Henry S. Hetherington (14th Mayor of Dubuque) 1858

HETHERINGTON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/26/2016 at 23:40:19

Birth: Feb. 9, 1820
Millersburg
Dauphin County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: Jan. 15, 1898 [Edit Dates]

HETHERINGTON, Henry S. (Millersburg, PA, Feb. 9, 1820--Dubuque County, IA, Jan. 15, 1898). MAYOR. Hetherington learned the trade of masonary and bricklaying before moving west to Iowa in 1843. He came to Dubuque in 1845 and was involved in contracting and building until 1853. (1)
Hetherington entered the office of Surveyor General and remained there for five years. He was elected mayor in 1858 and served one term before entering the business of farming. Among the reforms accomplished in city government in 1858-9 were the following: reduction of "ferriage;" blending of offices; closing of House of Refuge and City Hospital; macadamizing streets partly at private expense; upbuilding of city credit; funding of the city debt; providing for the payment of interest; and abolishing the office of city printer. (2)
A committee of citizens prepared a new charter for the city in January, 1859. Hetherington and the city council were widely criticized in their handling of the matter concerning the CENTRAL ISLAND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. (3)
Hetherington was involved in the grain and produce business for four years before joining CARR, AUSTIN AND COMPANY. He remained in the planing business for two years and then entered the business of pork packing for six years. Around 1871 he joined George John RATH in constructing the first building that grew into GEORGE RATH AND SON. (4) In 1879, Hetherington was elected secretary of the Dubuque Building and Loan Association. (5) He also served as the secretary of the Fair Association.

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