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  2. Nauvoo City Officers, September 1842–February 1843

Nauvoo City Officers, September 1842–February 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. 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. 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, who had been serving in that office, and and were elected as councilors. In accordance with the provisions in Nauvoo’s 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.” It granted the mayor “exclusive jurisdiction in all cases arising under the ordinances of the corporation.” The mayor’s court was a justice of the peace court and appeals could be taken “from any decision or judgement of said Mayor or Aldermen, arising under the city ordinances, to 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 of the same, and the city recorder served as its clerk. From the municipal court, appeal could be made to the circuit court of , Illinois.
Three changes took place during the period from 1 September 1842 to 11 February 1843. On 9 September, the City Council elected as city treasurer in place of . Later that month, the city council created the office of notary public and elected to the position. During November, the city council appointed , , , and to serve as assessors and collectors for the four political wards of the city.
In January 1843, the city council passed an ordinance making provisions for each of the city’s four political wards to elect a fire warden in accordance with the Nauvoo charter, which had authorized the council to “organize and establish fire companies.” On 11 February 1843, after the city election, was installed to act as the fire warden for the Fourth Ward.
The chart below represents the offices of city government as they existed from 1 September 1842 to 11 February 1843 and from 11 to 28 February 1843, as well as the officers holding these offices. The aldermen and councilors who were elected before 1 September 1842 are listed in the order in which they most commonly appeared in municipal records. Individuals who were elected during the period between 1 September 1842 and 28 February 1843 are listed in the order of their election.
1 September 1842–11 February 1843 11–28 February 1843
Mayor and Chief Justice of the Municipal Court Joseph Smith Joseph Smith
Vice Mayor
Aldermen and Associate Justices of the Municipal Court
City Councilors
City Marshal
Treasurer (1–9 Sept.)
(9 Sept. 1842–6 Feb. 1843)
City Recorder and Clerk of the Municipal Court
Sexton
Supervisor of Streets
Constables (First Ward)
(Second Ward)
Lewis Robison Lewis Robison (Third Ward)
(Fourth Ward)
City Surveyor
Weigher and Sealer
City Assessor and Collector Lewis Robison (First Ward)
(Second Ward)
(Third Ward)
(Fourth Ward)
City Attorney
Registrar of Deeds Joseph Smith Joseph Smith
Coroner
City Auctioneer Charles Warner Charles Warner
Notary Public (beginning 26 Sept. 1842)
Election Judge
Market Master
Market Inspector
Mayor’s Clerk
Fire Warden (Fourth Ward)
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