Nauvoo City Officers, February–November 1841

The following chart identifies significant city offices in , Illinois, and the names of the individuals who held those offices from 3 February 1841, when the Nauvoo city government was organized, through 30 November 1841. If a city officer took office after 3 February or left office before 30 November, that change is noted in parentheses. The city charter for Nauvoo, approved 16 December 1840, took effect on the first Monday of February 1841. It called for a city council consisting of a mayor, four aldermen, and nine councilors, who 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 1 February 1841. In October 1841 four more aldermen and seven more councilors were added to the council. Councilors and aldermen are listed in the order in which they most commonly appeared in municipal records.

The mayor and aldermen served as justices of the peace within the city limits. 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 served as associate justices of that court. 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 appointment by the city council. If members of the city council were to be absent for significant lengths of time, substitute or temporary councilors were elected and sworn in to fill the vacancy. These temporary councilors are not listed here.

3 February–30 November 1841

Mayor

City Councilors

Joseph Smith Jr.

(served until death, 7 Aug. 1841)

(took office 8 Feb. 1841; left office 1 Nov. 1841)

(took office 4 Sept. 1841)

(took office 30 Oct. 1841)

(took office 6 Nov. 1841)

Aldermen

(took office 23 Oct. 1841)

(took office 30 Oct. 1841)

Marshal

(took office 23 Oct. 1841 to act in place of )

Treasurer

(served until death, 27 Aug. 1841)

(took office 4 Sept. 1841)

City Recorder and Clerk of the Municipal Court

Sexton

(took office 4 Sept. 1841)

1
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
2
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
3
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
4
“Death of General Don Carlos Smith,” Times and Seasons, 16 Aug. 1841, 2:503–504.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
5
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
6
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
7
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
8
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
9
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
10
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
11
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841; see also Sidney Rigdon, Oath, 8 Feb. 1841, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.
12
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 1 Nov. 1841, 28; Sidney Rigdon, Letter of Resignation, 1 Nov. 1841, Nauvoo, IL, Records, 1841–1845, CHL.
13
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 4 Sept. 1841, 21.
14
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23, 30 Oct. 1841, 25.
15
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23, 30 Oct. 1841, 25.
16
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23, 30 Oct. 1841, 25.
17
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23, 30 Oct. 1841, 25.
18
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 30 Oct. 1841, 26.
19
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 30 Oct. 1841, 26.
20
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 30 Oct.; 6 Nov. 1841, 26, 28.
21
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
22
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
23
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
24
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
25
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23 Oct. 1841, 25.
26
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23 Oct. 1841, 25.
27
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 30 Oct. 1841, 26; and Oaths of the Aldermen and Councilors added to the City Council, 1 Nov. 1841, Nauvoo, IL, Records, CHL.
28
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 30 Oct. 1841, 26.
29
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
30
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 23 Oct. 1841, 25.
31
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
32
“Death of Col. Robert B. Thompson,” Times and Seasons, 1 Sept. 1841, 2:519–520.
Times and Seasons. Commerce/Nauvoo, IL. Nov. 1839–Feb. 1846.
33
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 4 Sept. 1841, 22; 1 Jan. 1842, 38.
34
Minutes, 3 Feb. 1841.
35
Nauvoo City Council Minute Book, 4 Sept. 1841, 21; see also Woods, “Cemetery Record of William D. Huntington, Nauvoo Sexton,” 131–163, 158n5.
Woods, Fred E. “The Cemetery Record of William D. Huntington, Nauvoo Sexton.” Mormon Historical Studies, 3, no. 1 (Spring 2002): 131–163.

Nauvoo City Officers, February–November 1841

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