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  2. Nauvoo City Officers, March–July 1843

Nauvoo City Officers, March–July 1843

The following chart identifies holders of significant offices in , Illinois, during the period covered by this volume. The city charter for Nauvoo, which was enacted in December 1840 and took effect in February 1841, called for a city council consisting of a mayor, four aldermen, and nine councilors, each of whom would be elected and serve for two years. The charter made provision for the city council to add to the number of aldermen and councilors if necessary. Other city officers were appointed or elected by the city council. The first city election was held in February 1841. On 22 January 1842, city officials created the office of vice mayor, and JS served in that office. When council seats became vacant because of death, resignation, or appointment to another office, the vacancies were filled by election or by an appointment made by the city council. On 17 May 1842, resigned as mayor of Nauvoo. JS was elected to replace him in a 19 May city council meeting. In that same meeting, was elected as vice mayor to replace JS. In accordance with the provisions in the Nauvoo charter, the city held a general election for mayor, aldermen, and city council members in February 1843, during which JS was elected as mayor.
The charter also stipulated that “the Mayor and Aldermen shall be conservators of the peace within the limits of said city, and shall have all the powers of Justices of the Peace therein.” As a justice of the peace, the mayor could hear alleged violations of state statutes, and appeals in such cases would be heard by the circuit court of , Illinois. The charter also granted the mayor “exclusive jurisdiction in all cases arising under the ordinances of the corporation.” The charter dictated that “the parties litigant shall have a right to a trial by a Jury of twelve men, in all cases before the Municipal Court.” The mayor served as the chief justice of the municipal court, the aldermen served as associate justices of the same, and the city recorder served as its clerk. From the municipal court, appeal could be made to the Circuit Court.
For a period of time in June 1843, four city councilors (, , , and ) left vacancies that were filled by four men serving as councilors pro tempore (, , , and ). The chart below represents the offices and standing officers of the city government throughout the period covered by this volume.
March–July 1843
Office Office Holder
Mayor and chief justice of the municipal court Joseph Smith
Vice mayor
Aldermen and associate justices of the municipal court
City Councilors
(pro tempore)
(pro tempore)
(pro tempore)
(pro tempore)
City marshal
Treasurer
City recorder and clerk of the municipal court
Sexton
Supervisor of streets
Constables (First Ward)
(Second Ward)
Lewis Robison (Third Ward)
(Fourth Ward)
City surveyor
Weigher and sealer
City assessors and collectors (First Ward)
(Second Ward)
(Third Ward)
(Fourth Ward)
City attorney
Registrar of deeds Joseph Smith
Coroner
City auctioneer Charles Warner
Notary public
Market master
Market inspector
Mayor’s clerk
Fire warden (First Ward)
(Second Ward)
(Third Ward)
(Fourth Ward)
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