Elections in 1852--Reappearance of the Cholera--Operations
on the Rail Road--Elections in 1853--Resignation of the
Mayor and new Election--Issue of $10,000 eight per cent.
Market House Bonds--Opening of the Chicago and Rock Island
Rail Road to Peru--Establishment of the "Peru Weekly
Chronicle" and "Daily Chronicle"--E. Higgins & Co's and
McMillan & Co's Stores burnt--Elections in 1854--Blue Ballot
Question--Manner of Paying Interest on Bonds--Opening of the
Rail Road to Rock Island--Census--Completion of the Market
House and issue of $2,600 Bonds.
At an election held on the 5th day of April, 1852, T. D. Brewster was
reelected Mayor, John Morris elected Alderman for the First Ward, and C.
R. Holmes for the Second. Whole number of votes, 220. The Council
elected I. D. Taylor. Clerk; P. M. Kilduff, Treasurer; E. S. Holbrook,
Assessor; Richard Lonsbury, Collector and Street commissioner; and
Fredrick Schulte, Marshal.
During the Summer, the Cholera again made its appearance, and with
increased violence.--From the first settlement of the town to 1849, with
the exception of the years 1838 and 1839, when bilious fevers prevailed
to some extent, the inhabitants had enjoyed immunity from disease,
seldom experienced in new western settlements, or indeed in any other.
For the space of one year, no death occurred except from casualty. Even
the ague found few, if any subjects. Throughout the summers of 1850 and
1851, cholera continued its ravages in the surrounding towns and
country, and visited Peru but slightly. In the early part of the summer
of 1852, while La Salle and other contiguous places were scourged, Peru
remained healthy. At length it appeared to have spent its material and
departed the entire country. Suddenly it reappeared; and while the
places previously afflicted remained healthy, Peru was devastated to an
extent not surpassed, if equaled, by any place in the United States. The
estimated number of victims was from five to six hundred, being about
one-sixth of the entire population. It was observed that less panic and
excitement were produced than upon its visitation in 1849. But few cases
occurred in the two following years; and from that time to the
present--1858--the same freedom from disease has prevailed which
distinguished its early settlement. Throughout this year operations on
the Railroad were pushed forward with great energy.
At an election held on the 4th April, 1853, P. M. Kilduff and H. S.
Beebe each received 144 votes for Mayor. Churchill Coffing was elected
Alderman for the First Ward, and John L. Coates for the Second Ward. On
counting the votes for Mayor, a question arose concerning the validity
of a ballot deposited for Beebe. By the statute it is provided that if,
upon counting the votes given at any election, two ballots shall be
found folded together, attempt at fraud shall be presumed and both
ballots thrown out. In this case one piece of paper was found with the
name of Beebe printed on it twice. It was decided by the Council that no
evidence of attempt at fraud was here presented, that none could by any
possibility be thus perpetrated, and that the ballot should be counted
as one vote. By this decision a tie existed. The election was then
decided by lot, agreeable to the provisions of an ordinance for the case
provided, in favor of Beebe. The Council elected J. D. Taylor, Clerk; J.
V. H. Judd and R. P. Wright, a board of Health; J. L. Coates, Treasurer;
E. S. Holbrook, Assessor; James Cahill, Collector; J. P. Thompson,
Marshal; T. E. G. Ransom, Surveyor; and A. F. Powers, Sexton. The place
of John Morris becoming vacant by means of his removal from the Ward, J.
L. McCormick was elected Alderman in his place. The May interest on the
Railroad bonds was provided for in the same manner as on the preceding
November.
On the 21st May Beebe resigned as Mayor, and a new election was ordered
which resulted in the election of Kilduff by 52 majority, Beebe being
again his opponent. Whole number of votes 298.
On the 20th August $5,000 of bonds, bearing ten per cent. interest, were
authorized to be issued for the purpose of building a City Hall and for
current expenses; and on the 17th September $10,000 of bonds, bearing
eight per cent. interest, were authorized to be issued for the same
purpose. The $5,000 bonds first authorized were never issued.
In April of this year the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was opened
for traffic and travel to Peru.
The "Peru Weekly Chronicle" was established by J. F. and N. Linton, on
the 1st March, and its publication was continued until September, 1856.
For ten months during this period, the Messrs. Linton also published a
"Daily Chronicle" which was in all respects creditable to them and to
the town. About the beginning of this year a serious fire took place on
Water street, which destroyed two large three-story stone stores, with
most of their contents, one occupied by E. Higgins & Co. as a Hardware
store, and the other by J. H. McMillan & Co. as a Dry Goods store.
At an election held on the 26th April, 1854, T. D. Brewster was elected
Mayor, Antoine Birkenbuel, Alderman for the First Ward, David Dana for
the Second Ward, and John P. Thompson, Police Magistrate. The Council
elected Henry Jones, Clerk; Geo. W. Gilson, Treasurer; James Cahill,
Collector; Geo. Low, Assessor; W. H. Foot, Marshal; William Lopstater,
Street Commissioner; and A. F. Powers, Sexton.
A question arose concerning the validity of this election. By the
Constitution it is provided, that at all elections voting shall be by
ballot on white paper. In this case ballots were found for Brewster for
Mayor, printed or written on paper having a blue tinge--the ordinary
blue tinged writing paper. It was contended that this was not white
paper within the meaning of the Constitution. The former Mayor refused
to surrender the seals and books of the City, and Aldermen Coffing and
Coates abstained from the meetings of the Council. The question was
carried by mandamus to the Supreme Court and decided in favor of the
validity of the election.
No provision was made for the payment of the interest on the Railroad
bonds due on the 1st of May, until the 26th August, when a loan for that
purpose was authorized. In this, as on former occasions of paying
interest on these bonds, a loss of about $300 was sustained by the City
which was made up from the general fund. This arose from the
depreciation of the interest scrip issued by the company, which did not
bear interest, and which was not convertible until the completion of the
Road, and from exchange.
In April of this year, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was opened
to Rock Island, its entire length. No particular improvement in business
took place in consequence.
By a census taken on the 1st June, the number of inhabitants was found
to be 3,036.
In January, 1855, the new Market House and City Hall was completed. On
the 10th February $2,600 of eight per cent. bonds were issued to pay the
balance due the contractors.