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George Fredrick Waldhaus was elected mayor of Quincy, Illinois on the Democratic ticket in April 1865.

Waldhaus was born May 23, 1819 in Klien-Biberau, Grandduchy of Hessen. He immigrated with his family, through New Orleans to Quincy, Illinois in 1837. In his early years he was a cooper by trade, and after his term as mayor he went into the insurance business. He married Mary Gasser in 1840 and together they had thirteen children. George Waldhaus died in his home in Quincy at age 80.

Waldhaus served in the Mormon Wars as a Captain in the German Guards. He served as Quincy city marshal in 1854-1855 and as treasurer in 1856-57, and was elected mayor in 1865. He completed his elected public service by representing the Third Ward on the Board of Supervisors, 1874-1879

In 1859 he was elected tax collector in the third and fourth wards, the same seat he had unsuccessfully vied for the previous year. "Mr. Waldhaus is elected by about fifty majority. Last year, when all the rest of the Democratic ticket was elected, Fred was beaten by a small majority; and now, when the rest of the ticket is beaten he is elected... Turn about is fair play." . This may be evidence of Quincy Democrat's lack of support for the Douglas Democrats. At their state convention in Springfield, Illinois in 1858 Mr. Waldhaus was the only Quincy delegate to publicly support the Douglas Platform which advocated Popular Sovereignty, and denounced the Lecompton (Kansas) Constitution. . The divisiveness of this election is further demonstrated by exchanges in the local newspapers. "... men employed by the railroad companies here ... would not be permitted to vote for Waldhaus... we find not fault with any body voting against Waldhaus. But we have a right to know, and intend to know who votes against him." . The Daily Whig responded: "The Herald says that we are attempting to induce Irish Democrats to vote the Republican ticket!... If our Irish fellow-citizens choose to vote for our men, after being so outrageously swindled by the Sunday Clique, that ruled off Barry and placed Waldhaus upon the Democratic ticket, well and good.  We will give them due credit for their independence and manliness. .  The incident referred to was the Democratic Ward meeting of Saturday, April 10, 1858 where candidates were chosen for the coming election.  Mr. Barry was first announced as the candidate for the third and fourth wards.  Later it was announced that a tabulation error had occurred and Mr. Waldhaus was placed on the ticket.

The April 1865 ward meeting which choose the Democratic slate for Quincy city election of 1865 was more cordial. In open letters to the meeting both candidates for mayor, Maitland Boon and George F. Waldhaus, withdrew their names as candidates and left the nomination process to the meeting. They each promised their support to the chosen candidate. Waldhaus was nominated. Mr. Waldhaus was elected and Mr. Boon was elected mayor the following year.

Mayor Waldhaus inherited the controversial issue of a new Mississippi River ferry charter and rail line to Hannibal Missouri. In an editorial in the Herald it was noted that Waldhaus did not own land in Hannibal or elsewhere in Missouri and was only considering the interests of the people of Quincy. In a letter to the editor the same day, the mayor questions if the ferry charter is adopted will the city have any control over taxation or revenue of the service. At an October city council meeting Mayor Waldhaus attempted to block a motion for a referendum on the new ferry issue. The motion passed. Approval of the New Ferry Charter was passed in a popular vote, repudiating the position of the Mayor

At the City Council meeting of February 5, 1866 Mayor Waldhaus approved a petition and authorized Quincy to hire it's first Secret Police officer. . Note: it is believed that 'secret police' refers to a plain clothes officer. This is not confirmed.

While not a candidate for reelection in 1866, Mr. Waldhaus did receive faint praise from the Quincy Whig Republican newspaper in the run up to the 1866 vote. "In truth the affairs of this city are in a "muddle" that no one will deny. For years the so-called Democracy have ruled and ruined in Quincy. They are solely responsible for our present financial condition.  We say nothing about the incompetent, wooden-headed men they have placed in office.  How could they do otherwise, with the material they possess?  We hold that Mayor Waldhaus is superior to the general run of copperheads, because he is honest, and would do his duty if he knew how.  But, unfortunately, he don't know how; and that is what's the matter with him."