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 Q,TJINCY IN 1857; ' 
 
 OR 
 
 FACTS AND FIGURES 
 
 EXHIBITINO 
 
 MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE. > 
 
 B Y 
 
 JOSEPH T. HOLMES. 
 
 QUINCY , ILL. 
 
 HERALD BOOK AND JOB PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT. 
 
 1857.
 
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 PREFACE. 
 
 IN giving, this volume to the public, the compi- 
 ler deems it advisable to state that it has been 
 prepared under the supervision of the Mayor and 
 Council of the City of Quincy, and others who 
 are thoroughly acquainted with her history and 
 business ; and the facts and figures have been ob- 
 tained from sources of unquestionable authority, 
 and may be relied upon as correct. Owing to the 
 fact that no publication of this kind has been 
 heretofore attempted in our city, and that no busi- 
 ness returns have been collected or preserved in 
 former years, the author regrets that he is unable 
 to illustrate her progress in a manner at all de- 
 tailed. It is to be hoped that in future, more 
 S efforts will be made by the citizens of Quincy, to 
 direct public attention to this point as one of the 
 most eligible in the West. With the hope that 
 . his efforts may in some degree effect this object, 
 this little work is now submitted to the public by 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 I 7
 
 HISTORICAL. 
 
 THE citizens of Quincy have long seemed singularly indif- 
 ferent to the importance of placing before the public her 
 just claims to notice. While the inhabitants of other Cities 
 and Towns, with scarcely a tithe of her natural or artificial re- 
 sources, have blown their trumpets long and lustily, and have 
 laid their real or assumed advantages and prosperty with un- 
 wearying perseverance before the public gaze, Quincy has 
 alone been silent. No flaming hand-bills have painted her 
 glorious destiny to the dazzled eye of the emigrants who pour 
 through our Western country. No accomodating maps have 
 been published representing her as the exact centre of the con. 
 tinent from which are to radiate iron arms that will embrace 
 the whole confederacy. Not one of the arts have been em. 
 ployed by which crafty speculators have won notoriety for their 
 paper towns and lured the unsuspecting to less favored locali- 
 ties, but strong in the consciousness of superiority, she has 
 pui'sued her way quietly, but none the less steadily and surely 
 to the position which she now occupies as one of the leading 
 Cities of the Great West, the second in importance in the 
 State of Illinois, and the first in the Mississippi Valley above St. 
 Louis, not only in Manufactures in which she stands unrivalled, 
 nor yet in extent of Commerce, although in this, she challenges 
 comparison, but in the unusual conjunction of these with un- 
 equalled advantages in point of beauty of location, extent of 
 public improvement, salubrity of climate, facilities of education 
 and general elegibility as a place of residence. She has at- 
 tained her present eminence without ostentation or parade on 
 the part of her citizens, who, in the midst of their schemes of
 
 6 
 
 private business, have still found leisure, not only to construct 
 railroads, promote Commerce in its every branch, and encourage 
 Manufactures of every description, but have not neglected to 
 adorn and beautify her streets and public parks, to found mag- 
 nificent schools for public instruction, and to erect church 
 edifices of unsurpassed elegance and splendor. But it is now 
 time that she should be presented in proper light before the 
 public, that facts and figures should be presented to demon- 
 strate her superiority, and to convey to ears too distant 
 to catch the hum of her busy machinery, the sound of her 
 clanging forges, and the roar of the wheels of Commerce rolling 
 through her streets an announcement of her prosperity. There 
 is no city in the whole broad West of equal population and im- 
 portance, so little known and appreciated abroad as Quincy, 
 and the compiler of this volume has undertaken it with the hope 
 thai public attention may be turned to this fact, and that her 
 Merchants, Mechanics, and business men generally, may arouse 
 to the importance of disseminating abroad correct information 
 as to her advantages, resources, growth, size, and wealth. It is not 
 the aim or the expectation of this work to do full justice to the 
 subject, but simply to enumerate a few of her present and pros- 
 pective advantages as a manufacturing and commercial point, 
 and to give a short account of her manufacturing and mercan- 
 tile interests at the present time. 
 
 Before speaking of her present and future position, it may 
 not prove uninteresting or uninstructive to trace briefly the 
 steps of advancement by which the transformation of a wilder- 
 ness into so populous and flourishing a city has been effected, 
 and to mention a few of the incidents and circumstances at- 
 tending her early settlement. 
 
 Quincy was originally selected as a town site in the year 1821 
 by the Hon. John Wood, now Lieutenant Governor of the State, 
 who visited this neighborhood in the fall of that year, in com- 
 pany with two others named Moffit and Flinn, in order to look 
 for and examine some land belonging to the latter, and which is
 
 now within the city limits. He was so impressed with the beauty 
 of the spot, and so well satisfied that from its geographical 
 position it must become the great point of outlet for the immense 
 productions, which must speedily follow emigration to this and 
 neighboring counties, that he determined in his own words to 
 "settle here for life." He returned in the fall of the succeeding 
 year and erected the first house within the present bounds of 
 Quincy. It was a primitive structure built without the aid of 
 nails or sawed lumber, but unpretending as it was, the associa- 
 tions hanging over it, the almost miraculous changes that have 
 taken place in the face of the country surrounding it, and the 
 marked vicissitudes attending the fortunes of the adventurous 
 pioneer who constructed it, invest it at this day with a halo of 
 interest peculiarly its own, and the mind loves to linger upon it 
 as the germ planted in the wilds of the West, from which has 
 sprung the present vigorous growth of our Model City. 
 
 In the spring succeeding Mr. Wood's arrival, Major Jeremiah 
 Eose, a native of New York, came with his family and shared 
 his cabin, Mrs. Rose being the first white woman, and her 
 daughter, now Mrs. George W. Brown, the first white child, re- 
 siding in Quincy. The next house was built in the spring of 
 1824 by Mr. Willard Keyes, a native of Yermont, and a former 
 acquaintance of Mr. Wood, and the third in the following fall 
 by John Droulard, a Frenchman. At this time there was no 
 white settlement in the Military Tract north of Gilead, a point 
 sixty miles south of Quincy, (then called Cole's Point) near the 
 centre of Calhoun County, and but two other white men, by 
 name Perigo and Lile, in the bounds of what now is Adams 
 County, and U. S. Troops were stationed at Fort Edwards, the 
 present site of Warsaw, a point forty miles north of Quincy, 
 for the protection of the frontier from the depredations of the 
 Indians who lived in large numbers in the neighborhood. Our 
 pioneers were obliged to go forty miles to mill, but a Dr. 
 Baker, who settled in the fall of 1824 on the creek two miles 
 south of Mr. Wood's house, in order to obviate this inconve-
 
 8 
 
 nience, with Yankee ingenuity, constructed a machine for 
 pounding corn, the motive power of which was watei\ Placing 
 the grain in a mortar, an industrious pestle soon reduced it to 
 a state suited to manufacture into very tolerable "hoe cakes." 
 A tragical incident connected with the history of this "the first 
 grist mill in Quincy," should not be omitted. One night when 
 " der machine " was in active operation, an unsophisticated coon 
 instigated by the gnawings of hunger, or perhaps by motives of 
 curiosity, attempted to penetrate into its hidden recesses. The 
 descending pestle gave him a forcible intimation that his pres- 
 ence was undesited, and knocking him into the mortar, it con- 
 tinued to pound him with hearty good will until morning, by 
 which time we may conclude that his spirit of exploration was 
 effectually subdued. The condition of the "grist" may "be 
 more easily imagined than described." 
 
 Previous to the establishment of the white settlement, an 
 Indian village of the "Sauk" tribe occupied the site of Quincy, 
 and for several years after its establishment the original natives 
 remained in the vicinity, but as ageneral thing were not trouble- 
 some neighbors. 
 
 In the fall of 1824, John "Wood inserted in a newspaper prin- 
 ted in Edwardsville, called the " Edwardsville Spectator," a no- 
 tice that application would be made to the next Legislature for the 
 establishment of a new county, denning its boundaries. In ac- 
 cordance with this application, by an act approved January 13th, 
 1825, the Legislature provided for the organization of Adams 
 County, fixing its bounderics as described in the notice, and as 
 they now exist. Three commissioners were appointed to locate 
 the County seat, Seymour Kellogg, of Morgan County ; Joel 
 Wright, of Montgomery County ; and David Button of Pike 
 County, who after traveling through and attentively examining 
 the county, decided upon this spot as the one best^calculated for 
 the future convenience and accommodation of the'people. They 
 christened the new town Quincy, in honor of the President, 
 and, although it must be confessed the ceremonials were not of
 
 the most imposing character, thenceforth the city of three log 
 cabins rejoiced in a name. 
 
 The first election of officers for Adams County was held on the 
 second day of July, A. D. 1825, when forty votes were polled. 
 Willard Keyes, Levi Wells and Peter Journey were elected 
 County Commissioners, and at their first meeting, during the 
 same month, Henry H. Snow wag appointed clerk. This gentle- 
 man, pursuant to an order dated November 9th, 1825, was em- 
 ployed to survey and draw plats of the town, and two hundred 
 and thirty lots, ninety-nine by a hundred and ninety-eight feet, 
 were laid off. Much of the subsequent prosperity of the place 
 may be ascribed to the wisdom and taste displayed in this sur- 
 vey. Streets were laid off sixty-six feet wide, all but Maine 
 Street, which is- eighty-two and a half feet wide, and crossing 
 each other at right angles. A space of four hundred feet square 
 was reserved in the centre of the town for a public square, now 
 called Washington Square, and the inclosure which now is Jef- 
 ferson Square was set apart for a public Cemetery. 
 
 The first sale of town lots took place on the thirteenth day of 
 December following, when fifty-one lots which had previously 
 been advertised in the St. Louis and Edwardsville papers, were 
 sold at public auction by the County Commissioners, the major 
 part of which were purchased by the commissioners themselves, 
 the Sheriff and other citizens of the County, very few being 
 sold to outside speculators, .and thus the curse which has weighed 
 so heavily on other Western towns was avoided. 
 
 From the close of the year 1825 until the beginning of the 
 year 1835, the growth of Quincy was not rapid. A variety of 
 causes combined to produce this result. Many miles distant 
 from mills and from any point where provisions or supplies of 
 any kind could be obtained, her residents were obliged to dis- 
 pense with many of those articles which are considered in older 
 communities as among the u necessaries of life." Their coffee 
 was a decoction of okro seed, an herb -cultivated by them for 
 that purpose, and which they sweetened with wild honey found
 
 10 
 
 in great abundance in the neighboring woods. Their nearest 
 blacksmith's shop was at Atlas, forty miles distant, where they 
 carried their plows to be sharpened, swung upon a horse's back. 
 These and other privations incident to pioneer life, together 
 with several visitations of epidemic disease during the interval 
 mentioned, prevented any great improvement. 
 
 In the spring of 1826, Mr. Asher Anderson arrived with a 
 stock of goods from Maryland and opened the first store, and 
 in the fall of the same year a court house was built of hewed 
 logs, on the corner of Maine and Fifth streets, and in this build- 
 ing the first school was organized and kept. 
 
 In 1828 Charles Holmes and Robert Tillson arrived and estab- 
 lished themselves as merchants, and in the succeeding year, 
 1829, they erected for their accommodation the first frame 
 building in Quincy. This is still standing on the northwest cor- 
 ner of Maine and Fourth streets, and is known as the "old 
 post office corner." 
 
 During this and the succeeding year several other stores were 
 opened by different individuals, and the first Steam Flour Mill 
 was erected by Mr. J. T. Holmes, and put an end, for a time, to 
 the importation of flour. 
 
 In the year 1832 the Black Hawk War broke out, but its chief 
 effect upon Quincy was an increase of the number in military 
 titles, as "Colonel," "Mcjor," &c., which it bestowed upon the 
 citizens with a liberal hand. 
 
 In 1833 the first regular church was organized, numbering 
 fifteen members. 
 
 In June, 1834, the town was incorporated, and Messrs. A. Wil- 
 liams, Jos. T. Holmes, S. W. Rogers, Levi Wells and Micheal 
 Mast were elected trustees. From this period may be dated the 
 rapid advancement of Quincy in population and wealth. In the 
 year 1835 she contained about seven hundred inhabitants, with 
 the following establishments, professional men, &c. : 
 
 10 Stores, 1 Bonnet Store, 
 
 1 Pork Merchant, 3 Cabinet Shops,
 
 11 
 
 4 ^ 
 
 3 Cooper Shops, 2 Bakeries, 
 
 6 Carpenter Shops, 1 Coach Maker, 
 
 2 Wagon Makers, 4 Saddlers, 
 
 3 Brick Makers, 3 Plasterers, 
 
 4 Tailors, 2 Boot & Shoe Makers, 
 2 Butchers, 3 Blacksmiths, 
 
 1 SilverSmith, 1 Wheehight, 
 
 1 Chair Maker, 6 Lawyers, 
 
 6 Physicians, 1 Printing Office, 
 
 1 U. S. Land Office, 1 Land Agency, 
 
 2 Saw Mills, 1 Steam Flour Mill, 
 
 1 Wool Carding Machine, 3 Taverns, 
 
 2 Drug Stores, 1 Gun Smith. 
 
 Up to this year a large portion of the Bacon and Flour for 
 home consumption had been imported, but from that date until 
 the present, large and annually increasing amounts have, been 
 exported. The value of these cxportations from July, 1834, to 
 July, 1835, amounted to $40,000. 
 
 In 1837 the population had increased to 1,653, and produce 
 was shipped as follows : Pork, $85,000, Flour, $19,500 Wheat, 
 $8,000 worth. _, ,,. _., 
 
 During this and the following year improvement went on 
 with great rapidity. The Quincy House, which even now, sur- 
 rounded as it is with the imposing structures of a later date, 
 will attract attention, was erected by John Tillson, Sr. The 
 Court House was built the same year upon the east side of the 
 Public Square, and the " Quincy Library Association," which 
 has since become so important a feature in the literary character 
 of Quincy, was organized. The first Board of Directors con- 
 sisted of E. J. Phillips, President ; J. N. Ralston, Vice Presi- 
 dent ; Lorenzo Bull, Secretary ; C. M. Woods, Treasurer ; J. 
 Lyman, W. H. Taylor, Andrew Johnson, J. R. Randolph and 
 N. Summers. ; 
 
 Our space will'not admit of a detailed enumeration of the 
 advancement.' f/om year to year. Passing over the interval
 
 12 
 
 between 1838 and 1841, we find that the population in the latter 
 year amounted to 2,686, and that the sales of Merchandize of 
 all sorts footed up $329,800. Shipments of produce were as 
 follows : Wheat, 275,000 bushels, Corn, 95,000 bushels, Oats, 
 50,000 bushels ; and during the same year 12,000 Hogs were 
 packed. The number of Steamboat arrivals was about 1,000. 
 In 1849 the population had increased to 5,500 r and there were 
 in the city 
 
 26 Ketail Variety Stores, 5 Dry Good Stores, 
 
 2 Hardware Stores, 10 Ware Houses, 
 
 2 Book Stores, 4 Steam Flour Mills, 
 
 3 Drug Stores, 2 Steam Saw Mills, 
 
 2 Foundries, *7 Pork Houses, 
 
 3 Machine Shops, 4 Lumber Yards, 
 3 Printing Offices, 3 Tan Yards, 
 
 2 Hotels, 5 Brick Yards, 
 
 9 Physicians, 15 Lawyers, 
 13 Chttrcbes r 2 Public Schools, 
 
 5 Private Schools. 
 
 The increase in the amount of produce shipped was very great, 
 but the absence of correct returns prevents an accurate state- 
 ment. It may beset down, however, about as follows: Wheat, 
 550,000 bushels^ Corn, 150,000 bushels,. Oats r 100,000 bushels. 
 There were also about 5,500,000 pounds of pork packed. 
 
 The annual increase in population from 1849 to 1857 has 
 averaged about 1,600. This has been a steady and healthy ad- 
 vancement, keeping even pace with that of the surrounding 
 country. There has been none of the forced mushroom growth 
 witnessed elsewhere, and consequently there is no danger of the 
 violent reaction and retrogression whick may justly be appre- 
 hended in the case of some cities of more rapid increase. 
 
 Up to the present time there have existed very great diffi- 
 culties in combining a correct account of the amount of business 
 transacted here, on account of the inattention displayed by busi- 
 ness men in the preservation of correct returns. The establish-
 
 13 
 
 ment of a Board of Trade during the present year will hereafter 
 very much facilitate the process, and greatly lessen the labor 
 attending it. 
 
 In the matter of incidents and reminiscences connected with 
 the early settlement and progress of this city, very much has 
 been omitted which would prove interesting to citizens and 
 strangers. It is a field from which an abler pen might collect a 
 volume that would be in the highest degree entertaining, and 
 with the hope that this will soon be done, we turn from the past 
 to glance at some of the advantages which Quincy possesses as 
 a manufacturing and commercial point.
 
 MANUFACTURING AND COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES, 
 
 IN considering the advantages of any city as a manufacturing 
 point, two things require to be especially regarded : the degree 
 of cheapness with which articles may be produced, and the 
 facilities with which they may be distributed throughout the 
 country. To a commercial place, the chief essential is free and 
 cheap communication with other communities. These facts are 
 universally admitted and amount almost to truisms, and explain 
 why it is that in the west, which is bountifully blessed by nature 
 with navigable Rivers and noble Lakes, and covered with a net- 
 work of Railroads and Canals, we find so many rival cities of an 
 almost exclusively commercial character, while so few are en- 
 gaged in manufactures, facilities for which, are dispensed witli a 
 more sparing hand. There are other circumstances which affect 
 materially these interests, but those mentioned are the most im- 
 portant, and it is with these considerations in view, that we 
 think it may safely be said that it rests with the citizens of 
 Quincy to make her, in a very few years, a city of 100,000 inhab- 
 itants ; the manufacturing and commercial centre of as highly 
 favored a scope of country as the sun shines upon. 
 
 Quincy is situated upon the Mississippi river, 160 miles above 
 St. Louis, and 110 miles west of Springfield, the seat of Govern- 
 ment of Illinois; the county seat of Adams County, the second 
 county in the State in population and wealth. She is the market 
 for a country which is unsurpassed for fertility and productiveness. 
 On the north and east within a distance easily accessible by Rail- 
 road, lie vast beds of superior Coal, which are, as yet, almost un- 
 disturbed. In the neighboring counties of Hancock and 
 McDonough, some few veins have been opened, and a Company
 
 16 
 
 lias been organized which import it to some extent into the 
 city, but considering the demand which even now, upon its first 
 introduction exists, and with the high price which results from 
 imperfect apparatus and arrangements for mining, it may be 
 said that as yet, comparatively nothing has been done toward 
 converting to use this important element of wealth and pros- 
 perity. The value of Coal as fuel or as a generator of steam is 
 too well known to require remark. Its superior excellence and 
 cheapness recommend it to universal use, and when these mines 
 are opened and worked to the extent of theii capacity, the ad- 
 vantage which Quiucy will enjoy over her neighbors will be 
 immense. Coal is not an article that admits of distant trans- 
 portation for general consumption, and while they are forced to 
 use wood as fuel at a large and yearly increasing price, she may 
 enjoy an ample supply of Coal at a cheap and constantly de- 
 creasing rate. This single circumstance, other things being 
 equal, gives her great superiority as a manufacturing point. 
 
 The Quincy Coal Company have imported during the last six 
 months 300,000 bushels of Coal into the city, of which amount 
 our founderies and factories used 275,000 bushels; and although 
 during the greater part of the time it has commanded an extrav- 
 agant price, yet, even at this rate, and with heavily timbered 
 lands on every hand, it has been found much cheaper than wood. 
 The price at the present time is seventeen cents per bushel, and 
 with increased capital facilities for mining and transportation, 
 and the competition that will ensue upon the opening to market 
 of the large deposits in Brown and Schuyler Counties, by the 
 completion of the " Quincy and Toledo Railroad," we may rea- 
 sonably expect that it will soon be afforded at twelve cents per 
 bushel. In addition to the abundance of coal, the cheapness 
 of erecting buildings suitable to extensive operations, the 
 abandance of labor, and the small cost of sustaining a working 
 population, together with other circumstances favorable to 
 economical production, all tend to designate this as die future 
 .Store House and Manufacturing Centre of a large extent of
 
 17 
 
 territory. Rafts of pine lumber are constantly ^arriving from the 
 Tipper Mississippi, but the supply heretofore has scarcely been 
 commensurate with the demand. Within the past year, however, 
 great attention has been paid to the production of hard wood 
 lumber In the immediate vicinity of this city. Upon the bluffs 
 adjoining on the north and south, on the islands in the river 
 within a short distance above and below, and immediately opposite 
 on the Missoui-i shore, lie vast tracts of limber lands which will 
 eventually be made to furnish not only a large proportion of 
 timber required for building purposes, but also of that employed 
 in manufacturing wagons, household furniture, &c., to which it is 
 admirably adapted. Several Steam Saw Mills are now in active 
 operation, and two or three, for a series of years, have done a large 
 and profitable business ; but in common with all other producing 
 establishments, they have been found the past year or two, inad- 
 equate to supply the growing necessities of the place, and several 
 additional ones have been erected in the dense forests of Mis- 
 souri, opposite the city, and upon the neighboring islands, the 
 influence of which is already perceptible upon the lumber mar- 
 ket of Quincy. The engine and machinery necessary to run a 
 productive mill, may be purchased here, carried and set up 
 within a short distance in the midst of an almost inexhaustible 
 supply of Walnut, Oak, Elm, Maple, Ash, Linn, Hickory, and 
 other of the heavier kinds of timber, for a comparatively small 
 sum, and the cost of getting the lumber to market is slight. 
 From tbe.s'e facts we are justified in concluding 1 bat good and 
 cheap lumber may hereafter be had in abundance. 
 
 The Bluffs in the neighborhood contain large deposits of the 
 best limestone, admirably suited to building purposes, and ex- 
 tensive quarries supply the city with it in great abundance. 
 Lime and brick are manufactured on an extensive scale, and 
 late patented improvements have greatly facilitated the process, 
 and materially lessened the expense. In short, all kinds of ma- 
 terial employed in building, may be purchased in any quantities 
 at the lowest rates.
 
 18 
 
 The beauty and healthfulness of the location, as well as the 
 comparatively low figures at which real estate is held, have at- 
 tracted to this point a large proportion of mechanics and labor- 
 boring men, who are to a large and perhaps unequalled extent 
 house-holders, and proprietors of the dwellings which they in- 
 habit. The exemption from exorbitant rents, the cheapness 
 and abundance of fuel, the large amount of breadstuff's manu- 
 factured, and the fertility and productiveness of the country in 
 which the city is situated, together conspire to render the cost 
 of living comparatively small. Labor is thus more remunera- 
 tive, although afforded at a cheaper rate, than at almost any 
 other point in the West. 
 
 This is a consideration of the highest importance to a manu- 
 facturing community; and without it, establishments on an exten- 
 ded scale, which require the employment of a large number of 
 hands, could not be profitably conducted. The position of 
 Quincy upon the Mississippi River enables her readily to import 
 the raw material which goes to supply her manufactories. In 
 addition to this great natural advantage which affords cheap and 
 reliable means during three fourths of the year, for the distribu- 
 tion abroad of manufactured articles, as well as for the reception 
 of materials, Railroads are projected or built to the North, South, 
 East and West, which, when completed, (as the most important 
 will be in a very short time,) will prove an inestimable advantage 
 to her manufacturing interests. On the West lies a country of 
 unsurpassed fertility, of great extent, and rich in mineral re- 
 sources, that must become tributary to her, if her citizens con- 
 tinue to push forward her railroad enterprises in this direction 
 with the energy heretofore displayed, and she will thus be put 
 in possession not only of a large and profitable trade, but of a 
 plentiful supply of the products necessary to feed her work 
 shops and factories. Of these roads we propose to speak more 
 in detail in a subsequent portion of this work. They are too 
 important too pass over with a cursory remark, and are of vital 
 interest to Quincy, not only as they relate to her manufacturing
 
 19 
 
 and commercial character, but in connection with every other 
 department of social and industrial advancement. Their consid- 
 eration will fall naturally under the head of Commercial Ad- 
 vantages, although it may be questioned whether they will more 
 assist her commerce than her manufactures. The facts, which 
 have been briefly stated, are a few of the peculiarities of 
 position which will enable Quincy to manufacture with such 
 cheapness to compete successfully in their own fields with such 
 cities as Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, each of which she 
 is gradually supplanting in places heretofore dependent upon 
 them for their supplies. They are sufficient to establish that 
 her resources as a manufacturing city, are unexcelled, so far as 
 facilities for production are concerned. With regard to means 
 of distribution she is equally fortunate. This will be apparent 
 while we speak of her commercial advantages, for the same 
 circumstances that favor the distribution of her wares, conduce 
 to render her commerce extensive and valuable. 
 
 The Levee and Harbor are unsurpassed by those of any other 
 port on the Mississippi river. The Levee is wide and admirably 
 suited to business purposes. The demands made upon it during 
 the last year, however, somewhat taxed its capacity, and it is 
 contemplated by the city authorities, to enlarge, and otherwise 
 improve it," within the present year. With the proposed ad- 
 ditions, it will be about one mile in length. It is easily accessi- 
 ble to boats of the largest draught, at the lowest stages of water. 
 Quincy Bay, which extends from the northern end of the Levee, 
 four miles in a northerly direction, being completely land- 
 locked, offers rare inducements of which many steamers yearly 
 avail themselves, as a secure place for winter quarters. The 
 depth of water is sufficient to admit the largest boats with 
 perfect safety, and their security from damage by floating ice, 
 upon the "breaking up" of the river in the spring, is entire. 
 
 The arrivals and departures of Steamboats from the port of 
 Quincy, amounted, in 1856, to 2,921. Two daily lines of 
 Packets run to St. Louis, and one to Keokuk a city in Iowa,
 
 ^ . 20 
 
 some forty miles above here, at the foot of the lower rapids, 
 
 In addition to these regular lines, opportunities for shipping 
 merchandize, by means of transient boat?, to the regions of thp 
 Upper Mississippi, and to all other points accessible by the 
 river and its- tributaries, are constant and reliable. These 
 excellent facilities of transportation, cause an influx of vast 
 quantities of varied products and manufactures of the great 
 Mississippi Valley, which are distributed from this point to the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 In the year 1853, Quincy was made a port of entry and at- 
 tached to the collection district of Xcw Orleans. A yearly 
 increasing number of her merchants import their goods directly 
 from the European manufactures, with but a single rcshipmcnt. 
 The freight upon goods to Xow Orleans, from the various 
 European ports, is much less than from the same ports to Boston, 
 New York, Philadelphia or other eastern cities. 
 
 The large number of vessels engaged in the transportation of 
 cotton from !XcAV Orleans, are anxious to secure freight ; many 
 of them returning in ballast. Quincy merchants are thus en- 
 abled to duplicate the bills of St. Louis, with the slight addition 
 of freight from that point to this, an addition which northern 
 and western dealers must pay in any event. They have no 
 hesitancy in saying that they can sell cheaper than the merchants 
 of Chicago, who are compelled to pay hep ner freights, not only 
 for the transportation of their goods from Europe, but for their 
 carriage from the Atlantic cities to the interior. It is thus 
 apparent that Quincy is the point to which dealers along the 
 line of her Railroads projected and built, should and will, turn 
 their attention for the purchase of their stocks. These facilities 
 of importation, combined with the various circumstances which 
 have been mentioned, as facilitating manufactures, make her 
 the most eligible place for their supply. 
 
 On the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, for a distance of 
 more than one hundred and fifty miles, Quincy is the only point 
 where the bluffs approach the river, and where the landing of
 
 21 
 
 steamers of heavy draught during the lower stages of the 
 water, is at' nil practicable. From this cimimstancc, if from 
 no other, she is, and must cov.tinue to be, the market for the 
 grain ;md other products of the western portion of the Military 
 Tract : a district of country, somewhat circumscribed in area, 
 it i.s true but unexcelled on the face of the globe for fertility, 
 as it is in beauty, and. one of the most populous and wealthy 
 portions in the State of Illinois. This country has heretofore 
 been the chief source from which Quincy has drawn her supply 
 of country produce, and before the completion of any Railroad 
 terminating here, she drew simply by the superiority of her 
 shipping facilities, the trade of the whole of this section, to her- 
 self, although much of its produce had to be hauled over heavy 
 roads, a distance of many miles. But since the construction of 
 the Quincy and Chicago Railroad, leading north-east to Chicago, 
 a distance of about two hundred and eighty miles, through 
 some of the finest counties in the State, a great change has 
 taken place in the character of her trade. A new impetus has 
 been given to every branch of her commerce, and the area of 
 country tributary to her, very greatly extended. 
 
 To afford some idea of the effect this Road has had upon 
 her produce market, we append a short statement of the 
 amount of produce shipped to this point from a few of the 
 towns which before its completion, were not in existence. 
 
 Camp Point, twenty miles distant, the point of junction of 
 the Quincy and Toledo and the Quincy and Chicago Railroads, 
 was in 1855, a vacant prairie now it is a flourishng town, and 
 an extensive distributing point of Quincy goods and manufac- 
 tures. There were shipped . from this place to Quincy, during 
 the last five months of 185(5, the following amounts of produce: 
 Wheat, lll,uOO bushels, Corn, 64,000 bushels, 
 Oats, 50,000 " Hogs, -4,073 
 
 Green Apples 300 barrels, Hay, 604 bales, 
 Hoop Poles, 200 cords, 
 With other unenumerated articles.
 
 22 
 
 During the same time, Paloma, thirteen miles from the city 
 also a new place, shipped 
 
 Wheat, 26,112 bushels, Corn, 36,873 bushels, 
 
 Oats, 14,119 " Hops, 148 bales. 
 
 And Tennessee, fifty miles distant, 
 Wheat, 40,000 bushels, Corn, 36,8*73 bushels, 
 
 Oats, 9,000 bushels. 
 
 Many other places on the line of this road, have shipped in 
 equal if not greater proportion, the statistics of which have not 
 been obtained. These given, are accurately collected from 
 reliable sources. Property along the line of this Railroad, has 
 trebled and quadrupled in value, and to say that the rise in 
 real estate, has been greatly more than sufficient to pay for its 
 construction, would convey but a faint impression of the facts. 
 
 These statements are made to afford some data from which 
 we may conceive of the prosperity and extent of the commerce 
 of Quincy, when the several roads now projected, and under 
 process of construction, are completed. Of these, the first in 
 order, will be the Quincy and Toledo Railroad, which extends 
 from Camp Point to the Illinois River, a distance of but thirty- 
 two miles, over a highly practicable route. At Meredosia it will 
 connect with the Great Western Railroad, thus affording a new 
 and direct communication with the East. It would be idle to 
 speak of the additional importance that will accrue to the 
 commerce of Quincy, upon its completion. The citizens of 
 Quincy and of Brown County, through which it passes, are 
 alive to its paramount importance, and have shown by solid 
 testimony, the interest which they take in its construction. 
 
 The City of Quincy, on the fourth day of April, last, voted a 
 subscription of $200,000 to its capital stock, and Brown County 
 has voted $100,000. Eastern Capitalists have taken the matter 
 in hand, the grading is far advanced, ties are being laid, the 
 iron has been purchased, and the time when we may expect to 
 hear the whistle of the first train from Toledo, is not far distant. 
 To Gen. J. W. Singleton, the energetic President of this
 
 23 
 
 Company, may be ascribed the rapid advancement of the work ; 
 and Quincy owes to him a deep debt of gratitude, for the 
 faithfulness and ability displayed in the extrication of the 
 Company from the difficulties which at one time threatened to 
 indefinitely delay the construction of the Koad. 
 
 Upon the completion of the Quincy and Toledo Railroad, the 
 construction of the Quincy and Palmyra Railroad, will be a 
 matter not only of expediency, but of necessity, and although 
 the illiberal and universe legislation of Missouri, influenced by 
 the interested representations of would be rival cities, have 
 seemed to overshadow its prospects, it would be utter absurdity 
 to imagine that it will not be built. The Hannibal and St. 
 Joseph Railroad, extending from Hannibal to St. Joseph, Mis- 
 souri, a distance of two hundred miles through the central 
 portion of the State of Missouri, is now partially in operation, 
 and will be completed, without doubt, within a year. It passes 
 through Palmyra, a flourishing city, distant but fourteen miles 
 from Quincy, and can any one imagine for an instant, that this 
 slight hiatus will be allowed to exist between the extremities of 
 two Railroads, which, conjoined, will stretch from the eastern 
 boundary of Maine, to the western border of Missouri ? The 
 people of the two cities most interested, Quincy and Palmyra, 
 have shown that they regard this matter in its true light, by the 
 subscription on the part of Quincy, of $100,000, and by Pal- 
 myra, of $50,000, toward supplying this missing link in this 
 great chain. Hon. Samuel Holmes, of this city, the President 
 of the Company, has concluded negotions with Eastern Capi- 
 talists, for the additional funds, amply sufficient to insure its 
 speedy completion. It is no stretch of imagination to say that 
 the business of Quincy will be doubled within one year after the 
 construction of this Road. It is intended, eventually, to ex- 
 tend the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad to the Pacific coast, 
 this route being the most direct and practicable yet surveyed. 
 Of the successful prosecution of this work, the most sanguine 
 hopes are entertained. When consummated, what language can
 
 24 
 
 exaggerate the commercial future of Quincy. Situated upon 
 the Mississippi, the longest navigable river in the world, and a 
 central point upon the most extended line of Railroad on the 
 globe, no words could be extravagant in speaking of her com- 
 mercial importance. The River, from the frozen regions of 
 the north, and from the orange groves of south, will bring its 
 tributes of merchandize, and the railway gathering the products 
 of the rising and of the setting suit, will lay them as trophies at 
 her feet. 
 
 Already, with the great disadvantages of transporration under 
 which she labors, Quincy, in many branches of manufactures, is 
 enabled to compete successfully with Cincinnati and St. Louis, 
 in the regions watered by the Missouri river. Large shipments 
 of Household Furniture, Wagons, Plows, Agricultural Imple- 
 ments of all kinds, and other articles, are yearly made to 
 Western Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. If this be now the 
 case, what may we not expect when we have this direct and 
 cheap channel of transportation. The tide of emigration from 
 the East to the Western States and Territories, long oppressed 
 by the absence of traveling facilities, will flow through our city, 
 bringing an influx of population and wealth, in comparison with 
 which, our past advancement is nothing. 
 
 Another Railroad is in contemplation to extend from Quincy 
 to Lagrange, Lewis County, Missouri, thence west through Knox, 
 Adaire, and Sullivan Counties, to Trenton, the County Seat of 
 Grundy County, one hundred miles from Quincy, thence through 
 Davies, Harrison, Gentry, and Nodaway Counties to Linden, the 
 County Seat of Atchison County, thence west to Omaha City, 
 the capital of Nebraska. These are among the finest counties 
 in the State of Missouri. The people of Missouri are awake to 
 its importance, and mass meetings have been held by the inhab- 
 ants of the counties along its proposed route, in which such 
 spirit was manifested, as makes it evident that it will inevitably 
 be built, This will, in all probability, be the first railroad con- 
 necting the Eastern Cities with the rising State of Nebraska.
 
 25 
 
 The County Court of Lewis County has ordered the appropria- 
 tion of a sufficient sum for the preliminary survey of the route, 
 and other steps have been taken preparatory to commencing 
 the work. That this road will prove of great benefit, not only 
 to Quincy, but to the portion of Missouri which it traverses, no 
 one in possession of the facts, can doubt. This extensive and 
 fertile scope of country is peculiarly in need of an outlet for 
 its produce, and the construction of the Quincy, Lagrange and 
 Trenton Railroad will open to it a first class market, easily ac- 
 cessible at all seasons of the year. The simple expectation of 
 of its construction, has given a fresh impulse to the country, its 
 population is rapidly increasing, property is rising rapidly in 
 value, and every department of productive labor is receiving 
 large additions. To Quincy, on the other hand, it will open a 
 fine field for the distribution of her manufactured articles, and 
 for the reception of materials. 
 
 A fifth road has been agitated, leading from Quincy south- 
 east into Green County, Illinois; but, as yet, no definite steps 
 have been taken toward its construction. 
 
 A sixth, and apparently feasible road, has been proposed, 
 leading southward to be called the Mississippi River Bottom 
 Railroad. During the past winter, a Company was organized 
 for the purpose of reclaiming the swamp lands lying along the 
 Mississippi River in the counties of Adams, Pike, and Calhoun. 
 
 This Company, under their organic act, are " to construct a 
 levee from a point near the town of Millville, in the county of 
 Adams, along and down the bank of the Mississippi river into 
 Calhoun County ; said levee to be constructed as near the bank 
 of the said river as may be practicable, and which levee shall 
 be sufficient in heighth, strength and durability to effectually 
 protect all lands between said levee and the bluffs on the eastern 
 side thereof, from inundation or overflow by reason of high 
 water from the Mississippi River, its sloughs or tributaries, simi- 
 lar to the great flood of 1851." Now, it is urged with apparent
 
 26 
 
 force of reasoning, that the building of this levee in the manner 
 specified, is virtually establishing a grade suitable for a Railroad, 
 and that by simply laying the ties and rails upon it, a firm and 
 permanent track will be secured. The counties of Pike arid 
 Calhoun having no accessible port on the Mississippi river, and 
 the Illinois being almost impassible during the greater portion 
 of the year, the advantage to them of "this connection with 
 Quincy, is apparent, while the productions of these fertile counties 
 will find their natural outlet at this point. 
 
 There can be no doubt, that most, if not all of these roads 
 will be speedily constructed; and judging from the impetus 
 given to every branch of business by the completion of the 
 line already in operation, we may confidently expect an ad- 
 vancement in the commercial and manufacturing prosperity of 
 Quincy, seldom, if ever paralleled even in the history of the 
 rapidly growing cities of the West.
 
 MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE INTERESTS, 
 
 IN presenting the following statistics, our object is to give 
 as accurate and detailed a statement as possible, of the amount 
 and nature of the business of Quincy, in its various branches, 
 and thus to enable the reader to test the correctness of the 
 views which we have already expressed, by reference to actual 
 figures. It is a task of no inconsiderable difficulty to obtain com- 
 plete returns from the great number and variety of manufacturing 
 and mercantile establishments which are here in operation. After 
 carrying our researches as far as any reasonable amount of 
 time and assiduity could enable us, we are compelled to admit 
 that the following returns are in some degree incomplete, and 
 that taken as a whole, they form an under-estimate of the actual 
 business of the city. Several of our most important manufac- 
 tories have gone into operation so recently that we have been 
 imable to obtain from them, returns which might furnish sufficient 
 data for estimating the annual value of their products. 
 
 For obvious reasons we have not thought proper to publish the 
 amount of capital invested and business done by individual 
 firms, but the aggregates which are given at the end of each 
 table, are made up from actual and reliable statements ob- 
 tained from some responsible member of each establishment. 
 To a considerable extent we have combined large and small 
 firms in the same table, and no inference can thus be drawn 
 from the aggregate, as to the business of individual houses. 
 
 The returns which have formed the material for these tables, 
 are made up for the year ending June 1st, 1857. In some re- 
 spects they fail to show the general extent of the business of
 
 28 
 
 the city, partly because many new firms have commenced busi- 
 ness within that period, and partly because Quincy, in common 
 with] other western cities, though in a less degree than most, 
 has suffered from the prevailing pressure in the money market, 
 and the comparative scarcity of the agricultural products which 
 support her trade with the East and South. Notwithstanding 
 these disadvantages, we may safeh challenge any city of similar 
 population in the West to present an equally fair business 
 statement which shall indicate a greater degree of prosperity 
 than ours. It may also be remarked that some of our enter- 
 prising firms have established branch houses at Camp Point, 
 Keokuk, Lagrange, and other neighboring towns, which are to 
 a considerable extent, dependent upon Quincy for their supply 
 of imported and manufactured articles. We have no returns 
 from these branch houses, although their operations virtually 
 form a part of the business of our city. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Steam Flour Mills. 
 
 THE Manufacture of Flour is an important item in the busi- 
 ness of Quincy. The quality of the article manufacured here 
 is unsurpassed by that of any mills East or West. To the Flour 
 of one of our mills, the first premiun was awarded at the great 
 National Exhibition in the City of New York, in the fall of 
 1856. This Manufacture was established early, and is now cun- 
 ducted upon an extensive scale, and with a large outlay of Capi- 
 tal and labor. 
 
 There are in this city six Flour Mills : 
 
 NAME. BUILDERS AND PRESENT OWNERS. WHEN BUILT. 
 
 Castle, Bagby, Burns & Wood, 1855. 
 
 City, S. & W. B. Thayer, 1846. 
 
 Centre, R. P. Coats, 1857. 
 
 Eagle, Wheeler, Osborn & Co., 1847.
 
 29 
 
 Star, Brown & Penfield, 1855. 
 
 Alto, W. Homan, 1850. 
 
 These mills employ fifty-one hands, consume annually 660,000 
 bushels of wheat, and manufacture 132,000 barrels of flour, 
 selling at an average price of $7,00, making a total value of 
 $924,000. The capital invested is $280,000. 
 
 Corn Meal and Feed Mills. 
 
 There are two of these, owned by H. A. Chase and Micheal 
 McVay. They consume 135,000 bushels of corn, annually. 
 The manufacture of these mills is of a superior quality, and 
 the business is^profitable and increasing. 
 
 Steam Saw Mills. 
 
 The large importations of sawed lumber from the Upper 
 Mississippi, have thus far prevented the establishment of Saw 
 Mills in this city on a scale corresponding with her other man- 
 ufactures. The demand for building material of every descrip- 
 tion,' is immense ; and the manufacture of lumber is destined to 
 become a highly important and profitable branch of business. 
 There are two Steam Saw Mills, in this city, viz : 
 
 STYLE OF FIRM. WHEN BUILT. BY WHOM. 
 
 J. K. Vandoorn & Co. ? 1851, J. K. Vandoorn & Co. 
 
 James Arthur & Co., 1855, J. Arthur. 
 
 These firms employ fifty-five hands, paying $22,000 wages 
 annually. The annual production is as follows: 
 
 9,500,000 ft lumber at $25,00 per m., $237,500. 
 
 4,000,000 lath at $4,00 per m., 16,000. 
 
 3,000,000 shingles at $4,00 per m., 12,000. 
 
 Total $265,500 
 
 Capital invested, $110,000. 
 
 There are two other Saw Mills within the immediate vicinity, 
 though not within the limits of the city, engaged in the manu- 
 facture of hard wood lumber. The products of these mills
 
 30 
 
 are entirely consumed by the furniture and other manufac- 
 tories of the city. 
 
 They are owned by Mr. E. B. Kimball, and Mr. Andrew 
 Wood, of Quincy. These mills produce about 3,000,000 feet 
 annually, worth $60,000. 
 
 Machine Shops. 
 
 The manufacture of Steam Engines and other machinery, is 
 entensively carried on in this city. The numerous flour mills 
 and saw mills which have been erected in the vicinity, during 
 the past two years, have been supplied with machinery almost 
 exclusively from the Machine Shops of Quincy. Their products 
 are extensively sold throughout Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. 
 The quality of these manufactures compares favorably with that 
 of the eastern cities, and they are quite as cheaply produced. . 
 
 There are four of these establishments in the city : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN ESTABLISHED. BY WHOM. 
 
 Brown, Dimock & Co., 1856, Brown, Dimock & Co, 
 
 M. T. Greenleaf, 1851, Heberling & Greenleaf, 
 
 Worrell & Caldwell, 1851, Worrell & Caldwell, 
 
 Gardner & Mitchel, 1852, A. Campbell. 
 
 These firms employ seventy-two hands, whose yearly wages 
 
 are $47,000. The value of their manufactures is $195,000, 
 Capital invested, $87,000. 
 
 Stove Foundry. 
 
 There is one establishment devoted to this branch of manu- 
 factures in this city. It was built by A. Comstock & Co., in 
 1849. It is one of the largest establishments of its kind on the 
 Mississippi River, and the Stoves which it produces are exten- 
 sively used throughout Illinois and the adjoining States. The 
 Designs patented by this firm are rapidly taking the place of 
 those of more distant manufacture. They employ sixty hands, 
 whose wages amounted during the past year to $30,232. They 
 consumed 987 tons Iron, and 20,000 bushels of Coal and Coke,
 
 31 
 
 and manufactured 9,466 Staves. Their sales amounted to 
 $99,128. 
 
 Foundries. 
 
 The Foundries of Quincy, do an extensive and profitable busi- 
 ness and the demand for their products is rapidly increasing. 
 The iron fronts of the recently erected business houses on the 
 public square, aflbrd many creditable speciments of the skill 
 and taste displayed by the proprietors of our Foundries. A 
 large proportion of their castings are consumed by the various 
 machine shops of our city the remainder find ready sales in 
 Illinois and Missouri. The following are the principal firms 
 engaged in this business : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Brown, Dimmock & Co., 1845 K. Sartle. 
 
 M. T. Greenleaf, 1856 M. T. Greenleaf. 
 
 Worrell & Caldwell, 1851 Worrell & Caldwell. 
 
 Gardner & Mitchell, 1852 A. Campbell & Co. 
 
 These establishments employ fifty-three hands, whose wages 
 are $30,000 a year. They consume 35,000 bushels Coal and 
 Coke, and 1,300 tons of Iron per annum. The value of their 
 annual manufactures is~$12'T,000. Capital invested $91,000. 
 
 Stoves and Tin-Ware. 
 
 A large and profitable wholesale and retail business is carried 
 on in Stoves and Tin-ware. Tin-ware is extensively manufac- 
 tured, and the business of selling and manufacturing is com- 
 bined by several of the leading firms. The names of the 
 principal dealers are given below : 
 
 Comstock & Co., Scheipering & Co., 
 
 Howland & Jones, H. C. Desbach, 
 
 Henry Randall, John Schlag, 
 
 Bidder & Co., C. Jaiger & Son. 
 
 These firms ^employ 67~_hands, whose wages are $23,000. 
 The value of their annual manufactures is $185,000.
 
 32 
 
 Copper and Sheet Iron Works, 
 
 There are two establishments of this kind in Quincy, carried 
 on by J. Williams and Henry Randall: employing seven hands, 
 and turning out about $25,000 worth of work annually. 
 
 Furniture. 
 
 This branch of manufactures is extensively conducted in this 
 city. The names of the four principal firms are given below : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN KST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Jansen & Smith, [1838 F. W. Jansen. 
 
 A. Schmidt & Son, 1833 A. Schmidt. 
 
 W. S. M. Anderson, 1855 J. R. Wan-en & Co. 
 
 F. Jasper, 1845 F. Jasper. 
 
 These firms employ one hundred and seventy-five hands, 
 whose wages amount to $65,800 annually. The value of their 
 manufactures is $207,000. 
 
 The machinery used in these establishments is of the most 
 improved construction. The material is of the best quality, 
 and the furniture manufactured finds a ready and profitable 
 sale in this State, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. A large 
 capital is invested, which yields a handsome return to the enter- 
 prising firms engaged in this business. Besides the above, 
 there are seven smaller Factories, whose sales amount to 
 $65,000. 
 
 Wagons, 
 
 There are nine large establishments in this city engaged in 
 the manufacture of Wagons. The names of the proprietors are: 
 Timothy Rogers, H. Otten, 
 
 John Cleveland, G. Bennetig, 
 
 B. F. Slack, Henry" Kniephieder, 
 
 J. G. Galbreath, T. Neal. 
 
 . F. Roth, 
 These shops furnish employment to eighty-three hands, and
 
 33 
 
 pay $41,750 wages. They make annually one thousand four 
 hundred and thirty-five Wagons, worth $107,625. Besides this, 
 they do a large repairing business, the amount of which is not 
 obtained. Timothy Rogers has a Plow Factory connected with 
 this business, and makes annually eleven hundred Plows, worth 
 $8,800. These manufactories are supplied with lumber of the 
 first quality, by mills in the vicinity. The work turned out by 
 these establishments is celebrated for its superiority throughout 
 the West, and everywhere commands the highest price. 
 Wagons are shipped from this point to Missouri, Iowa, Kansas 
 and Nebraska. There are, in addition to the firms given above, 
 eight shops which make each a few Wagons yearly, but whose 
 principal business is repairing. They employ twenty-one hands, 
 whose wages are $9,560; and the value of their work is 
 $19,500. 
 
 Carriage Factories. 
 
 Messrs. Hayes, Woodruff & Co., and Weaver & Miller, are 
 engaged extensively in this branch of manufactures. They 
 employ sixty-nine hands, and pay $29,000 wages yearly. They 
 manufacture three hundred and fifty vehicles annually, worth 
 $83,000. 
 
 In these establishments are constructed Coaches, Omnibuses, 
 Rockaways, Buggies, Pheatons, and Sulkies of a quality and 
 finish unsurpassed in any manufactory of the kind, East or 
 West. The buildings occupied by these firms are of ample di- 
 mensions, and are well supplied with machinery of the most 
 recent and improved construction. 
 
 . : c : 
 Agricultural Implements. 
 
 A manufactory of Agricultural Implements was established 
 
 in 1855 by Messrs. Battell, Woodruff & Boyd. This firm em- 
 ploys twenty hands, whose wages amount to $8,000.
 
 34 
 
 They manufacture 1,000 plows, worth $8,000 
 
 " " 150 seed drills, worth 12,000 
 
 u 150 corn planters, worth 5,250 
 
 $2,5250 
 
 Premiums have been awarded to this firm for the best plows, 
 at several State and County exhibitions, and all the articles 
 made by them are justly celebrated for their superiority, 
 throughout this, and neighboring States. 
 
 Their facilities for manufacturing have heretofore been in- 
 adequate to meet the demand, and extensive additions to their 
 establishment are meditated. 
 
 Cooperage. 
 
 Below is given a list of the proprietors of the principal 
 establishments engaged in this branch of business : 
 E. McFarland, Philip Thomas, 
 
 W. F. Lee, F. G. Walthaus, 
 
 J. W. Cook, G. Scobbing, 
 
 P. Sohn, H. Bertrand, 
 
 Louis Lamber, Herman Wilbert, 
 
 T. Bringhall, M. Coldenbaugh. 
 
 Valdin Ertel, 
 
 These firms give employment to one hundred and forty-five 
 hands, whose wages yearly amount to $51,000. They manu- 
 facture annually 98,000 flour barrels, 28,000 pork barrels, 
 35,000 whisky and alcohol barrels^and a great number of 
 hogsheads, half-hogsheads and tierces. Several of these firms 
 employ steam. "power, and use machinery of the most improved 
 and efficient character. In addition to the firms above enumer- 
 ated, there are several others who prosecute this business upon 
 a gmaller scale. Although this branch of manufactures is 
 extensively carried on in the city, it is inadequate to supply the
 
 35 
 
 TT 
 
 1 i > j i 
 
 J 3 . * 
 
 demand, and many barrels, "ate /&nauai^y i'mpo?c'e^frd i u tj^e 
 surrounding country to supply the, wants ) of o'ur'miil^i'S/ pbrk-- " 
 packers and distillers. !?..* ^ A J J -> \ _ J 
 
 Pumps. 
 
 Messrs. Mellen, Sprague & Co. are extensively engaged in 
 the manufacture of Endless Chain Pumps, producing an ample 
 supply for home consumption, and for sale in the surrounding 
 country. Mr. E. Weaver deals largely in the manufacture and 
 sale of Suction Well and Cistern Pumps. 
 
 --*"*- ' ~"u~""* " "" 
 
 Bricks. 
 
 In a rapidly growing city the production of materials for 
 building is an object of the first importance. Quincy has been 
 peculiarly fortunate in possessing a constant supply of cheap 
 and desirable brick, which has kept pace with the immense de- 
 mand which has existed during the past few years. The manu- 
 facturers of this article in this city deserve much credit for the 
 excellent quality of the material of which our business houses 
 and public buildings are constructed. The clay, which is found 
 abundantly in this vicinity, is said by experienced manufacturers 
 to be unrivalled for the purposes of brick-making ; and the 
 cheapness of fuel renders the production of this article much 
 less expensive than elsewhere. They are generally afforded at 
 the rate of $5,00 per M. While selling thus cheaply, and 
 paying liberal wages, the manufacturers find this branch of 
 business highly remunerative. Subjoined is a list of the princi- 
 pal firms : 
 
 Fletcher, Pine & Co., Sander & Bcrnsen, 
 
 Delemater & Gerry, William Weber, 
 
 H. Sundermann, Krump & Frazier, 
 
 Henry Fasthoff, G. Koch. 
 
 One of the firms engaged in this manufacture have introduced
 
 36 
 
 c c **-* ( ^ *~ f, * , * t- ^- ^ 
 
 a rcc-ecitlj myented^ctemof te.am machinery by which the 
 
 c<< r *" 4 C 
 
 rapidity of production, ^ancj, the quality of the brick are very 
 greatly ^improved. Pressed brick are made in large quantities, 
 and form ah excellent and highly ornamental material for the 
 fronts of business houses, dwellings, &c. The Brick-makers of 
 Quincy are not surpassed by any class of our manufacturers in 
 the energy and skill with which their business is prosecuted, 
 and the peculiarly neat and tasteful appearance of the business 
 portion of the city is, in a great measure, attributable to the 
 excellent quality of their products. 
 
 The season of brick-making for 185*7 not being ended, the 
 statistics of last year are given, with an estimate of this year's 
 work. 
 
 The number of workmen employed during the summer of 
 1856, was 119, whose wages amounted to $26,304, and the 
 amount made was 25,500,000 brick. The quantity this season 
 will exceed that of the last, about twenty-five per cent, so that 
 we may set down thenumberas 31, 875, 000 which at $5,00 per 
 m, amount to the value of $159,375 
 
 Lime. 
 
 There are three firms engaged in the manufacture of lime, 
 viz : 
 
 Swift & Young, Zimmermann & Zepp. 
 
 A. Carroll. 
 
 They employ fifteen hands, producing 140,000 bushels of 
 Lime, worth at present rates $42,000. One of these firms has 
 in operation "Page's Perpetual Draw Lime Kiln," the capacity 
 of which is three hundred bushels per day. The liine-stone 
 which is found in the vicinity is of the first quality, and the 
 article produced is unexcelled. The price which it commands 
 at this point is unusually high, owing to the extensive demand 
 for building purposes. 
 
 * 
 * ' *- _ "j-
 
 37 
 
 Marble Works. 
 
 There are two establishments of this kind in the city, conduct- 
 ed by A. G. Anderson and John Button. They employ 
 fourteen hands, and the annual value of their manufactures is 
 $27,000. They cut all kinds of Monuments, Furniture, 
 Marble, &c. 
 
 Wooden Works. 
 
 Messrs. Potter & Hawke are engaged in this branch of 
 manufactures. A great deal of ingenuity has been manifested 
 in the construction and arrangement of the machinery used by 
 this firm. Their steam engine is a beautiful specimen of 
 mechanical skill. They manufactured during the last year 
 eight hundred dozen Half-bushel Measures, and are now pro- 
 ducing weekly twenty-five dozen Split-bottom Chairs, with a 
 large quantity of Wash-boards, Broom-handles, &c. They 
 employ ten hands, and the annual value of their manufactures 
 u $15,000. 
 
 Boilers. 
 
 There are two firms engaged in the manufacture of Boilers, 
 viz: 
 
 FIRM. WHEN ESTABLISHED. 
 
 Scharden & Knapp, 1856. 
 
 H. Stagmiller, 1857. 
 
 They employ sixteen hands, whose wages are $7,250. The 
 value of their annual manufactures is $47,000. The work 
 produced is of the first quality, and large additions to these 
 establishments are contemplated. 
 
 Planing Mills. 
 
 The following is a list of the principal firms engaged in this 
 branch of business in Quincy :
 
 38 
 
 H. Allen & Co., Mellen, Sprague & Co., 
 
 Gould & Allen, Thomas Benneson, 
 
 Houghton & Wooters, C. H. Howland & Co. 
 
 These firms produce annually about 5,000,000 feet of Dressed 
 Lumber. .They employ sixty-three hands, and pay $30,700 
 wages yearly, in this business, and in the manufacture of Sash, 
 Blinds, Doors and Frames, which is also extensively carried on 
 by most of those above enumerated. The amount of the 
 annual manufactures of these establishments, apart from the 
 value of the raw material, is $126,000. 
 
 Grain Distilleries. 
 
 There are four Grain Distilleries now in operation in the city: 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 S. & W. B. Thayer, 1849 S. & W. B. Thayer. 
 
 John Schell, Jr., & Co., 1856 John Schell, Jr., &Co. 
 
 Thomas Jasper, 1845 W. L. King. 
 
 James King, 1855 J. King. 
 
 These firms employ ninety -two hands, whose wages amount 
 yearly to $34,240. 
 
 They consume Small Grain, 124,200 bushels. 
 
 Corn, 481,800 bushels. 
 
 They manufacture annually 45,500 barrels of High Wines, worth 
 $637,000. They feed 9,300 Hogs, and 3,000 head of Cattle. 
 The capital invested in this business is $355,000. 
 
 , ^\ , _ 
 
 Alcohol Distilleries. 
 
 There are two Distilleries of this article in operation : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 S. & W. B. Thayer, 1855. S. & W. B. Thayer. 
 
 John Schell, Jr., & Co., 1856. J. Schell, Jr., & Co. 
 
 These establishments employ six men, and manufacture
 
 39 
 
 annually five thousand barrels of Alcohol, of the value of 
 $105,000. The capital invested in these Distilleries is $43,000. 
 The greater portion of the products of these establishments is 
 shipped to Southern and Eastern markets, where its superior 
 quality always commands the highest price. 
 
 Breweries. 
 
 Quincy is celebrated for the quality of the Beer manufac- 
 tured at her Breweries. There are five of these within the 
 city limits. The following are the names of the proprietors : 
 
 F. Kampman, A. Delabar, 
 
 G. Theiss, M. Schultheise. 
 C, Rouff, 
 
 These Breweries consume 16,000 bushels Barley, and 15,000 
 pounds Hops, and manufacture 17,500 kegs of Beer, of the 
 value of $35,000. There are several other of these in operation 
 near Quincy, but outside the city limits. 
 
 K 
 
 Soda Water. 
 
 There are three manufactories of this article in the city, viz: 
 Lampe & Boschulter, Wm. Keiser, 
 
 Grone & Dierholt, ' 
 
 They employ eighteen hands, and manufacture annually 
 100,000 dozen bottles, worth $35,000. Much of this is shipped 
 to neighboring towns. 
 
 Vinegar Manufactory. 
 
 There is one of these establishments in operation, carried 
 on by Joseph Wolf. He makes 650 barrels Vinegar, worth 
 $3,575.
 
 40 
 
 Hope Walk. 
 
 There is one Rope-walk in operation in Quincy, owned by H. 
 C. Prentiss & Co. They employ 10 hands, whose wages are 
 $4,600 yearly. They manufacture Rope, Cord, Twine, Packing 
 Yarn, &c., to the value of $26,000 annually. The enterprising 
 proprietors of this establishment meditate an enlargement of 
 their business during the ensuing year, as the superior quality 
 of the article which they produce has created a demand which, 
 with their present facilities, they are unable to supply. 
 
 Printing. 
 
 There are published daily and weekly the following papers : 
 Quincy Herald, Wm. M. Avise & Co., Publishers. 
 
 Quincy Whig, John T. Morton, Publisher. 
 
 Quincy Republican, H. V. Sullivan & Co., Publishers. 
 There are, besides these, two German weekly papers, viz : 
 The Quincy Tribune, E. C. Winters, Publisher. 
 
 The Quincy Courier, George Lintz, Publisher. 
 
 These papers are well supported, and have an extensive 
 circulation. The Book and Job Printing business is carried on 
 at these offices upon a large scale, and their work is executed 
 in a neat and elegant style. 
 
 There is one establishment owned by Messrs. GeSger & Co., 
 devoted exclusively to Book and Job Printing. 
 
 Soap and Candles. 
 
 There are two firms engaged in the manufacture of Soap and 
 Candles : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Bishop & By water, 1850 G. By water. 
 
 H. Rupp, 1852 H. Rupp.
 
 41 
 
 Book Binderies. 
 
 There are three of these in the city, viz : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'I). BY WHOM. 
 
 Walter Reynolds, 1840, Karnes &Wood?. 
 
 Gardner and White, 1856, Gardner & White. 
 
 F. G. Fisher, 1857, F. G. Fisher. 
 
 These firms employ eight hands. The value of their annual 
 work is $8,500. They are in possession of the latest improve- 
 ments for Ruling, Ornamental Work, &c., and the style of their 
 work is excellent. 
 
 Saddle and Harness Makers. 
 
 There are five firms engaged in the manufacture of these 
 articles, viz: 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'n. BY WHOM. 
 
 Bernard & Lockwood, 1847, Bernard & Lockwood. 
 
 B. Koch & Son, 1840, B. Koch. 
 
 Kull&Duker, 1855, Kull & Duker. 
 
 M. Ohnemus, 1851, M. Ohnemus. 
 
 J. M. Bradford, 1855, Bradford & Cofflin. 
 
 These firms employ forty-one hands, whose wages amount to 
 $14,700. The value of their manufactures is $84,000. The 
 quality of the work turned out by these firms is not excelled in 
 durability, or style of finish, by that of any manufactured East 
 or West. Their products meet with a ready and extensive sale, 
 and their business is rapidly increasing. Some of the buildings 
 appropriated to this branch of business have been recently 
 enlarged, and their facilities for manufacturing greatly increased. 
 
 Confectionery. 
 
 The following is a list of the manufacturers of this article in 
 the city :
 
 42 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'n. BY WHOM. 
 
 A. C. Lornilcno, 1849, A. C. Lomilcno. 
 Wm.jBrown, 1849, W. Brown. 
 
 3. Fisher, 1850, 3. Fisher. 
 
 J. C. Palmer, 1842, O.Kendall. 
 
 Wm. Harris, 1853, Wm. Harris. 
 
 J. Q. A. Connor, 1855, Bowers & Munroe. 
 
 B. 0. Mikesell, 185G, B. 0. Mikesell. 
 The number of hands employed by these firms is thirty. 
 
 Amount of manufactures, $98,000. Several of these carry on, 
 in connection with this business, the manufacture of Crackers. 
 There are several other smaller establishments, whose sales 
 amount to about $30,000. 
 
 Gas Works. 
 
 In the fall of 1854 Gas Works were erected in this city, and 
 have since been in successful operation. We have been subject- 
 ed to but little of the annoyance usually attending the intro- 
 duction of Gas, arising from a bad article, or an inadequate 
 supply ; generally the supply has been abundant, and the quality 
 superior. It has been introduced into our public buildings, 
 churches, stores, and many private residences. It was first 
 lighted in December, 1854. At that time there were sixty-five 
 Street Lamps, one hundred and fifty Meters, and three and a 
 half miles of Street Main laid. There are now laid seven miles 
 of Street Main; the number of Street Lamps is two hundred 
 and forty, and there are two hundred and eighty Meters. 
 During the year ending June 1st, 1857, there were consumed 
 in the manufacture of Gas 
 
 Pittsburgh Coal 15,107 bushels. 
 
 Illinois Coal 5,014 bushels. 
 
 Total 20,121 bushels.
 
 43 
 
 The amount of Gas produced was 4,982,773 feet, which, at 
 thirty-five cents per hundred, amounts to $17,439 70. 
 
 These Works are carried on by the " Quincy Gas Company," 
 a chartered association, whose capital stock is $80,000. The 
 officers of this Company are as follows : 
 
 K. S. Benneson, President. Edward Everett, Secretary. 
 
 DIRECTORS: 
 
 L. Bull, James M. Pitman, 
 
 J. D. Morgan, N. Flagg, 
 
 J. W. Singleton, Thomas Pratt. 
 
 Alfred Carr, 
 
 W. H. Corley, Superintendent. 
 
 MERCANTILE INTERESTS. 
 
 Dry Goods. 
 
 Though many of the Dry Goods houses in the city are 
 extensively engaged in the wholesale trade, yet there is a retail 
 department connected with each of them. 
 
 These houses furnish a supply of domestic and imported 
 goods to a large extent of countrv. Country merchants, to 
 whom this market is accessible, finding that our dealers are 
 able and willing to duplicate the bills of Chicago and St. Louis, 
 prefer to make their purchases here, rather than at more dis- 
 tant points. The well-known responsibility of our leading 
 firms enables them to purchase in the Atlantic cities on the 
 most favorable terms. The following is a list of the principal 
 dealers : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'l). 15 Y WHOM. 
 
 Henry Root, 1840, Root & Fisher. 
 
 Sawyer, Graves & Co., 1849, Sawyer & Adams. 
 
 Ladd, Wheeler & Co., 1850, C. Ladd & Co.
 
 44 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Brown, Dimmock & Co., 1834, Brown & Dimmock. 
 
 S. M. Culver & Co., 1857, S. M. Culver & Co. 
 
 W. S. M. Anderson, 1843, Thomas Pope. 
 
 A. Inness, 1856, A. Inness. 
 
 James Fisher, 1846, J. Fisher. 
 
 N. T. Lane, 1852, N. T.Tane. 
 
 Wheeler & Cooper, 1857, Wheeler & Cooper. 
 
 S. J. Lesem, 1854, S, J. Lesem. 
 
 These firms employ thirty-nine assistants, and do an annual 
 business to the amount of $610,000. In addition to these, there 
 are ten or twelve establishments of an exclusively retail char- 
 acter, whose sales amount to $125,000. A stranger visiting 
 the city is agreeably impressed with the taste and magnificence 
 displayed in the construction and fitting up of many of our 
 Dry Goods houses. 
 
 Hardware. 
 
 There are four firms in the city engaged in the Hardware 
 business. Their stocks are extensive, and well selected. They 
 wholesale largely to country merchants, and also do a large 
 retail trade : 
 
 FIRM. WHEX EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Bertschinger & Steinwedell 1852, Bertschinger & Stein wedell. 
 L. & C. H. Bull, 1845, L. & C. H. Bull. 
 
 Snow & Wiltberger, 1856, Snow & Wiltberger. 
 
 J. S. Van Buren, 1856, J. S. Van Buren. 
 
 These firms employ thirteen assistants, and sell annually to 
 the amount of $280,000. They import extensively, although 
 the bulk of their stock is of American manufacture. They are 
 enabled to sell at as low rates as are afforded in any of the 
 Western cities. 
 
 Among these firms are enumerated some of the most enter-
 
 45 
 
 prising business men of Quincy, and no efforts are spared by 
 them to keep in store complete assortments, and to meet custo- 
 mers on as favorable terms as are extended elsewhere. They 
 are largely engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, and 
 are agents for the various Reapers, Mowers, &c., which are 
 now coming into extensive use throughout the Western 
 country. 
 
 Iron. 
 
 There are three firms engaged in the Iron trade, viz : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Thayer & Co., 1855, Thayer & Co. 
 
 A. V. Humphrey & Co., 1855, A. V. Humphrey & Co. 
 
 S. & E. Jonas, 1844, S. & E. Jonas. 
 
 These firms employ eleven hands, and sell annually, $145,000 
 worth of Iron and heavy Hardware. Owing to our facilities for 
 transportation, and consequent cheapness of freight, large 
 supplies of this article can be advantageously procured and 
 profitably disposed of, at comparatively low rates. The stocks 
 kept on hand by these establishments, are large and comprise 
 the most excellent varieties of foreign and domestic manufac- 
 ture. 
 
 Leather. 
 
 There are two firms engaged in the sale of leather : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Bernard & Lockwood, 1847, Bernard & Lockwood. 
 
 Charles Selmer, 1857, C. Selmer. 
 
 These firms employ seven hands, and sell annually to the 
 amount of $35,000. Messrs. Bernard & Lockwood, in connec- 
 tion with their leather trade, sell $5,000 worth of Saddlery 
 Hardware, and $15,000 worth of hides.
 
 46 
 
 Forwarding and Commission Houses, 
 
 STYLE OF FIRM. WHKN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 B. M. Prentiss & Co., 1854, Coats, Hedges & Co. 
 
 S. C. Thompson & Co., 1856, S. C. Thompson. 
 
 J. Hedges & Co., 1856, J. Hedges & Co. 
 
 A. C. Lightfoot & Co., 1855, A. C. Lightfoot & Co. 
 
 J. B. Bennett, 1853, J. B. Bennett. 
 
 J. H. Smith & Co., 1856, J. II. Smith & Co. 
 
 Thayer & Co., 1855, Thayer & Co. 
 
 These firms employ thirty-three hands. They received du- 
 ring the six months ending July 1st, 1857 : 
 
 Wheat 259,574 bushels. 
 
 Corn 268,321 bushels. 
 
 Oats 88,456 bushels. 
 
 Rye and Barley 6,312 bushels. 
 
 Ship-stuff 31,642 pounds. 
 
 Packages 16,443 
 
 Their shipments during the same period were as follows : 
 
 Wheat. 118,872 bushels. 
 
 Corn 145,942 bushels. 
 
 Oats 60,292 bushels. 
 
 Flour 37,850 barrels. 
 
 Packages 14,187 
 
 Wholesale Groceries. 
 
 There are three Wholesale Groceries in Quiucy. The fol- 
 lowing are the names of the proprietors : 
 
 STYLE OF FIRM. WHEN EST^D. DY WHOM. 
 
 A. & L. Buddee, 1855, A. & L. Buddee. 
 
 J. T. Baker, 1849, Allen & Baker. 
 
 A. V. Humphrey & Co., 1855, A. V. Humphrey & Co. 
 
 These firms employ thirteen hands. Annual sales, $321,000. 
 These enterprising firms have in a very short time, from
 
 
 
 comparatively small beginnings, succeeded in establishing an 
 extensive and profitable business, which is now rapidly increas- 
 ing. 
 
 Wholesale and Retail Groceries. 
 
 In addition to the exclusively wholesale firms above mentioned, 
 there are several establishments in which the wholesale and 
 retail trade are combined. We enumerate the principal ones : 
 
 STYLE OF FIRM. WHEN KST ? J). BY WHOM. 
 
 Weaver & Berry, 1856, E. Weaver. 
 
 Church & Fell, 1845, C. B. Church. 
 
 M. W. Smith & Son, 1851, M. W. Smith & Son. 
 
 J. B. Merssman, 1846, J. B. Mcrssman. 
 
 F. Werner, 1853, F. Werner. 
 
 A. Goodpasturc, 1854, A. Goodpasture. 
 
 Palmer & Son, 1857, Palmer & Son. 
 
 Edward Wcisenberg, 1846, McLean & Wiesenberg. 
 
 L. L. Ward, 1845, Wai d & Goodpasture. 
 These establishments employ twenty-three hands, and sell 
 
 annually $184,500. There are some twenty smaller establish- 
 ments besides the above, whose sales in the aggregate, probably 
 amount to as much more. 
 
 Variety Stores. 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 A. Konantz, 
 
 1845, 
 
 A. Konantz. 
 
 Leopold Arntzen, 
 
 1850, 
 
 Ricker & Anrtzen. 
 
 Kathman & Kramer. 
 
 1850, 
 
 Kathman & Kramer. 
 
 A. J. Lubbe, 
 
 1851, 
 
 A. J. Lubbe. 
 
 F. Bembrock, 
 
 1852, 
 
 F. Bembrock. 
 
 John Borbeck, 
 
 1854, 
 
 J. Borbeck. 
 
 John Kinkle, 
 
 1855, 
 
 John Kinkle. 
 
 George Sehulthcise, 
 
 1848, 
 
 G. Schultheise.
 
 48 - . 
 
 These establishments employ, twenty-four hands^ and sell 
 annually to the amount of $279,000. The names of only the 
 principal dealers are given above. In addition to these there 
 are nearly a hundred smaller houses, whose stocks are of a mis- 
 cellaneous character, whose annual sales amount to a very consid- 
 erable sum, some of them doing quite an extensive business. 
 
 """" ^c* 1 
 
 Rectifiers and Liquor Dealers. 
 
 There are in the city the following Rectifiers and Liquor 
 Dealers : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 A. & L. Buddee, 1855, A. & L. Buddee. 
 
 "J. & P. Schell, 1856, J. & P. Schell. 
 
 Sam'l Ramsay, 1849, T. Jasper. 
 
 Jacob Keis, 1853, M. Keis. 
 
 John Rentz, 1857, John Rentz. 
 
 These firms employ twenty-one hands, whose wages are 
 $6,900. They sell annually $205,120 worth of Liquors. 
 
 ._ c _. 
 
 Lumber. 
 
 The following are the principal dealers in Lumber, Shingles, 
 Lath, &c. : 
 
 Benneson & Co., J. M. Pitman, 
 
 Howland & Wood, Amos Green, 
 
 H. Allen & Co., John Mikesell. 
 
 Winnekar & Co., 
 
 These firms imported during the past year 16,750,000 feet of 
 Pine Lumber, 7,870,000 Shingles, and 2,320,000 Lath. 
 
 f\ m 
 ,v~". 
 
 Clothing Stores. 
 
 There are a considerable number of Clothing Stores in the 
 city. We give below the names of the principle firms engaged 
 in this branch of business :
 
 49 
 
 * * 
 
 STYLE OF FIRM. WHEN ESl'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Powers & Finlay, 1847; W. B. Powers. ' 
 
 M. Jacobs, 1851, M. Jacobs. 
 
 D. Hermann, 1852, D. Hermann. 
 
 Samuel & Bro., 1856, Samuel & Bro. 
 
 S. J. Lesem, 1854, S. J. Lesem. 
 
 These firms employ fifty-three hands in the manufacture and 
 sale of clothing. The larger portion of their stock is purchased 
 in the .Eastern cities. Their annual sales amuont to 
 $186,000. 
 
 -i o : 
 
 Merchant Tailors. 
 
 The following is a list of the principal Merchant Tailors : 
 
 STYLE OP FIRM. WHEN ESl'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 J. A. Parker, 1854, J. A. Parker. 
 
 J. P. Bert, Jr., 1847, J. P. Bert, Sr. 
 
 S. L. Poole, - 1851, S. L. Poole. 
 
 A. Dunlavy, 1857, A. Dunlavy. 
 
 H. Waffman, 1856, H. WafFman. 
 
 These firms employ sixty-three hands, and the value of the 
 work done annually in their establishments is $181,000. Besides 
 this their sales of furnishing goods are extensive. A large 
 number of smaller establishments are not enumerated. 
 
 Books and Stationery. 
 
 There are five firms engaged in the sale of Books and Sta- 
 tionery, viz : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 J. R. Dayton, 1840, X. Flagg. 
 
 G. A. Miller, 1839, G. A. Miller. 
 
 George W. Winans, 1853, G. W. Winans.
 
 50 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'P. BY WHOM. 
 
 Tobin & Smith, 1857, Tobin & Smith. 
 
 Charles Schmidt, 1856, C.Schmidt. 
 
 They employ eleven assistants, and sell annually to the 
 amount of $96,000. One of these houses is just established, 
 and has no statistics, but whose sales will probably increase 
 the amount to $135,000. These firms are constantly in receipt 
 of the latest publications, and spare no pains in keeping up the 
 extent and variety of their stocks. 
 
 r\ 
 
 - - 
 
 Drug Business. 
 
 The following firms are engaged in the wholesale and retail 
 trade in Drugs and Medicines in the city : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WH9M. 
 
 H. H. Hoffman, 1850, Hoffman & Bro. 
 
 Kogers & Co., 1845, S. B. Hoffman. 
 
 F. Flachs & Co., 1845, F. Flachs. 
 
 Geo. A. Miller, 1839, G. A. Miller. 
 
 C. H. Morton, 1845, Dr. Doway. 
 
 A. Stutte, 1853, Stutte & Arntzen. 
 
 These houses employ twenty-one assistants, and their sales 
 amount to $158,000. 
 
 Boots and Shoes. 
 
 There are four firms engaged in the sale of Boots and Shoes 
 at wholesale and retail, viz : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 E. K. Stone & Co., 1840, E. K. Stone. 
 
 C. 0. Godfrey, 1850, E. W. Godfrey. 
 
 C. Brown, Jr., 1851, J. M. Caffrey. 
 
 A. Maxwell. 1857, A. Maxwell.
 
 51 
 
 They employ eleven assistants, and their sales amount to 
 $182,000. These firms purchase directly from the manufactur- 
 ers, most of their goods being made to order. Their stocks 
 are at all times complete, and they are prepared to sell at whole- 
 sale upon as favorable terms as are to be had in any other 
 Western market. There are also over 20,000 pairs Boots and 
 Shoes manufactured here, worth $50,000. 
 
 Auction Houses. 
 
 There are two houses engaged in this line of business, carried 
 on by T. H. Brougham and Charles B. Cook. From the nature of 
 their business it is impossible to arrive at very accurate returns 
 of their sales of merchandise, but they amount to about 
 
 $75,000. 
 
 Watches and Jewelry. 
 
 An extensive trade is carried on in Quincy in these articles. 
 The names of the principal dealers are given below : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D, BY WHOM. 
 
 I E. W. Parsons, 1853, Archer & Parsons. 
 
 J. W. Brown, 1855, J. W. Brown. 
 
 | F. Waldin, 1852, F. Waldin. 
 
 T. J. Harris, 1857, T. J. Harris. 
 
 Tobin & Smith, 1857, Tobin & Smith. 
 
 The two firms last enumerated have but just commenced 
 business, and consequently we have no statistics from them. 
 The three former employ twelve assistants, and sell annually 
 $81,000 worth of Watches and Jewelry. There are several 
 other establishments, which are principally engaged in Repair- 
 ing. 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 52 
 
 China, Glass and Queensware. 
 
 There is one establishment engaged in this business in the 
 city, conducted by Alfred Gatchell, which was established in 
 1854 by Win. H. Gage. In point of variety and extent this 
 stock is not excelled by that of any similar house in the State. 
 The business of this house is large, and its increase during the 
 past year has been so great that its present facilities of store 
 room, &c., have been found insufficient, and the proprietor will 
 in a few weeks remove his stock into one of the finest store- 
 rooms in the city. He is prepared to meet country dealers upon 
 terms quite as favorable as are offered in St. Louis or Chicago, 
 being a direct importer from the English manufacturers. 
 
 ,_-_-.,-_ , * f> _ - , 
 
 Tobacco and Cigars. 
 
 The following are the principal firms engaged in this business: 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 F. Hanke, 1855, F. Hanke. 
 
 H. Hellhake, 1853, H. Hellhake. 
 
 C. C. Klene, 1849, C. C. Klene. 
 
 F. Cook, 1854, F. Cook. 
 
 They employ seventeen hands, and their sales amount to 
 $66,000. There are several smaller houses, whose sales are 
 about $35,000. 
 
 Hats and Caps. 
 
 The following houses are engaged in this business, viz : 
 
 FIRM. WHEX EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Laage & Barnum, 1841, G. J. Laage. 
 
 J. Brokschmidt, 1854, J. Brokschmidt. 
 
 These firms employ in their business fifteen hands, whose 
 wages amount to $6,400. Annual sales $69,000. Messrs.
 
 53 
 
 Laage & Barnum occupy one of the finest business houses in 
 the city. Their store-room is fitted up in very elegant style, 
 and the upper part of the building is devoted to the manufac- 
 ture of articles in their line. The Hats and Caps produced at 
 this establishment are unexcelled in point of quality or style by 
 those of any manufactory East or West. The annual value of 
 their manufactures alone is $25,000. The enterprise and skill 
 displayed by these gentlemen in the conduct of their business, 
 have gained for them a high reputation, and an extensive and 
 rapidly increasing trade. 
 
 Millinery and Bonnet Stores. 
 
 The following is a list of the proprietors of these establish- 
 ments in the city : 
 
 Mrs. S. A. M. Blackford, Mrs. Karnes, 
 
 Mrs. E. McLean, Mrs. B. Fisher, 
 
 Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Parsons. 
 
 Mrs. Crawford, 
 
 Their sales amount to $91,000 annually. 
 
 Ice. 
 
 There are three firms engaged in the Ice business, viz : 
 P. W. Lane, D. Hauser. 
 
 A. C. Lomileno, 
 
 They put up during the last winter 3,350 tons of Ice, worth 
 $10 per ton, amounting to a total value of $33,500. 
 
 __ n_ _ 
 
 Pork Packers. 
 
 Pork Packing is a very important item in the business of 
 Quincy. The county of Adams, and the adjoining counties
 
 54 
 
 which find a market at this point, are not excelled throughout 
 the West as a Pork-producing district. The following firms 
 were engaged in this business during the winter of 1856 and '57: 
 
 FIRM. NUMBER HOGS PACKED. POUNDS. 
 
 J. E. Norwood 9,025 2,203,765 
 
 C. M. Pomroy & Co., 9,127 2,223,269 
 
 J. Seaman, 4,760 1,109,080 
 
 E. Wells, 8,312 1,806,655 
 
 G. & J. Adams, 4,534 1,023,922 
 
 Parshley & Smith, 2,548 619,801 
 
 Amounting to 38,306 hogs, weighing 8,986,492 
 
 Making the average weight 235 pounds. Besides these, there 
 were sold to Provision Stores, &c., some 2500 Hogs, which, at 
 the above average, amount to 687, 500 pounds, making the total 
 number of Hogs sold in this market 40,806, giving a total 
 weight of 9,773,992 pounds, which, at $5,30 per hundred, the 
 average price paid during the season, amounts to $512,721 57. 
 Owing to the general scarcity of hogs throughout the country 
 during the year 1856, these statistics can hardly be considered 
 as fairly representing the ordinary amount of the Pork trade at 
 this point : 
 
 Beef Packing. 
 
 The greater proportion of the Cattle fattened here, and in 
 this vicinity, are not slaughtered at this point, but are driven to 
 Southern and Eastern markets ; and although a large amount 
 of capital is invested in the Cattle trade, the quantity of Beef 
 packed has not heretofore been large. There were killed and 
 packed in 1856, by Messrs. J. E. Norwood and C. M. Pomroy & 
 Co., 2,300 Beef Cattle, netting 4,930 barrels. There are 
 slaughtered for home consumption about 3,000 head annually.
 
 55 
 
 There is a prospect of a large increase in the Beef trade at this 
 point, and the amount purchased during the coming winter will 
 probably quadruple that of any preceding year. 
 
 Financial Institutions. 
 
 There is in this city one Bank of Issue, viz : " The Bank of 
 Quincy." John McGinnis, Jr., Pres't., Maitland Boone Cashier. 
 This Bank was established April, 1856, under the general Bank- 
 ing Law of this State. Capital stock, $65,000. The published 
 statement of this institution shows its affairs to be in a flour- 
 ishing condition. 
 
 QUINCY SAVINGS AND INSURAUCE COMPANY. 
 
 This institution was organized May 1st, 1857, under an act of 
 the Legislature, approved February 15th, 1855. Capital 
 $320,000. Authorized capital, $500,000. 
 
 BOARD OP DIRECTORS : 
 
 Elijah Gove, John Wood, 
 
 Hiram Rogers, Robert S. Benneson, 
 
 Caleb M. Pomroy, 
 
 OFFICERS: 
 Elijah Gove, President, A. C. Marsh, Secretary, 
 
 C. B. Clarke, Cashier. 
 
 This Corporation is empowered by their Charter to make all 
 kinds of fire and marine insurance, and to perform the duties 
 and functions of a Bank of Deposit. 
 
 There are in this city, also, the following private Bankers : 
 
 FIRM. WHEN EST'D. BY WHOM. 
 
 Flagg & Savage, Oct., 1850, Flagg& Savage. 
 
 Moore, Hollowbush & Co., Nov., 1850, Moore, Hollowbush & Co. 
 
 Bull, Bushnell & Co., June, 1857, Bull, Bushnell & Co.
 
 56 
 
 Livery Stables. 
 
 FIRM. LOCATION. 
 
 Clifford, Lombard & Co., Main, between 3d and 4th streets. 
 J. B. Bennett, Main, between 3d and 4th streets. 
 
 J. T. & J. W. Bradford, Fourth, bet. Main and Jersey sts. 
 
 These stables are well stocked with excellent Horses and 
 Carriages of all descriptions. The Carriages and Harnesses in 
 use at these establishments are generally of Quincy manufac- 
 ture, and many of them are exceedingly tasteful and elegant 
 in design and mechanism. The charges for livery hire are 
 lower than at most other points. 
 
 There are two Omnibus Lines in attendance at all arrivals 
 and departures of Boats and Cars, to convey passengers to or 
 from all parts of the city. The Omnibuses are of elegant and 
 costly construction. There is a heavy capital invested in this 
 business, from which a handsome return is realized. 
 
 Hotels. 
 
 Quincy is celebrated for the excellence and cheapness of the 
 accommodation which it offers to the traveling public. Our 
 first class Hotels are acknowledged to be decidedly superior to 
 those of any other city on the Mississippi river north of St. 
 Louis, in every particular which the traveler regards as essen- 
 tial to his comfort. The buildings are large and handsome, the 
 rooms airy and commodious, and elegantly furnished. The 
 gentlemanly proprietors of these houses have rendered them- 
 selves deservedly popular with their numerous guests, by their 
 courteous and successful endeavors to make their sojourn in the 
 city pleasant and agreeable. We give the four principal 
 Hotels : 
 
 Quincy House, Corner Main and Fourth streets, Floyd & Bro. 
 
 Gather House, Hampshire, between 5th and 6th sts., Z. Gather. 
 
 Hess House, Hampshire, between 6th and 7th sts., H. Hess. 
 
 Virginia Hotel, corner Hampshire and 3d sts., F. B. Walker.
 
 57. 
 
 There are, besides these, some twelve or fifteen smaller 
 houses, and numerous boarding houses. Two of our larger 
 Hotels have been built since the completion of the " Quincy 
 and Chicago Railroad," and another large one is in process of 
 erection at the corner of Broadwav and Front streets. 
 
 Real Estate Dealers. 
 
 There ai-e the following Real Estate Dealers in this city, viz : 
 ninchman & Loomis, Gilpin & Rowland, 
 
 Kingman & Tillson, Moore, Morton & Co., 
 
 Green & Kirkbride, C. A. & A. E. Savage, 
 
 M. B. Denman, Edward Prince, 
 
 J. P. Erskine, Dills & Wentworth. 
 
 We are unable, from the nature of their business, to give the 
 actual figures of their transactions, but the capital invested is 
 large, and their business extensive. 
 
 Religious Denominations. 
 
 I 
 
 The various Religious Societies are numerously represented 
 in Quincy. There is probably no other city in the West in 
 which so large a proportion of the population are church 
 members, or regular attendants upon places of worship. This 
 fact speaks well for the moral character of the city, and cannot 
 but favorably impress those seeking a location in the West, with 
 the advantages of Quincy as a place of residence. Affixed is a 
 list of the Churches : 
 
 St. John's Episcopal Church, Rev. Wm. Rudder, Pastor. 
 
 First Congregational Church, Rev. S. II. Emery, Pastor. 
 
 Centre Congregational Church, Rev. Horatio Foote, Pastor. 
 
 First Presbyterian Church, Rev. George I. King, Pastor. 
 
 Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Wm. McCandlish, 
 Pastor. 
 
 8
 
 58 
 
 First Baptist Church, Rev. L. M. Whitman, Pastor. 
 
 Vermont street Baptist Church, Rev. Joseph R. Manton, 
 Pastor. 
 
 Vermont street Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. R. 
 An drus, Pastor. 
 
 Fifth street Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. A. C. Vandcr- 
 water, Pastor. 
 
 Protestant Methodist Church, Rev. Joseph P. Johnson, Pastor. 
 
 Unitarian Church, Rev. L. Billings, Pastor. 
 
 Universalist Church. 
 
 Christian Church. 
 
 St. James' German Lutheran Reformed Church, Rev. A. 
 Schmieding, Pastor. 
 
 St. John's German Lutheran Reformed Church, Rev. Chris- 
 tian Popp, Pastor. 
 
 Salem German Lutheran Reformed Church, Rev. Simon 
 Lieser, Pastor. 
 
 First German Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. John L. 
 Walther, Pastor. 
 
 German Baptist Church, Rev. Wm. Gladfclt, Pastor. 
 
 There are belonging to these churches 2,968 members. 
 
 There is one German Catholic Church, Rev. Joseph Kuenster, 
 Pastor, and one Irish Catholic Church, Rev. Joseph Dcmpsey, 
 Pastor. These have a very large attendance. 
 
 List of Officers of the City of Qnincy, 1857. 
 
 SYLVESTER THAYER, Mayor. A. "W. BLAKESLEY, City Clerk. 
 I. 0. WOODRUFF, City Treas. J. M. BARRY, City Marshal. 
 
 ALDE RMEN: 
 
 FIRST WARD Thomas Jasper, H. S. Osborn. 
 SECOND WARD J. B. Brown, J. B. Merssman. 
 THIRD WARD R. S. Benneson, Michael McVey.
 
 59 
 
 FOURTH WARD B. F. Bcrrian, Andrew Keller, 
 FIFTH WARD J. B. Hicks, A. J. Lubbe. 
 SIXTH WARD S, M. Bartlctt, John Schell, Jr, 
 
 Value of Taxable Property Annually, from 1835 
 
 F*" *>- '* ' . to 1857. ,Wf -.*' - : 
 
 TEAR. ASSESSED VALUE. ESTIMATED VALUE. 
 
 1885 .................... 64,878 .................... 168,818 
 
 1836 .................... 487,900 .................... 887,900 
 
 1837 .................... 545,050 .................... 954,150 
 
 1838 .................... 605,320 ................. ... 1 ,063,820 
 
 1839 .......... . ......... 658,443 ........ ............ 1,135,443 
 
 1840 .................... 1,009,126 .................... 1,284,136 
 
 1841 .......... . ......... 887,868 .................... 1,573,868 
 
 1842 .................... 998,279 .................... 1,634,279 
 
 1843 .................... 864,209 .................... 1,763,209 
 
 1844 .................... 983,890 .................... 1 ,848,390 
 
 1845 .................... 900,120 .................... 1,862,120 
 
 1846 .................... 1,059,288 ............. ...... 1,943,288 
 
 1847 .................... 985,099 ............ /. ...... 1 ,987,098 
 
 1848 .................... 1,269,498 .................... 2,1 69,498 
 
 1849 .................... 1,322.328 .................... 2,874,338 
 
 1850 .................... 1,556,342 .................... 2,983,342 
 
 1851 .................... 1,789,899 .................... 3,208,399 
 
 1852 .................... 1,574,134 .................... 3,746,133 
 
 1853 .................... 1,811,965 .................... 4,104,965 
 
 ' 1854 ..... 1 .............. 1,886,778 .................... 4,627,778 
 
 1855 .................... 3,149,797 .................... 6,895,797 
 
 1856 .................... 4,033,976 .................... 9,185,976 
 
 1S57 .................... 5,042,951 ................... 12,346,957
 
 60 
 
 City Debt, July 1st, 1857. 
 
 Improvement Bonds $184,042 21 
 
 Railroad Bonds. .-.. . 500,000 00 
 
 Total. . . . ............................................ $684,0-12 21 
 
 City Resources. 
 
 Revenue for 1857 ............................ 90,000 00 
 
 Stocks owned l>y City 
 
 N. C. Railroad ............................. 200,000 00 
 
 Toledo, Wabash and Western R. R ............ 200,000 00 
 
 Qnincy and Palmyra Railroad ............... 100,000 00 
 
 Estimated Value of Real Estate 
 
 Levee at foot of Main street, [1,550 ft front] . . . 350,000 00 
 
 Levee at foot of Washington street ........... 25,000 00 
 
 Washington Square .......................... 225,000 00 
 
 Jefferson Square ............................. 125,000 00 
 
 Franklin Square ............................. 35,000 00 
 
 Hospital Grounds ............................ 15,000 00 
 
 Webster School house and Lot ................ 85,000 00 
 
 Jefferson School House and Lot ............... 8,000 00 
 
 Franklin School House and Lot ............... 10,000 00 
 
 Four Engine Houses and Lots ............... . 24,000 00 
 
 MarketNo.l ......................... . ...... 25,000 00 
 
 Market Lot No. 2 ............................ 3,000 00 
 
 Total $1,470,000 00 
 
 Total Debt 684,042 21 
 
 Total amount of Resources over and above Debts $785,957 79
 
 61 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE 
 
 The citv of Quincy is situated upon the Eastern shore of the 
 Mississippi, at an elevation of about one hundred and twenty feet 
 above the level of the river. For a distance of many miles 
 above and below, the Bluffs on the Illinois side are separated 
 from the river by a wide extent of Bottom Land, covered with 
 waetr at every inundation, and intersected by sloughs and 
 marshes, rendering the main channel inaccessable for purposes 
 of commerce. At this point they rise almost from the water's 
 edge, and form a Landing, practicable for steamboats of the 
 largest class, at all seasons of the year. The elevation upon 
 which the city is built commands a view of the river for more 
 than fifteen miles in either direction, which is unsurpassed for 
 the variety and beauty of its scenery. Lagrange, at a distance 
 of twelve miles to the North, and Palmyra, fourteen miles to 
 the South-west, may be distinctly seen on a clear day from the 
 summit of the Bluff. No landscape on the Mississippi is more 
 lovely than that which is here presented to the eye in the season 
 of foliage. The bold out-line of the Bluffs skirting the West- 
 ern horizon, the wide expanse of forest on either side extending 
 to the water's edge, and the thickly wooded islands dotting the 
 surface of the stream, combine to form a picture such as rarely 
 meets the eye amid the comparatively monotonous scenery of 
 the West. The Mississippi at this point is about one mile in 
 width. Its Western shore is lined by a dense forest, extending
 
 62 
 
 several miles into the interior, and affording an ample supply of 
 fuel and lumber. The North-western portion of the city 
 extends along the shore of a beautiful sheet of water, now 
 known as "Quincy Bay," but which, in "early times," was 
 called " Boston Bay," as were the Bluffs upon which the city 
 now stands called " Boston Hills" being named by the Indians 
 after a trader, who, in the employ of the "Boston Fur Compa - 
 ny," established a Trading Post about three miles above this 
 point. Many of the largest manufacturing establishments of 
 Quincy are built upon the shore of this beautiful inlet. The 
 country in the immediate vicinity of the city is gently rolling. 
 Groves of magnificent trees alternate with fields which, in the 
 season of tillage, are covered with an abundant vegetation. 
 Neat and comfortable farm-houses, and highly cultivated farms, 
 everywhere attest the industry and success with which the busi- 
 ness of agriculture is carried on. 
 
 The unequalled beauty of its site, the taste displayed in its 
 plan, improvement and public buildings, as well as the orderly 
 and industrious habits of its citizens, have gained for Quincy 
 the justly merited title of the "Model City." The area embraced 
 within its corporate limits is about five square miles. The 
 streets arc laid off with perfect regularity, of ample width^ 
 occupying easy grades, and in the business portion of the city 
 they are thoroughly macadamized. The side-walks are wide and 
 substantially paved with brick, and extend over almost the 
 entire area occupied by buildings. Their aggregate length is 
 no less than thirty-three miles a greater extent of brick pave- 
 ment than is to be found in all the other cities and towns in 
 Illinois together, Chicago not excepted. Several of the princi- 
 pal streets are paved for a distance of more than two miles with 
 side-walks of the most substantial character. The streets 
 throughout the city are kept in thorough repair, even at the 
 most unfavorable seasons of the year. Gas Works were erect- 
 ed in the fall of 1855, and the streets are now well lighted in 
 all the most frequented parts of the city.
 
 63 
 
 Great attention has been given, from the earliest times, to 
 shading and adorning public and private grounds throughout 
 the city. The forest trees have been preserved, so far as it 
 could be done consistently with the necessities of building and 
 grading ; and where they were wanting, thrifty elms and maples 
 have been transplanted, and are now becoming yearly more 
 valuable for the purposes of ornament and shade. The people 
 of Quincy have never been so engrossed with the mania for 
 speculation as to forget the duty which the founders of a city 
 owe to coming generations. Hence, large tracts of valuable 
 real estate, some of it in the very heart of the city, have been 
 purchased by the city government, and reserved for Parks and 
 Ornamental Grounds. 
 
 Washington Square is in the central portion of the city. It 
 is neatly enclosed, and beautifully shaded by fine forest trees, 
 and is surrounded by business houses which may challenge 
 comparison with the finest portions of St. Louis and Chicago. 
 Jefferson Park is in the North-eastern part of the city. It is 
 pleasantly located, and adds much to the beauty of this part of 
 the city. Franklin Square is situated on the Bluff, and com- 
 mands a fine view of the river and its Western shore. Wood- 
 land Park is a beautiful enclosure of twenty-five acres, in the 
 Southern suburbs of the city. It was selected as a place of 
 public recreation for its rare natural beauty, and convenient 
 location. It is shaded by native forest trees, and watered by a 
 copious and never-failing spring, which gushes forth, clear and 
 cool, from the hill-side. Art could do nothing to improve or 
 embellish this beautiful tract of wood-land, and it has been left 
 almost in a state of nature. 
 
 If the actual value of the grounds thus devoted to the purpo- 
 ses of ornament and recreation, was invested in enterprises of 
 more immediate utility, it would go very far to promote the 
 extension of the commerce and business of Quincy. But the 
 City Fathers have steadily adhered to the far wiser policy of
 
 64 
 
 securing to her citizens, for all time to come, the means of 
 innocent and healthful recreation. Other towns, which have 
 neglected this most important object, will doubtless regret, 
 when it is too late, that some " corner lots" and " desirable 
 business locations," were not sacrificed to its promotion. The 
 beauty of the public Parks of Quincy, and the taste displayed 
 in the grounds surrounding her private residences, may account 
 for the remark almost invariably made by disinterested stran- 
 gers, that "Quincy is the finest city in the West." 
 
 From the business centre of the city the ground inclines 
 gently to the &Torth, South and East, affording many sites of 
 rare beauty for private residences. The natural advantages of 
 the location have been improved with a taste and liberality 
 seldom found in a country where the useful is so generally 
 cultivated at the expense of the beautiful. Our successful and 
 independent men of business have contributed so generally to 
 every object of public interest, that they may well be excused 
 for displaying a similar magnificence in the adornment of their 
 homes. Many elegant residences are now in process of erec- 
 tion in various parts of the city. Among these is the dwelling 
 of Lieutenant-Governor Wood, which, when completed, will be 
 the most beautiful, as well as the most costly, private residence 
 in the State. 
 
 Woodland cemetery is situated in the South-western portion 
 of the city, extending on the Western side nearly to 
 the river. It includes an area of forty-five acres. The grounds 
 are tastefully arranged, and thickly wooded with noble oaks and 
 maples of native growth. The retirement of the situation, and 
 the delightful scenery around, render it singularly appropriate 
 to the purpose to which it is devoted. No one who has ever 
 visited it can fail to admire the taste which presided over the 
 selection and adornment of this beautiful spot. 
 
 The great extension of the trade of Quincy, consequent upon 
 her increased facilities for Railroad communication, has been
 
 65 
 
 followed by a rapid improvement in the character of her busi- 
 ness houses. A very considerable portion of the city has been 
 almost entirely re-built since the opening of the " Quincy and 
 Chicago Railroad ;" and the process of improvement is still 
 rapidly going on. The best material is employed in building, 
 and great attention is paid to the selection of appropriate plans 
 and designs. The necessary limits of this article will not 
 permit us to enumerate the many handsome and substantial 
 buildings which have been erected by our leading merchants 
 and manufacturers during the past year. One of the most 
 conspicuous of them is the fine block lately erected by Mr. 
 Konantz, sixty feet front and five stories high a building 
 which compares favorably with anything of the kind in the 
 West. Messrs. Flagg & Savage, who are among our leading 
 bankers and capitalists, are now erecting, at the South-east 
 corner of Washington Square, a magnificent business block, 
 consisting of four store rooms one hundred feet deep, and four 
 stories in height. These stores are all engaged at a rent which 
 will return a handsome interest on the capital invested. Messrs. 
 E. K. Stone & Co. are now building two fine stores of the same 
 dimensions, and Mr. A. C. Lomelino has nearly completed a 
 building of a similar character, which is a model in all respects 
 of business architecture. All of these have iron fronts, and 
 will compare favorably with any business blocks in our largest 
 cities. For want of space we are unable to notice particularly 
 many other business houses now in process of erection, which 
 are hardly inferior to those above mentioned. Notwithstanding 
 the large number of buildings of this character which have 
 been recently constructed, the demand still keeps pace with the 
 supply, and gives abundant proof of the rapid growth of the 
 commerce and business of Quincy. 
 
 Much attention has been given to the organization of an 
 efficient system of public schools. Large and convenient build- 
 ings have been erected in various parts of the city, and these
 
 66 
 
 are well supplied with experienced and competent instructors. 
 The large number of pupils in attendance being over 1,000 
 is a flattering indication of the interest which is felt in the 
 important subject of popular education. In the public schools 
 instruction is given in those branches of science which are of 
 universal utility. For pupils who desire to pursue a more 
 extensive course of study, there are a variety of private insti- 
 tutions many of them of a very high character. Among 
 these the Methodist Male and Female College is worthy of espe- 
 cial mention. It is well endowed, and employs a large corps of 
 accomplished and competent teachers, who give instruction to 
 a large number of pupils, in the various practical and orna- 
 mental branches whfch are considered essential to a thorough 
 and finished education. The building occupied by this school 
 is large and handsome, and well supplied with libraries and 
 scientific apparatus. Arrangements have been made for estab- 
 lishing, at an early day, a College on a larger scale than any 
 institution of the kind now existing in the State. The known 
 wealth and intelligence of the gentlemen who have engaged in 
 this movement, are an ample guarantee of its complete success. 
 The buildings occupied by the public schools of Quincy are 
 generally large and commodious, and are sufficient to accommo- 
 date all the children of the city who are entitled by law to par- 
 ticipate in the advantages which they afford. The Fifth Ward 
 school house is an excellent specimen of school architecture. 
 The public schools have been, since their establishment, under 
 the supervision of competent Superintendents, and the system 
 which has been organized and administered has proved, in the 
 highest degree, efficient and satisfactory. 
 
 Quincy is honorably distinguished among her sister cities by 
 the unusual number, as well as the size and beauty, of her 
 churches. Her religious societies are numerous, influential and 
 wealthy, and are remarkable for the liberality with which they 
 contribute to the various objects of Christian benevolence.
 
 67 
 
 Their influence is strongly felt in maintaining an elevated moral 
 tone in the community. The first settlers of Quincy were reli- 
 gious men, and the character which they early impressed upon 
 the infant city is still retained. The clergy who supply her 
 pulpits have ever been distinguished for learning and ability, 
 as well as for the disinterested zeal which they have manifested 
 in promoting the important ends of moral and intellectual 
 improvement. Nearly all the church edifices of the city are 
 handsome and imposing structures. One of the most beautiful 
 among them is the church recently erected by the Baptist 
 Society, on Vermont street an edifice unsurpassed in the 
 gracefulness of its architecture, and the fitness for the object 
 to which it is consecrated. The Congregational churches on 
 Jersey, and the Catholic churches on Maine are also large and 
 handsome buildings. 
 
 Several benevolent and charitable associations have been 
 formed in this city, and may now be considered as permanently 
 established. Among these the Orders of Masons and Odd 
 Fellows, and the German and Irish benevolent societies are 
 worthy of especial mention. All these associations are large 
 and flourishing, and have been the means of alleviating much 
 of the want and suffering which exist to a greater or less extent 
 in all populous towns. 
 
 An efficient Fire Department was early organized, and the 
 city regulations upon this subject are stringent, and rigidly 
 enforced. Owing to the general use of fire-proof material in 
 building, and the public spirit and excellent discipline of our 
 Fire Companies, we have hitherto enjoyed an unusual exemp- 
 tion from disasters by fire. Our condition in this respect com- 
 pares most favorably with that of our neighboring cities. 
 
 To the emigrant who is about selecting a permanent location 
 in the great West, no consideration is more important than the 
 moral and social character of the population in the various 
 localities which invite emigration and settlement. Xo facilities
 
 68 
 
 for the prosecution of business, and the acquisition of wealth, 
 can compensate for the absence of an intelligent society and 
 educational advantages. In many of the rising cities of the 
 West the rage for speculation and money-getting has not only 
 vitiated the moral tone of the community to a very serious 
 extent, but has prevented any adequate effort to secure the 
 means of intellectual culture to the rising generation. In their 
 anxiety to secure abundant wealth for their children, the 
 citizens of these towns have forgotten that wealth, unaccompa- 
 nied by intelligence, can only be injurious to its possessor. It 
 was most fortunate for Quincy, that during the period which 
 elapsed between the first settlement within her limits, and the 
 more recent commencement of her rapid growth, an efficient 
 system of education had been organized, and an elevated moral 
 tone established and maintained. The subsequent growth of 
 her population, though rapid, has been regular and healthy, and 
 its materials have been drawn mainly from the better class of 
 Eastern emigrants, characterized by habits of industry, enter- 
 prise and business integrity, and by an orderly and peaceful 
 disposition. Hence, Quincy has never been disgraced by those 
 scenes of lawless violence Avhich have been too often witnessed 
 in the streets of Western cities. An efficient Police System 
 secures the safety of person and property. A liberal and 
 enlightened spirit displays itself in works of public utility and 
 ornament. The eager and successful pursuit of business has 
 not excluded attention to the higher end of moral and intellec- 
 tual culture, and the Eastern emigrant may find here that public 
 order, social refinement, and universal intelligence, which he 
 most valued in his former home, together with an enlarged and 
 generous liberality of sentiment, which is found only in the 
 West. 
 
 In enumerating the advantages of Quincy as a place of resi- 
 dence, the healthfulness of her location should not be forgotten. 
 The city is almost entirely exempt from the diseases which are
 
 69 
 
 the scourge of the Mississippi Valley. The streets are kept 
 carefully clean, and no business is permitted to be carried on 
 within the city limits which might be injurious to its sanitary 
 condition. The elevated site upon which Quincy is built, and 
 her copious supply of excellent water, may account for the 
 very small annual mortality, as shown by the official returns. 
 
 Having thus enumerated some of the many advantages of our 
 beautiful city as a place of residence, we have only to say, in 
 conclusion, that we invite the emigrant, who is in search of a 
 home, to visit Quincy and test the correctness of our statements 
 by the results of his own observation. If, upon doing so, he 
 finds her deficient in those requisites, which he deems essential 
 to a good location, he will do well to retrace his steps, and 
 abandon the idea of settlement in the West. But we are confi- 
 dent that no person who is made of the right stuff for a West- 
 ern man, can fail to appreciate the admirable location of our 
 city, and the enterprise, intelligence and refinement of her 
 people.
 
 )