Election in 1840--The Bangs Enterprise--Erection of the
Stone Church--Donation of the Bell--Visit of Messrs. Van
Buren and Paulding.
At an election held on the 18th December 1840, H. P. Woodworth,
Churchill Coffing, Ezra McKinzie, Isaac Abraham and Geo. Low were
elected Trustees. Whole number of votes polled 32. This Board elected
Isaac Abraham their President; James Bradford Clerk; James Myers,
Assessor; F. Lebeau Constable, T. D. Brewster Treasurer; and M. Mott
Street Commissioner. Subsequently F. Mills was elected Constable in
place of Lebeau who resigned, and John Hoffman Fire Warden.
On the 27th February 1841 an act passed the Legislature chartering the
La Salle and Dixon Rail Road, giving to the Corporation created, the
right of way and materials belonging to that part of the old Central
Rail Road lying between the two points named. During the year
operations were recommenced on this work, and a Bank of issue, pretended
to be authorized by the Charter, was opened in La Salle. These
operations for a short time galvanized into life the prostrated energies
of the remaining inhabitants of Peru, but were shortly succeeded by the
bursting of the whole concern. The leading spirit of this movement was a
man named A. H. Bangs, who succeeded in making dupes or accomplices of
several leading and influential inhabitants of La Salle and Lee
Counties. After the explosion it was found that he was a mere
adventurer, without character, reputation, capital or credit. Not an
hundred dollars in cash or a dollar of good and reliable paper had been
used in starting and continuing the construction of forty miles of Rail
Road, and putting into operation a Bank which soon flooded the whole
country with its worthless promises to pay, and draw liberally upon its
imaginary eastern and foreign correspondents. The contractors were, of
course, unable to pay the laborers, and the farmers who had supplied
them with provisions. The former, enraged by their wrongs, attempted to
wreak their vengeance upon the person of the culprit, Bangs. They
seized and dragged him through the muddy streets of the town. He was
finally rescued by the citizens, partly through menaces and partly
through intercession, without material injury, placed in a skiff, and
sent down the river. Had he possessed one thousand dollars in real cash,
there is not a doubt but that he would have been able to finish and put
in operation the road, and to have gone on swimmingly with his Bank for
years; such was the confidence, and it might be added, reverence, which
a real "capitalist" would at that time have inspired. The relapse was,
if possible, more depressing than the former experience.
During this year the second Church--a small but substantial stone
edifice, at present occupied by the Episcopal Society--was erected by
the liberality of T. D. Brewster, Esq., for the Congregationalist
Society. For the use of the Society worshiping in this building, a
valuable bell was donated by the late John C. Coffing of Salisbury,
Connecticut, father of our distinguished townsman, Hon. Churchill
Coffing.
In the summer Mr. Van Buren, then lately retired from the Presidency,
accompanied by James K. Paulding then late Secretary of the Navy, made
a tour through the western States, and was everywhere received with an
ovation.--A Committee was appointed in Peru to receive and escort them
to Ottawa. There was then residing here a young man, a carpenter by
trade and a great wag, rejoicing in the name America Jones. There also
lived here a "Doctor" Harrison, more famous for his effrontery and
obtrusive declamation than for his medical learning or skill. He came
armed with a diploma or certificate from the Berrien County, Michigan,
Medical Society, signed "E. Winslow, President." His attainments and
accomplishments were by no means confined to the healing and dissecting
art, according to his own persistent declaration. They embraced the
grand encyclopedia of science. He was a pugilist, and boasted of many a
hard earned field; he was an advocate of the dueling code, and
understood precisely the etiquette of the field of Honor, and was ready,
should anybody knock a chip from his shoulder, to put in practice the
theory which he so eloquently expounded, although it is believed that he
never absolutely asserted that his chivalry had been put to the test; he
was a musician and an expert at games, particularly "seven up" and
"poker;" and he was a military gentleman. He has since attained the rank
of Major General, in the service of the State of Michigan. With this
brilliant array of accomplishments he naturally attracted the attention
of the community, and what was more to the purpose, obtained a very
lucrative practice. He numbered among his admirers people in all grades
of society. Most zealous among these was a gentleman--an eminent civil
engineer--of a high professional and social position. America Jones,
above mentioned, concocted a scheme very well calculated to cure him of
his extraordinary devotion to the Doctor, and confidence in his
professions; and at the same time to indulge his own innate propensity
for fun, at the expense of the engineer and another prominent citizen--a
lawyer--at present resident. Jones became suddenly very efficient and
"numerous" at a meeting called to make arrangements for the reception of
the distinguished visitors, although it was probably the first time in
his life that he had ever seriously taken part in any thing of the kind,
being generally content to look on and distort the action of others into
some ludicrous phase. Now Jones had a very clear perception of the
Doctor's real merit. He understood instinctively the difference between
that and his bombastic pretensions. He knew, too, that his vanity and
egotism were only to be adroitly excited, and he would throw himself in
a general and continued splurge, in any presence. So he obtained a place
for himself and the Doctor on the committee of reception, escort and
arrangements. On the trip to Ottawa, he contrived to occupy a carriage
in company with the Doctor, the two guests, and the two citizens above
referred to. Once on the road, Jones found means to gradually launch the
Doctor into the field of general declamation. The latter described the
scenery in terms of poetic eulogy; he exhibited his erudition in the
early history of the country; he analyzed, in the most scientific
manner, the waters of the "Sulphur Springs," and branched off into the
abstract laws of chemistry generally; he extemporized an essay upon
political economy; he discussed the character of distinguished
cotemporary politicians and statesmen; he repeated all the stale
newspaper anecdotes and scandal concerning the public men of the day; he
asserted his belief that somebody, down on the Mohawk or somewhere
else, once wrote a very foolish book, called the "Dutchman's Fireside;"
he reviewed and criticised the battles of the Revolution and the naval
engagements of the last war with England; he recounted his own exploits
and prowess in many a pugilistic encounter; and he indulged in terms of
unbounded compliment to, and admiration of the more distinguished
portion of his auditory, lamenting that his father had not lived to
learn the transcendent honor which had befallen his son, in actually
riding in the same carriage with such illustrious personages. These
efforts occupied nearly the entire journey to Ottawa, to the unutterable
chagrin and annoyance of the two citizens, and the infinite delight and
amusement of Jones. How Messrs. VAN BUREN and PAULDING enjoyed the
society of the committee is not known.