Editing Quincy, Illinois (section)

===19th century===
After the [[War of 1812]], the American government [[land grant|granted]] [[Military Tract of 1812|military tract]]s to veterans as a means to help populate the West. Peter Flinn, having acquired the land from veteran Mark McGowan for his military service in 1819, ended up selling {{convert|160|acre|km2}} of land acquisitions to [[Moravia, New York]] native [[John Wood (governor)|John Wood]] for $60 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=60|start_year=1819}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}). John Wood later founded Quincy, which at the time was coined Bluffs, Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/mansion.html |title=Mansion |publisher=Adamscohistory.org |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812004809/http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/mansion.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 }}</ref>

In [[1825 in the United States|1825]], Bluffs renamed their community Quincy and became the seat of government for [[Adams County, Illinois|Adams County]], both named after [[1824 United States presidential election|newly elected]] [[United States President|President]] [[John Quincy Adams]]. In addition, they originally named the town square John Square until eventually changing its name to Washington Square. In December 1830, Peter Felt, who had recently arrived with his family from New Hampshire, and others held the first service at what would become the first [[Congregationalism|congregational]] churches in the state. In June 1834, Quincy was incorporated, with [[Archibald Williams (judge)|Archibald Williams]], Joseph T. Holmes, S. W. Rogers, Levi Wells, and Michael Mast elected as trustees.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Holmes|first=Joseph T.|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t02z20q26|title=Quincy in 1857.|publisher=Quincy, Ill.|year=1857|pages=16|hdl=2027/loc.ark:/13960/t02z20q26}}</ref> Quincy incorporated as a city in 1840, with Ebenezer Moore elected as its first mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Quincy Past- Former Mayors|url=https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/qpl/id/2281/rec/5|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=www.idaillinois.org|language=en}}</ref>

In 1837, following the signing of [[Missouri Executive Order 44]], which called for the expulsion of Mormons from Missouri and the extermination of those who refused, many members of the [[History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] fled persecution in Missouri and found shelter in Quincy. Despite being vastly outnumbered by [[Mormonism|Mormon]] refugees, residents provided food and lodging for the displaced people. [[Joseph Smith]] then led members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints {{convert|40|mi|km}} upstream to [[Nauvoo, Illinois]], in hopes of finding a permanent home.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/mormon-thoroughfare/7-quincy-illinois-temporary-refuge-1838%E2%80%9339 |title=7. Quincy, Illinois: A Temporary Refuge, 1838–39 &#124; Religious Studies Center |publisher=Rsc.byu.edu |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190234/http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/mormon-thoroughfare/7-quincy-illinois-temporary-refuge-1838%E2%80%9339 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref> Also in 1838, Quincy sheltered the [[Potawatomi]] tribe as they were [[Potawatomi Trail of Death|forcibly relocated]] from [[Indiana]] to [[Kansas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-potawatomitraildeath.html |title=Potawatomi Trail of Death |publisher=Legendsofamerica.com |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:View of Quincy showing court house, by John Sanftleben.jpg|thumb|left|19th century view of Quincy Courthouse by John Sanftleben]]
The 1850s and 1860s brought increased prosperity to Quincy. Steamboats and railroads began linking Quincy to places west, making the city a frequent destination for immigrants. The founding of the [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]] in 1855, and the construction of the [[Quincy Rail Bridge]], were major drivers for creating a transportation hub in the region to further commerce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.american-rails.com/chicago-burlington-and-quincy.html |title=The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Way of the Zephyrs |publisher=American-rails.com |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> It is during this time that the city's population grew enormously, from just under 7,000 residents in 1850 to 24,000 by 1870, helping Quincy surpass [[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria]] in becoming the second-largest city in the state (at that time).<ref name="seequincy1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatriverroad.com/quincy/quincytown.htm |title=Visitors Guide to Quincy, Illinois |publisher=Greatriverroad.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305105925/http://www.greatriverroad.com/quincy/quincytown.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

One famous former resident of Quincy is [[George Pickett|George E. Pickett]]. The future Confederate general came to Quincy to live as a young man, and learn the law, from his uncle Alexander Johnson in the 1840s. Johnson was acquainted with Abraham Lincoln, and Pickett and Lincoln may have even met each other in Quincy.<ref>Prokopowicz, G.J. (2009) Did Lincoln Own Slaves? : And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln. New York: Knopf Doubleday, p. 132</ref>

In 1860, Quincy founder and Lieutenant Governor John Wood inherited the governorship after [[William H. Bissell]] died while in office. At the time, he was overseeing business interests and the construction of his [[John Wood Mansion|mansion]]. The Illinois legislature allowed him to stay in Quincy during his tenure, effectively making Quincy a "second" capitol for the state. His absence from the official governor's office in Springfield provided [[Abraham Lincoln]] a space for planning his presidential run.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/john_wood.html |title=John Wood |publisher=Adamscohistory.org |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193521/http://www.adamscohistory.org/html/john_wood.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Quincy Lincoln Douglas Taft.JPG|thumb|A mural to the 1858 [[Lincoln–Douglas debates]] in Quincy]]
[[Slavery]] was a major religious and social issue in Quincy's early years. The Illinois city's location, separated only by the Mississippi River from the slave state of Missouri, which was a hotbed of political controversy on the issue, made Quincy itself a hotbed of political controversy on slavery.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shs.umsystem.edu/civilwar/abriefhistory.html#read |title=more |publisher=Shs.umsystem.edu |date=June 27, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511124358/http://shs.umsystem.edu/civilwar/abriefhistory.html#read |archive-date=May 11, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Richard Eells]], who was a staunch abolitionist, built his home in Quincy in 1835 and sheltered formerly enslaved people who had escaped and were on their way to Chicago. His home became a major stop on the [[Underground Railroad]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Shannon Bell |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/il3.htm |title=Aboard the Underground Railroad-Dr. Richard Ells House |publisher=Nps.gov |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> The divide over slavery climaxed in 1858, when Quincy hosted the sixth Senatorial [[Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858|debate]] by U.S. Senator [[Stephen A. Douglas]] and his challenger, [[Abraham Lincoln]]. With a crowd of 12,000 in attendance, Quincy was the largest community at which Lincoln and Douglas debated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolndouglasquincydebate.com/html/the_debate.html#QuincyDebate |title=The Debate |publisher=Lincolndouglasquincydebate.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228024700/http://lincolndouglasquincydebate.com/html/the_debate.html#QuincyDebate |archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://genealogytrails.com/ill/adams/history/quincyhistory.html |title=Quincy History |publisher=Genealogytrails.com |date=July 14, 2006 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140102094011/http://genealogytrails.com/ill/adams/history/quincyhistory.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lincoln and Douglas again confronted each other in the [[1860 United States presidential election|1860 Presidential election]] and the resulting campaign again divided Quincy and the surrounding region. Lincoln enthusiasts and Quincy's chapter of the Republican Party's para-military organization ''[[Wide Awakes]]'', while en route to a political rally in [[Plainville, Illinois|Plainville]], marched upon nearby [[Payson, Illinois|Payson]], which was a community predominantly filled with Douglas supporters. Although a confrontation was avoided while en route to Plainville, Douglas supporters shot upon the Wide Awakes on their journey back to Quincy, resulting in a skirmish known as the Stone Prairie Riots.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nelson |first1=Iris A. |last2=Waggoner |first2=Walter S. |title=Sick, sore, and sorry: The Stone's Prairie Riot of 1860 |journal=Journal of Illinois History |date=April 30, 2002 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=19–32 |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112103936537?urlappend=%3Bseq=25%3Bownerid=13510798903771142-29 |access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>

The [[American Civil War|Civil War]] brought increasing prosperity to Quincy. Although the battles took place far from the city, Quincy was the organization site for several Illinois volunteer work infantry regiments, including the [[Union Army]]'s [[16th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|16th]], [[50th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|50th]], [[78th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|78th]], [[84th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|84th]], [[119th Illinois Infantry Regiment|119th]], [[137th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|137th]], [[138th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|138th]], and [[151st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|151st]]. Following the [[Reconstruction Era]], Quincy was selected as the location for Illinois' first [[Veteran's Home]] in 1886.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quincyivh.org/ |title=Illinois Veterans Home - Quincy, IL |publisher=Quincyivh.org |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref>

====Immigration====
Early immigrants to Quincy came predominately from the [[Upper South]] but were followed later by those from [[New England]], seeking better land. They brought with them [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive values]], such as [[public education]] and [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionism]]. Starting in the 1840s, migrants from Germany settled in Quincy to escape revolutions among the German provinces and conflicts between the European powers. German migrants mainly lived in close proximity to one another and settled predominantly in the southern parts of the city, influencing much of Quincy's historic architecture and creating the [[South Side German Historic District]]. Collectively, the south side of Quincy became known as ''Calftown'', due to the fact that nearly every household possessed a cow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seequincy.com/SeeAreaAdamsMCHA.html |title=quincy, il &#124; see the unexpected |publisher=Seequincy.com |access-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204062707/http://www.seequincy.com/SeeAreaAdamsMCHA.html |archive-date=December 4, 2013 }}</ref> Among the notable German-Americans from Quincy's Southside was [[Louise Maertz]] (1837–1918), a nurse during the American Civil War.<ref>Amy Kaiser, [http://www.whig.com/story/19189755/louise-maertz-a-lesson-in-how-to-make-a-difference# "Louise Maertz: A lesson in how to make a difference"] ''Quincy Whig-Herald'' (August 3, 2012).</ref>

In 1860, a group of [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] friars founded the St. Francis Solanus College, which later developed into [[Quincy University]].