Elections in 1855--City indebtedness--Issue of $5,000 eight
per cent bonds--Resignation of the Mayor--Establishment of
the "Peru Sentinel"--Elections in 1856--Railroad Round House
burnt--$20,000 bridge bonds authorized--Appropriations for
damages for flooded stores--Extra Railroad dividend--Hoffman
House burnt--Chair Factory burnt--Geo. B. Willis--Extension
of the City limits--Recorders Court--Elections in 1857--
Non-payment of interest on City bonds--Financial revulsion--
Fitzsimmons & Beebe's Foundry and Machine Shop burnt--
Elections in 1858--Issue of $5,000 ten per cent. interest
bonds authorized--Rainy weather and bad roads--Revival of
business.
At an Election held on the 2d April, 1855, Geo. W. Gilson was elected
Mayor, R. H. Booth Alderman for the First Ward, and A. L. Shepherd for
the Second Ward. The Council elected Henry Jones, Clerk; W. Johnson,
Treasurer; J. B. White, Collector; Isaac Abraham, Assessor; Peter
Fought and William Wilde, Street Commissioners; G. N. McKinzie,
Marshall; Chas. Blanchard, Attorney; T. E. G. Ransom, Surveyor; John
Higgins, Health Officer; A. F. Powers, Sexton; and Chas. Love and A. L.
Bull, Fire Wardens.
On the 12th April the City indebtedness was ascertained to be as
follows:
Bonds issued on account of Railroad $40,000
Bonds issued on account of Market House, 12,600
Scrip outstanding, 1,950
-------
Total City indebtedness, $54,550
On the 30th May a further issue of $5,000 eight per cent. bonds was
authorized by the Council for current expenses, which were issued and
sold for 4,500.
On the 25th July, R. A. Winston was elected Alderman for the Second
Ward, in place of Shepherd whose office became vacant by reason of his
removal from that Ward.
On the 8th December Gilson resigned as Mayor.
On the 22nd December Ransom resigned as Surveyor, and H. H. Brown was
elected in his place.
The "Peru Sentinel," a weekly newspaper, was established by J. L.
McCormick and Guy Hulett in August. It was always a Democratic organ,
and now having passed under the management of J. F. Meginness Esq., is
fighting valiantly for Douglas and against Lecompton.[1]
On the 7th April, 1856, J. L. McCormick was elected Mayor, P. M. Kilduff
Alderman for the First Ward, and C. L. Huntoon for the Second Ward. The
Council elected M. C. Harmon, Clerk; J. B. White, Treasurer; Chas.
Blanchard, Attorney; Henry Jones, Collector; Geo. O. Banks, Assessor;
Peter Fought and J. P. Thompson, Street Commissioners; H. H. Brown,
Surveyor; W. H. Foot, Marshal.
In the month of May the Round House, belonging to the Chicago and Rock
Island Railroad Company, was destroyed by fire.
On the 17th June the question of issuing $20,000 bonds on account of
subscription towards the stock of a Bridge Company, chartered for the
purpose of building a bridge across the river at the foot of White
street, was submitted to a vote of the people. It was decided in the
affirmative by a large majority. The bonds have never been issued nor
the subscription made--nor the bridge built. Among the appropriations
for this year were $575 to H. G. W. Cronise, and $218.50 to Joseph Kelly
for damages sustained by the flooding of their stores with water, caused
by deficiency in the culverts.
The Railroad Company commenced paying semi-annual dividends on their
stock on the 1st of November, 1854,--first dividend four per cent; all
after five; and continued doing so until the 1st November, 1856, when an
extra dividend of twelve and a-half per cent. payable in stock, was
made. From this the City realized $4,825, a portion of which was used in
paying off two judgements which had been obtained against the City, and
upon which the City Hall had been sold, amounting together to $1,474.50.
The balance was used for the payment of outstanding coupons on the
various kinds of bonds, and other claims.
On the 7th January another serious loss by fire took place. The Hoffman
House, owned by John Hoffman and occupied by P. T. Moore, was destroyed.
The building was thoroughly and substantially built, although of wood,
and occupied a beautiful site, and was one of the leading institutions
of the town. The loss to both owner and occupant was heavy.
On the 26th September, of the same year, an extensive chair, furniture,
sash and blind factory, erected through the indomitable energy and
perseverance of Geo. B. Willis, was destroyed by fire. Loss about
$20,000. The fate of Mr. Willis, who is now beyond the reach of praise
or censure, calls for a passing notice. He came to Peru, poor and blind.
By his sagacity and energy he so improved his circumstances that he
succeeded in building and putting into operation a manufactory which
gave employment to about fifty mechanics. The manner in which he
conducted this business would have done credit to any person in the
possession of all of his senses, but was very remarkable when done by
one who suffered under the loss of so important an organ as that of
sight. But the load was too heavy for him to carry. He staggered for a
time and fell. Disappointment, mortification, anxiety and despondency
did their work. The grave holds him. Whose hand was stretched forth to
lighten the burden under which he began to reel? Whose voice whispered
words of sympathy and hope when discouragement and disaster crowded upon
him? Whose was the intelligent self interest that enquired whether a
small amount of aid, in money or credit, would not sustain and foster an
enterprise which, in its turn, would invigorate every interest in the
community?--Whose was the practical sagacity that perceived, that fifty
male operatives, with their families and dependants, were of more value
in advancing the growth and prosperity of the town than the rows of
stately and costly stores, which have for years stood idle and
tenantless? Where were the men--generally to be found on every
corner--who proclaim that upon manufacturing industry alone must Peru
depend for advancement? Ah! When it was perceived that Mr. Willis had
undertaken an enterprise to which his energies and means were
inadequate, how hands which, had been stretched forth to catch the
copious streams of disbursement, slunk into the fathomless depths of
pockets! How importunate and inexorable were those cormorants of every
petty western community, called by courtesy, "Banks," which had moused
into every nook and corner for paper which it was hoped would prove a
profitable investment.
In February, 1857, by act of the Legislature, the limits of the City
were extended over the whole of Section 16 and 17. This made the
superficial area 1462 acres. In the same month an act passed, creating a
Recorders Court for the Cities of Peru and La Salle, with jurisdiction
over the territory of the Townships of Salisbury and La Salle--six
square miles. Churchill Coffing was appointed Judge, and Daniel Evans,
Clerk, who entered upon the discharge of their duties.--One term of the
Court was held at La Salle. A question arose concerning the
constitutionality, of this Court which was taken, by an agreed case, to
the Supreme Court, where it was held that it was an Inferior Court; that
the Legislature possessed the power only to grant jurisdiction to such
Courts over the territory of a single City; that by no implication could
the Constitution be construed so as to grant the power to extend it over
territory not embraced within city limits; that the whole act must be
considered together; that the powers therein granted could not be
separated, and if one part was found to be constitutionally
objectionable, the whole must fall together; and that therefore the act
was unconstitutional and void.
At an election held in April, 1857, John L. McCormick was reelected
Mayor and F. W. Schulte was elected Alderman for the First Ward. No
election was made in the Second Ward, Erasmus Winslow and I. C. Day each
receiving 63 votes. On the 2d May, a new election was called which
resulted in each again receiving 63 votes. The question was then decided
by lot in favor of Winslow. The Council elected Jno. J. Dowling, Clerk;
David Lininger, Assessor; D. O. Sullivan, Collector; H. G. W. Cronise,
Treasurer; W. H. Foot, Marshall; William Hackman and Owen Judge, Street
Commissioners; G. D. Ladd, Attorney; Geo. Seebach and J. T. Milling,
Health Officers; William Lambach, Surveyor; and A. F. Powers, Sexton. On
the 27th May, Ladd resigned as Attorney, and Thomas Halligan was elected
in his place.
The Rail Road Company passed the payment of their November dividend and
the city also passed the payment of interest on her bonds.
During the latter part of this year a financial hurricane, commencing in
the United States, swept over the world. Money vanished from sight as if
by the wand of a magician. General health, bounteous crops, and great
activity in every branch of industry had prevailed.--Suddenly everything
was arrested as though some Titan held his hand upon a brake lever. Peru
did not escape the general disaster. Prices of produce became so low
that farmers declined to market it, preferring to allow their creditors
to wait and suffer the consequences of shattered credit. But few
failures, however, took place.--The Banks did not suspend. Nobody
failed--nobody ever does fail in Illinois until the Sheriff sells them
out or shuts them up.
On the 11th October, the Foundry and Machine Shop of Fitzsimmons and
Beebe was destroyed by fire. Loss $16,500--insurance $5,500. This
establishment had given employment to some thirty or forty men. Thus
another of the industrial establishments of Peru went out. It is a
gloomy fact, and by no means promising sign, that with the exception of
the stores of E. Higgins & Co., and McMillan & Co., no important
establishment, destroyed by fire, has been rebuilt. The blackened walls
and foundations of the National Hotel, Hoffman House, Lauber's Cabinet
Shop, the Chair Factory and the Foundry and Machine Shop betray the lack
of recuperative energies.
At an election held on the 5th of April, 1858, John L. McCormick was
again reelected Mayor, and N. Young was elected Alderman for the First
Ward, James Cahill for the Second Ward, and P. M. Kilduff, Police
Magistrate. The Council elected John J. Dowling, Clerk; H. G. W.
Cronise, Treasurer; T. P. Halligan, Attorney; D. O. Sullivan, Collector;
Henry Jones, Assessor; P. W. Milander and Owen Judge, Street
Commissioners; W. F. Lambach, Surveyor; G. W. Lininger and Bartlett
Denny, Fire Wardens; G. W. Lininger Inspector of weights and measures;
A. L. Bull, inspector of lumber and wood; W. H. Foot, Marshal; John
Scott and Michael Noon, Assistant Marshals; and A. F. Powers Sexton.
On the 7th day of June, the question of issuing $5,000 of ten per cent.
bonds, for the purpose of paying the interest over due on the bonds
before issued, was submitted to a vote of the people and decided
affirmatively by 21 majority.
The Spring of this year was remarkable for heavy and protracted rains.
The roads from the 1st May to the 1st July were nearly impassable, and
the ground was so saturated as to make cultivation impossible. About the
middle of June it ceased raining, and crops which were thought to be
ruined came forward with remarkable promise. At this present writing
(10th July) every indication exists of a full average crop.
The grain and other produce, which had been kept back on account of low
prices in the fall, could not be brought to market in the spring on
account of the bad condition of the roads. At this time, however, the
streets are crowded with teams, fair prices are paid for produce, debts
are being liquidated, the merchants and mechanics are busy and
satisfied, and every interest is reviving.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: On the 17th August, this office was destroyed by fire. The
building--a three-story brick--in which it was situated, was owned by J.
L. McCormick, Esq., and was the first brick building erected in the
town. It was built in 1839.]