Elections in 1841--Elections in 1842--Resumption of work
on the Canal--Improvement in Business--First arrival of
Steamboats in the Spring.
At an election held on the 11th December 1841, the same Trustees were
elected who served the preceding year. CHURCHILL COFFING was elected
President; J. BRADFORD, Clerk; T. D. BREWSTER, Treasurer and Collector;
H. LEONARD, Assessor; F. MILLS, Constable; H. S. BEEBE, Street
Commissioner; and J. HOFFMAN, Fire Warden.
During the year 1842, no event is recollected of sufficient importance
to justify a record. The general stagnation continued. Illinois had
become as stagnant and inactive as Cathay. People could not be said to
live--they merely vegetated.
At an election held on the 15th December 1842, CHURCHILL COFFING, ISAAC
ABRAHAM, JOHN HOFFMAN, T. D. BREWSTER, and H. S. BEEBE, were elected
Trustees. This Board elected JAMES BRADFORD, Clerk; S. W. RAYMOND,
Constable; and T. D. BREWSTER, Treasurer.
On the 21st February, 1843, "An Act to provide for the completion of the
Illinois and Michigan Canal, and the payment of the Canal debt" passed
the Legislature. Energetic and sagacious measures were at once devised
and put into operation for the completion of that great work. To GOV.
FORD, SENATOR RYAN and COL. OAKLEY, is due the credit of devising the
scheme which heralded to the people of Illinois the return of
prosperity. This measure was soon followed by gradual improvements in
the town. Considerable accessions to its population took place,
warehouses and workshops began to be erected, and everything soon
assumed the appearance of thrift and progress.
During the season of stagnation, the daily arrival of steamboats from
Saint Louis, the debarkation of their passengers, and their departure
for Chicago, by Frink, Walker & Co's. coaches, tended more to enliven
the town than all other causes combined. This route became a popular one
for southern travel, via., the Lakes to New York, particularly during
the warmer season; and it was no uncommon thing to witness the departure
of from five to ten four-horse post coaches together. The first arrival
of a steamboat in the Spring was always hailed as a great event. Two or
three months of isolation had sharpened the appetites of the people for
intercourse with the great world. The first faint puff, away down among
the cotton woods, was caught upon the ear of some anxious and expectant
listener, and forthwith the news spread with wonderful celerity
throughout the town. All the men and boys gathered upon the landing; all
the women and girls upon the hill-tops. When the boat hove in sight,
conjectures flew thick and fast as to what boat she was; everybody had
some theory founded upon the particular manner of her 'scape, the ball
upon her jack-staff, the ornaments upon her chimneys, or some other
distinguishing mark which each prided himself upon knowing and
remembering. When she came within hailing distance, what a hurrah went
up from the landing! What a waving of handkerchiefs from the bluffs!
Then when her keel fairly grated upon the pebbles of the bank, and a
plank was run over her side, what a rush over all her parts! What a
shaking of hands all round! What congratulations and welcomes were
extended to officers and crew, from captain to firemen! These over, the
truth of history extorts the admission, that the space around the bar
became the grand rendezvous. A short time spent in this neighborhood by
no means tended to lessen the general hilarity and uproar. The news of
the arrival of a steamboat soon spread throughout the country. The
inhabitants of the interior, inland village of Ottawa, in a very
leisurely and dignified way, harnessed up their teams and made a
pilgrimage to Peru, on pretence of business, but in point of fact to see
a real steamboat.