People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1896 — Historical Resume. [ARTICLE]

Historical Resume.

From the Ordinance Book of the City of Rensselaer. The City of Rensselaer, was laid out and platted as a town bearing the name of Newton, on the 12th, day of June, 1839, Plat recorded in Deed Record 1, Page 90. This plat is located on the north bank of the Iroquois river, and had been known as the Iroquois rapids, and is now the principal business portion of the City. The name was changed from Newton to Rensselaer, by a special act of the Legislature, approved February, 18, 1840, Acts 1840, page 240. Western Addition was platted June, 18. 1850. Recorded in Deed Record 3. page 60. Newtons or Clarks addition was platted August 30, 1951, and recorded in Deed Record 3, page 348- South addition was platted June 1, 1853, and recorded in Deed Record 4, page 488 Weston’s addition was platted by Rosewell Weston, January 20, 1858 and recorded in Deed Record 16, page 24. In December, 1858 a petition was presented to the Board of County Commissioners, signed by R. H. Milroy and 52 others praying to have the villiage of Rensselaer, incorporated as a town. The question of incorporation was sib mitted to the voters January 5, 1859. The result of the ■election being favorable the Board of Commissioners deeclared the town duly incorporated under the name and istyle of the town of Rensselaer, on Tuesday March 8, 1859, Weston’s Second addition was platted by Henry Weston August 10, 1872, and recorded in Deed Record 24, page 328. This addition included the territory covered by Weston's -addition, Weston Cemetery was platted July 7, 1873 and recorded in Deed Record 24, page 530, Leopold’s addition was platted May, 20 1879 and recorded in Deed Record 34. page 168. Thompson’s addition was .platted August 26,. 1881 and recorded in Deed Record 35, page 433. The Board of Trustees of the town extended the boundaries so as to include all of Weston’s Second addition, by resolution dated June 4. 1883, recorded in Deed Record 38 page 493, The Jasper County Draining Association platted a portion of the lands bordering on the Iroquois river, November 17, 1883, Recorded in Deed Record 39, page 224. Nearly all of the channel of the river now belongs to this association. South East addition was platted May 27. 1887, and recorded in Deed Record 44, page 59 Benjamin’s addition was platted September 9, 1887, and recorded in Deed Record 44, 489, Kannal’s Sub-Drvision was platted June 13, 1892 and recorded in Deed Record 55, page -416. All of the plats made up to this time are located within the boundaries of the town of Rensselaer.as incorporated in 1859. Columbia addition was platted March 15, 1893 and recorded in Deed Record 55. page 326, Benjamin and Magees addition was platted March 24, 1893 and recorded in Deed Record 55, page 444. Sunny Side addition was platted May 19, 1893, and recorded in Deed Record 56, page 160, The Board of Trustees extended the boundaries of the town so as to include Columbia and Sunny Side additions, by resolution which was adopted March 11, 1895 and recorded in Deed Record 60, page 172, Riverside Park addition was platted July 20, 1895, and recorded in Deed Record 61, page 196, The corporation boundaries were extended, so as to annex unplatted territory heretofore out side of the corporation boundaries of the town of Rensselaer, by the Board of County Commissioners at the September, term, 1895 and recorded, in Deed Record 63 page 553: This annexation included all of the territory heretofore outside and now included in the present boundaries of the city of Rensselaer, except Benjamin and Magee’s addition. The Board of Trustees extended the boundaries of the town of Rensselaer by resolution so as to include Benjamin and Magee’s addition, Marcn 9. 1896. Recorded in Deed Record 63, page 122. Thompson’s Sub Division of block Four-of Thompson’s addition was platted April 13. 1896 and recorded in Deed Record 73, page 274. Emmet’s Addition was p 1 at ted May 2 1896, and recorded in Deed Record 63, page 339. Yeoman's addition was platted May 6, 1896, and re. corded in Deed Record 63, page 358. Harvey’s addition was platted May 12, 1886 and recorded in Deed Record 63, page 473. The Survey and plat of the town of Rensselaer as made by Mayhew, Hopkins and Miller in 1875, was legalized by an act of the Legislature passed February 23, 1889. The town having grown to a population exceeding 2000 a petition of over one third of the legal voters of the town was presented to the Board of Trustees praying that a census be taken with a view to incorporating as a city. On March 23, 1896 the Marshal was ordered to take a census of the inhabitants of the town. The Marshal’s return showing a population of 2142 exclusive of those who had become residents within 40 days, an election was ordered to be held April 10, 1896. The result of this election showing a large majority in favor of incorporating, the return was filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the town of Rensselaer became a city April 13, 1896