Nauvoo City Officers, 1 January–15 May 1844
The city
charter for the city of ,
which was enacted in 1840 and took effect in 1841, called for a city
council consisting of a mayor, four aldermen, and nine councilors, each
of whom would be elected and serve for two years. The charter made
provision for the city council to add to the number of aldermen and
councilors if necessary. Other city officers were appointed or elected
by the city council. When
council seats became vacant because of death, resignation, or
appointment to another office, the vacancies were filled by election or
by an appointment made by the city council. In accordance with the
provisions in the Nauvoo charter, the city held a general election for
mayor, aldermen, and city council members in February 1843, which
resulted in JS’s election as mayor. On 9 March 1844, the city council
approved a motion that made all former aldermen members of the city
council.
Many members of the city council were unable to serve during part of the
period covered by this volume, whether because of absence serving
missions supporting JS’s presidential campaign or for other
reasons. The names of
the persons filling in for absent or suspended members of the city
council are listed in parentheses.
The charter stipulated
that “the Mayor and Aldermen shall be conservators of the peace within
the limits of said city, and shall have all the powers of Justices of
the Peace therein.” As a justice of the peace, the mayor could hear
alleged violations of state statutes and minor civil disputes,
and appeals in such cases would be heard by the circuit court of , Illinois. The
charter also granted the mayor and aldermen “jurisdiction in all cases
arising under the ordinances of the corporation.” Appeals from the
courts of the mayor and aldermen for alleged violations of city
ordinances were heard by the municipal court. The charter dictated that
“the parties litigant shall have a right to a trial by a Jury of twelve
men, in all cases before the Municipal Court.” The mayor served as the
chief justice of the municipal court, the aldermen served as associate
justices, and the city recorder served as clerk. Former aldermen also
continued to serve on the municipal court. From the municipal court,
appeal could be made to the
Circuit Court.
| 1 January–15 May 1844 | |
| Mayor and chief justice of the municipal court | Joseph Smith |
| Aldermen and associate justices of the municipal court | |
| Former aldermen | |
| City Councilors | () |
| () | |
| () | |
| () | |
| () | |
| () | |
| () | |
| City marshal | |
| Treasurer | |
| City recorder and clerk of the municipal court | |
| Sexton | |
| Supervisor of streets | |
| Constables | (First Ward) |
| (Second Ward) | |
| Lewis Robison (Third Ward) | |
| (Fourth Ward) | |
| City surveyor | |
| Weigher and sealer | |
| City assessors and collectors | (First Ward) |
| (Second Ward) | |
| (Third Ward) | |
| (Fourth Ward) | |
| City attorney | |
| Registrar of deeds | Joseph Smith |
| Coroner | |
| City auctioneers | Charles Warner |
| Notary public | |
| Market master | |
| Market inspector | |
| Inspectors of flour | |
| John Haven | |
| Mayor’s clerk | |
| Fire warden | (First Ward) |
| (Second Ward) | |
| (Third Ward) | |
| (Fourth Ward) | |
| Wharfmaster | (elected 16 December 1843) |