Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force Feb. [February] 27, 1841.

An ACT to establish a ferry across the Illinois river in Grundy county.
1

Location.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That William E. Armstrong, his heirs or assigns, are hereby authorized to establish a ferry across the Illinois river, on section seven or nine, in town thirty-three, range seven, in the county of Grundy.2

Time of location.

No ferry within one mile.

Sec. 2. The said Armstrong, his heirs or assigns, shall locate and establish said ferry within nine months from the passage of this act, and when said ferry (shall) be located and established, the said Armstrong, his heirs and assigns (shall) have the exclusive right to cross said river within one mile of the point where he may establish said ferry, and it shall not be legal for the county commissioners of the above named county to grant or establish any ferry or bridge within one mile of the above named ferry, within ten years from the passage of this act.

Rates of ferriage.

Sec. 3. The said Armstrong, his heirs or assigns, shall be entitled to the rates of ferriage, as follows: For each wagon and six horses or oxen, seven-five cents; for each wagon, four horses or oxen, fifty cents; for each wagon, two horses or oxen, twenty-five cents; for each dearborn3 and horse, eighteen and three-fourths cents; for each man and horse, twelve and a half cents; for each footman, six and a fourth cents; for each loose horse or cow, three cents; for each goat, sheep or hog, two cents.

Boats and implements.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of said Armstrong, his heirs or assigns, to keep on hand at all times, good boats, joices, oars and other implements, to ensure a good and safe passage across said river. This act to be in force from and after its passage.4

Approved, February 27, 1841.

1On February 22, 1841, William Stadden introduced SB 221 in the Senate, and the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Incorporations. On February 24, the Committee on Incorporations reported the bill without amendment and recommended passage. On February 25, the Senate passed the bill. On February 26, the House of Representatives passed the bill. On February 27, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 509, 520; Illinois Senate Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 370, 386, 401, 414, 429, 444.

2Located in the center of Grundy County, section seven south and west of Morris, and section nine south of Morris.

3light, four-wheeled wagon or carriage.

4Armstrong apparently did not establish a ferry, as in 1847 the General Assembly amended the charter to allow Armstrong to build a bridge on the same place as the intended ferry. Under the impression that the Armstrong charter had expired or become inoperative with Armstrong’s death in 1850, the board of trustees of Morris in 1851 passed an ordinance governing ferries on the Illinois River, under which a ferry commenced operation, leading to a lawsuit filed by Armstrong’s executor on behalf of his heirs.
“An Act to Amend an Act Entitled ‘An Act to Establish a Ferry Across the Illinois River in Grundy County,’” 18 February 1847, Private and Special Laws of the State of Illinois (1847), 46; History of Grundy County, Illinois (Chicago: O. L. Baskin, 1882), 204.