George L. Nightingale (6th Mayor of Dubuque) 1848

NIGHTINGALE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/26/2016 at 22:50:54

NIGHTINGALE, George L. (Herefordshire, England--Dubuque, IA, May 29, 1859). MAYOR. In his youth, Nightingale was taken by his widowed mother to Boulogne, France. At the age of nineteen years, he went to sea and visited many parts of the world.
About 1836 Nightingale came to the United States and settled in Dubuque. He became a merchant, justice of the peace, lawyer, and member of the legislature. (1) He was also interested in acting and formed a group of like minded people who performed at the SHAKESPEARE HALL. (2) Nightingale was also the agent for farmers and settlers who organized to see that lands opened up by the government were pre-empted. (3)
Nightingale was elected to his first term as mayor in 1848. The questions of importance in the spring of 1848 were the improvement of Lorimier Hollow, the harbor being built by Captain Barney and his dredge-boat; regulation of the liquor trade, and the removal of filth from the streets.
Whether the ferry privilege of Timothy Fanning was exclusive under his charter, and what ferry rights were owned by Jones & Gregoire, were inquired into in May, 1848. The city attorney filed with the council his written opinion against the right of the city to establish a free ferry across the Mississippi, the council resolved that it was their "opinion that the city has the right to establish a ferry from this and the opposite side of the river and that the charter of Mr. Fanning is not exclusive." In June, 1848, the council refused to appropriate $375 at the request of Captain Barney to assist him in work on the harbor.
Nightingale served as mayor of Dubuque from 1856 to 1857. While on the council in 1857, Nightingale was one of three alderman who approved plans for the construction of the DUBUQUE CITY HALL.

Encyclopedia Dubuque
www.encyclopediadubuque.org
---