TURCK, Solomon

TURCK, Solomon. (St. Louis, MO-New York, NY, Jan. 30, 1907). MAYOR. Turck married Charlotte Langworthy, the daughter of Dr. Stephen Langworthy. Turck held the office of mayor in 1868. The city complained in 1868 because, although it paid over one-half of the bridge tax, it received no benefit. The county replied that the city was benefited by the trade which came over the bridges to the city. (1)

Under a recent act of the legislature the city voted late in 1868 on the question of compounding the city debt; new bonds were to be issued to cover all the old indebtedness, which totalled nearly $1,000,000. Many thought the city could secure a great reduction from creditors; a few wanted to repudiate the debt; but the great majority were willing to pay their honest obligations. Judge Oliver Perry SHIRAS had been sent to Des Moines to secure the passage of the law.

The city under the new law could not issue more bonds than the sum of the old debt and interest. If the new bonds were not issued the city could borrow no more because its credit was gone with its vast debt. The vote was finally postponed and committee of the council was sent East early in 1869 to negotiate matters with the city creditors. Turck and Thompson, both ex-mayors, were on the committee. (2)

Turck was again elected mayor in 1872. He had been associated with the LAFLIN AND RAND POWDER COMPANY powder company while living in Dubuque and served as manager of its manufacturing mill at Platteville, Wisconsin. He tendered his resignation as mayor on September 17, 1872 and moved to New York to serve as the company's president. (3)

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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

2. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-18-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml

3. "Special Session of the Council," Dubuque Herald, September 17, 1872, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18720917&printsec=frontpage&hl=en