moderate ability: Henry As- Stone. Robert McComb. C. A. Savage. N. Pink- liury. now (1886) living and known Id cxciy liani. A. Wheat. P. A. (ioodwin. H. S. Cooley, all familiar names to Quincy history. (iiu^ in Qiiincy : J. R. Randolph, an old-tinic lawyer of the town who might have been one of the first had he not been too lazy and who is now a judge in Rhode Island, and Charles Mc- Kee (all whigs) wei-e elected as magistrates. This was the first real jiolitical issue that had CHAPTER XVII. been brought forward to te.st the relative 1837. sti-ength of parties in the town, and it fore- shadowed a decided predominance of power POI.ITICAL. THE TWO WELLS AND THE MARKET HOUSE. PURCHASE OF MADISON PARK. ES- resting with the whigs, which they secured the TABLISHMENT OF STREET GR-^DES. FIXING next year at tlie first city election and for sev- THE "DATUM." PUBLIC LIBR.^RY STARTED. ROLL C.\LL OF NEWC^HMERS. FIRE DEPART- eral years after, whenever they ])i'operly ex- MENT. GRADING HAMPSHIRE STREET. COUN- ei'ted themselves. TY LAND REGISTER. QUINCY WHIG. QUINCY The entire vote of the county, including that "GRAYS." R.\ILRO.AD WORK. QUINCY FINANCES. FIRST BOOK STORE. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. of the town, was 1,742, a falling off of 300 from the vote given at the regular election the yeai' Few changes occurred during the year 1837 before, and this year's vote was most curiously affecting the political representation of Quiney. cnt np and distributed. For instance. Wm. The national, state and local officials mostly re- 70 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. maiued in their places. The exceptions being being the first corporation movement, affecting that J^^dge Richard M. Yonng. who had ac- permanently the original surveys. The small- cei^tably tilled the position of circuit judge for pox being quite prevalent, a pest iiouse was es- many years, having been elected to the U. S. tablished and the necessary sanitary regula- Senate, was succeeded by J. H. Ralston. Judge tions ordered. Young was the first Quiney man i^romoted to The tax assessment for this year was $1,- a place in the national councils. He was a con- 219.75, of which $475.11 was reported as col- spicuous figure in our early local and state lected by the middle of June. At the annual annals, having occupied more various important election in June. John Wood, W. P. Reeder, public trusts than any other Illiuoisian. Like Joel Rice, J. T. Holmes and I. 0. Woodrutt' were his two predecessors. Sawyer and Lockwood, chosen as trustees. Holmes became president, he was a lawyer of ability and learning, which WiMuli-uff secretary, W. Williams treasurer, and his successor lacked. He was a Kentuckian by John McDade collector. birth, early known in public life—having been With this period began tlie trouble about the the first practicing lawyer in the state, a mem- jiulilic wells and the location of the market, ber of the legislature in 1820. serving through wliich were themes for town action and town several judicial terms, and always seciiring ]X)p- talk for many an after month. The water ques- ular respect and confidence. His mental ciual- tion, which was comprehended in the project ities were solid; not brilliant, but his judgment to have a couple of w^ells dug at the corners of was especially regarded and his personal in- the public square, is with its attendant strifes, tearity never questioned. Removing to Wash- an amusing affair to look back at lunx : but it ington he became clerk of the house of repre- was then a matter of as mucli relative import- sentatives and also commissioner of the general ance and serious discord in public councils and land office. His later years were sadly clouded private controver.sy as the water works ques- and finally closed in insanity. His election in- tion is to our good people today. A well had duced some other official changes. Ralston 's been ordered to be sunk at the northwest cor- vacancy in the legislature was filled by the elec- ner of the square and a party had contracted tion of Archibald Williams, and C. M. Woods to dig it. He began to dig and all the thii'sty was appointed circuit clerk in the place of H. souls adjacent with hopeful interest saw the H. Snow, who had occupied that office from well gradually sink, but the Avorknien also sank the foundation of the county in 1825. Snow from sight ; work ceased, and water had not also in February was supplanted as probate come. At the June meeting the board deter- judge, which he had been for the same length of mined to cui-b the independence of this well time by Wni. G. Flood, and at a later period digger if they couldn't curb the well, and ap- Earl Pierce, having personally and financially jjoiiited a committee to "ascei'tain whether he disappeared in the supposed direction of Texas, intended to finish it or not." The committee was succeeded as sheriff by Wm. H. Tandy, reported that he said not. Another man was elected in November, for the unexpired term. engaged, but the result was the same. He proved The town proceedings grow in interest and to be, though a well digger, not a well doer. importance. On the 20th of February the trus- The job was again thrown up. Finally, after tees adopted an elaborate revision of the town a year's ti-avail, at the first meeting in January, ordinances, rearranging the same and correct- 18-'^8, it was ordered that the well be filled up ing former errors. Oddly enough, they ]iar- and another dug at the southwest corner of the tially repeated a previous blunder by omitting s(puire, which was done successfully. Other in the first section (on limits) to give any wells were made, Avhich remained for several boundary line on the west. This, however, was years, latterly used chiefly as feline cemeteries. not so bad as the blunder in the ordinances of The market house question was a much more 1824, where the boundaries were altogether serious source of strife. A part of the com- omitted. It would almost appear that our old munity wished to have the market house built town Solons Avere either infected Avith the prev- on the ])ublic square. An equal or larger por- alent pioneer j)rejudice against inclosures, or tion objected. After several meetings and that they feared to confine the bursting aspira- much discussion it was ordered that Maine tions of the budding young community. This .street should be the place in which to erect a error was corrected in a subsequent revision market house, that the street should be widened made in the following September, when a much west of Sixth street, on the north side, as far broader and better revision of the ordinances as the alley, twenty-five feet, and on the south was made, especially regarding taxation and side "as nuu:-h as possible." This proposition, revenue. Street improvements now began to be after several sessions of the board had acted considei'ed. Commei'cial alley was opened, this and reacted, resulted in a report from the last —

I'AST AXD PKESENT OP ADAxMS COUNTY. 71

" committee ;ii)])()iiitoil, at the ineeliiiy- on Deeeiii- reads thus: ( )r(iered. t hat the grade of Jlamp- bei- 3(ttli. tliJit they eoiikl not buy tlie land shire street be (ixetl as follows: The summit wanted (Ui Maine street, and sn ended tlie at the coriH'i- of Hampshire and Fourth pai'allel marlcel lioii.si' war for this year, wliile annlhei- with the tup iif the stone foundation at JMcssrs. committee eonsistinj;- of I. O. Woodnd'f and Skinner and I'.erry's store, then descend on a John Wood was appointed to worry over tlie grade of seven feet to Third sti'cet. then, on ([nestion during- the eoiiiini;- year, leaving Thii'd. to descend on a I'cgular grade

'i'he neudtiatiiins wliich liad been low^ pend ti] Front street, and terminate with the doorsill iny in regard to having' a new burial ground (il the warehouse of Mr. Holmes." were eoiieluded at the June meeting of tin; What ".Mr. llnlmes"' is iiu'ant one cannot board by the purchase from E. H. Kim))all. at knciw. but as all the Mv. Holmes' of that dny the rate of $7.") per acre, of the ,S r)(i-l()i) aei'es. ai'c

72 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

excellent Quiiiey eompanies of later times. lature, his latter years being clouded by

During the winter of 1836-7 Anton Delabar pecuniary troubles and mental decay ; G. B. bnilt the first Qnincy brewery on Fifth street, Dimock, a most thorough type of the un- between York and Kentucky. It was destroyed smoothed practical yankee, for many years a by fire. It was for several years the onl.y prominent merchant and manufacturer: S. M. brewery in the place. The branch bank of the Bartlett. the well known cabinet maker, a ilass- State Bank of Illinois, was formally opened here achusetts man, associated with town and city on the 4tli of December, at the southwest corner matters almost throughout his life; Thonuis of Maine and Fourth streets. Redmond, a man of much native ability, who This year, like the two preceding and two rapidly grew into being the most powerful

' following' years, was an advent period for ' old political factor in the city, filling with marked settlers." We take tlie arbitrary dictum of sagacity and success many municipal positions calling those old settlers who settled here be- and also achieving legislative honors; Timothy fore 1840, for the reason that of the living and Kelly, the earliest representative man of that remembered men of Quinc.y, wlio have seen and Irish element which flowed so rapidly liither at been part of its growth, an especially large pro- this period, in connection with the railroad then portion of them came here, young men, be- being built, a much reispectecl man whose brave tween 1835 and 1810—a few earlier than the life ended in the ^Mexican war at the battle of former date—and there are now, or until lately Buena Vista. were living, still vigorous after nearly half a Besides these, came Wm. Shanahan. R. S. and century of active Quincy life and laden with the T. C. Benneson, Edward jMiller. C. M. Pomeroy, weight of years over three score and ten. A Allen Comstock, and to the county yet later temporary line must somewhere be lain, and in associated and identified with the city the fam- ten or twenty years the ehalk mark may be ilies of Clement Nance. T. H. Castle. T. Durant, moved forward to another decade. Andrew Redmond, F. Collins, of Columbus Among the well known old settlers who came Plenry Kent. John Sharp, the BeiTians and Ar- this year were Nehemiah Bushuell, from Con- rowsmiths. of Ellington . Thomas Payne, of necticut, who steadily grew in legal recogni- ]\Iarcelline, and others. tion, to be considered at the time of his death The town board in 1838 at its first meeting in in 1873, as the most erudite lawyer of the state, January appointed John Wood and Joel Rice a and Andrew Johnston, of Richmond, Va.. where committee "to report the most beneficial and he now resides, long a leading laAvyer here. suitable places for improvements, as well as These two, in the following year—1838—were some plan to protect the community against the the fir.st editors of the Quincy Whig. ravages of fire." This committee recommended Capt. Joseph Artus, from Kentucky, an old the purchase of four ladders of 15. 20. 25 and 30 time Ohio river steamboatman, came this year, feet in length; six fire hooks, and twelve to remain until his death, some forty years buckets, "as the commencement of a system later. He was known and noticeable every- which may be extended and improved with the where as a quaint, earnest man. with an ab(nit growth and experience of the place in connec- evenly balanced reputation for oddity and tion with the increase of its resources, so as shrewdness. He was a most inveterate ''old the more fully and perfectly to protect our citi- line whig," tying his faith with unfaltering zens and their property against the ravages of devotion to Henry Clay. It must have almost fire." These pui'chases were made and became made the jolly old man's bones to have turned the initial of our present fire department. This in their coffin when published as he was after committee also, in the matter of improvements, his death, by ignorance, as a "lifelong recommended "that $200 be appropriated for abolitionist," a political distinction which he the improvement of Delaware street, whenever held in especial dislike, altliough a decided anti- .$300 is furnished by private donation," and slavery man, as were most of the whigs. that $1,000 be appropriated towards the grad- Capt. C. J. Swarthout, from New York, set- ina' of a street from the public square to the tled here this year, and was a marked and ac- river, this first to be offered to those who pre- tive character for some years. Who that once ferred the grading of ]\raine street, conditioned saw and knew can ever forget the form and tliat tliey would give bonds to ensure the sub- features of that keen, shrewd, stern old cynic, scription and payment of whatever said srrad- his crushing connnent and scathing satire on ing would cost exceeding the $1,000 appro- whatever aroused his merciless wit to seize and priation. Should, however, the IMaine street Avorry; also Thomas Jasper, from Kentucky, people not accede to the proposition, it was to who became popular, prosperous and prominent be offered to those who desired to have Hamp- as sheriff, mayor and representative in the legis- shire street opened. The maine street people PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 73

(lecliiiiiiii ;iihI the llauipshire street folks ac- I>. .M. Young and J. .M. Robinson were yet the ccpdiiic and coiaplyiiiii- with tlie conditions, the v. S. Senators. Col. Wm. L. May, of Spring- gradinj^- of that street from Fourlh to Front was field, was the member of congress, but he was ordered anil beunn in .Afarch. succeeded by John T. Stuart, who was elected This was the first important i)uhlii' imj)i-ove- b.v 16 majority over Stepiien A. Douglas, out of itien tiiat Ihr lown liad undertaken. It was the nearly 40.000 vnlcs in a most closely canvassed lirst straight line eommunieation between the district, which coiii])rised all of the state viUaye on tlie liill and the business on the river north of the latitude of the mouth of the Illinois banl\ : 1h<> only route l)efore this time having river. This was the iir.st year when party lines ln'cn liy a devious road which corlv screwed between the whig and democratic parties were around amont;' llie liills and ravines from near distinetivel.v drawn. Thomas Carlin, huig a the foot of \'ermont street np to about where state senator from this section, later and at tlie market house now stands on Hampshire. tills time receiver of the land office at Quiney, The grade level at Hampshire and Fourth had was elected governor on the democratic ticket already been established. That on Front, which by about 300 majority over his whig opponent. (b'pended so much on \v1iere Mr. Holmes" door- 0. H. Browning held over as state senator. At sill might happen In he was now detinitely the August election "Arch.v" Williams and fixed by ^Ii-. I'arker and some civil engineers Wm. (t. Flood, the fir.st a whig, and the other employed on the Northern Cross railroad, the a democrat, were chosen to the legislature. Wil- work cm wliirh li.id begun here a few months be- liams had been ill the iiieviciiis legislatures as fore. successor to (Jalbraith who had died. Wm. H.

.\t the .luiie I'lecliou. .bilin AVood. I. (). W(i(id- Tandy was elected sheriff over Tom King, in rul'f. Samuel ('. ixogers, Samuel Holmes and J. rather a singular contest. Tand.v, a very

I'<. -Matthews were chosen as trustees; on or- superior man, had ])eeu elected sheriff to fill the i;auization John Wood was made president; I. vacancy made by the defalcation and e.xodus (). AVoodi-utf, secretary; Andrew Johnston, at- to Texas of Sheriff Pierce. Now when the reg- t(uiH>y, and Robert R, Williams, treasurer. ular election came up he was pitted against The market hou.se strife, which had been King, one of the most popular and well known vexing the connnunit.v so long, came to a close men of the count.v. Then, and until 1848, during this year. The board endeavored to voting could be made in any part of the county, bu.v one hundred feet on the west side of Third, and each part.v would secretly agree to mass extending from IMaine to Hampshii-e, for mar- their votes and take possession of certain pre- ket uses, but could not get it, and then pro- cincts. King's friends had a most gloi'ious posed to purchase lot 5, in block 8, at the corner jollification over the first election returns, but of Hampshire and Third, which trade being the next two or three da.vs brought in the fig- nuule at last, allayed this old fester. There had ures from the outside precincts, and I\Ir. Tandy been an election iield in June at which the peo- was elected. J. i\I. Ilatton was elected coroner: ])le b.v a vote of 207 to 101 decided against Ralston was yet judge; C. ]M. Woods, circuit building the market house on the public square. clerk: Billingtoii, recorder, and Frazier, school The public wells business, which was an commissioner. equall.v vexing and deeper trouble, did not as Prior to 1838. the only newspa]ier in Quiney, yet dry up. though one of them did, so it was or the section of county adjoining, was the ordered to be filled up and another one ordered Illinois Bounty Land Register, founded in 1835, to be dug at the nort Invest corner of the square. with name changed in 1837 to tiie Quiney A census of the town taken in November Argus, and a few years later rechristened as the showed a population of 1,850; males 1,020; existent Quinc.y Herald. The first paper of any females 830; over 14 years of age, 1,230: imder place becomes prescriptively historic. The 14 years. 620. original title of this journal, though now per- At the November meeting the board directed liajis peculiar, had a then local significance. the attorney. Johnston, to draw up a petition Congress had, as has been before told, devoted to be circulated for signatures in tlie town, and 3,500,000 acres of the luildic laud, in that presented to the legislature for incorporation section of Illinois, lying between the Illinois as a city. This was completed, and on Decem- and Mississippi rivers and extending northward ber ITtli prepared by the trustees, to be offered 198 miles from tlieir junction, to the payment to the legislature, tlie boundaries being the of biuinties (160 acres to e;ich) to the soldiers same as those with which Ihc city was incor- of the war of 1812. This comprehended about porated a year later. three-fifths of lh<> entire tract, and it also was The political rein-esentation, national and provided that no land should be sold by the gov- state, was somewhat changed during this year. I'rnment therein until all the bounties to the 74 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. soldiers were paid. Thus this part of the state hall a century on parallel lines, is essential be- became everywhere known as the "Bounty cause the.v mark an epoch in Quincy history. It Lauds." ]jater the government land office, and is from them that the annals of the place sub- the piivate land agencies, representing to- sequent to the date of their establishment nuist gether all the unsold and unimproved land in be largel.v learned. There was no river mail as the ti'aet. were located at Quincy. .vet, and none for some years later, A weekly This paper properly proposed to represent mail by land from St. Louis and one also from and to make known to the wfu-ld the values of Springfield gave the eastern news twice a the fair region whose resou.rces were as yet week. The earliest eastern news, however, "in unregistei'ed and undeveloped. Mainly was it advance of tlie mail," as they used to call it, at first given to desciiptions of the territory, was from eastern or St. Louis papers, which its history, that of the several counties, notices jiassenuers and the steamboat officers were ex- of all kinds connected with the lands and the pected to jn-ovide themselves with and for land business, and its circulation became great- which they had calls at every landing. Many ly extended from this cause. The periodical improvements of a substantial nature were now advertisements of delin(|uent laud sales in made: a special committee, informally ap- Knox, Fulton, Hancock and most of the coun- pointeil by the town board to look after the ties of the tract were printed in its colunnis. business transactions of the town, reported on Hence it was well entitled the Bounty Laud Decemlter 12. that there had been to that date, Register. Later, of course, with more general during the vear, 33 brick, and 170 frame houses settlements and the establishment of newis- erected, at "a cost of $188,500; $425,000 worth papei"s in the ad.jacent counties, the character of merchandise imported : $200,000 worth of of the Register became changed and its sphere beef and pork exported : $215,000 worth of flour contracted. During this and the immediately and grain exported. The report was a fair adjoining years, the KegLster and Argus inider- estimate except in placing the cost of the build- went a kaleidoscopic change in its owner- ings too low. A map of the town, the first one ship and management. Young, Woods, Al- made, and a very good one, was gotten up by drich, Bassett, Bradley, Morris, Pettitt. Karnes I. 0. Woodruff. A military company, projected and Booth were off' and on its owners and during the j)reeeding year, now perfected its or- editors. It had a feeble existence until about ganization. This was the noted Quincy Greys, the time that it came under the editorial charge Captain E. J. Phillips, which in all the elements of Austin Brooks, whose powerful partisan pen, that combine to make that most attractive of aided as he was by some vigorous financial organizations, a volunteer militia company backing, invested the paper with an attractive- stood and stayed while it lasted, A No. 1, and ness and political power such as few journals has never been excelled by any of the fine have, and which up to that time, it did not Quinc.v companies of later times. possess. Navigation opened early and continued fair There came in ikiw the second paper of the and long; the river clo.sing about the 10th of place, the Quincy Whig, the first number of Deceml)er. which was issued May 5, 1838—H. V. Sullivan, Woi-k on the railroad in the county and town proprietor; N. BxTshnell and A. Johnson, two created nnich bn.stle and added to business. young lawyers, as editors. A few months later, This railroad, projected by the state, as a S. ^L Bartlett. who had been previously editing member of its grand "international railroad a paper at Galena, came in as a partner of ilr. system," intended to run from Quinc.v east- Sullivan, taking the editorial control, which ward through Springfield to the Indiana line, association continued with but a brief interrup- was, oi- ratlier that portion of it between con- tion, until Mr. Bartlett 's death in 1852. air. Quincy and Columbus was—placed under Bartlett was a man of unusual aptitude for his tract Aiiril 23, 1838 and active work upon it at chosen profession, Avas everywhere recognized once liegun. As originally surve.ved and ])ar- as one of the foremost journalists of the state, tially graded it was to enter the town near and under the prudent pilotage of himself and what is now the corner of Broadway and Twen- partner, the Whig rapidly rose to a position of ty-fourth street. Traces of this old track re- influence and success which for many years it main. From there the line ran on Broadway maintained. This mention of these pioneer jour- directly west to the river bank. The intention nals, and of their origin during the town's in- then was to place a stationary power on the hill fancy; the one commencing as non-partisan biit near Twelfth street, with an "inclined plane"

finally becoming a democratic organ ; the other, therefrom down the river. Some fifteen years starting out as a representative of the whig later, when tlie road had passed out of state beliefs, and the two traveling since for nearlv possession, and worlv upon it was renewed, the I'AST AND I'KESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 75 line was cliaii'^cii l)y a i-ut hrint;- made deflecting and are yet known as the "flat rail," fit now iioi-t Invest from Jiroadway iieai' Kourteenth, only for light local use, but at that time gen- tlieiic(> \viiidiii<;- its way tlirouj-ih llie hluffs and erally used. The ends of the Hat bars were iiu'cliriy Front street al)out at its intersection constantl.v curling up and received the ai)pro- looking like a with Cedar. Most of tll(> -iradiiii;' on this ahsui'd I)riate name of "snake heads"— picrc dl' work was done, hiil not all. Better prairie snake with the foi'c inirt of his body Juduineiit and more sUilll'iil cntjiiiccrin^'- t'ore- erect. The i)ressure and weight of the train siu'ht found that this iiieasiirc only about one- on the central part of the rails bent them and half obviated the object icjiis to the stationary forced the ends to fly up. looseinng the spikes,

;i passed, |)o\vci' witli its 'incline."' and it was wisely and not a week, indeed hai'dly trip concluded that it would ultimately be more when the train was not snagged and stopped econonncal in every way to abandon a g'rade by the ".snake heads" passing up between the which demaiuled a donblc Icjcomotive strenj;th wheels, or was che(d contrast with what is known nowa- railroad. days. Instead of the (diaired T rail there were wooden sti'ingers crossing th(> sleei)ei's ('or ties This slice of old-time railroad history, well as the.v are iu)w called) and spiked down upon known to parties in the past, is not so generally the stringers were flat bars of iron abont six- known at present, and is told in connection with teen or eiLditeeu feet long. Thes(> were then this joint railroad story, although the story 76 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY.

runs into events belonging to a twenty years' the town ; he was also directed to present the later time. laetition for incorporation as a city, to all the As one enterprise suggests auotlier. so did voters. He was allowed $10 for his (juite lengthy this project of a railroad, to run through the and responsible work. central and upper portion of the county, led During this, or late in the preceding year, the to a rival movement which resulted in the in- first regular book store made its appearance. corporation and organization of the "Quincy, It was opened by Wm. D. Skilhnan, of Lexing- Griggsville, Jacksonville and Springfield Turn- ton, Kentucky. This business was purchased pike company." More than this was not done, a few years after by Newton Plagg, who had it is and to be regretted : for it was many a been clerk Avith Skilhnan. Some ten or twelve year before the railroad eomnuuiication was years later, it was transferred to J. R. Dayton, eomjilete, and during the time of its non-com- and is now, (1883) with changed proprietors pletiou, for inany a year the "mud wagon" and and name, probably the oldest continuous mer- the "bone breaker," held undisputed sway over cantile business of the city. An earnest meet- the route. ing was held on the 13th of December, for the The year 1838 was a steady progressive year purpose of founding an academy or high school. desi)ite the hard times. Considering the limited A great deal of interest was manifested in this means that the town possessed, a great deal was movement by all classes. Articles of incor- effected, and was done with judgment and poration had been previously obtained, but the economy. The grade on several of the principal project moved no farther. The wrong parties streets was established : Hampshire street was sought to father it and it was a failure. made passable from the public square to the This failure Avas unfortunate and long re- river; a bridge was built over the creek on gretted. Such an institution could have been Delaware near Front; a fire department was had and was needed. This was long before organized; the cemetery enclosed, and a sys- the establishment of the present public school tematic plan of action and improvement insti- system. There were a number of private schools. tuted, exceeding what had been done in any Bradley, Hollowbush. Safford, Miss Katurah previous year. A summary of the receipts and Wood, the Misses De Krafft and others kept expenditures during the year ending June 9, good schools, but like all individual enterprises 1838, exhibits as received, from taxes, $1,- of this nature, the facilities were not broad and

775.19 : show license. !f!25.00 : subscriptions to the standard of scholarship not of the highest. grade Hampshire street, .$370 ; sale of cemetery Political feeling during the summer canva.ss lots, $255, which with $206.49. on hand at the of 1838, swelled higher than it had ever ran commencement of the year, gave a revenue of before. It will be remembered that then, and $2.()31.98. There was expended during this until 1848, all elections, other than the presi- time, for the cemetery. .$956.11 ; public wells, dential, came off in August, and hence most of $109; hooks and ladders. .$56; streets and the i3olitical canvassing ran through, and ran bridges. $1.070 ; fees, commissions and sundries, out during, the spring and summer months. $379.59, leaving a balance in the treasury of Presidential sti'ifes were not neai'ly so im- $61.28. The liabilities of the town were re- portant then as now, and occurring only once ported as amounting to about $2,700. much in four years, the November elections excited of which was on the Hampshire street improve- less interest and usually called out only about ment account, and was amply offset by notes two-thirds of the vote. given for the same, unpaid taxes, and amounts The elections in 1836 had not definitely de- due on the cemetery lots which had been sold. clared the political status of Illinois, while that The current expenses of the tow'u were very of Adams county remained equall.y uncei-tain light. No salary was given to any of the offi- and did not become a fixed condition until 1844. cers. The collector and treasurer were paid by The whig and democratic nominations at this connnissions on what passed through their time were made with the particular intent to hands. This year for the first time, an allow- develop the strength of their respective parties, ance of $50 was voted to the secretary. It was and there appeared but two candidates for the proper. The board paid no office rent. They governorship. This was unusual. In Adams met regularly at Mr. Woodruff^ 's (the secre- county also a local bitterness attached to the tary) office, had his services, used his furniture, struggle from the fact that it was the residence firewood and probably his stationery, and there of Thomas Carlin, the democratic candidate was justice in their act of making this allow- for governor, who had also been an extreme ance. All the work of the toAvn was done on the partisan, and as such roused nuich local op- cheapest of systems. As an illustration : Jerome position as well as support. He was elected A. Swazey was appointed to take the census of over Cyrus Edwards by a majority in the state PAST AND i'liESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 77 of 0,947 out (if a total vote of ():^.r)0l2. t-aiTyiiis for several successive years by fever and the covinty also by 2S4 iiiajoi'ity in a vote of cholera, and having a large, rough and reckless 2.014. Tliesi" tiiiui'es. botli in tlie state and element in its scant i)opulatioiL it managed to c-ounty more tlian doubled the ajjgregate vote struggle along to an incorporated existence as cast at the governor's election in 18:M, indicat- a town in 1834, with an estimated poi)iilatioii of inu: a ])ro|)ortionate increase of pojndation dur- 700. It was less than that figure, however, since ing this foul- y(>ai's. At this same election, a somewhat carefully taken census in 1835, gave Stephen A. Donglas, candidate for congress, re- 735 as the correct number. Then, for the six ceived 1:51 ma.joi-ity in the county over John T. succeeding years, if was controlled liy its board

Stuart, l"):} less than that given to Carlin, while of town trustees, with steadily increasing num- Ai-chibald Williams, whig, and Wni. (i. Flood, bers and wealth in 1840, it outgrows ifs youth- (Iciiiiicrat, were elected to the h'gislatnre, beat- ful character and becomes the third in the state ing 1'. W. ^Martin and Jacob Sniilli, the other in age and the second in populafitm. whig and democratic candidates, showing as An estimate of its poi)ulation at this period before stated that the political (•(luiplcxinn of (1840) placed it at 1,850, but a stafemeut pub- the county was as yet nncertain. lished some years later by the Northern Gross This, like the preceding and several subse- Railroad Company, nuide it 2,310 in 1840. 'I'he quent years, wiis a season of extreme financial first named figures, however, are probably neai'- depression. No one now. who was not conver- ly correct. The valuation of property in the sant with that period, can realize the conditions city at this period was .^912.823. of the "hard times" of ISMfi and '37 and the The winter of 1839-40 was short but severe. few following years. Navigation was completely suspended from Among the early comers to the town and December 21.sf, 1839, to February 20th, 1840, vicinity during this year were Wm. B. Powers, but during this period, the fiow of ice was un- Timotliv Rogers, Jared Blansett, John and Sam- usually heavy, and extended below the Ohio, uel llutton, N. Flagg, U. S. Penfield, Dr. W. D. much farther than usual, proportionately im- Kood, Paul Konantz. E. Littlefield. (i. Walt- peding navigation in the lower river. The pros- house, J. R. llilborn. I. N. IMorris, .). H. Best, perity of the town, however, considering the F. \V. Jansen, Oliver Gerry, (ieorge Banghman, general hard times, was less affected by these Philil) Sehwabel, Vaudorn, IMiller, lliggins, ice blockades than formerly, for there had been Hazlewood, Abel, George Folkrod, O. H. 15ishop, gradually growing up winter business, which Jacob Wagner. Henry Kent. Byewater, Brad- afforded employment for labor. The flouring bury, W. II. Gather, J. Schinii. G. Powell and mills and the i)rovision packing houses had now others. assumed good and permanent standing, being the beginning of large local industries, which during twenty and thirty later years swelled in- to large proportions. The ice business, for CHAPTER XVIII. which the location of Quiney is so excellently 1840. adapted and which has since become so exten- PROSPEROUS SEASON. DIVISION' OP CITY INTO sive, was not begun until some fifteen years THREE W.\RDS. FINANCIAL ST.^TEMENT. after this date. FIRST CITY ELECTION. EBENEZER MOORE. FIRST MAYOR. 'WHIG." THE OFFICIAL PAPER The town autluu'ifies were much busied by OF THE CITY. PUBLIC SCHOOL QUESTION. their increased duties and their preparation for CORNER STONE OF PRESBYTERIAN CRURCH LAID BY DR. NELSON. FIRST MEDICAL SOCIE- the transfer of authority to the succeeding cor- TY. FIRST THEATRE. JOE JEFFERSON. BEAR poration. KILLED AT LIMA LAKE. In Febi'uary a plan for a market house was Eighteen hundred and forty was an ambit ions ])i-epared and ifs construction, at the corner yc-ir for (^uincy. Fifteen years earlici-. the of Hampshire and Third, ordered. At the saiiu^ phicc hail been chosen and christenetl as the time, an election was ordered to be held on the county seat of Adams county: having then a third W^ednesday of March, foi- a vote on fli(> pojiulation of three families, comprisinu- in all. adoption of the city charter, which had passed ])erha])s fifteen residents of all ages. the legislature this same month. The future Throughout the nine years following from city was divided into three wards: all north 18l2."). its government had been in the hands of of Hampshire forming the first : all south of the county conunissioners. and during this Hampshire and between Hampshire, and ]Maine period, with all th(> drawbacks of isolation; a from the i-iver east to Fifth, then south of Fifth thin aiKJ \uiiiy i-uunti-y population to support it: to York, thence north of York to the eastern little capitid of its own: notoriously and truly b(uuidary of the city being the second, and all reputed as being " uidiealthy," sadly scourged srath of the second making the third. These 78 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAIMS COUNTY. divisions coutiuued for sixteen years, wlien Tliese reports are suggestive, since they con- under a new city charter, the number of wards trast the necessary expenses of the growing in 1857 was increased to six. At this election town with what they had been a few years held over the adoption of the city charter the earlier. Four years before, in June, 1836, the vote stood 'J28 for, to 12 against. second year of the town incorporation, it ap- On the 18th of ilarch the trustees ordered pears from the town treasurer's report, that an election for city officers to be held on the he had within the twelve months, preceding, re- 20th of April, the three voting places being, ceived $254.82, and had during that time ex- the Baptist church on Fourth, the courthouse pended $258—quite a contrast this with the and the Congregational church on Fourth, later conditions. These reports are also still which places long continued to be used as such, more suggestive in their exhibition of the With the winding up of the affairs of the sources of revenue upon which the town did town corporation, preparatory to its becoming a then and the coming cit.v must rely; as also city reports were ordered and made to the the proportionate degree of expenditure that trustees covering its past year's business and should be provided for. These receipts and ex- present financial condition. These reports were penses, as will be seen, graded at the time very made by the treasurer and clerk of the final much as now, though it will be noted that in the meetings of April 20 and 21, 1840. That of the above statements two costly and necessary fac- treasurer, Enoch Conyers. who was afterward tors in a city's expenditures (pauper and police three times made mayor of the city (dying accounts) do not appear. And to these may be while in office in 1849) showed that he had dur- added the other now expenses of a growing ing the past twelve months, received .$6,483.90, city, sucli as light and water, an'd paid out $6,137.76. leaving a balance in his The first election for city officers, held on the hands of $364.14. This sum. which was all in 20th of April, was important and exciting. Be- county orders, he was directed to pay over to side the importance of the offices to be filled and the treasurer of tlie incoming administration, the patronage connected therewith, this was the This at the proper time was done, and the above first occasion when the relative strengtli of amount was the "pin money" with which the political parties in (^uiney was definitely deter- young city started upon its career, before taxes, mined, althougli a partial test had been made licenses and the ustuil sources of revenue could at the election for magistrates in the preceding commence bringing funds into the city treasury, year. Heretofore at all the elections any resi- A detailed fiscal statement was prepared by the dent of tlie county, who was a qualified voter, at precinct of the clerk, I. 0. Woodrutt'. who was one of the most could cast his vote whatever accurate of clerical men, and who then and county he cliose. The voting was then, and since in such positions proved himself to be of continued until 1848, viva voce. Party lines peculiar public value. This report, agi'eeing now became at once closely drawn. Excellent with that of the treasurer, is as follows: nominations were made by both parties. The whigs selected as their candidate for mayor. RECEIPTS. -nn^ Ebenezer i\loore. a much respected man. long late treasurer 9o6.88 Balance from $ lJ„„.^^.,^ ^s a mauistrate: a lawyer by profession. to IIanq)shire Street 80.00 Subscriptions ,^,j^ ^^^^^^.^ speciallv engaged in various business lOo.OO Theatre and circus license ao-pncies. About" thirteen years later, he en- Gi-ocery gaged in banking in which he was unfortunate. 7r~"Q*^ Store City, where ?.lci ^™d removed finally to Washington 3.2 < 6.64 Real estate taxes j^^ ^u^^^ Cemetery sales 385.00 rpj^^ dcnioci-ats nominated General Samuel T TTT, Leech, a very worthy and well known "old citi- $6,483.90 Total j,en" who came to Quiucy some years before EXPENDITURES. as register of the public land office and was ap- Streets $3,222.47 pointed receiver, which office he held at this Fire department and engine 2.003.13 time. Eight or ten years later, he moved to Salaries, etc 443.99 ilinncsota, where he held a similar appoint- this one of the Sundries 324.8(5 ment. ( Jeneral Leech was at time Cemetery 143.31 town trustees. The whigs nominated for aldermen—two in Total $6,137.76 each ward—J. E. Jones, H. Asbury, R. R. Wil- Balance 346.14 liams. F. W. Jansen, J. N. Ralston and John B. F. Wood : the democratic nominees were $6,483.90 Osborne, W. P. Reeder. T. :\Iunroe. E. Conyers —

PAST AND I'KKSENT OF ADA:\rS COUNTY. 79

;iii(l A. Delahar. two of tlii' scvt'ii trustees officials lieing chosen by the council—a .system (Olivers iiiid Jones—were iioiiiiuated as candi- far preferable to that which has succeeded. dates for aldermen. S. P. Church Avas apjjointed clerk, with a The contest was earnest, lint good-natured. salary of $200 and his bond fixed at $1,000. KveiyluKly engaged in it. Everybody knew Andrew .Johnston, treasurer, with a reipiired everyliody. There was a large jiroportion of bond of ,$4.tl(M); -lacob (iniell. marshal and col- active, .jolly young men here then, and many lector, with a bond (d' $200 for the first and of tile iiiiisl intimate fricinls I'linnd themselves .$1,000 for the latter office : I. O. Woodruff, lighting each other. assessor; John T\. Kaiidolph, attorney; George

fun. newspaper s((uihs aiul lampoons were Wood, sexton: -1. 1). .Mcugan. fire warden; the ortier of tiie day. One young man, who Enoch Conyers, overseer of the jioor, and Wm. had lieen foi' many pears past drawing upon King. Harrison Dills and John Odell. street other banks than that of Helicon, reaped quite supervisors. a success as a poetic satirist, a vociition which These men completed and const iluted the first he has lung since abaudonetl. i'erhaps his two year's city government, and. so lieing—the first \cais association in classic Europe, away from city fathers—their names are entitled to be the "root of all evil," may tend to rekindle given and to receive such amount of immortal- some portion of his former juvenile tire. ity as their own merits and this mention m;iy A not bad hit and repartee jiassed between secure. two friends at the polls, (ien. Ijeech, as all who The council meetings were held at the court- knew iiim will remember, was a stiff, awkward, house until about the first of Xevember. and ungainly man. walking as though he had no after that time at the mayor's office. The town joints. Said a whig, pointing to Leech, "Look ordinances were continued until the 30th of at liiat movement, do you call that a gait or a May. when a sy.stem of city ordinances was ])air of bars.' He can't run." "You'll find," adopted. A troublesome ((uestioii of authority retorted his democratic friend, "by the time came up almo.st at the very first, which created the polls clo.se that its a flight of steps." some public embari'a.ssment and aroused con- Hut it did not so prove. Moore was elected siderable feeling, (iov. Carlin, an hone.st but by 4:i majority, and the whigs secured all of narrow-minded man, of strong partisan pro- tin- aldermen except Asbury in the first ward, clivities, refused to commission Mayor ]\loore who fell three votes short of success. >\ll of as a justice of the peace, which he liecame these men then elected, the first of our city under the charter by virtue of his election as fathers, now dead, and of all the men who mayor, and the case at once assumed a political served as trustees during the six years of the hue. The council took the matter up; de- town existence, only one. I?obert Tillson, is manded of the governor his reasons; passed (1886) now living. some pretty sharp resolutions in regard to his

As it may be snpposetl. there was now a busy conduct: obtained decided legal opinions; com- time and much work before the authorities of menced legal movements and for some months the young city. For the first month or two the there seemed to be a small civil war on ]ia]ier council meetings were frequent. Organization lietween the city and "the state, or rather be- was made on the 23rd of Ajuil. when tlie six tween the city council and the governor. It elected aldermen were by lot divided into two was finally settled in favor of tlu^ mayor. classes—Osborii. Jauseu and l\alston drawing The lU'dinances. proceedings ainl advertise- into the liist class, to holil foi- one year, and ments of the council were ordered to be |u-iiite

oi'del-ed \u lie held ill Xoveillber to fill the for the reason that tlie\- did not represent a vai'aucN'. but when the day came around the majority of the legal voters, early came up judges of the election forgot all about it. and again before the city council and were once another election was held on December "Jlst, more dismissed for the same reason as before. when Charles ]\IcUouald was chosen. .\t the The grading of ^Taine street from the public seiMUid and succeeding meetings the corps of square to the river and the extension south- officers allowed under the charter and neces- ward of the public landing, which then was a sary for the complete organization of the city mirrow ]iiece of new made ground at the foot government were chosen. Then, under the of Hampshire, were ordered and contracted for first city charter, only the mayor and alder- in December, the landing to be extended with

iiK'ii were elected by a ]>o|iiilar vote, all other the earth taken from ^[aine street. Also at ;

8o PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. the same time a contract was made for the between the city and county concerning the fencing of the public square. All those im- ownership and control of ijublie property lying provements, then commenced, which met with within the city limits, which for a full half cen- much popular and some council opposition, tury later was the cause of much bitter and were completed during the coming year. senseless strife, fostered by local demagogues The public school question, which had been so long as the county vote largely prepondered here, as everywhere else in the west, a disputed over that of the city. This has recently been issue between two contlicting ideas, received resolved and settled, and it is to be hoped for- early and earnest attention from the people ever. and the city authorities. The growth of this This jealous controversy delayed for many invaluable, inestimable interest against chilling years much needed improvement, and to some and distrustful influences up to its present con- extent also embarrassed for awhile the effective dition and strength is interesting. There was establishment of the public school system, be- then a huge hostility to common schools, partly fore alluded to, which had been practically in- growing out of a sectional distrust of education, augurated during this year. partly out of a feeling, which, to some extent, Miiil facilities were not as yet what they still exists, that public moneys should not be should have been, considering the size and expended upon that which every one did not growing business importance of the place. The want, and that no one should be taxed to pay tri-weekly mail from Springfield, was still the for what his neighbor thought to be needed and main medium through which was received east- himself did not. This had to be met. At a ern news. Another tri-Aveekly mail from St. public meeting held on the first of August, a Louis alternated with the above. No river mail call was made upon the city council to make an had as yet been established, although it was appropriation in behalf of a common school sys- by private conveyance of newspapers on the tem. The coiincil took the matter under advise- daily arriving of steamers that the earliest ment. special news from abroad was obtained. Dr. Ralston, one of the most excellent and Navigation was long continued, and the river exemplary men. both in public, and private did iu)t finally close until the 18th of December. life, that the city ever had, gave to this sub.ject This will be remembered as one of the longest his special interest and attention, bringing the known jieriods of open water in the Mississippi, matter continually before the council, where, which was surpassed by the yet longer con- as with the public, his intelligence and integrity tinued navigation, free from ice, of the two fol- gave him more than an average influence. It lowing years, 1841-42, when the river remained was ordered in October, at his recommendation, open all winter. that city iniblie schools should be established This was notably an organizing period, ilany that "the surplus revenue of the city, after pay- of tlie present permanent a.ssoeiations, and some ing ordinai'y and contingent expenses," should temporary ones which served their purpose, but be devoted to that purpose, and that a consulta- have i>assed away, date their origin from this tion should be had with the township school time. trustees in regard to buying ground and the A medical society was formed in March, building of two school houses. Later, after which, though its existence lapsed at times, was these conferences were had. the council, in the germ of the present institution of that char- December, ordered the building of a school acter. A theatre, under the management of house in the old cemetery lot, where the court- ".Joe Jefferson," had been established during house now stands, and the purchase of a lot on the jireeeding winter, and was operated with a block 30, where now is the Franklin school good share of success and credit for nearly two house. Prom these plantings, which did not years. An argricultural society was in existence, fully bear fruit until in the succeeding year, but with a feeble life, and it was not until some our present city school system has grown. fifteen years later that such an institution be- The building of a market house, which had came successfully organized. There was also been proposed in the town board in the pre- foi-med a historical society, composed of very ceding spring, Avas again brought forward and capable membership, which promised well at a proposition made to the county authorities first, and gathered a good deal of the then fresh, to sell a portion of the market lot for a sufficient crude material of infant history for future use, sum to build or partially build a market house but it has unfortunately been allowed to on the remainder of the lot. This, however, laid dwindle out of existence. An institution of this over until the next year. kind is an essential of measureless value, and The matter of a market hoiise and also that should be organized as early as pos.sible in every of a courthouse involved a vexations fjuestion vonng growing communitv; since with each PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 81 passiiijj year more scant and nncertain li(><'ntn(> luMU'e then and since nuule most astonishing the sources from which after times can cull the runs at the point of the bayonet, or were care- curious and valuable traditions of old days. fully placed under military giuird. The war- The Pi'cshyterian church, an otVshoot. like fare of that day was long a subject of amuse- most of the early religious societies, from the mcnt. old Congreg:ational, was organized at the court- A speciid session of the legislature was called house on the 19th of January, and on the 31st in .Xovembei'. Why or what for it was difficidt of August tlie corner .stone was laid of the to know, since the session lasted but sixteen brick churcii Imilding on Jfaine street, which days and adjouriu>d without passing any bills. they occupied for nearly forty years. Dr. The gradu.d disai)pearance of some of the David Nelson conducted the cei-enionies. This, earlier sjx'cics of game was noted by a bear M'hen finished, was the most im])osing church being killed (probably the last one in the structure in the city. Tlie Unitarian was formed county) near Ijima Lake, by Wilson Land and about this time, under the pastorship of the Swartout, which weighed three hundred Rev. (Jeorge iMoore, a most excellently educated iKiuuds. and populai' clei'gyman. This tlenominal ion. then small, now perhaps the wealthiest in the city, built a small frame church on the north side of Elaine street, between Third and Fourth from which they moved a few years later to the XIX. corner of Jersey and Sixth, and thence to their CHAPTER present handsome home cm .Maine street be- 1841. tween Sixth and Seventh. POLITIC.\L. Cn-TING A CANAL FROM WOOD This was a memorable, almost unprecedented SLOUGH TO RIVKR. FERRY RATES ESTAB- year of party strife and excitement. Since LISHED. QUEER ORIGIN OF THE FIRST CITY SE,\L. COUNTY SEAT STRUGGLE. LIBRARY. 1828 no such wild wave of partisan enthu.siasm FIRST ENGRAVED BONDS. THE "YAGERS." had swept over the land, so sharply changing FIRST GERM.^N MH.ITARY COMPANY. A DAILY HERALD. existing political conditions. As in 1826, this LINE OF STEAMBO.VTS. QUINCY I'ROGRESS OF SCHOOLS. great upheaval occurred most conspicuously in the west, and its great coming was but par- At the session of 1840-41 a new legislative tially foreshadowed by the summer state con- apportionment was made which gave Adams tests. Still the evident tendency of public sen- county one senator and five representatives. timent .shown in the August elections, gave No elections, however, was held under this increased strength and certainty to the almost law until the summer of 1842. The judiciary unanimous national success of the whigs in the system of the state, as organized under the following November. constitution of 1818 and which had been

\t the state election in Augusl. .]. II. Ral- legislatively changed in 1824, 1827, 1829 and ston to the senate, "Wm. Laughliu and I. C. 1835, was now radically recognized at this Humphreys to the house, and Thomas Ja.sper session by legislating out of office all the cii"- as sheriff, were elected bv the democrats, over cuit judges and creating five supreme court jus- Archibald Williams, N. Bushnell and R. W. tices, who, with the four life office judges, hold- Starr, and Wm. TT. Tandy (whigs) by major- ing office under the constitution of 1813, should ities ranging fi'om 20 to 100. These figures were constitute a sui)reme court and each of them more than revei'sed three months later, when also re(|uii'ed to perform circuit court duty. the whigs carried the county by 265 and the This act dismissed from the bench Judge Peter city by 72 majority. The abolition party then Lott, of this circuit, and his place was filled by first appeared as a factor in politics, poling 42 the appointment of Stephen A. Douglas, Judge votes. Douglas, who had previously presided in Jack- The August election was inlluenced and |)r(il)- sonville, became now a resident of Quincy. Here ably determined b.v the large Irish vote, which he lived, representing the district afterward work upon the railroad had brought into the three times in congress, until after his election county. At this election was witnessed the to the U. S. senate, when he removed to Chi- first, and indeed the only political riot that has cago some eiglit or ten years later. ever occurred in Quinc.v. The railroad hands The congressional election in August resulted took entire possession of the polls and the mob in the success of the whig ticket. Johu T. Stu- had to be dispersed by the calling out of the art having been rechosen to congress over militia. Beyond there being many knock J. H. Ralston, carrying the county by a major- downs, bruises and bad scars, no great injury ity of 13G in a total vote of 2.978. " Ebenezer resulted, though some men of political promi- ]\roore was again elected mayor at the city elee- 82 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

tiou ill April over Daniel Atkinson and Robert man standing alongside a dead tree was used Evans. J. H. Ralston and John Abbe were as the "(^uincy City seal" for some years, until elected as aldermen and Samuel P. Church was a later council, composed of some of those reappointed clerk. In August of this year died whose wrong teachings were the indirect cause Alderman R. R. Williams, one of the pioneer of this former vandalism, and who felt sensi- men who had been almost constantly connected tive about it, changed it to the i^resent more with the town and city councils. He had an appropriate and tasteful design. excellent professional standing as a lawyer and The fiscal statement of the city, made April was etiually regarded as an exemplary and 27th. 1841. is worthy of reference as showing useful citizen. His place in the board was its financial condition during the first year of tilled by the election of II. V. Sullivan. its existence. Summarized it is as follows: It There had long been an apprehension that will be noticed that a considerable portion of the steady encroachment of the tow-head bar the expenditure was upon the unsettled indebt- might ultimately destroy the public landing, edness of the town of Quincy. which had be- and to avert this danger the city apjjropriated come the heritage of the city : •¥2,000, in connection with a public subscrip- Quincy town debts paid $1,100.36 tion, for the purpose of cutting a canal from Quincy city debts paid 4.528.08 the river into Wood slough so as to bring a Cash on hand 13.34 constant current into the bay. This work was commenced in February and soon completed. $5,641.78 Its value, however, was doubtful. The receipts into the treasury up to the 1st Received from town of Quincv $ 355.99

" of January, 1S41, being the first eight months Collected taxes, etc $4,392.30 of the city government, were reported as Vouchers outstanding 893.49 amounting to $2,762.25. The salary of the mayor for the year ending April, 1841, Avas .$5,641.78 fixed at $250. The market house, so long a Due on cemetery lots $ 380.00 subject of controversy, was built after much Due on other credits 235.72 trouble and delay in deciding upon the plan, Cash 13.34 at the corner of Hampshire and Third streets. Rates for the ferry, then owned by Carlin & Rer-.ources $ 629.06 Rogers, were established and a license fee of $60 imposed. The fencing of the public square The cost of the fire department was $214.24; was completed. street supervisors' expenditures, $264.11; pau-

novel excitement came early during the pers, $335.79 ; .surveying, platting, etc., $298.12 A up ; year Avhich aroused a good deal of feeling at expense, salaries, etc.. $1,059.46; the remainder, the time and led to the selection of the singu- some $22 or .$23, being expended on streets, lar design for the first city seal. John Wood mainly the completion of Hampshire and the had, at his own expense, with the concurrence commencement of work on Maine to Front, also of the council, transplanted to the center of the the grading of Front and the public square. square a handsome elm tree about a foot in The city ordinances which, like those of the diameler. Tliere had been an opposition to the town, had heretofore only seen the light occa- enclosing of the public square and its adorn- sionally through publication in tlie weekly pa- ment Avitli shrubbery, which finally engendered pers, were now revised and issued in pamph- some political bitterness. On the night of May let foim for the first time. A city poorhouse 6tli some graceless scamijs girdled and thus was also rented at the rate of $100 per annum, killed the tree. In the next issue of the Argus, the pauper demands upon the young city hav- the democratic paper of the place, appeared a ing become then—as they ever since have in- irougli cut purporting to represent ]\Ir. Wood creased to be—a most expensive factor. A city resting upon his cane and mournfully gazing at jihysicia.n was employed. Dr. Eells was the the dead tree. The city council offered a re- first regular city physician, although Dr. Rals- ward of $100 for the detection of the rogues. ton had informally, through his position in They were soon discovered, but found to be the council, acted as such for a few months not worth the trouble of punishing. before. A cpiestion brought out the statement At their meeting on June 26th the council from the county clerk that the cost and ex- ordered that "the elm tree and flagstaff upon penses on the courthouse, commenced in 1836 the public square, as represented in the Argus and finished in 1836. and burned in 1875. some time since, be adopted as the device of amounted to $21,800. and those on the jail to a seal for the city." This representation of a $13,681. PAST AM) l>Hi]SENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 83

Tliere was a sliglit dissatislactiiiii in 1825 2.!)l)5. tlie abolition ticket receiving 75 votes. w hen the county seat was established at Quincy, This was the last time up to this date (1886) lu'cause it had not l)e('n jihit-ed in the jj^eo^raphi- that the county has given anything but a demo- cai centre of the county as was done in many cratic majoiity on the state or presidential olhei- counties of the state. Ten years later, ticket. wlien the county vote ^I'fi'tl.v outnumbered that The county seat (pieslion. which was still of the town, l)eino: nearly two tn (inc. this i.ssue hanging unsettled in I lie courts, was a con- was raised and it was enipluitii-ally decided in stant subject of irritatiuL;- discussion among the favor of retaiiiiiiL; the county seat at Quiney. people all tlirdugh the \car. A newspaper, the Tlie dissatisfaction still smouldered, however, People's Organ, was started in Quiney, advo- and resulted in the passage of a law. Avhich cating the retention of the county seat here, was approved .January 19, 1841, ordei-ing an and a paper was also iMd)lished in Columbus, election to be held in Adams count}' on the advocating the removal, yet the only distinct (piestion of removing the county seat from issue made at the polls on this rpiestion was in Quiney to Columbus. A most bitter .sectional the election of Wm. Kichards. who had been and [)ersonal contlict ensued. It was fostered nominated for county commissioner as the by persoiuil aiul political interests. The fierce- Quiney candidate, by 180 majority over J. Tur- ness of the antagonism i-aised by this strife can ner, who represented the Columbus interest. scarcely be realized now. Singidarly enough, so far as the legislative State and county officials were to be chosen candidates were concerned, although they were and a vote taken on the proposition for a con- known to have diverse and decided views in vention to revise the state constitution, or to r\gard to this issue, it was tacitly kept quiet, make a new one. This project was warmly altliough it undoubtedly atfected the votes that sup|)orted in Quiney for the reason that some Aiere cast for them. thdught it jiointed a way out of the county This contest broke over the iron lines of difficulties (which it did six years later) and ;)arty, .split many personal friendships and shiv- was carried by a majority of 625 in the Avhole ered the popular power of not a few prominent county, out of a total vote of 2,680, It failed men who became unfortunately misplaced in in ado|ition by the state, however, on account the struggle. Frecpieiit meetings were held (if conditions with which it was burdened, and over the county and broad latitude of personal

it was not until five years later that the gen- ilisjiutation was not uncommon. Newspapers eral desire to change the original constitution were started especially devoted to this issue. of 1818 was pressed to a successful result. Public and private crimination was frequent. The democratic candidate for governor, A. It was an especially good time for the wags W. Snyder, of St. Clair county, died shortly and satirists to shoot at their selected game. after his nomination, and Judge Thomas Ford, A hot controversy ensued over the validity of a foi-mer resident of Quiney, was selected in a b(uul of .$75,000 given by the Columbiis pai'tj' liis stead. Against him the whigs p\it up Josej)]! to insure the erection of the necessary public Duncan, who luid been elected governor in 18:5-1 buildings at that place. and had served as a member of congress for (I11 this question the two leading lawyers of several years earlier. There was also in the the county dittered widely. Browning pro- field an abolition state ticket. The whigs nomi- nounced the bond defective. Williams, who nated for the legislature O. 11. Browning. A. then lived in the south(>ast part of the ccumty,

•Tduas. R. P. Starr. Peter B. Garrett and Alex said tliat it was good, or it might be made so. Fruit, all of whom, with the exception of Fruit, After a six months' canvass the election came were elected by majorities ranging from 150 off on the 2d of August and out of a vote of to WO. the feeling in regard to the coiinty seat '.]Ax] ( 'dhuubus claimed to have succeeded by nuitter making this ])artly personal and caus- 91 majority. ing a gi'cat latitude in the vote, although really There were over twn hundred more votes none of the candidates on cithei" side were pub- polled ui)on this question than at the sauu> time licly supported with refei-ence to this issue. were cast in the congressioiud contest. The democratic nominations wcic .\. Wheat, The county commissioners i-eeorded the result Wm. Laughlin. Jacob Smith. J. llendrickson as above, anti Quiney at once api)ealed. The and W. Sympson. Of these ilr. Wheat only was eonuuissioners. although they had declared the chosen. The whigs elected their full county result of the election, did not. as the law re- ticket. W. II. Tandy as sheriff, over Thos. Jas- quiied them to do. remove the otliees to Colum- per, and Jonas fJrubb as governor, over J. J. bus. A mandamus was applied for and Judge Jones. Duncan, for governor, carried the coun- Douglas, who was then on the bench of the cir- ty over Ford by a majority of 155 in a vote of cuit court, oi'dered, on the 6th of September, 84 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

a eoniplianee by the comniissiouers 'with the which was furnished and fitted up to be exclu- pre.st'i-iptions of the law. The commissioners, sively used as a clerk's office and council room, howe\'er. who had each his own iudividual as and lor general city purposes. well as official opinion and interest in the mat- The first meeting of the city council was ter, found an easy way "how to do it." Two held on the 23d of October, and the place con- of them, Eli Seehorn and Wm. Richards, fa- tinued to be thus occupied for several years. vored Quincy as the county seat, while the third In June of this year wei"e ordered and issued one, George Smith, was a Columbus man. Con- the fir.st "copper plate" engraved city bonds. sequently, at the several sessions of the board The work of macadamizing the public land- while Smith always attended, Seehorn and ing rrom Hampshire to ilaine street was begun Richards only attended alternately and the in November and finished in IMarch. 1842. consequence was that at each meeting there Hampshire street had already been nmcada- was a tie vote. The question was thus worried mized from the public square to Front street along during the season imtil in the following and Maine street had been partially cut through year it assumed a new shape which finally the blufl'. resulted in a temjiorary division of the county. A seciuid military company, eomjiosed of Gei'- The present valuable and prospering Quincy mans, the Yagers, made its appearance with a Library dates its continuous existence from this large organization, Avhich continued for sev- year. A similar institution had been created eral years. in 1837-38, based mainly on the voluntary con- The first soda water fountain was started tribution of books by those who saw fit to spare by Dr. Bartlett, who had then the leading drug them. This plan proved too weak to endure, store of the place. and within a year or two the enterprise was Two semi-weekly packets regularly ran from abandoned, or perhaps, might be said to have St. Louis to Keokuk on alternate days and s\ispeuded. since the same parties who composed there was a daily line of packets between St. it afterwartl united in forming the present Louis and Galena, beside which two or three organization. The books, etc., on hand were transient steamers passed each day on their returned so far as could be to the donors. way to Galena and Dubuque and occasionally In March. 1841. the project was revived and to above those points. an association made Avhich was j^erfected in The great mining industries in tlie north- October by being incorporated under an old western corner of the state and in southern state law of 18:23, relating to public libraries. Wisconsin, which shipped all their lead product It opened on the 18th of April with but "a beg- by river, railroads not yet having come into garly accoiuat of empty" shelves, and in very existence, caused a great demand for .steam- luipretentious quarters, but by the close boat transportation by light draught boats on of the year it reported an accumulation the upper ilississippi during the navigable sea- of 735 volumes, and these were very well son. There were then probably twice as many selected for a foundation stock. Its subsequent through steamboats plying on the upper Missis- growth, ihough slow, has been healthful and sippi as there are at the present date. Eleven now in the forty-third year of its existence it hundred arrivals of steamboats were reported contains over 7,000 well-chosen publications. for the year 1841, which is probably a nearly A course of winter lectiu'es, under the man- correct figiu-e. agement of the library, twelve during each sea- There was reported at the same time .$326,000

son, was connneneed in December and con- sales of merchandise : 50.000 barrels of fiour tinued for many years. For the first few years manufactured: 250.000 bushels of wheat: 95.000

the lectures were given by resident professional of corn : 50.000 of oats : 5,000 of beans, shipped men and they constituted the special pleasant away, and 12,000 hogs and 900 beeves packed. attraction of the winter during the period At the same time there were reported to be when, the river being closed, home resources foiu" common schools, containing 687 scholars, had to be drawn upon for enjoyment and also and five private schools, with 200 scholars. added to the revenue of the association. There The Adams County ^ledical Society held its had been a small circulating library kept at the first annual meeting on the 12th of April. A bookstore of W. D. Skillman for two or three colonization society, one of the many that had years past. been formed tln'oughout the countrj^ to encour- Until this time the council meetings had been age the emigration of blacks to Liberia, and held either in the courthouse, or latterly, at the as a partial foil to what was thought to be private office of the mayor or the clerk. A the injurious infiuence of the abolition societies, r'oom was now rented on the west side of the held a second meeting on the 4th of January. public S(|uare. near the ciu'uer of Elaine street. The society did not long exist. The Quincy PAS'I' AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 85

Ai'uu.s, successor to liuuiily Laiiu Uugister, tlic committee ^ which, however, had no real au- oldest paper in the place, foiinded in 1835, sus- thority) and provided by appropriations, etc., l>(Mi(led on the l!)th of June, and on the 2:}d of for the school supjiort. The initial steps in these Septeinber was reissued with a cluuiire of name. matters had been taken by the council in the

as the Quinc-y Ileivild. under which luiiiic it has j)revious year, but they had but little to go since been and is now i)ul)lishc(l. (Ui. and were groping almost in the dark. The Tlie foundation nt' our present a(lniira])h» ])ublic, however, were widely awaking to the school .system was laid durin<;' this year, not importance of the subject and pressing it in 1842 as has been erroneously stated and sup- strongly forward. In these sketches can only posed. Ft is a mattei" of reuret that a com- be given a skeleton statement of the progress plete history of the juihlic schools of Quiney of this matter each year—ju.st so much as it from their first ince|)tion has not been wi'itten. attaches to and beconu>s a part of the gen- Such a reeord would be of exceeding interest eral current history of the city. now and to thi' I'uture also be replete with A ])roposition was passed by the council in Valium It could delineate the difficulties that July to rent the old Congregational church coiifriiufed these institutit)iis at the very begin- (God's Barn) on Fourth street, and the Metho- iiiug and afterward, beset as they then were dist church on Vermont for school purposes. by an extensive and bitter i)re.iutlice, also So far all was well, but it was found neces- utterly without moneyed means and having no sary to have the co-operation of the school au- corporate provision for their support. The free thorities of the county and at a subsequent school system had not yet become a permanent meeting in August a committee consisting of juiblie policy. Still less did it possess the faeili- Dr. Ralston (M'hose special and earnest work ties that it now happily enjoys. A compilation in the cause entitle him to be called, if any one of this character, which would depict with more should, the father of our public schools) and or less minuteness the varying fortunes of the Mr. Abbe \vere ai)pointed to confer with the city schools throughout the past forty-two years school trustees. An immediate conference was as they have been affected by state and local held aiul upon the report of this committee legislations; by public opinion, by management, on the following week a resolution was passed sometimes competent and faithful and some- by the council "that if the board of trustees tiiiu's careless, and the gradual growth to the would establish and maintain for one year from present propoi-fions might be prepaT'ed. But the 4th of November a .system of common all this would have to be glerned from scattered schools extensive enough to accommodate all fields, jiartly foinid in the brief proceedings of the children of the city of Qniney, the city the council, but mainh^ from the records of would appropriate for the rent of two rooms the school board, which occasionally Avere scant, •iilfio. payable quarterly; also any sum not over and the earlier portion of which wei'e rpiite $:50() to fit u|i such rooms; also for salary of carelessly kept and sometimes yet more care- teachers, .^800, in semi-annual payments, and lessly lost or destroyed, and also to a large that it should be the [jolicy of the city to appro- extent from the recollections of those who were priate from time to time what might be neces- then personally associated or interested. Of sary to maintain these schools." these all the members of the council and most So inadequate, however, seemed the means of the prominent citizens who favored the ca>ise and so nnich questioned was the authority for of the .schools are dead (1886). such action the part of both council and trus- The first teacher in the male depail inciil, Mr. tees that public saiu'tion of their course was Dayton, ami the first also in the femsde depai't- called for. and at a bngely attended public ment. ^Frs. Webster, are still living MSSIV) and meeting held at the coui-fhouse on the 14th of resident here. Septembei-. Mhere the whole matter was fully I'rioi- to this period and for six years later discussed, it was resolveil that it was "pru- the authority over the schools lay legally in dence"" ami "justice" to establish a "perma- the hands of the school commissioner of the nent system of common schools inniu'diately," county aiul the trustees of the districts adjoin- and that the boai-d of trustees foi- schools be ini:- and embracing the city, Quincy being made insti-ucted "to accept the proposition of the a sejiarate school district in 1847. Fortunate city council in whicli they propose to hire suit-

it was that a thorough accord between these able rooms and to a])propi-iate .$800 and with county officials and those of the city existinl the funds now in thcii- hands to innnediately durinir this entii-e time, and while the nominal establish a permaiuMit .system of connnon direction came from the school trustees, the schools in this city." At another meeting on actual support and influence came from the the 18th the same resolutions, slightly varied, council, which appointed an animal visiting were again adopted. 86 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

The board uf school trustees, of towuship 2 tered as arrivals during the two weeks, includ- south, 9 west, were somewhat slow to act, but ing March 21st and April 4th. This was an on the 27th of November they accepted the unprecedented token of business activity at so propof?itions of the council and established early a period and resulted in the early ship- three school districts, all north of ilaiue street ment of a large proportion of the packed pro- being the first, all south of ilaiue extending so vision and stored grain that had accumulated as to include sections It). 11 and 12 comprising during the winter, making the after part of the the second, and all south of that, the thii'd, the season comparatively dull. east line of the township (what is now Twenty- The cereal yield throiighout this section and fovirth street) being the eastern boundary. The the west generally was above the average in council was prepared to promptly act, and quantity, so much so as to cause prices to grade schools were ordered to be, and were opened very low. Wheat sold in July at from 37 to on the 4th of December, one in the ]\Iethodist 40 cents per bushel and in Septem1)er the price church "for large girls from all parts of the had fallen to 31 cents. district," one in the basement of the Baptist The public school system, wliich had been suc- church "for small girls and boys from district cessfully inaugurated late in the preceding year, No. 1," one in the Congregational church "for had worked well and been steadily growing in large boys" and one in the Satt'ord schoolroom favor, yet the opposition to it was not as yet on Fifth south of Jersey "for small girls and fully suppressed. The number of pupils, which boys of district No. 2, all children residing was daily increasing, cannot be accurately in Quincy between five and twenty years of age given, but as an indication of their i^rosperity free, but others in the town.ship to pay tuition it may be stated that the leading and largest fees unless remitted by the council."" They school, conducted by Mr. Dayton, with two were all well crowded. The above gives, in a.ssistants, had an average attendance of about brief, the action attending the founding of our l.'iO scholars, and the number of pupils at the public schools and the manner of their manage- other schools was proportionately large. The ment when opened in December. They con- city was still cramped in means for full support tinued, as before stated, to be run in a sort of of the schools. A deficiency of $630.77 was re- partneriship between the city and county school ported at the end of the first year, and to par- officials for the foUoAving six years. tially meet this an appropriation of $300 was ordered by the council and a bond for $1,400 fi'om which this $300 should be deducted was issued as a provision for the support of the schools to inin over and be applied to the ex- penses in 1843, At the same time steps were taken to obtain CHAPTER XX. such an amendment to the city charter or addi- tional legislation that Avould provide for a sep- 1842. arate tax, to be independently assessed and ap- NAVIGATION OPENS EARLY. PUBLIC SCHOOL plied solely to school support. TAX. ENOCH CONYERS, MAYOR. BUSINESS The movement in this direction brought out STATEMENT. MAIL FACILITIES IMPROVE. AGI- TATION OF SLAVERY QUESTION. BURR. V^'ORIv an expression of sentiment from the German AND THOMPSON SENT TO PENITENTIARY FOR ])oini]ation, which was then and had been for FROM MISSOURI. ABO- ABDUCTING NEGROES a few years past greatly LITIONISTS ORGANIZE POLITICALLY. DR. on the increase—that EELLS. THE FOREIGN VOTE. STRUGGLE OVER tended as much as any one thing could, to i>ut THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION. THE SILK down op])osition to education and establish the WORK FEVER. GOOD SLEIGHING. lu'i-nianeui-e of the school system. During the very mild winter of 1^41-42 the An application Avas prepared, sanctioned by (Tiver did not completely close at Quincy and the city council and the school trufstees, for the navigation was practicable throughout the en- assessment of a special tax for school purposes. tire season. Open water—or "easy boating." A petition for the legislature Avas gotten up and as steamboat men were wont to term it when- circulated among the Germans in remonstrance ever the river was even with its banks and against the aboA'e-named proposition and asking free from ice obstruction—came now unusually that (Jermans should be exempt from tlie impo- early in the upper ^Mississippi. Indeed, it may sition of a tax to support schools conducted in be said to have come rather too early for the the English language. This evoked a public business interests of the place. meeting of the Germans, Avith George Schul- Twenty-nine steamboats, among them several theis as chairman and Charles Maei'tz. secre- of th3 great "New Orleans lioats." were regis- tary. Avhich meeting resoh'ed that nnturalized PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA.MS COrXTV. S7

physicians, Germans were Americans aiul were fostered by, ing), 1 reading-room, 20 lawyers, 12 stood liy and expected to sustain and be i>ro- 1 dentist, 1 government and 3 private land of- tected ami pay for the same laws as native born fices, 3 insurance offices or agencies, 2 connnis- citizens. This decided and proper position siou houses, 6 i)oi-k houses, 2 bakeries, 2 bath- talcen by the Germans stopped all demago^iiing houses, 1 ropewalk, 1 tanyard, 4 brickyards. 1 in that direction and fixed the future of the iron foundry, 1 market house, 3 lundjer yards, pid)lic scliools. One or two i)nblic protests were ;} brewei-ies, 1 woolen mill, 1 castor oil and 2 made auainst this nu'ctiuir. but tliey ended in .soap factories, 1 shingle mill. 2 water mills, 3 nothinu' and tlie parties soon would irladly have steam Hour and 2 steam sawmills, 2 hatters. 11 them forsiotten. It was not, however, until shoemakers. 4 watchmakers, 2 gunsmiths, 6 two or three years later, when, thnniiih the house and sign paintei-s, 6 masons, 6 phvsterers. passage of a hiw authorizinij- the levy nl' a tax 9 chair and cabinet, 12 carpenters, 10 wagon of one-ei,iihth of one per cent on the hundred and coach. 12 blacksmiths, 4 saddle and har- for sciiool uses, that the s,vsteni assiiniccl ;in in- ness, 3 barbers, 11 tailors. 7 butchers, 7 coojier dependent strength. sho])s, 2 i)rinting offices. At the election in Ajiril the democrats elected There were two regular weekly newspapers, all the city officers—Enoch Conyei-s as mayor, the Whig and the Herald, the latter also semi- over II. Asbury. by 90 ma.iority: and Jolm B. weekly, and during the sununer and fall there Young, I. II. Ilolton and J. D. Jlorgan. alder- was issued a spicy paper, the People's Organ, men, over H. V. Sullivan, George Chapman and advocating Qnincy as the county seat or the G. B. Dimock. Later in the year John Abbe division of the ccunity. resigned. C. Swartont was chosen to succeed The amount of ])rovisions prepared was about him as alderman from the First ward. The new the same as in the preceding year, 12,000 hogs council at its first meeting changed all the city being packed, and the milling business was also officials. I. 0. Woodruff succeeding S. P. about the same; the mills shipped away nearly Church as city clerk. Dr. J. B. Conyers was 25,000 barrels of flour. appointed city physician, with an annual salaiy Mail facilities had improved. The two east- of $100—"he agreeing to give the same to the ern semi-weekly stages now came in as tri- schools." The salary of the mayor was fixed weeklies on alternate days, making it practi- at $250, he also to attend to the duties of street call.v a daily mail, although not always afford- superintendent, and that of the clerk at .$200. ing the earliest news. In addition to these there The city was reported as owing, on the 1st of were two mails carried north, one south and Januaiy, $22,380. one we.st into Missouri. On the 16th of April, by ordinance, a com- The "hard times" that had commenced with plete system of grades of streets througlio\it the financial crash in 1836-37 caused by the ]iar- the city was established, embracing all from tlsan destruction of the Fnited States bank and Broadway to State, and in past farther south. the suspension of most of the other banks in and from Front to Twelfth (then called AVood the country, continued as before, and, indeed, street). This was the first comprehensive plan it was not until three or four years later that of action in regard to city grades that had been business here or anywhere in the countrv came adopted, and though slightl.v changed occasion- to a condition of assured confidence and pros- ally, since on almost every street has been ad- perit.v. The debtor class was very numerous hered to. and still struggling xuider the prostration of A carefully compiled special census of half a dozen years, iloney was fearfully Qnincy, taken dui-ing this year, reports the scarce. State bank and Shawneetown bank pa- population to have been 2,686. The other data per, which had been the chief currency of the secured at this time are of peculiar value for state in times past, was now at a discount of the reason that they indicate the business con- from 36 to 40 cents and most all other bank cir- dition of the place more in detail than apjicai's culation was proportionatel.v discredited. Econ- in an.v similar schedule of earlier date. omy such as woidd seem niggardl.v during the The report shows that the city then con- past thirty years was universally pi-acticed, and tained 46-1: frame. 138 hriek and two stone under these there came a slow but substantial buildings—the committee not seeing fit. per- iucr(>ase of po])idation and advance of prospei'- hajis being too i)roud. to make mention of the it.v. both in the city and county. more nunu'rous log houses: there were also 20 Thei-e was more than the usual amount of dry goods, 19 groceries, 1 book. 1 hide and local ])uhlic excitement throughout the year, leather, 1 iron. 2 shoe, 2 milliner. 3 drug stores, growing out of the agitation of the slavery 9 hotels. 8 boarding-houses, 9 churches (there fpiestion and also from the dift'erences over the were several societies without a church build- proposed division of the coinitv, which last 88 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

issue had arisen as the natural seqiieut of the a prominent ijhysician of the city, living then bitter and as yet unsettled county seat quar- on Jersey between Fourth and Fifth streets. rel of the preceding year. These excitements The doctor took the fugitive in his buggy at entered into the elections and the courts, af- night after giving him a change of clothing fected business and social relations and were and started for the country. He was followed productive of much and long-lasting acriiiumy by the ]\Iissourians and others Avho had obtained and estrangement. The feverish feeling created traces of them and tinally the doctor was at the time of the Nelson disturbances several pressed so hard that he dismissed his passenger years before, though somewhat suppressed still and told him to make for the cornfields, which festered in the minds of the border people in the poor fellow did, but was soon caught and the ad.jpining state and a similar sensitiveness carried back to slavery. The doctor got back pervaded to a considerable extent our own com- safely, but unfortunately there were found two munity. It was kept al've by its own distrust- proofs against him in addition to the partial fulness and by the occasional escape of a slave, recognition of himself and his horse. There who was always suspected—with perhaps more were in the buggy the still wet clothes in which or less of truth—of having been persuaded to the man had swam the river, and also the dry run away, or afterward being harbored and garments which the man had on when taken, hid by the abolitionists of Quincy. the ownership of which was traced to the doc- In the pi-evious year, 1841, three young men, tor. Eels was tried in the Adams county court Burr, Work and Thompson, students at Dr. Nel- under the then existing fugitive slave law of son's Mission institute, some two miles east of the state and was convicted and fined. This Quiuey, crossed the river a short distance south decision was sustained by the supreme court of of the city and had not long landed before they the state and of the United States. This case were arrested under the charge of abducting commencing this year and continuing for sev- or attempting to abduct slaves. They were eral years, attracted much attention every- speedily tried, convicted and sentenced to the where, from the importance of the issues in- Missouri penitentiary for a term of twelve years volved, and was the cause of especial interest each. That they went over there for that jjur- here from the prominence of the man who was pose is more than probable, but it is still more under trial. This revived much of the former certain that legal proof was wanting to sustain feeling of distrust between the neighboring sec- the charge against them, and this fact, added tions, which only slowly wore away as all of to a general suspicion that they in their rather the slaves here in northeastern ^Missouri who too verdant philanthropy had been decoyed wanted to. gradually ran away, as they easily across the river for the purpose of being caught, could, but was not fully allayed until the civil brought about their pardon and release from war put an end to it. the prison when their periods had about one- The political record of 1S42 was of a very pe- third expired. This, however, with other like culiar cast. It .singularly illustrated the strong occasional actions, kept sentiment on the sla- predominance of partisan feeling and old party very subject constantly on the alert. associations over the demands of local duty At a meeting held in Quincy on the 13tli of and interest. The two parties—the whig and June the abolitionists of the county resolved to the democratic—were almost equally balanced organize jiolitically and bring out a county in the city and in the county. ticket. They nominated for representatives to They had been so for many years past—the the legislature R. Sartle, Levi Stillman, Lewis whigs having slightly the superiority, owing in Rowe, Wm. Wells and Richard p]els: county a great measure to the higher relative stand- commissioner, 11. H. Snow; sheriff, E. II. Fow- ing and capacity of the men whom they placed ler; coroner. Edward Turner. This, altluuigh before the jiublic as their representatives and the numerical strength at the polls was shown leaders. A reference to the politically promi- to be very small, yet drew the question into no- nent men of forty and more years ago will fully tice like the flaunt of a red flag to their foes, sustain this statement. Yet, usually any ordi- and their actions were closely scrutinized, both nary local issue, or as it more often happened, here and across the river. An anti-abolition tlie personal popularity or itherwise of a can- meeting was held at the courthouse Avhich de- didate, would easily determine an election and nounced in vigorous language the enticing overrule party action. The special strength of away of slaves or their concealment. Shortly the democratic party lay almost exclusively after the election (sometime in October) a slave for a number of years on what was known as swam across the river, got into comnnmication the "foreign vote." with some of his colored brethren and was A curious exemplification of this was proven taken under the protection of Dr. Richard Eels. by Judge Lott and the writer in 1848 from an —

I 'AST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUXTY. 8g

oxjiiiiiiMition (if llu' iioll Ixioks lli;il h;iil hern to coiiiply with the 1;l\v. but they still evaded used at the eleetious of that yeai'. That was it and (^iiinry had appcalrd from the declared the last year of elections "viva voce." The bal- result. lot system of voting ordained in the later Thus the sectional rivalry between the two state eonstitutions was not in existence at claimants to the jiossession of the county seat that lime, and tirst was used in the fall of had at this time become a legal issue—to be 1848. Previous to that perioil ail voting M'as determined by the courts, and dependent upon done openly and aloud. A register was ])re- the "glorious uncertainties of the law." By jiared by the .judges cont;iining the names of the delay thus secured Qnincy was greatly the all suppos(>(l candidates under the head of the gainer. Columbus canu; into court fortified by otrice to which they aspired and each voter as the record ol' a legally ordered and formally he came 1(i the ])o]ls would give in his name, held election and a certificate of a majority of have it written clown and then announce suc- the votes cast being in favor of removal, and cessively who he voted fur. His vote thus that these figures and the formalities of the elec- given would be tallied on the line containing tion were unquestioned. All beside this that the name of the candidate for whom he voted. was needed and demanded was that the comity Thus the poll book was the final "return" and commissioners should transfer the records and not only coidd it be known afterward how each offices. Quincy, on the other hand, stood solely man had voted, but also how the vote was pro- ujiou the I'efusal of the commissioners to issue gressing during the day. Judge Loft had said the necessary order for removal, but there was that "out of the one thousand and fifty votes added to this an assertion of illegalities in the that had been cast at that time it woidd be election. While these never cajne to be fully found that less than one-fourth of those who liroven, they were so broadly charged and be- had voted the democratic ticket were native lieved and were tinged with so much of plausi- born, and that it had been nearly so in propor- bility as to greatlj' cloud the question and tion for several years past." On examining the make a decision upon it difficult and doubtful. ])oll book it appeared that out of five hundred It appeared, for in.stance, that at the August and sixty democratic voters less than one hun- election in 1841, 2,978 votes were cast for mem- di'ed had American names. The curious corol- bers cf congress, while at the same time the lary to this is that through the earlier years vote on the county seat question was 3,181—an of the city the foreign vote generally con- excess of 203 votes. The Avell-known latitude trolled: and it was especially strong for the that is usually allowed on a sectional vote, with- reason that naturalization at that time was not out question, in localities where the sentiment is a ner'cssary (pudilication for a state voter, since all one way, gave credence to the suspicion and luuler the old constitution and until 1848 any charge that this excess was illegal and that the white male citizen over twenty-one years of age, majority of 91 obtained by Columbus was cast and who had been in the state six months, was by uncpialified voters. This suspicion was a qualified voter, whether naturalized or not. sti'engthened when, a year later, at the August This fact is a worthy matter of record, as it election in 1842. there were but 3,069 votes has had a strong bearing upon the municipal polled for governor in a very warndy eon- fortiuies of the city. The foreign immigration Tested election, and on the same day 1,574 votes which poured so extensively aftei" 18.Sr)-:^6 into were given for Wm. Richards (who represented Qnincy, instinctively enlisted in the democi-atic The Quincy interest and was its candidate for ranks and constituted f'oi- nuniy years its chief re-election as county commissioner), and 1,393 strength. votes ea.st for J. Turner. th(> representative of

Recurring to the statcmi'iit niadc alinvc 11i;it Colinid)us. 30 votes being thrmvn away on the political affairs during this year had a pecu- abolition candidate who was niqiledged. Here liar cast, it is somewhat strange that although was a falling oft' within a year of nearly two there was before the peojile the most important hundred votes on this local test question, when and absorbing local issue that they have ever it would seem that natural caTTses and the con- had—that of the removal of the county seat tiuTiing interest in the question wottM have yet party nominations wei-e nuide and sti'ife increased the vote ; and, significantly, as it was went on as usual without any special formation claimed, the falling off was from the former upon this question that affecfed the jiarties. Columbus vote. All this tended to weaken the The vote, it will be remendiered, in 1841 was claims for its removal. So stood the issue at declared to be in favor of Columbus. The the end of the year 1841. county commissionei's neglected to order the At their February meeting in 1842 the county removal of the county records. A inandamus commissioners' board had a full meeting, all was ap]ilied for and granted, directing them were present and acted for the first tinu> for go PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. several months. Under the requirement of the that the county .seat ultimately would remain at mandamns issued by Judge Douglas in Septem- Quiney. Time had been gained, and the issue ber, 1841, they "agreed to disagree." Two of transferred itself again to the stat« legislature, the board (Richards and Seehorn, a majority) which then convened evei\v two years on the decided that the result of the election was so first ]\Ionday in Decemljer. doubtful that they would not obey the writ of As early as the 19th of December, at the ses- the circuit court. The other commissioner, sion of 1842-43, Mr. Wheat, one of the repre- Smith, said that he was ready and willing to sentatives from Adams county, introdiiced a order the removal of the records. bill for the division of the county, based upon Thereupon Judge Douglas on the 4th of the proposition which had been made and March issued a peremptory mandamus to the adopted at the meeting in Quiney on the 26th commissioners ordering their immediate action. of October. Prom this Quiney at once appealed to the su- Upon this there followed a Hood of petitions preme court, giving security, and the settlement for and remonstrances against the proposed ac- of the case was. of course, still farther delayed. tion, coming from all parts of the county with It was argued in the supreme coiu't in the July every variety of project, proposition and sug- following liy George C. Dixon for the commis- gestion. It was made a matter of long, bitter sioners and Archibald Williams for the ('olum- and doubtful discussion, and came to a final bus claimants, and the decision was ordered determination in the early part of 1843, result- deferred until December. ing in a nominal division of the county, which Immediately after the August election of 1842 separation stood as of a record which was never the contest took a new shape and a bombshell practically completed throughout the five fol- M-as thrown into the Columbus camp which lowing years. broke its imity and resulted in the full defeat ]Mr. Wheat's action in this matter Avas not in of all its aspirations. At a meeting held in accord with that of the other four representa- Quiney on the 26th of October the proposition tives, and was not in sympathy with the popu- was agreed to that the legislature should be larities of the period, the public generally sus- asked to divide the county by cutting off the taining those who were opposed to a division ten townships on the eastern side of Adams, of the county, but it is a truth which no one and therefrom form a new coiinty. Columbus now looking back to that contest can deny, was asked to unite with this movement, but that, however, it might have been operative refused. In fact. Columbus could not safely upon the interests of Columbus or any other agree to it for the reason that the town lies section of the county antagonistic to Quiney; on the extreme western edge of the proposed so far as the city was concerned this movement new county—a part of it being in Gilmer town- which he drove through the legislature, to the ship, e':nd the village would thus be cut in two, jieril of personal popularity, was that which and the same objection would then lie against clinched the continuance of the county seat at Columbus as a county seat ("away at one side Quiney for all time to come. This story of the of the county") that had been before used county seat difficulties and the temporary divi- against Quiney. sion of the coiinty is a part of past history, upon This project stirred into activity every local Avhich depended the future interests of Quiney. interest in the county and proved that the pre- It could be told in far more amplified detail, vious movement had not been based on a pref- because it was the absorbing idea of its time. erence for Columbus merely, but for a county It was settled during the winter of 1842-43, but center. A half score of plans were started for it had kindled passion and prejudice which may outlining new counties, most of them not favor- claim consideration in a subsequent chapter. ing a division of the county, biit demanding, if Manufacturing interests during this year a divi.sion of the county should be made, that it showed a steady and healthy progress not only should be so outlined as to make a central in the enlargement and increase of a number point the county seat, most generally ignoring of already existing iiulustries. but also in the Columbus. Some of these j^roposed to take in establishment of several new enterprises. An part of Hancock, some part of Schuyler, and iron foundry was started by James Adams and some part of Brown or Pike, and all seemed to ^lilton Worrell, on the east side of Front street, have forgotten about Columbus. The end was betAveen Broadway and Spring. This was the not difficult to foresee. first establishment of the kind, the pioneer in This movement, adroitly originated for a di- busiiu'ss of a s|)ecial industry that has gradual- vision of the county, so as to compromise the ly grown to be one of the most extensive and differences between eastern and western sec- substantial factors in the pei'manent prosperity tions, practicall.v decided, at the very outset of the place. PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 91

rather uiuis\ial e.xcitement of an earth- Aliinil tliL' .saim: time (). F. &. ti. A. ^Miller. The occurred on the 4th of January, wild Ii;mI as early as 1886 opened the first regu- (|uake shock been known for many lar (Iniu store in the place, built a castor and the heaviest that had was distinctly heard and liiiscrd oil factory on the west side of Front years. .The rumbling ground and buildings felt street, opposite the Adams & Worrell factoiy. the shaking of the throughout all central Illinois. With This was a few years later chaiijied into a steam aiul seen exception of a general scare and an occa- Houi-iiijr mill. At this time the castor bean the no damage was done. mania was oveisi)readiny the west, as exten- sioiud break of crockeiy, early in the year, made an sively as had not a long time before the "Morus The city council as a i)ublic landing, all of ^Muilicaulis" or silk work fever, and as a little attempt to secure front lying south of Maine street, and later came up the beet sugai' ci'a/.e. These all the river west of a line parallel with Front street and had their day :nul it is cui'ious now to revert to The consent of most of the those times, wlien, for two or three years so eighty feet west. projjcrty affected, to convey the many of our farmers set off and carefully owners of the to the city was oblaiued, but some of them planted four oi- five acres of the white mulberry same although the council on the Sth or ^lorus ^lulticaulis. and after that sensation objected, and declared the land in question a laud- had fallen through, each one had next his acre of July, this course was indecisive and or 7noi'e of the handsome Howei'ing castor bean; ing, yet summary not eventually sustained. and still farther an. and but shortly afterward, was city election in 1848 result ed in the com- all expectations were sweetened by the profuse The success of the democratic ticket. Enoch cultivation of the sugar beet, which was to i-ival plete C'onyers was re-chosen nuiyor over ('apt. Joseph and exclude from \ise all tropical sugars, and Artus, Thomas Jasper, Samuel Holmes and all this unfortunately worked to the pai'tial and elected aldermen. Sam'l Leech neglect of the cultivation of the great staple H, S. Benneson, re-elected city clerk. An official statement cereals which are adapted to our latitude, cli- was made by the city clerk in Sejitember showed mate and soil. unsatisfactory financial condition. It The winter of 1842-1:8 was unusually severe. rathei- an re|)orted au indebtedness of of which The snow fall began early, and continued .t22,()98.50, would mature during the year, and longer and more in amount probably than in $5,746.48 assessment of $4,089.14, if all ap- any season since the proverbial "big snow" that the tax ]ilied this debt, would leave a deficit of winter of 1881. Business and travel through- to $1,68(1.84. How the apprehended trouble was out the central and northern jiart of the stati' avoided, does not apjiear, probably, as in the was for a large part of the winter tloue on sleds later years, by postponement and hoping, Mi- and sleighs. cawber like, that something would "turn up." A sleighing pleasure party, foi' instance, left The salary of the city clerk was fixed at $100, Quincy during this winter, visited Jacksonville showing either a commendable spirit of econ- and Sjjringtield and returned safely on run- omy, or that the duties of the office were not ners, after being gone nearly two weeks. very heavy. II. S. Cooley, then a y(ning lawyer not long a resident of this city, who afterwards becanu' prominent politically, being secretary of state when he died, a few years later, was ap- CTlAI'TEi; XXI. pointed city attoi'uey. A special census taken by order of the council in Xovemlier in refer- 1843. ence to the school (juestion, which was still in K.\H'l'II(jr.\KK. POI^ITICAL STRUGGLES. DOUG- a very unsettled state, gave a total population l..\S BROWNTXG. M..\RQUETTE COUNTY. .jriKJK UDTT. ('.APT. KELLV. R. M. YOUNG. of 3,148 and of childi'eii uiidei' twenty years of SID.N'KV lUtlOKSR. DULL BUSINESS. Jl'DGE age, in the city and adjoining section, which I'llOM.AS. HIGHLAND COUNTY. NEW lUILD- INGS, NEW SCHOOLS. formed with Quincy a school district, 1,357. Some i)olitical feeling was temp(U-arily roused river unnsiially hiiiii The was duriim' the win- by a change in the postoffice. Ixobert Tillson, a ter of 1842-48. so and coulinued until late in whig, who had held the office for ten oi- twelve the year. It had closed on the first of Decem- years, was removed and a Mr. Clifford, a Tyler- ber, 1842, opened on the 24lh of Jaiuuiry fol- ite rnoii .\ltnii, apjiointed in his place, ^fajor lowing, and until about the middle of FebiMiary \Vm. (J. Flood, and Samuel Iieech were re-ap- there was some, thougii difficult navigation. It pointed respectively register and receiver of then fii'iuly closed, opening again on the fith of the public land office. Judge Douglas having Api-il. and did not close during tlu' wintei' of been elected to congress, his place on the bench 1848-44. was (illed by the ap])riiiitment . 92 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

course, attached to an Thomas, Jr., a son of Jesse B. Thomas, who was I'nusual interest, of were to be one of the first two U. S. senators, from Illinois, election which would determine who of Illinois, and special and who is credited Avith being the author of the future "great men" the famous ilissouri compromise. Judge attention was turned toward the Quincy dis- Thomas held this jtosition for about two years trict, which was of doubtful political complex- only, when he resigned and was succeeded by ion, and in which the two foremost of rising Norman H. Purple, whose term was ended by leaders in their respective parties were pitted the new constitution in 18-18. in opposition. These were Stephen A. Douglas, This was in some measure a eomparativel.v the presiding .judge on this circuit, and 0. H. in quiet and slow business year, yet it was marked Browning, the admitted head of the bar the with an unusual degree of local feeling and ex- western portion of the state, both residents of citement. The old abt)lition and ^lormon dis- Quincy, as the contestants. Each enjoyed turbances had been temporarily allayed, to re- a jn-estige of almost unbroken political success, appear, however, in the near future, but there a most devoted party popularity and a personal remained the unsettled public school question, reputation for consistency and integrity which the strife over the county seat and county divi- was unassailable. They were nearly of the sion matter. To these the most stirring con- same age. Douglas had been a consjiicuous pol- gressional contest was added, that up to that itician fi-om his first coming to the state. Brown- legal, period this section. (U-, indeed, the state had ing. wh(ise eminence was more definitely ever witnessed. held an equally prominent political reputation The political i-ecord of Quincy and of Adams and his ambitions were then strongly in that di- county in 1843 is an episode, which demands a rection. He was, and no doubt correctly, con- more than ordinary detail. It was the era of sidered at the time as the most attractive and an entrance into nati

llie ol'tiri' of sheriff and to s|iccul;iti' how (li'laycd iiiii;lil lia\c lici'ii the snlisei|ucntly tilled of these of- ^rdwtli to ciniiience of .ludye Dous^las Imd lie county treasurer. .Mention is made character of the failed at tills election. That hiss great talents ficials" to show the substantial subordi- wduld have sooner or later made themselves men to whom public trusts, however, the earliest C'oiiti'ollinii- is true, but his advent to national nate, were given in those days. In popula- notice at this peculiar time was several years times it necessarily happened in a sparse chosen gained in his movement to fame. tion. that officials would sometimes be (lualification was In the county, ^larquette or the eastern [larl of limited attainnients : later, than not counting, the democratic ticket generally much more carefully looked to. far more partisan dictum fur- was successful, re-electing J. II. Ilolton. record- it has been since, when varnishes over the er, and Nicholas Wren, county clerk. J. V. Ber- nishes the candidate, and nard contested the election of Wi-eu without defects of the public servants. success, but four years later had the satisfai-- There was lull little change in the federal Leech, as tiiiii of being elected over his former o|)|)onent. reiu-esentation of Quincy. Flood and At this August election of 184:^, e.xceiiting before stated, were reai)])ointed receiver and for members of congress, political lines were register of the [lublic laud office. These were somewhat disregarded. Peter Lott, Timothy then highly important and responsible posi- Kelly, Ebenezer ^loore and Henry Asbury were tions, and for them these two men were excep- elected magistrates, all of them respected and tionally well fitted. The local feeling over the cajiable men. The first two were democrats, removal of Mr. Tillson, a whig, from the post- the others whigs. Judge Lott was an able law- office, was mainly because, both whigs and dem- yer, who had creditably occupied the circuit ocrats, felt that, when the change in the office, bench, and was sub-sequently, in 1844, elected which all had expected, occurred, some Quincy to the legislature, served as a captain in the democrat should be the lucky recipient, and not Mexican war, was chosen circuit clerk in 1848, an imported stranger, hence both parties united and at the end of his term receiving a federal in condemning the aiipointment. ilr. Clifford's api)ointinent, reinoviiig to the Pacific ("oast, position as |)ostmaster for a couple of years, where he died. Capt. Kelly was the most promi- was no "bed of roses." He was entii-ely alone. nent Irishman of his day in Quincy, a man of Vice-President Tyler, who succeeded on the enterprise and means. He built the "Kelly death of President Harrison, had no support- building" at the northeast corner of I\Iaine and ers in Quincy, and like Vice-President Johnson, ap- Fifth streets, where is now the Dodd P>uild- who came in after President Lincoln, he the construction of a iiig, which was at the time of its erection next ]ieared to be attemi)ting himself and to the Quincy House, the most pretentious struc- jiolitical bridge which would carry that had ture in the town. He enlisted in the Mexican his administration over to the party temporary use Avar, became a lieutenant, and was killed while not elected him, and although a of the bravely fighting at Buena Vista, and his body was made of this bridge, yet at the end projectors in was brought to Quincy, and buried with honor. jiresidential term, both it and its they Mr. ^foore. who had been twice chosen mayor both cases were ignored by the party had aban- and afterwards became a banker, was always sought, as well as by the party they among the leading men of the jilace. He re- doned. moved to Washington some twenty years later Kichard 'M. Young, who had served for many and died there. years as circuit judge, and during the past six Henry Asbury. the only one of the foui' now as r. S. Senator, was succeeded in this last of- local (188.3) living, was, for many years an especially fice by Sidney Breese, and with this his of his after efficient and popular magistrate, holding also connection with Quincy ceased. iMost at various times other imi)ortant luiblic trusts, life was siUMit in ])iiblic ])ositions at Washing- in his various and is the oldest living "E.squire" and proba- ton, where he died, lie had been, prominent lily tile oldest licensed la^vA'er in the city. capacities, for many years, the most At the same time, there were chosen as con- personage of the place. He was an industrious, of more than stables. Cai)t. J. Scliwindlei'. an intelligent and (>xemi)lary, pure minded man. greatly re- inriiiential riernian. J. ^I. Pitman. Wilson Land average ability as a jurist, and senate and Wm. P. Reeder. Of these -'Billy" Reeder spected in private life. On leaving the the had been a constable from the earliest times, he was elected by the legislature to one of part seeming to have a sort of sinecure claim to the vacant supreme judgships in the northern brief period, place, like that of old Henry Jasper to the city of the state, which he held for a marshalslii]i. Pitman was afterward twice until he went to Washington. chosen sheriff, four times mayor and once This was an exceiitioiiidly dull business year. elected to the legislature. Tjane. yet living h(>re. Prices ranged very low. as told by figures in 94 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADA:\rS COUNTY. tlie grain and provision market, which have This decision, like that of Judge Douglas, (to been the general index to business. Wheat sold the effect that ilarquette, the new county, in June at 70 cents per bushel, in October at though as yet unorganized, remained as "at- 50, and 65 cents about the middle of Novem- tached to Adams for judicial purposes,") mix- ber. Flour during tlie year ranged from $3.75 ing with political interests, or being used by the to $4.25 per barrel. There was among- the five IJolitician, gave still more complications tt) the or six mills a falling off in the manufacture of county-seat quarrel. flour of several thousand barrels. The provision Judge Thomas was a very large, fat man, an trade was similarly affected in prices, though extreme contrast to his recent predecessor, the amount produced was somewhat increased. Douglas, and those unfriendly to him, said that Pork opened at about $2.00, slightly increasing the mental contrast was "invertedly equal." in price as tlie season advanced. By the middle This was not just to the judge, who, though of December 7.000 hogs had been packed, ciuite somewhat indolent and unstudious, was of re- an increase in the product of the same period in spectable ability. As heretofore, with the ex- the preceding year. ception of Douglas, our judges had been for Winter began early, coming in with an un- many years, home men, the appointment of usually severe snowstorm on the 2J:th of Oc- Judge Thomas was not cordially regarded by tober, but the weather for the fii'st half of the some, his judicial course was prejudicially season, was comparatively mild. viewed and he was soon transferred to another A slight ripple of the slumbering pro and circuit. anti-slavery feeling occurred during the fall, Two "county seat question" campaign papers and a county "anti-abolition" was held at ]Men- sprang up during the season, one published at don on the 29th of September, followed on tlie Columbus, the other at Quincy. They ended life 3d of October by an abolition meeting. The with the election. The Herald, the oldest news- abolition vote in the county at the August elec- paper in this section, suspended on the 19tli tion was 137. and 230 in the congressional dis- of August, caused by that chronic complaint, tiet. indigenous to w^estern journals, pecuniary The two contested election eases created at inanition. It resumed on the 6th of October the August election, that of Barnard vs. Wren under the editorial control of E. A. Thompson, for county clerk, and of Conyers vs. Seehorn, whose management during the following for county commissioner, came up, on appeal, months of high political and local excitement on the second of October in the circuit court, was more amusing than satisfactory. The and were then and there exhaustively argued Whig was thus for a brief time the only reg- by the best talent of the Adams county bar. A ularly pulilished newspaper in the county. very feverish feeling over these suits had every- The bill for a division of Adams county where arisen, pai-tly because they blended some- became a law in February, after having passed what with the connty-seat strife, and also be- through a most prolonged and exhaustive con- cause they had unavoidably assumed a semi- test in both houses of the legislature. It political coloring. Judge Thomas, the immedi- created a county called Marquette, which sub- ate successor of Judge Douglas, on the latter "s sequently was named Highland, formed from election to congress, befare whom these issues the ten townships on the eastern side of the Avere tried, finding this unexpected and awk- county. The bill ordained that there should be ward elephant in his path at the very threshold, an election held on the third day of April for prudently reserved his decision for three weeks, county officers, so as to complete the organiza- making a trip in the meantime to Springfield tion. There had been at home as well as in for the purpose, as it was ungenerously as- the general assembly, a sectional strife over serted, of ascertaining whether his decision, this matter during the entire winter. The either way given, would be sustained by the whole eastern part of the county was averse to supreme coui't in the event of an appeal being a separation, especially when, as in this case, taken from his court. On his return the de- it was made without the consent of the people cision was given, on the 25tli of October, in who were to be thus expatriated. The western favor of the two democratic candidates, who portion, on the other hand, the city included, had already received the certificates of elec- was equally united in behalf of a division. tion, to which they were probably entitled. It Very large and earnest meetings were almost was scarcely fair to thus impugn the course daily held in various parts of the county, of the big, easy-going jiidge, but his constitu- wherein there was much crimination, and after tional incertitude and decided partisanism gave denunciation of the county representatives at plausibility to the charge. Whether his con- Springfield, wherever their action had not ac- clusion was right or wrong, its force was thus corded, with the local wi.sh. Especially severe much weakened, and his own standing also. was the popular stricture from the eastern part I'AST AM) PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 95

perhaps correctly, III' llu' i-diiiily ayainst llie ai-tioii \vlii<-li I'lirccd cided, as they were promptly over. The llu'iu to secede eoiitrary to their desire, and it yet they were continually striven was persoually leveled at those representatives decision given by .Judge Thomas, because it wlu) had refused to allow the question to be touched upon the election privileges of the peo- subjects, siibinitted to a popular vote. No small number ple, the most sensitive of all public of aspirinu' jiolitical reputations went to wreck was the most criticised, and yet strictly under i)efore this sweepiufi- stoi'm. Brownintr. almost the law. looking back to it in later times, it alone of the prominent public nuMi. manaji'ed ap|>ears more neai'ly correct than it then was to come out unscathed, lie delivered an ad- felt to be. dress on the 27tli of January to a very larpre The legislature had c.Kcludctl the eastern por- meeting in Quiney, in which he vindicated his tion of Adams county from any participation action in opposition to the division, lie showed in the local affairs of what continued to be that tlioui;li this course was iu conflict with the Ad:ims county, aiul this was the law as npheld wishes of bis innnediate neicrsiinal l)ouglas. to the effect that the citizens of what interests, yet that he was pledged thereto and Avas called Marquette county, remained at- was also bound by a remonstrance against a tached to Adams for all judicial purposes, division containing 1.925 signatures, while all seemed valid both in reason and necessity. The lietiti(uis in its favor footed up but 1.798 sub- territory embraced Avithin the bounds of the scritiers. This bold, frank position added much contemplated county, had been largely placed to ]\lr. Browning's jjojiular strength, as was iu this judicial circuit, and its political posi- shown in the surprising nia.jority by which he tion only had been afterAvard ordered to be carried the county at the congressional election. changed, leaving its judicial associations un- The election for county officers prescribed in Touched. It stood in fact as did in foj-mer the law creating jMarqnette county, to be held A ears. Hancock and some of the other counties on the 8rd day of April. Avas less than a farce. of the state, AA-hich, though established by It was a mdlity. It did not come off. With boundaries. Avere on account of scant popula- a singular unanimity of sentiment, everybody tion, temporarily attached to an organized agreed not to vote, and, of course, the county county. The luireasoning prejudices of the remained unorganized. There was thus pre- time Avere so bitter, that Judge Douglas' course sented the singular situation, for several years, brougbt against him some partisan criticism, of a conuiinnity claiming all their jiolitical but it did bim no injury and his conclusions rights and exercising only such as they chose Avere generally ap])roved. to. contesting and voting on state and iiational Building improvements Avere not relatively issues, but utterly refusing to act on county so extensive as they had been during the tAvo matters. This was comparatively easy to do or three previous years, yet much of it Avas of for the reason that at that time votes under a permanent and substantial character. Some the viva voce system could be cast at any pre- lai-ge brick striictures Avere raised on Front cinct in the county. The ^Marquette men on street and elscAvhere. adding greatly to the the day of the election would come over in appearance of the place. Among others of crowds to Payson or Gilmer or anywhere across the more pretentious kind. Avas the three story the line into Adams and there vote for presi- brick of A. T. ^Miller, at the corner of Fourth dent, congressmen and governor. This con- and Jlaine street, on the site of the old state tinued for some three years. The entire failure bank building. This Avas. Avhen erected, and to have even the form of an election on the for some time afterAvard. the largest store in third of April as the law required was a point the city, and quite notable for that reason. strongly urged to establish the nullity of the It Avas the Parker building in Avhich the Herald entire law, as it was claimed that an election office was long located and Avhich Avas destroyed and organization on that specially prescribed by fire in 1870. date was an essential, and that with a failure Education received a beneficial advance in in this feature, the law failed. the establishment of three excellent private Time brought along a partial accommodation schools, a long felt need. One Avas the boys' to the condition of things, but not a wholly school of C. A. Lord, Avhich promised and did cordial acquiescence thei'ein. Avell for a year or Iavo, but Avas then discon- The two decisions heretofoi-e referred to. tinued. Another Avas the boys' school of were constant sources of irritation, since they :\Ies.srs. Dayton and Cochrane, AA'ho had re- the public schools. inevitably came \\\^ to thought at every electiiui siiiued their positions in and evei'y cession of the circuit coui't. They These tAVo schools Avere oi^ened in the fall and involved f|uestions tluit had to be met and de- Avinter of 1843. That of Davton and Cochrane 96 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

continued for a number of years, latterly under same time in ilay and June, of the Missouri, the management of Mr. Dayton alone. Illinois and upper ^lississippi rivei-s, spreading A third enterprise of this kind was the female over the valleys from bluff to bluff, produced seminary of ^liss Doty, which, though not up tlie most extensive and prolonged inundation to what the place might properly have had, inat u]) to that period had been known. The was yet in many respects, a superior institu- injury arising from such a flood was of course tion, and for six or seven succeeding years af- very great, and the subsidence of the waters in forded as ample and thorough instruction as the fall was followed bj^ unusual sickness. the average of such institutions in the west. It Throughout the winter of 1843-4. the ^liss- was at first located on the west side of the issippi had remained very high, being only public square and afterward in the brick build- closed by ice for a few days, from Feb. 14th to ing on the south side of Jlaine street, east of 17th, and after that time navigation continued Sixth, erected specially for this purpose. This uninterrupted until a temporai-y freeze on the enterprise was much fostered by the personal 12tli of December. efforts of Miss Catherine Beecher, of the noted lousiness during the past winter had begun to Beecher family, who through her interest in improve and became more stirring and prosper- the cause of education came t(i Quincy. and for ous than in 1843. About twenty thcnisand hogs a while took control of tlie institution. were packed, which was a large increase over The piiblic schools "dragged their slow the product of any former season. ]\Ianufactur- length along,'' embarrassed still, somewhat by ing interests, which had been lately somewhat opposition, but mainly by lack of funds. An depressed, revived and continued active. Nearly effort had been made by petition, to the legis- thirty-tive thousand barrels of flour were lature, to have the German taxpayers exempted ground by the half dozen mills of the city from the payment of the school tax. This and neighborhood, this being nearly fifty per movement was not countenanced generally by cent advance on the preceding year's business. the Germans, and failed to succeed, but the The times still were "hard" and money was agitation of such an issue was hurtful, and scarce. The only paper in circulation not at showed its effect iinfortunately in the city a discount, was that of the Indiana and Mis- council. The feeble and unsupported condition souri .state banks. of the public had become such, that a public A course of libi'ary lectures was the chief meeting of the people held on the 6th of Sep- weekly enjoyment of the winter. These were tember, called upon the council to make an ap- a dozen in number, prepared by our own citi- propriation of $-300 per quarter, and pay up zens, the professional men generalh', and were the salaries. The council said that they could quite popular. One very interesting lecture not and would not do so, and that they would given by Judge Snow on the 14th of February, resign before so doing. The trustees of schools on the old times of Quincy, was the inciting thfu directed the teachers to discontinue and cause of what then promised to save some val- the schools were suspended. Cooler councils, uable records of Quincy 's infant history. The however, soon prevailed, and at a meeting of interest felt on the subject was such that the the council. September the 2r)th, provision Avas Historical Club, which had been rather inactive made by the issue of .$300 in vouchers, to go as f(n- some years, proposed to the city council to far as it would, and a bond for .$1,200. This furnish free of expense, a manuscript of Quincy re-opened the schools, though in a crippled con- of which the club was to have sixty copies dition, and with the loss of their most valuable Avhenever the same was published. Bartlett teachers. and Sidlivan, of the Whig, proposed to print the work and sell the same at twenty-five cents per voliune, if the city would pay for publish- CHAPTER XXII. ing Ihe sixty copies. The city council agreed to accept these proposals, as soon as a copy 1844. should be furnished and appointed a commit- THE GRE.A.T FLOOD. LIBR.A.RT. HI.STORIC.\L tee of three of its members to collect statistics CLUB. MILIT.\RY FEELING. SEVERAL MILI- and furnish them for the use of the club. This T.\RY COMP.A.N-IES ORG.-\NIZED. FIRST ODD FELLOWS LC)DC;E. DE.A.TH OF DR. NELSON. iTi-o^oct, the first and only general eft'ort to MOVEMENT TO EDUCATE COLORED CHILDREN. collate and preserve facts bearing upon our GRE.\T POLITIC.\L EXCITEMENT. MORMON W.\R. MORMONS IN POLITICS. PRESU.MPTION early liisto'-y, seems to have quietly died. This OF THE MORMONS. SMITH. THEIR LE.\DER. is to be regretted, for that was a period when KILLED. COUNTY SE.A.T QUESTION SETTLED. there was much of incident and legend fre.sh in This was the year of the famous "great recollection, now forever forgotten, and there flood." An almost unprecedented rise, at the were men then living who could have largelv PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUN'l'Y. 97

«'()iiti-il)utcil to siicli a work. This lecture ol' that provided for the white children, and as •Judge Snow's, which is unfortunatelj^ lost, and there were eight hundred white children in an address on the same subject by ilr. Willard the city, for whose education $1,200 had been Jveyes a few years later, were the only efforts appropriated, that for the thirty colored chil- made by any of our old pioneers to place our dren there should be appropriated $45. This early liistory into print in a coimected and per- recommendation was adopted by the council, manent form. Beyond tlie scant writings of but resulted in jiothing of practical value. It these two men, botii specially familiar with is, however, notable as being the first public what they might have written more aboit, and and official action in the direction of schools some more extended reminiscences from ^Ir. for the colored race. It is also a little singular Charles Holmes, who resided here from 1828 that this i)roposition was fathered by those who to IS'.V.i, hardly a scrap of liistory or memo- had been always counted as pro-slavery men. randa even exists from the i)en of any of the Judge Young long after his residence in Illi- old settlers who were here i)rior to 1830. nois, was a slaveholder, and had not a great The niilitaiy feeling was very prevalent at while before this time advertised for the cap- this pciiod. It was so all over the country. ture of runaway slaves. Almost every one The jarring relations with England over onr living north of Mason and Dixon's line was Maine and Oregon boundaries, and the feeling anti-slavery in sentiment, south of that line that trouble was ahead in Texas and with many thought the same, but the majority there Mexico, set men to thinking of war. and with- was attached to its home institution. A very out any inunediate thought of action in that few in the north were abolitionists, conscien- way a military spirit was aroused. There had tiously so, and perhaps as many noi'thern men been a large and very good German company .sympathized with slavery and would be willing here for a year or two. The noted "Quincy to see it generally established, but these two Grays" had been disbanded some time before, classes were .small and uninduential; yet so un- but in 1843, partially from the membei'ship of reasoning were the prejudices of the day, that that company, the ''Quincy Rifles," was or- it was common to charge the northern man who ganized. Also, now the "Montgomery Guards." objected to interference with the institution of a showy Irish company was formed, making its slavery in the states where it existed, with first parade on the 31st of May. These skilled being "pro-slavery," and alike also the south- companies proved to be of much needed im- ern man wOio said a word in opposition to portance a few months later when the state slavery, was suspected and assailed as an was suddenly required to call out its military "abolitionist." This was untrue and unjust all force in this section on the occasion of the around. Neither of these small factions, repre- killing at Carthage of Joseph and Hiram sented the general sentiment of the north. The Smith, and the consequent "Mormon War," as extension of slavery beyond its already pre- it was called, in Hancock county. Two com- scribed limits was altogether another question, panies, the "Rifles" and "Guai-ds" -were and when that i.ssue arose, as subsequent creditably represented three years later in the political lii.story has unmistakably proven, ]\rexican "War, the captain (Kelly) of the Mont- the north showed itself to be almost a unit. gomery Guards being killed at Buena Vista. Referring to the school question again, it The first Odd Fellows Lodge, the Quincy, appeared that an examination and report made No. 12, was organized during this year. Dr. a few mouths before this petition w^as presented David Nelson, the eminent theologian, whose on the 7th of February, as to the condition, name is associated with most of the early cost, etc., of the public schools, did not fully religious and philanthropic history of this sec- agree with the report above named. Then tion died in October. He had become mentally the full statistics showed that there were five feeble some years before. pi'ivate schools in operation in the city, aggre- A somewluit singular movement, taking into gating one hundred and six pupils, and four account the feelings and prejudices of the peo- ])ublic schools with three hundred and ten ple in those times, was the presentation to the scholars registered, and with an average daily city council of a strong petition, signed by attendance of two hundred and seventy-five. Judge Richard i\r. Young, and one hundred The expense of sustaining the public schools and thirty others, asking that provision should was stated to be $1,800 per annum, and the be made for the education of colored children. cost of each pupil per quarter $1.63. about The result was as singular as the application. $6.50 for the year. The general condition of A conunittee of the council, to whom the matter the schools was at this time less satisfactory was referred, recommended that an appro- than it had been ever before. priation should be made equal in proportion to Purchase was made by the citv. or rather 98 PAST AND PKESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

cession made by the county to the city, of Quincy to i'eoria to attend a whig convention, the sonth half of block one, in the original plat hiring a steamboat and being absent the entire of Quincy, to be forever used for public pur- week. poses only. This was that portion of the block At the city election in April the whigs placed which in 1825 had been set apart as a "burial iu nomination for mayor, John Wood, and H. ground," and used as such until 1837. The V. Sullivan, F. W. Jansen and G. B. Dimock

city had been gradually obtaining possession for aldermen ; believing, as it was then thought of portions of the north half of the block, and that it is a party duty, by which only its repute finally secured it all. Later the land passed and strength can be sustained, to allow no into the hands of the Board of Education and names to be offered as proper public servitors, a large bi'iek school house was there erected, save such as are fit and respected. The demo- which stood for many years. This arrangement crats re-nominated Enoch Conyers, who had between the city and county, which had been held the office for the two years last for mayor, under consideration for some years was a and B. F. Osl)orne, J. H. Holton and James H. judicious one, as it afterward proved, providing Luce for aldermen. Both tickets were excep- as it has a convenient place for the courthouse, tionally strong. The whigs elected their mayor which was erected in 1876, for which no other by a majority of 113 in a total vote of 793, location could have been so easily secured. Not and all of the aldermen except Jansen. who so satisfactory, however, was the result of an- was beaten three votes by Ilolton. other effort, long and quite persistently made, This election was contested, but unsuccess- to have a poor house, constructed mutually by fully, and the council, which was democratic, the county and city. After months of negotia- elected democrats to all subordinate city offices. tion and committee conferences, this scheme, The mayor's salary, by a party vote, was mainly from unwillingness on the part of the fixed at .$200 per annum, the clerk's at $150. county authorities, fell through entirely. At the state election in August for county The Quincy Herald made its periodical officers, members of the legislature and member change of ownership, as it used to almost of congress, the democratic ticket was sue- annually in those days, Louis ]\L Booth and E. ce.ssful by unexpectedly large majorities, run- B. Wallace succeeding E. A. Thompson in the ning in the county from 119 to 286. Judge possession and control of the paper, adding Douglas was re-elected to congress over D. M. much to its credit and influence. AVoodsou liy 149 majority in the county, falling The political excitement which pervaded the sdmewhat behind his ticket on account of dis- country in 18-44 to a degree rarely paralleled satisfaction over his decision in the county at any presidential election, (certainly never division cases. Jacob Smith was chosen state exceeded in the west) was felt with full in- senator over Abraham Jonas by 211 majiu'ity, tensity in Quincy. Its enthusiasm had here as and Peter Lott, Wm. Hendry and Warren Mil- everywhere else been preparing during the past ler, representatives, over Geo. C. Dixon, W. B. four years, and its open activity began at the Gooding and John Dunlap. J. M. Pitman was city election in April, constantly increasing elected sheriff' over W. H. Tandy. An abolition until the close of the presidential battle in legislative and county ticket received from 133 November. The whigs all over the laud, mind- to 166 votes. At the presidential election in ful of their sweeping success under Harrison November the democrats carried both city and in 1810, and the treachery of Tyler, which had county by a majority of 215, Birney, the aboli- wasted all the fruits of their victory and rallied tion candidate, receiving 149 votes. by their idolized leader, Clay, were all expect- There were reported as being in the city at ant of national success. This they would have this time, 44 stores and 9 churches. Wheat undoubtedly secured but for the introduction rated at an average of 50 cents per bushel of that "side issue" the "annexation of throughout the year, and the crop was un- Texas," which broke the whig .strength in sev- usuall.v large. eral of the southern states. The first Mormon war. which broke out in On the other hand, the democratic party, Hancock county during the summer of 1844, anxious to redeem their great defeat of 1840, produced an excitement in Quincy. such as had and to regain the ascendency which they had not been since the time of the noted Nelson so easily maintained for three successive presi- riots eight years before. A similar and almost dential terms, especially strong in the south and equal excitement pervaded here two years later west, were active, earnest and aggressive. The in 1846. when there came the second war, whole country was in motion. which resulted in the thorough expulsion of the As an ilhistration of how all absorbing this Mormons from Nauvoo. These stormy troubles contest became, a hundred men went from had so long been apprehended, that they PAST AND PKESEXT OF AUAMS COUNTY. 99 created im .surprise, yet tlie final oiitljreak eaiiie feeling continued till greatly allayed when iu such a .shape as to startle ami shock the Bort'as returned in the evening with the news entire conununity. that the Jlormons, instead of rising to avenge About dayiis,'ht on the morning of the 28th the death of their prophet, were quiet and of June the city was roused by the clang of the cowed by their apprehensions and these dis- church bells and a call for the people to assem- plays of military force; that no r('i)risals had ble at once at the coui'thouse. Then and there occuri'ed; that (iovernor Ford was unharmed; appeared a delegati(Ui of well known citizens of and that "order reigned in Warsaw." It is Warsaw, lu'aded by \Vm. II. Roosevelt, wim, strange that it was so; strange that there was with most e.Kcitiug declamation and under an not one or more of the many reckless and des- extreme evident alarm, which lent sincerity and perate characters who infested Nauvoo to drew sympathy to their appeals, announced rouse, as easily might have been done, the that Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, and feelings of these thousands of credulous fan- his brother Hiram. h;id on the day i)receding atics into a wild wave of revenge, which, if it been killed in the Hancock county .jail: that had been set in motion, would have swept de- several thousand revengeful ^lonnons were struction within twenty-four hours all over marching ui^on Warsaw, Mdiieh place was per- Hancock coiuity. It was not done, however, haps by that time sacked and burned. Also and the .Mormnns were cowed and powei'less for that Governor Ford, with his attendants had the time. probably been killed, and they besought the While there was mucli in these matters that assistance of the peoi)le of Quincy. appeared farcical, and in the conduct of some Following this were some etjually exciting of the parties concerned even worse, yet there and intemperate speeches by two or three of was much ground for apprehension, demanding our town talkers, who are always on hand on the effective action so promptly assumed by our such occasion. While the position of these self- people. Quincy, from its i)osition as the largest exiled ninawaj-s from the place where they near neighboring city, was the first called upon should have remained for its defense was some- to interpose and furnish force to imt down what derisively viewed, yet the situation was, these disturbances, and it became a sort of or was likely to become serious. It was well civil and inilitar.\- heiuhpiarters during this and known that the Smiths were arrested and eon- the war of two years later, so much so as to fined under guard in the Carthage jail, and that connect its history jiermanently with both oc-j Governor Ford with a small escort had gone easions. to Nauvoo on the day when the murders were A detailed accimnt of the ^Mormon troubles committed. A committee of twelve citizens M'ould be too extended for space here. It will had been appointed at a meeting held here a he remembered that five or six years before this few days before to mediate, if possible in the date the "Latter-day Saints," as they were self- dissensions between the Mormons and their styled, when driven from Missouri, first found opponents in Hancock county. Now at once an asylum at Quincy. where their foi'lorn con- the full force of the city was promptly or- dition induced a sympathy, which for a long ganized and sent to the scene of action. A time continued. Settling sh(n-tly after in the special meeting of the city council appointed a town of Commerce, in Hancock county, at the vigilance conunittee consisting of one aldcrnmn head of the Des Moines rapids, they changed and three ( itizens from each ward. But the the name of the place to Nauvoo, said some- most practical action taken was that of the what doubtfuU.v, to be a word of Hebrew de- mayor in detaining the steamer Boreas, about rivation, meaning either "city of beauty," or to leave for St. Louis and sending it back to more probably "city of rest or repose," and Warsaw, near the middle of the day, with an here they rapidly increased. Thither flocked improvised military battalion of about foiir by thousands the devotees of this strange hundred men. This was composed of the creed, most of them from England. Quiney IJiHes, the German and Irish companies, By the state census of 18-45, out of a popula- and a volunteer force of between one and two tion of about 25,000 in Hancock county, the hundred citizens, variously armed, under the i\Iormons' portion was liberally estimated at command of Andrew Johnston as captain, and from Ifi.OflO to 17.000. giving to it the niimeri- James T. Baker as first lieutenant, the whole cal predominance in the county. When they under the command of IMa.jor Win. (i. Flood, finally left in 1846 their numbers Avere yet fair- who had been ci>iisi)i('uous in the Black ll.-iwk ly estimated at from 16.000 to 17.000. war twelve years before. Either the vanity of Smith, or more likely The city trembl3d with anxiety and the land- the needs of his situation, forced him and his ing swarmed with spectators. This feverish jieolde into a f;ds(> jiosition and ran them rap- lOO PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. idly to ruiu. They struck against that instiuc- much to impair his future reputation as a tive sentiment of public justice which will public man. On reaching Carthage he found never allow violation. He, imagining that he this large concourse of troojis, several hun- might have control of the county, congres- dred in number, and at once assumed their sional, perhaps the state, possibly the national command. A day or two later he disbanded politics, assumed an independence above every- the larger portion of them. thing. He took the military rank of Lieuten- Smith, with several of his leading associates, ant-General, claimed the pardoning power for on the arrival of the Governor, either from criminal offeuse.s, which is the highest attri- policy or fear, submitted to an arrest, vol- bute of sovereignity presented himself as a untarily presenting themselves at Carthage, ; candidate for the presidency petitioned and where they were put in confinement. Hereto- ; claimed from congress for himself and church fore he had on several occasions defied, evaded a separate state independence, and in all his or escaped fi'oin legal service. The original actions repudiated every idea of subordina- charge on which he now was arrested was tion to .state or federal supremacy. "treason." This writ was dismissed and he This was the breaker on which was shat- was rearrested on the charge of rioting; the tered his and his people's success in Illinois, sjjccial offense being his order and action in the perversion of legal justice, of public rights. suppressing the Xauvoo Exi)()sitor. This was It was the "stocking" of the courts and juries, a paper which had been started at Nauvoo the subsidizing of officials and the open resist- especially oi)posing ]\Iormonism. But one issue ence to all magisterial authority whenever the appeai-ed M-hen Smith decreed it to be a "nuis- tendency of such was "anti-Mormon" that ance" and the press and type were openly brought about the crisis and ruin. The ]\Ior- destroyed. On the 27th the jail where Smith, mons might till all the county offices and pocket his brother Hiram and two others were con- fined, the fees ; send members in their interest to was attacked by an armed mob, the the legislatures; dictate who should go to con- guards by agreement overpowered, and the assumptions were Smiths were killed. From this came ex- gress ; but grievous as these the they were borne until the quiet fiat went out citement at Quincy of the next succeeding and was practically enforced that they owned days. Governor Ford at the time when these events occurred the courts ; that no Mormon was to be pun- was in Nauvoo. He heard

ished for any olfense : or if he was convicted of them just as he left the city on his return Joseph Smith would pardon him. to Carthage, and from there on the 29th, with This was too much, and it brought about his staff, came to Quincy. People who have the eivil war, when Hancock and the adjacent gone through the excitement and anxiety of counties, hopeless of justice through the a really great war may not know, yet it is courts, turned out their military strength, on a fact that a small war when people are not an unauthorized and illegal call, to put down used to them is equally absorbing and excit- and out of existence the Mormon rule in Illi- ing. The Governor's stay was of several days' nois. duration and when he left early in Jiily mat- This gathering of troops in Hancoclv County, ters seemed to have quieted chiwn. But they osten.sibly to sustain ancl enforce law but real- were far from being so. The death of the ly, as everybody knew, for the purpose of Smiths did not, as perhaps had been expected, driving or searing away the Mormons, had break up the Mormon association. On the now forced the attention of Governor Ford contrary, with the prestige of martyrdom now to the pending troubles and brought him to attaching to the prophet's name, their numbers the scene. He had been extremely anxious increased more rapidly than ever before. to evade any action. During the canvass of The Quincy companies that had gone to War- 1842, when he was elected, his opponent, Gov- saw at the time of Smith's death remained ernor Duncan, crowded the Mormon question but a day or t^vo, but three months later they

into an unpleasant political prominence ; and were again called into the field. As the Mor- it had now become, with the protection and mons showed no disposition to leave the state, broad principles which the dominant party in and their numbers were steadily increa,sing, a the state had too recklessly given to these movement was again inaugurated to effect people, a very sore subject for the state au- their removal. thorities to handle. A grand wolf hunt was advertised to take The Governor, when compelled to meet the place in Hancock in September, which was matter face to face, tried no doubt to act well understood to mean a raid upon the Mor- faithfully, but his alternations of boldness and mons. The Governor again came to Quincy. indecision were painfully apparent and did having called out from Sangamon and Mor- PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. lOI

gaii counties ;iiiil clsewhei'c a lai-i;o fori-i.', ami organization, shall be and renuiin a part of with them tlie Kities and German company, the county or counties from Avhieh it was who were again marched up to Hancock coun- originally taken, for all purposes of state and ty on the 2')th of Sei)tember, and for a count v. few days the city was fiUed witli "war's ahirms. "' After a week or ten days quiet was restored and the sohliery returned. An addition to tlu'se excitements was the bringing- down to Quincy under military CHAPTER XXni. guard of William and Shappe. who had been arrested on the charge of having been con- 1845. the nected with nnirder of the Smiths. The POPULATION OF CITY AND COUNTY, 19,399. BUSI- guard was rather farcical since these men had NESS .STATEMKNT. JOHN W^OOD, MAYOR. SPE- CIAL TAX FOR SCHOOLS. MORNING COURIER, voluntarily surrendered themselves. Still, this FIR.ST DAILY NEWSPAPER. COLONIZATION added to the excited feelings of tlie time. These SOCIETY FORMED. MORMON TROUBLES CON- TINUED. JUDGE C. L. HIGBEE. COUNTY men were examined hei-e and bound over for SEAT QUESTION AGAIN. trial. Sub.sequently, in 1845. trials were had in Hancock county of several men charged with The first constitution of Hlinois prescribed, legislative appor- tlie death of the Smiths, but though it ]H-obably as a basis for the periodical in was known who took part in that affair no tiomnents. that a census should be taken convictions resulted. ISi'O and every fifth year thereafter. The re- was the The bitter strife between the cit\- and coun- 1\u-ns as made by Capt. Kelly, who gave a ty, which had commenced sevei-al years before, state enumerator for the year 1845, First ward, about the removal of the county seat, still population to Quincy of 4,007. ward, 1,419; "dragged its slow length along." It had, 1.40G; Second ward, 1,182; Third duty, 987. however, lost its special excitement for Quincy, colored, 66; sub.ject to military pre- for the reason that the issue had been now These figures taken in connection with the vious date, show that there had been an almost changed to ;i judicial contest over the divi- during sion of the county, concerning which Quincy uniform doubling of the population are no eei-- felt but a secondary interest. The Marquette each five years since 1825. There people steadily refused to be thus cut away tain figures for the first ten years. Quincy from Adams county, and they constantly voted did not, then, find a place on either the state at every general or special election, whenever or national census of 1825 or 1830. In 182.5, it a dozen resi- this i.ssue could come in, either against separate the year of its location, had there were organization or for candidates for county of- dent's. In 18:?0 it is estinuited that relialile figures are from fices, who were pledged not to qualify and about :inO. The first which places the assume office. These were invariably elected. the state census of 1835, this The cii'cuit and supreme coiirt decisions had population of the town at 753, Following aftirmed the law which established the new there appears a census made by order of the reported a county, and ignored all recogniticui of the ter- town authorities in 1837-38 which census ritory therein as being a constituent portion total of 1.653. In 1840 the national city census, of Adams countj'. But so long as the people reported a population of 1,850. A an in- in the eastern section of the county revolted quite carefully taken in 1842. showed there against this ai-bitrary expatriation and con- crease on this^ up to 2,686, and in 1845 regular stantly refused to organize all these .iudieial is reported 4.007. indicating an even, later years decrees were but paper bullets aiul totally in- growth through twenty years. In periodical in- effective. this large regular percentage of Consequently for a number of years I\Iar- crease has much fallen off. cen- quette i-emained politically parentless. Foiir Adams count.v. including Quincy. at this to years later than this period, however, under sus of 1845. had a population of 13.511. the operation of the new state constitution which, adding 5,888 in ]\rar(piette. gave a to- city about of 1847-48 tliis local trouble was cui-ed. tal of 19.399. showing that the had growth A clause was introduced by Mr. Williams one-fifth of the whole. The relative follows: In and secured by his special action that "all of city and county has been as in Han- territory which has been or may be stricken 1825 "the county, with perhaps 300 2.186": probably by the end off by legislative enactment from any organized cock, had Quincy, coimty or counties for the purposes of form- of the year, 50 or more. In 1830 the county about ing a new county, and which shall remain un- population was 2,186. of which some 200, years later organized after the period jirovided for its one-tenth, were in the village. Five PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. by the stat.5 census the county has 7,042 aud the mayor. The first city mayor, E. Moore, the town 753, still about one-tenth. Five years chosen in 1840 and again in 1841, was a method- farther on, in 1840, the county contained 14,- ical, practical business man and had been se- 476, and the city 1,850, this being one-eighth lected for that position over other more popu- of the whole. lu 1845, as above .stated, the lar and reju'esentative men for the reason that city had a little over one-fifth; in 1850 the it was thought best to have such a man to county had 26.508 and the city 6,902, over handle the helm at the commencement of the one-fourth; in 1860 the county figured 41,323 young city's career. His two immediate suc- and the city 12,362, nearly one-third: in 1870 cessors were not practical business men, and there were 56,362 in the county to 24,062 in their clerks, Woodruff. Leech, Cochran and the city, a proportion of three-sevenths, and Snow, were all men of more or less experi- in 1880 the county showed 59,148 and the city ence and mark in their time, and really ran 27,268, almost one-half. the city nuichinery. The duties of the mayor In connection with the census taken at this were then very light, except on occasions, most- time a carefully compiled schedule of the busi- ly confined to overlooking labor on the streets, ness of the city reported, of stores, 29 di-y goods, he being ex-ofificio street superintendent. Mr. 21 grocery and provision, 1 book, 3 hardware, Cochran was an Englishman, a man of rather 2 wholesale grocers, 2 wholesale iron, 2 cloth- unusual acquirements, was by profession a civil ing. 4 druggist. 1 shoe, 2 leather; of shops, 21 engineer and teacher, had been iirominently shoe, 17 tailor, 9 wagon makers, 3 tin, 13 black- connected with the public schools and as a smith. 9 paint, 6 saddle and harness, 4 turn- mathematician he had not then and probably ing, 2 barbers, 3 machine, 12 carpenters, 1 has never had his equal in Quincy. He could cigar; of factories. 4 chair, 1 threshing ma- do what not one in millions can—ruu up in chine, 1 faiuiing mill. 1 bucket; 2 shingle nm- his mind the addition of four figures and de- chines. 1 carding nuichine. 2 latlie machines. 1 clare the result as accurately as others could ropewalk; 7 ht)tels. 3 bakeries. 3 confection- ;uld u|) a single colunui. He was one of the eries, 5 pork houses, 4 livery stables. 6 steam notable men of the place in his time. A few flour mills, 3 steam sawmills, 1 distillery, 3 years later he removed to California. soap factories, 3 brickyards, 2 tanneries, 3 The city council voted a salary to aldermen watch and jewelry stores, 6 butcher shops, 2 of two dollars for each regular and fifty cents ]U'inting offices, 16 churches, 3 military com- for each special meeting; before this time they l)aiiies, 52 licensed teams. had been paid nothing. Urgent requests were John Wo(jd, the whig nonnnee, was rechosen made upon the city fathers to organize a mayor at the city election in April by a ma- "night watch." but they decided that the city jority of 138 over J. H. Holton. The whigs at did uot need it and could not afford the ex- the same time elected two out of the three pense. The city obtained from the legisla- aldermen. Di-. J. B. Conyers in the First, Dr. ture during the preceding winter the relin- J. N. Ralston in the Third ward; and the demo- (luishment of the railroad street (now Broad- crats elected Sanuicl IIuttt)n in the Second way) which seven years before had been grad- ward. This result gave to the whigs for the ed from Twelfth street to the river, and also first time since 1841 the political control of secured from the United States the title to the council and they at once proceeded on the Avhat is known as the "Tow Head," the point "lex talionis" principle to act up to the ex- of land lying between the bay and the liver, treme extent of their power by making a clean measured then as containing 207 acres, which sweep-out of all the former city officials. John it probably greatly exceeds at present. L. Cochran was appointed city clerk as the Judge Thonuis resigned his position as judge successor of General Leech. ^Mr. Cochran re- of this circuit to take a similar place in the signed before his year term of office expired noi'thern part of the state and his place was and was succeeded by Judge Snow, who con- temporarily filled b.v Judge R. M. Young. In tinued to hold the office for two following August N. IT. Purple was appointed, who held years and so long as the whigs retained a ma- the office for the three following years and jority in the city council. At that time and until the new constitution of 1848 changed for some years later the oflfiee of the city clerk the judicial system. Judge Peter Lott. who was more important than it is at present. had been elected to the legislature in 1844, Its incumlient then was both clerk and comp- resigned his seat in February just at the close troller combined, as the daily business of the of the session and was thereupon immediately city passed almost entirely through his hands appointed circuit clerk, displacing C. M. he was expected to supply whatever was lack- Woods, who had acceptably held the office for ing of business education or (pialification in manv rears. At this time, and before 1848, PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 103 the judges iii)s.s(>sse(l the power ot' appniiitnieut The .Morning Courier, the first tlaily iiews- of elerks. An iiuliunatinn meet inn- of the |>aper of (^nincy, made its appearance on the iiieinbei's of the h;ii- was hehl at onee to niake fii'st of November. It was a small affair and objections to the leiiidval. 'I'his movement died after -.[ few week.s' sickly existence. The was not so iiiueli aiiiie(l at Lutt. who was i)ei'- Whig commenced the issu(> of a tri-w(>ekly sonally popuhu' and more capable than Mr. which was kept up ffdiii time I0 time, with

Wootls. but it was intended as a protest atiainst but little satisfactory result. The newsjiapcr the summarv style in whieli the hitter's bead men wi're all anxious and wei'c ui'ge(l by the was taken ofil'. public til "lii-anch out.'" and several attemjits Chanires eonse(pieiit on the election of the were made to iiuH't this wish by the two old- democratic presidential ticket in 184-4 were time Journals dui'ing this and the two succeed- made in the federal offices in Qiiiney. Dr. ing years, linl they invariably found that the Samuel W. l\oulogy on General Jackson, who school system was completed and assured. The had died in the month preceding. assessment of 1-8 of 1 ])er cent, as authorized .\ colonization society was formed in April, by the law, was made. with (|uite a large membership and much seem- With this moneyed relianc(> before them and ing earnestness. These societies used periodi- the obvious need of school room facilities, the cally to spring up immediately after each pres- school trustees agreed to a|iin-o|)riate ^'.W) to- idential election, intended to become a cheek wards the erection of a suitable and sutHcient upon the slavery e.Kcitement which always at- schoolhouse and the city council voted an issue tended these .struggles. Annual attempts were of seven .^100 bonds for the same purpose. made by luiblic meetings and pressure upon Finding that the necessary cost of the build- the city council for action by them to obtain ing would lie twelve Inuidred dollars the coun- a free ferry, but they failed, as usual, the ferry cil increased its apjiropriation by two hun- owiu'i's ott'ering to trans]iort "all iMissourians dred dolbnx more. This was the first public ;in(l (^uincyites (excepting wood wagons) for school building in the city, erected on the $400 per annum, but the council would not ground where now stands the Franklin school- agree to the terms. honsc on South Fifth street. The two local troubles, which, like a public 104 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. dyspepsia, had periodically broken out duriug ishments failed to follow. Jake Davis, state the past four or five years—the Mormon and senator from Hancock, charged with complicity the county seat matter—still stayed uneured; in the killing of the Smiths, was relievetl from the first of these causing something like the arrest by an order from the senate. Backen- former excitements. With the killing of Jo- stos, indicted for the murder of Worrell, with seph Smith in 18-44 it would have seemed as which he was undoubtedly connected, had his if the predominance of the Mormons in Han- trial moved to Peoria county in December and cock and their influence in the adjoining coun- there obtained an acquittal. A strange career ties vi'as broken. But it was not so. The M-as that of this man—a shrewd, daring adven- scepter of the prophet fell into the hands of turer, with an almost rejiulsive, desperado men of more determination and ability than bearing and look. He ran his course success- he had posse.ssed ; men who for their own pur- fully here and shortly after obtained a com- poses clung to the control of the county, and mission as captain in the regular army, where thus, of course, a bitter feeling and disturb- he served for several years and until his deatli. ance continued, ilen generally went armed What political or other service or merit se- and in groups, fearing strife. Fatal collisions cured for him such a sinecure, usually so diffi- and destruction of property still often oc- cult to attain, was a question much asked tlien curred. Finally the killing of some promi- and never yet answered. These neighboring nent Mormons, also of Dr. Marshall by Sheriff troubles continued to be a source of interest Deming, and again of Frank Worrell by (as and excitement in Quincy until the final for- it was charged) Sheriff' Backenstos, who had cible expulsion of the ilormous in the fall of been elected as Deming 's successor by the ]\Ior- lS-46. mon vote, and the taking possession of Carth- Judge Chauncy L. Higbee, Avhose sudden age by Backenstos with an armed force from and lamented death is in the minds of all at Nauvoo. causing another flight of the citizens this time, the most satisfactoryandpopularman of Carthage and Warsaw, compelled again the who had presided in the courts of this section attention of the governor. He ordered out in of the state since the time of Judge Purple, September the volunteer militia from Spring- was singularly and specially connected with field, Jacksonville, Quincy and other places, the movement that finally drove the Mormons numbering several hundred men, under the from the state, a movement which began in command of Gen. John J. Ilardin, and sent 1844 and succeeded in 1846. He Avas the edi- them to the scene of action. Quincy was thus tor and proprietor of the Nauvoo Expositor; once more "roused bj' war's alarms." The the paper which was destroyed and suppressed presence of this imposing force gave temporary by Joseph Smith after the issue of its first quiet to the county. The rifle company from number in 1844. Higbee had to run away to Quincy remained in Hancock county but a few save himself from violence. This extreme at- days, but immediately after their return they tack upon the freedom of the press did more were ordered back, and from late in October than anything else could have done to excite through the following six or seven months as a hot prejudice against the ilormons far out- a mounted company, they were stationed in side of where their local and personal bear- and patrolled Hancock county, successfully ings were felt and known. preserving order. The county seat (which had now become a The condition of affairs in Hancock was county division) question made its pei-iodical very deplorable and such as could only be appearance. At the August election JMarquette controlled by bayonet rule. In the county the again voted not to organize: Judge Purple af- "Latter Day Saints," as they called them- firmed the decision of Judge Douglas (from selves, possessed an overwhelming numerical which Judge Young, while temporarily holding strength, held all the offices and used their court, had dissented) that Marquette was at- power with consistent boldness. In all the bor- tached to Adams for judicial purposes and thus dering counties, especially in Adams, feeling the eastern f.-art of the county remained in that was intensified against them and frequent mass most anomalous position of being and yet not meetings were held denouncing the itormons being: paying no taxes, having no representa- and demanding their expulsion from the state. tion and only known in the courts. As War- The law seemed powerless. Judge Purple, the ren waggishly said, "ilarqnette without any successor of Judge Thomas on this circuit, de- fault of her own had been several times pun- clined holding the usual fall term of court in ished. She was born against her wish and Hancock. had been twice killed— once when she was de- Charges, countercharges and prosecutions capitated from Adams and next when she was were plentifully made by both parties, but pun- legallv hung—to Adams." PAST AiND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 105

CIlAI'TEi; XXIV. OHicc Hotel." the "bedbugs'retreat" as it was quaintly and correctly called, was sold at auc- 1846. tion. It was an old two-story frame structure of about one hundred feet front on ITampshire, BUSINES.S IXCREA.SING. WOODLAND CEMKTKRY. near the corner of Fifth. buikling near- rROGUK.SS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY. '.MISSION The was l.X.^TITrTIO." .MEXICAN \V.\R. QUINCY SENDS ly worthless and llie proi)erty was purchased SOLDIIOKS. .\NNU.\L EI.\A.\CI.A.L ST.\TEMENT. only at its ground value. It sold for from MC)K.M(.).N1S DIUVK.N P'ROM THE ST.\TE. $38 to $43 per foot. At the present date (1885) The wiiiter of 1S4j-4G wa.s exeeptiooally cold, the ground value of the same property would more so thaii winters had been for several be probably estimated at about four hundred years, yet the temperature, thoiigli low, was dollars per lineal foot. The city jiurchased even and regular and the season throughout in July, for school uses, three-fourths of the Avas unusually pleasant. .Much isnow fell early north half of what is now Jefferson square, and late, gi\ing a long continuance of good, fronting on Broadway, for $51"2.50. A few smooth sleighing'. The river, which had closed years after the remaining fourth was obtained early in December, opened late in January, af- at about the same price. This secured to the fording easy navigation until the 26th of Feb- city the entire ownership of the block. The ruai-y, when it again iced over; finally becom- south half liad been bought from the county ing free on the Ttli of ]March, with a full-bank ai>out two years before. rise such as rarely occurs at so early a time Woodland cemetery was laid off in April. in the year. Later, however, in August, the It originally contained somewhat less than lowest stage of water in the upper JMississippi forty acres. At the following session of the that is recorded during the twenty previous legislature, by an act approved January 16th, years was reached and the summer and fall 1.S47. authority was granted to i\Ir. Wood, who navigation became difficult and uncertain. Busi- had established the cemetery, to make a per- ness throughout this Avinter, owing to the cause manent contract, under which after his death above named, the opening of the river in mid- it should pass into the control and partial own- winter, and also to the general high prices, ership of the city. was quite brisk ; more so, probably, than it had Eleven years after this time, in 1857, four been at any former corresponding period. and sixty-five one-hundredth acres were added, About the same amount of jjork was packed making the final total area of the cemetery MS had been during the wintei' before, but the a little over forty-three acres. An extensive prices ruled much higher and a lai'ger circula- sale of lots was immediately made and the rec- tion of money was the consequence. ord shows that by the 13th of ^lay there bad The close of this year (1846) showed a de- been three burials. Right after and during cided increase in the stability and variety of the succeeding fall and winter a great number all branches of business. The flour mills of of bodies were removed hither from the city the city, which had by this time become the cemetery at the coi-ner of Twenty-fourth and most extensive in their nuuiufacture of any of Elaine, and a few from the old burial ground tlie river nortli of St. Louis, were estimated to on Jeft'erson S(|uare. But few intei-iuents wei'e have shipped away nearly seventy thousand from this time made in the former i-cmetery. barrels of flour during the year, being about now "]\Iadison Square." double the manufacture of the previous year. (juite a stirring sensation was created on the The wheat crop of the county and vicinity was morning of the 18th of August, a good deal unusually large and fine in quality, though intensified from its blending with jxilitical feel- there was a good deal of fluctuation in its ing, when the good i)eople of the city awoke prices, ranging from 65 to 70 cents in the to find that again some graceless vagabond had spring down to 38 and 40 in August, and again bai'lscd the large tree which stood in the cen- rising to the first-named figures later in the ter of the i)ublic square. This tree had re- season. Real estate, which had been "a drug" placed the handsome elm that had been de- for several yeai's. began to show a fixed, uni- sti'oyed in a similar numner six yivirs before. form value commcnstn'Mte with the steady con- Public feeling heated at once against this sec- dition of genernl liusiness. Sales were not nu- (111(1 exhibition of vandalism and the city coun- merous and not at such figures as hud ruled cil at a special meeting offered a reward of in the wild, siiecuiative days of 1836, but they one hundred dollars for the detection of the were stable. As a citation of the worth of parties who had conunitted this outrage. The property at that time, facing the public stpiare, affair Avas easily traceable, like the previous which has always detei-mined the general value case, to a jietty ]>olitical spite, and the authors of land throughoiit the citv, the old "Land and actors were pretty well known, but the io6 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. difficulty of seeiu'iBg positive proof and shrewd ment in building and business marks the rec- manipulation of the matter bj^ parties who were ord of tills year. The fir.st German ^lethodist anxious to eonceal their own indirect respon- Church, on Jerse.v Street, between Fifth and sibility, caused it to gradually pass out of Sixth, was completed and dedicated on the thought without any conclusive legal action L';)th of .Alarch. or exposure. A large woolen factory was constructed by The Quincy Library, now in the sixth year Dunsmoor li ^liller, on the west side of Front of its existence, reported the possession of street, .just north of Spring, and immediately eleven hundred volumes, showing its condition noi-th of that ('apt. T. J. Casey operated an to be fairly prosperous. This was a much fa- extensive distillery. This was a large three- vored institution during the early days of the story brick, the third distillery that had been city. Its estal)lisliment and management was started in or near Quinc.v, and in about two .iudicious. (.Tcnerous donations of standard years' time it shared the fate of its two pre- books, carefully selected, of money, and the decessors—being destroyed b.v fire. The woolen earnest, personal care and attention of a num- factor,y also was biii-ned not far from the same ber of thoughtful and intelligent men ensured time in 1848. to it a foundation of permanence. Its resources The governor of ^Missouri pardoned from the were, of course. limited, and f(n' several years lienitentiary on the 29th of July, Thompson, its main reliable income was derived from the one of the trio of "Quincy abolitionists," as winter course of lectures. These were altogether the.v were then called, who were sentenced given by home lecturers, cost nothing, and were from Clarion county in 1811 to twelve years' popularly attended, being the weekly inter- confinement fur the attempted "abduction of esting gatherings of the winter. Many of these slaves." lectures were of a high order of interest and The othc two. Work and Burr, liad been value, such as few places in the West of equal freed from prison some time before. These population could i>roduce. Tliey were almost tliree young men. above named, were students altogether given by our professional men. and at the ""^Mission Institute," near Quincy, and the tiualitications of the representatives of the had probabl.v rendered themselves amenable to three "learned professions" in Quincy at this liunishment for the violation of the laws of time were very superior. Bushnell. Johnston. Missouri, luit it was a generall.v recognized Lott, Browning. Warren. Dixon. Randolph, fact that the trial of these culprits had not

Oilman, among the lawyers ; Giddings. Moore, been impartial and .just. Indeed, in those ex- Marks, Poote. Parr, of the clergy: Taylor, citing days, it was almost impossible for any Nichols, Ralston. Rogers, from the medical one suspected of having the taint of abolition- ranks, and cdhers were mostly men of educa- ism to get a fair trial in the slave states, or tion, culture and experience, and were also per- even in the border .states. Suspicion was al- sonally popidar and attractive, hence their lec- mo.st eciuivalent to conviction in all such cases, tures were always creditably intellectual and so general and so extreme was the popular fully relished. It was the fashion to go to the pre.judice on this subject. lectures and. of course, everybody went. The A sliort allusion tt) the "^Mission Institute," annual revenue from this source, although it which had so much to do with the neighbor- was not large, proved sufficient to sustain the ing relations of Quincy and with its then and library outside of its current expenses during after reputation, is here a proper and essen- the first half a dozen or more years of its ex- tial portion of the jtast record of the cit.v. The istence. The Tri-Weekly Whig, wliich had been influence Miiich this institution exercised was started by Bartlett & Sullivan in October. 18-15. not the most fortunate for itself or for the suspended on the l^lst of April. This was one city. The original design was to establish a among the many unsuccessful experiments school in the neighborhood of the city whose made by the two permanent weeklies, the Her- object should be to educate and qualify young ald and Whig, to establish daily or tri-weekly people of both sexes for duty as Christian mis- .journals, each ambitious to be the first in the si(niaries in foreign lands. No purer idea could field, during the first two decades of our city have been generated and its philantliropic juir- history. They were all ushered into the w(irld pose. aided by the great prestige of Dr. Nel- vrith hope and promise, but all died before son's name as its founder and patron, gave teething time, and their many skeletons whiten great promise to its beginning, but it labored out past times, like buft^alo skulls on the plains, with limited means, its standard of scholai-ship none of them lasting over a year. The pei'iod was not of the highest and many of its students had not yet ripened for such enterprises. A were deficient in rudimental acquirement. These fair degree of general and permanent improve- causes operating upon the sensitive public sen- PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 107

of total vote of 971 Wood received 27 ma- tiinciit (if till' times and nl' Wtr Icicalily. prc- a jority. McClintock 6, Johnson 44 and Summers \cii1»'(l it ri-(ini iihtaiiiiiij:- tlic pnipi'i- hold 111)011 21. vote was the largest ever cast, being |)iililic synipatliy and it finally died out after The increase of 169 over that of the pei'vious lia\iii^' aecoinplishcd some u'ood in the line of an year. It will be observed that in all these its intention, but hardly anything- eoninii'ii- earlier elections to the city council the politi- ^^n^at(' with what was expected or the merit cal lines were geographically drawn almost as uf its design. (Iradually after this time the continued, not greatly or often estrani>eiiient over the slavery ((uestion be- they have the following forty years. tween the people on two sides of the river be- changed throughout southern part of the city was almost in- came allayed; was less talked about and less The neai'ly the variably whig ; the central belt, with thouKlit of. democratic, and the north- With the breaking out of the Me.xieaii War same cei'tainty was always more or less de- (Jovernor Ford on the 25th of May issued a ern section was result of this election was to call for three i-egiments of infantry. Under batable. The the new council politically a tie, with this cill a great number of eom]ianies were make the mayor having the casting vote. The whigs oll'eri'd. and of the thirty whieh could be ae- re-elected Snow as clerk and reappointed most cei)ted, one and part of another was reeog- of old city officers, -lohnson, of the sec- nizi'd from (^iiiney as being "in mi time." the ward, gave di.ssatisfaction to some of his 'riiesc wci'e the "Rifles," whieh, as before stat- ond con.stituents by his course on the license ques- ed, had been doing state service in Ilaucoek resigned before his term expired, his (luring the past winter, and a portion of the tioii and being filled by H. L. Simmons. The Irish ('oiii]Kiiiy. This company was commanded vacancy mayor's salary was fixed at .'t!200 and the clerk's by ('a|)fain -lames D. Morgan, who in the civil .$l.i() and fees. war became a major-general. It was recruited u.sual annual statement on the first of up to the full standard and as such served The showing its financial condition and ree- throughout the war; the other, not tilling its April for the year past reiioited the bond in- ranks, was afterward incorporated with a com- (n-ds the city as j(;20.640.00 and ^100 pany fi-om Kendall county in the second regi- debtedness of" The bond debt on the first ment, commanded by Colonel afterward, (iov- out as vouchers. April. 1845. was !)?20.888.38. The schedule ernor Hissell. Three of the men from this of and expenditures showed as dur- company were killed at the bloody battle of of receipts the year. Buena Vista, among them T. Kelly, the former ing Rifles, number- captain of the company. The Received fnnn wharfage si^l, 152.33 ing ninety -three men, were mustered into the Received from cemetery 381.32 first regiment, that of Col. John J. Hardin, who Received from taxes 4,833.56 was killed at Buena Vista. This company had Received from market house 346.09 a high reputation for drill and efficiency, but Received from license, grocery 686.05 did not take part in the battles of the war, Received from license, store 841.22 and hence lost no men except from disease. Received fi-om license, wagon 203.17 Both of these organizations served their year's Received from sundries 274.91 term of service and i-eturned to (^uincy in the summer of 1847. They rendezvoused in June. $8,718.65 1846. at Alton, the city paying the expen.ses period of transpoi'tation by steamer to that point. The expenses of the city during this leaving, as the .statement says, Uatei- ill this year, during the war, and in 1847, were $7,621.20. to on the debt." in answer to subsequent calls, a few men were "a balance of .$1,007.45 apply state- recruited in Quincy for the regular service and Reference to one item in the foregoing some .joined the two additional state regiments, ment of the sources of revenue will give some but no complete organization other than those idea of the increasing connnercial business of above named went from (Quincy to participate the place. The receipts from wharfage were one-third over the in the ^lexieau war. increased $306.35. about for Pai'ties as usual were active in the spring same in the preceding year. The tax levy of election. The whigs again nominated John the year 1846 was established at one-half one-eighth AVood for mayor and TI. V. Sullivan, Cecu'ge one per cent for city ])urposes and Brown and Xat'l Summers for aldermen. wh() of one per cent for school purposes. were opposed on the democratic side by Tim- The city again assumed the balance of the othy Kelly tor mayor and Joseph JlcClintock. school debt and ordered the erection of a Fred Johnson and Damon Hauser for alder- schoolhouse to be constructed in every respect men. The election was active and close. Out like, and to be of equal cajtacity with that built io8 PAST AND PKESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. the year before. Water street, rimniug south effect that all unorganized counties or parts from the foot of Maine street, eighty feet west of counties should with the new constitution of and parallel to Front street, was by ordi- revert to the coimty from which they had been nance laid out. The first ordinance being incompletely detached. faulty in description, a second was passed, but Thus was ended this strife of half a dozen the measure met with hosts of opposition. Re- years, commenced for the purpose of removing mou.stranees and claims for damages from near- the county seat from Quiney. It was a long, ly every property holder along the river side acrimonious, expensive struggle, and at last poured into the council, but they were all dis- ended just where it began, with everything regarded and laid on the table. The street was replaced in the old position. The city and never fully established and in time the tract county had been during the year constantly was made a public landing. The ferry was alive with meetings and excitements over this free during the year, and an earnest attempt question and also over the ^Mormon matters, was made to have the city purchase or jjerpet- both of which vexatious troubles, happily for nally lease it, but witliout success, as no satis- harmony, passed now out of existence. factory terms could be made with the owners The last year appeared to see the Mormon of the franchise. difficulties overcome, but it was only on the At the August election here, as it was sui'face. They ripened again in the summer throughout the state, there was less than the of 1847, and, of com-se. Quiney had to partici- usual political interest felt. The whigs had not pate in the excitement. The determination of yet recovered from their unexpected and the people of Hancock county, outside of Xau- crushing defeat of 1844. French and Wells, voo, which was .shared by those of the adjacent the democratic candidates for governor and counties, that the Mormons would leave the lieutenant governor, carried the county by state was met by an equally dogged determina- about 350 majority, Dr. Ellis, the abolition tion on the part of the "saints." that they candidate, receiving 98 votes. Judge Douglas would not go, and though many left, yet many was re-elected to congress, beating Dr. Vande- renuiined, and a large jiortion of these were venter, the whig candidate, 281 votes in Adams unable to leave. The military company from county. For the legislature I. X. ilorris, "Wm. Quiney. which had been stationed at Xauvoo Hendrix and J. M. Seeliorn. democrats, were during the past winter to preserve order, was, chosen over A. Williams, W. H. Tandy and with the exception of ten men, withdrawn in Eichard Starr, by majorities from 150 to 200. May. The idea that such a sqiiad could en- Hendrix died in December, shortly after he had force law and preserve peace was farcical. The taken his seat. There was no senatorial elec- bitter hostility grew stronger and stronger. tion. Smith holding over. E. H. Buckley and Each act of lawlessness was followed or offset Mason Wallace were elected from Marquette by another. Finally, in the latter part of Au- county pledged to oppose the organization of gust, Col. Chittenden, of Mendon, in Adams the county. Buckley took his seat in the legis- county, one of the most prominent men of the lature, but Wallace did not, and W. H. Chap- county, was taken prisoner bj- the Mormons. man, who had been a candidate, was admitted He was only detained one day and night, but with Buckley and served during the session. his capture caused the anti-]\Iormon feeling to Buckley ;.nd Chapman, thus elected and ad- break out beyond repression. A large and ex- mitted to the legislature, gave their attention cited meeting was held in Quiney. commit- to such course as would bring about the best tees were appointed, soldiers enlisted and simi- correction of the count}* ditHculties whereof lar movements made elsewhere, residting in Quiney, as the county seat, was the original the assemblage of about nine hundred men bone of contention, and this was judiciou.sly from Hancock. Adams, Brown and the vicinity, done. Chiefly through the influence of the under the leadership of Colonels Chittenden former the name ]\Iar(|uette was changed to and Singleton, finally organized with Tom

Highland : other boundaries Avere proposed, but Brockman, of Mt. Sterling, as commander. This the real action as arranged was to throw the force took position in camp about half way whole issue forward for consideration in the between Carthage and X'auvoo. On the other constitutional convention, which was about to hand, the ]\Iormons and those who were in be called. In that convention, finally, in 1847, sympathy with them in the city prepared for the matter came up and was settled at once fight. The outcome was easily foreseen. and forever, by the engraftment in the new The population at this time of X'auvoo was constitution of a comprehensive claiise, pre- mainly women, children and men. not all of sented and pressed to adoption by Mr. Wil- the most reputable stamp. By the 13th of liams, the delegate from Adams county, to the September, two weeks after Chittenden's cap- :

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 109

lure, alnitist ;ill iit' the residents of Nauvoo schools from theii- previous association with had crossed the ^lississippi, and the Iowa hank the county ofiicials. The law was made de- of the river was swarming with these liapless, pendent on its being adopted by a majority of ragged exiles. The Mormon rule in Illinois was the legal voters of the city. This was done at hroken to all ai)pearance and the sect dis- the April election by an almost unanimous vote. I)ersed, yet in October the governor had to At this same session a bill passed the legis- make his a|)proiich for the third time, with an lature authorizing a sale of the Northern Cross artillery fofce, to restore order and clear out Haili-oad i>roi)erty, of which that part Ij'ing the last of this misguided sect. And they left within the corporation limits from Twelfth at last. A few settled in northern Illinois under street to the river had two j'ears before been re- the leadership of a son of their martyred liiKpiished to the city. The portion of the road prophet, another baud established itself on one from Quincy to the Illinois river was, under of the islands in tiie northern part of Lake the authority of the above law, purchased by .Michigan, while the great body of them wended parties in Adams and Hrown counties and a their wav westward to Salt Lake. comjiany was organized as the Northern Cross railroad company. This company, with the aid of county, city and personal subscriptions, con- structed the road from Quiney to Galesburg, CHAPTER XXV which has since become the C, B. & Q., and at a later date, the same interest, somewhat 184 changed, built the other jMU'tion from Camp Point to ileredosia. SCHOOL DISTRICTS. S.\LE OF N. C. R. R. AU- which luis since fallen into THORIZED. ATTEMPT TO BUY FERRY. CEN- jjossession of the Wabash. But a very small SUS TAKEN. FINANCE. NEW BUILDINGS. DEATH OF NOTABLE MEN. DELEGATES TO l)ortion of the original line of survey was CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. S. A. DOUG- LAS. CITY BOUNDARY EXTENDED. NEVINS adopted by the new road as it is now com- ADDITION. WHY NO. 13TH. 15TH AND 17TH pleted. STREETS. Another of the many efforts made to place Business during the winter of 1846-47 was the city in i)ossession of the ferry was at- not brisk as it had been in the preceding sea- tempted but without success. Carlin and Rog- son. Prices ruled at about the same, but there ers offered to sell the entire franchise of the was a falling off, both in the pork packing and ferry, boat, lauds and all for !{ilO,000, or with- in the milling manufacture, of nearly one-fifth out the land for .$8,000. This proposition was in amount as compared with the same periods considered by the council on the 1st of Febru- in 184.J-16, and in the latter branch of business ary and rejected, but at the following meeting this decreased production continued through- in ]\Iareh they ottered to buy. for .$4,000, the out the year. About ten thousand barrels less "boats, fixtures and i)rivileges"' until the ex- of flour were nuuuifactured by the mills in 1847 I)iration of the lease in 1853. This proposition than in 1846. was not accepted by the ferry owners. The winter was not severe. The river long A very thorough census of the city for school remained open, atiFording fair navigation. It purposes Avas taken by J. U. Luce on the order first closed on the 8th of January, remained so of the city council, wdiich showed that on Jidy until the 21st of February, when it opened and 14th. there was a population, of those under conliinied free to the 20th of December. It twenty years of age, of 2,6:38, thus disti-ibuted then closed to open again on the next new-year South of Broadway, 2,254 ; north of that street, day. .'{•'W; colored in the whole city. 45. The entire At a special election on the 14th of January. |>opulation of the city was 5.401 whites. 77 'SI. John Ruddle was chosen to the legislature blacks : total, 5,478. The tax assessment was to fill the vacancy nuide by the death of AVm. fixed for the year as before, at ^ v, of 1 per cent Hendry. The city council on the 4tli of Janu- for public ])urposes and Is "f 1 pcr cent for ary prepared an application to the legislature school pur])oses. for an amendment to the city charter so as to The fiscal statement made in April professes organize the city into separate school districts. to show the financial condition of Quiney at the The bill for this purpose was passed and ap- expiration of this, its seventh year of existence proved on the 27th of February. It created as a city. A com]>arison of this statement with the "Quinoy School Di.strict," and placed the that of 1841 ami those of subsequent years, entire care and superintendence of the common may show what lu-ogress had been made during school undei the control of the city council, this i)eriod ami how much it had cost to make authorizing also the appointment annually of a this progress. The manner in which these an- school superintendent, thus separating the nual exhibits wei'c made up then and often PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

since, has not always given the clearest idea of Poorhouse 628.74 the situation, since no two aj)pear to have been Roads, etc 2,242.59 gotten up on the same form, each city clerk Sundries 58.09 rendering his statement according to his own fancy or his accountant training, and some- $9,726.69 times, as it was unkindly asserted, willingly The greater portion of this bonded debt or- shaping it so as to bewilder and deceive. While iginated in the street grading and improve- this is not probable and figures are said to ments absolutely necessary at the time. Quincy "never lie" yet there has been sometimes in has been, on account of "the lay of the land," our city history a good deal of difticidty in an expensive city to build up. Chicago. Peoria, finding out the truths that the figures ought td Sin-ingtield and others lie leveled by nature for tell. It was about this time that the city credit the settlers' use. Here, the grading plane had began to be clouded and its vouchei's bear a to be applied to almost every acre of our discount value, a condition that continued for seamed and rugged city site. These improve- the following twenty years, swelling every ex- ments comprehended no very e.xtended space. pense that was incurred just in proportion to Our limits Avere small as compared with what the depreciated value of the vouchers. The they have since become, and the pojiulation cause of this was the large number of vouch- was rather compact. The city boundaries were ers issued and the size of the bonded debt, Vine street on the north. Twelfth on the east about $20,000. and yet seeming then as heavy and Jeiferson on the south, and it was within as the nearly tine hundred times larger burden a small portion of this area that "improve- that has since been borne. ments" work was done. The population was In 1840 the city commenced its chartered ex- mostly confined to an area between Broadway istence with no liabilities other than the old and Ninth and Delaware streets. Less than town of Quincy indebtedness, which became its one-seventh lived north of Broadway, a few heritage, amoiuiting to $1,100.36. less $355.99 houses were scattered between Ninth and cash received from the town treasurer. So it Twelfth, while soutli of State and Delaware started out with this light debt of $711.37. the land was all either under farm cultivation The fiscal statement April l.st, 1817, is as fol- (U' was unenclosed forest. A considerable lows : amount of substantial building improvement LIABILITIES. was done during this year, among the most no- liiUs payable $22,108.99 table of which was the erection of the four Treasury orders 246.92 three-story brick stores on Hampshire street Vouchers 7.311.63 north of the square on the site of the old Land Tax book 123.76 Office liotel. This was the largest and best block of buildings tov stoi'e purposes that had $29,791.30 yet been con.strueted in the city. These were RESOURCES. still standing. They were immediately occu- Less $1,511.43 $29,791.30 pied and drew to Hampshire street the leading trade of the place, where it has largely re- RECEIPTS. mained. Before this time the buildings and Taxes were $ 4,892.66 business houses on the north side of the sqviare Wharfage 1.158.65 were mostly inferior, but the convenience of Licenses 2,229.27 the street, having the longest level of any in Sundries 60.02 the city and the easiest ascent from the river Balance deficiencv 1.386.09 and also the best road out to the country, made it from this time, the principal business thor- 9.726.69 $ oughfare. EXPENSES. <,^uite a number of notable deaths occurred Fire department $ 282.37 during this year, among those who had been Cemeteries 215.69 prominent in the past histtiry of the place. Jo- Salai-ies, etc 1.353.90 seph T. Holmes, who. it may be fairly said, was Volunteers 254.55 the leading business spirit of the town in early Tax titles 353.19 days, died at Griggsville on the 13th of April. Free ferry 350.00 He was a native of ConnecticiTt.came to Quincy School, etc 1.973.23 in 1831. engaged in mercantile and milling pur- Nuisances 407.22 suits, and was from the time of his arrival Interest 1.050.59 leadingly conspicuous in measures of enterprise Cisterns 556.53 and advancement. Afterwards he abandoned PAST AM) I'liKSKXT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

.secular business, studietl JVir tlu- luiuistry juul made to raise a comi)any at t^iiiricy. but it was pastor of the Gi'iggsville Congregiiliiuial did not succeeil. Some twenty enlistments church at the time of his death. were made here, and one of the four nu)unted The Rev. George Moore, who had been lor rifle companies commanded by Capt. W. B. over six years ministering foi- tlu' I'nitarian St a PI), rendezvoused, and was mustered in at Church, died of consumption on tlie 11th of this place, on the 10th of August. ]\rarcli. He was an eastern man of thorough This and the ])receding year were the "ilex- education and scholarly tastes, with a gentle- ican wai- times." and there prevailed here, as ness and refinement of nature and manner that there did everywhere else, the excitement al- made him attractive in person and vocation, ways attendant upon "war's alarms." Though and greatly eoudiieed to the lutine prosperity the Mexican war was but a fire cracker event, of the sniidl society over wiiieh he ]ii-esided. contrasted with our l.ite civil war. and there Tlie JACvei'end S. S. Parr, a somewhat eccen- could have then bi'eii nothing equal to the tric hut eloquent and forcible pulpit declaim- iiifense iiitei-est which absorbed all public er. who had lieen for some yeai's j)reaching at thought and action during this late freshlj' the iild Hai)tist church on Fourth street, in this remembereil struggle; yet a similar sentiment cit\'. where he always drew crowds to his even- to a lighter degree existed, and "war talk" ing sermiius. died in August at Hannibal, was the leading and foremost topic. Papers :\[o. were eagerly scanned for news from ]\lexieo Timothy Kelly, also, the most prominent and Taylor and Scott were constantly follow- i'e])resentative Irishman of early times, was ed and formed the staple subjects of eu(piiry killed at Buena Vista, on the '22nd of Feb- and couvei'sation. ruary. ^I\ieh symjiathy was aroused by his The first constitution of Illinois, formed in death, and public action was taken in regard 1818, at the time of the state's admission, to his memory, and provision for his family. had proved, or was thought to be, after thirty It is a singular fact al)out ('apt. Kelly, as has years' of operation, inadecpuite to the vastly been before mentioned, that, owing probably increased and varied needs of the state. The to the careless manner in which mililai'v rec- real sentiment, however, that induced the call- ords were then kcjit. his name, although his ing of the convention of 1847 to revise the service and deatli in battle are well known, constitution was the pressing need of creating does not appear in the Ad.iutant General's an organic law more stringent, more economic reeor

On the call of the Governor. is.sued May 5th. were : Wm. B. Powers, Wm. Laughlin and for additicuml volunteei's. an attempt was J. Nichols. Messrs. Williams. Powers, Laugh- 112 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY. liu and Nichols were elected. This convention had been chosen by the legislature, during the met in the following June, and after nearly preceding winter, to succeed General Semple, three months of session, framed a constitu- as United States Senator. He resigned the tion to be submitted to a popular vote for seat Avhicli he had held in the lower house ratiiication in March, 1848. Its general fea- of Congress by three successive elections, and tures may be noticed hereafter. The special Wm. A. Richardson was elected by the demo- bearing that its provisions had upon Quincy cratic convention to succeed him. Douglas and Adams comity, was the making of Adams was then the foremost man of his party in the and Pike, a senatorial district, and the final state as he soon after this became equally its settlement of the county division quarrel, by leader in the nation. He was a citizen of prescribing in substance that all coimties not Quincy from 1841 until about 1852, when he yet organized, should be re-attached to the removed to Chicago and was by far the most eoiuities from which they had been taken. noted in his public career of any of the emi- There had been, early in the year, the usual nent men that Quincy has placed in political number of meetings and the average propor- life. Although his state prominence had not tion of excitement over this vexatious old is- been cradled in this section, it was from sue, but the constitutional provision above Quincy, as he expressed it, that he was "first named, quieted it forever. placed upon a national career, where he was At the city election, in April. John Wood, ever after kept." His five years' service, as whig, was re-elected Mayor, over John Abbe, a representative from this district, was ably democrat, and H. T. Ellis, Thomas Redmond, followed by that of Col. Richardson, for the H. L. Simmons (successor to Fred Johnson, next nine years, with a subsequent election in resigned) democrats, and G. B. Dimock. were 1860, and afterward an election to the United elected Aldermen. This gave the control of States Senate to fill out the unexpired period the council to the democrats, but after a pro- of Senator Douglas' term, after the death of longed and somewhat personal contest. H. H. the latter. Snow, whig, was re-chosen clerk. Col. Richardson was at the time of his elec- A native American ticket for the city offices tion in 1847, a resident of Schuyler county, polled about 50 votes. At this same election which he had represented almost continuously an anti-license vote was successful, and also in the legislature, and had just now returned the amendment to the school law. before re- from the ^lexican war with a well earned ferred to. which had been submitted for popu- reputation for bravery and skill. As the suc- lar ratification. cessor and confidential associate of Judge The same rate of a.ssessment as in the pre- Douglas, and from his own inherent force of vious year—i/o of 1 per cent for public pur- character, his position and influence in the poses, and Ys of 1 per cent for schools, was or- national councils was always high. At the dered by the council. Aiignst election, he carried Adams county Mail facilities were now better. Besides the over N. G. Wilcox, the whig candidate, by daily stage mails from the east, and semi- 819 majority. At the same election. P. A. weekly mails to and from the adjoining coun-

St. Loiiis. by steamer. Newspaper enterprise bent : J. C. Bernard, whig, over J. H. Luce, was also on the increase. There were the two democrat. County Clerk, and J. H. Holton. In- standard weeklies, the Herald and "Whig, also dependent. Recorder, over Edward Pearson on the 24th of November, a small daily was and J. D. ]\Iorgan. the whig and democratic issued by Homer Parr, and James Sanderson. nominees. The entire vote of the county was This was the second venture towards the es- about 2.100. In the city, the local whig tablishment of a daily paper, and like its pre- ticket, was successful. decessor of the previous year, it lived not There was but little political feeling mani- long. A German Catholic paper, also, the fested in this election, although, during the "Stern des Westen" (Star of the West) was canvass, the merits of the constitution, which started during the juonth of August. The was to be voted on in the following spring, foundation of the large Catholic Church, the were much discussed. It was coldly received, St. Boniface, was laid on ]May 26th. with im- generally, by the democratic party, and final- pressive ceremonies. ly met with much opposition. Several of its Judge Douglas, who had been a resident of features were greatly distrusted. The elect- Quincy since 1841. when he was appointed as ive judiciary was an experiment about which one of the Judges of the Supreme Court, and many had doubts : the proposed change of the was assigned to duty on the Quincy Circuit, countv court svstem was another innovation PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 113

that iiit't with i|iu'.stioii, and that whiuh lot-ally l.uckctt caused an estrangement, and finally a operated iiikhi it was the re((iiireinent of iiat- i-e-encinnilcr and murder. 'J'hey met in the iirali/.at inn I'm- the fin'ciunci', licfore he could Clay hotel, and .Magnor was stabbed to death. he allowed to vole. The tiial created more interest than any that Until now. nntler the constitution of 1818, ever look place in Quincy. The court house a si.\-nionths' residence in the state was all was crannued. Luckett had wealthy associa- tluil was re(|uire(l to vest one with the riylit tions, anil nothing that money coidd furnish to sutTiaiic. A discussion of this (juestion. was wanting to aid his defense, lirowning brought about, among some parties, an exam- tV: linshnell defendetl him. aided more or less ination of the poll lists, whieli resulted in an by almost the entire bar. The prosecution estimate, not of course accurate, but approxi- was feebly conducted by the district attor- mating thereto, of the prol)able propoi'tion ol' ney, who even left the city while the case w-as the foreign-born 2'<>piilidion of the city which jirogi'essing, and it was indiscreetly handled had. as yet. not been shown in any of the liy Warren, who assisted him. and the result census" taken. From this, taking the names as was Luckett's acfiuittal. The address of they were spelled, ans in Europe. Winter came in early, planing mill which worked up, during the though in a mild form, heavy snows falling year, 550,000 feet of lumber; three distill- late in November, and l.ving on the ground eries, Osboi-ne's. King's and Casey's, manufac- through most of the season. turing about GO barrels per day; one woolen The seasons of 1S47 were marked by the factory, established the year before, and man- same peculiarity that has been observable dur- ufacturing during 1847 about 6,000 yards of ing the last two years (unseasonable seasons flannel Kerseymere: one large tannery; three they might well be called) variable and con- foundries: seven saddleries: twenty shoemaker tradictoi'y. hot when it should be cool, and shops. This, of course, names but a very few cold when warm weather would seem to be of the many industries of the city. Its im- the rule, totally defying the wisdom of the provements had slowly extended, mostly to weather prophets and tasking the brains of the northeast and south. As far south as the "oldest inhabitant'' to remember the Delaware street, it was fairly built up. south "likes of such weather." and along with this of that and State street there were scarcely mutable weatlier. there were noticed changes any buildings. North of Broadway, except among the sjiots on the sun, similar to those immediately along the North side of the street, we have recently seen. Whether the new- was almost no settlement whatever. "sun spots" of 1847 had anything to do with The improved portion of Quincy had not the spotted weather of that year, and whether nnich expanded during the first eight years the new sun specks seen in 1884-85 connect in of the city's existence, and its scant propoi'- any way with the speckled seasons of these tions as it then appeared, contrasted greatly last two ycai's, is a matter for scientific specs with the broad circling attractive area dotted to examine into if it is worth the while, not with handsome homes and alive with populoiis for these sketches to determine : but the facts movement that now gladdens the eye. The exi.st as above stated, and the coincidence is corporate limits continued nearly the same as singular. those that had embraced the village at its city The most sensational even of its character birth, in 1840, with but one change engrafted that had ever occurred here before or since, thereon. Vine. .Teft'erson and Twelfth, then occiu'red this year, and created all of the in- calle(l Wood street, were yet the boundaries. tense local interest that is apt to attend such During this year. 1847. Xevins' Addition com- transa<'tiiins. It was the trial of Thurston J. IH-ising the 120 acres lying between Twelfth, TiUckett. for the murder of Wm. Maguor. The Broadway. Eighteenth and Jersey was at- killing was done in the spring. The trial tached. came off at the October term. The two men This tract of land had been purchased dur- were printers, and more than usually inti- ing the wild speculative times of 1835 and mate. A jealous suspicion on the part of 18:56. l)y a wealthy eastern comi)any for $80.- 114 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

000. $250 per acre, and it now was platted to be found in Quincy any such sum of money into lot.s. 60 in number, averaging two acres to be invested in land for future speculation. to each, and under the oi)eration of a clause Finally, on the suggestion of their agent, in the early city's charter. Avhich prescribed that, if divided into town lots, it might be that when any ''land ad.i'oining the city of sold oft' at such prices as would realize them Quincy shall have been laid oft' into town lots, the return of the original purchase, leaving and duly recorded as required by law, the out profit, interest, taxes, etc., they made and same shall be annexed to and become a part recorded a plat and authorized their agents of Quincy:" this, then open and ixnoccupied to make sales in such proportion as would ground, now its most handsomely improved nearly recover to them the gross amount of section, was, on the recording- of the plat, in tlie i)riucipal of their investment. This called Mai-ch, 1847, added to the city. The next ma- for an average value of $500 to each of terial change in the shape of the city was the 60 lots. The plat was prepared Avithout made in 1857, when, by an amended charter, properly conforming to the lines of the old the northern boundary was moved three- city siu-vey. and this neglect has been a fourths of a mile to Lociist street, the south- source of much subsequent expense and ern half-mile, to Harrison street, and the divid- trouble both to the city and to property own- ing line between Townships Eight and Nine, ers. Some time passed before any sales were with two rods additional taken oft' the west made, and tlien they commenced at very low side of Townshiji Eiglit, so as to include the figures, but such as will strangely contrast whole of Twenty-fourth sti-eet, formed the •with the rates of this time. eastern boundary. The legislative action Lot 1, measuring 5C7 feet, on Broadway, which added to the city about twenty-five and 114 feet on Twelfth, was bought, in 1849, hundred acres of "farm land" was strenu- for .$400. During the present month a portion ously opposed by most of those whose land of this lot, fronting on Broadway, has been was thus captured, and many of whom were sold at the rate of $25.00 per foot; making a made citizens against their wish, but the pro- total estimate value to the lot of over $14,- ject succeeded and became a law. 000. Lot 38, also, 176 feet by 400, reaching Again, what was Avas known as the Insti- from Maine to Hampshire, sold the same year tute, or East Quincy, a tract of about 120 for $475. The purchaser occupied and im- acres boimded by Twenty-fourth, Broadway, proved the lot at once, sold portions of it at Thirtieth, and a line on the south about equi- increasing values from time to time and has distant from Jersey and York extended, by now, within the last few weeks, sold out what a legislative addition to the charter was made he had remaining, being one-sixth of the en- a part of the city. These comprehend the tire lot, for $5,000. The other lots were sold present existing boundaries. The original generally in about the same proportion, gradu- city contained almost exactly 800 acres, 120 ally increa.sing during four or five years ; the more with the Nevins Addition : and the en- whole addition, thus sold, realizing to the ten largement, of 1857 and 1867, have .swelled its stockholders of the company about $40,000, area to somewhat more than thirty-five hun- at ]irices varying from $3.50 to $7.50 per foot. dred acres, pi'ecision being impossible because These figures now seem small, but they are of the irregular outline of the river boundary quite an advance on the first public sale of on the west. Such is the brief statement of lots in Quincy tAventy-five years before, when, our territorial changes and expansion during for instance, the entire front on the south side forty-five years. of Maine street, between Fourth and Fifth, A short sketch of the Nevins Addition, was sold at auction by the county commis- above mentioned, as having been the earliest sioners for seventy-six dollars, or ten and extension, will show more clearly than any three quarter cents per foot. other section the advances that have been Tliis was the first large tract of land belong- made in property values, and is also worthy ing to non-residents that had been oft'ered for of note from some bearing that it has had sale, and it was all bought in by local pur- upon the subsequent shaping of the city. This chasers, in most cases for their own use and tract of land had cost its OAAaiers, as before occupancy. All the land in and ad.iacent to stated, $30,000. For years it remained on the south part of the city, was, and had long their hands, an expense and unsalable. They lieen, owned by John Wood, the Berrians, and often tried to sell it. for less than one-tliird S. B. :\Iunn ; that on the north by Willard of its original cost, but could not. Keyes and three or foiir other resident OAvn- Throughout the eight or ten years of "hard ers, and tlie Droulard quarter, lying imme- times," following after 1837-38. there was not diately east of the "original" toAvn had also PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. "5 been pareelled out to sever-al resident own- on the Berri;in <|uarter, and iiortli of Vine be- ers. The defects in the pint of tlie Nevins tween Ninth and Twelfth, about the same num- addition, were, that it pi'(tvided no cross ber. So great has been the change in a gen- streets running' north and south, and that nei- eration's time. ther Jersey nor Vermont street were aligned in conformity with the same streets as they lay in the city. The ad.jnstment of these er- CHAPTER XXVI. rors had been troublesome and expensive, and that in regard to .Jers(>y street is not yet fully 1848. completed. It was on account of this tronble ".SKIDDV TR.\CT" SOLD. NEW ST.\TE CONSTITU- survey that the now TK).\'. JUDGE PURPLE. FIRST .STEAMBOAT caused by this irregular HULL Bllll/r. TELEGRAPH INTRODUCED. existing requirement was made that all x'li>ls KIR.ST lUmCCTORY. RAIL ROAD MEETING. H.ViaJOIl I.MPROVED. FIRE DEPARTMENT. of additions to the city shall be snbmitted to WELLS. BULL. STONE. MORG.VN AND GREEN before being placed "RUN WITH THE M.\CHINP:." FISCAL FREE the council for approval SOIL PAPER. THE TRIBUNE, ST.\RTED. W. A. on record. RICHARDSON ELECTED TO CONGRESS. PRES- IDENTIAL ELECTION. FIRST FIREMAN PA- .Maine street, east of 'rwcinii. had been de- RADE. time before; not running on a di- clared some Another sale of a large tract of land occur- rect line east, but slightly detiectiug about half red during this year, the history of which bet- its width so as to clear the north line of own ter indicates the variations of value in real es- the old cemetery at Twenty-foui'th street. tate, such as have frequently been mentioned The alternate street plan, or double block in these sketches, than does that of any other distance between the streets which run north lands now embraced within the limits of the south, was thus brought about. It was and city. Its transfers were few until the time evident that sooner or later some such streets when live or six j^ears later than this (1848) would have to be made, and the owner of the it became a platted addition to (Juiney. This property at the corner of ]\Iaine and Four- is the 160 acres in the northeastei'ii section of teenth, seeing tliat if they were opened con- Quincy. long known as the "Skiddy quarter," secutively, equidistant about 400 feet, as in now iloulton's Addition. I have in my pos- the city west of Twelfth, his own ground session and before me the original patent for would be cut in an undesirable shape. So, this quarter section (160 acres), granted by passing Thirteenth, he secured the laying by the Ignited States in 1818, to Paul Bernard, out of Fourteenth from Broadway to Jersey, for services as a soldier in the war of 1812. alongside of his own property, and similar in- On the back of this parchment is the convey- terests a few years later opened Sixteenth. ance made by Bernard of this tract during the The iloulton quarter was platted in the same same year to John R. Skiddy, for the sum of manner, and the streets north and south of fifty-three dollars. The Skiddys kept the land these additions have of necessity been made until 1848 when they sold it for .$6,000. It to conform. Foi' the uses that are now made was next platted in 1854 into eighty lots, aver- of the ground thus laid out, this system of aging about two acres each, and sold at pub- double blocks east and west is not incon- lic auction fen- aljont $40,000. .$250 per acre. venient, and in some respects is preferable, al- What its present value is or would be without though not advisable for the older and more the improvenuMits on it, any one may make his sections of the city. business own estimate. One can now hardly realize that at the time The new State Constitution, framed by the of which we write, 1847, there were between convention which met at Springfield the sum- Twelfth and Twenty-fourth streets, but nine mer of 1847, was submitted to a popular vote buildings : the residences of ^Ir. Moore and for ratification or rejection, on the 6th of ^Ir. Sherman, and their land otiiee near the ]\Iarch. There was a good deal of uncertainty corner of Chestiuit and Twenty-fourth: the attending the result. Its merits had been Morton cottage, now Buckley's, and the ''Call thoroughly canvassed and discussed during and See" house, now White's, on Broadway, the preceding six months, and a strong oppo- the Kingman house and Cooley's cottage, op- sition had been developed in some sections of posite, at the corner of ilaine and Twelfth, and the state. This opposition generally came another near the corner of Jefi'erson and fi'om the democratic press, but was not suffi- Twelfth. East of Twenty-fourth, at the In- cient to create a partisan issue. The delegates stitute, there were a dozen oi- more dwellings. from Adams County to the convention from South of Jersey and between Ninth and both political parties stood by their action Twelfth, there were oidy the houses of John there and were sustained. The leading pe- Wood and Win. (icrrv. and a couple of cabins culiar feature of the constitution was its ii6 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. economic character, and the four points chiefly years. The democrats carried the city, elec- in discussion were the reduced rate of sal- ing Amos Green and H. L. Simmons, aldermen aries ; the elective judiciary ; the clause pro- in the First and Second wards, and the whigs hibiting the advent to the state of free ne- securing George Bond, in the Third. With groes, and the proposed tax of two mills on this complete control, the entire city organiza- the dollar to be solely applied towards the re- tion was made democratic. At this time, un- duction of the public debt. These last two der the first charter, only the mayor, aldermen propositions were voted upon separately. and city marshal were elected by the people, Strangely enough the heaviest opposition the other officers being chosen by the council. made, was to the two mill tax, really the best W. H. Benneson was made city clerk, dis- feature in the entire instrument. In Adams placing that veteran official. Judge Snow, and county, out of a total vote of 2,241, the ma- I. N. Grover, selected as superintendent of pub- jority for the constitution proper was 923, for lic schools. To his intelligent interest and ac- the negro clause 571, and for the two mill tax tion during this early period of its history, the 53. The vote was proportionally thus through- cdiu'ational system of the city is greatly in-

out the state ; the constitution securing a ma- debted. jority of 44,028; the negro exclusion clause A special census ordered by the city coun- 28,182, and the two mill tax the much reduced cil, in connection with the public school mat- majority of 10,431. Only one county (the ad- ters, and very carefulh' taken by I. O. Wood- joining county of Brown) cast a majority vote ruff, gave a total population on the 16th of against it. :\Iay, 'of 5,896 ; white males, 2,953, white fe- The new constitution having changed the ju- males, 2.841 ; blacks, males, 52, females, 49. dicial system of the state by the creation of a The winter of '47-48 was long, but mild. A separate supreme court in place of the court great deal of snow fell early, often and late, composed of the several circuit judges, and affording almost uninterrupted good sleighing prescribing that these officials would be throughout the winter. There was as late as chosen by a popular election, instead of ap- March 6th, the day of the election on the new pointed by the governor and senator, as here- constitution, a snow storm of unusual severity. tofore, elections therefor were held on the The first steamboat hull constructed in first Monday in September. Judge Purple, Quincy was during this year. It was set up who had most acceptably presided in the cir at the foot of Delaware street, and was launch- cuit court of this county, declined to continue ed on the 18th of ]\Iarch. The advantages of in this position, assigning as the reason, that Quincy, as a steamboat building point, with he could not live on the $1,000 fixed by the the convenient harbor of its "bay," had been constitution, as the salary for the circuit in earlier times much dwelt upon, and hence judges. His retirement from the bench was this launch was quite an affair and attracted much regretted. He had earned distinction of a large concourse of people. The hull was being the most able and satisfactory judge in successfully set afloat, and towed down to St. the line of capable jurists who had hitherto Louis, to be completed and receive its ma- adorned the Adams county bench. chinery. It had been claimed and believed by many Telegraphic comnuniieation with the outside that the judicial elections would not become world was established in the summer of this political, hut they did at once. Wni. A. year. It had been nnich delayed by a con- Minshall, whig, of Schuyler county, and Wm. troversy between the O'Rielly, and the Ken- R. Archer, democrat, of Pike, became candi- dall & Smith interests, which had extended dates for the place. Minshall was successful, all over the west. Quincy was called upon for although beaten in Adams county by about the a subscription of .$10,000. At a public meet- party majority, 223 votes. He presided over ing held on the 26th of February, $7,200 was this circuit until 1851, when a new circuit was subscribed. Soon after the full amount was formed consisting of Adams, Hancock, Hender- made up. (jn the 8th of July the Avires were son and fiercer counties. At this same elec- brought into Quincy. The first formal mes- tion R. S. Blackwell was elected prosecuting sage transmitted was from Sylve.ster Emmons, attorney over Elliott, Avho had formerly filled at Beardstown, to the Quincy Whig, to Avhich the office, and S. H. Treat was chosen without a reply was sent, as the Whig mentioned it, opposition to the supreme judgeship from this "Quick as lightning." On the 12th, the line district. was completed from Beardstown to Spring- At the city election, April 17th, John Abbe, field, making a connection Avith St. Louis. democrat, was elected mayor by a vote of 545 The Quincy Library. noAv in the seventh to 506, over John Wood, whig, who had held year of its existence, reported having on its the office successively through the past four shelves thirteen hundred vohimes, and also the PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 117 possession of a vahiiihle philosophical aj)- ilitioned on the citizens subscribing an equal paratus. amount. The apin-o]ii'iation stood, but the in- The first directory" of the city no\v made dividual subscriptions were laggard. At their its appearance. It was a crude afVair, as coti- May meeting the council, acceding to the re- trasted with those of later days, but answered ([uest of the city council of Alton, passed reso- the wants of the time. It was gotten up by tions of remonstrance against the action of a Dr. Ware, also a .stranger in the city. He the city of St. Louis in the building of a dyke was an eccentric man. lie projected about from Bloody Island to the Illinois shore, thus this time, what he called a "^lutual Political forcintr fhe Mississipiii into the narrow channel •lotii'iial.'" It was to be a novelty in tiiis way. that it now has between this island and the One-half was to be edited by a Whig, and the Jlissouri .shore. This was the commencement other by a Democrat, so that the pai'ties could of a controversy between Illinois and Missouri fight their battles on the one field. The proj- interests, which lasted, and controlled our leg- ect died aliout the time that it was born. islature for the following fifteen years. The There had before this, been two attempts at issue was, that all public improvements in Il- making up a directory, but they were trifling, linois .should be for the benefit solely of points and this one of Ware's may l)e fairly called the in Illinois, and not for places in either of the first complete one. siicli as it was. states on our eastern or western boundary. Quincy had as yet. uo railroad facilities, or That is all forgotten now. "railroad felicities," as it was ignorantly but The fire department, which Quincy has al- felicitionsly expressed by a blundering member ways had reason to pride itself on, took its best of the Legislature, who did not realize his own start this year. Its inception was in 1838 apt perversion of language when he thus styled when the town bought four ladders, twelve them. The only railroad in actual operation buckets and six firehooks, which led at once in the state at this time was that completed to the formation of a hook and ladder com- portion of the Northern Cross Road (now the pany. This was followed in 1839 by the pur- Wabash) between Springfield and Naples, chase of a fire engine at a cost of $1,125, and which was all that had cropped out from the the organization of Fire company No. 1. It great Internal Improvement system of 1836. would be amusing now to read the list of the This magnificent plan which was to have now "grave and revered seniors," Wells, spider-webbed all Illinois -with iron, and upon Bull, Stone, ]\Iorgan, Green and others, the which millions of money had been -wasted, was young bucks of that time who "ran with the now dead, beyond all resurrection, and with machine." Another engine, a second-hand one it had sunk the credit of the state, but a fever- from St. Louis, the "Marion," was purchased ish feeling was everywhere prevalent that the by the city for the sum of $600, a company, No. interior resources of the state outside the range 2, formed of siinilar men to those above named of lake and river navigation should be reached and from the emulation that sprang at once after and developed. Railroad meetings came the high efficiency and repute which this had been held here in December, 1847, and in department of the city institutions has always January and later in the year 1848. These maintained. movements culminated soon after in the build- The annual fiscal statement for the year end- ings of the C. B. & Q., and afterward, the Wa- ing April. 1848, exhibited a much larger reve- bash to Quincy and the commencement of our nue than that of any of the preceding eight great railroad bond indebtedness. The state years, and also a cori'esjionding increase of ex- sold its unfinished railroads; and that portion ])enditure. The total expense record of the of the "Northern Cross" west of the Illinois city was $15,794.05, and as showing how and river, upon which some hundreds of thousands where the money went, among the larger items of dollars had been expended, was purchased of account were for salaries, $1,547.86 ; streets, by parties in Adams and Brown coTinties for $2,600: schools, $1,841.88: poorhouse and pau- $8,000. The company commenced work, but pers. $1,142.46: public landing, $635.65; inter- not very successfully, and finally merged their est on debt. $1,498.90; fire department, $258.88. ownership and interests with the city by There was received from taxes. $6.271 ; wharf- whose large subscription maiidy the roads age. $1,147.31: licenses, $2.6.56.97. were constructed. The bonded debt at this time was compara- The city council with an eye, that it has al- tively small and the interest was regularly ways had, sometimes with more zeal than met. The credit of the city was good, vouch- judgment, towards advancing the material gen- ers generally passed at a little less than face eral prosperity of the city, appropriated $500 value, and it was not until some years later towards the improvement of the harbor con- that thev declined to the ruinous rate of dis- ii8 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. count under which they weakened for twenty Sutphin was chosen state senator from Adams Archibald Williams five years or more. It was a costly after-page in and Pike, beating more in Pike. There the city history, when for many years, its war- votes in Adams and much over the election of rants and vouchers bore a depreciated value of was a good deal of interest It the first from thirty to forty percent, causing an equiv- circuit clerk and recorder. was elective. Abraham alent addition to the cost of every public im- time this office had become provement or expenditure and adding just so Jonas was the whig candidate and Peter Lott, were in the much more to the increasing pecuniary bur- I. O. W^oodrufic and C. M. Woods be- den. The usual tax levy was ordered of 1 2 of field as democratic candidates. The day latter two withdrew in one per cent for general and ^s of one per cent fore the election the thus successful over for school purposes. The schools were now in favor of Lott. who was majority. a prosperous and improving condition. An Jonas by 323 attempt was made by the colored citizens to The pre.sidential election in 1848 was obtain a separate public school. Several meet- marked by the earnestness and excitement ings were held and the council was petitioned wliich always attends these contests, but it in^that behalf, but the matter was deferred possessed a peculiar interest from the presence of a third factor in the field. This was the and nothing came of it. The past experiments of the city in running free soil party, with ^Martin Van Buren and. the ferry had never given satisfaction and it Charles Francis Adams as its candidates for was now licensed to the charter owners for the Presidency and Vice Presidencj*. This $61 per month. movement operated powerfully in the north- The winter business of 1S47-1S figured up eastern states and to a lighter degree in the it sufficiently into of the fairly, the price of hogs ran from $1.75 to west, but cut both two great parties to shadow the result $2.15, and 19,906 were reported as packed, the everywhere largest muuber yet known. Wheat through with uncertainty. The close completeness of the season averaged about 75 cents. The mills this canvass and the vote drawn out. is shown reported in the fall about 3,000 bushels ground by the fact that at the state election in August daily. Quite a loss to the place occurred on the highest total vote cast in Adams county the ISth of September in the destruction by (now consolidated by rei;nion with Marquette)

3,329 ; while three months later in No- fire of Miller's woolen factory, which had been was well operated for the past two years. A se- vember, at the presidential election, these fig- vere toraado struck the city on the "2 1st of ures rose to 4.488. out of which Cass, the demo- June, destroying several buildings and doing a cratic n(uninee, received 203 more than Ta^'lor, good deal of general damage. the whig candidate. This majority was all Another weekly newspaper made its appear- made in the citj', the county vote outside of ance on the 13th of September. It was called Quiney being an exact tie between the two. the Quiney Tribune and Free Soil Banner, Van Buren 's vote was 261. The election lay edited by an association of gentlemen. It was undecided for several days, and it was not until late on the night of Friday after the as its name indicated, an anti-slavery exten- day of sion or ''Wilmot proviso" journal and sup- election, that the telegraph brought the re- ported the Van Buren and Adams electoral turns from three southern states assiiring the victory to tickets. It was spicily conducted during the the whigs. campaign, but the publication ceased in the The city was made lively at once, but the following year. On the first of December was result had been so long in doubt and each side issued the Western Law Journal, edited by was so hopeful that for awhile both parties Charles Gilman, reporter for the Illinois Su- were on the hurrah, and it took some time for tliem to beaten ones to go preme Court. It was the first legal journal of unmix and the to bed again. odd little incident oc- its kind in the state and continued in monthly An publication until the death of its editor a year curred in connection with this election. It or two later. was the first election by ballot that had been At the August election, the last which was held in the state, and the writer, with another, held in that month, the new constitution hav- started out the day before to distribute the ing changed the time to November, Wm. A. printed whig tickets at several precincts in the Eichardson was re-elected to congress without county, and voted at one of them on the day opposition, and the democrats carried the following. It happened that there were no county by majorities varying from 200 to 350. Van Buren tickets there, and several sturdy looked 0. C. Skinner, J. Marritt and Jonathan Dear- democrats were present who had long born were elected to the house over B. D. Stev- to IMr. Van Buren as their political leader, and for him. one knew enson, J. Irwin and Hans Patten, the district were desirous of voting No embracing Adams and Brown counties: H. L. the names of the free soil electors, and we PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 119 were called upon, but could only remembei" the The cause of most of the discordance be- two loading names. These we gave, and a tween the city and county was an article in the ticket was written out, headed with Van Bu- first charter, passed by the Legislature, in ren's nanu' and these two electors only, which 1840, exempting "the inhabitants of the city of received some ten or fifteen votes. These were Quincy ***** from any tax for coun- counted and canvassed, no exception being ty puri)oses. excei)t for the completion of the taken, a procedure that would not go tlirough county .jail, now being erected in said city." anywhere nowadays, unless in Chicago. This i)uerih> jjrovision (juietly interpolated into The first fireman's parade, of which the city the charter with tiie thought perhaps that has since had so many, came off on the 4th of something might t)e gained thereby, attracted July. It was a successful event. The two but little attention at first, but soon after (^uiiicy companies and a visiting company proved to be a ' {'andorii's box" of evil and from St. Ijouis formed the procession and par- dissension. It was luuiecessary. as subsequent ticipated in the contests. A pleasant episode history has shown, but it long served as a occurred on the 26th of October, on the occa- soiu-i'c from which prejudice, jealousy, per- sion of the retirement of Judge Piu'ple from sonal interests, and political demagoguery the bench where he had so popularly presided could always make nuiterial for discord and for several years. It was the presentation of strife. This is to a great degree now allayed, an address and resolution of regret to which but it was throughout the lifetime of a genera- the Judge feelingly responded, which was fol- tion and a half an ever festering sore. lowed by a farewell bancjuet given by the A public i-eading room, which had been members of the bar. started late in the fall preceding, on quite an extensive scale, flourished well through the early part of this year. Its rooms were on Fourth sti'eet. between Maine and Jersey, and CHAPTER XXVII. it announced as having on its files over 60 news|);ipers. It was popularly patronized for 1849. a brief time, but, like .several other institutions TAXATION OP CITY PROPERTY FOR COUNTY PURPOSES. PUBLIC READING ROOM. PE- of the same kind in the past, its life was brief, M.4LE SEMINARY' EST.\BLISHED ON MAINE scarcely reaching into the second year. STREET. FIN.\NCIAL. CHOLERA. CALIFOR- NIA EMIGRATION. J. M. HOLMES. THESPIAN Educational interests were roused by the SOCIETY. PICKETT, THE F.\MOUS CONFED- ERATE GENERAL, AN AMATEUR ACTOR. POP- comiuu- to the city of ^liss Catherine Beecher, ULAR LECTURES. LIBRAKY. SLANDER SUIT OF BROOKS AND BARTLETT. RAILROADS of the well-known Beecher family, who had de- AGAIN. CHANGE IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT. voted herself to the establishment of female The vexed matter of the taxation of city schools. Under the stiuuilus of ]\Iiss Beecher's property for county purposes became a matter prestige and presence much intei-est was of consideration and conference lietween com- awakened and at a public meeting on May 31 mittees of the city council and the county com- the project was set on foot to establish a first- missioners, but there was no i-esult reached. class female seminary, many of the leading At the November election the question of people giving favor to the enterprise. It con- adopting township organization for the county templated an expenditure of $10,000 in ground, was submitted and carried by a vote of 1754 buildings, etc. The school was located on to 453, every precinct in the county voting for ]Maine, near the corner of Sixth street, and the nu^asure except Quincy. where the vote connnenced with high expectations. It was stood 228 for to 276 against, the Quincy vote superior to any that had preceded it. but it being largely influenced by the belief of many fiiuilly went the way of the others, after a that if the citj^ became a township it wotdd in- duration measured nuu'e by months than by jure its chances of remaining as the county years. seat. This was unfortunate. Heretofore the The annual fiscal statement for the year end- estrangement between city and county had ing April 1, 1849, gave a clearer idea in its de- been caused by the county seat (piarrel. Now, tail and sununary of the fiiuincial condition of and for nearly forty years after, there was the city, than had been usually made in these added to this the issue of unequal taxation. jieriodical exhibits. From that it appears that That the Quincy people had some foundation the receipts into the treasury, from all sources for their fears is shown by the fact that in De- had been, during the year,' $12,718.92; while cember an effort was made to re-open the old the expenditures during the same period were county seat matter through an application to $12,217.88. The liabilities of the city were the county court to have the ease reinstated. placed at $35,834.65, a large portion of which It did not. however, prevail. was the outstanding vouchers. The debt of —:

I20 PAST AXD PRESENT OF ADA3IS COUNTY. the eity, as summarized in this statement, was were succeeded respectively by H. V. Sullivan Treasury orders. ^24:6.1>2: bills payable. 1^5.- and Henry Asbtury. 056.19: vouchers in eireidatiou. ^1,927.39; to- The city debt question occupied the atten- tal. ^7.230.-30. It was an importanr period in tion of the coimcU throughout the first six the liuaui'ial reoonl of the city, for the reason months of their sessions. At the first meeting that during this year there eame the first large on May 1st the subject came up and a resolu- demand for the pajTuent of the outstanding tion passed authorizing a loan of #20.000 and and matured eity bonds, which now had to be the issuing of an equal amount of bonds bear- paid or provided for in some way. and with ing six per cent interest. Some irregidarities this eame also as the necessiiry consequence in the early proceedings, the death of the Quiney"s tirst exj»erimeut in "" refunding."" mayor and other causes, delayed the consiun- This bei'ame now a necessitj- and it was at- mation of this project, although it was con- tended to later in the year, as will be told in stantly before the cotmeil until October 26. its time and place, but it struck at a time when when the order passed tipon which the transac- the city credit was at a very low ebb. and. of tion was completed, and twenty '" Special Loan course, we had to pay for it. The eiu-rent ex- Bonds'" of #1.000 each, drawing 6 per cent in- penses of the past year were not large. The terest, were issued and immediately ptirchased street appropriations were very small com- by Page & Bacon, of St. Louis, for eighty cents pared with those of earlier years, being but on the dollar, the coiuieil ratifying the sale- ^.TllJlo; the ferry, always an annoyance and At this time (October' Mayor Holmes officially expense, had cvvst ^1,->.32.S6: and the tire de- published the entire corporation debt as partment had needed #1.124.21. To these, add amoimting to #2S.642.03. drawing six per cent the interest aecoimt of *lj!93.12, and all the interest, that #15.005.70 was now due. and that chief items over #1,000.00 of expenditure are the city revenue was fl3,5. In this state- reoited. Yet there were many minor expenses ment he did not mention the property owned which swelled the total of expenditure to an by the city, which would have fairly footed up equalitj- with the reeeipts, leaving nothing to an amount much over its indebtedness. The wherewith to meet the accruing debt. city was then unquestionably solvent. Propo- ilr. Conyersv wLo was chosen mayor now for sitions looking to economy and limitation of the third time, having been elected in 1S42 and expenditures were made and to some extent li^3 and a candidate for the same in 1544. He carried out. The salary of the mayor and of was a man of much perst>nal popularity and the city clerk was fixed at #2-50 each, and like usefulness as a public citizen. Beside the serv- measures taken towards curtailment. This ice he had rendered the city as mayor, he had was an expensive year on account of the chol- formerly been one of the town trustees, and era which raged so fatally through the hot had also held other positions of public trust- months- and the consequent depresion of busi- It was his fate to die of cholera three months ness and other causes. after his election, honored and lamented. He This was a gloomy and depressed period for was the tirst mayor who died in office. There Quincy. as it was for nearly every other place has been but one like occurrence since. W. T. in the west. Pestilenc-e placed its paralyzing Kogers died in ISSO. near the close of his sec- hand on all interests with a grasp and weight ond term. The office vacated by the death of that can only be realized by those who have Mayor Conyers was filled at a special election, felt its dark experience. The conditions of on August 20- when Samuel Holmes was sixteen years before were repeated, when, pre- chosen, ilr- Holmes had just been removed ceded by two sickly seasons of fever, the Asiatic ' from the pvvsition of re, -* f the public land choler; — :=. ted. within one week, the en- office which he had a fille>il. He wns tire r - of the little village, then eon-

• ' an enterprising and _ . an ta' _ -.vs^en four and five hrLEidred pet:.ple. - extreme partisan. N^ _ - r to il ^ '?arly seTtlers still vivi.lly retained his election. an ap; - -z of the sad scenes The change of adminfatration by the elec- throuii.- :_;. ^::ie during that brief tion of Taylor as President in 1S4S, made the visitation of this desolating scourge. The '" usual offi :i ges here, whigs easily ad- smallpox, a more odious pest than the choleira, jtisting t - - to the seats that had been had in the winter and early ^ring prevailed

- for vear^ - ^ Abraham to such an extent as to arouse pubKe alarm and Jonas be - - :: Dr. S. "W. to call for the preventive aeti-:'!! of the author- ~ Kogers, Arehi'oald "^•" ~ < y- ::-ted ities, in the preseribiE _ Ination. Fnited States District -.:: -ry i;r iHmois- is^-ilation of the sick. e>' - ^ — : house, Dr. Hiram Kogers and Samuel Hohnes, Re- etc. Its ravages had nearly ceased, when the ceiver and Register of the public land office. more fearful foe appeared, not unexpectedly. ,:

I'AS'I' A\n PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 121

'Flic iiiii'crtaiiil ii's llijil s\iiT()un(lccl its .st(.'altli>' Beside its free ravage among the inimigrauts coining -^ave it '.aicloii by its cliiei agent it found a field among the families which, be- Fi-iglit.) a tjreatly iiifreased fatality. <-ausc of the uinisually high water, were driven

Dui'inu- the ])r('ci'(lin;h the seaboartl and lake eities and early crowded themselves together in temporary in the spring developed itself in the Slissis- homes. Therein was a feast for the pest. In sijtpi Valley, cominfr u])on Qnincy like a liglit- one house, thus occupied, on \'oi-mont street, ning stroke. On Saturday. .March 17th. tive eiiiht died within three days. In a (ierman i-ases were I'epoi'ted. all oT wiiich ])riivcd fatal family, on the corner of Jefferson atid Seventh, (iiiring the niirht and Sunday. 'I'wn nf them ciuisisting of eight persons, all died save one, were foui- miles north in the country, at Mil- an infant. It destroyed entire families. The ler's oi' Leonartl's .Mill. The other three were wife of a well-known ]Magistrate. I'rentiss, was in the south part of tlu' city. Only one more taken by it and died on Jlonday. On Thurs- death occurred diu'ing this month. ;ind none in day the grave was opened for the husband. .\pril. thus giving ho])e that the lilast had Dr. Stahl, the earliest German physician, who passed by, but with a like suddenm^ss it reap- had more to do with the disease than any other, peared on the 13th of jMay, when tive deaths lost his wife and child almost at the .same time. wore reported, and before tiie end of the Dr. Barlow rode out to vi.sit a patient, a mile montli seven additional fatal eases occurred east of the city, was there eauglit by the chol- \-et on the 1st of June and for the following era and tlied, and in a week his wife followed ten days there were none. l-?nt. with a dead- him. The Mayor of the city, Enoch Conyers, a lier stroke it returned for the third time, on man of rather unu.sual physical health and reg- the 11th of June, and from that time continued ularity of life, was suddenly cut down (ui the to increase in the numbei' of cases and malig- 21st of July, liusk, a i)rominent Odd Fellow, nancy, up to tlie 4th week in July, when it died, "of cholci-a," and was buried by his commenced abating. Altont the first week in lodge on the 2:ird. Charles (iilman, a i)ronii- September it finally disappeared. nent lawyer, reporter for the Supreme Court, How it affected public feeling and I)usiness attended this funeral, oiifieiated, and in the is expre.s.sed by tlie Whig, whieh, in its issue of morning he was dead. No appreciation of the July 10th, says: "The sicknes.s last week, and condition can be derived from description, nor the increased nunJjer of deaths, seems to have can any words [)icture the general despondence spi'ead a gloom over the city, visible in the of feeling. The morning enquiry was: "Who counteiumces of all. It is indeed a trying time is dead ?" in the hi.story of Quincy. All bu.siness in a Singularly enough, during all this time, measure is suspended. Our country friends while twice the epidemic had apparently left seem to have deserted us. but few visit the the city, it continuously infected the steam- city, and those only who are com()elled to do boats plying the river. In early June, at a so, to provide tlie necessaries foi' the harvest. time when there were no cases in tlie city, a Travel, to a great extent, on tlu> river, is sus- steamer—the I'ncle Toby—passed up the river, Iiended for the present, and the packets now landed here with three dead bodies on board plying between this city and St. Louis are and before it reached Rock Island there were probably not paj'ing expenses. How long this twenty-four more added to the death li.st. state of gloom and despoiulency is tct last, the Public meetings were held to demand more (ireat Disposer of events only knows." comi)lete .sanitary measures, and the council Two hiuidred and thirty-six deaths from ordci'cd the examination of all strangers com- cholera were officially rc])oi'ted as late as the ing into the city, appointed inspectors of latter part of August, when the disease had he;dth for each ward, made free appropriations, nearly I'un its course, but this record is de- established a pest house, etc., but the disease fective, since many burials Avere unreported. had its own way, and it was proven that no The distinction between deaths from "chol- measures can evei- drive away this fell de- era" and "other causes" was for reasons that sti'oyei- when ])reventive precautions have been will be tuiderstood, usually made to disci'edit negliH'ted. the extent of the epidemic so as to allay appre- It is a curicuis fact connected with the chol- lu'nsion. An addition of at least oiu; hundred era record of Qnincy, a fact that perhaps may to the above figures would be not far from be worth scientific investigation, that on its correct. Tlie heaviest mortality was in the last first and second brief visits the victims were week in July, when 44 deaths were reported, almost wholly strangers. Five of the six who the total number reported for this month be- died hei-e in March and nine out of the twelve ing 142, and the most deaths on any one day i-ei)orted in May, were non-residents or new- being 15 on the 29th. comers, but on the third appearance in June, it "

122 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY.

struck equally at all classes of the coinmuuitj-, Every hamlet and nearly every home sent although its ravages were more general among forth its wanderer, and with the earliest open- the Gernum citizens. It then seemed to have ing of spring the green prairies were whitened thoroughly planted itself and pervaded the by the long caravans of Avagons carrying with place so that neither vigorous health, regular- them hard.v and adA'enturous gold seekers. ity of life, careful precaution and avoidance California was the common topic of thought of conditions which were supposed to invite and talk. The excitement of this unprece- the epidemic, were safeguards from attack. dented gold fever Avas uniA-ersal, infecting all When it reappeared during the two following ages, classes and conditions and reaching into years of 1850 and 1851, though with far less eA'ery avenue and recess of society, enlisting, fatal effect, the cases were isolated and in all not only the adventurers Avith nothing to lose, ranks of society. This peculiarity led to the but also, making men avIio had secured perma- prediction, favored by some very high medical nent prospects and po.sition, throAV aside busi- authority, that the cholera had or would be- ness and profession, and for the time being come a permanent disease of the Mississii^pi abandon home attachments and duties, at the valley, as much so as it is reckoned to be in alluring beck of the golden Avand. the valley of the Ganges, a prophecy which was The first to start from Quiucy was a party of dissipated by after experiences, and now is no nineteen, made \\p mostly of well-known citi- longer regarded. Fright was the plague's best zens, AA^io left on the l.st of February, going by ally, as it was in 1832. the sea route and across the Panama isthmus, It is said that a prominent lawyer, who was some tAvo months before the land emigration afterward a supreme .judge and governor of across the plains began. The nineteen Avant

the state, hearing, while at breakfast, that the Coureurs Avere : John Wood, D. C. Wood, "cholera had come," gathered his family and John Wood. Jr., Dr. S. W. Rogers, George Rog- what of furniture he could hastily pack, and ers. I. H. Miller, D. M. Jourdan, Aar-on Nash, hurried away as fast as horseflesh could draw W. B. Matlock, David Wood, John MeClintock, him, leaving his house open and the breakfast John Mikesell, (ieorge Burns. J. Dorman, J. J. dishes still on the table. In many cases people Kendrick, 0. if. Sheldon. C. G. Amnion and fled in almost equal haste at this time, and it Charles BroAvn. These familiar names ai"e not infref|uently hajipened that they took the given, as the.A' illustrate the A^aried character disease Avith them. The spread of the epidemic of these emigrators, some almost boys and led, was, however, slight in the adjacent portions or rather headed, as they were, by tAVO of the of' the county. A'eteran pioneers of the place. John Wood, its oldest settler, and Rogers, its oldest physician, Avho had both groAvn gray in Quincy, Avould CALIFORNIA EMIGRATION. seem to have been among tlie last to thus .shake off the settled comforts of home, and assured California emigration was tlie great all ab- position. Avon by so much of past toil, to, once sorbing event of this year. The gold discov- more, in after-meridian age, venture upon a eries on the Pacific coats in the preceding year Avandering more wild than that of their early aroused and fostered a fever of excitement da.vs. But as an experienced "Sucker" dame and restlessness such as the country had never pithil.A' exjiressed it, "They've tnk the fever before known and can never know again ; irre- like onto the boys and the old uns allers catch sistible in its spread and permeating every it the Avust. class and condition of society. Though cupid- A special interest attached to this party as ity and gold getting was the primal incentive, being the earliest to depart; an interest height- and the basis of this great movement, yet the ened by the rumor of their shipAvreck in the activity of almost every other restless passion Mexican giilf, and their perilous adventures be- gave to it an added stimulus. Curiosity, the fore they reached the Golden Gate, and be- spii-it of adventure, love of novelty, the con- cause in their letters home, came their first per- tagion of that feeling which makes men rush sonal reports of experiences in California. All in wherever others are. so started a swarm of but three of this party retiirned Avithin the human wanderers, such as on this continent next tAVO years. will never again be witnessed. Flowing from By far the greater portion, nearly all, in- every section of the land, the imited adven- deed, of the " Californians," as they were turesomeness of the east, south and north called, took the roiite across the plains. Their poured itself in an increasing stream, across outfit and appearance Avas thus described by the great grass plains, and through the lone a local .journal at the time "being usually com- gorges of the rough rock mountains on the posed of a train of half a dozen or more wag- pathway to the promised land of gold. ons Avith three or four persons to a Avagon. PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 123

S(>\i'r:il (if llir wngons wlti' drawn by four ling among the politicians over this coincident iiiuk's. thiiugli the majority of them were ilate of improvement and prosperity. It (hiiwii by three or four yoke of oxeu. All of opened booming high, and the great flood con- them were fitted out in a sul)staiitial manner, tinued until late in the summer, giving a good with every neeessary required for the trip, aud boating stage of water until nearly the close take the men as a body, they are all of the go- of the year. ahead class, and Avill go thro' or 'break a Old steaniboatmen .state that never in their Irace." as the saying is." recollection had the Mississippi opened at such C^nite a nnmber of those wlio left, with tliis a high stage of water, and at the same time so complete equipment for the jom-ney, met with full of running ice. Owing to the long con- misfortune by the way. from wagons l)real\ing tinued overflow of the lianks. the feri-yboat down, eattle dying, etc., and finally reached was compelled to make its landing across the California, some on foot and some, a little bet- river at LaGrange, and for many weeks was ter off, riding an ox or mule. How many -went kept running night ami day to that point, con- from here and about here, cannot be told, but veying the iiiuidreds of California teams that till' number was large. Ovei' "21)') were I'eported went from oi- passed through Quincy on their as liaving gone from Quincy. which is none too westward joui'iiey. high a lignre. From the .Mill creek section a The running out of the ice with such an un- party of "26 formed a train; about 40 went usual "full banked" river was a peculiar and from the Lima neighborhood aud from all sec- attractive sight, such as is not often seen, and tions around there was the same proportionate brought with it two curious accidents. The nundjer. Among these, both from the city and steamer American Eagle, a Quincy boat, since county, were many people of i)rominence. it was owned and eonnnanded by Louis Cosson, Singly and in small parties the greater portion an old-time resident, had. with two or three of them gradually returned, and but a few other boats, just arrived from St. Jjouis and lay adoi)ted California as a permanent home. at the landing with "steam down." One of Of those publicly known here who remained the other boats ran up the river, struck into were D. G. Whitney, who for many years had the great gorge of ice wiiich fettered the been the leading merchant of Quincy; Dr. Wm. stream about four miles above, and having II. Taylor, one of the earliest and most suc- l)i-oken it, turned about and came back post the avenging ice, and cessful i)hysieians ; John L. Cochrane, a prom- haste, followed by inent teacher and former city clerk and sur- rounded up into the bay for safety. The move- vey(jr, and others who found fortune or attrac- ment of the ice as it steadily swept along after tion in the new countrj'^ which most of the ad- the flying steamer, was witnessed by many, venturers failed to realize. The interest that and was very imposing. It stretched in an un- attended the departure of these Californians broken sheet from shore to shore, advancing did not cease with their going, but long con- at a pace so gradual, still and slow, that it tinued, general and intense, not unlike, though seemed as if a touch of the hand might check in a less degree, to that which attached to the or turn it, and yet with momentiim that was movements of our soldiers during the Civil irresistible. Creeping on and on. it caught the war, when the ptilse qiiickened with every tele- hu-kless Eagle at the landing and lifted the graph tick that told of news fi'om the front. large steamer as though it were a toy. shoving Every item of information was now caught at it high iipon the bank w-ith its outer side with avidity, each personal piece of news from broken in. Pushing on yet farther down, the the west was presumed to have some word for relentless ice found a .small stern-wheel steam- all. and a Californian's private letter to family lioat. the Champion, lying at the foot of or friend was cinisidered to be and apt to be- Floyd's Island, jiist abovi> the mouth of the come public property. Fabius. The cai)tain. on seeing the ice on The winter of 1848-9 was uncommonly snowy the way towards him. hail moored his vessel island with a cable and cold : the 17th of February being recorded at the south jioint of the as the coldest day remendiered for many years. on each bow so as to draw up the boat on The river opened on the 4th of ilarch and whichever side of the islaiul the ice did not closed again on the "J.'ith of December. come. Unfoi'tnnate. it divided and came on The resumption of navigation in the spring both sides, crushing in the sides of his vessel in those days, before the advent of the "iron aud sinking her to the boiler deck. horse," was the commencement of trade and A good story was told in this connection, of the event of the year, and coming as it did at Capt. Louis Cosson, a jovial Frenchman. He this time on the 4th of I\rarch. the same day was not on board of his boat at the time, hav- that the whig administration stepped into ing gone up the hill to see his old friends and

jiower. it afforded a good deal of pleasant ehaf- have a good time generally. .Tnhn ]\rartin 124 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Holmes, clerk of the boat, was asked why they parted we drew from him what was meant by happened to be caught in such a fix all unpre- the "Moral Medicine." He said that he had pared, with steam down, his answer was tliat ottered Mr. Foote a free pass from Cincinnati the captain was up town and had taken all the to Quincy on the Eagle, but that the parson steam that the boat was allowed to carry. said, "No, it's Saturday now, and I never These names of Cosson and Holmes suggest travel on the Sabbath; I shall wait here until some pleasant memories of the personnel of Monday." "Why," .said Holmes, "I can fix our people in the past; of the individuality of all that: we've got left over a lot of cholera those who composed the communitj'; and medicine that we Tised in the spring when we whose daily doings shaped and colored social were down about New Orleans. It's got every and public action. Each man, however he may ingredient necessary. It's as stringent as the be placed, is more or less a factor and feature Saybrook platform and can put you to sleep in the genei-al movement of all; contributing better than a Congregational sermon. I can his portion of what furnishes the material of give you a dose of that to-night and put you history, his seeming unimportant nothings ag- and your conscience asleep iintil the middle of gregate "the sweeping surge of history." The next week—clear past Sunday." ilr. Foote, life of the many individuals constitute the life however, declined, and it was this proposed of society itself. Tlie life of an individual is prescription which he afterward referred to often attractive and interesting in retrospect, as the "moral medicine." and woi'thy of a place in local annals. The population of the place, so far as na- John Martin Holmes was one of the men who tionalities were represented, had by this time, was, in his own way, an institution in Quincy in 1849, undergone a most marked change. from 1838 to 1850. He was a genius of high Already tlie foreign born, by reason of the type : of infinite wit and humor, gifted with a rapid immigration of the ten preceding years, rare poetic faculty. He was the soul of enjoy- had becoiue in number at least equal to those ment in every social circle, and the brilliancies who were "to the manor born." Among the that he constantly uttered were the repeated earlier settlers there were moi"e from Llassa- quotations everywhere, as what "John Holmes chusetts, Connecticut and Kentucky, than from said." He was of a name and stock of genius, any other states or sections ; the Kentuckians "kith and kin" to the famed Senator John being more prominent, politically, as they were Holmes of Maine; to Oliver Wendell Holmes; then and had been all over the state and the to the South Carolina Holmes, and to all of west, polities being the specialty of the Ken- the name, who carry, wherever it is borne, the tuckian, wlierein he is only surpassed b.y the same brilliant characteristics of refined intel- Irishman. Prior to the town organization, in lect and unsurpassed humor. Their ancestry 18.34, there were scarcely a score of citizens of all hinges back to a gifted Scotch clergyman, foreign birth. About that period a few Ger- one among the pilgrim fathers, and who is man families made the place their liome, and traditioued as liaving in his time startled the this immigration continued. Shortly after, staid puritan consciences by liis unseemly wag- witli tlie commencement of work upon the state geries, as well as impressed them b.v his un- railroads, there was a very large influx of questioned piety. Irish, who permanently remained. For some Volumes could not record all of the ready years the Irish element of population outnum- brilliancies of John Holmes, but we call up one bered any of the other alien stock, but the "yarn," suggested by the allusions to the chol- steady flow since 1838, directly hither from era and to the accident of the Eagle, and, the "faderland." had by this time made the moreover, as it brings to mind the name of (jrcrmans to outnumber those of all the other another patriarchal landmark, who now past nationalities. Still, however, as before stated, the age of 90, still preserves the bright racy notwitlistanding the predominance of the alien geniality of spirit and fun that has happily at- element in the mingled population, the condi- tached to his long consistent Christian career. tions had as yet been but little changed or Mr. Foote was in Cincinnati in the summer aft'eeted. The city did not at all, as it now or fall of 1849. and he met John Holmes, who does, present the picture of a population more offered him a fi'ee trip to Quinc.v on the Eagle, tlian half foreign in appearance and an owner- which ilr. Foote declined. Two years after ship of property and transaction of business in this we saw a meeting of Mr. Foote and I\Ir. a much larger ratio represented by citizens of Holmes here in Quincy. Mr. Foote saluted the foreign birth or extraction. This fact is evi- other with, "I am glad to meet you. Have dent not only from casual observation, but it you got any of that 'Moral Medicine' left that is shown by the census statistics, which report you recommended to me at Cincinnati?" Quinc.y as having in 1880, with a population of Holmes' an.swer was in keeping, and after they 27,268, 20,706 native born, and nearly one- PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 125

if veteran relics of Quin- fourth. (),r)(ii!, t'(ii'eit;n Ixirii ; and alsi), in 1S7(), a rare occasion these 7.7:5:} t'oceis.;!! out of a total population of cy's foi'mer dramatic genius would once more 24.().")2. consent to tread the histrionic stage? Such is the picture of C^uincy as now (1886) Hut the chief and ]>eriodical attraction of the exists, its dominating influences of sentiment, winters were the librai-y lectures. wealth and numbers. It was not thus thirty- Brief mention may here again be made of seven years a^o. although the popular ele- these weekly lectures, since they present a ments were relatively almost the same. The picture of what was going on and being done hoiiic-liorii or native jjortion of the people re- during the days of winter seclusion forty years mained in rule; foremost in social, in busi- ago. ;\m\ also on account of the contribution n(>ss re])resentation and in all else e.xcept i)oli- they gave to the construction and support of tics. That power had been taken away as what has now become a fixed and valued in- early as 18-10, and it has since been held by the stitution of the city. They constituted almost iKituralized citizens. This control was easily the sole soui-ce of available revenue to the pub- riugs. sleighrides, etc., passed away the familiar names. These were: John C. Cox, time. Business was not as crowding and any- subject. "Progress of Civilization Since the luxly could "shut up shop" for the day and go Christian Era"; A. Jonas. "The Fut\ire Exem- a-tishing or somewhere else. There had been, plified by the Past"; Rev. Rollin :Mears. "En- a few years before, a quite popular and suc- ulish Poets and Poetry in the I'Jth Century"; cessful Thespian Society, whose scuii-month- Dr. S. Willard. "Pneumatics"; Dr. R. Seeds, ly exhibits furnished entertainment to the "Anatomy of the Eye"; T. Bron.son, "Early good people. It comprised among its mem- Settlement of the Mississippi Valley": Rev. J. bers nearly all the then young sparks of J. Marks. "Earth as Made for :\ran"; John the place, nearly all now dead. Chicker- Tillsou. Jr., "The Saracens in Spain"; 0. H. ing, Taylor, Sam Seger. IIotiTman, Grant, Browning, "Our Duties and Obligations in Dell ^lilnor and Pickett (the two last boys, Reference to American Slavery": Rev. H. who i)layed the female parts), the later. Foote, "Yankee Character": Peter Lott, "The Pickett, afterward the famed ('(uidederate Upper Ten Thousand." .Ml of these, except (ieneral. These were gay gatherings, at- Dr. Seeds, a skilled Scotch i)hysician. who tracting the attendance of all and vastly the s]ieut an occasional season here, were well- more entertaining because of the intimate known residents. The prices of tickets were nuitual ac(|uaintancc between the audience and as follows: For a gentleman, $1.00; a gentle- per- actors. Of the buskined stars who paraded on man and lady, $1.50 : for a family of four the stage of mimic life ajul forced eithci- a|)- sons. $2,00: of six persons, .$3.00; and from this plause or amusement from their friendly au- was usually netted a few hundred dollars, ditors, we believe, now lemaiu Fes Hunt, T. II. which was devoted to the purchase of new

Brouyliaui and -1. T. Baker. Wouldn't it be liooks. and without which the library would 126 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. have stood still. This is shown by its ninth dependent in iDolitics" and. of course, followed annual report on the 3rd of December. There the usual fate of such journals. To be "of in- were then, eight years after its establishment, depeiulent thought" is very apt to be consid- but 86 shares sold, 78 st

M. Booth, a veteran editor now residing in St. Joseph, bound westward : and this was but California, who had made several ventures of t)ne of the half dozen crossing places of the this kind, but never very successfully. The Missouri river, and was but single file in the paper was short lived. It pi-ofessed to be "in- broad column of travel that fro7n the lakes to !

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 127

ponds are now* full, and I he unit' was (ciitt'i'iiii^ for the loii*;' iiuircli "The lakes and over tlu' westward plains. when old .Mississi])pi withdraws within his It may i)i'rlia|)s lie best piirti'ayed Imw tilings banks, we may expect the sport to commence, looked iliirin^;' this eventful yeiir, ehilletl in its and that sickness will yet abate and business natural pi'o^ress by the early and intermittent hopes be resfoi'ed." cold, dispirited l)y widespread sickness and .Notwithstanding the unpromising aspects of death in luL-'h places, by quoting the himent of the early part of this yeai-, with its withering a veteran editor who blends his story of the sickness" and its late and light land tillage, the season's slowness and the business depression, outcome was unex|)ectedly satisfactory. Pro- with his own personal mournings over the loss duction of all kinds, though not fairly up to of all the i)leasure that was "going to waste." the average increase of former years in quan- He was one of the best of the good men of tity, was generally superior in quality, as is Quincy (now gone, all honor to his memory), not uncommonly the result of a backward sea- and withal a most devoted disciple of Izaak son and a lessened e.xtent of farm cultivation. Walton, having done as much in his way to- Fruit was abundant, the grain yield was good, ward the captni-e of the ''tinny tribe" as his and most of it wiis safely harvested, thus creat- son, 8. P. iiartlett. iu)w armed with a state ing a brisk business for the fall, sutficient to conunissicni, is striving to do, to ''balance the comiiensate fen- the dnllni'ss of the spring and scales" and to restock onr depleted streams summer months. and ponds, wliidi the fathei* so enthusiastically The provision business of 1848-9 had been "went for." steady and active. More pork had been "put Thus moralizes the veteran Editor ;ind Pis- \ili" "than had been packed in the preceding cator in his i)aper on the first of ilay: "The winter, the rates running ((uite regularly from weather the past week has been anything but about ^'IJO to $3.00. Nearly an equal amotuit l)lea.sant and agreeable." The season, indeed, of provision was cured during the winter of lias been very backward, cold, sickly, gloomy 1849-50, although the packing season opened and without any fun. Last year at this time very late and rather dull, the first figures for the trees were out in their full foliage, and we pork being $'2.25 and slowly raising afterward, had participated in one or two fishing parties, but at no time e<|ual to the pi-ices of the pre- l^ut this spring, the "Father of Waters" con- vious winter. tinues to run out brim full and a little over, Real estate I'ates \'ai'ied but little diu'ing this lie is on an awful high: seems to have swal- year, and the changes of property ownership lowed up all the bars between Galena and St. were not very many. If was reserved for the liouis. Well! so be it. It can't be helped, but succeeding year, 1850, to exhibit the full com- we do long to make a visit to one of our old mencement of a rapid advance in land and fishing haunts, where, with a choice friend or values of every kind, which continued for sev- two. we may while away the day in ".iust eral years, almost equaling the great specula- uat 'rally" coaxing the finny tribe. Talk of the tive periods of 1835 and 1836. The price given enjoyments of the town ! what are they com- for one well-known piece of property, at the pared with the pleasure when sitting on a time considered to be among the most valuable shady bank, with well-baited hook and line, and salable lots in the city, will convej' an and rod in hand, and not a soi;nd to disturb idea of how property rated at this time. Part the stillness of the scene, save the "wood- of lot 1. block 18. at the southwest corner of jiecker tap"ning the hollow tree" or the chat- Maine and Fourth streets. 28 by 100 feet, with tering of the solitary king-fisher, to suddenly a three-story brick storehouse on it. was sold hear the quick sound of the cork as it plumps for .$4,035 cash. At the same time the ground below the surface with a pop! as the minnow adjoining on the south. 40 feet front on Fourth is seized by a voracious Pike, or Bass or Dog- street, and 99 feet in depth, was purchased for fish (the sneaking rascal). We imagine we $040. $16 per foot. The varying values which feel him as we give him play! Now here—now attended the transfers of this piece of property there—down into deeper water: and as the are curious. "iron enters deeper into his" jnw. he lashes At the original sale in 1831. the entire lot, the wafei' into foam with pain and vexation! 99 feet on Maine, by 190 on Fourth, was Exhausted at last, he is drawn ashore bought of the county commissioners for $18.25. "What say you, Pom & Co.. C. I\I. Pomeroy. It \vas early improved by Captain Pease and John Tillson. Tieo. Rond and others. Dull show, Hums, w-ho successively owned it and erected

isn't it? Hut we will assure our friends of on it what was about the best two-story frame the rotl and line. dwelling house and store building in the place

"Theiv is a good time coming, boys. at the time, and it was half a dozen years later A good time coming! purchastnl and occupied by the Hranch Hank 128 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. of the State of Illinois. When this institution ticles complained of. but the suit was brought failed, the property went to sale, and in 1843 against Woods as being equally liable and the north portion of it was purchased by A. T. more personally responsible. It assumed a yet Miller, nominally for about $10,000; but as more sharp partisan character from the fact this consideration was in the shape of the de- that most of the whig lawyers of the city were preciated state bank paper, which had no fixed engaged for the plaintiff, and the democratic value whatever, it would be difficult to deter- lawyers as generally took part in the defense; mine what it really sold for. The old bank and also because the court was presided over building was then removed to the south end of by Judge Jlinshall, who had .just been elected the lot, and Mr. Miller, an enterprising mer- to the bench, as the whig candidate, after a chant from Baltimore, the brother of George warm political contest at the first election A. and E. G. Miller, built on the corner what when judges were chosen by a popular vote. was then the largest store-room in the city, a His rulings, therefore, were often regarded on three-story brick, 100 feet deep, twenty-five the one side as being the conclusion of party feet front width on ilaine, being the build- prejudice, and on the other sometimes thought ing which was occupied by the Herald office, to be timid from his fear that he might be sus- when destroj'ed by fire in 1870. On the death pected of too much leaning to the side of his of Mr. Miller, the propertv was purchased as own political faith. Judge IMinshall was an above stated, by S. & W.'b. Thayer, for $4,- able, honest and impartial man. but very slow 035. Five vears later, 1854, it was again sold of thought and new on the bench, which made for $15,000! him sometimes appear wavering and undecid- The telegraph line, which had been com- ed. A quick-minded, prompt acting man like pleted to Quiucy, by way of Beardstown and his predecessor. Judge Pur])le, would have Springfield during the preceding year, had not been far better fitted to handle such a case been under the O'Rielly management, operat- at such a time, and escaped much of the im- ed to the satisfaction of all concernecl. Of just criticism that Judge ilinshall received. the local subscriptions on which the Illinois The arguments of the lawyers, on the one side line was established, about $10,000 had been especially, were almost like political speeches. raised in Quincy and vicinity. A meeting of The result at the close of a contest running the stockholders was called and held, at through several days was a nominal verdict Peoria on the 10th of April, and then there, for the plaintiff. This trial, while unimpor- under the state law, a new company was form- tant except as to local feeling, did, however, ed and organized, into which was merged the aft'ect and illu.sti'ate some things well. O'Rielly stock and interest, and a dift'erent One result of this slander suit between Bart- management was assumed. This was what has lett and Brooks was an improvement in jour- since been known as the Caton and Western nalism in its future assumption of a more telegraph company. Avliieh soon became ex- courteous character, and more creditable and ceedingly prosperous, as its predecessor had pi'oper tone than it had previously exhibited, not been. The Quincy interests at this meet- which, with occasional exceptions, it has since ing were represented by Newton Flagg and maintained. Editoi-s discovered that the pub- Lorenzo Bull, the latter of whom was made a lic regarded with no sympathy, but with posi- director in the new company. On an assess- tive aversion their parades of private griefs ment of 40 per cent being ordered, to relieve and personal abuse, which had become to be the company embarrassments and carry for- almost the sum total of editorial topic. Criti- ward its business, a large portion of the cism and denunciation of the opposite party Qiiincy stock was allowed to be forfeited. The soon di'ifted into personal vilification of each few who paid up this assessment and retained other, and the result was that in .such cases their interests eventually found the investment the character of each contestant was lowered very successful and remunerative. not more by what was charged upon him by A quite exciting trial came off at the June his opponent than by the display that he made term of the circuit court, Avhich aroused all of the worst side of himself. the political and no small amount of the per- The public estimate finally placed upon sonal feeling of the place. This has now passed what was said by these belligerent "knights away under the shade of nearly forty years, of the quill," is shown in the story of the but it was a stirring event at the time. It was Quincy lawyer, who counseled against a suit a slander suit brought by S. M. Bartlett, edi- for slander being instituted. "Why," said the tor of the Whig, against C. 'M. Woods, pub- angry would-be client, "he has abused me out- lisher of the Herald. Woods and Austin rageously; he has said " "Pshaw!" Brooks were the Herald proprietors, and said the "lawyer quietly, "What of it? Noth- Brooks was the editor who had written the ar- ing that such a fellow savs can slander any- —

PAST AXn PKESEXT OF ADA^fS COUXTV. 129

body. ,'iiiil iriiirc tliaii that, my good fellow, sent the niattiM' t(i "'castiTn caiiitalists." but don't you know hflwccn mifselvos whatever fi'oiM this nothing resulted. anybody may say against you, no .jui-y wdiikl On the 'I'ld of October a comi)any was form- .'"" tliink of ponsideriiii:' slanderous all\- organized, uiulei- the provisions of an act

Bartlett and Hi'ooks were innisiialjy siqicrior pas.scd Feb. loth, 1S4!). with I. X. Morris, as

men in their vocation. Well vei-sed in local pi'csidciit ; Samu(>l Holmes, seci'etai'v. and J. political and general public information, ready M. Pitman, treasurer. Work was innnediate- aiul trenchant writers, and eacii popular and ly ordered, a competent engineer, Wm. T. trusted as a leadei- in his party. They repre- Whipple, and a corps of assistants, were en- sented, in sentiment and in chai-actcr, the ex- gaged, and surveys commenced, resulting in treme views of the two parties cil' that day the cai'ly establishment of lines varying not the whig aiul democratic. vei'y unich from the original route. This or- The pi'o.ject of a railroad coming into Quincy ganization did not. however, for some rea- from tlie east, which had foi- years i)ast been son, meet the general sanction, and early in talked about by the busybodies, thought of by 1850. it was changed, and a year later changed the thoughtful, and about which so many pub- again. A meeting, not largely attended, on lic meetings had been held, came at last into the .Sdtli 1)1' October, asked the county to vote a shape of certain advancement. The reckless a subscription of $100,000. Xothing came of and luckless exjierinient of the state originat- this, however-. This brief sketch is the history ed in 1S3(), to cobweb itself all over with I'ail- of the beginning of the connection of this city roads, had resulted in only one thing observ- with railroads, for which enter]ii-ises it has fur- able, which was a huge debt that retiuired fifty nished nearly a million of dollars. The suc- after years of exceptional taxation to pay, and cessive steps in 1850 and in 1851. when the nothing beside, except scattered over the state city for $20,000 purchased the road, became a great deal of incomplete and worthless work. its chief owner and subscribed $100,000. the These and the owiuM'ship of road beds and first installment of the great debt above allud- franchises was all the state and ]iublic had to ed to. will be stated in their pi-oper order. show for the expenditures. The legislature There were several radical changes made wisely offered all these (except the debt) for during this year, in the system of county gov- sale. On the 6th of August, at Springfield, ernment—changes prescribed by the new state sale was made by the state to James W. Single- constit\ition. and by the legislature which fol- ton. Samuel TToimes. C. A. Warren, J. M. Pit- lowed its adoption, all of which affected the man. II. S. C'ooley and I. N. IVforris. of all that sid^sequent current of Quincy history. From part of the Xoi'thern Cross railroad lying be- 1825 to 1S.S4. Quincy, though the county seat, tween the Illinois and ^lississippi rivers, ter- was not more than any other hamlet or set- minating at Quincy. for $100,000 in state se- tlement (pronounced in ancient sucker vernac- curities, which were then at so low a depre- ular with the heaviest kind of emphasis on ciation that the cash consideration of the sale the final .syllable) and its local government, if was really but about .^f^-OOO. This sale cai-- it had any. was like that for the rest of the i-ied with it the owucrshi]) of the roadbed, etc.. county, vested in the three commissioners, and all the franchise rights contained in the who exercised supervision and sway over all original charter. ]Much heavy and expensive the corporate and internal interest of the grading had been done by the state on several county. The immediate local jurisdiction of sections of the line, some of which was sub- Qnincy. passed in 1834. when the town was in- sequently utilized, but in building the present corporated, under the control of the board of road, a large ])ortiiiu of the old survey was town trustees: and six years later, in 1840. abandoiu^d. esiiecially that ]iart which lies in with the foimation of the city, the municipal .\dams CoTinty. authority was vested in the city council, mak- It was the original design of the parties ing the city somewhat peculiarly and almost who had purchased this railroad from the entirely independent of the county anthorities, state to obtain local s)discriptions from Quincy. and subsequent action made it more so. The and from Brown and Adams counties, and thus new state constitution of 1847-48 abolished the strengthened, to procure moneyed means fi-om cinuity commissioners' court, and also the the east to carry on its construction. In fur- office of pi-ol)ate judge, providing in lieu there- therance of this plan, a meeting of citizens was of, for a connty court, composed of one chief called, and held at Quincy, on the 13th of Oc- and two associate judges, clothed with full tober, and after some discussion which revealed primary jurisdiction in all matters of probate, the fact that there existed some dissatisfac- and "such other duties as the General Assem- tion with the project in the shape in which it bly may prescribe." connected with the ad- then stood, a committee was appointed to pre- ministration of the countv affairs. Here was 130 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

a iiuich-improved advance from the old eouuty it M'as a long time before it was completely es- commissioners' court system, and the chief tablished, and its history in connection with and best features of which have been retained the county and Quincy is peculiar. In com- and engrafted into the later and present con- pliance with the law above-named, the Adams stitution of 1S72. Following \ipon this con- county commissioners, rather unwillingly, it stitutional change, came the adoption of the was said, at their September session, passed an township system, authorized by law and now order to "the .iudges of election in the several prevailing in most of the counties of the state. precincts in said county, to open polls for vot- To Quincy and Adams county the action un- ing for or against Township Organization, as fortunately taken at this time about the provided by the statute of Illinois, in force, changes in the form of county government, April 16, A. D. 1849." The vote thus provid- both in the reconstruction of the eouuty court ed for was taken at the November election, and in the adoption of the township system, and resulted in favor of township organiza- induced a Pandora's box of trouble, which a tion by the decisive ma.jority of 1.301, in a generation's patiencehashardlj^yet healed. The vote of over "J.'JOO. the significant fact being, constitution of 1847 had conferred a ble.ssed that while every precinct in the county gave local benefit in its arbitrary reunion of Adams a majority for the measure, Quincy only, voted county, and thus treading out the dispute in opposition, more than half of all the mi- over a division of the county, but sore sectional nority votes thrown against it being east in feeling showed itself in a strife over the elec- the city. tions above referred to. The old county court As authorized by the above mentioned vote, had so much been the nursery where coimty the commissioners, on the 6th of December, ap- quarrels were nxirtured that to some extent pointed a committee to divide the county into these distrusts and estrangements entered into townships. This committee reported in the the choice of the new court, each party appre- following .March. 1850. the formation of twen- hensive of what might be the action of the ty towns, with lioundaries defined and names new tribunal, vested with so much more pow- recommended, Quincy being one of them, hav- er, and on the township question almost a ing its limits the same as those fixed by the clear issue was made between the county and city charter. This report was adopted with the city. the excepti(jn that in several instances, the The township system for l(icouis, or even to the branch bank of the State pany u])on the matter. This jjropei'ty referred of Missouri at Palmyra and there i)nrehase to was that part of Broadway west of Twelfth drafts by which to remit aiul make tiieir pe- street extending to the river, which had been i-i(idir,il payments to their eastern ci'editoi's. relini(uished by the state to the city prior to For a year or two before this time. .Mr. Xewton the purchase of the remainder of the road by l''lai;^' iiad been eng-ajied in sellioii' exclunme in the lailroiil compauN'. .\s the city's title was M ipiii't way, and his bnsiness iirew so greatly secure anil the railroad company had really that in the fall of 1850. in partnership with no use for the property claimed, action on the Charles A. Savage, with whom afterward I. 0. sub.iect went no further. Subscription books Woodnift' was associated, the bnidving house of to the stock of the road were opened on the h'lagg & Savage was opencil (in the south side ind of April to rcmani open for thirty days. of Maine street, between l''ourth and Fifth. .\o additional stock was taken. Prior to this aft(>rwards removed to the corner of JIaine and period, about the first of ^larch. the president l-'iftli. where for years was transacted a large of the road asked from the city a subscription antl lucrative business. The house suspended of .^150.000. It was not I'esponded to. The in 1857, and resumed a few mouths later, but time had not yet come. The engineers, ilessrs. after a hard strugsrle of one or two years, Whittle and Shipman. published two exhaust- finally closetl in IStjP. It was the first perma- ive and excellent re])orts of their survey, etc., nently established private bank of the place. in which thev estimated the value of the road The earliest in date, however, was that of J. II. as i)urchase.i at ^lliO.OOO. Farther than the Smith and A. C. ilarsh, Avho opened, on the 5th labor of the engineers in their survey, no work (if March, near the corner of ilaine and Fourth, of any consequence was done upon the road iindci- the Quiney House, the "Farmers' and duj-ing this year. Mei'chants' Exchange Company." It was not The fiscal statement of the city for the year strong, however, and its existence was brief. ending April 1. 1850. was a well-prepared and The temperance sentiment, which at this time favorable showing. The amount of bonded in- was all pervading throughout the counti'y. took debtedness was reported as ^:5:].;573.43. of l)ossession of (|)iiincy with a force unkiu)wn be- which $20,000 had been created by the refund- fore or since. .Many and large petitions were ing operations of the past year, when by the [iresented to the council protesting against the issue of this amount of bonds, which realized, liipior traffic, and the granting of licenses when placed on the market, !);18,400, all the th(>refor. In deference to these an election to then matured bond obligations of the city were cibtain the wishes of the iieojile was ordered taken up and a balance of about .i^l.SOO in cash, to be held on the 9th of ]\Iarch. There was a was left in the city treasury for "pocket singular accord of feeling expressed on this money." It was a judicious, well-managed matter. The people, the politicians and the operation. All of the bonded debt mentioned l>ress worked all one way. The Whig, Herald above would mature consecutively during the and .lournal vied with each other as to which next ten years. The outstanding vouchers in should be foremost and most radical in the circulation amounted to .i

California gold coming into circidation ; by works, by the energetic and enterprising Com- one-half of the politicians it was credited to the stoek Bros., in the fall of the year, and about national administration lieing whig, and this the same time the cotton factory of Dimock & was as zealously denied by the other half. Gove, which did a successful business for some Again, and with some degree of truth, so far as years; also the planing mill of Chase & Seripps, it concerned Illinois, it was claimed that the the finst large concern of the kind in the city new constitution, by its having redeemed the which had been working in a small way before, bankrupt credit of the state, had encouraged now extended its business, and a number of and invited immigration. It was really, how- other factories beneficial to the place and which ever, besides the effect of the above influences, have contiiuuHl successfully, originated with the natural periodical return of prosperity, aiid this year. confidence that regularly appears after a pe- There were severe losses by fire, of which riod of depression. there was an unusual number. In January the In Quincy the effects were early and evident. large biick steam flouring mill and di-^tiilery, It was a year of bu.stle and improvement. Two known as the "Casey ]Mill," situated near the daily packet lines of steamers were running to Bay, about where the freight depot now stands, St. Louis in addition to the Galena and St. was entirely consumed. It was the most ex- Paul boats, two or three of which passed every tensive concern of the kind in the city, being a day. Property rapidly advanced in value. For four-story structure, with surrounding build- instance, the two large lots in Nevins' addition ings, originallv erected by jMessrs. Miller, at a of the southeast corner of Maine and Twelfth cost of between $20,000 and $25,000. The prop- streets, where now stands the Webster school erty afterwards passed into the hands of Capt. house, and which had been oft'ered for sale in Casey and other parties, who expended on it the year before at $500. now were bought for some $15,000 more. It was a serious loss to school purposes by the city for $2,000, and to- the business of the place. Later than this, also day probably the same property without the on the 30th of ^March, Kimball's mill, at the foot :

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 135

of Delaware streeet, weut the way of all mills. to be as profitable and stable. There were two This also was a large establishineut, and an old weekly (iennan papers issued, both moderately landmark. It was the oldest steam mill in the democratic in politics. One, the Illinois Courier, city, ereeted in 1831. althouuh much enlarged pnl)lislied by Jjinz and Kichter, came out in since. .\|iiil and continued for several years. The The long-ttdked l-'cmale Sciiiiiiary. for which (ithcr, the Wochenblatt, had but a short life, there had been yearuinL;- and movement for dying out with the sudden disappearance "be- many niontiis past, opened finally in October, tween two days" of its publisher. The three in the buildings on the south side of Maine, other journals were the Herald, Whig and the near Sixth, which had for some years past been Journal. The latter had somewhat of an in- used by ^liss Doty for the same purposes. It vohuilary chameleon reputation. It was began nndei- the supervision of iliss Catherine charged by the Whig with being a democratic Deecher and a corps of teachers, with nearly sheet, and as severely attacked by the Herald one hundred pupils and fine prospects of suc- for its whig proclivities. The editor, L. M. cess, which, however, were doomed to disap- Booth, an old newspaper man, had the luck or jiointment. as it lived hardly a year, siidving n(ni luck to often be freighted with this un- with itself a good deal of hope and more or certain reputation. He wiis somewhat in the less money beside. situation of the two Iri.shmen. .strangers who Among the public events of the year were met and each thought that he recognized the the observances on the death of (jeueral Taylor, other. After a grasp of the hand and a second the second President of the United States, Avho look, both started back, and one of them says had dieil in office. A public meeting was "Faith and we're both mistaken, I thought it called by the JFayor and pro])er preparations was you and you thought it was me, and it miide, and on the 27th of July, with formal seems it is neither of us."' His pai)er did not accomjianying eei'emonies, an impressive ad- ])rosi)er. and he left in April, promptly, like the dress was delivered at the ^larket House by Wochenblatt editor, for California, where he .Judge Peter Lott. Judge Lott was the most soon embarked in a similar business. The Jotir- felicitous orator for such occasions in the city, nal fell into the hands of C. M. Woods, who and had performed a similar duty nine years changed, in ]\Iay. the name from People's Jour- before, on the occasion of the death of Presi- nal to Quincy Journal, and on the 20th of No- dent Harrison. Several persons who had oc- vember commenced the i.ssue of a daily paper. (•ui)ied places of moi-e or less prominence in There had been two brief efforts to carry on a |)ast (^uincy history, passed away from life dur- daily publication in Quincy (once, in 1845. and a few months. ing this year. Judge Jesse B. Thomas, one of again in 1847) ; each lived but the oldest and ablest legal men of the state, J\lr. Wood's Journal was published at the price who had presided over this judicial circuit, suc- of ten cents a week. It had difficulties (sus- ceeding Judge Douglas, in 1843. and residing pended once or twice), but after some changes for s(Uiie years in Quincy. died at Chicago on in name and ownership, was merged into and the 17th of February. Governor Ford, a citizen became the i)resent Daily Herald, the oldest of Quiney and practicing lawyer as early as continuous daily of the city. Another journal, 1833, afterward Supreme Judge and Governor the Columbus Gazette, was started during this of the state, died at Peoria during the month of summer, but its exi.stence was short and its cir- November. A more personal as well as general culation light and mostly confined to the county feeling of regret was occasioned by the death and its own immediate neighborhood. of H. S. Cooley. who died at New Orleans on Joui-nalism then, thirty-six years ago, was the '21st of ]\Iarch, of consumption, and was laden with less labor, but also owned less con- buried here by the ifasons with a good deal of veniences, than since and now. Local news public display. I\Ir. Cooley came to Quincy was scant and hard to obtain, and the manu- from ^Maine. in IB-IQ, and at once became con- facture of the same was a yet undeveloped art. spicuous. He was made Quartermaster General Early news from abroad came at vai-iable pe- of the state in 1843. apjiointed Secretary of riods. As illustrative of this, one of the weekly State in 184fi. elected to the same office in 1848. journals, in two successive issues, tells its i-ead- and held it until his death. He was a man of ers that it has "no .dispatches again this week, fair talent, active and ambitious and, had his owing to the storm," a somewhat significant life been longer, would probably have contin- comment on what the telegraph was in those ued to rise in political distinction. days. The newspajier business exhibited the same The fall electiini for member of congress, advanced energy and enterprise that marked state treasurer, members of the legislature and other callings, but it co\dd not be fairly said ciinntv officials was wai-inlv contested, with 136 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. peculiar and couflietiug results. O. H. Brown- e.state almost always are fictitious, and sooner ing was the whig, and W. A. Richardson the or later prove so. During the sixteen years of democratic candidate for ct)ngress. Browning indepenclent corporate existence, six years as carried the city by about .50 majority and the a town, ten years as a city, now, in 1850, the county (city included) by 189, but was beaten retrospect revealed a slow but steady step for- in the district ; only one other count}' (Peoria) ward with far less of intluctuation than at- giving him its vote. John Wood, nominated as tached to the career of most other young com-

the whig candidate, for the state senate on the munities of the west. , It had early, it had declination of Col. Ross, of Pike—Adams and always, and it had now, in 1850, a larger pro- Pike constituting the senatorial district, re- portion of people owning their own homes than ceived 210 majority in Adams, and C. A. War- any other town or city of the same grade in the ren, his democratic opponent, led in Pike west : and this has continued. The reasons for county by about ,50 votes. In the represent- this condition of things, it is needless to name. ative district, composed of Adams and Brown The fact exists that there are nearly 50 per counties, J. M. Pitman, J. R. Hobbs and J. cent more men in Quincy who own their own Dearborn were the democratic nominees, homes than in any other Illinois city, and it is against whom the whigs ran J. W. Singleton. easy for any one to deduce from this how Wm. Morrow and Holman Bowles. Pitman, strongly, how, of necessity, both business and Singleton and I^Jowles went out of Adams with social feelings and interests must combine to small majorities, which the first two retained in make assurance of a permanent future. As Brown, where, however, Hobbs secured a ma- evidencing this record of values during the pe- jority sufficient to elect him. It was amusingly riod above named, the assessment tables tell a noticed at the time, that Dearborn, of Brown, clear .story. Valuations of real property by as- got more votes than Hobbs, of Adams, in sessors rarely give a correct estimate of the Adams, while again, Hobbs led Dearborn in value of such property, but the successive valu- Brown, each appearing to be honored most out ations are the best evidence that can be had of of his own county. On the county ticket the the varying value of such property running whigs elected the sheriff and treasurer, Humph- through a series of yeai's. rey and Pomeroy and the democrats the cor- The first town assessment to be relied upon oner, Munroe, by small majorities. The demo- was in lS:3(i. when the town property was val- cratic state ticket was also successful by from ued at $487,900. Four years later, in 1839, the two to three hundred votes. This political re- last one made by the town, the valuation was sxilt is notable as being a partial success for $658,443. These valuations were high, much each of the two parties, which for the past higher than would be made at the present time, twenty years had disputed the control of the but property all over the we.st had been rated county with about an even record of fortune, at a speculative value some years before and and because it was the last success of the so contituied to be, while the percentage of tax whigs. From this period, with a single acci- assessments was low. In 1841, the second year dental interruption in the legislative succession, of the existence of the city, the valuation of the democratic party maintained an easy, con- real estate was $729,809, and of personal prop- tinuous supremacy in all the county elections erty $95,059. and this proportion, slightly ad- for the following fifteen years. vancing each year, became, in 1850, $1,200,391 An advance in busine.ss life in all directions for real estate and $353,961 on personal prop- was (as before stated) the marked feature of erty. In fact, these valuations which in 1835 this year. There was an increase in the mill were relatively too high, were, in 1850, placed and provision product, less noted for the reason almost as nuich too low, the earlier valuations that enterprise was spreading itself in so many being lifted as nearly as possible to the sup- other occupations, some new, some exten.sions posed cash worth of property, and indeed some- of what had been. As the best criterion by times above, while the latei" valuations were as which to judge the present prosperity of a com- steadily falling far below what such property munity, is in the number and extensiveness of was actually worth. The reason for this de- its factories, where are offered opportunities jiression in the assessments was. first, the in- for ingenuity to expand and the largest amount riated value that had been adopted in the early of labor to be employed, so the surest test of times, and again the operation of the, two mill permanent stability is to be foinid in the price tax to pay off the state debt prescribed in the and valuations of its real estate property. the state constitution of 1845. The unexpected Herein is the best basis of a people's wealth, effect of this two mill tax was, that if all the and herein Quincy has an even and healthy property in the state was valued at anywhere record. Sudden changes in the value of real near its real worth, a much greater sum would 1^\ST AND I'KESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 137 be TiiistMl tci iipjily upon tlic stato (U'l)t tliaii was addition to the poi)ulalion of the place was needed oi- pi-dpfi-. Hence, property was valued made hy the incoming of many families who low to accord with the arbitrary standard of had been "drowned out" of the "bottoms" the two mill tax. while foi' the raising: oi the and crowded into the tenement hou.ses in the necessary revenue, the state and c-or|)orations lower part of the city. A i)eculiar occurrence could easily meet the demands of their budget beside was, that late in the fall, when ordinarily hy increasing the percentage on these low val- the river is at its lowest, a second swell came uations. down, fllliug the lands and overflowing the banks as much as is usually done at the regu- lar annual rise in June. It does not appear that this huge flo

CHAPTER XXIX. though it mucii inci-eased the sickness, which was extensive, anil <|ni1e fatal, during the 1851. greater part of the year. pr().-:fi-;kity. the year of "HIgi-i water." dreaded cholera revisited the city in a whig and herald change proprietors, The ch.a^ngks in the judicial districts, more violent form than it had appeared the jl'dge .-skinner. r.\ilroads again. route than ch.x^ngkd for broadw.vy to cedar year befctre. hiil much less destructive streets. .s.a^m holmes mayor. night po- the scourge of 184!). For eight or ten weeks lice, new ba.vki.xg law. church on ninth and st.\te completed. struck by in the late spring and early summer it pre- lightning. vailed with varying fatality, leaving almost as Until the 1st of Febiniary, '51, the river re- suddenly as it came, with a record of about mained open with fair navigation. It then 160 deaths. As in its earlier comings, it came closeii for a week, reopening. It carried upon the people almost without premonition, thi'oughout the year a most extraordinary and its advent was a shock and terror. The part of the "boom" late into the fall, when it became first cases noted were in the south short finally ice-blocked 011 the 16th of December. city, in the Odell family, where, in the chil- This was the Mississippi's greatest, most tri- space of four,days, the mother and three umphant year, when the waters of the upper dren were taken and died, and another child ^Mississippi reached a height above the measure followed within a week. Thirty deaths oc- of any earlier mark. Its flood in 1844 exceeded curred during the last week of May, twenty- any in general I'ecoUection, although some old eight being from cholera. The same feature settlers asserted that the river had been known was marked at this time as had been noticed to be higher in 1832 and 1826, and there was on its two former visits, that on the Saturday also an Indian tradition that some time late in and Sunday of each week it was the most fatal, one-half of the la.st century it had attained an height never and that during those days about roll of this since equaled. Be that as it may, the certainty the deaths occurred. The death unusual number of is, that the rise of 1851 surpassed that of any year bears the names of an within the memory or measure of white men. prominent persons and "old settlers." Espe- The summer was very rainy, but the chief vol- cially of these were E. W. Clowes and Ryon and ume of the flood came from the north. While Brittingham, brothers-in-law, both early this upper portion of the stream was thus nn- substantial citizens, John B. Young, one of the precedentedly high, below the month of the pioneers, who came to this country from Ken- Illinois and of the ^Fissouri, which had been tucky at an early date, with somewhat more of people then vastly swollen in 1844, it did not reach the sum- means than the" generality of the mit water mark of that year. The rise began had, settled first in the south part of ,the his early in .\|iril, upon already full banks. As county, and moved thence to Quincy. To of its it continued to .swell and passed above the enterprising action the city owes many measurements of 1844, the old settlers shook best early improvements. There died also W. immi- their heads with "yes. but it won't reach the E. T. Biitze. John (ilass, early Cermau 1832 or 1826 figures." However, when, on grants: Dr. II. r,. Weoboken, a German physi- the 6th of June, the measure showed 5 feet 6 cian of uinisual skill and attaiinnents: Dr. J. inches above the mark of 1844 they gave up. W. Xewland: Charles Morton, the best known the state; It was a mighty flood, like a vast sea stretch- and most poi)ular "land man" in Ex-Ci>unty ing from bliift' to bluff. Here. (Ui the city side, :\Irs. McDade: :Mi.ss Sarah Wood: of like above and below the town, it washed the foot Judge Andrew Miller and many others of the hills, filling Front street so much as to notable position. Among the most conspicu- probably. S. make it imiiassible and entirely stopping the ous and regretted of these was, operation of the mills. Xo small temiiorary :\r. Baiilelt. editor and associate owner of the 138 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAilS COUNTY.

Quiney Whig, who died on the 6th of Septem- the wish succeeded. The circuit, on a party ber, after a .siekne.ss of eight days, the event vote, was luidoubtedly whig, and Skinner was making sad impression. Mr. Bartlett was a a most radical ultra democrat, but his high man of marked traits of character, of fair in- judicial capacity was recognized and, no oppo- tellect, excellent judgment, well experienced in sition being made, he was unanimously elected. the essentials of his profession, with a frank, Some effort was attempted to bring party feel- outspoken nature, earnest in believing what ings into the election for prosecuting attorney, he said and equally earnest in saying what he but it cut no figure, and J. H. Stewart, an ex- believed, a clean private character. He had perienced law.ver from Henderson county, a during his fifteen years" editorial control of whig, but not a politician, was elected to that the Whig secured a strong reputation through- office. out the west, and the especial confidence of the Finally the railroad matter, that for two political party of which the Whig was a recog- years past had "dragged its slow length nized organ. He was a native of New Eng- along," which had been the topic for strife, land, came early to the west and had worked talkative, public meetings, legislative action, as a journalist and printer in St. Louis and and had engendered no small amount of per- Galena prior to his settling in Quiney. He was sonal bickering and animosity, was, by the but .38 years of age at the time of his death. general action of the citizens, taken out of its After the death'of :\Ir. Bartlett the interest troubles and placed on the pathway towards Avhich he had OAVued in the Whig was pur- certain and early completion. A law had been chased by John T. Morton, who, as editor, passed through the general assembly at the last in connection with H. V. Sullivan, published winter's session legalizing the assessment by the paper for sevei-al years. This was the first the cit.v of Quiney of a special tax to meet change tliat had occurred in the ownership the interest on any railroad bonds that it might and management of the AVhig since its estab- thereafter issue, and the city council promptly lishment, in 1836. The Herald about this time provided an ordinance in furtherance of the went through with one of its many changes, provisions of this law. Another legislative ac- being bought by P. Cleveland & Co. Mr. Cleve- tion in the same direction was the law which land was a ready, rapid, somewhat verbose authorized the construction of a railroad from writer, more polished, but less vigorous in style, some convenient point on the line of the North- than Brooks, the former editor, Avho now be- ern Cross Railroad, within Adams county, run- came the publisher and associate editor. Un- ning thence on the most eligible and prac- der their management, which continued for two ticalde route through the ^Military Bounty years, the paper extended its popularity and Tract and terminating at the most convenient political intiuence considerably more than its and eligible point at or near the southern financial condition. termination of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, The old Fifth judicial circuit, originally in- prescribing also that such road should not run eluding all the counties in the ililitary Tract east of Knoxville in Knox county. These two and taking in the northwestern section of the judicious attachments to the railroad project state, formed, in 1829, was by an act of the late clinched the heretofore somewhat doubtful legislature divided and a new circuit made, public confidence in its management and lifted composed of the counties of Adams, Hancock, it at once to an assured success. The effect Henderson and Mercer. This broke xip many of the first of these special law-s was to sub- of the old time legal associations and limited, stantiate the credit of the city in its intention to some extent, the practice of the Quiney to sustain the enterprise by a bond subscrip- law.yers, who had for over twenty years been tion, and the other promised an eastern con- accustomed to "follow the circuit" twice a nection by railroad and canal by way of Chi- year and appear at the bar of each county cago and the lakes with the already finished, in the tract. Many of them had local partners progres.sing thoroughfares which would be im- in the counties outside of Adams. O. C. Skin- mediate on the completion of the Quiney end ner, a prominent lawyer of Quiney, who had of the route. This ivas far preferable at the resided in Carthage before coming to Adams time to the building of a road towards the county, and while there liad rapidl.v risen to centre of Illinois with an indefinite prospect the leading position at the Hancock bar, a of its contiiniance farther eastward. Large reputation which he well sustained in Quiney, li.cal subscriptions were now made, amounting was recommended by the bar for the judgeship in Quiney to between $50,000 and .$60,000. and of the new circuit. The desire was then, as it also in proportionate liberal figures along the had been at the first judicial election, to keep proposed route of the road in this and the ad- the contest from becoming political. This time jacent counties. The precise line was not at PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 139 oiico decided upon or iiuide known, and a;ients the whig nominee. At the same time C. A. aud advocates were sent to the various local- Savage, Thomas Redmond and Oeo. W. Brown iiies between Quincy and Galesburi^ to arouse were elected aldermen in the First, Second and iniblie interest and solicit subscriptions; proin- 'J'hird wards. This election of two whigs and isiiitr always, of course, that tlie connnunity one deiuoeral made the council a tie politically wliich ottered the most money woukl lie sure and was the basis for a good deal of dissension to secure tlie road. and harsh feeling in that body. This feeling One of our prominent yuinc\- lawyers nearly had been shown somewhat in the retiring coun- came to grief in this endeavor. lU' had made cil, where after the board had voted to raise a si)eech in a little town in an adjoining county the mayor's salary from $250 to $350, he re- and demonstrated that there was the natural fused to receive it because it had not been route for the road, almost the oidy feasible unanimously voted. line, that the}' needed it. and all that was ]\[r. Lock filed a notice of contest for the seat wanted was for the people to subscribe liberal- given to ]Mr. Redmond, who had beaten him by ly, so that some other place wouldn't "buy the 17 votes. This was finally withdrawn, but re- road away from them," and made a capital and mained long enough to stir up considerable per- well satisfied impression. The ne.Kt day he sonal feeling, and when the selection of a city had ;. meetino- in a rival town about five miles clerk came up (this officer at that time being away, and there "spoke his piece" over again elected by the council), no choice could be se- with telling eft'ect. when he was suddenly in- cured for several meetings, not. indeed, until terrupted by a fellow calling. "Why. Mr. W., after 75 fruitless ballotings. There were two that's just what you told us yesterday over in democratic aspirants for the place, each of secured votes, one of these votes M : you said the road ^vas bound to come whom two through our town and oughtn't to go anywhere coming from a whig alderman, while two of else." To any other than this most adroit of the whigs voted for a whig candidate, thus pre- legal gladiators this would have been a crusher. venting the ma>'or's having an o])portunity to He was staggered foi- the moment, but recov- (h'cide the choice by his casting vote. After a ered with. "Well, gentlemen, I did say some- couple of weeks' wrangle, however, the demo- thing of the kind to those fellows over there ci-ats in the council "rose to the occasion" and and the gudgeons all believed me." Brown adopting a motion to elect by resolution, chose and i\rcDonough counties voted, the first ifcio.- Mv. Cleveland clerk. He had held the office 000. the second $50,000. for the two past years, and it was partly from At a ])nblie meeting of the citizens of Quincy some dissatisfaction tow;irds him and partially on January li-lth, it was proposed that the city growing t)nt of the unwillingness of the whigs sliould vote a subscription of .$100,000 and pur- to select the city officials until the Lock-Red- chase the interests of the company which owned mond contest was settled, which caused this the road for $20,000 in stock. This latter ar- struggle over the clerkship. It was the first rangement was perfected, and the council, on occasion of personal, political strife, that had the "iTth. ordered an election to be held on appeared in the council, which in the early ilarch 1st. njion the proposition to subscribe days had very little of that demonstrative ele- $100,000. which resulted in an almost unan- ment which not unfre(iuently wakes up its ses- imously favorable vote. 1.074 for to 19 opposed. sions nowadays. At a meeting of the stockholders on the 22d Owing perhaps to this di.ssension and delay of ]March. which was largely attended. X. Bush- over the organization of the council no formal

nell, .1. .M. Pitman. H. Rogers, J. D. :\Iorgan fiscal statement for the past year was pub- and L. liull were elected directors by the indi- lished, but the city affairs appeared to have vidual stockholders. Mayor Holmes represent- been well conducted and its credit sustained, ing the city, which had the larger portion of though the debt had sonunvhat increased. the stock, easting its vote in the same dii-ection. ]Mr. Holmes was a skillfid business man. with The directors organized by electing N. Bush- unusual aptitude for public bu.siuess and well city's history and wants, nell. President : J. 0. Woodruff. Secretary, who acquainted with the soon resigned, and was succeeded by John and made a highly commendable record as Field, and he soon after by John C. Cox. S. mayor. D. Eaton was appointed Chief Engineer, and During this year's administration was begun in April work began at the corner of Twelfth the organization of a night police, and the sec- and Broadway. ond revision of the ordinances was made under At the April city election IMayor Samuel the supervision of the mayor. Holmes was rechosen by a majority of 268. Prices in all things were rising, as they had beef at eight cents out of a total vote of 984. over M. B. Dennian. been for the jiast two years, 140 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

and mutton seven cents per pound, and other was soon extinguished, but the splintered necessaries in proportion, made living some- steeple remained as a reminder that Provi- what more expensive tlian it had before been. dence cares no more for its own buildings than Real estate advanced rapidly in demand and any others, unless they were properly finished. value. One .sale indicates this proportionate It was rather a shock to the faith of some progress. The ten acre tract at the southeast good people. corner of Maine and Eighteenth streets, now known as the Collins property, which had been bought five years before by the late Secretary of State, Cooley, for .$1,000 ($100 per acre), was now sold for .$2,525, or $252.50 an acre, CHAPTER XXX. cash, no improvement of value being on the ground. All over the city, as there was also 1852. throughout the country, real estate was in CJOV. CARLIN. FIRST DAILY MAIL BY STE.-\MER. eager demand and was changing owners rapid- THE WHIG BECAME A DAILY. IMPROVE- ly and at rising figures. MEN'I\S. BOOM IN BUSINESS, MILL BURNED. FIRST 0FFICI.4L REPORT OF THE SUPER- Money was plenty and easily obtained, and INTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. KciSSUTH I.NVITED TO QUINCY. R.\ILRO.A.D WORK CAR- the adoption of the State Bank law gave RIED ON. WHITNEY. TH.\YER. 'IMIAYER broader opportunities for the establishment of BY A POLITICAL MISTAKE. EILECTS TRUM- BULL TO THE U. S. SENATE. POLITICAL "money factories," as they were called, and CH.\NGES. M.-VYOR'S S.-^LARY RAISED TO $300. POLITIC.A.L. for a greater increase in the amount of paper circulation. A curious feature in regard to the A second vote was taken at the town elec- bank law, which went into operation at this tions in April, on the question of the continu- time, was the sectional character of the eon- ance of the township organization system in test. It was partially made a political issue. the county, which had now been in operation The whigs all favored it, the democrats gen- for two years. It was sustained by a vote of erallj' opposed it. The southern section of the 1,532, with but 222 cast against it, two towns state strongly democratic, was almost solid only, Ursa and Beverly, voting to fall back to against the law, the central belt, which was the county court system. Quincy, as at the whig, and the noi-thern portion, then demo- former election on this issue, did not vote. cratic, favored it. Chicago voted thirty to one This was a severe season for the farmers in for the law, and yet, as a curi(nis commentary this section of the state, owing to the ravages on this, is the fact that wlien the law was rati- of the army worm and other insect pests, which fied by far the larger number of the banks did extensive injury to the early crops. The organized under it were located in the southern river opened as early as the 8th of February, part of the state, where it had received the closing for the succeeding winter on Christ- greatest opposition. The majority for the law mas day. Navigation was unusually good in in the state was 62,221. the early part of the season, and the water rose Much of handsome and substantial building to witliin three inches of the great flood of was done during this year. The fine brick 1S44. and about five feet less than that greatest

church long known as the Centre Congrega- of floods in 1851 ; but it ran very low in the tional, at the corner of Fourth and Jersey, a fall, so much so that the St. Louis packels were branch of the 1st Congregational Society, was not able to make their trips above Quincy after commenced. the middle of November. It is now owned by the Baptists. The Pres- The first regular daily mail by steamer was byterian church, on J\Iaine street, was enlarged established in April from St. Louis to Galena, and imitroved, and the Lutlieran church, now which was continued for many years, until replaced by the imiiosing structure on the cor- superseded by the more rapid railroad convey- ner of State and Ninth, was completed. ance. Before this time occasionally mail mat- Touching this latter, a mishap occurred sad ter had been carried on the boats and messen- to those who were the sufferers but amusing to gers appointed to take it in charge, but it was worldlings. By some error or oversight the only occasional and never became permanent lightning rod placed along down the outside until now. of the steeple was carried as far as the belfrey The Whig opened out as a daily on the 22d and there landed, hanging there with no con- of JMarch, issuing at the same time a tri-weekly. nection to the earth. The lightning caixght on It was the beginning of the present Daily Whig, the tip of the rod, followed it down and when althougli it met with two or three temporary it came to the lower end spread itself, shiver- sus])ensions before it became substantially es- ing the steeple and setting it on fire. The flame tablisliril. The uncertainties of the telegraph PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAIMS COUNTY, 141

{111(1 tlie (If.irtli of local jiiatlers of interest were (.(jiiincy had known since 1836. The staple the difficulties which hampered the establish- business of the past winter had been up to the ment of a daily paper in those days. standard. Between 19,000 and 20,000 hogs The winter of 18ol-52 was very cold and con- were the reported product of the packing sea- tinued late into the spring. On the lOth of son of 1851-52. about the average of the three Ai)ril there came one of the most severe and or four iireceding years. The great Hour mill- iinseasoiialde storms ever known in the west, ing business, which, for the last fifteen years, extending throughout the state and lasting for had been a sj)ecialty of (juincy. as ahead of any several days. The snowfall was from one to of the upper ilississippi cities, was increasing two feci in depth. in proportion to its past standard, bnt it met Much improvement was made in the general with temporary misfortune during the year. a]ipearance of the jdace by the building of Two of the largest of the half-dozen flour mills maiiN' limidsome. tasteful private residences, a came to what is the frequent fate of such stnic- feature peculiarly lacking heretofore, and also tiires, destruction by fire. These were the of large and substantial storehouses. The city Wheeler & Osborii and Smith mills, on Front v(-as growing fa.st. Among the needed and im- street, burned on the 17th of September. posing improvements was Kendall's, after- So common had then become, as it still is, wards known as the (Mty Hall, at the corner of this fatality of steam mills, that it was said ]Maine and Sixth streets, at a cost of about somewhat savagely, but suggestively, when ij;-J().()(l(l. This was notable as being the first these two went down, 'Well, this makes four ])ublic hall in the place. Before this time the steam fiour mills biinieil in the last two years. C'ourt House or the churches, if they could be Better call them steam fii'e mills." A tally of obtained, were the only conveniences for lec- the grist mills in (Quincy which have thus been tures, fairs and all exhibitions of a like charac- cremated, would more than exhaust one man's ter. Jlr. Orrin Kendall, the owner of this hall, fingers. Avas one of (^uincy's most energetic and enter- Among the chief manufacturing establish- prising men. He moved from here to Chicago, ments of the place, and perhaps that which and, as though he had a passion for such plans, handled the heaviest transactions of any. was erected there a hall patterned almost precisely the Thayer distillery, located about one-half after that in Quincy and endowed it with his mile south of the city, whose report at this naiiic, a handsome structure, which fell before time stated the cost of the buildings, etc., to

the great fire of 1871. The stone Episcopal have been $:i0.n()n : that there was annually church, now the Cathedral, was finished during consumed 8(l(>.(iOii bushels of grain: $12,500 this year. paid for cooperage: $4,500 ]iaid to wood

The 1)00111 ill real estate property continued. choppers: $8,000 to employes, and that there An indication of these values was shown in the was capacity for feeding 2,000 hogs and about sale of what was then known as the "^last cor- half that number of cattle, which each year ner." so called from its owner. ]\Iichael Mast, was fully used. an eccentric, popular little man, a tailor, the The first published official report of the earliest (ierman settler in the place, and the superintendent of the public schools was issued first tailor also. This property, 491'^ feet on this year. Before this i)eriod. as required by Maine by Kill feet on Fifth street. Avas sold in law. a brief formal statement was ainmally September for .$4,165, about .$85 per front foot handed into the council, and as briefly and for- on i\Iaine. There were on it no improvements mally placed away on file. A detailed report of value. The contrast of these figures is of the condition of the public schools was. on curious with what the same jiroperty "went the commendafory recommendation of the for" twenty-seven years before at the County mayor, ordered to be summari/.ed and officially Comiiiissioner.s' sale. Then the entire corner published, since which time this has been an-

lot. !)!) feet by 198. of which the "IMast corner" nually done, and it is only from this date that was one-fourth, brought at auction. .$16.25, a fair history of the public schools can be made, about 17 cents per foot. (^>uite a handsome the earlier i-ecords being meager or lost. The specniaticiu. public schools liad now. after many year's of Business of all Idnds was active and extend- trial, outlived all the ojiiiosition and iirejudice ing. There was in it a bustle, life and confi- with which they were at first assailed: were dence that gave most sanguine promise for the well managed, tiourishing. and favored by the future. With a fast increasing population, real treneral public. There were two schools, large- estate rapidly accreting in value, money facil- ly attended, each with a primary department ities all that could be de.sired, eastern railroad attached, employing in all eight teachers. connections assured, this was much the iiiosf The esjiecial natiiuial excitement of this

livelv and seeminglv successful vcar that \e,-ii- was the coiiiini;- to .Vmerica of the noted 142 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. patriot and exile Kossuth, who was wai'mly on Front street, from Broadway north to the welcomed all over the land by manifestations city limits, and also the use by "loan'" or grant, of sympathy and respec-t such as have been ac- or otherwise, of a portion of the public laud- corded to uo foreigner except when Lafayette ing for depot purposes. The right of way made his tour through the United States in was given and also the grant of a tract two 1824-25. Beside the interest that he attracted hundred feet in length on the west side of as being the most eminent representative of re- Front street and north of Vermont. This was publican freedom in Europe, he was an orator the first of the franchises granted by the city, of most graceful and persuasive nature. He followed by others of like nature; which have was gifted with a lingual facility that enabled given to this one railrt)ad so much; and, so far him to use the English language with a readi- as other roads are concerned, exclusive privi- ness and aptitude e(iual to Carl Schurz, to lege. These were accorded to what, at the whom, while he was inferior in force and orig- time, was the Northern Cross railroad, but inality of intellect, he was far superior in elo- passed and continued when it became absorbed cutionary grace. The "Kossuth craze," as it in the C, B. & Q. railroad. was called, pervaded the whole country, The brief statement heretofore given of the Qniney, as well, and tlie ]\Iayor, always alive to transactions of the Tha.ver distillery as par- catch a popular feeling, jilaced before the c(nin- tially illustrative of the business of the place, cil a proposition to officially extend to Kos- should be supplemented by a mention of other suth the courtesies of the city, which was done, intere.sts carried on at the same time by its and seconded also by a public meeting of the active and enterprising proprietor, who was citizens. Kossuth did not come, but he was generally recognized as the foremost business met and greeted at St. Louis by a formal rep- man of the city. resentation of the council and by a large dele- With this reference to 'Sir. Thayer and his gation of the citizens, who retiu-ned delighted career is associated the remembrance of another with him and themselves. man who occupied the same relative position The railroad work went steadily forward, through ten or twelve years of an earlier pe- between two and three hundred men being em- riod. The business enterprises of these two plo.ved in grading at various points along the men were almost precisely the same, their in- line within twenty miles of Quincy. As almost fluence and position in the community was very the entire original state survey had been aban- much alike, and the career of each came to a doned, and a new line laid out, the lawyers, of lunu'ly similar close. The names of what are course, reaped a small harvest out of a good called business men, however conspicuous they many "right of way" eases that naturally came may be for the time, do not live on the recoi'ds up. Some not pleasant jars occurred also over like those of the politician and the placeman, this question, whether the road should be fin- lint their immediate importance and influence ished first from Camp Point to the Illinois river, is far more effectively felt, is often more ad- or pushed northwards to a Chicago connection. vantageous and much more permanent. The indefiniteness of that clause in the charter, U. G. Whitney came to Quincy from which prescribed that the road should not run :\rarietta, Ohio, about 1831 or '32, started a east of Knoxville, and the uncertainty of where store in partnership with Richard S. Green, and would be the Mississippi terminus of the C, B. rapidly rose to the position of being the most & Q. road, which was rapidly reaching south- extensively engaged and supposed wealthiest ward, also the adverse interests of other con- merchant of the town, a place which he main- templated railroads in the upper section of the tained for many years. Of a genial, generous IMilitary Tract, added to these embarrassments. disposition, quiet but attractive demeanor, he They were all finally adjusted, however, with had great luisiness ambition and a shrewd, the conclusion that the northern connection bold, broad capacity therefor. Beside manag- should be first secured by the way of Gales- ing his large mercantile establishment on the burg. IMcDonough county, in May, by a ma- west side of the square, where probably more jority of 173, in a pretty large vote after a trade Avas done than at any three or four of hotly contested election, voted a subscription the other stores, he had interests in several distillei'v of :i;100,000, and in August, Brown county fol- country stores; built also in 1834 a on erected a lowed suit b.v the decisive vote of 749 for, to two miles lielow the town : later 316 against, a bond subscription of !tiriO,000. and large steam flour and saw mill ten miles south, about $25,000 of private subscription was and in connection with it put up a capacious raised at Meredosia and points westward along warehouse on the west river bank, about six the line. miles above Hannibal, and subsequently built, At the October session of the cit.v coiincil the at the corner of Maine and Front streets, two railroad asked from the city the right of way brick storehouses, the largest structures of PAST A.ND I'KESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 143 the kind then in tlie city. In addition to the only a great nuiid)er of individual creditors. care of these manifold interests, lie was inter- The failui'cs of these two men, owing so ex- esteil in the steamboat tratfie between St. Jjouis tensively as they ditl, was a crippling misfor- and Qniney, and more or less each year en- tune to many, but yet Quincy owed them much. gaged in grain and provision speculation. During the twenty-five or thirty years when About 1837-:58 he built the house now owneil the one or the other of them was a leading by tJeneral Singleton ("Boscobel"), whii-h spirit of (Quincy "s business, it was to a great when erected, was the most expensive and ele- degree theii- enteri)rise. means, business bold- gant private resideiu-e in this section of the ness aiul sagacity that kept the city ahead of state, lie pulled with apparent success the competition of surrounding rivals, gave it through the '"luirtl times"" of 1837 and after, life, activity and employment, and engrafted but failed about 1842 or '43, and twice after- upon it prosperities which were bound to be- ward each time with a huge cloud of \iu-;i] iii- come jiermanent. Such men make towns debtetlne.ss aliout him. ilespite which lir twirc though they fiiil. The business history of temporarily established himself through his (^)uiiicy would be half untold if these nu'u and l)ersonal j)opularity and his sti'ong hohl upon wluit they did, were omitted. public confidence. On his final failure, he re- .Ml-. Thayer was pers(uially a difterent man moved to Califoi'uia, in 184!), and thei"e partial- from .Mr. Whitney. He was thoroughly a busi- ly succeeded in restoring his fortunes, but lu'ss inau. and rai'ely seen in society, always never attained the pre-eminence that he sus- either at his counting I'oom or place of busi- tained here. His death was caused by being ness, or at home. He was also an extreme crushed between the cars about twelve yeai's democrat as Mi-. Whitney was as ardent a ago. whig, but he oidy touched politics when it fell About 1844 or "4.5. whiMi the financial pres- in the way of his business interests. He was tige of 'Sir. Whitney was declining. 'Mr. Syl- elected aldenuaii and mayor and was very effi- vester Thayer came from Xew York and cient in both i)ositions. To him in a large de- opened a dry goods store on the north side of gree, and vei-y much to his regret when- the the public sipiare. >uider the tirm luime of S. & result transpired, is tine the election of the first AV. B. Thayer, afterwards Thayer & Co. Later republican U. S. Seiuitoi' from Illinois. It is a they purchased and removed to the building curious piece of local political lii.story, still on the southwest corner of Maine and Fourth. more curious from its broad effects. The whig, The younger brother was popular, and the or anti-Nebraska convention, as it was called, older one shrewd, longheaded and enterprising. in 1854, had nominated for the legislature They soon stejiped into an extending city and ^lessrs. Sullivan and (Jooding. xV bitter per- county trade, and gradually enlarged their op- sonal feeling between yiv. Gooding and Dr. erations in the same manner as ;\Ir. Whitney Harrington, who was an aspirant for the nom- luid done ten or twelve years before. They ination, both being citizens of Paysou, made built and operated a large steam mill at the Dr. Harrington incline to come out as an in- foot of Delaware street, and erected on the op- dependent candidate against (rooding. At this posite side of the street the largest warelKuise same time the temperance matter had stalked in the city, and probably the largest above into the canvass and a series of awkward St. lj(niis. with a depth of one hundred and (piestions upon this subject was publicly pro- sixty-seven feet and a width of si.Kty feet. jiounded to the legislative caiulidates. The re- wliich is .still standing and has since been ply of ]Mr. Ruddle, one of the democratic nom- used for a tobacco factory and other pui-po.ses; inees, to the effect that he ^v•as not especially also the distillei-y south of the city, since hostile to a moderately restrictive temperance known as Curtis"; nuule large stock purchases, law if passed iipon by the people, did not ac- bought acres of grazing lands in ilissouri and cord with the intei'est and views of ]\Ir. Thayer, operated on a scale as nuich more extensive and when Dr. Harringt(ui ai)])eared as a can- than had l)een done before as the size and didate ^Ir. Thayer actively thi'ew all the in- business of the city was greater than it had Hnence that he could exert against Ruddle and ever Ijeen. in support of Harrington. The result was that, Some yeai's subse(|i'.eiit to this i)eriod (1852) while the democi-atic ticket carried the county they failed hoi>elessly. loaded as Mr. Whitney at the Novend)er election by several Imndred had been with local indebtedness, but this fail- nui.jority, 'Sir. Huddle was beaten for the legis- ure was different in the one resi)ect. that Thay- lature by 'Sly. Sullivan, who led him six votes er carried down with him the two banking (Dr. Harrington getting between 600 and houses of Flagg & Savage and IMoore. TTollow- 700), evei-y other democrat on the ticket be- bush & Co., while Whitnev's failure involved ing elected. These six votes placed Siillivan 144 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

in the legislature, which thu.s had a republican matter was being battled over in the legisla- nia.jorit_y of one. by which one vote, Lyman ture, and now became a local question of some Trumbull was chosen to the United States Sen- importance. Quincy railroad interests sought ate. As Jlr. Thayer said afterwai'ds, the re- to "stave oft'" the granting of a charter to the sult unfortunately exceeded his expectations. Pike county road (from Hannibal to Naples) What might have been the bearing upon the until the N. C. R. R. was completed to Mere- country and parties had Trumbull not been dosia. In this they mainly succeeded, but the chosen, and Shields or ]\latteson elected to the (juestion entered into and a good deal affected senate as affirming Illinois in the support of the political issues in the city for some years. Douglas' Nebraska policy, is a question for This was a year of notable political changes politicians to speculate on if they choose, but and surprises alike in local and national affairs. it is a queer fact that this result was brought The city election in April was a singular show- about by a trifling local dispute and accident ing, completely reverisng the previous political in Adams county. order of things. The council, which two years Money flowed freely during these days. The before in ISoO. had consisted of five democrats state was flooded with bank note promises to and one whig, now had five whigs and one dem- pay. The free banking law of 1851 was pro- ocrat. The whig council, following the prece- ducing its natural fruits ("dead sea apples," dent of their predecessors, placed in all the as they partially proved to be), as will the appointive offices men of their own political results of every financial scheme that proposes faith. E. H. Buckley was chosen city clerk, to perpetuate a uniform eipialized national cur- which place he occupied for the next two years, rency which is based on other security than and the entii'e city "outfit"" was composed of the national credit, faith and industry. Flagg whig officials. John Wood was chosen mayor & Savage, the leading brokers, organized the over J. il. Pitman bv 190 majority on a vote "City Bank of Quiuey" and issued notes. of about 1.200, and John Wheeler," A. B. Dor- Their's was the earliest established pi'ivate man and J. N. Ralston were elected aldermen, bank of issue in the place. Their notes, how- the whigs carrying every ward for the first ever, did not circulate at home, but were ex- time in the history of the city. changed for others of an eiiuivalent face value But little of new and local importance oc- issued by some distant banks, organized and curred in the transactions of the council dur-

with a circulation secured ( ?) by the deposit of ing the year. One rather amusing excitement, state bonds, bought or borrt)wed, and the such as Quincy occasionall}^ and Quincy only cheaper these were, the better for the banks. can furnish, came up during the latter part Quincy was much exercised about this time of Mayor Holmes' administration, over the for the want of a "nom de plume." All the matter of paying the annual state tax. The other cities in the land had their fancy names, collection of this tax had been heretofore made and Quincy had none. The titles it should by a ditt'erent official and at a different period with most apparent propriety claim, of from that of the city tax, and now by law the "Mound City" or "Bluff City," had already time for its payment was advanecd, thi'owing been assumed by St. Louis and Hannibal. It the collection of two taxes into the same year. was proposed to call it the Hill City, but that The fact that Quincy paid no county tax, and would have dwarfed it alongside of Hannibal, perhajjs the other anonmlous fact that for sev- and ilountain City was too moiretrous. There ei-al years the eastern part of the county had were sixteen churches in Quincy at this time. avoided the payment of taxes, had put into the a very large number in proportion to the pious heads of some earnest people the idea that the popvilation, and it was seriously urged to have paying of state taxes, apparently twice in the the place christened "the City of Churches," same year, could be got clear of, notwithstand- but this was a name that might not stick, and ing that they were based on separate assess- had already been adopted elsewhere. So the ments. So much stir was made over this ques- city went upbaptized for awhile longer, until tion that the mayor, who. with many merits as the name "Gem City" was assumed, why, how a citizen and official, always had an eye to the or for what specific reason it is difficult to say, vox poiMili vox Dei, especially the popular eye, although there are some appropriate points to called a public meeting to decide whether the warrant this title, and it has now become per- state tax of 1851 ought to be collected. The manently fixed. meeting was a large one and it was there re- A special session of the legislature was called solved that, while the payment of two taxes, which began on the 6th of June and ended on so nearly together, was a hardship, yet it could the 26th. It was important only to Quincy not be evaded, and so this little teapot tempest for the reason that the Pike county railroad was calmed down. PAST AM) 1 'RESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 145

.\ND GERMAN SEMINARY. JEFEERSON SCHOOL Tlic line spcci;!! iictimi ol' tlic new city roiiii- PROPERTY. Hl'SINESS PROSPERITY. CHAR- cil tliiit created comment jiikI ci-iticism. was TER FOR A BRIDGE. COUNTY AGRICULTUR.A.L SOCIETY. QUINCY MADF, .\ PORT OF ENTRY. llicir raisiii<;- the salary of the mayor from ^fi'J.jO THE GERM.\N TRIHUNE. $100.0011 VOTED TO I.MPRi)Vi;.MKNT MAINE. HAMP- to $:i(M). Ill the earlier times the mayor RAILRO.VD. OF was SHIRE AND HRO.\l>\\AV. AGITATION FOR not only the fiiiiirehead of the city in his rep- PL.\.\K ROAD TO nrRToN. RO.VD ON OPPO- SITE SIDE OF RIVER TO THE BLUFFS. FIRST resentative character as j)resident of the coun- "STRIKE." "OUINCY Hl.UIIS" OTHER ilUA- cil and vested with a good deal of executive TARY ORGANlZ.N'lh i.V aulliority, but he was also, ex officio, a matiis- Navigation, which luul ended on the 2r)th of li'.ilr and expected to serve as such. .-iikI was, December. 1852. was resumed on the first of wilhal. street superintendent. Sinne of the February, and continued tnitil Christmas again in- earlier mayors. Conyers and Wood, for in 1853. The i-iver had been open here during stance, from a sense of duty and personal in- most of the winter, and about the middle of of to over- clination, save up most their time January a boat, the Regulator, which had been gradini;'. side- s(>ein!>' the street the layinu' of wintering hei'c. started sonlliward laden with a task walks, liutters. etc.. Avhich was no small heavy sliipmeiit of pork, antl after ten or fur whoever undertook to personally superin- twelve days" battle with the ice, reached St. to a tend all the details. The duties attaching fjouis, and returned to Quincy. It was then an se;it in the city conueil were not as many as important advance gained to get the winter in later years, nor was the aldermanic dignity jiarking product of Quincy to St. Louis or the scnitiht but for so pi'ized and after as now: south at the eai'liest possible period. The busi- reasons, the selection of these, oi' some other ness in this line for the season had been good, men to fill such positions was taken much more and some 21.000 hogs were reported as having of satisfactorily. Take, for instance, the names been packed. The pi-iee greatly varied, run- of this year. 1852, who were a the aldermen ning from $3.50 nj) to .+(i.0(). fathers fair samjjle of what and who the city The "Eels case."" which had been contro- Savage. used to be. John Wheeler, ("has. A. verted in the various courts for many yeai's, Thomas Redmond, A. B. Dorman, Dr. J. N. Ral- originating about 1837. was decided on the all representative men ston, (ieoi'ge W. Brown, 21st of January. This case was important and character commanded whose intelligence and had much national attention, becau.se it judi- contrasting with ])ublic confidence, strongly cially settled the personal responsibility of par- later councils. some of our day ties in a free state who assisted the farther Political feeling I'an high during this last. escape of slaves after they had tied clear from party for a na- lio|)eless. struggle of the whig the state where local law recognized them as meetings tional existence. Large i)arty mass property, thus sustaining the validity of the The demo- were held during the campaign. then existing fugitive slave law in extending carried county and city, giv- cratic ticket both its operations into the free states, was espe- over Scott, and Matte- ing Pierce for president cially interesting to Quincy people, for the rea- nearly 400 ma- son, for governor over Webb, son that the defendant had long been a promi- local candidates about 50 less. jority, and the nent citizen of this plac(>, where the ease com- elected To congress. W. A. Richardson was menced. Dr. Richard Eels, whose name has John Moses over O. 11. Browning, J. M. Pitman, thus become somewhat accidentally historical to the legislature from Adams, and David Wolf in connection with the early anti-slavery over J. R. Chittenden. J. C. Cox and Brown strifes, was a well established physician here, Levy Palmer, sheriff, and John Lomax. and and was a member of a small association which beat R. P. Coats and C. JI. Woods, circuit clerk, aided onward to Canada runaway slaves. The Field. Calvin A. Warren was elect- and John case with its long continuation, financially fiOO niajorily over ed state's attorney by alxnit ruined Dr. Eels, and the anxieties which it former incumbent. The J. n. Stewart, the ci'cated probably aided in breaking down his 261 in 1S48. now fell otV to freesoil vote of health, lie died in the West Indies about the Avhig majority at the April 107. and the 190 time that this suit was determined. He was by an e(|ual niajor- city election was replaced an unusually capable i)hysician and a worthy itv on the other side. man of rather extreme and unbalanced opin- ions njion some subjects. Connected with the CHAPTER XXXT. topic above mentioned, which was once a con- stant vexation, but had of late generally passed 1853. out of thought, there came up a slight renewal of the old slavery fever. A public meeting in I'ORK SHIPPED SOUTH BY BO.\T IN J.XNU.\Ry. THE EELS CASE. JUDGE SKINNER ON THE Clarion county. Mo., had resolved to have no FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. QUINCY GASLIGHT AND COKE COMPANY. BANKING. ENGLISH business iiitiTccuirsc with Quincy on account of 146 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. the disposition of so many of its people to har- to "Johnson College." in honor of one of its bor and aid runaway slaves. The question donors, and later still, in recognition of an- here was agitated a.s to what was the obliga- other beneficent gifts, it was rechristened tion in this matter in Illinois under the black "Chaddock College." which title it has since laws prescribed by the new constitution, and worn. About the time of this last change of how far the legal machinery of the state was name (in 1875) the college was removed to the subservient to the demand for the return of corner of State and Twelfth streets, and estab- fugitives. Judge Skinner, who at this time was lished in the Gov. Wood residence, which had on the circuit bench, made public his opinion been purchased for its use. At the same time that only the United States law and United with this removal the city board of education States officials had cognizance of such cases, bought, for $30,000, the old college property, and so with this closed nearly the last of the which comprised. l)esides the valuable building, old-time sensitive trouble between Quincy and an entire block, and located there the Jefferson its near neighbors across the river. public school. This was a judicious and op- The Quincy Gaslight and Coke Company, portune purchase for the school interests of which had been incorporated at the legislative the city. It chanced to come at a time when session of 1852-53, perfected its organization the Jefferson school was required to be re- on the 9th of August, with a capital stock of moved from Jefferson Square, to make way for $75,000, and made its local contract with the the new court house, and there was secured city for a twenty-five years' exclusive privi- to the school board a substantially built struc- lege. The greater portion of this stock was in ture, amply adapted to the purpose, with a the ownership of A. B. Chambers, of St. Louis, larger surrounding of ground than any other and he controlled the affairs of the company of the eight city school houses, placed also in for a long time. The remainder of the stock a quarter where it might not be easy in the was divided among the local ehai'ter members. future to obtain a sufficient amount of land so The company bought on th? 30th of July the centrally and satisfactorily situated for educa- ground at the corner of Jersey and Ninth, tional uses. which they yet occupy, and began work at Trade and business of eveiy kind continued once. Ample means were at the command of more and more flourishing. About forty the St. Louis parties, and the enterprise was .steamboats ran regularly from St. Louis to rapidly and judiciously piished, coming to an Quincy, and passing here in the up river trade. early completion and proving to be for a long During the free navigation period of ten time most satisfactory to the public and more nu»nths. which continued into December, with remunei-ative to the owners than any of the a brief suspension in the spring (an unusual other inter-corporate improvements in the city. occurrence), there were registered thirteen Banking matters i)art()ok of the general hundred and fifty steamboat landings, averag- quick activity. The "Quincy Savings and In- ing about five arrivals each day. surance Co..'' with banking privileges, char- A statement compiled at the close of this tered the winter liefore, formally organized. year, which is prol)ably correct so far as it This was afterwards, witli some changes of goes, but incomplete on account of many omis- name and control, the First National Bank of sions, rates the annual export trade of the city Quincy. A private banking house was opened as amounting to $l."2-t8,011. This professes to during the summer on the north .side of the embrace all the values of product and manu- l)ublic square by Ebenezer Moore, J. R. Hol- facture that had been sold and shipped away. lowbiish and E. F. Hoffman, under the name of Among the leading items therein cited were Moore, Hollowbush & Co. It did a handsome 3.153 barrels of beef, 6,850 of cracker.s, 28,923 and lucrative, business until carried down like of flour. 20.296 of whisky. 101 carriages, 594 the other bank of Flagg c& Savage, by the fail- wagons. 5.092 stoves. 1.165 plows. 4,119 hides, ure of the Thayers three or four years later. 8,039 bales of hay, 116 hogsheads of tallow, An "English and German Seminary," under 3,600 boxed candles, 430,000 feet lumber, 358,- the auspices of the Methodist church, was pro- Ot)0 laths and shingles, .$91,000 worth of cast- jected this year, and through earnest efforts, ings, engines, etc., 40,866 bushels of wheat, enlisting other denominational influences, it be- 7L386 of corn and 137,299 of oats. At the came a success. This is tlie institution which same time another, like the above only partial was erected and long located in the imposing statement of the business employments, repcn-ts brick structure on Spring street between Thii-d 3 steam flour and 2 steam saw mills. 2 distiller- and Fourth, generally known as the "Method- ies, 25 steam engines in use, 6 machine shops, ist College," now the Jefferson school house. 4 foundries, 1 cotton, 1 woolen, 1 wooden ware, Some vears after this, the name was changed 1 flooring factory, 3 sash, 3 carriage, 3 large PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 147 wliolesiile riiriiitiire factories and several covei'cd the 5,3()!),()()() acres of public land lying smaller ones, 2 extensive wagon and plow fac- between the ]\Iississipi)i and Illinois rivers, tories and 7 smaller ones. "2 planinn' mills, 5 i-eaching as fai- noi'tli as the latitude of LaSalle himhei- yards, 1 book-bindery, 2 liarihvare, (i and Rock Ishind. ,Moi-e than one-half of this, iron and stove, 3 books and stationery. 4 di'u<; about 3,500,000 aci-es, was by congressional law and over 200 retail stores, grocery, dry goods, reserved from general i)urchase, and specially etc., 2 banking houses, 18 clmi-ches, 2 daily and set aside to be deeded as bounties to the soldiers 3 weekly English and 2 weekly (Jerman news- in the war of 1812. Patents for these thus re- papers. The official valuation of city prop- served lauds were i.ssned to the soldiers as early erty for taxation, real and ]>ei'sonal. footed as 1815 and in the foui- oi- five following yeai's. t2.h76MO. The remaining unpatented lands were not of- The old coni't house, the second one. built in fered fill' s:ilc until a long time later, a large 183(3 on the east side of the square, was en- portion of them being reserved for more thaii larged by having an extension attached to the 20 years. The cheapness of these bounty lands rear, and, by an arrangement between the city which could be bought from the soldier paten- and county, the fcu'mer obtained the use of one tee: 160 acres for from .$10 or $15 to $30; or the of the large lower rooms for a clei'k's office and state tax title for a still lower figure, while the co'.nicil ro(nn, which was thus occupied fiu' the government price for land was $2.00 and later following fourteen years. $1.25 per acre, and their unsurpassed fertility, A charter for a bridge company was pro- with the advantage of a location between and cured at the legislative session of 1852-53, the nearly bordered by two great navigable rivers, incorporators being the directors of the N. C. were tempting offerings to the adventurous emi- R. R. and some other parties connected there- grants and to the sjjeculator, causing a flow of M-itli. Tlie re(|uirements of the charter were settlement towards this section far in advance thiit the bridge shoidd be commem-ed within of that received by any other part of Illinois; three and finished within six years. These an immigration which continued when the re- time conditions were not complied with, but mainder of the hitherto government land was extensions of the charter were obtained and thrown open to general entry. With the loca- with some changes from the original plan, this tion in Quincy of the public land office, there enterprise was the origin of the present i-ail- naturally followed the establishment of the pri- road bridge, constructed some twclv(> or thir- vate land agencies, which represented the titles teen years later. lo nearly all the unoccupied laiul in the bounty With the accession of the democratic jnirty tract that had been granted to the soldiers. at the national election in 1852 to administra- Hence every one desiring to purchase either tive control of the country, there followed the public or private land had to apply personally usual changes among the federal officials. or otherwise at Quincy. which, of course, thus Austin Brooks, editor of the Herald, was made became the sole land market center for this ])ostmaster, supplanting Abraham J(nuis, who section of the state. Had Rnshville. which at had held this office during the past four years. that period (1831) was more i)oi)ulous than Another person, a partner of Mr. Brooks, had Quincy. and came near being preferred, or Pe- been booked for this place, but an unlucky busi- oria, which was about eqiuilly central so far ness contretemps, coming to light, just on the as the location of the lands lay : had either of eve of apjiointnu'iit. precluded the use of his these been the point selected for the public laud nanu', and the office went to his j)artner. Also office, one of the strongest factors in the early A. C. ilarsh. as Register, and Damon Ilouscr. history of Quincy "s prominence and improve- as Receiver of the public land office, succccdeil ment would have been lost. Mo*it of the gov- Henry Asbury and H. V. Sullivan. There was ernment land had now, in 1853, passed into pri- a good deal of local special importance attached vate owner.ship, and when, soon after, the gen- to the land otrice and to these positions. They eral government donated to the states all the had been, in earlier years, places of distinction swamp lands, or those subject to overflow, so aiul responsibility, and were at one time lai'gely little was left in this district that it was no lucrative; mainly so from the fees, the stat(>d longer necessary to maintain the offices here, salary being small, only .'j;400 per annum. Their and they were removed to Springfield. value had been for some time past steadily Another federal office was created about this shrinking, and their importance also, and the time. A bill was introdiu'cd into Congress in a])iioiiitees above named were the last to Imlil December, to nudvc Quincy a port of entry, the offices, which eiuled with their term. which passed dui-ing the sessicni. The object The Quincy land district, established in 1831. was to convenience the railroad in its payments eniliraccd the entire ^filitai-y Bounty Tr;icl, ;iii(l (HI the iriiii inipoilcd fi-oni England. Under the 148 PAST AND PKESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. operation of this law jshipinent could be made holders' meeting in April the old directors were through direct to Quincy and here taken out of re-chosen with two additional members, these store, and the duties paid thereon from time to were Brooks and Joy, representatives of the time in such amounts as the railroad company northern interests in the road, which eventually required. Several other cities on this great obtained its control. W. H. Sidell became chief "inland sea" (as ^Ir. Calhoun, to evade his own engineer, succeeding Newell, and continued as opposition to internal imiu'ovements. termed the such until the final finish of the road to (iales- npper ilississippi), tliat were similarly inter- burg. Latei John Wood was made director in ested in railroad enterprises, were also about place of Pitman, resigned. this time, made ports of entry, and continued At the 1852-53 session of the legislature an such for a number of years, a good while after act had been obtained authorizing the city, by the chief reason for their establishment had a popular vote, to subscribe sfilOO.OOO in addi- passed away. The law relating to l-^uincy went tion to what had been already given towards into effect Feb. 2, 1854, and the appointment the construction of the railroad. The company of surve.vor of the port was made soon after. matle application for this, and on the 23rd of At the November eleetimi. which this being June a iniblic meeting was called to consider the odd year, was only for county officei's. the the matter, at which it was manifest that the democrats carried the county by the usual av- general feeling was favorable and earnest for erage ma.joi'ity of about 200, electing W. H. the subscripti(ni. The president of the road re- Cather Coiuit.v Judge over Henry Asbury: Geo. ported in detail its condition and prospects,

W. Leech Count.v Clerk over B. 'SI. Prentiss, and what had been done and was desii'ed and stated J. H. Luce Treasurer over C. SI. Pomero.v. The that an atlditional sum of .'^160,000 was required city election, in April, was a mixed success for to completel,v grade, bridge and iron the road both parties. The whigs re-elected John Wood to Galesburg, and that the plan proposed was as ilayor over J. M. Pitman by 6 votes, and for (juincy to furnish .^100.000, ilcDonough C. A. Savage to the council from the First ward county $25,000 (having already given $50,000), by 3 majority. F. AVellman and S. Thayer, and that the remainder would be made up by democrats, were elected in the Second and private subscription, also then and at a snbse- Third wards, and the general democratic ticket (|uent meeting the I'ailroad directory pledged was successful. With the casting vote of the itself to take care of the interest on these Mayor, the council continued the former whig b(mds. The city council promptl.v ordered an ofifieials. election to be held on the 30th of July for the A meeting of whigs was held on the 5th of jn-oposed subscription of $100,000 in eight per May to consider the project of establishing a cent bonds. The project was carried by a German whig newspaper. There were two Ger- neai-er approach to unanimity even than at the man periodicals then jiublished, both of which election over the first subscription two years were democratic. Mr. Wood proposed to pur- before. Then the vote stood 1,074 to V.l Now chase type, etc., for such a paper if the party there were 1,133 votes cost for anil but 4 would sustain it for tive years. The result was against. ^McDonough coiuity followed suit in the establishment of the Tribune, which made August by a vote of 1.145 in favor of the $25,- its appearance on the first of November as an 000 subscrijttion with 285 opposed. There was independent German weekl.v. It did not, how- also $30, 30(1 raised by personal snl)scription. ever, live out its time. The promised support this about c(unpleting the amount called for. failed within a year or two and after passing- This was the sec(nid of the five subscriptions, through several changes of ownership and amounting to $1,100,000, which have mainly name, it became what is now the Germania. made the foundation of the present city debt, The Herald met with another of its frequent the amoinit above named having been increased kaleidoscopes and suspended during the sum- greatly by the funding of long delinquent inter- mer, resuming ab(nit the first of August under est. Whatever may be said or thought now, the management of Wni. SI. Avise & Co. then, or at any time as to the need or propriety Railroad matters were progressing succe.ss- of incurring these great debts, Quinc.v has for fully. iluch of the grading thfongh Adams them its own sole responsibilit.v to bear, for it comity, the heavier sections excepted, was well is a patent fact that each and all of these meas- advanced toward completion, and before the ures were eagerly adopted, not onl.v with no close of the .vear the entire roadbed to Gales- shadow of dissent, but Avith an almost feverish burg was under contract. Some changes oc- enthusiasm of unanimity. To the $1,100,000 curred in the management and in the directory, cited above as the sum of Quinc.v 's investments where a causeless inhai-mony temporarily oc- in railroads may be added the city proportion curred that was soon corrected. At the stock- of $220,000 voted by the county to the two -

PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 149

roiiils I'liiiiiiiiy iKii'lli ;iiul siiiitli. which. hdWcvri-. to many as unnecessary at tlu' tinu-. but was of became no ])ai't of the liabilities of (Juiiicy. and re:il, essential importance. This half mile cut its bnfden has insensibly passed out of exist to the i-iver had been maile by the railroad com- (Mice. A special is.siie of bonds to the amount pany twenty years before, and now much was of ifilli.OOO was made dnrini;' this year to meet needed to bring it into useful and available the i)ayment on bonds, about to mature and to condition as a street. take iij) and fund local iiidebtetlness. At Twelfth street it la.v some ten oi' twelve .\n utnisnal amount of expensive and pernui- fe(>t below the present surface level, to which

nent pid)lic impi'ovement was done during this it was raised again at this time, and to e(pialize year. .Maine and Hampshire streets alonfi and the grade westwarti re(piii-"d many changes to eastwai'd from the public square were heavily be made all along the line, some of them quite macadamized, "a deep kneeded want (lurint>' costly, but the result in creating the best thor- the muddy mouths." was Quiney's V(>teran oughfare, in fact, the oidy easy graded street f)unster"s comment on the mattei-. Bi-oadway fi'((m the i-ivei' up into the city, more than war- from Twelfth to the river was ]iut in passable, ranted the i)i'opriety of the expenditui'e. traveling' condition, by havinfj its unifoi-m The grade also of Maine street fi-om Eighth grade established and the same nearly finished to Eighteenth streets, then the eastern limit of before the close of the year. This comprehen- the city, was established and partial work sive and costly work, involvino' one of the larj;-- begun thereon, yet many years passed before est exi)en(litures of the kind that the city had the street was brought to anything like its pres- as yet made, was the cause of constant war in ent handsome ajipearance. Settlement along the council, fud annuiii' the newsjjapers through- it at this time was thin, thei'e being but three out the summer and fall. atifordin<;- ])leuty of houses east of Twelfth. ;ind not many more material for outside gossip and discussion, and west to Ninth, and the ground was unequal and often for merriment. It was the raciest, most broken. One now looking along that broad honest contest of which the council had n\) to stretch of smooth bedded street, with its easy, this time been the theater, not exhibiting the graceful proporti(ni of rise and decline, cannot cavortings that sometimes have been shown easily realize that its whole length from Ninth thei'e in later years, but it was pugnacious and to Sixteenth, w'as at this period a billowy suc- plucky anil long. The city fathers were evenly cession of lean hazel ridges and abrupt ravines, di\ided on this ifssue. The two from the north as numerous as the crossing streets and at times and one from the middle ward ardently urging almost impassable, changed a.s it now has be-

it. while the two from the south ward and the come into the most beautiful thoroughfare of other middle ward member were etpially tiint- the city, which indeed can scarcely be elsewhere like in their op]iosition. The project was brought surpassed. forwai'd. passed through the cotnicil. because of Real estate valiH>s continued to advance as the ab.senee from the city of one of the soutli they had been steadily doing since 1840. ac- wai'd aldermen, the contract was let and the celerated by the active railroad movement and grading connneneed. When, however, this ab- |iros|)ects. To the surprise of some, however. sentee aldei'nuin retui'ned and one of the n(U-th- this increased rise a|i|)eared more in the eastern sidei's hapiiened to be away, the boot changed and central sections, than in the older portion legs; the order for grading was revoked, and of the city under th(> hill, where it might be payment on the work done suspended, until by presumed, from the location there of the dejiot,

anothei' chance and the idiseiice again ol' ;i bidding the lailmad tn the river business, that south aldei'man and the return of the mn'tli the value of the gi'iiuml in that vicinity would nieiulici. thus giving back the original luajoi'lty. be most enhanced. The resnlt was the reverse

the im])rovement stai'ted up again: and so it of this expectation. Soiii(> property there see-sawed throughout the season, while all tlii' chan.aed owners, and at good advanced figures, lime (Uie newsjiaper. to nuike c;i])ital ai;ainst but the trades made were mostly siieculative. the city ailministration. and because its special and the ti.uures lower than relatively ruled else- friend didn't get the contract, bitterly de- where. The lot on the corner of Front and nounced the job. and the other paper, to sus- Broadway, which for some years had '"gone tain the administration and because its special a-begging" at -l^'iO.OO per foot, was now sold for friend had secui-ed the contract, fought for it ;|(.']0.flO, but this was somewhat exceptional, and with ecpial zeal. It was a furious warfare of generally the investments in this ((uarter re- words. The editors have gone, the conti-actors munerated slowl.v. the truth being that there are dead, and two only of the aldermen are has always been a larger area of ground and living, but the work went on to completion. It frontage on the river than was needed for the was, as before said, a very expensive and business that required to be specially located troublesome improvement to make. ap]ieariiiu' there, and this fact holds good as much in later 150 PAST AND PKESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

daj's as it ahva.ys did in earlier times, when The military fever, which had been gradually only "steamboat business" was transacted un- dying out since the close of the Mexican and der the hill. ilormon wars, broke out afresh this year with The promise and stir of the coming railroad the organization of the Ouincy Blues, made up stimulated some other latent ideas of enter- in part from the members of foi-mer like asso- prise into activity. There had been for many ciations, under the captaincy of B. M. Prenti-ss, years a common "talk." usually just before a which soon became a somewhat noted and cred- city election, of a jilank road across the river itable company. A German company, the bottom opposite the city. One frequent candi- Rifles or Yagers, was at this time the only or- date for public honors, periodically used as his ganization of this character in the city, and political shibboleth, "a town clock, free ferry it went out of existence soon after. The for- and Missouri plank road." These of course mation of the Blues brought out several other amounted to nothing; after the election, but now companies within the near following years. with the .spirit of enterprise well aroused, and These were the "Quincy Artillery," under Cap- some rivalry excited, the first practical move- tain Austin Brooks, of the Herald, a dapper ments were made in the direction of the last little "cadet company, composed of the boys above named and the most important of the from Root's High School, and commanded by three measures suggested. Captain Martin Holmes, and the "City Hannibal, seeing that Quincy had an assured Guards," under Captain E. W. Godfrey, who eastern and northern railroad connection, Avhile as a captain in the 18th ^Missouri Infantry, was its own was at yet uncei-tain, had pushed out killed at the battle of Shiloh in 1862. Quincy to good completion its plank and gravel road, thus had for several years four military organ- reaching through the bottom lands to the Illi- izations, but all of them disbandecl before nois blutit's so as to secure and retain all the 1861, except the City Guards, which being then trade of the southern part of Adams county. .still in prosperous condition, became the nu- With an eye towards meeting this tlank move- cleus from which was formed the two compa- ment from our little rival city, a Quincy com- nies which volunteered in the spring of 1861 pany projected and completed the survey of a to do duty in the war of the rebellion. Prior line for a plank road to Burton, nine miles to this period. 1843. there had been at different times four military associations in city, southeast of the city ; and what was of like but the the much greater importance, an elaborate exam- first being the "Grays" in 1838-9, next the ination and survey with estimates of expense, "Riflemen" in 1813. and shortly after the Avas made by a skillful engineer, B. B. Went- "^Montgomery (.iuards, "" an Irish company, and worth, for about five miles of road, commencing the Germany company of Captain Delabar be- at the ferry landing opposite the city and fore mentioned. The "Riflemen" and "Mont- reaching almost by an air line to the north gomery^ Guards" enlisted in the Mexican war. Fabius bridge at the foot of the ^lissouri bluft's. The estimates were, for a road of this charac- ter, raised above possible overflow, trestled CHAPTER XXXII. bridges, etc.. .$19,246 for a single track with passings, and $21,656 for a double track. What 1854. has been expended since this time, thirty-four ICE PACKING BECOMES A BUSIXE.SS. WIDTH OF THE RIVER 3.960 FEET. THE.^TIIE STARTED. years ago, in endeavoring to make a road of AM.A.TErR .A.CTORS. HIGH SCHOOL. NEBRASKA BILL. POLITICAL CH.-VNGES. DATUM FOR this character, we do not know, but it is truth STREET rjRADES FIXED. MOULTON'S ADDI- beyond question that if the above named TIO.N. SWAMP LANDS SOLD. GAS COMPANY ST.\RTED. FIRST LOCOMOTIVE BROUGHT TO amount, taken from what has been given rail- QUINCY. A HOT SUMMER. DISTILLERY BURNED. QUINCY C.\DETS. roads, vast as their benefits have been, had been devoted to the opening of these two enterprises, The winter of 1853-54 was generally pleas- the gain to Quincy would have been verj- great ant, not marked by anyextreme degree of tem- and the railroads would not have missed it. perature, although the snowfall was unusually The first formal workman's "strike" broke large. The staple business of the season kept out this year among the laborers at the brick up with former years, about 22,000 hogs being and lumber yards, who claimed an advance of packed, which was a fair average product. A pay from seventy-five cents to a dollar a day. new branch of business began about this time, They all quit work on the 20th of June and rather light at first, but one that has since rap- paraded the town in procession, preceded by idly increased and grown to a place among the music of drums and fife. This was then a nov- leading industries of the city. This was ice elty and attracted attention, resulting in the packing, heretofore altogether a private aft'air. yielding of the employers to the demand. which now, however, commenced as a regular PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 151 business. 'I'ln- lirst ici' Ikhiscs I'nr piirkini;'. to the election. The wIml; candidates, with the preserviiiu' iiiid scllinL; 1lir(Mi;:li(iiit tin- city, exception ol' Singleton, and also all the candi- were built this yc:ii\ uw a small scjile c(>iii|)ar('(l dates from the city, were in some parts of witb wliat it has since liecoiiie. but I'lilly up to the county and in iirown overlooked altogether the wants of the place at the tinic. I. Clevc- in some pi'ecincts secui'ing not a single vote, laiicl, and soon aftci- .1. ('oh\ woe the pioneers and in Brown the Singleton vote was about in this lini', packiii;,:- not a yi-eat deal, but three times the total of all the others combined. enough for local distribution during the fol- Another special election was held on the 4th lowing summer. The I'ivei- on the 23rd of Feb- of A|iril for a county clerk to succeed George ruary, at a v 9th of Febi'uary. Leech ceeding winter, 1854-1855, T'emained entirely was a popular and skillful official, familiar free from ice. Navigation was eas.v and la.sted with the routine ami history of public business long by reason of this early opening, and the with which he had been a.ssociated from boy- nearly full continuance of the spring rise as hood, belonging to oiu' of those hereditary late as the middle of November, All through office-holding families, of which the country the summer the river was high. Twenty-one has so nuiny. His early death was a jniblic feet above low water mark was the gauge given loss. At this election John Field, whig, was of the highest water, and this uiuisual altitude chosen over Wash. Wren, the late democratic long sustained gave a greater average volume shei-itf, by nearly 300 majority. of flow through the season than had been often Changes were made in the legislative dis- before known. tricts by the appr)rtionment law of 1854. Un- A question much mooted then, and pcrha[)S der this Avlams county was sejiarated from since, as to what is the exact width of the Pike, and with Brown nuide a senatorial dis- I\lississippi at this jioint, was referred to some trict, and also Adams became a single repre- of the railroad engineers, who settled it by a sentative district, entitled to two members, in- careful measurement made over the ice in stead of as before, having three members in February, which had never been thus done be- connection with Brown connty. There was fore. Starting from low water mark, at the also enacted af this session a law which be- foot of Vermont street, and running on an came a part of the city charter, providing for exact east and west i)arallel to a point about the election of two police magistrates for the 200 feet south of the ferry landing on the ilis- city and relieving the mayor from judicial du- souri shore gave a distance of 3,960 feet, al- ties. most an even three-quarters of a mile. Since The first attempt at an established theater this measurement was made, on account of en- dates from this time. There had been as early ci-oachments from the east side of the river by as 1839 a "Thespian" organization, composed the extension of the public landing, and per- of a goodly number of the youngsters of the haps some changes in the banks (Ui the opi)osite town, who fitted up a little hall on Third sti'eef, shore, the above figures may have slightly between Hampshire and Maine, and with well varied. prepared scenery and costumes, gave exhibi- A special session of the legislature having tions to their own satisfaction, and which af- been called by the Governor to meet on the forded special pleasure and amusement to the 9th of FebrTuiry. an election was ordered to be people of the town. This association c(uitinued held on the 6th of this month to fill vacancies for several years. Among its memliers. and made liy the resigiuition of John Wood, senator we believe the only ones now living and resi- from the Adams aiul Pike disti'ict. and of J. JI. dent of Quincy, were J. T. Baker. Loi'enzo Pitman and John C. Moses, representatives Bull. T. G. F. Hunt. Th(uiias Brougham and from Adams and Brown. The democrats in Tfhenui Taylor. A traveling troupe would oc- convention nominated for senator Solomon casionally come along and make use of the Parsons of Pike, and for i-epresentatives Wm. Thespian Hall, with its scenei-y. etc.. but the II. Peinieson and Hiram Boyle of Adams, while .stay of such was bi-ief. fhaf of ^Iclnfyre and the whigs brcnight out John ]\Icroy of Adams Jefferson, father of the noted comedian, who for the senatorship, and J. W. Singleton of performed here f(n' several weeks in 1843. be- Brown and John C. Cox of Adams as their can- ing the longest. Nothing, however, like a per- didates for the lower house. The election re- manent theater, with its own professional com- sulted in the success of Parsons. Singleton and pany, was idanned imtil in the wintei* of 1853- Boyle. There was a light vote cast, and the 54. Geo. J. Adams then began a series of result was effected by local influences and the "dranuitic (Exhibitions" and lectures on elocu- politic indifference felt by the whigs in regard tion, in the Danake Hall on !\raine street be- 152 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. tween Fourth and Fifth. Adani.s. "Crazy of its construction, much the most complete edi- Adams." as he was called by some on aeeount fice of the kind in the city. An appropriation of his eccentric actions, was a very bright man. was made at this time of .*|<25.(t(l a ((uarter tov who had practiced at almost everything'—cler- the education of colored children, provided gyman, lecturer, .Mormon missionary and apos- that the superintendent thought it expedient; tle—and was withal, an actor of far more than but it eft'ected nothing. average capacity and reputation. His troupe This was what Greely was wont to call an was composed of students from his class in elo- "otf year in polities." no presidential election cution, with an occasional aid from some wan- occurring, yet it was a period of moi'e political dering actors, and the exhibitions were reason- excitement and radical changes, attended with ably successful, lasting oft' and on for two or an unusual degree of personal bitterness, than three years. During the time when he was any other since the nation was formed. That managing these exhibitions. Thomas Duff, his political Pandora's box, the Nebraska bill, brother-in-law, and wife, who had been per- shattered for a time the .supremacy which the forming in the east, came from New York and democratic party, organized s(nne twenty-five made their first appearance. Later, about years earlier, had during nearly all the subse- 1857, when Adams dropped the management of (juent time strongly maintained, sevei'ing from this occasional theater, as it might be called. it a large portion of its best materi.d. This, Dnif, with a full company, came, and since that with the great bulk of the now dissolving whig period carried on a theater from time to time, party, formed a new association, to soon secure with occasional suspensions, for a good many possession of the national administration for a years. period about equal to that of its predecessor. The act of Congress, creating a "port of en- With the introduction of this question to public try" at Quincy, was approved liy the President thought. (Quincy. like the rest of the country, on the 2nd of January, and in ilarch Thomas was aroused at once. The measure and the ac- C Beinies((n was appointed and confirmed as tions and motives of prominent men became "port inspector." About twenty-five years the current constant topic of talk, and were later this office, with several other of the ports discussed, disputed denounced and defended in on the Mississippi, was abolished. every way and everywhere. All earnest eifort was made during the early The general local sentiment was at first un- part of this year to engraft a city high school favoral)le in the Nebraska bill, but there was upon the existing public school system, and a also a strong sentiment of confidence and pride very large meeting was held at the court house towards the popular senator who was the on the -'^rd of January in advocacy of this father of this measure and whose first entrance project. Following on this a lengthy petition upon his eminent national career was from this was presented to the council at the February city, his former home. Early in February, meeting, and referred to a committee com- therefore, a public meeting was called by the posed of three of the aldermen and the super- friends of Senator Douglas to approve of his intendent of public schools. At the March action and endorse the bill. W. H. Cather, meeting the majority of this committee re- county judge, presided, and J. H. Luce, was ported unfavorably, but recommended the secretary. The meeting was small and inde- building of more school houses for education in cisive, and was adjourned to the 28th, when the common grades, which report was adopted the assemblage was very large. The proceed- by the council, and at the same session a reso- ings were exciting and amusing. All the ex- lution was passed to submit to the voters at the treme anti-slavery men of the city, who had next charter election, the question of a high hi'retof<'re counted but lightly in political af- school, and of obtaining from the legislature fairs, being very few in numbers but very earn- the authority to levy an additional tax for its est naturally on an issue like this, fioated to support. The matter made much excitement the front and did most of the battling, and the in and out of the council. It became at last a resolutions of approval were voted down. Sev- partisan question, and entering into the April eral other meetings were held with the same city electioii, was there overwhelmingly voted general result, and on the 3rd of April, at a down and eariied down with it the political meeting with R. S. Benneson, a former demo- supremacy of the whigs in the council. The crat, as president, and Dr. Ralston, whig, sec- immediate result of the agitation was the erec- retary, wliei'e the same stirring scenes of strife tion of another school house, the Webster oi'i-nrred, a resolution condemnatory to the bill school, at the corner of Maine and Twelfth, and charging upon the senator the responsibil- which was projected and commenced during ity for the agitation of the slavery question, the latter part of the year, and was at the time was passed by a vote of about three to one. PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 153

'I'lic scpai'jit iim ciiiitiiiiU'd, ,-iii(l li\ tin' tiinc II11' party majority through the casting vote of

I'mII caniiKiii;-!! (oiiuneiu'ed, partisan linrs wci'c the mayor, changed the political character of distinctly di-awn on the question li' iiiajoiity in two wai-ils. tlnni^h An important measui'e was adopted by this siiii'htly in a minoi'ity in the wliole city, I'enoni- ciiuncil tending to better define the hitherto inated for mayor John Wood, with J. C. Rer- doubtful system of city levels. The earliest naid. E. K. Stone and N. Fla^>r for aldermen; lornud step in this direction was a resolution and .1. M. Pitman, who had twice \uisuccess- or ordinance some years before that the "door fiUly contested with Wood foi- the mayoralty, sill of Holmes" stoi'e at the coi'ner of Front and was aii'ain |)laced at the head of the demo- Hampshire." should be the regulation base. ri'iilic ticket, with \V. I). .Moi'Lian. .1. 15. .Merss- l?ut the stoic had been I'ebuilt. the door sill iiian and -las. Arthni' as cjindidatcs lor the changed, antl Holmes had moved away, so that

<-onncil. The hii;'li school (|nestion. which was urade calculations had now to be made from publicly voted ujion at this same time ami the the secondary stamlards, involving much un- l)roposition to raise a special tax foi" the sup- certainty, and beside this the regulation base poit of the school or two schools, had been in- above named was m>t itself fixed upon a deter- judiciously pi-essed, and beaten in the council, minate permanent plane. Now the council, public sentiment not having ripened for it as with low water mark as a basis, established yet. It now became a prominent featui-e iu "the 'bench mark' on Delaliar's house at the the election and determined the result. Pit- corner of Spring and Front streets, 20 31-100 man was returned as elected by one vote, and feet above low water mark, as the governing two of the wbi^' aldermen by like slender fig- point for city grades." This well devised i)lan ures, Bernard by a majority of one and Flairg was still defective so long as it dependetl on three. The two democratic police magistrates, "Delabar's house" for the "bench mark." A A. Wood and T. Monroe, were al.so successful few years later it was iiripi'(]\cd and carried to over T. II. Brougham and J. E. Dunn. This completion by the pi'cseut excellent sy.stem, was the first year when police magisti-ates were which with elaborate and accurate calculation chosen. The vote, 1,335. was the largest ever and measurements, established a base or datum cast in the city, exceeding that of the previous plane 200 feet below low water mark, from presidcMitial election. wliicdi all gr^ules are to be computed, and makes Right after this hard fought election, and at the Fi-anklin school house, "a table-stone for peniling the formation of the new city adminis- city levels" 230 feet above the river base, Avith tration, there sprang up a stubborn political monumental stones, corresponding to this table strife in the council. The existing board was stone, at the center all the street intersections. composed of two democrats ami four whigs, A city census, ordered by the coimcil to as- one of the latter, Dorman. being absent, mak- cei'tain the number and locality of the school ing it stand three to two without the mayor. cliildi'en to be provitled f(n', on the 1st of June, When the board convened to count in and (pial- icported 5,878 undei' 20 years of age, and the ify the members-elect, Wood, after the vote total population of the city at 10,977, of which was declared, filed a notice of C(uitest against 11)1) were i-esidciit in East Quincy. as that jior- Pitman's election and vacatcil the chaii'. .\l- tion of the city lying east of Twenty-foui'th derman Thayei' was made temporary chairman street and not yet attached, was called. It was and thereupon the three whig aldermen de- generally thought that this figure. 10,977, was manded that the newly elected aldei'men, whose a good deal too low. The valuation of city claims were not contested, .should be first (pial- property of all kinils by the official assessment, ified and the question of right to the mayoralty liased on a low standard of about one-third the be afterward considered. The two democrats actual value, as were all tax vahuitions at this refused to recognize this line of procedure, and time, was returned as $2,076,360.86. by leaving the Inuise bioke the qiuu-nni. This Propeity jji'ices continued to advance as they rather farcical performance was continued at had been (loing for several years. A good several meetings for nearly a fortnight, caus- deal of innuigi-ation flowed into the city and ing a sus|)ension of general busiiu'ss. initil the surrounding section, and largely increased linally Wood witlidrew his demand and the business of all kinds, and more extensive stocks IH'W board was oruanized. Tt then, with a of merchandise a'ave evidence of prosperity. 154 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Many transfers of real estate were made at speculators who were posted and knew what to good profit figures. The largest land sale that buy. availed themselves. had yet taken place in connection with Quincy. The first Adams county agricultural fair was larger, indeed, than any since, was the sale at held on October 18th and 19th of this year. auction in December of the 160 acres Mng in It had been pro.jected with a good deal of en- the northeast part of the city between Eigh- thusiasm and imity in the fall of 1853, and teenth and Twenty-fourth and Broadway and though a crude aft'air. in some respects, was a Chestnut streets, now known as Moulton"s ad- success. It exhibited on a piece of vacant dition. The histoin- of this tract and its enor- tzround a little north of Broadway, between

mous inei'ease in value . passing unbroken Sixth and Eighth streets. The enclosure was through but three transfers from its first made by an irregular sort of fence or barrier, owner, is curious enough to detail. formed by piles of fallen trees and brushwood, It was patented in 1818 to Paul Barnard as looking much like a military abatis, and sen- bounty for services in the war of 1S12. The tried all along on the inside by the committee same year, by conveyance made on the back of men to keep out the boys. The attendance and the parchment patent, which I have befoi'e me. display, both from the city and county, was it was sold by the soldier for ^53. Thirty good, and the institution hence onward for sev- years after, in 1848. it was again sold for eral years was an ob.ject of general interest and $6,400—$40 per acre. In December of this advantage. I'nfortunate .jealousies or misun- year. 1854, it was platted into nine blocks and derstandings in later years broke it do^vn. and eighty-two lots, each lot containing from one the supporting interests leaving Quincy located to two acres, the subtraction of the .streets near the center of the county, establishing leaving about 130 acres to be sold. It realized there a fair which has been a steady success, at this sale about .$45,000. or an average of representing, however, more of the county $350 per aci"e. The lot on the northeast cor- than of the city elements of inchistry. ner, a little less than two acres, brought $800. The ]\Iethodist seminary was now finished and a similar sized lot on the southwest corner and opened to students. It was somewhat suc- for $1,250. So great an advance in the value cessful, but laden from the start with financial of a single piece of property, passing through embarrassments, from which it took many years so few owners" hands, is rarely found. to receive relief. The fine building in which Nearly at the same time with the before- it began its career was eventualy sold to the mentioned sale of the '"iloulton" or "Skiddy city for a public school, and the Chaddock col- cjuarter," which last was the name it had borne lege, as it is now called, in honor of one of its for thiz'ty years, there was another extensive donors, was removed to the present site at the land auction which attracted local attention corner of Twelfth and State streets. The Cen- and was profitable to some. This was the sale tre Congregational church, at the corner of of all the remaining swamp or overflowed lands Jersey and Fourth streets, the neatest building in Adams comity, that had. prior to 1850. been of the kind as yet constructed in the city, built the property of the general government. Con- Ijy a seceding portion of the First Congrega- gress in 1850 donated to the states all such tional church society, was finished and dedi- lands as lay within their respective boundaries. cated. Illinois relinquished in 1852 her interest in The most notable and commemorative occa- these lands to the counties where the same sion of the year and literally the most shining were located. The Adams county court or- event, was the completion of the gas works, dered a sale to be made on December 4th. and the first lighting up of the city on Decem- 1854. of its lands, amounting to over 25.000 ber 1st. This was as great a gala day. or acres, which realized to the county treasui-y night, rather, as Quincy had as yet known, and about $12,000. All the unentered land, includ- was signalized by a general tiirning on of the ing the islands east of the river channel, the gas in all the street lamps and private houses, low bottom land between the river and the and a general turning out of all the people into bluff, the lakes, among them the great Lima the streets to see how the city and themselves lake or Lake Paponsie. as it was originally looked, and also by a gay evening banquet at called, covering over three thousand acres: the Quincy House. The gas company had ob- every foot of ground, in fact, that was at all tained, two years before from the state legis- subject to even occasional overflow, was em- lature, a perpetiial charter, giving it the exclu- braced in this sale. IMucli of it was or seemed sive right for twenty-five years to the use of to be worthless, and brought not over ten cents the streets for furnishing light to the public per acre, but again a great deal of it was of and to private parties, and had concluded a special value and there offered an opportune contract with the city, following the terms of chance for profitable purchase, of which shrewd the charter, for twentv-five vears. It now PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 155 sluiiic Dili with its well ((niipliMril wncks. wilh corpoi'ate organization at any time in tbe in- a laid line ui tln'cc mid ;i li.iH' miles of pipe terim of legislative sessions, anil it was two through the best sellled pari of the city aud yeais hiler that the parties who built the road sixty-five street lamps erected and ready for through Blown ciuuity secured a charter at instant use. with provisional arrangements the session of l.S.")*)-")?. against a factious oppo- completed between the company and the city, sition. The first election in Brown for this for their lighting and inainteiumce. It is due .i^lOO.dOO s\d)scription failed. The vote was to fact and liistory to say that the contract was .")2.') for to 20G against, but the terms under a mutually successful one. advantageous to all which the electiiui was held reipiired that the the parties. L'nder Jutlicious and faithful man- vote in favor of the project should be equal agement in its earlier starting, the company has to two-thirds of the vote cast at the last general also well lighted the city, and has always re- election. It failed by seven votes, through ceived, almost from the very commencement, a over-confidence and inattention. At a second remuiu-rative retni'n to itself. election held a few weeks later it was carried Besides this well-remembered occasion of the by a most decisive vote, there being scarcely introduction of gas there was now the advent any o|)position. of other "first things" to be tabled in the rec- The summer was extremely hot. the liottest ord of this year, and these, though unattended evei- known, as the oldest inhabitants always by demonsti-ations like that which looked upon say. The thei'mometer rated on July 17th at the iii'st lighting up of the city, were ecjually 105. and six days diu'ing the month showed a events of puljlic imixirtance and ;ittraction. and degree over lOO. with a monthly average of !)3. their dates are notable as initi;d ]»oints in the really an extraordinary contiiuiance of heat. advancing movements of Quincy. On the 12th With this was also much sickness. The cholera of March two small locomotives (as railroad maile a slight visitation, but only some half a engines used to be called), reached here, dozen cases occurred in the city, while near brought by barge from Chicago through the around and in the coiuity there were a good canal ;iiid tlown the Illinois river. Crowds many more cases. gathered, of course, to see the new comers, but Some notable changes occurred among the it was not until Sept. 12th that one of them. newspai>er establishments, always objects of the Varnnm, was put in working order and ]iiiblic interest. The Patriot, published by placed on the track to assist in the construc- Warren & Gibson, edited by the latter and later tion of the road. This, the pioneer engine, had by D. S. ^lorrison, became a tri-weekly on the a goodly crowd of gazers to witness its start. Kith of September. II. V. Sidlivan, the first It had gotten the name of Baruum from the ])ublisher of the Quincy "Whig, with which he anti-railroad men. for there were a few croak- liail sidjse(|uently been always connected, sold ers even in those days, who saw it l.ying on the his interest therein to Henry Young, and nuide landing unused for six months and dubbed it prej)aration for establishing another paper. after the great prince of humbugs. On May This, the Republican, he brought out in part-

.'itli tlie fir.st shipment of railroad inui, lOd nership with F. A. Dallam in the following tons, arrived, and May 29th the first rail was year, 18.1.5. There were at this time four estab- laid. All these occurrences, though unmarked lished journals in the city, the Herald, Coiu'ier by fornudity. drew special attention, from the (German), Whig and Patriot. The first two universal interest that was felt in regard to the were democratic, the Whig was whig and the railroad. Some jarring matters in the railroad Patriot independent and anti-slavery. directory brought about the resignation of .1. The military mania was all-pervading this M. Pitman and the elect imi of John Wood as year. The Blues made their first parade, in liis successor, anil the resignation of John Field, creditable shai)e, on the 7th of January, and who had been elected county clerk, was sup- later in the seasan an artillery comi)any under plied by \\\o selection as secretary of .lulin C. the command of Austin Brooks, of the Herald, Cox. was organized, but did not turn out until the Final tinish was made towards the certain next year. (•(unpletion of the railroad both north and east I'roliably the most destructive fii'e that had by the vote of Bi'own county pledging a sub- as yet attacked the city, was on the 2nth of scription of .-{^IflO.dOO to the eastern branch from October, when Thayer's large distillery with Camp Point to .Meredosia. This was first ef- many of its surroundings, were destroyed. The fected through the intltience of private parties, damage was estimated at over $.50,000. with lit- who,se public spirit had taken hold of the tle insiu'anee, a much greater figure than had pro.iect. No chartered railroad company thei'e footed the losses suffered at any former fire. then existed. There was not tluMi as there is Political excitement, here as all over the now, a general incoi'poratioii law authorizing count rv, was intense and contiinious through- :

156 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAJIS COUNTY.

out the whole year. That mad issue made by sembly to play a much more important part the repeal of the Missouri compromi.se, offering than it otherwise might have done. Abraham the entrance of slavery into the territories and Lincoln and Stephen T. Logan, the two most its protection while there, absorbed all other eminent men in that section, were elected bj' questions of dispute, shattering old party as- several hundred nuijority as the anti-Nebraska sociations and creating a new line of political members of the house from Sangamon comity, separation. The Nebraska bill and slaveiy ex- Mr. Lincoln very much against his wish, be- tension were the leading and almost only sub- cause he was recognized as being the candidate jects of thought and discussion, resulting in the of the party for election to the U. S. Senate. overthrow of the democratic party in the state, When it was ascertained that the anti-Nebraska completely reversing the political conditions party hatl the control of the legislature by a that had existed, unbroken, for twenty-five clear majority of at least three, ilr. Lincoln years. The operation was ditterent in several resigned, every one supposing that Sangamon sections of the state. In the northern part, comity would choose as his successor a man of which had heretofore been decidedly denio- the same political stamp. But the democrats ei'atic, almost the entire whig party and a very laid low, and quietly organizing a "still hunt," large percentage of the democratic, miited in run in a Mr. JIcDaniel, a very obscure man, what was called the anti-Nebraska movement, and completely reversed the 600 or 700 nuijor- from which sprang the republican party. In ity of the month before. This left the balance the central belt, where the whig element was of strength so close that half a dozen anti- stronger, the parties remained nearly the same Nebraska members, formerly democrats, con- a few changes only being made from either trolled the situation and they demanded that side. In the southern section where were the an anti-Douglas democrat, rather than an old great democratic majorities, with the exception whig, should be elected as the successor of of the locations wherein the (ierman vote lay. (leneral Shields in the U. S. Senate. They suc- which now cut loose from the democratic party ceeded, and after several days' balloting, where to which it had been almost solidly attached, ilr. Lincoln came very near success. Judge the democrats as a whole and nearly all of the Trumbull was chosen by one vote more than few whigs that were there, supported the re- the vote given to ^latteson, the Douglas can- peal of the compromise, thus leaving scarcely a didate. Had Mr. Lincoln not been a can- nominal opposition in all the Egyptian part of didate for the legislature, some other man like the state. him in opinions would have been chosen with In Adams county and adjoining the political Judge Logan, and Mr. Lincoln would have changes Avere few and very nearly offset each been elected senator. Had he not resigned the other. Wm. A. Richardson was renominated result would have been the same. But if Abra- for congress at the democratic convention after ham Lincoln had gone into the United States a long and stubborn contest between several Senate in 1854, would he there have achieved other aspirants, and Archibald Williams was that distinction which he afterward acquired, brought out by the opposition. The other and would he four years later, in 1858. have democratic candidates were, for state senator. fought the great debate with Douglas, which

"\Ym. H. Carlin : for representatives. J. ]M. Rud- laid the foundation of his elevation to the pres- dle and Eli Seehorn. and Wilson Lane for sher- idency and eternal fame .' iff. Opposed to these were Peter B. Garrett A private "High School" was opened by for the senate : for the house, H. V. Sullivan Prof. ;\I. T. Root on the 6th of October, which and Wm. B. Gooding, regular nominees, and may pei'haps properly be called the fir.st of its Wm. G. Harrington, independent, and B. 'SI. kind, since it was the only institution claiming Prentiss for sheriff. It was at this election such a character that was sustained for any that a small local cause brought about the elec- great length of time. This school was popidar tion of the first republican V. S. senator from and prospered mider the management of ilr. Illinois, which has already been mentioned in Root and of those who succeeded him. until these sketches. about the time when, several years later, the A curious feature coimeeted with the organ- public high school, of like .scope, and affording ization of this legislature, before alluded to. equal advantages, such a one as it had been with its meagre majority of one. and being the misuccessfully proposed to establish in the first anti-democratic legislature in the state s]u-ing of this year, was engrafted upon the since the formation of that party, is worth men- city school system. 'Sir. Root, beside being an tion. It is not local to Quiney or Adams mnisually well educated instructor, and a de- county, but is a part of the general political cided though gentle disciplinarian, possessed history of the state and nation, and caused the that other valuable trait in a teacher of sym- Adams county representation in the general as- pathetic association with his pupils. He added :

J'AST AND PRESEiNT OF ADAMS CorXTY. 157 to the attractions of his school by the organiza- whiskey, worth .$206,184. all (jf which was tion of a military company from anion;;' his made and shipped from here. The total innn- students. This, thr "(Juiticy Cadets." with licr 111' hogs packed was 23.000. an advance on its simple, lastefui uniform, and a drill profi- the previous yeai', and the value of the manu- ciency c(iual to the aver;i<;e. soon became one facture $296,444. Beef jiacking summed uj) a of the po])ular instilutions of the city. One of valiu' of $49,149. Shipments south wer(> made its officers. Lieutenant Shipley, afterwards a of 301.560 i)ounds of hides, valued at $15,078: lieutenant in the 27th Illinois Infantry, was the 62,200 boxes of soap, $15,500; 4,215 boxes of tirst connnissioned officei- from (^uincy who was candh-s, $25,440; 3.000 barrels of crackers, $15,- killed in the civil war. at Heliiiinit. .Mn.. in 1)0(1. Of brick 6,000,000 were manufactured, 1861. worth .$21,000. and marble and stone work to

Ainitlicr ('ft'oi-t was made In establish a pulilic an equal amount was done. Cabinet work free school for colored children by an appinpri- amdunted to $106,390. The cooper shops, 21 ation of the council of $150 towards building in luunber. turned out 55,400 tiour. 10,750 pork a school house "whenever the property was and 14,550 whiskey barrels, and other work bought and paid for." This project, like that amounting to $63,362. The 15 wagon and plow j)roposed in the early ])art of the year, was a shops and the 2 carriage factories reported a failin'i>. l)usine.ss of $179,315; 2 planing mills and 18

The NW'stminstcr clnn-cii. Dri-i'inber 24, 1853, carpenter shops $152.211 : 1 steam saw mill re])rescnting the old school branch of the Pres- $50,000: 5 machine shops. $77,450; 4 foundries byterian church, with the Rev. Wm. ilcCandish (2 of them stove), $165,520; 5 saddle and har- as its pastor, began service in a small building ness shops, $77,030: 5 lumber yards received on Sixth street between ilaine and Jersey. 5,000.000 feet of pine lumber worth $100,000, Soon after they erecteil a churi-h on Hampshire 230 licensed .stores of all kinds are reported as near Ninth, which they occu])icd until they re- transacting business to the extent of $1,279,500. united with the other Presbyterians aixuit The comjuler says in refei'cnce to the last thirty years later. amount above stated that he is disposed to

There were at this time eighteen religious consider it as po.ssibly .$200,000 too small, but societies in Qnincy having churches for regu- that he had sedulously through his entii-e ex- lar worshi[). Of these, thirteen conducted amination, from fear of over-estimation, kept services in English, viz. : Two Jlethodist Epis- his figures down as much as possible. copal, one Protestant Methodist, one Christian This statement of the leading industries of (or CamiibcUite). two Presbyterian (Old and the city was compiled by a quaint, earnest New School), two Congregationalist, one Epis- old gentleman, now deceased, who was from copalian, one Unitarian, one Universalist and very early times and for nearly half a century one Catholic: and five in German, two Evan- oiu'

1,325 tons, $17,225 : wheat, 22,294 bushels, $24.- vading the country, and as little iniderstood 633; oats. 192.839 bushels. $01,710; corn, 76,- then as now, the subject of transcendentalism 416 bushels, .$32,190; to this last article the bci'amc a topic of talk. It was a new idea and, compiler says should be added the 178.514 a strange word to the ca])tain, and kejit him bushels that it took to make 624.800 srallons of unusuallv silent for awhile. "Transcendental- 158 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ism," •thought lie to himself for awhile, all in dex of business prosperity, amounted to $35,- a puzzle. Part of this word sounded familiar, 000, which with the occasional steamboat ar- but altogether it was too long and too deep for rivals, made activity and kept other occupa- him, when suddenly some expression used in tions active. The river continued to keep open the discussion threw at once a tiood of apparent throug'nout the early part of the winter, with light upon his mind. "Oh," said he, "I see more or less running ice, and an average of what yoii're talking about; it's a religious about tiiree feet in the channel. It shut down fixin' it seems. I didn't know before Avhat on this uncertain navigation by freezing solid on trausdentalism meant. I tlionght it was some the 25th of January. The last steamer which

' ! new fangled ism about the teeth ' And then left here on the 22nd of January was nearly ,a he dived into the discussion as fearlessly, as week on her passage to St. Louis. The river learnedly, and no doubt as lucidly as any of opened for the season on March 8th, and main- the other disputants. The subject was one tained a good stage .of water until its fi'ial

which calls for more tongue than sense ; and freeze on the 24th of December. Some half is well described by a satiric old Scotch i^hil- dozen large steamers were laid up for the win- osopher as the fairest of all themes for con- ter, painted and repaired, in the "bay," which trover.sy, "because, dyje see, it's an equal for made cjuite an addition to the business appear- baith parties, for the mon who talked didna ance of the place. This making use of the ken what he meant, and the gude folk that "bay" for the wintering and repair of boats listen dinna ken e'en all of his fool clatter." during the winter, had been for a few yeai's The unusual early spring flood, continuing connnon, and after this time continued, but for throughout the summer, suddenly subsided in some reason it has been abandoned. There is the late fall months, leaving an almost unpre- no place on the upper Mississippi so fitting in cedented low stage of water. On the middle of all respects as the Quincy Bay for "putting November thirty inches of water was reported in ordinary" of steamboats in winter, and for in the river channel, and much floating ice thus several years it was not unusual to see half a early appeared. This shallow channel and ob- dozen or more of No. 1 crafts there, among structing ice continued throughout the coming tliem sometimes, a large New Orleans steamer. winter, but at no time did the river freeze fast. Two important elections were held during Boats with difficulty made occasional ti'ips the summer of this year, one of them general, from St. Louis to Keokuk all through the win- embracing the entire state, and the other, ter months. which occurred on the same day, June 6th, con- There was much financial distrust and biisi- fined to the central section, including Quincy, ness embarrassment during this year all over where it aroused especial interest and feeling. the west, and especially in Illinois, growing out The first was over the ratification by popular of the weakness of the state stock banking sys- vote, of a stringent temperance law which had tem. Illinois was flooded with bank paper se- been passed at the preceding session of the cured by pledge of the uncertain and declining legislature, subject to approval of the people. bonds of other states, and rivalry and competi- The law was largely fashioned after the Maine tion among the banks and brokei-s brought liquor law, and the contest over it was quite about some failures and created a general dis- stii'ring, producing an unusually large vote trust towards all bank paper, yet the average (about 170,000), an increase of more than 30,- prosperity eontiniied, and in Quincy especially 000 on the state vote of the previous year. No so, making this year, 1854, the most hopeful political lines were drawn at this election, period in all its history to date. which was the first of the kind held in Illinois, but action on the law was strongly sectional, it receiving general support in the northern counties, while in the southern section it was CHAPTER XXXIII. as uniformly opposed. It failed of ratification 1855. by about 14,000 votes. Quincy gave against it THE BAT A PLACE FOR WINTERING STEAM- a majority of 105, which was increased in the BOATS. VOTING ON A TEMPERANCE L.\W. SKINNER ELECTED JUDGE OP SUPREME county to 978. COURT. SIBLEY ELECTED JUDGE OP CIR- The appointment of Judge Treat as United CUIT COURT. FISCAL STATEMENT. STREET IMPROVEMENTS. HOSPITAL GROUNDS PUR- States district judge for southern Illinois made CHASED. R.\ILROAD IMPROVEMENTS. WOOD- LAND ORPHANS' HOME. QUINCY AS A PORT a vacancy in the supreme court of the state in OF ENTRY. A CITY DIRECTORY. U. S. LAND the second district, and Judge Skinner, who OFFICE MOVED TO SPRIXr; FIELD. REVIEW OF ITS HISTORY. THE NEWSPAPERS. MILI- had acceptably presided over the Adams and TARY ORGANIZ.\TION. PROSPERITY. Hancock circuit, offered as a candidate for that Business during the winter season was good. position. Opposed to him were Stephen T. The pork production, at that time tho best in- Logan of Sangamon, and Charles H. Constable PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. 159 of W'aliash fiiiinties. I'olitical t'ccliiiy was not marks the rcciuds of tliis year. Jersey street, traversable eiilistetl ill this electidii. but like tlie election making now the seventh completed on the liquor question, local sentiment and track between the upper and the river section preterence was active and controlling each of the city, was graded from Third to Front aspirant receiviiis' the g'eneral vote of his own street. .Maine street was macadamized from better level section oi" the district, and Judue Skinner was Fifth to Kighth and brought to a or easily successful by about ll).t)()() majority. father east. Broadway ea.st of Wood, The contest for the circuit judgeship and a suc- Twelfth .street, as it now was called, was in- cessor to -Jutlue Skinner, was like the above, creased in width to 76 feet to correspond with a sort of triangular duel, and was attended its western width. Thirteenth nor Fourteenth with more of personal bitterness than often at- street was opened from Jersey to Broadway. taches to a jHircly jiolitical contest. The Adams This opening was the first departure from the county bar. witii a desire to avoid political oi'igiiKil town plan wliii-li had heretofore been strife, had almost unanimously recommended generally followed, of evenly bounded blocks for this position (ieorge Edmunds, an active 24 rods square and streets 4 rods wide; a very to the and rising young lawyer of (^uincy. A i)cr- judicious arrangement, neatly adapted sonal hostility to Mr. Edmunds brought for- system of the federal land surveys and to the ward an opposition and some severe attacks, road laws of the state. The innovation in the which were refuted, but operated upon the elec- establishment of Fourteenth street by making tion. Resultant on this was the candidacy of a block of double the usual length from east to Joseph Sibley and -John W. ilarsh of Hancock west has since been followed in some other ad- leav- county, the first, as the nominee of a democratic ditions in the eastern part of the city by convention, and the latter one of the oldest and ing out each odd numbered street running most experienced lawyers of the state, sup- north and south. It was growing out of this, ported generall}' by the whigs of the district, and with the idea of regulating the future such as had not committed themselves to the shaping of the city, that the council, however, su[>port of ^Ir. Edmunds. It was a close and not now excepting to this particular measure, d(i\ibtfiil election, ending in the election of ]Mr. made the retpiirenicnt. under the provisions of Sibley by a small majority. .ludge Sibley was a state law to that effect, that all plots and before be- three times re-chosen to this office, holding it plans for additi(ni to the city must for twenty-four years, the longest term of ju- ing recorded obtain the approval of the city dicial circuit service known in the state. council. The chief idea in this ordinance be- The fall election for county officers excited ing to ensure that all streets, platted in the in but little interest. Three oflicials, treasurer, outer .sections of tlic city, shall conform school superintendent and surveyor, only were width and alignment to those already existing, to be chosen, and the democrats elected them even though they may not connect therewith. all. At the city election in April J. M. Pitmau Orange street, since called Eighteenth, was was the democratic candidate for re-election to opened from State street to Chestnut. This the mayoralty, and was successful with the rest was on the line which had heretofore been the of the ticket by 250 majority over \Vm. B. Pow- most eastern boundary of the city. A large ers, 'iiide])endent" candidate. This secured addition was now made. .\t the January meet- the democratic control of the council, which ing of the council a new city charter was pro- Avas continued through the three succeeding posed and the may(U- authorized to proceed to years, and no changes were made among the Springfield and urge its passage through the official representatives of the city. legislature. The main feature in the new The annual "fiscal statement" of the city chai-tei' was the enlargement of the city area. for the year ending April 1, IS.5.5, exhibited a It ]iroposed to about double the area of the more economical administration of the city af- city, making Twenty-fourth street the eastern fairs than that of the preceding year, when, as and Locust and Harrison the northern and per this report, the exjienditiu'cs had exceeded southern boundai-ies. The measure passed i-escnted the receipts by $-4, 174. 37. while by the showing with some ojiposifion. and was much of '54-55 the receipts amounted to $37,476.64 by many parties, who, owning land near the and the expenditures to only $36,993.95. leav- city, were thus forced into citizenship against ing a balance on hand of .$482.69. their wish and made to encounter increased A very decided advance in poimlation was taxation and responsibility for the large past told by the state census taking during this sum- and jirospective city debt. mer, 10.754 against 6.901 as returned by the na- Orange street continued to be the eastern tional een.sus in 1850, showing an increase of boundary of the city. The projiosed amend- over 56 per cent within five years. An un- ment to the charter for the purpose of enlarg- usual amount of substantial improvement also ing the city area, although it easily passed i6o PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. throiigli the (Miuucil. met with inueli oppusitiou uses, that lying noi'th of Broadwa.v. was subject ill the legislature, where the outside interests to overflow at a high stage of water, and the could make themselves heard, and it failed to grade had to be raised several feet. On this become a law. Two years later, however, at the building of an engine house and machine the regular session, the same measure was in- shops, of stone, and a large frame freight depot troduced and passed in January, 1857, and at was begun early in the fall and sufficiently com- the same session, a month later, another amend- pleted for nse early in the following year. ment to the charter was passed adding to the A charter was obtained from the legislature city what was then known as East Quincy, an in February for the Woodland Orphans' Home. area of about eighty acres bounded l>y Broad- This charity was projected in 1858. when fif- way and Thirtieth, an east and west line about teen philanthropic citizens united for its estab- on the extension of Jersey street taking in the lishment, each one pledging -$100 towards the old city cemetery, and Twenty-fourth streets. purchase of a ground site on which to found These lines, then made, have not since been the enterprise. The land was bought for this changed and constitute the present bounds of amount, $1,500, of John Wood, being the block the city. An order was made by the council o^\-ned by the "Home" on Fifth street, east that there should be prepared by the city engi- of the cemetery From this time the institu- neer a complete plan of the city, showing the tion has been successfully conducted, doing grades of all the streets and alleys, their di- nuich good. It has secured a hold upon the mensions, with points of intersection defined general sympathies of all classes in the com- and marked, and figures attached, which should munity, causing it to become one of the most be the official record of grades as uniformly useful and popular among the public charities established all over the city, the same to be of the city. finished within two years. This was a project Among the many notable "first things" of like that which had been begun in the preced- the place, which are always curious, was the ing year, but then only partially carried out. direct importation of foreign goods to Quincy, Before the two years' limit expired, the addi- through the medium of no other custom house, tion to the city above mentioned was made and tluis placing Quincy on a direct trading foot- the work extended so as to comprehend its ing with all the rest of the world, which is told entire area, and this established system of sur- thus: "The fir.st government duties on foreign vey- and grades remains, with occasionally merchandise received from any of our mer- slight alterations such as the local interest chants by the collector of the port of Quincy, seemed to require. A charter for Quincy water were paid a few days since by Jlessrs. L. & C. works was obtained from the legislature, but H. Bull, on cutlery and files imported by them nothing resulted from it. Ten years later a from Sheffield, England. This house Has for charter for the same purpose passed the legis- some time past imported direct many of the lature, but did not receive the executive ap- goods of foreign manufacture required for jnvjval, and it was not nntil about ten years their business, but before Quinc.v was created farther on that an individual enterprise, com- a port of delivery, the duties had been paid at menced on a somewhat limited scale, perma- the port of entry. New Orleans." nently established for the city this essential The office had been established at Quincy improvement. Purchase was made by the city about two years before, but it was to facilitate of John Wood, for $8,160 in eight year bonds, the importation of railroad iron, and only this of what was then called the Hospital grounds class of freight had been received up to this (since used for that and other police imrposes), period. According to the record, the above a tract of land of about eight acres lying west shipment and receipt was Quincy 's first private of Fifth street and south of and adjoining the mercantile transaction with foreign countries. Woodland cemetery. The very important exchange of property and An important business arrangement was now rights between the city and the railroad com- concluded between the city and the railroad pany, before mentioned as having been con- eompan.y. by which the latter obtained from summated by the action of the council, has been the city permanent rights in portions of the so often a question of curiosity, and sometimes public ground lielonging to the city, and trans- of legal controversy, that a detail of the prop- ferred as consideration to the city the owner- erty transferred, is here given. It was a well ship of several pieces of propert.v. mostly city considered and thoroughly understood transac- lots along the river bank, which the railroad tion at the time, supposed to exchange ecjual company had obtained by purchase, or had re- equities, permanent in their nature and mutu- ceived in the form of subscription towards its ally advantageous. construction. i\Iueh of the land which the rail- Fnder this agreement there was sold by the road company thus obtained and needed for its railroad company to the city, the river frac- PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. i6i

tioiis i)f lots 8, 4 and 5. of block 16; 3, 5 ami tl, cily and county iiulustrial interests of all kinds it of block 25 ; the north 56 feet of river fraction [dike conti-ibuted. and attracted attention of lot 3. block 26. beinj? 650 feet, and all the and attendance from all the surrounding sec- private trrouiid west of Front street, from the tion, both on this and the other side of the linblic iandintr to 56 feet south of York street, Irivei'. Afterward for a number of years the except I'iver fractions of lot 6, in block 16. and .\dams County Fair, with Onincy as its natural 4 in 25. The railroad coinjjany released their location, maintained this favoi'able prestige, former right to erect buildiny^s on Front street, each exposition, in its extensive and varied south of Broadway, oi- to occupy the public display, surp.issing that of the year before. It land sDulh of ludfway bi'iween Vermont and soon raidscd among the best of the Illinois llani|)shire, releasing' also all their rif^ht to comity fairs. Largely was this owing at first Hi-oadway, east of Twelfth street, uidess tlicy to the judicious inter-est bestowed ujjon it by othei- active hei'eafter had use for the same for a raili'oad ; the mainifacturing, mercantile and and further releasing to the city the right to euterjjrises of the city. With the weakening collect city M-harfage from their grounds, such of this support and the introduction of other as is collectible from the i)ublic landings, and less legitimate features for a fair, its location further obligated themselves to fui-iiish a good was subsequently ehangetl. road below Olive street, past their gi'ound. Thei'e were the customary (dianges among fronting thereon, till that street was opened, the newspapers dni'ing this year. These, ami to ]iay all damages, which might be as- though often of but passing imi)ortance, are

ses.sed for rights conveyed to the company. links in the chain of local recoi'd : since the On the other hand the city sold to the rail- newspaper history of a place is an essential road company all of the public landing, north portion of its complete history. It is curious of a line extending west from the center of to note the checkered career of journalism in block 6: all of Front street north of a line 50 (,)uincy. and its many ctninges. almost as fre- feet south of Oak street and south of a line quent and pei'iodical as the return of the sea- 660 feet north of Pease's addition, all of Oak sons. and Green, now Vine, streets west of Olive Of the two oldest and permanent journals street, giving also the privilege of using Broad- the Herald, to the present date of writing, dur- way and Spring streets west of west line of ing a life of over fift.v years, has passed through Fiont street, but withoul llir right to erect about thirty changes of partners and owner- buihlings thereon: of Fnint street south from ship, and the Whig, three years its junior, has 50 feet south of Oak street to liroadway, except had during nearly the same length of time, sidewalks. :ind of making two railroad tracks about half as many, while among the many in and along that poi'tion of Front street south smaller journals, that is, such of them as lived of the noi'th line of Broadway to center of said long enoiigh to undergo a chauge of parents, block 6. with scnne conditions as to the line of the same conditions were connnon. said tracks, etc. .\nd the city further agreed The Herald had its partial change in owner- not to condemn any portion of the raili'oad ship, thouiih its managemiMit remained the l)ropci'ty for a public landing. same. The Patriot ;ind Republican, established The property and franchises conveyc

on the absorption of this comjiany in the Chi- tor soon became engaged in ;i jiolitical and per- cago. Uiirlington & Quincy Raili-oad, all ol' sonal wrangle with Brooks of the Herald, from these I'ights and obligations were ti-ansfei-red which gi'ew a sti'eet light and a law suit, the to this last named corpor.ition. whole productive of nothing Init public annoy- A city directory was published this year b\- ance and fees for lawyers. Qninc.v was made

.7. '!'. Everhart. which was (|iiite a comprrlicii- iKitoi'ious for many years by its own newspaper sivc and complete woi'k. ri'ally ilii> lirsl nl' llic srnrrility, mueli to its dissatisfaction at home kind. There had been heretofore some small and tliscredit abiiia

coming the present Gerni;inia. In later j'ears ness ; not sufficient, however, to seriously dis- the political character of the jjaper has been furlj business. The firm in St. Louis soon re- changed. lu the Whig, the death in June of sumed, but after a year or two went down Mr. Henry Young, one of its publishers, brought finally, and the breaking of this great house about a change there also. The interest owned had an infiueuee in causing the failure of the by Mr. Young was ijurchased by V. Y. Ealston. Quincy banking house, at a later day. Morton & Ralston who now for sometime pub- The general business of the city continued lislied the paper, a weekly and daily. Mr. Ral- prosperous, and increased at home and abroad ston was a young man of much energetic talent much more than it had in any previous period. and possessed a special aptitude for journal- The railroad, which in the latter part of the ism, in which he might have become distin- year, was completed to Galesburg, making there guished had he continued in the i^rofession. a through connection to Chicago, had brought He abandoned it after a brief trial, began the to Quincy from the counties north and east of practice of law with good success, removed to Adams, associations and acquaintance which Macomb, 111., Avent into the army as a captain extended the trade of the city to a distance in the 16th Illinois Infantry, and died during and into localities where it had heretofore been the war. almo.st a stranger. And now commenced and This was a great military year, the most has since continued, a diversion of business warlike looking ijeriod that Quincy had ever connection and travel, which for thirty years yet known, or ever after knew, until the later had entirely gone to. and eastward through. well-remembered period when real war raged St. Limis, towards Chicago, drawn thither l)y throughout the land. Two military companies, the lessened distance from the eastern nuirkefs the Blues, Captain Prentiss, and the Yagers, and the more rapid transit aft'oi'ded by rail Captain Delabar (the latter a German com- than by the river. pany), had been in existence for some time. Substantial and tasteful improvement of Three others now made their appearance. An every kind was unusually marked. The stone artillery company was organized in June, of p]piscopal church, now the Cathedral at the which Austin Brooks of the Herald was elected corner of Ilaiupshire and Seventh streets, which captain. He accepted the command, as he said, had been several years in building, was com- on the condition that the company would "turn pleted and occupied. Many of the best private out if required to enforce the fugitive slave residences of the city were erected at this time. law." A cadet company with M. V. D. Holmes It was what would have been called now a

' ' as commander, composed of the students of ]\Ir. ' boom year. ' One of the city papers pulilishes Root's eai'ly in school, was formed about the same time : the year "as one of the evidences of the the two making their first parade on the -tth progress and prosperity of Quincy, that there of July, and later, in the fall, was organized are already contracts made for laying nearly the City Guards, Capt. E. W. Godfrey, turning ten million of brick in buildings to be erected out for the first time on the 19th of November. in the city this season. The supply of brick A batallion was formed from these companies, is entirely inadequate to lueet the demand, with I\Ia,jor J. R. Ilollowbusli as commander. (iood brick comnuuid a high price, say ^5 to Emulation among these several organizations $6 per thousand. All now made or in the kiln made them of much interest and produced a are engaged." high degree of military proficiency. A very The gas company, during this year greatly imposing display was made on the ith of July. extended its mains, and set up from twenty- There was the iisual ceremonial observance of flve to thirty additional street light.s. The coal the day, greatly aided in effect by the large trade brought to the city by the railroad having military force of the four Quincy companies reached the coal fields of McDonough e(uuity, and a visiting company from Keokuk. Notli- now liecame almost at once an extensive line of ing like it had ever before shown up in Quincy. business, cheapening the general price of fuel It altogether put out the memories of ilormon and affording coal to steamers, factories and war glory. private parties at rates greatly reduced from There was a good deal of financial distrust foi'mer figures. and embarrassment prevalent at this time, ow- Values of real estate kept advancing both in ing to excessive speculation and the large issue and aroiuid the city. As a token of this, the of uncertain money by the numerous western IMauzey storehouse on the north side of the banks. Quincy was but slightly affected there- square was purchased in Octolier liy the Budde by. The suspension of the banking house of Bros., for .$4,500. The ground being under Page & Bacon, of St. Louis, and their close lease, did not sell with the building, but the connection with Flagg & Savage, then the lead- privilesre passed of bviying it, 25 feet, for .^2,- ing bank of Quincy, caused some local uneasi- 000. This saiaie piece of ground sold some three PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 163

ye;irs before, for .tl.dOii. In ihc siihm-lis uf the spike is driven, anti anothei- ii-on ai'in reaches <-ity the M

ing the coini)letion of the Noi'thcrn Cross Rail- the establishnuMit (ui the 1st of January, lis- road. The last rail is upon the ties and the last some Quincy parties, of the "Godfrey and i64 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Snow's express" fidiu Qnincy to Chicago. dent, which proposed to construct a line of road These parties had originated this scheme witli from West Quincy to connect with the Hanni- some success in running their express to St. bal & St. Joe track at Palmyra, and uj^on this Louis by boat and for awhile made it profitable scheme the city took decisive action early in as well as also a convenience to the public 1857, securing its completion. wiien extended to Chicago, but the heavy hand Among the new enterprises of this year was of wealthier companies, controlling more ex- the establishment on the 1st of June of the tended facilities, soon took possession of the "Bank of Quincy," by Boon and McCinnis, business and forced them out of what had with a capital stock of "$-200,()(:»n. this being the promised to be a lucrative enterprise. thii-d institution of the kind in the city. Its The long desired i-ailroad communication location was at the corner of ilaine and Fourth with Chicago being secured to the great grati- under the Quincy House. Its business was not fication and convenience of the people of largt for aAvhile but a year or two later on the Quincy. they at once in the flush of this satis- failure of the two older banks, that of Flagg faction began immediately to look around for L^ Savage and of Moore. Ilollowbush & Co., additional railroad advantages. Two projects leaving this bank the only financial institution were prominent and promising. One was the in the city, it had the monopoly of such business making of a direct eastern route by a road from and for a time was successful and prosperous. Camp Point to the Illinois river, to link on to This career was but brief. The failure of ex- the connections of the great road that was (Jovei'nor iMatteson, who was its chief owner, pushing its construction westward from Toledo. and other causes, brought about the winding up This was already arranged for and the project of its affairs after three or four years' ex- was under Avay. The road that had been just istence. finished to Oalesburg (The Northern Cross The tliird big hotel was conuuenced at this R. R.) was intended to be the western portion time. There had been the "Quincy House.'" in of the Wabash, the road from Camp Point to 1S36, and the "City Hotel," afterwards the Galesburg. being a branch engrafted on the "Virginia," about the same time, and now came original charter. It was deemed more imme- the "Cather House." named for its pn)prietor, diately important to push the road northwards located on Ilamjishire between Fifth and Sixth towards Chicago and this had now been streets on the site of the old Judge Y(nnig resi- effected. The other thought was of a western dence, which since, much enlarged and with road into and across Missouri. This was finally the name changed, has become the pojuilar Tre- done at an early after date, but at an unneces- numt. sary and uncalled for cost. The Hannibal and The Quincy House which had lately changed St. Joseph R. R. commencing at the latter point owners and been closed for a time for repairs on the ^lissouri river and crossing the ncn'thern and a(lditi(Uis to be made, was re-opened by portion of the state on a nearly direct east and Floytl and Kidder from Chicago, and under west parallel to its eastern terminus at Hanni- their skillful numagement soon became as pop- bal on the Mississippi, twenty miles south of ular and noted as in its eai'lier days. Another Quincy was constructed under the partial pre- city feature was the starting of a bus line run- text of making a military road, by the con- ning to the boat landing and the depot and gressional grant of a large body of public lands. over the city, an enterprise rather crude in its The system was the same that a few years be- commencement, but one that lived and soon fore had been adopted in the charter of the swelled into permanent existence. Improve- Illinois Central, and has since been the basis ments of all kinds continued. ]\Iany and more upon which nearly all the great railroads west tasteful houses were erected than had ever been of the Mississippi have been built. At the time before, especially in the eastern part of the city. of its projection it was intended and expected Property values kept on the rise, not at extrava- (and the alignment of the proposed road was gant figures, but with a steady, healthy ad- favorable and proper therefor) that there vance. The corner of Hampshire and Sixth would be two eastern termini, one at Hannibal was sold for ^1"J5 per front foot. 100 feet in lot feet front on the south and one at Quincy : but the latter point, for depth. A small 17 political reasons was dropped out of the bill side of the public square between Fourth and and Quincy had to ultimately construct its con- Fifth .streets brought !|;200 per foot. The corner nection from its own resources. Our people (if Jersey and Third .streets, 75 feet front, im-

however were anxious for the road, knew its proved, sold for .'t!5,500. A large lot on IMaine importance and felt very generous and for- street at the corner of Thirteenth. 175 feet front giving at the time. A company was organized, 'running back 400 feet to Hampshire sold for late in the year known as the Quincy & Palmyra .+5.000. This was the largest price yet paid R. R. Co.. with ex-Mayor Holmes as its presi- for property anywhere and was thought to be PAST AND PKESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 165

extra vayaiit liyuiv hut the |)urchaser divided central sections of the city, one at the north- the ground into smaller lots and soon realized east corner of the public sf|uare. and one farther a handsome profit from his investment. Busi- east on Ilamiishii'e street. The loss was severe ness in all hi-anehes was aetive and satisfaetory. to some of the occupants but the gain was great A hrief mention, of the transactions of some of to the city. The sanu; enterpi-ising impidse llie leadiiii;- nuiinifaeturinu' industries will in- which man\ years before, when the old log dieate this. The mills of Quincy have always courthouse caught Hi'e, induced the happy spec- had the highest reputation ahroad foi' the su- tators to throw on more kindling, was gratified perior (|uality of tiour whieh they produced, to see the "old rookeries" go with the prospect theii' bi'ands comnKUidini;- the top fiyure in the of their being replaced by better structures. eastern and sonthei-n markets, and when Another result of these fortunate misfoi-tunes hi-ouyht in eompetition with other brands they was to increase ])recautious against Hre. wei'e in the habit of takinu' the i)remium. The The leading local events of the year was the business was a steadily growing one and below building, oi- leather the initiation of the build- is given with the names of the six mills at tliis ing of the Wabash railway eastward from Mt. time running, a summary in round numbers of Sterling. This pro.ject which has been alluded the amount of Hour maiuifactured. and the niun- to earlier in these sketches, as being under way ber of bu.shels of wheat eonsiuned for the year at the commencement of the year, was i)ut into closing December 31st, 1856. active shape before summer. The proposition was made, advocated through the press and Bbls. Flour. Bus~ls. Wheat. presented on the 17th of May to the council, Star Mills L'O.OOO loo.ddo that the city should subscribe .$200,000 to the Castle :\nils liO.OOO lOO.dOO stock of the railroad projected from Camp Eagle :\rills 12(),0(}U lOU.OOO Point eastv.'ard to the Illinois river known Citv .Mills 40.000 200.000 as the Qnincy and Mt. Sterling R. R. The Alto :\[ills 10.000 50,000 council votecl favorably and authorized the mayor to make subscription to the above Total llO.doO 550.000 amount, and ordered an election to be held on The average price of Hour during the year the 24th of ilay for authority to issue .$200,- 000 years' bonds, drawing eight per was .'f;5.50 per barrel, making the total value of twenty the milling business to have been .$715,000. The cent interest, to be applied to the construction wagon and plow manufacture had become vei-y of this road. The election was a one-sided af- important and extensive and there were about fair. Fifteen hundred and sixty-two votes wei'e twenty establishments engaged in this business. east, which was a very large representation for One of these, that of Timothy Rogers, employ- th;it time at a special election, and all but ing from :i5 to -40 hands all the yeai' I'ouiul. twenty-one of these were cast in favor of the turned out 800 wagons valued at $00,000. and subscription. Work was commenced innue- 1.200 plows worth $8,000. A notable and grow- diately. Indeed it had been progressing to some ing business, then as now. was that of the stove extent before the city took action upon the mat- foundries. The Phoenix Stove Works, which ter. The whole line was immediately put under was the most extensive in the city, re|)oi'ted the contract with the condition and promise that it making of !),445 stoves of various ])att(>rns. an wouhl lie completed by December 1st, 1857. employment of 58 hands and sales for the year Its comi)letion was not precisely on time, but of $19!), 128.42. This with the other like "con- came nearer thei-eto than most of the railroad cern.s aggregated the value of store manufac- constructions do. Before its final finish a speck ture at $175,128. The aggregate value of the of war arose on its line calling for the inter- lumber handled by the five lumber yard firms position of muskets and bayonets, this being footed up to .$251.h50. nu-asuring 8.950.000 feet the fourth Avar in which Quincy was engaged. of lumbei'. shingles :i.9.50.dOi). lath and tindier Thei'e had been the Black Hawk, the ^lexicau 1.91d.()()d. In this is not included the home ;nid I\lormon wars and this next, the '"BroMna luanfacturetl luml>er. The pork packing was county war" had its fair share of heroic ad- not as large as the year before. There was a venture of whii-h hereafter, in its time and snuill increase in the number of those engaged place. in the business, but a falling off in the number There was a warm contest at the city elec- of hogs and value. The result of the winter's tion in April but the whigs were successful in work '56-57 was "58.306 hou^s packed, valued at electing John Wood as ]\Iay(n'. over J. W. $986,492. Singleton, by a nuijority of 44, in a total vote Sevei'al ilisastrous fires occurred in the early of 1,525, which it will be observed was very part of the year, some of them in business aiul near the sanu' mnnber of votes cast at the ;

i66 PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. special election ou the railroad subscription six some years before had now grown into fair weeks later. The whigs also elected Henry sized proportions. Originally and for some S. Osboru and Eobei't S. Bennesou as aldermen time it consisted solely of the city marshal; in the First and Third wards over John Abbe then a night patrol was added and at this time and H. Vogelpohl, and J. B. iler.ssman, demo- it was composed of eight men, a lieutenant, a crat, was chosen in the Second ward over J. W. night constable and six watchmen. Uniforms Brown. The control of the council was still of course were not yet to be thought of, but democratic. An amtising stir was made later the council ordered that members of the force in the year by a f»etition being presented to the should be furnished with a white star to be council, with a respectable number of signa- worn upon the lappel of the coat and also with tures, asking that an examination .should be a rattle, at the public expense. It was a num- made into the right of two of the aldermen to ber of years before any addition in the matter hold their seats. It was asserted that they of giving designation and uniformity of ap- were not American citizens. As the petition pearance to the city police was made. A re- gave no names of the aldermen who were thus vision of the ordinances, this being the third disqualified, the petition went to the wall and since the organization of the city, was ordered was not heard of again and Ave believe to this and completed during the year. The annual day it never has l)een certainly known who was amoinit of destruction from fire, before men- pointed at by this iDaper. tioned, caused the council to largely increase The value of property in the city by the the facilities for its suppression by adding to assessment of 1856 was reported at $3,668,555. the machinery and resources of the fire de- On this the tax levy was ordered of one-eighth partment, among which was the construction of one per cent for schools and school purposes of three large cisterns near by three of the late- three-eights for meeting the railroad debt ly built churches. With these, it appears from lialiilities and one-half for ordinary expenses, the records, that the city now had seventeen and it was ordered also that there should be public cisterns which had been made during a sufficient levy made on property where the that number of years. These were absolutely gas was in use to pay two-thirds of the expense essential and some of them were costly. It of lighting the streets. The city debt and ex- might be a curious search for any one thus penses so rapidly increasing on account of the disposed to try and ascertain how many of large railroad s\ibseriptions roused the atten- these old cisterns, so serviceable and needful tion of the council to making some effort to pre- in their day and constructed with so much of pare for growing future liabilities, and an order care and expense have been abandoned, or were was passed authorizing the mayor to make a destroyed even before the establishment of the loan for the purpose of establishing a sinking waterworks .system dispensed with their use. fmid, but either from not understanding how to Some have been forgotten, or destroyed, with make the arrangement or from some other good no remuneration to the city. cause the pi'oject languished out of existence An advance was made in the character of .just as a dozen similar schemes have done in city .iournalism. The five newspapers of the later years. A change was made in the regula- year before still lived and tlourished. three of tion base or datum for calculating grades, them English dailies. The Daily Republican, which in 1853 had been established at the bench then much the most enterprising paper of the mai'k figure of 20, 31-100 feet above low water place was enlarged, and the Journal, a German mark. This figure was found defective for en- paper, came out in February as a semi-weekly. gineering reasons and by resolution the figure It was a republican or anti-slavery journal, 100 was added. It stood thus for some years quite ably managed by "Winters and Pfeiter. until perfected by the present plan. The luime The other German paper, the Courier, was of Orange street was changed to Eighteenth democratic. A very good directoi'y of the city and the council ordered that the streets east was prepared for this year by Root, the best of this should be, when opened, called Twen- that had yet appeared. tieth and Twenty-fourth, thus, continuing the A publication was made at the close of the plan of double blocks which had begun at year, which attracted interest at the time for Twelfth street but contemplating the possible the reason that then the city was an owner division of these blocks in the future, and the in the Northern Cross Railroad and the people designation of the streets so made, by the odd felt interested in the business progress of the number.s as Twenty-fir.st and Twenty-third. enterj)rise. in which they had so heavily in- The first movement was now made towards vested. It is also worth seeing as a contrast giving .systematic organization and appearance of the railroad business thirty-one years ago to the city police which from small beginnings with that which is done at the present time. ;

l'A«T AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 167

The Nortlu'iii Cross Railroad, completed from nation of Francis Hoffman, who was ineligible^ Quiiu-y to (ialesbui'ir at the comnu'iiceiiieiit oi' ()94 votes. The local democratic ticket general- the year LS.')!), rejiorts for the last six months ly was successful by from 500 to 700 majority eiidiiif;- December :31st. 18r)6, liiat its receipts exce[)t in the case of I. .\. .Morris, democratic I'roin iiasseiiuer travel aiiKiiiiil cd to ^|;74.125 camlidat ! toi- congress, who fell behind his trom freight to ^133.878. Ill ; from mails, etc., ticket, leading Jackson (Jrimshaw 361 votes, .$7,219.82. making a total of .$215,222.79, aud while J. C. Davis, the candidate to fill the that the exi)enses amounted to .$108,643.48, vacancy of Richardson's resignation, received leaving- a net earned [irolit of $106,570.31. a majority over Thos. ('. Sharpe of 760. C. A. The political record of this year was novel Warren was chosen for state's attorney over and stirring all over the laml. It was a S. P. Delano; .Samuel Holmes and M. ]M. Bane transition pcrind in American politics such as for re|)resentatives over J. F. Battell and John had never been known before. The rei)eal of Till.son ; T. W. McPall, circuit clerk, over H. the Missouri compromise two years before this V. Sullivan ; John Cadogan, sheriff, over George date had loosened all party harness aud caused Rhea; the successful parties, all democrats, re- to swing away from their old time moorings ceiving majorities ranging from about 500 to at the state and congi-cssional elections nearly 7;;0 as above stated. The county vote on call- every nortiiern democratic state, such as New ing a convention to revise the constitution was Hampshire. Iowa. Illinois. Wisconsin. Michigan 2.840 for to 1.923 against. This proposition and others that had until iu)w from their was defeated in the state. earliest days unchangeably Hoated the demo- Quincy was Jiot in its thirtieth year of ex- cratic flag, and now on the bi'oader arena of istence. Its growth, as shown at successive a presidential contest, these sei)arations con- periods, i-ose fnun about 20 in the place and tin\ied and wei'c nationalized into new and per- near neighborhood in 1825 to about 350 in manent pai'ty formations. Almost the entire 1830: to 753 in 1835: 1.850 in 1840: 4.007 in whig party in the northern and western sec- 1845 : 6.901 in 1850 : 10,754 in 1855, and is sub- tions of the state, with large accessions from sequent increase has been up to 14.362 in 1860, the democratic party which acted together in 24.052 in 1870, and 27.268 in 1880. The popula- 1854 under the name of Anti-Xebraska. now tion of the county, including Quincy and also took the name of repiddican. In the extreme Hancock county, which was then attached to sciutiicrn and southeastern part, nearly all the Adams, was 292 in 1825: of the conntv. Quincv old whigs became democrats. A portion of the included. 2.186 in 1830: 7.042 in 1835:" 14.476 in whigs formed an organization known as the 1S40: 18.399 in 1845; 26.508 in 1850: 34.310 in ".\mei'ican" oi' "Fillmore pai-ty." which after- 1855: and the population since, the city in- ward mcTLicd into the i'ei)ub]ican. with which cluded, has been reported at 41,323 in 1860; it usually .-oalcsced on local matters. In the 56.362 in 1870. and 59.148 in 1880. It will be (,)uiiicy congressional district, the defection noticed that jirior to 1845. the county iiojiula- from the democratic party was le.ss than in tion increase was vastly more rapid than that some other sections of the state, and the ])olit- of the city, since which period, the city has ical results showed but little change from steadily been gaining, and it is probable that former years. Elsewhere, many leading re])re- the census of 1890 will show more than half of sentative men. such as Trundndl. Palmer. Judd. the population of Adams county tnuubei-ed as Wentworth and otliei-s. seceded from their residents of Quincy. party with a large following, but in this district There had been a lonu- period of l;'ooi1 navii;'a- for reasons needless to name, no democrat of tion. nearly nine months, with 1.280 arrivals of prominence beyond his county, left his party boats, exclusive of the daily Keokuk and St. and lines lay nearly as before. Louis packets. Seventy-five thotisand was the At the cotnity fall election Buchanan, demo- estinnited number of packages ti-ansported hv crat, received for ju'esident 3,311 votes to 2.25(i livei-, and about 100.000 by rail. for Fremont and 6()2 for Fillmore. There was The coal business, which had but commenced a union of the Fremont and Fillmore voter, on during the previous year, amounted to a re- a i)ortion of the state ticket and on the county ceipt of 15.000 tons. ^lanufactories reported otticers. "\V. A. Richardson, who had resigned increase in tnnnber and in extent of produc- his seat in congress to run for governor, carried tion. Tberi wci'c S furniture establishments the city and county over W. IT. Bessell by 1.208 em])loying 225 haiuls: 5 floui- mills turninii- out majority. Hamilton, the democratic candidate 105.400 ban els. valued at.$685.100 : 4 distilleries for lieutenant governor, leading John Wood jiroducing $4:i2.656 worth of sjnrifs: 25 cooper (^who had been nominated for this office to fill shops making near 140.000 barrels, hogsheads. the VMc-ancy on tin' ticket caused liy the resig- etc.. with an aggi-egate value of about $130,000; i68 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY.

12 wagon shops witli a luanufacture of 1.'_'6.") court met and the county commissioners as-

wagons, besides j^lows, carts, etc. : 7 harness sembled, being simply the county seat located shops; 2 carriage faetories; 4 machine shops on the fractional quarter section of about 157

and foundries : 6 phming mills which worked acres that had been purchased by the county up 400,000 feet of lumber: 4 steam saw mills and was controlled like every part of the coun- which sawed 470.000 feet of lumber valued at ty, by the county connnissioners. When in $117,500; I large iron and copper factory, the 1834 upon becoming a town antl assunnning an business of wliich amounted to -$12,400; 3 soap indei)endent local government, the limits as and candle factories whose transactions footed fixed in its incorporation were the river on the up to $41,000; the brick business was extensive, west, and the present Jeffeison, Twelfth and

16 yai'ds producing 16.070,000 ; one large stove Vine .streets on the south, east and north. This foundry whose work alone v,^as $99,128.04, and comprised an acreage of a trifle over 800 with the total of maiuifacturing from these and a a ptipulation of about 700. These boundaries few other leading establishments was figured were unchanged in 1840 when the town became $2,818.9.52.4.5, and the number of hands aver- a city and so continued until 1847, when what aging 900. This summary omitted very many is knoAvn as Nevins' Addition, being the 120 of the smaller establishments, from Avhich statis- acres lying between Twelfth, Broadway. Eigh- tics were difficult to be prociu'ed. teenth and Jersey was attached. This addition The general sum of business had nearly was made under the provisions of a clause in doubled over that of the preceding year, not so the (U'igiual charter of the city, that any land much liy the starting of new firms as by the adjoining the city on Ijeing laid off into lots expansion of Inisiness of those already existing. and lilocks might be annexed. The population The grain trade was extensive, 1,227,000 bushels at this time was about 5,000. At the legislative of wheat and flour being shipped away, mak- session in ^lanuary. 1857, the next material ing Quincy in this line of trade next in the change was made by moving the north bound-

.state to Chicago : there were also shipped or ary line three-fourths of a mile farther to the manufactured 417,661 l)arrels of floui'. The ex- present Locust street, and the same line pro- portation of i)ork was 17,962 barrels: bacon longed westward to the river; a half mile east 1,648 hog.sheads, and 9,500 packages of lard. to Twenty-fourth street, and a half mile south There was a falling off in old staple business to Harrison and on that line Avest to the river of pork packing here as generally in the west. taking in some twenty-five hundred acres. This Trade in dry goods and groceries was large rtddition added but little to the population, and prosperous, five houses exclu.sively in the as it was nearly all farm land or unsettled. The former line, did a business aggregating at $356,- action met with bitter op|)ositiou from most 410. and from twenty groceries sales were re- of those living on or owning lands, thus sum- ported amounting to $540,000. The amount maiily lu-inight into the city. They complained done in this line of trade was estimated at not that the legislative action Avas unfair since the less than three-quarters of a million. Lumber subject of annexation had not been mentioned had become a very extensive business, amount- at the preceding election, that there was in- ing to a total in the vear of 1,365,000 feet. justice in placing them and their property under another jurisdiction without their having a voice and vote mi tlie (|uestion. and especially that they and tlieir property ought not to be CHAPTER XXXV subjected to the burden of the already large city debt for the creation of which they were 1857. not responsible. To this last objection the reply Avas made that their OAvn property adjacent to city limit.-^ extended. fin,-vnci.\l. in debt, hou.'ies numbered. hospital ground the city had been A^astly increased in value by boi-PtHt. .';.\loon licen.se question, m.-vny buildings go up. rise in re.\l est.4te the expenditures and improvements made in values. first board of trade. money the city from Avliich the debts originated. The p.a.nic. foreign immigr.^tion increases, collegiate institution attempted. be- opposition, though it made much personal dis- real city. coming a comfort for our members at Springfield, Avas In the chapter of the preceding year (1856) fruitless, and the annexation Avas made. The has been given the successive population in- city noAV had betAveen 12.000 and 13,000 of crease of the i)lace from its settlement to 1880. population. Some ten years later about 120 This now. at the date above (1857), had grown acres more Avere added, lying south of Broad- from tlie handful of residents, in 1825, to about Avay to near Y(u-k and east from TAventy-fonrth 12,000. The expansion of the city in area bad to Thirtieth street, since Avhen the limits liaA'e not run evenly with its increase of population. been unchanged, comprising a total area of From 1825 to 1834 it was but a name where the about 3,500 acres. With this extension of the .

PAST AM) PIJKSKXT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 169 limits, there was an iiierease made in tlie num- $ll.()!)(j.34 of whi<'h was in nn|)aid city ber uf wards from three to six. tlius ma king vouchers. Ther(! was owing to the school fund the council to consist of twelve aldermen, twice $11.3;")!). 8!), which as reported by a connnittee the forinei- numlici-. Tlie manner of selecting of the council, "had been used for other pur- officci's in the iii'w cliMrtci- was left as before: poses"" by the city (a mild expression synony- the maycir. marshal and aldei-men. bein;:;- nM)Us with misappropi'iation ^ and now. to tem- <-lins(Mi by popular election, and the other offi- poi'arily meet this dcm;ind, a ten year ten per cials elected by the council. Two years later, cent boiul lor the above stated amount was in IS.')!), a law was passed makMni;- UK.st of the ordei'cd to be issued. In this comu^ction it may city nfticers elect i\c by the pe iplc. At the !irsi be nn-ntioncd that the perversion of the school clci'lion held uuilcr I be new ciiarter in April, moneys ilid not cease for several yeai's and was a lai-ge vote was polleil. the democratie ticket finally adju.sted. when the delinquent amount succeeding by a large majority. Sylvester h;id I'cached to about $24,000 by the eonncil Thayer receiving l.(Y.]2 votes to (598 for Charles ceding to the school boai'd all such title as it A. Savage. The democrats elected as aldermen. ])(>sscssed to realty occujiied and used or to be Thomas Jaspei' and M. ]\[eVay. in the first and used for educational puri)oses within the city. thii-d wards, over .1. C. Bernai'd and C. .M This comprehended the Fraidvlin, .lefferson and

lirowii. and in the fifth J. H. llicks and .\. .1. Webster school houses, and adjacent gi'ounds. Lubbe over C. S. I'enlield and C. Meyer, .-ind in This was a tVrrtunate arrangement for the S. the sixth, ,M . Hartlett and .lohn Sclicll over school interests but somewhat sacrificial to the F. FUudis and .lames Woodi'uff. while in the city which by its inciu'rect autl pcrliaps it might second ward .1, H. be called aft'airs lirown was chosen over Le\ i ilb»ga| luaniimlation of school

Palmei'. and in the fourth B. F. Berrian and .\. \vas comi)elle(-l finallx' to pay np at a much Kellar ovei- .[. Voglepohl and W. E. Wilson, the heavier cost than would ba\'e been in the pur- repulilicaiis carrying this new ward. This was suance of a more proper and i)rudent course. the first ai)pearance of the rc])ul)lican pai'ty at The carelessness in these matters was shown a city election. By a recpiirement of the law the by the fact that about this time it was found aldermen in the new wards, the fcuirth. fifth that the treasurer's record account of the city and sixth. wlu>rc two had l)een chosen drew with the schools, was missing, and an estimated lots for the oiu' year and the two year term, balance of $3,300, these beino- the last figures when ilessrs. Kellar. Lubbe and Schell drew remembered, was agreed npon as due the school the short term and their three associates held fund fi'om the city. The three schools above over for two years. named were the only ones in existence at this The city oi'ganization was completed in the tinu' and were in prosperous shape, well man- council by the re-election of A. W. Blakesly as aged and attended. They employed 14 teachers clerk and all the other democratic officials of and reported an annual attendance of about the last year. 1,(100 pupils. The cost of carrying on the .\ii imusnal aiiiiMinl of iinpin'tanf and pei'ma- schools for the year ending June 30, 1857. was neiit l)nsiiH^ss came under the consideration of reported at $5,957.82. the i-(iuncil and was concluded during the yeai'. Thei-e had been an attempt made at economy The financial sitinition of the city was far from during the past year. The street impi'ovements, being satisfactory. Its bonded indebted;-ess genei-ally the largest expense item, was rela- within the past few years had greatly increased, tively less than usual but other demands in- amounting now. exclusive of i-ailroad subscrip- cident to a young and rapidly growing city, tions, to over >t:-200.nO0, and with the I'ailroad such as police, paupers, salaries, fire depart- debt to three tinu's this amount, some of it nu'ut and contingent, swelbn! the tot;d to overdue, and all rajiidly maturing, while a large foi'mer figures. And then piled on these, were amount of vouchers were oiitsfaiuling and cii'- the cost of bonds taken uj). some ,$35,000 and culating at a heavy discount. Other projects raili'oad bond interest $14,000, which made an which must add largely to tjiis debt, were being easy account foi' the deficit of nearly $12,000, popularly proposed and the city credit from in the year's business, .\dditioiuil to all this, these causes was not b.v any nn'ans in a com- was the .$5,000 of matni'cd bonds unpaid, and memlable sha])e. The I'evenuc was uneqtialtothe nearly $40,000 matui-ing this year with an al- great increase of cnri'ent ex])enses. The fiscal most ecpial ann>unt which would become due statement for the year (>nding .Mai-cli :n. favor- in each of the half dozen following yeai's. The ably prepared as all such statements are. shows outlook was luit encouraging, and the city Avas np the situation. As therein reported, the re- just beginning to realize the weight of its debt. ceipts from all sources amnujited to $82,627, It had assToued burdens without proper pro- wliile the expenditures totalized at $03,823.34— vision for carrving them. These burdens 170 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY. seemed ueedful at the time to assume and The a.ssessed valuation of city property for nltimatelj' brought vast advantage, but were the year was $.3,020,895. On this was levied a burdens none the less for a hmg aftertime. To tax of one-eighth of 1 per cent for school and tide over these aeeruing liabilities and tem- one-half of 1 per cent for ordinary purposes to porarily restore the city credit, a loan was which was added a three-eighths of 1 per cent ordered by the council and an issue of $75,000 for railroad jjurposes and later again of 1 per of bonds authorized to provide for the same. cent special tax to meet the interest on the This, of conrse, became an addition to the Toledo R. R. bonds issued in January of this permanent city debt, which was now to be year. It appeared to be the idea of the coun- further increased by the subscription of $100.- cil in these times, to provide by special tax for 000 to the yuiney and Pahiiyra Railroad. The the accruing interest on each separate issue of Hannibal and St. Joe road was now nearl\- railroad bonds. This was a praiseworthy plan, completed. It was constructed under govern- which if it had been carefully carried out ment aid as a military road, by a large donation might have lightened the load which the city of public lands. The desire had been that it was compelled to shoulder with its great pile should branch at Palmyra with one or two of overdue and maturing bonds, swelled by termini on the east, one at Hannibal, the other years of delinquent interest. at Qnincy. The plan through the influence of The entire debt now was $707, (UK). 73 of which political complications failed and it cost Quincy .$500,000 was from railroad subscription and all $100,000. A company -was organized to build of this except about $11,000 drawing inter- this connection and having obtained the neces- est. The estimated revenue for the year 1857 sary authority from the legislature, applica- was placed at $75,000, a dark outlook, when the tion was made to the city council for a sub- resource and liability figures were placed scription. The council voted a subscrij^tion of alongside each other in contrast. $100,000 subject to an endorsement by the The enumeration of the houses, an essential people. The election was held on the ith of in every city, was now for the first time ordered April, resulting in a vote of 942 for and 11 by the couiU'il. Their first resolution formulat- in ©Imposition. Upon this an issue was ordered ing this project, was an amusing absurdity. It of bonds to the above amount ruiniing 20 years prescribed 1hat each 25 feet of lineal curbstone with 8 per cent interest and the road was measure should constitute a number, that Front speedily built. Palmyra also voted $30,000 to- street should be the base for streets running wards its construction. This was the last in- east and west, the figures alternating across vestment of the city in railroads until about the street evei'y 25 feet, and this part of the twelve years later. plan lias continued excepting that some dozen This $100,000 subscription to the Quincy and years later the convenient Philadelphia sys- Palmyra railroad was not completed as origi- tem, as it is called, was adopted which makes nally suggested and intended. The first prop- the initial figures of each house nmnber to osition Avas that Quincy should give $100,000 ciu-respond with the initial figures of the street and that Palmyra and the Missouri counties bounding the block. interested would give an equal amount, one- So far all was cori-ect, but the other part half of which ($50,000) was to be voted by of the council resolution, established a double Palmyra. On this expectation and understand- base for streets running north and south, one ing, the election was ordered by the council. at Broadway and the other State street, with The outside interests did not come up to their a mixed prescription for affixing of duplicating promise but Quincy did. taking- as usual the luuiibers which would have puzzled the oldest heavy end of the log, and the road was rajmidly inhabitant to have found his way into or out built mainly on the basis of the city subscrip- of the city had he looked to these figures for tion and the credit given by the same. The guidance. It proved so practically absurd and Qiiincy and Toledo road, from Camp Point to confusing when put in operation, that it was Meredosia. to which the city had voted $200,- abandoned and Jlaine street made the base from 000. was during this year, luider tlie active which to number north and smith respectively. management of (ieneral Singleton, placed This enumeration of houses was done, iinder a imder contract in May, rapidly pushed forward contract with the council, by ilcEvoy and and so far finished to Mt. Sterling by Christ- Beatty. who at the same time prepared a city mas that the cars were then running and a directory. It was crude compared with later pleasant celebration was held at that place publications of the kind, but Avas by far the largely attended by people from Quincy. The most thorough and complete of an.v that to this construction of this road was by the aid and date had been prepared. All the earlier direc- interests of the Toledo and Wabash with which tories, contained the same skeleton sketch of it became consolidated a few vears later. the town settlement, a few oft-told old stories PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 171

for anil vt'i-\' iiicuiui)lete lists of iiiiiiies with great city, and of course to be gently handled lack also of accurate designation of residences, expediency's sake. etc. This book aini)lificd all tlint was valuable The local improvements, permanent in kind, in earlier directoi-ies in regiii-il tu rity history, boili public and private, for which Qinncy has goveruiiient. luisiness anil general condition, always been especially noted, went on the same and contained about 4. .">()() names with resi- as heretofore. As indicative of the extent to dence and Ijusiiiess carel'ully located by num- which iiriproxciiient luul been carried, a discus- bers. sion came up during this year, to which the From this enumeration of 4,500 the estinuite writer was a party, and from it a wager was is a fair one that the i)opulation of nearly 11.- made as to the amount of brick sidewalk then 000 in 1885 by the state census had now grown existing in the cit\-. On this a calculation and that there were to above 12. ( 1011. This was proven by the measurenu'ut taken, showed census of ISfiO. tliree years later, when it was thirty-three miles of such walk constructed, al- reported at 14.:it)"J. most all of it twelve feet in width and in some This 1857 directory, so correct and concise cases sixteen feet wide. No other city in the in mo.st particulars, fell into the stereotyped United States, great or small, old or new, at error of all such publications, by assuming this time was equally improved in this respect, the population of the place as 20,000. This and this feature continues. This extensive sys- tendency to over-count po|)ulation is common tem of street improvement and completion, with census takers and reporters, anil always originated with the fiist years of the city, par- tinds a ready endorsement in beliefs. tially from necessity, and due also to a spirit There were twenty established churches at of enterprise. The broken nature of the ground this time in the city, eighteen Protestant and compelled an unusual amount of work in the two Catholic. Services in fourteen of these foi'm of levelling and making passable the were conducted in the Knglish language, and thoroughfares, and these again demanded to in the others, in Cerman. be i)rotected by the laying of gutters and side- The city had made a few yeai's before, the walks, and this custom spread into ])ortions of very judicious purchase of eight acres of land tlic city farther perhaps than there was an lying south of and adjacent to Woodland Ceme- ai-lual need for such woi-k to be done at the tery, known as the Hospital Grounds. There time. Seven streets, Broadway, Vermont, was no decided idea as to what .special use Hampshire, Maine, State and Delaware were at this ground .should be a|)plied to. but after some this time passably graded from the top of the disagreement in the council, the "Poor House" hill to the river and during this year the grade buildirig was oi-dered to be erected at a cost of Jersey was completed. of about .$2,700, and the ground became de- The systematizing of the city suiweys and voted to that use and also for a work house grades progressed under the direction of the some time later. city engineer, who reported having placed 250 For the first time there came up in the stone moiunnents as points of reference at the council for consideration the liquor or saloon street intersections. The "Public Square." license (iuesti(Hi in the sluipe of a local oi)tion. Avhich for twenty or more years had known such as then had not even a name, although no other name. v,-as now formally, by resolu- the principle has now become a national issue. tion of the council, christened Wa.shington Petitions were poured into the council protest- Park. Private improvements, both in amount ing against the granting of grocery or saloon and value, far surpassed what had been made licenses, (which mciint the same) on portions any former year. Nearly all of the costly of a street or in blocks where a majority of the and imposing four-story .structures of the south property owiu'rs or those doing other business side of ifaine between Fourth and Fifth, facing there ()l)jected. The council took the position the square were erected during this season. that they would l)e governed by such remon- The two fine buildings of E. K. Stone, imme- strances in the matter of granting grocei-y diately east of the Quincy House, the Lomolino licenses. ;ind adhered to this restrictive policy biulding. now owned by John Leaman. a few tenaciously, except when, as very often, they doors farther east, by far the most expensive didn't. It is a suggestive fact c

"Hess House," since become the "Occidental," the idea of forming a "Board of Trade," an was enlarged so as to become the largest and institution always of value to a commercial city most commodions hotel in the place. and of which in like name or character Quincy Equal with the many improvements made. has had so many. This was the first organiza- was the transfer and sale of property to an tion of the kind. It was formed in May with extent such as had not before been known, and C. M. Pomeroy as president and a large mem- at rates progressively higli. A somewhat l)ership of most of the prominent business men lengthj^ recital of some of tliose is worthy of at the city. It centered interest, was useful, note, as showing how well known property in and like several other such of later existence the city was valued then in comparison with lasted but a year or two, from some fatality former and subseciuent rates. The purchases which seems to unfortunately attach to such were made mostly by our own people, but in associations, and is noticeable chiefly as being a member of cases by speculators from abroad. the first enterprise of the kind formed in the The fifty feet at the southeast corner of ilaine city. and Fifth streets (a short inioccupied lot) sold The business showing of the year was active

for .i<3()5 per front foot. The small lot at the and generally prosperous notwithstanding the southeast corner of Hampshire and Fifth, with failure of the largest business house of the city the brick house on it, still standing, brought (the Thaj-ers, who.se store, mill and distillery $7,705. These and many other of the sales comprehended much the most extensive oper- made during this year were at public auction. ations, that up to this period had been carried A lot on Fifth street, immediately south of the on in the place) and also the suspen.siou of two old courthouse ground. 25 feet front, was pur- leading banking houses. The winter bvisiness chased for $430 per foot, this being the higliest of 1856-57 was fair, though less than usual in price lip to this time which had ever been paid some liranches. Navigation had been free for a for city i^ropcrty. Tlio Tiiayer building, a portion of the season. It was suspended by the three-story brick at the corner of Maine and river being frozen, from December 8th to the Fourth, embracing 50 feet ground, where the 15th of the last year, was resumed at the latter public library building is now being erected, date, and continued until the early part of Jan- was bought by James Parker for .$15,000. On uary when the ice became fast, and so stayed Front street at the corner of ]\Iaine two large until the 18th of February when it finally brick warehouses, these also being the prop- opened for the season, affording good boating erty of the Thayers, who failed about this time, facilities luitil the last week in November, then sold for $11,000 cash. The quarter of the block became very low, but remained open with only at the southwest corner of BroadM^ay and Fifth, occasional running ice throughout the follow- then and ever since used as a lumber yard, ing Avinter. changed owners for $"20,000. In other parts The season was a memorably cold one. On of the city farther away from business centers the 9th of February occurred one of the most many sales were made at correspondingly high severe snow storms within memoi'y. followed by figures. In Moulton's addition the half of two rain, sleet and an intense cold, covering the large lots was sold for $2,180, the entire two country with ice and almost suspending travel, lots having been purchased the year before for even on many of the railroads. Springfield $2,000, property on the corner of Vermont could only be reached from Quincy by going and Twelfth, $22.00 per front foot. Ground liy the way of Meudota and Bloomington. on the hillside on JIaine. west of Third, brought The old staple winter industry of the place $170 per foot. A large sale was made of ground showed some falling off from the record of pre- on Ninth and York for $5,000 to the Dick vious years. About 38,300 hogs only aggregat- brothers, which became the foundation of their ing in weight of product 8,989,462 poiuids were great brewery. Outside of and near the city packed during the winter, some 5,500 less in the same high rate of value ruled, and many number than were put up in the year before, transfers were made. Eighty acres, a mile and although not so much less in Aveight. This or a half north of town, which had been pur- nearly the same percentage of decrease in the chased but a few Aveeks before for $16,000 was pork jiroduct of the year. Avas general in the offered at auction and sold at an advance of Avest at this time. Other manufacturing inter- nearly $4,000. There never before, except about ests eA'idenced increasing business and success. 1835-36. when the town was comparatively The stoA'e foundry business among others, had small, has been recorded so lively a traffic in already groAvn to be very extensiA'e, furnishing property based on the growing prospects of a large area of country, and employing many the place, and most of these investments, like Avorkmen. One, the Phoenix stoA^e Avorks of those of the earlier date, proved remunerative. Comstock & Co., reported as its annual busi- The widening business of the city stimulated ness, running into the AA'inter of 1856-57, liaA^- PAST AND I'KESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY. 173 iiig made of cookino- stoves 5.518, lieatiii-;- pensi(Ui. but finall.\' gave \i\) and permanently

.stoves 1.488. i>arloi' stoves 2.460. a total of !». (dosed. The failui'e (d' these tln<'e houses was 45(). in the manufacture of which they used l'(n' M long time felt by many but caused no 1)87 tuns of eoal. 2U.U00 bushels of coal aiiil marked depression in general prosjjcrity. coke and 200 cords of wood, eiiiployinu an The permanent failure of the banking house average of (JO workmen whose waj^es !iiiiount;ate business of uiunths latei-. and after their temporary re- the tiriu was over $100,000. This was the larj;- sumption, was a iiiui-h regretted atfair. While. est of the several stove foundries, but work as l)(d'ore stated, the (dosure of this and the was done by ulliers in e(|ual proportioti, other banking houses had no serious influence Muionntint;- aito^iether to about .$200,000 of on the current Ijusine.ss. for the reason that the niannlaetnre of this kind in the city. city was in healthy progress and its business The '"(^uincy Savings and Insurance ('mri- was |)eculiarly strong and solvent, yet the pan\" which becanu^ the First National liaid< br-eakiiig down of this baid< was generally felt of (^uiney. oi)ened as an e.Kchanye and bank- to be a personal and ])ublic sorrow and mis- ing house, early in August. This made the fort luic. fourth batdving house now in operation, the It was the first [)i'i\ate banking enterpi'ise others l)eing the "Bank of Qtdncy. " and the of the city. Its |)roprietors were free, gener- two firms of "Flagg & Savage"" and "iloore, ous, lavish indeed (d' their and to whatever was llollowbush (5c Co."" The two lattei' failed a of a i)ublic interest or a pi-ivate (diaritable aj)- few weeks hiter. (^uinc.v had now its first ex- peal. and the |)ersonal i)oi)ulaiMty of the insti- perience in a financial disaster iind |)anic, but tution and its managers was well TUgh univer- somewliat sti-angely, though there was uiucli sal. At the time of their first suspension, so of excitement, business operations generally strong was theii- hold upon the public con- were but slightly affected. There was a money fidence and sympathy that a notice was pid)- panic all over the country in the fall, especially lished. sigiu'd by unite a number of the wealth- wild in the west, and nuiny failui'es, all the iest citizens, expi'essing faith in their sol- great banking houses of St. Louis being forceo vency and offering the assistance of theii' in- to suspend ;ind bringing tlowu with them dividual credit and means. Xo such guarantee houses with which they were associated or was made at the time of their final failui'c in which were dependent upon them. This told 1860. It would liave been useless if given and with some effect in t^nincy. Otu' of the indirect was not asked fm-. caTises for this coiulilion of affairs, was the The year was a soinewhat jx-culiar one in its horde of private state (-bartered banks which (dimatic conditions, with varying temperature flooded the country with their handsomely pic- a no! less healthv than usual The city was tured promises to pay, and which were scat- sonu'what severely sc(Mirg('(l and seai'('(l still tered everywhei'e with most christian benevo- more by a smallpox visitation during miiU lence but nnchristianlike were finally found to summer and again in the fall. The matter was be without any redeemer. The monetary jninics met and jiromptly provided against, by unusual and business depressions in all past time may system (111 the pai't of the city aidhorities. or be mainly tracetl at almost every period of rather by the mayor. Mr. Thayer, the sanu? disaster to these home-made haid\s of state law whose finaiudal failui'e occuried about this parentage. There had been no sus|)icion of in- time, wiio ;is may(u-. however, proved to be one solvency attaching to any of the Qinncy bai d

(& Savage was eipially . i- still more ci-iiipled by (diurcdi. who had been resident here for a ninii- +he failure of tlu> Thayers but held the con- ber (d' yeai's and becanu' more than usiudlv fidence of the public in its solvency to sudi an well kiiiiwn and influential generalLv. Mi-. extent tbat the run upon them was slight, but Alexander Savage, a former citizen or Elaine about six weeks later it was compelled to (dose and for several years resident in Quincy. died doors, i-esumiug after a short p(>riod of sus- ill the bitter part of July at the age of 77. ilr. ;

174 PAST AND PRESENT OP ADAMS COUNTY.

Levi Wells, one of the few remaining real the cost of transportation to infinitely exceed pioneer founders of county and city, ended an their value, and perhaps among the scores of honored life on July 11th, aged 6i. ^Ir. Wells newcomers not a single person Avas able to had long been an Illinoian, dating his citizen- speak or understand tlie language of the land ship farther back than any other of the old Avhere they had come to make a home. settlers. He was born in Connecticut in 1793 The political record of the year after the came to Illinois (which was then a territory) spring election, had little of intei'est, there in 181S. a year before the advent of his two being no general election in the state, except later life pioneer associates. Wood and Keyes. for county officers. The only important federal both • f whom survived him. He came to Adams office in the city, that of postmaster, Avas filled county (then Pike) in 1824; was in 1825 elected by the reappointment of Austin Brooks, editor one of the first three county commissioners, of the Herald. At the fall election a so-called with Willard Keyes and Peter Journey. This "independent" ticket for county officers Avas office he held during the fir.st three years of the put into the field in opposition to the nominees county history and early times of Quincy. He of the democratic party. Nominally "inde- was averse to public positions, and held no pendent." it Avas composed of and supported other in after life. He early in life engaged in by the Avhigs, Avho, though their party organ- mercantile business, and was the possessor of a izati((n Avas abandoned, had not as yet chrys- large property in and adjacent to the city. talized completely into the republican party, He was of a decided religious nature, being one of Avhich they then and since formed the main of the founders of the First Presbyterian (now numerical strength in the north. The election the First Congregational church) and of the resulted in the usual democratic success. W. present Presbyterian church, in which he was H. Gather (re-elected), Alex. Johnson, and the leading elder from its organization until AVilson Lane being chosen for county judge, his death. His philanthropy kept pace with clerk and treasurer, respectively, over W. S. his religion and his charities, though unob- Lee. John Field and Thomas Durant. by about trusive, Avere many and judicious, and his long 700 majority. Avith the exception of the vote on life here was attended with public and personal clerk. Field, a A-ery popular man, carrying the respect, as was his death, with regret. city by nearly 250 votes, though beaten in the A marked increase appeared about this entire county by about the same figures. The period, one that continued for some time after, general democratic majority in the city aver- in the foreign immigration, which had rela- aged about 100. The vote of the city at this tively fallen off of late years. This was almost election was 1,327, that of the county (city in- entirely German. The earliest foreign en- cluded) 3,870. There was a surprising falling graftment to any great extent upon the popula- off in the vote given at this election, as com- tion of the place had been of Germans, about pared with that of the last year, and also at 1834, a few as early as 1833, and the immediate the mayor's election in April, proA'ing hoAV succeeding years. In 1836 and thence along utterly defective and unreliable election re- until 1839-40. a very large settlement of Irish turns are as a basis for estimating population. came in. induced by the state, public improve- The population of both city and county Avere ments and the railroad labor required here at unciuestionably rapidly increasing, yet the the time. These mostly remained, and a large county vote of 6,229 in November, 1856, had percentage among the Iri.sh families of the city noAv dropped nearly tAvo-fifths, and that of the now count back their coming to that date. city, Avhich anu)unted to 1,730 eight months Later on, about 1840. and for ten to fifteen before, fell aAvay nearly one-fourth. years, a steady stream of German immigration The periodical movement Avas nuide toAvai-ds flowed in, very largely some years, which had. the establishment of a collegiate institution, a however, began to gradually decrease, and charter for that purpose having been obtained now in 1857, for some reason not apparent at the last session of the legislature. The here, it revived again. One .steamer in Hay leaders in the project and trustees of the pro- lauded one hundred emigrants who had shipped ]iosed school or college Avere from among the direct from Germany for Quincy, and other most liberal and representative men in the arrivals in like character and number came city. John Wood. Willard Keyes. Samuel in from time to time during the season. It Holmes. E. Grove, R. S. Benneson. S. C. Sher- was an odd, though it had become a eonunon man. II. Foote, G. Ij. King. S. IT. Emory, W. sight, a few years before, to find in the early ]MeCandlish. J. R. Dayton. O. H. BroAvning, L. morning, the entire public landing covered by Kingman. L. Bull and C. A. Savage, and the these families with their multifarious house- Rev. J. J. ]Marks. pastor of the Presbyterian hold goods of every description, many of them church, Avas selected as the president of the cumbrous articles, whose bulk and weight made institution. I'AS I A.Ni) I'KESENT OF AUAMS COUNTY. 175

It was tlu' (lesiiiii that tlu'i-f sluiuld be two which the city had nuide; the enlarged variety departiiieuts (male and feiiialei sei)aratel>- ln- of oecuiiatiuns which had been rapidly estab- eati'd, but to be under one yeueral sui)ervisi()n lished ; the prosperous show of business with its cif eliai'y:e. A blucU of Jiround. at the soutlieast accompanying tlush of money iind free expen- eornei- of State and Twelfth sti'eets. was ditures of the same, and largely the elfect of donated by tlovernor Wood, and one also by the increased and (piickened facilities for travel Mr. Kej'es, on Eighth and Vine, eouditioued on and connnunication with other places near or the .sum of $75,000 being subscribed by citizens. di.stant. which invited also a corresponding The enter])rise wa.s not completed as oi-igiiially advent of strangers and passing travelers to intended. l)Ul was a partial success, resulting the city, far in excess of what had ever been, in the support of two very e.xcelleut schools these were among the causes which gave the for several years, each oi a much higher pre- city its peculiarl\- li\-ely and attractive a|)pear- tension and proficiency than any that had pre- ance. viously existed in the city. It would be .safe perhaps to say that there .\niu.sements kept even ii-wo with all thi> were ten visitors during this year to one com- other sevei'al advaiu-es. A I heal re with regu- ing into the i)lace five years before. It was lar performances six evenings in the week, not longer than that jieriod past, when, when- was the leading contribution in this line. It was ever a stranger nunle his a|)pea ranee, the whole located in the city hall and continuiMl (lurinu edninniiiity, xilhiLic like, would nute his com- nearly all the earlier portion of the year. The ing, in(|uire and .soon fintl out who he was, management was in the hands of Thomas Duif, what he was after, etc. Not so now. This the veteran actor; was well conducted and pop- year marked a social change in that respect ular, giving far more satisfaction to the public which was ])ermanent. People came and went than it pi-obably did in ;i financi;d sense to its with as little notice, unless some peculiarity proi)rietor. attached to them, as they did in London or Heside till' theatrical amusements befmc New York, or do in Quincy today. A new era mentioned, other lil

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