Nauvoo City Officers, December 1841–April 1842
The following chart identifies holders of significant city
offices in , Illinois, during
the period between December 1841 through April 1842. The
city
charter for Nauvoo, which was enacted in December 1840 and
took effect in February 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. The
first city election was held in February 1841. In October 1841 four additional aldermen and
seven additional councilors were added to the council. On 22 January 1842, city officials created
the office of vice mayor, and on 5 March 1842, they created the office
of registrar of deeds. Aldermen and councilors are listed here
in the order in which they most commonly appeared in municipal
records.
The mayor and aldermen served as justices of the peace
within the limits of the city. The charter prescribed that the mayor’s
court had “exclusive jurisdiction in all cases arising under the
ordinances of the corporation.” The mayor also served as chief justice
of the municipal court, and the aldermen as associate justices of that
court, to which appeal could be taken “from any decision or judgment of
said Mayor or Aldermen, arising under the city ordinances.” From the
municipal court, appeal could be made to the circuit court of .
When council seats became vacant because of death,
resignation, or appointment to other office, the vacancies were filled
by election or by an appointment made by the city council. If members of
the city council were to be absent for significant lengths of time,
substitute or temporary councilors were appointed and sworn in to fill
the vacancy. These temporary councilors are not listed in the following
chart.
1 December 1841–30
April 1842 |
Mayor |
|
Vice Mayor |
Joseph Smith (elected 22 Jan.
1842) |
Aldermen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
City Councilors |
Joseph Smith |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marshal |
|
(temporary appointment, 23 Oct. 1841–9 Apr. 1842) |
Treasurer |
|
City Recorder and Clerk of the Municipal Court |
|
Sexton |
|
Supervisor of Streets |
|
Constables |
|
Lewis Robison |
|
City Surveyor |
|
Weigher and Sealer |
|
City Assessor and Collector |
|
City Attorney |
|
Registrar of Deeds |
Joseph Smith (appointed 5 Mar.
1842) |