Nauvoo City Officers, March–July 1843
The
following chart identifies holders of significant offices in , Illinois, during
the period covered by this volume. 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. On 22 January 1842, city officials created
the office of vice mayor, and JS served in that
office.
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. On 17 May 1842, resigned as mayor of Nauvoo.
JS was elected to replace him in a 19 May city council meeting. In that
same meeting, was elected as vice mayor to
replace JS. 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, during which JS was
elected as mayor.
The charter also
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
appeals in such cases would be heard by the circuit court of , Illinois. The
charter also granted the mayor “exclusive jurisdiction in all cases
arising under the ordinances of the corporation.” 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 of the same, and the city recorder served as its
clerk. From the municipal court, appeal could be made to the Circuit
Court.
For a period of time in June 1843, four city councilors
(, , , and ) left vacancies that were filled by four men
serving as councilors pro tempore (, , , and ). The chart below
represents the offices and standing officers of the city government
throughout the period covered by this volume.
| March–July 1843 | |
| Office | Office Holder |
| Mayor and chief justice of the municipal court | Joseph Smith |
| Vice mayor | |
| Aldermen and associate justices of the municipal court | |
| City Councilors | |
| (pro tempore) | |
| (pro tempore) | |
| (pro tempore) | |
| (pro tempore) | |
| 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 auctioneer | Charles Warner |
| Notary public | |
| Market master | |
| Market inspector | |
| Mayor’s clerk | |
| Fire warden | (First Ward) |
| (Second Ward) | |
| (Third Ward) | |
| (Fourth Ward) | |