HETHERINGTON, Henry S.

Family History: http://www.wheeler-roots.org/getperson.php?personID=I4860&tree=001

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.

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. In the autumn of 1858 a serious controversy developed between the school authorities and the city council as to the ownership of the school property in the city. It was vested in the city, but the school officers insisted it should be vested in their name and that they should have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the same. The city council could not see the matter in the same light. Accordingly an agreed case was made an issue and argued by J. David, George L. Nightingale and D. S. Wilson for the city, and J. E. Bissell for the school authorities. A committee of citizens prepared a new charter for the city in January, 1859. Hetherington was widely criticized as was the council in the handling of the matter concerning the CENTRAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.

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. In 1879, Hetherington was elected secretary of the Dubuque Building and Loan Association. (1) He also served as the secretary of the Fair Association.

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Source:

1. "Dubuque Sought Business Methods From Beginning," Telegraph Herald, March 27, 1921, p. 14. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bi5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SmANAAAAIBAJ&pg=6644,4092622&dq=james+fanning+dubuque&hl=en

Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-21-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml