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Historic Rock Island County; history of the settlement of Rock 
sland County from the earliest known period to the present time ... 
embracing references of importance, and including a biography of Rock 
Island County's well-known citizens. Rock Island, 111. Kramer & Co., 
1908. 

230, 184 p., :59: leaves of plates 28 cm. | 

Contents: Includes indexes. 

Contents: :Part one: Historic Rock Island County. Part two: i 
Biographical history of Rock Island County's early settlers and leading | 
business men. J 



) 



L 1 , 

977.339H6292 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY$ROCK ISLAND 20-16031 , 

1668400 1908 1 ADDED: 781201 i 

01 001 NOCIR IHX i 



INDEX TO GENERAL HISTORY. 



Page 

EARLY HISTORY— The Sacs and Foxes— 

By William A. Meese 7-51 

The Sac and Fox Indians 7 

Sac and Fox Treaties 8 

Sac and Fox Customs 10 

The Homes of the Sacs 10 

The Rock River Village 11 

Name of the Village 11 

Population of the Sacs and Foxes 12 

A Revolutionary Battle 12 

Black Hawk and Keokuk 13 

The Cause of Indian Wars.. 14 

Sacs and Foxes of Today 15 

First White Explorers. 15 

First Flag in the Upper Mississippi Valley-_16 

The War of 1812 16 

The First Expedition 17 

Major Campbell's Expedition 17 

The Battle of Campbell's Island 18 

Black Hawk Celebrates 20 

The Derelict 21 

Major Tavlor's Battle. 21 

First Settlers 23 

Slavery 24 

The Settlement of Lands 25 

The Beginning of Trouble 25 

The Rock Island Petition 26 

The Indian Agent Reports 27 

Whiskey the Cause 27 

The Second Petition 27 

Benjamin F. Pike's Affidavit 28 

Governor Reynold's Acts 29 

Gaines (iocs to Fort Armstrong 33 

The Settlers Affidavits 34 

The Agent Fears Trouble 35 

The Rock River Rangers 36 

The Illinois Soldiers 36 

General Gaines Makes a Demonstration 37 

Prepare to Attack 37 

The Burning of Sac Village 38 

The Stampede ^ _ _. 38 

The Black Hawk War 39 

The Turkey Scare 40 

Black Hawk Starts 41 

General Atkinson Conies to Fort Armstrong. 41- 

The Governor's Proclamation 42 

A Rock Island Company 43 

Other Rock Island Soldiers 43 

Roswell H. Spencer 44 

James Knefsar ; 44 



Page 

Reddish, the Tunnels and Eames 44 

The Wells Family 44 

Captain Seth Pratt's Company 44 

Rock Island Settlers in 1832 48 

Incidents Concerning Fort Armstrong 48 

The Powder Plot 49 

The Burning of the Fort 50 

Roster at the Fort " _.50 

POLITICAL DIVISIONS 51 

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 53 

Building of the Fort 55 

Rock Island Armory and Arsenal 56 

Joint Resolutions of the Iowa Legislature-_57 

Certificate from the Government Agent 57 

General Rodman's Plans 58 

TOPOGRAPHY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 64 

Geology 65 

Natural Scenic Beauty 67 

Coal Measures 68 

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 70 

Countv Court House 72 

The Orations 74 

Edward D. Sweeney 74 

Charles J. Searle 79 

J. M. Gould 82 

The Completed New Court House of 1897.. .84 

Address of Hon. William J. Jackson 85 

Address of C. L. Walker 88 

COURT, BENCH AND BAR 90 

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY SOLDIERS' MONU- 
MENT 92 

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION 93 

Andalusia Township 110 

Andalusia Village 111 

Barstow .' 101 

Black Hawk Township 103 

Bowling Township 107 

Buffalo Prairie Township.. 111 

Buffalo Prairie 112 

Carbon Cliff. Village 101 

Canoe Creek Township 96 

Coal Vallev Township and Village 106 

Coaltown.". . 103 

Coe Township 95 

Cordova Township 94 



Page 

Cordova Village, ^^ 

Driirv Township Jj- 

Dnir'v's Landing !^ti 

Kdgington Township J"' 

Kdgington Village -. J"^ 

East Moline. Village ^"^ 

Hampton Township ^= 

Hampton. Village ^"" 

Hillsdale. Village '^° 

Illinois City ^^^ 

josiin ::::io4 

Lowell ,f.. 

Milan Village ^^^ 

Osborn q- 

Port Bvron ^^ 

Port Bvron. Village ^° 

Rural Township }"' 

Rapids City. Village J^^ 

Revnokls. Village J"^ 

Rock Island. City JJJ'^ 

Sears. Village „^ 

Silvis. Village {"; 

South Moline Township.--- }"- 

South Rock Island Township 1U|^ 

Tippecanoe ,„„ 

Taylor Ridge. Village ^^^ 

Zu'ma Township ^ 

Zuma Center ^^ 

CITY OF ROCK ISLAND H^ 

Earlv History— Farnhamsburg and 

Stephenson J J'! 

Town of Rock Island-- JJ2 

Earlv Names of Our Streets --li' 

Some Old-Time Merchants and Citizens in ^ 

1855 and Prior J-" 

Colleges :'i„ 

Banks tli 

Building Associations j"'" 

Rock Island Mutual Building, Loan and 

Savings Association j 

Black Hawk Homestead Building, Loan and 

Sa\-ings Association 141 

BuFORD Block 1^° 

Cemeteries 1^. 

Fire Department J-^ 

Ferry .,„~ 

Hospitals and Homes J^° 

Industrial Commission J*- 

Industrial Home. 1^^ 

Library J^^ 

Manufacturies tfi 

Parks J-° 

Post Office ^" 

Police Department f^^ 

Public Schools J^" 

Rock Island Club }^^ 

Tri-City Press Club 1^^ 

Water Works J-' 

Young Men's Christian Association --14D 

CITY OF MOLIXE_..- -I-IS 

^r Events of Early Days 1^9 

Business Men's Association 1»« 

Cemetery 1?^ 

Fire Department J^- 

Health Department 1?^ 

Hospital ]f] 

Library i^* 



Page 

Manufactories ]2q 

Moline Plow Co 1^^ 

Moline Wagon Co {".^ 

Velie Carriage Co J"- 

Mutual Wheel Co J^^ 

Wright Carriage Body Co Jo4 

Moline Furniture Works l^J* 

Deere & Co J°* 

.\rgillo Works --. -■ \^ 

Moline Club \Ci 

Post Office {?" 

Public Schools tZ* 

Retul Merchants' Association wi^ 

Tri-City Manufacturers' Association lb/ 

Water Works J2, 

WoMANs' Club of Moline J^J 

Y^ouNG Men's Christian Association m 

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 173 

First Entries of Land 173 

Illinois and Mississippi Canal I'-i 

Pioneer Days on the Mississippi 

Canal !'•' 

Illinois Western Hospital for the 

Insane l'-* 

Rock Island County Infirmary and 

Poor House -,on ,no 

Churches of Rock Island leo 

Broadwav Presbyterian {©a 

Edgewood Baptist Church la^ 

First Church of Christ (Scientist) la^ 

First Baptist Church..-- 193 

First Methodist Episcopal Church IsU 

German Evangelical Lutheran Im- 

manuels Congregation 19b 

German Evangelical Friedens Con- 

oreffiition ~- ^"-^ 

German Methodist Episcopal Church 189 

Hebrew Congregations 191 

St. James Catholic Church-.. .-.-- js^ 

Sf. Pauls (Belgian^ Catholic Church 193 

Sacred Heart Catholic Church 193 

Spencer Memorial Methodist Church 19U 

Trinitv Episcopal Church 18* 

United Presbvterian Church ",00107 

Churches of Moline 193 19/ 

Christ Church \l° 

First Congregational Church 193 

First Baptist Church 1^'* 

First Swedish Baptist Church. -. 194 

Sacred Heart Belgian Catholic Church 19/ 

Second Congregational Church 190 

Second Methodist Episcopal Church 195 

Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church 19-1 

Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church l.t-l 

St. Anthonv's (.Roman Catholic) 

Church 194 

St. Marv's Catholic Church... 19^ 

Plvmouth Congregational Church ;o7"9n9 

Churches of Townships 900 

Andalusia ;t--. Toe 

Bethesda. Canoe Creek Township 198 

Cordova ,qq 

Coe Township }^° 

Coal Valley --l^^ 

Drury Township ^"J 

Edgington -"gg 

Hampton I59I2OO 

Milan 



Page 

Port Bvron 197-198 

Rapids City 198 

Zuma -■ 198 

Fraternal Organizations 202-212 

Fraternal Tribunes 202 

B. P. O. of Elks 203 

Arsenal Council. Xo. 171' 203 

The Turn Verein 203 

Fraternal Order of Eagles 204 

Modern Woodmen of America 204 

Royal Neighbors of America 210 

Secret Societies 212-215 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows 215 

Royal Arcanum 215 

Patriotic Societies 215 

The Press of Rock Island County 217-225 

Argus. The 218 

American Law Reporter, The 222 

Beobachter am ilississippian, The 224 

Commercial, The 220 

Chronik Des AVestens 224 

Daily Dispatch, Moline 222 



Page 

Liberty Banner, The 218 

Liberty League. The 222 

Mail, Moline 223 

Northwestern Advertiser, The 218 

News, The 220 

Neue Volks Zeitung 224 

Port Byron Globe. 223 

Reynolds Press, The 224 

Rock Island Register, The 220 

Rock Island L^nion 220 

Upper Mississippian. The 218 

Weekly Review-Dispatch 222 

Additional Publications 225 

First Ferries 226 

First Hotel 226 

First Marriages 227 

Old Settlers Association of Rock 

Island County 227 

Famous Crimes of Rock Island 

County 228 

Port Byron Academy 230 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS OF GENERAL HISTORY. 



Facing 
Page 

Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane 180 

Main Buildings of the Modern Woodmen of 

America 204 

Port Bvron Academy 230 



INDEX TO BIOGRAPHIES. 



Page 

A 

Ainsworth, Harry 20 

Ainsworth, Henry A 18 

Anderson. O. Frederick 143 

Arp. A. H., Doctor 176 

Ashdown. Mark 175 

B 

Beal, Albert M 167 

Bean, William H 140 

Beardsley, Ezra M., Colonel 101 

Beardsley. James M., Major 99 

Beardslev, James M 102 

Bernhardi. Carl 150 

Bernhardi. Carl O.. M. D 149 

Blanding, Virgil ilarion 145 

Blunt, Stanhope E., Colonel 11 

Boyer, John A., Deacon 47 

Bracket t. James 160 

Brown. Henry E 163 

Browning, John H -.164 

ButTum, Almon A 107 

C 

Campbell, Thomas 21 

Carter, Charles Crawford 147 

Casteel, Herbert E 181 

Chapman, Harrv Landon,. 175 

Chase, Henry Howland, M. D 130 

Connelly, Henry Clay, Major 33 

Coryn. Edward 106 

Covne. Alexander \V 155 

Coyne. Edward S 156 

Coyne . Francis 156 

Covne. James 155 

Coyne. William T 155 

Coyne. William, Senior 154 

Curtis, Henry, Colonel 37 

D 

Dade, Myrtle E.. Miss 144 

Davenport, Oeorge, Colonel 3 

Davis, John Burgess, Captain . 118 

Davis, Samuel Sharpe 28 

Deere, Charles 177 

Deere, John 92 

Denkmann, Frederick C, A 69 

Dimock, DeWitt Clinton 103 

Durham, Charles William, Colonel 97 



Page 
E 

Eastman, William Fisk 82 

Eddy, Warner L., M. D 156 

Edgington. John 8 

Entriken, Walter Judson 172 

Eyster, George Longhead, M. D 163 

F 

Frick, Henry J 41 

Fries, Peter 16 

G 

Gardner, F. H.. Doctor 174 

Geismar, Morris 61 

Gould, J. M., Judge 57 

Greenawalt, Presley 108 

Gue, George W., Reverend 112 

Guyer, Edward Holmes 15 

Guyer, Samuel S 159 

H 

Hall. Douglas E 161 

Harper, Benjamin 85 

Hartz, Ben C 20 

Hawes, Charles W., Major 90 

Hawes. David, Senior 64 

Hawes. Frank B 141 

Hawes, Marv Fav, Mrs. 139 

Hayden, Herbert B 135 

Heagv, Samuel 98 

Heck^ Josiah G 170 

Hemenway, Charles F 87 

Hemenway, Luke E 87 

HoUingsworth, ilaurice A 169 

Hubbard, Henry B 134 

Huber, Ignatz 42 

Huber, Otto 43 

Huntoon. Joseph ,170 

Hurst, Elmore W 38 

J 

Jackson, William 32 

Johnson, George W 171 

Johnson, Walter 123 

Juhl. Nicholai 132 

Junge, Julius 105 

K 

Kelly, Frank H 148 

Kittilsen, Edward, Colonel 52 



Page 

Knox, Benjamin Franklin 120 

Knox, Charles Bishop 171 

Knox, Edwin B 121 

L 

Landee, Frank A 94 

Larkin, Charles J 133 

Leas, J. Silas 63 

Liekefett, Frederick C 159 

Little, Robert E 161 

M f ■ i 

McCabe, L. S 51 

McConochie, William 59 

McDonald, Hugh A. J 84 

McEnirv, Matthew J 46 

McEnirv, William 151 

McEniry, William, Honorable 44- 

McGlynn, Patterson S 97 

McHvigh, Charles 131 

McMaster, Sylvester Washington 127 

Mackin, Thomas, Reverend 116 

Marshall, William H 152 

Matthews, David W 129 

Medill, T. J 10 

Meese. William A 183 

Mennicke, Christopher A 40 

Metzgar. Judson D 107 

Mitchell. Philemon L 7 

Mixter, Frank 83 

Mixter. George 84 

Montgomery, Alexander E 31 

Montgomery, Robert J 157 

Montgomery, Robert S 79 

Montgomery, Samuel H 49 

Morgan. Elmer B 164 

Myers, James F., Doctor 173 

N 

Negus, Isaac 17 

Nessler, Thomas 166 

Nourse, Charles R 128 

O 

Olmsted, Robert Ward 110 

Ostrom, Louis, Doctor 138 

Owens, Alexander 158 

P 

Parker, John W._ 153 

Parmenter, Elwin Elbert 50 

Payne, William 111 



Page 

Pettit, Guv V 138 

Potter, John W 62 

R 

Robinson, James Franklin 65 

Robinson, Thomas J., Captain 67 

Roche, John W 168 

Rosenfielil, Max Daniel 15 

Rosenfield. Morris 13 

Rosenfield, Walter A 14 

Rudgren, Martin Theodore 165 

S 

Schaffer, Henry C 80 

Schoonmaker . Martin 108 

Scott. John Kimberland 104 

Searle, Charles J 136 

Searle, Elhanan John, Colonel 26 

Sechler, Daniel M 113 

Sechler, Thomas M 114 

Simpson. Harry P 117 

Spencer. John W., Judge 5 

Stelck. Henry 126 

Stephens. George W 88 

Sturgeon. Mansfield M 22 

Sweet. R. F., Reverend, D. D 99 

T 

Tappendorf, H. W. C 143 

Taylor. W. E.. M. D 30 

Thornton. John H 169 

Tipton, David M., Captain 96 

Titterington, Charles 141 

Titterington. Fred 142 

Titterington, James B 129 

Trenkenschuh. Peter F 157 

V 

Velie, Stephen Henry 24 

Vinton, George W 146 

W 

Wagner, George 54 

Wagner. Robert 55 

Walker, Charles L.. Colonel -__103 

Walker. Rufus 56 

Wendell, James A 120 

Weyerhaeuser, Frederick 74 

Wilson, Edgar H 107 

Wilson, (ieorge T 133 

W^ilson. John H 162 



INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIOGRAPHIES. 



Facing 
Page 

Ainsworth. Henry A 18 

Anderson. O. Frederick 142 

Arp. A. H. Dr 176 

Bean. J. L 140-141 

Blunt. Stanhope E. Col 12 

Boyer. John A 46-47 

Bover. John A. Mrs 46-47 

Campbell. Thomas Mrs 20-21 

Campbell. Thomas 20-21 

Casteel, H. E 180 

Connellv. Henrv C. Major 34 

Deere. Charles H 179 

Deere, John 92 

Denkmann, F. C. A 69 

Fries. Peter . 16 

Gould. J. M 57 

Que, Rev 112-113 

Guver. Samuel S 158 

Greenawalt, P 108 

Hawes. Chas. W. Major 90 

Hawes, Frank B 140-141 

Huber, Ignatz 42 

Hurst. Elmore W 38 

Jaekson, William 32 

Johnson. Walter 122 

Knox, Charles B 120-121 

Kittilsen, Edward Col 52 

Marshall, William H 152 



Facing 
Page 

Mackin, Thomas Rev 116-117 

Meese, William A 182 

Medill, Thomas J 10 

Montgomery. Roberts 78 

Montgomery, Alexander E 30 

Mitchell, Philemon L 7 

McCabe, L. S 50 

McConochie, William 58 

McHugh. Chas 130 

McEnirv, William 150 

Potter. J. W 62 

Robinson. J. F. Mrs., Residence 64-65 

Robinson, J. F 64-65 

Robinson, T. J 67 

Rosenfield, Morris 14-15 

Rosenfield, W. A 14-15 

Searle, C. J 136 

Searle. Elhanan John Col..-. 26 

Sechler. D. M 112-113 

Schaffer, Henrv C 80 

Simpson, H. P". 116-117 

Sweet. Richard F., Dr 98 

Sturgeon, M. M 22 

Titterington, James B 128 

Velie. S.H 24 

Wagner, George 54 

Wendell, J. A_ 120-121 

Weyerhaueser, Frederick 74 



HISTORIC 
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



History of the Settlement of Rock Island County From the 
Earliest Known Period to the Present Time 



ILLUSTRATED 



Embracing References of Importance, and Including a Biography of 
Rock Island County's Well-Known Citizens 



ROCK ISUND, ILLINOIS 
KRAMER & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS 

igo8 



J^/l -^^^ J^'^^p^ 



977. :=^ 

M 6Z92 



T'"^ 



FOREWORD 




TWVj work iiiulf'rtiikcn by the publishers of Historic Rock Island County is mani- 
festly a work in the interest of posterity and the historian of the future. Much 
that has perinan(>nt value in history-making for this section of the Mississippi 
\'alley is here presented in concise form and is written within the memory of people 
who largely contributed to its social, political and industrial development. It 
needs no prophetic vision to forecast the future of this community as one of 
greater prosperity, greater achievement and greater potentiality, anil the mighty 
river flowing past our door — destined, it is believed, to bear upon its bosom the commerce of the 
inland seas — is vocal with the message it carries to the southland on its way to join the waters 
of the Ciulf. Amid scenes of quiet, beauty in prairie groves, on the undulating slopes of wooded 
hillsides, and within the shadow of Inisy and growing cities, "the rude forefathers of the 
hamlet sleep," but their work lives after them, ami their years of toil and hardship, not un- 
mixed with the dangers of frontier life, are glorified in the annals of Historic Rock Island 
County. Carlyle tells us that the study of biography is the most universally pleasant and 
profitable of all studies. The present volume, therefore, is rich in biographical information 
brought down to date, and the publishers confidently believe that the history of men and 
women, no less than the record of successful business enterprises makes for value and perpetuity 
in a work of this kind. In this connection, also, they wish to express their gratitude to all 
who have in any way aided in its preparation. Historic Rock Island County, as its name 
implies, is an integral part of the story of a great state; and if, when the larger history of 
Illinois shall be written, the historian finds within these pages aught that adds lustre to the 
glory of the commonwealth, then indeed will the realization of the hope that prompted their 
publication be complete. 



THE PUBLISHERS. 



THE SACS AND FOXES 



Our County in the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War 
Early Settlers and Other Historic Events 



WILLIAM A. MEESE 



THE first pt'oplc wild iiili;il)itcil the 
coiititrv, iinw Hock Island ('(lunt/. 
were redmcii. What tril^es first occupied 
this ground is not known, hut in tlie first part 
of the seventeenth ccntiirv, it was the huntina; 
grounds of the once powerful tribes known as 
the Ilb'ni, or Illinois, who were a confederation 
of several tribes, the Taniaroas, Michigamies, 
Kaskaskias, Cahokias, and Peorias, and with 
whom were also classed the Mascoutins, 
sometimes called the Sixth Tribe. These 
tribes all were of the great Algonquin nation. 
Marquette in his journal speaks of meeting 
the mini in 107.3, when he stopped at the Des 
Moines River, and afterwards when, on his 
return, he came by way of the Illinois River 
from its mouth to Lake Michigan. The scene 
of the Illinois' main residence was, however, 
in the central and southern parts of the state. 

THf: SAC AND FOX IXDIAXS. 

About 1722 northwestern Illinois became 
the home and the hunting ground of the Sacs 
and Foxes, The word "Ou-Sakis" or ''Sau- 
Kee," now written Sac and Sauk, is derived 
from the compound word " A-Sau-we-Kee " 
signifying yellow earth, and " Mus-qua-Kcc," 
the original name of the Foxes, means red 
earth. The early French named this tribe, 
Renards and the Americans called them 
Foxes. These tribes originally lived on the 
St. Lawrence River near Quebec and Montreal. 
The Foxes were the first to migrate west. 
They settled along the river that bears their 



name and which empties into Green Bay. 
The Sacs after a long ;ind bloody war with 
the Iroquois were driven from the St. Law- 
rence River westward. They wore next 
engagctl in war with the Wyandottes, and 
again were they compelled to hurry towards 
the setting sun, until at length they reached 
Green Bay on Lake Michigan, near where 
the Foxes had made their habitation. Hero 
it seems both tribes were frequently attacked 
by other tribes of Indians, until at last they 
united, forming an offensive and defensive 
union, each however, retaining its tribal 
name. Through intermarriage and long 
residence they became substantially one 
people, an alliance lasting to this day. Both 
the Sacs and Foxes belong to the Algonquin 
family. 

At what time these two tribes came to 
Green Bay is not known. Marquette's map 
of 1673 locates the Foxes on the Fox River 
between the present Green Bay and Lake 
Winnebago. Father Claude Allouez, when 
he established the mission of St. Francis 
Xavier in 1669, found them located near, and 
in 1(172 he commenced preaching the gospel 
to them. Early in the eighteenth centui'y 
they were driven from Green Bay and the F( x 
River by the Menominees, who were aided by 
the Ottawas, Chippewas and the French. 

The Sacs and P\)xes made depredations on 
the French traders and exacted trib^ite from 
them, whereon the French commandant of 
the post at Green Bay took a party of his men 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



in covered boats, and while distracting the 
attention of the Indians, opened fire on them 
from the water, at the same time that his 
Menominee allies attacked their vilhige from 
the banks in the rear. Those who survived 
the slaughter removed to the Mississippi 
River. On arriving there they found that 
country inhabited by the Sauteaux, a branch 
of the Chippewa tribe. Upon these they 
commenced war, finally driving them out of 
the country, which they then took possession 
of and occupied. This was about 1722. 

These tribes next waged war upon the 
Mascoutins and in a battle opposite the moutli 
of the Iowa River defeated and almost exter- 
minated this tribe. They then formed an 
alliance with the Pottawattomies, Menom- 
inees and Winnebagoes, and together attacked 
the Illinois and gradually drove these people 
further southward. 

The Sacs and Fo.xes have warred with the 
Sioux, the Pawnees, Osages and other Indians, 
and their record shows that they ranked 
among the fiercest and most warlike tribes. 
Drake said of them: "The Sacs and Foxes 
are a truly courageous i)eople, shrewd, politic 
and enterprising, with not more of ferocity 
and treachery of character than is common 
among the tribes by whom they were sur- 
rounded." 

S.\C .\\D FOX TnE.\TlES. 

Tlie first recognition b}- our government of 
the Sacs and Foxes was in the treaty made 
at Ft. Harmar, January 9, 17S9, which guar- 
anteed: "The individuals of said nations 
shall be at liberty to hvmt within the territory 
ceded to the United States, without hindrance 
or molestation, so long as they demean them- 
selves peaceably and offer no injury or aimoy- 
ance to any of the sulijects or citizens of tlie 
said United States." 

In 1804 William Henry Harrison, governor 
of Indiana Territory, and afterwards Presi- 
dent of the United States, was instructed by 
President Jefferson to institute negotiations 



with the Sacs and Foxes to purchase their 
lands. At this time, Black Hawk had risen 
to the position of war chief of the Sac tribe. 
Four chiefs or headmen of the Sacs and two 
chiefs of the Foxes went to St. Louis, and 
November 3, 1804, made a treaty with Govern- 
or Harrison. By this treaty the Indians 
ceded all their lands, comprising the eastern 
third of the present State of Missouri and the 
territory lying between the Wisconsin River 
on the north, the Fox River of Illinois on the 
east, the Illinois on the southeast, and the 
Mississippi on the west, in all fifty million 
acres. For this grant the United States 
guaranteed to the Indians "friendship and 
]irotection," paid them $2, 234. .50 in goods, 
and guaranteed them goods each year there- 
after to the amount of .$1,000, 1600 of which 
was to be paid to the Sacs and $400 to the 
Foxes. By this treaty it was iiro\idcd in 
Article 7: 

"As long as the lands which are now ceded 
to the United States remain their property, 
the Indians belonging to the said tribes shall 
enjoy the privilege of living and hunting upon 
them." This article in the treaty caused 
much trouble between the government and 
the Sacs and Foxes, and was the main cause 
of the Black Hawk War. lilack Hawk was 
not present at its making, and always denied 
the right of the headmen of the Sac tribe to 
sign such a treaty for his people. 

In the spring of 1804 a white person (a man 
or boy) was killed in Cuivre settlement by a 
Sauk (Sac) Indian. A party of United States 
troops was sent from St. I,ouis to the Rock 
River village to demand the murderer. The 
Sacs surrendered and delivered him to the 
soldiers and he was conveyed to St. Louis and 
turned over to the civil authorities. During 
the latter part of October, 1804, Quash- 
quame, one of the Sac chiefs, together with 
others of his tribe and some of the Foxes, went 
to St. Louis to try and secure the release of 
the Sac murderer who was a relative of 
Quash-quame. It is an Indian custom and 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



9 



usage that if one Indian kills another, the 
matter is generally compromised with the 
murdered man's relatives for a property con- 
sideration, as Black Hawk said: "The only 
means with us for saving a person who killed 
another was by paying for the person killed, 
thus covering the blood and satisfying the 
relatives of the murdered man," and the Sacs 
believed that by the giving of ponies and 
peltries to the whites they could secure the 
Indian's release. 

Thomas Forsyth, for many years an Indian 
trader, and from 1816 until 1S30 the agent of 
the Sacs and Foxes, in a manuscript written 
in 1832 says of this matter: "Quash-quamc, 
a Sauk chief, who was the headman of this 
party, has repeatedly said, 'Mr. Pierre Cho- 
teau. Sen., came several times to my canij), 
offering that if I would sell the lands (ui the 
east side of the Mississippi River, Governor 
Harrison would liberate my relation (meaning 
the Sauk Indian then in prison as aliove 
related), to which I at last agreed, and sold 
the lands from the mouth of the Illinois River 
up the Mississippi River as high as the mouth 
of Rocky River (now Rock River), and east to 
the ridge that divides the waters of the Miss- 
issippi and Illinois Rivers, and I never sold 
any more lands.' Quash-quame also said to 
Governor Edwards, Governor Clark and Mr. 
Auguste Chouteau, commissioners appointed 
to treat with the Chippewas, Ottawas and 
Pottawattomies of Illinois River, in the sum- 
mer of 1816, for lands on the west side of 
Illinois River, ' You white men may put on 
paper what you please, but again I tell you, 
I never sold my lands higher up the Mississip])i 
than the mouth of Rock River.' " 

It is claimed that the Indians were drunk 
most of the time they were in St. Louis, a 
thing not unlikely. Forsyth said the Indians 
always believed the annuities they received, 
were presents, and when he in 1818 informed 
them it was a part of the purchase price of 
their lands, "they were astonished, and 
refused to accept of the goods, denying that 



they ever sold the lands as stated by me, their 
agent. The Black Hawk in particular, who 
was present at the time, made a great noise 
about this land, and would never receive any 
part of the annuities from that time forward." 

When it became known that certain chiefs 
and headmen had without authority sold 
their lands, Quash-quame and his companions 
were degraded from their ranks, Tiama, the 
son-in-law of Quash-qvuime, being elected to 
his father-in-law's place. 

In 1815 a part of the Sacs and Foxes had 
migrated to the Missouri River, and Septem- 
ber 13, 1815, these Indians sent representa- 
tives to the Portage des Sioux, where each 
tribe made a separate treaty with the govern- 
ment, agreeing to ratify the treaty of Novem- 
ber 3, 1804, and to remain separate from, .and 
render no assistance to, the Sacs and Foxes 
then living on Rock River. 

On the 13th day of May, 181G, another 
treaty was entered into at St. Louis. This 
treaty was between the "Sacs of Rock River" 
and the government. It reaffirmed the 
treaty of 1804 and all other contracts hereto- 
fore made between the parties. To this treaty 
is attached the mark of Ma-Ka-tai-me-She- 
Kia-Kiak, or "Black Sparrow Hawk," as 
Black Hawk was also called. Yet Black 
Hawk said in 1832: "Here, for the first 
time, I touched the goose quill to the treaty not 
knowing, however, that by the act I consented to 
give away my village. Had they explained to 
me I should have opposed it and never would 
have suined their treaty as my recent conduct 
will clearly prove." 

In the treaty of 1804 the government had 
agreed, in order to put a stop to the abuses 
and impositions practiced upon the Indians 
by private traders, to establish a trading 
house or factory where these Indians could be 
supplied with goods cheaper and better than 
from private traders. This the government 
concluded it was best not to continue, and a 
new treaty was made by which the United 
States paid the Indians $1,000 to be relieved 



10 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



from this obligation. l?l:ick Hnwk sijiiiod 
this treaty. Another treaty was made .Aug- 
ust 4, 1824, which reaiFirmed and recognized 
all former treaties. Each treaty left the Sacs 
and Fo.xes with less lainl .-intl I'ewer rights. 

For years there had existed a bitter feeling 
between the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes, 
and .\iigust 19, 1S2."), Willi;im t'lark and Lewis 
Case on behalf of the government assembled 
these tribes, together with the Chi]3pewns, 
Meiiominees, Winnebagoes, lowas, Ottawas 
and Pottawattomies at Prairie du Chien, and 
entered into a treaty whose object was to 
end the wars t)ctween these nations. In this 
treaty it was agreed that the I'nited States 
should run a boundary line between the Sioux 
and the Sacs and Foxes. It seems that this 
treaty proved \msatisfactory to the Indians, 
for .July 30, 1830, another treaty was entered 
into at Prairie du Chien in which the Sacs and 
Foxes ceded to the United States a tract of 
land twenty miles in width lying south of the 
line established by the treaty of August li), 
1825. The Sioux also ceded a strip twenty 
miles wide along the north line of said bound- 
ary. This forty mile strip was neuti'al terri- 
tory, open to all for himting and fishing, and 
was along the Iowa River. 



their parents. The husband could at any 
time di\'orce his wife or add another if lie 
deemed best, and although the marriage ties 
were not strong, the ties of consanguinity 
were I'isidl)- preserved. Hereditary rights 
were tracetl through the female line. This 
was accomiilished by means of the Totem, an' 
institution or emblem which ser\-ed as a 
distinction for the different clans or families. 
The family surname was represented by some 
l)ird or animal, such as Eagle, Hawk, Heron, 
Deer, Bear, etc. Each Indian was proud of 
his Totem— in fact it represented a fraternity 
or secret society. As the different members 
of a clan were connected by ties of kindred, 
they were prohibited from intermarriage. A 
Hear might not marry a Bear, liut cotdd 
marry an Eagle, Hawk, or member of any 
other clan. This Totem system furnished the 
means of tracing family lineage thrcjugh all 
their >'ears of wandeiing and preserved their 
hereditary rights. 

The Sacs and Foxes had from the early 
part of the eighteenth century occupied the 
banks of the Mississippi between the mouth 
of the Missouri and the Wisconsin, the Sacs 
occupying the eastern side of the river, and 
the Foxes its western banks. 



S.VC AXD FOX CUSTOMS. 

The Sacs and Foxes had many peculiar cus- 
toms, one being that eacli male child was 
marked at bii-th with either white or black 
color, the Indian mother alternating the colors 
so that the nation was evenly di\ided between 
black and white. This distinction was kept 
alive during life, the object being to create 
ri\'alrv and ,-i spii'il of eiunlation between the 
members of tlu^ tribe. Tims black was the 
competitor of white in their games and .social 
customs, and earh side tried to outdo llie 
other, and in wai- to take more scalps. lilack 
Hawk belongetl to the "Black" party and 
Keokuk to the "White" party. 

Marriage among the Sacs and Foxes 
required only the consent of the parties and 



THE HOMES OF THE SACS. 

The Sacs' house or wigwam was made by 
setting posts in the ground and siding it with 
bark. On top of the posts small poles were 
laid for rafters upon which strips of bark were 
laid. These wigwams were about eight ei-n 
feet wide and from twenty to sixty feet long. 
West of the Rock River village the Indians 
cultivated aljout one thousand acres, raising 
corn, beans, sc[uashes and melons. The Sacs 
and Foxes planted their corn in the same hill 
year after yeai'. They would ilig up the hill 
each year and plant the corn in the middle, 
cultivating it with a primitive hoe and hoeing 
it three or four times during a season. These 
corn hills were quite large, many of them be- 
ing still visible a few years ago. The farming 



HISTORIC ROC K ISLAND COUNTY 



11 



was doiip principally by the women assisted by 
the old men and children. From the years 
1780 to about 1820, the traders at Prairie dii 
Chien came to the Sac village for all the corn 
they used. After the crops were harvested, 
the Sacs wo\ild prepare to leave for their win- 
ter hiuit. Before going they would dig a 
round liolc in the ground alxiut eighteen 
inches in diameter. Carefully removing the 
sod and digging five or six feet they wovdd 
enlarge it so that it would hold many bushels. 
These holes they would line with l)ai-k and 
dry grass and then fill up with tlicir grains 
and vegetables. When full they would re- 
place the sod and remove all traces of earth, 
often building a fire over it so ihai im cuciny 
could find the jilace and steal the supply they 
had laid u]) for the next spring and siiinnicr. 
When this was done the Sacs and Foxes would 
go off into Iowa and Missouri where they 
would liuiil. In the winter their houses wei'e 
made bv sticking poles in the ground ami 
bending tliem over so as to form a luilf circle 
about twelve feet in diameter. These were 
covereil with r\igs woven of grass and with 
hides. 

THE ROCK RIVER VILL.\GE. 

The chief Sac village was located on the 
north bank of Rock River about two miles 
from its uio\itli. It was built about 1780, 
west of where the Rock Island and Peoria 
Railway crosses the river, and it extended 
down along the bank in a straggling form. 
It was one of the largest Indian towns on the 
continent, the oldest and longest inhabited, 
and had a population often as high as three 
thousand. It was the summer home of the 
Sacs. Here was located the tril)al l)nrying 
ground, a spot more revered by an Indian 
than anything else on earth. Here reposed 
the bones of a century of the Sai' warriors, 
their wives and children, and here each Sac 
came once each year to commune with his 
friends and family who had departed to the 
"happy hunting grounds," On these occa- 
sions all vegetation was removed from the 



moimd and the mourner addressed words of 
endearment to the dead, inquiring how they 
fared in the laud of spirits, and placed food 
upon the graves. The Sacs were particular 
in their demonstrations of grief. They dark- 
ened their faces with chai'coal, fasted and 
abstained from the use of vermilion and 
ornaments of dress. 

Black Hawk said: "With us it is a custom 
to visit the graves of oiu- friends and keep 
them in repair for many years. The mother 
will go aliuie to weep over the grave of her 
child. After he has been successful in war, 
the brave, with ple.nsure, visits the grave of 
his father, and repaints the post that marks 
where he lies. There is no place like that 
wher(> the bones of oiu- forefathei's lie to go to 
when in grief. Here, prostrate liy the tombs 
of iiur forefathers, will the (Ireat Spirit take 
pitv on us." 

X.\ME OF THE VILL.VdlO. 

The old Indian town has by some been 
called "Saukenuk." How tins name origi- 
nated is not known. The first to use it was 
Armstrong in his "Sauks and the Black Hawk 
War," published in 1SS7. Catlin refers to it 
in 1837 as "Saug-e-nug," yet none of our 
pioneer settlers mention it except as the "Sac 
Village," or "Black Hawk'.s Village." Judge 
Spencer in his " Reminiscenses," in speaking 
of the year 1829, says: "We were here but a 
few days when two Indians came, the first we 
had .seen. One of them connnenced talking 
in a loud voice in the Iiulian language of 
which we could not understand a word. By 
])ointing to the wigwam, saying, 'Saukie 
Wigeop,' then ])ointing to the ground saying, 
'Saukie-Aukie,' and rep(^ating this many 
times we understood he claimed the land and 
the wigwam belonged to the-Indians." Caleb 
Atwater, who was the commissioner employed 
bv the United States to negotiate with the 
Indians of the upper Mississippi for the 
purchase of their mineral lands in 1829, was 
unable to learn the luune of the Sac town 



12 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



whether because it liad iiono or because the 
ludians did not care to name it, is not known. 
Major Morrill Marston who was stationed 
at Ft. Armstrong from August 1819 to June 
1821, in a letter dated November 1820, in 
speaking of the Sac village said they call it 
Sen-i-se-pp Ke-he-sau-Kee (Rock River penin- 
sula). When the Major spoke to one of the 
chiefb- about removing his people west of the 
Mississippi, the Indian replied, that his people 
were not willing to leave Ke-bc-sau-Kee because 
their chiefs and friends were buried there. 

POPUL.\TION OF THE SACS AND FOXES. 

In 1S05 Lieutenant Zebulon Pike on behalf 
of the United States government made an 
expedition from St. I.ouis to the sources of 
tlie Mississippi River. He says that the Sacs 
had three villages, one at the head of the Des 
Moines Rapids, the second on a prairie about 
two miles from the Mississippi at Oquawka. 
and the third on Rock River about three 
miles from its mouth. The Foxes or Rey- 
nards also had three villages, one on the 
Illinois side above the Rock Island Rapids, 
one at Dubuque and one near Prairie du Chien. 
Pike estimated that the Sacs numbered 2,850 
souls, of whom 1 ,400 were children, 750 
women and 700 warriors. The Foxes num- 
bered 1,750 of whom 400 were warriors, 850 
children, 500 women. In 1825 the secretary 
of war estimated the entire number of Sacs 
and Fo.xes at 4,600, an increase of over one 
thousand in twenty years. In 1831, at the 
commencement of Indian hostilities preced- 
ing the Black Hawk War, there were twenty 
families of whom twelve were Sacs and eight 
were Foxes, and their total nvmiber is esti- 
mated to ha^■e been five thousand souls, this 
number including those living in Iowa and 
Missouri. 

A REVOLUTIONARY BATTLE. 

In the spring of 1780 Captain Hesse, a 
former British soldier, then Indian trader, 
assembled at the portage of the Fox and 



Wisconsin Rivers, a body of Menominees, 
Winnebagoes and Sacs and Foxes, in all about 
six hundred and fifty Indians, and with fifty 
white traders came down the Wisconsin River 
in canoes and thence down the Mississippi 
River to St, I.ouis, and attacked that then 
Spanish post. The British and their Indian 
allies on May 26th, made their attack, but 
were repulsed b_v the inhabitants and the 
small Spanish garrison. They then crossed 
the Mississippi River and attacked the Amer- 
ican post at Cahokia, Colonel John Mont- 
gomery was American commandant of the 
Illinois, and he having heard of the enemy's 
movements, was prepared. General George 
Rogers Clark had while at the Falls of the 
Ohio learned of the threatened British-Indian 
invasion, and hurried to the Illinois, arriving 
on the night of the 25th, and assisted in the 
defense. The British and Indians were 
repulsed although one American was killed. 
General Clark now ordered Colonel ilont- 
gomery to pursue the enemy, and Montgomerj' 
at the head of an armj' of tliree hundred and 
fifty soldiers, mo.stly Virginians, including a 
company of Illinois French Militia and some 
Spanish, marched to where Peoria now is and 
destroyed the Indian village on the Illinois. 
He then took up his march across the prairies 
to the Sac village near the mouth of Rock 
River. It was in the first part of June, early 
accounts do not mention the day of the month, 
but it was during the season that the Sacs and 
Foxes were alwaj's at their village cultivating 
their fields of corn. Black Hawk does not 
mention this American visit, due probabh- to 
the fact that an Indian seldom if ever men- 
tions defeat. Colonel Montgomery himself 
makes scant mention of his journej^ save in a 
letter WTitten in 1783 to the Board of Com- 
missioners for the Settlement of Western Ac- 
counts in which he defends his actions while 
in the Illinois. He speaks of desiring a leave 
of absence and says, " It was then he (General 
George Rogers Clark) informed me of his reso- 
lution; and that the Public Interest would 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND C U X T Y 



13 



not permit of my request beins granted, that 
I must take command of the expedition to 
Rock River." He then says: "After giving 
me instructions, he (Clark) left Kohos (Caho- 
kia) the 4th of Jmie with a small escort for 
the mouth of the Ohio on his route to Ken- 
tucky. I immediately proceeded to the 
Business I was order'd and march'd three 
hundred and fifty men to the lake open on the 
Illinois River, and from thence to the Rock 
River, Destroying the ToNrtis and Crops 
proposed. The Enimy not Dareing to fight 
me as they had so lately Been Disbanded and 
they could not raise a sufficient force " 

James Aird, an early British trader, speak- 
ing of this matter in 1805, said that the Sac 
village was burnt, "by about three hundred 
Americans, although the Indians had assem- 
bled 700 warriors to give them battle." Aird 
from 1778 on was engaged in trade with the 
Sacs and Foxes made annual visits to their vil- 
lage and for weeks maintained on Credit (now 
Suburban) Island a trading post or station. 

The French Militia who accompanied Mont- 
gomery undoubtedly expected to capture 
rich booty from the Indians and were greatly 
disappointed. In a lengthy declaration to 
M. Mottin de la Balme, pensioner of the 
King of France and French Colonel, etc.. the 
inhabitants of Cahokia complain grieviously 
of the Virginians. They say in speaking 
of the Rock River Expedition: "Oh, Colonel 
Clark, affecting always to desire our public 
welfare and tmder pretext of avenging us, 
soon formed with us and conjointly with 
the Spaniards a party of more than three 
hundred men to go and attack in their own 
village the savages who had come to our 
homes to harass us, and after substituting 
Colonel Montgomery to command in his 
place, he soon left us. 

"It is, then, well to explain to you, sir, that 
the Virginians, who never employed any 
principle of economy, have been the cause by 
their lack of management and bad conduct, of 
the non-success of the expedition and that our 



glorioiis projects have failed through their 
fault : for the savages abandoned their nearest 
villages, where we have been, and we were 
forced to stop and not pu.sli on fiu'ther, since 
we had almost no more provisions, powder 
and balls, which the Virginian.s had under- 
taken to furnish us." 

Thus at the Sac village at the mouth of 
Rock River was fought a battle during the 
War of the Revolution. How long it lasted, 
were there any killed or wounded, or if British 
soldiers took part, our early records do not 
state, but in this farthest west of the Revo- 
'utionary engagements, American soldiers 
like tlieir brothers in the east, triumphed. 

BLACK H.\WK AND KEOKUK. 

At the commencement of the nineteenth 
century and up to the Black Hawk War, the 
principal and central figtu-e of the redmen in 
the upper Mississippi A'alley was the Sac 
chief. Black Hawk, who was born at the 
Indian village on Rock River in 1767. Black 
Hawk was of middling size and as Catlin says, 
"with a head that would excite the envy of 
a phrenologist; one of the finest that heaven 
ever let fall on the shoulders of an Indian." 
Another Sac chief who had risen from the 
ranks was Keokuk. His advancement was 
due to his raising a war party to defend his 
nation from an expected attack of the Amer- 
icans during the War of 1812, but which 
attack never occurred. Although polygamy 
was practiced among the Sacs and Foxes, 
Black Hawk had but one wife while Keokuk 
had seven. Keokuk w-as also born at the Sac 
village on Rock River in 1783, and died in 
April, 1848, at the Sac and Fox Agencj' in 
Kansas. 

Early in the nineteenth century there seems 
to have arisen a difference between the Sacs 
and Foxes. Lieutenant Pike, writing in 1805, 
says: 

"But recently there appears to be a schism 
between the two nations, the latter (Foxes) 
not approving of the insolence and ill will 



14 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



which lias marked the ccndiict of the former 
(Sacs) towards the United States on many 
late occurrences." This disagreement con- 
tinued to grow, and while some of the Foxes 
lield with the Sacs, most of the Foxes were 
inclined to be well disposed to the Americans, 
as were some of the Sacs, and these friendly 
Indians arrayed themselves under Keokuk's 
standard while the war party held to Black 
Hawk. Black Hawk and Keokuk were thus 
rival chiefs. Keokuk had never done any- 
thing that entitled him to leadership. The 
Indian standard of character and honor made 
it the dtity of an Indian to be foremost in the 
ranks of the war party. Keokuk had few 
victories to his credit, but he was diplomatic. 
In 1828 he moved with his following across 
the Mississippi and built a village on the Iowa. 
Black Hawk, like Keokuk, was not an 
hereditary chief, but had risen to the position 
of chief of the war party through the native 
vigor of his character and his great success in 
war. Black Hawk had never stiffered defeat. 
His band, which w'as much the larger, com- 
prised the chivalry of the Sac and Fox nations. 
At the beginning of the War of 1812, he 
offered the services of his nation to the Amer- 
icans, which from motives of humanity they 
declined. Yet the British were not loth to 
accept them, for dii'ectly after this we find 
that La Guthre, an agent of Great Britain, 
was at the Rock River village to enlist the 
Sacs and Foxes on the British side and against 
the Americans, and we find them fighting us 
in the War of 1812. From this fact and from 
this time, Black Hawk's band was known as 
the "British Band." A study of Black 
Hawk's life discloses that he possessed those 
qualities which in a white man would raise 
him to power and position. Black Hawk 
was the great Indian commoner. Keokuk 
was noted as an Indian orator; Black Hawk 
as an Indian warrior. 

THE CAUSE OF INDIAN WAKS. 

Every so called Indian war in this country 
originated in a desire on the part of the white 



man to ]3().ssess the home and the hunting 
grounds of his red brother. Discovery by the 
European nations was considered a right to 
extinguish the redman's title. England's 
policy then as now was to claim that all title 
to land was vested in the crown, that her 
subjects might occupy the soil, but could not 
alienate it except to her own people. Eng- 
land treated the Indians as she did her own 
subjects. When the United States at the 
close of the Revolutionary War succeeded to 
this country from the Atlantic to the Mississ- 
ippi, the same principles regarding the title 
to the Indian lands were carried out, and 
while in every instance our government had 
secured title and extinguished Indian rights, 
by treaty or purchase, we must admit that 
the consideration was the most trivial, and 
too often acceptance on the part of the red- 
man was influenced by the force of arms. 

"Did the red man foresee his impending 
doom, his forced retreat towards the setting 
sun, the gradual breaking up of his power 
and the final extinction of his race?" Careful 
study of Indian history leads us to believe 
that among the Indians, as well as among the 
white men, there were those who saw the 
coming storm, "who saw the threatening 
cloud coming from the east, small at first, 
scarce a shadow, but gradually becoming 
more distinct and greater as it traveled west- 
ward, and, when it reached the summit of 
the Alleghanies, it assumed a darker hue; 
deep murmurs, as of thunder, were heard; 
it was impelled westward by strong winds 
and shot forth forked tongues of lightning." 
On the plains of Abraham, when French sti- 
premacy west of the Alleghanies was forever 
lost, and Pontiac stood before the British 
officer who was to proceed westward to secure 
the fruits of victory and said, "I stand in thy 
path," he realized the impending conflict, 
and his note of warning to the chiefs of his 
nation to "Drive the dogs who wear red 
clothing into the sea " was his last appeal to 
save his race. Fifty years later Tecumseh 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



15 



fell a martyr to the Indian cause, and his 
efforts to stem the westward march of the 
white man failed. For three years after that 
Tuscaloosa strove in vain to save his nation, 
and in 1S32 the Sacs and Foxes on Rock 
Island soil, under the leadership of their 
great chief, Black Hawk, made the last 
determined Indian defense of their homes and 
the resting place of their forefathers. 

SACS AND FOXES OF TODAY. 

After their removal to Iowa, they by trea- 
ties in 1836 and 1S42 ceded all their lands up 
to the Missouri River, and in June, 188.5, 
these people were distributed as follows: On 
Sac and Fox Resen-ation in Iowa (Tama 
Count}') about 380; on Pottawatomie and 
Great Nemaha Agency Reservation, near 
the northeast corner of Kansas, the Sacs and 
Foxes of Missouri about 187; on Sac and Fox 
Reservation in Indian Territory, 457, and 
Mohoko's band, wandering in the west, about 
350— a total of 1,374. Almost all but the 
last named band are farmers and herders. 
The agent at Sac and Fox Agency, Iowa, 
writing in 1884, said: "For honesty and 
truthfulness our Indians stand above the 
average white man with the merchants with 
whom they deal." Yet in spite of all at- 
temjits to civilize them, the Sacs and Foxes 
still li\-e in rude huts like their ancestors, 
cooking their food at a fire made on the 
ground, the smoke escaping from an opening 
in the roof; sleeping on bunks of boards 
arranged on the sides of their huts, wearing 
blankets, painting their faces, shaving and 
decorating their heads, as did their ancestors 
who lived at the old Rock River village. 
They lack thrift, industry and a spirit of 
progress. They still offer prayers and hold 
feasts before planting their crop.s, and another 
series of prayers and thanksgiving when their 
crops are gathered. Notwithstanding the 
efforts of Christian missionaries, holy or con- 
secrated tobacco is still l)vu'ned on certain 
occasions as incense, and as of yore they still 



have "Me-sham," a something that profane 
eyes have never been allowed to see. The 
modern Sacs and Foxes, while quiet and 
peaceful, are averse to work and seem at their 
best visiting the neighboring towns, lounging 
about smoking, chatting and playing the 
white man's game — cards. 

FIRST WHITE EXPLORERS. 

Undoubtedly the first white men to cast 
their eyes upon Rock Island soil were Louis 
Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette, when 
they and their five French canoemen, in June 
1673, floated from the mouth of the Wiscon- 
sin River down the broad Mississippi. We 
do not know that they landed at any spot in 
the boundary of what is now Rock Island 
County, but as they came over the Rock 
Island rapids, gliding down the swift flow- 
ing water, they could not fail to notice the 
Island of Rock Island with its rocky shores 
and beautiful groves, for their canoes must 
needs take the channel on the north shore of 
the island. All early voyagers remarked 
upon this locality, and it was generallv con- 
sidered "the handsomest and most delightful 
spot of the same size on the whole globe." 

We have no record of the first white man 
who stepped on Rock Island soil. We know- 
that as early as 1690 Nicholas Perrot, French 
commandant of the west, built a post oppo- 
.site to where Dubuque, Iowa, now is and that 
in 1695 Pierre Le Sueur built a fort on a large 
island in the Mississippi River between Lake 
Pepin and the mouth of the St. Croix, which 
Charlevoix says became "the centre of com- 
merce for the western parts." Le Sueur dis- 
covered lead mines on both sides of the Miss- 
issippi River (at Dubuque and Galena), and 
Penicault, his reporter and companion, speaks 
of the rapids at Rock Island. We know that 
agents of Anthony Crozat at some time be- 
tween the years 1712 and 1717 worked the 
lead mines around Dubuque and Galena; that 
as early as 1792 printed maps of this country 
show the Rock Island Rapids, naming them 



16 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



"Nine-mile Rapids," and we fnrllier know 
that from 17S8 to ISlO.Iuiien ])u Biique with 
a force of Spanish, French and Indian miners 
operated tlie lead mines near where l)nbiique. 
Iowa, now is, and floated his lead down the 
Mississippi to St. Louis and New Orleans, and 
it is not impossible that some of these people 
may have explored this co\inty and even lived 
here; but the first record we have of a white 
man stopping at this locality is when Lieu- 
tenant Pike in 1805 made his trip u]i the Miss- 
issippi. 

FIRST FLAG IN THE UPrER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 

On August 9, 1805, Lieutenant Zebulon 
M. Pike, an officer in the fnited States Army, 
in command of twenty soldiers, left St. Louis 
under instructions from the government to 
trace the sources of the Mississippi River. 
ascertain the condition of the Indians, create 
a better feeling between them and the Amer- 
icans and to select certain sites upon which 
to' erect forts. The party made the voyage 
in a keel boat seventy feet long, and on August 
27, 1S05, the party arrived at the mouth of 
Rock River. 

Black Hawk in his autobiography says: 
"Some time afterwards a boat came up the 
river with a young American chief, at that 
time lieutenant, and afterwards General Pike, 
and a small party of soldiers aboard. The 
boat at length arrived at Rock River and the 
young chief came on shoi e with his interpreter. 
He made us a speech and gave us some pres- 
ents, in return for which we gave him meat 
and such other provisions as we could spare. 

"We were well pleased with the speech of 
the yoimg chief. He gave us good advice 
and said our American father would treat us 
well. He presented us an American flag 
which we hoisted. He then requested us to 
lower the British colors, which were waving 
in the air, and to give him our British medals, 
promising to send us others on his return to 
St. Louis. This we declined to do, as we 
wished to have two fathers," 



The event related by Black Hawk, and 
occm-ring at the old Sac village on Rock River, 
in August, 1S05, was the first raising and 
unfurling of the United States flag in the 
valley of the upper Mississippi River. All 
the country west of the Mississippi had until 
October, 1803, belonged to Spain, and Lieu- 
tenant Pike was the first American represen- 
tative to navigate the Mississippi north of 
St. Louis. 

THE W^AR OF 1812. 

The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 gave the 
United States control of both banks of the 
upper Mississippi River. Previous to this 
time, but little was known of our upper river 
by the Americans, and not imtil Lieutenant 
Zebulon M. Pike under orders from our gov- 
ernment in 1805 came up the river from St. 
Louis, to discover its source, and to select 
locations for future United States posts, did 
our government have any definite knowledge 
concerning this country. 

At the beginning of the year 1814 the war 
with England was still in progress and though 
the warfare was carried on mostly on the 
lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and among the 
eastern states, the west, and especially the 
upper Mississippi River, were the scenes 
of important events, which owing to their 
distance from civilization, the lack of means 
and the length of time to transport news, 
were overlooked, and have failed to receive 
that recognition in American history that 
events of less importance, but happening in 
the east were accorded. 

St. Louis, the American headquarters for 
the upper Mississippi River, Cap au Oris, a 
small French hamlet a few miles north of the 
mouth of the Illinois River, the deserted old 
post at Ft. Madison, the mines at Dubuque 
and the small French settlement and British 
post at Prairie du Chien were the only settle- 
ments on the upper river. 

Colonel Robert Dickson, a British trader 
during the years 1811-1813 had been active 
in inciting the Indians of the northwest, his 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



17 



object being to secure their aid in an attack 
on the American settlements at St. Tvonis, 
Kaskaslcia and Peoria. 

On March 27th, 1813, Ninian Edwards, 
territorial governor of Illinois, wrote the secre- 
tary of war: "If the British erect a fort at 
the mouth of the Wisconsin, and should be 
able to retain it two years, this and Missouri 
territory will be totally deserted, in other 
words, conquered." 

In the beginning of the year 1814 our gov- 
ernment decided to build a fort on the upper 
river at Prairie du Chien (the mouth of the 
Wisconsin River), where the British had the 
preceding year fortified the house of the Mac- 
inac Fur Company and stationed a company 
of Michigan fencibles (militia). 

THE FIRST EXPEDITION. 

On May 1, 1814, William Clark, governor 
of Missouri Territory, with a detachment 
consisting of sixty United States regulars of 
the Seventh Infantry, and one hundred and 
forty Illinois and Missouri rangers or volun- 
teers, left Cap au Gris in five fortified keel 
boats for the mouth of the Wisconsin River 
there to erect a United States fort. At the 
mouth of the Rock River they had a slight 
skirmish with a party of Sauk (Sac) braves. 

About the middle of April. Colonel Dickin- 
son left Prairie du Chien, taking with him 
most of the British forces, together with about 
three hundred Indian allies. Captain Deace 
was left in charge of the post. His command 
consisted of a company of Michigan fencibles;) 
and a body of Sioux and Fox Indians. When 
it was learned that an American force was 
nearing the Prairie, the Indians refused to 
fight the Americans, and Captain Deace and 
his British soldiers fled. 

Lieutenant Joseph Perkins, who was in 
command of the United States regulars, on 
his arrival at the Prairie, took possession of 
the place and immediately began the erection 
of a fort, which he named Fort Shelby in hon- 
or of Governor Shelby of Kentucky. As soon 



as the fort was completed Captain John Sulli- 
van's company of fifty rangers, thirty-two 
rangers from Captain Yeizer's company, to- 
gether with Governor Clark, left Fort Shelby 
and returned to St. Louis, arriving there the 
last of June. 

On the 17th of July Fort Shelby at Prairie 
du Chien was attacked by Colonel William 
McKay in command of one hundred and fifty 
British soldiers and four hundred Sioux, 
Winnebago, Menominee and Chippewa Indi- 
ans, and on the evening of July 19th, the 
same day Campbell's expedition was defeated, 
Lieutenant Perkins surrendered Fort Shelby. 
The British renamed the fort, calling it Fort 
McKay. 

M.\JOR CAMPBELL'S EXPEDITION. 

When General Howard, commandant of 
the American forces in the west, learned of 
the return of the troops from Prairie du Chien, 
he immediately organized another expedition 
to be sent uj) the river to reinforce Fort Shel- 

by. 

On July 4, 1S14, the second expedition 
left Cap au Gris. It consisted of three forti- 
fied barges, or keel boats, each with a cabin 
and all having sails. There were thirty-three 
regular soldiers and sixty-five rangers (mili- 
tia), some of the latter being Frenchmen from 
Cahokia. The expedition including the sut- 
lers' establishment, boatmen, and women and 
children, making one hundred and thirty- 
three persons. This expedition was com- 
manded by Lieutenant (acting Brigade Ma- 
jor) John Campbell of the First Regulars 
(infantry), who with the regulars, contractors, 
sutlers, women and children, occupied one 
boat. The two other boats being occupied 
by the rangers and were commanded by 
Lieutenant Stephen Rector and Lieutenant 
Jonathan Riggs. The n\unber of regulars in 
this expedition has been repeatedly given as 
forty-two; Major Campbell, however, reports 
that he had but thirty-three. 

On the thirteenth of the month, about 
eighty miles below the mouth of Rock River, 



IS 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



they met a party of Indians from Prairie du 
Chien. with a packet directed to Governor 
Clark. These Indians informed Campbell 
that everything was quiet, and that the gar- 
rison at .the Prairie (Prairie du Chien) had 
been completed. The same day T.ieu tenant 
Rector, of the rangers found a canoe which 
had a considerable quantity of Indian pro]i- 
erty in it. and which had just been abandoned. 
On the 18th of July, about twenty miles 
below the mouth of Rock River, the ex- 
pedition was met by a party of nine Indians 
in canoes, bearing a white flag, who informed 
Major Campbell that they had heard of the 
American's approach and had come to conduct 
them to their o^nti town, and to inform them 
that the Sacs and P'oxes were friend!}^ dis- 
posed. The Indians left the keel boats a 
few miles below the mouth of Rock River, 
at the mouth of which the boats were met by 
five other Indians in canoes, who informed 
the commander that the Indians at the vil- 
lage on Rock River, about a mile above its 
mouth, wished to hold a council with him. 
The keel boats proceeded up the river and 
landed on the Illinois shore opj)osite the lower 
end of the Island of Rock Lsland. In a short 
time, about one hundred and fifty warriors, 
besides women and children of the Sac and 
Fox nation appeared. Black Hawk was at 
the head of the party. He approached Ma- 
jor Campbell and asked if he had brought 
any presents for him from his fnther. Major 
Campbell told Black Hawk he had, provided 
he fulfilled the pr:;mises he had made his 
father in the spring, which was to go to war 
with the Peaus OVinnebagoes.) Black Hawk 
replied that he had made his father no such 
promises, and that his "father was drunk 
when he said so," but that he was ready to go 
to war with the Peaus if the government 
would furnish him with the means. He fur- 
ther said: "The Mississippi is a broad and 
straight road and the people of the United 
States shall meet with no ot)structions in 
traveling." 



During the evening the Indians were very 
friendly, recognizing many old friends among 
the Frenchmen from Cahokia. 

THE B.\TTLE OF C.\MPBELL'S ISLAND. 

On the morning of July 19, before break- 
fast, the boats all set sail and started up the 
river, with a fine breeze. During the night 
a part}^ of Indians arrived at the Sac village 
from Prairie du Chien, coming down Rock 
River, Black Hawk said they brought the Sacs 
si.Y kegs of powder and told them that the 
fort at Prairie du Chien had been captured 
by the British. These messengers also told 
the Sacs that the British wished them to again 
join them in the war against the Americans, 
which the Indians agreed to do. 

Black Hawk's memorj' is at fault. He does 
not state exactly what these Indian messen- 
gers told him. Colonel McKay, whose armj' 
of British and Indians had attacked Prairie 
du Chien. in a letter to his superior officer, un- 
der date of July 27, 1S14. says that on the 
17th of July, about three o'clock in the 
afternoon, after the gunboat "Governor 
Clark '' had been driven from its position by 
the British cannon and had started down the 
river, that he immediately sent off a canoe 
with three men: an lowan. who had come 
from Mackinac with him, and two of the six 
Banks, who had joined him on the Fox River. 
that he gave them four kegs of gun powder and 
ordered them to pass the "Governor Clark" 
and get as soon as possible to the rapids at 
the Rock River, where he believed the gun- 
boat would run aground: that they should 
collect all the Sauks and annoy the" Govern- 
or Clark" and prevent their landing to get 
fire wood, etc. 

Early in the morning, Black Hawk col- 
lected his warriors .and determined to attack 
the boats, which had now started up the 
river. As Black Hawk says: "I collected my 
warriors and determined to pursue the boats. 
I immediately started with my party by land 
in pursuit, thinking that some of their boats 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



19 



might get aground, or that the Grc.it Spirit 
would put them in ovu" power, if he wished 
them taken." 

The boats had just passed the head of Rock 
IsLand when the boat commanded by Major 
Campbell was grounded on the rocks, and he 
was compelled to discharge and put off part 
of her loading into the other boats before he 
could release his boat. 

After proceeding about six miles the wind 
increased to a hurricane. Campbell's boat 
being still heavily loaded, he says: "I was 
afraid of her dashing to pieces on the rocks, 
and ordered her to be put shore, which in do- 
ing from the severe gale of wind which was 
blowing, and the roughness of the water, 
dashed her so hard on shore it was impossible 
to get her off while the storm lasted." The 
boat was driven on the north shore of an 
island lying about six miles east of Moline 
and which since that day has been known as 
Campbell's Island. It lies near the eastern 
shore in Rock Island Coimty and belongs to 
the State of Illinois. 

Black Hawk says: "About half way up the 
rapids I had a full view of the boats, all sailing 
with a strong wind; I soon discovered one boat 
badly managed and was suffered to be driven 
ashore by the wind: they landed by running 
hard aground, and lowered their sail, the 
others passed on." 

The ground where the boat landed was 
covered with high grass, hazel and willow 
bushes for a considerable distance up and 
down the shore. Campbell immediately placed 
two sentinels about sixty yards from the boats 
and the men then commenced getting their 
breakfast. 

They had not been on the island more than 
twenty-five or thirty minutes when the Indi- 
ans commenced their attack, both sentinels 
were killed the first fire, and one other man on 
shore. Campbell ordered the cable cut and 
the boat to be gotten ofT, in doing of which 
two men were killed and three wounded. 
Finding the gale blowed directly on land. 



and that it was impossible to get her off, he 
ordered his men to defend the boat to the 
last extremity. 

The boats of Lieutenants Rector and Riggs 
were about three miles up the river at this 
time. Lieutenant Riggs' being in advance. 
He heard the report of the firing and saw 
the smoke rising from where Campbell's boat 
lay. He tacked his boat and signaled Rector, 
who also tacked and both sailed for Campbell's 
boat. Rector's boat being the first to reach the 
scene of the battle. Savages were seen among 
the trees and bushes, and a large number of 
Indians were seen coming in canoes from the 
eastern shore. It was estimated that about 
four hundred Indians surroimded them. The 
savages commenced giving their war-whoop 
and pouring in on them a fire of musketry 
and arrows. Major Campiiell's right wrist 
was fractured by a musket ball during the 
first onslaught, and he was carried into the 
cabin of his boat and laid on a bunk, while 
his men gallantly returneil the fire of the 
Indians. 

Campbell's boat was so near the bank that 
the Indians were able to fire in at the port oar 
holes. The storm had now become so vio- 
lent that it was fully an liour before the other 
boats were able to come to Campbell's assist- 
ance. 

Riggs' boat was driven ashore about one 
hundred yards below Campbell's boat, and 
Rector to avoid a similar fate, had let go an 
anchor, and lay about twenty yards above 
Campbell's boat. The rangers from both 
barges kept up a brisk fire on the Indians. 

This unequal contest waged for several 
hours, when the firing from Campbell's boat 
becoming less frequent, led Lieutenant Rec- 
tor to believe that most of Campbell's men 
were either killed or wounded. 

Riggs' boat was the best fortified, but his 
crew had been weakened. When Campbell's 
boat was stranded on the rocks he sent a ser- 
geant and ten men to help him off, and Camp- 
bell did not return the men. 



20 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Rector's boat had among its crew many of 
the French from (^ahokia who were experi- 
enced sailors. Tlip wind was still a raging 
tempest, and the fire of the Indians was be- 
coming more destructive to the boats. ''At 
this time." Black Hawk siiys. "I prepared my 
bow and arrows to throw fire to the sail, which 
was laying on the boat, and after two or three 
attempts succeeded in setting the sail on fire." 
Campbell's boat was soon in flames. lieu- 
tenant Rector could not remain inactive and 
witness the horrible death of Campbell and 
his companions. In the face of the tempest 
and the galling fire of the foe, he cut his an- 
chors, a number of his men got out into the 
water, keeping the boat between them and 
the Indians, they jnished their boat against 
the fire of the Indians uj) to Campbell's boat. 
The wounded in Campbell's boat were first 
transferred to Rector's boat, and then those 
who were unhurt; so loaded was Rector's 
boat that the water was nmning in at the oar 
holes and almost all of the provisions were 
thrown overboard to lighten the boat. The 
Indians all the time kept up a murderous fire. 
In taking the men from Campbell's boat the 
Major was shot through the body. Black 
Hawk in his autobiography states at this 
time: "We wounded the war chief." 

Rector's men still in the water, and keeping 
the boat between them and the Indians, 
hauled their boat out into the stream, swim- 
ming alongside of the boat until the channel 
was reached and the boat had been carried 
out of gunshot, when they climbed into the 
boat. Rector's boat was crowded, but the 
men took to their oars and rowed night and 
day until they reached St. Louis. 

The casualties were: killed on Campbell's 
boat, ten regulars, one woman and one child; 
on Rector's boat, one ranger, and on Riggs' 
boat, three rangers; a total of sixteen. 

Wounded on Campbell's boat, ten regulars 
and one woman; on Rector's boat, four rang- 
ers, and on Riggs' boat four rangers; also 



Major Campbell and Dr. Stewart, the garri- 
son surgeon, who was shot in the breast: a 
total of twenty-one. making the total casual- 
ties thirtj'-seven. All fought with the cour- 
age of heroes. Rector and his men risked 
their lives to save their comrades, and the 
battle at Campbell's Island has no equal for 
daring and heroism during the War of 1812 
in the west. 

Lieutenant John Weaver, of the regulars, 
who was second in command on Campbell's 
boat acted bravely; it was largely by his 
exertions that the wounded were safely 
transferred to Rector's boat. 

Almost all of the ammunition for the e.xpe- 
dition and the supi^lies for Fort Shelby, ex- 
cept a box of musket balls, was on Campbell's 
boat and captured by Black Hawk, nothing 
being saved. The regulars fought with 
their shirts off. and saved only their arms 
and fatigue overalls. 

BL.\CK HAWK CELEBRATES. 

After Riggs' boat had gone. Black Hawk's 
warriors began to plunder Campbell's boat. 
The first thing that the chief did was to 
knock the head in of .several barrels of whis- 
key, which he termed, "bad medicine" and 
emptied their contents on the ground. He 
says, "I next found a box full of small bottles 
and packages, which appeared to be bad 
medicine also: such as the medicine men kill 
the white people with when they get sick, 
this I threw into the river." The re.st of the 
plunder, which consisted of guns, clothing, 
provisions, powder, etc., was loaded into their 
canoes and taken to the Fox village opposite 
the lower end of Rock Island, where Daven- 
port now is. Before leaving, the Indians 
took the scalp from Campbell's five dead reg- 
ulars, and as Black Hawk said when he got 
to the Fox village, "We commenced dancing 
over the scalps we had taken." 

Black Hawk's opinion of whiskey as a med- 
icine must have changed over night, because 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COU NIT Y 



21!^ 



he does not complain at the soldiers giving 
his men whiskey the evening before, yet the 
next day he thought it "bad medicine." 

While Black Hawk and his Indians were 
dancing over their scalps, several boats passed 
down the river, among them a large boat, 
"carrying big g\ms." These boats were the 
"Governor Clark" and the contractor's and 
sutler's barges from Prairie du Chien, which 
garrison Campbell's expedition was intending 
to strengthen, but which had been attacked 
by the British under Colonel McKay, on the 
seventeenth, two days previous. 

Captain Yeizer and his gunboats leaving 
Prairie du Chien during the afternoon on the 
first day of the attack and started for St. 
Louis, lea\-ing Lieutenant Perkins and his 
command, which consisted of sixty men, to- 
gether with two women and one child, to hold 
the fort which surrendered July 19th, after a 
three day's siege. 

THE DERELICT. 

Lieutenant Campbell's boat lay for many 
years on the north shore of Campbell's 
Island, where the State Monument now stands. 
Benjamin Goble, an old settler often told of 
seeing the hull imbedded in sand. He says: 

"Soon after Stephens left, two men named 
Smith, took possession of his claim, there 
were two cabins on it, but neither had a floor. 
The river was low, so that the hull of the barge 
burned by the Indians at the time of Camp- 
bell's defeat in 1812, (a mistake, it was 1S14) 
was plainly visible. The Smiths got the hull 
ashore, found the planks in a good state of 
preservation and floored their cabins with 
them." This was in 1829. The Stephens 
whom he mentions was a planter from the 
south, who located where Walker Station, 
two miles east of Moline, now is." 

MAJOR Taylor''* battle. 

After the capture of Fort Shelby by the 
British, Colonel William McKay left for Maci- 
nac and Captain Thomas G. Anderson was in 



command. The British had great influence 
witli the northwest Indians, and it is not to be 
wondered at as they made the Indians be- 
lieve that the Americans would drive out the 
Indian, while the British wanted the Indian 
to retain his lands. In a letter dated August 
21, 1814, Colonel R. McDonall, British com- 
mandant, wrote Captain Anderson: "Assure 
them (Sacs and Foxes') that great efforts are 
being made by the king in their behalf, and 
that the ministry are determined to make no 
peace till the lands plundered from the In- 
dians are restored. To attain this purpose, 
great reinforcements of troops are coming 
out." 

On August 14th, Lieutenant Duncan Gra- 
ham with six men and an interpreter, left 
Fort McKay for the Sac village near the mouth 
of Rock River, his mission being to enlist the 
Sacs in an expeditiim tn firing up an American 
gunboat which had been abandoned at a 
point a short distance above the unoccupied 
Fort Madison. 

On August 21st, the British at Fort McKay 
were apprised by the Fox Indians that a third 
American expedition was on its way up the 
Mississippi River from St. Louis, and Cap- 
tain Anderson, commanding Fort McKay, 
sent a dispatch to fjieutenant Graham at the 
Sac village on Rock River, requesting him to 
learn all about the Americans and to inform 
him. At this time there were about 800 
braves at the Rock River village. Graham 
returned to Fort McKay, and on the 27th was 
again sent to the Sac village near the mouth 
of Rock River. This time he had with him 
a company of British soldiers numbering 
thirty men, also one brass three-pounder and 
two swivels, his object being to annoy and 
harass the American expedition and if possi- 
ble defeat them and drive them back to St. 
Louis. 

The American expedition was formed at 
Cap au Gris, and consisted of eight large for- 
tified keel boats, carrying a detachment of 
334 soldiers, and started on August 23d. It 



22 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



was commanded by Major Zachary Taylor, 
afterwards President of the United States. 
On the afternoon of September 5th, the Amer- 
ican fleet arrived at the mouth of Rock River. 
Lieutenant (jraham on his return to the Rock 
River village found that the Indians now 
numbered about fifteen hundred, several 
bands of Winnebagoes and Sioux having 
joined the Sacs and Foxes, who he said 
■'would stand by us to the last man." Gra- 
ham wrote that he would take his position on 
Rock Island at the rapids, which was the best 
place for defense that he knew on the Miss- 
issippi. On September 5th the British sol- 
diers moved their guns and planted them on 
the west side of the island at the narrowed 
part of the channel, about where the present 
bridge rests on the island. At 4 o'clock in 
the afternoon the American fleet appeared in 
sight of the British. A storm of rain, thtm- 
der and lightning came on which compelled 
the American boats to land at the small Wil- 
low' Island, about sixty yards above Credit 
Island (now Suburban Island, Davenport). 
Here the Americans decided to pass the night. 
Large numbers of Indians appeared on the 
Illinois and Iowa shores as well as on Credit 
Island, but not a gtm was fired. Early the 
morning of the 6th the British and Indians 
crossed the Mississippi River to the Fox vil- 
lage on the west bank and went as quickly as 
possible through the prairie to the beach 
op])osite the American boats, where they had 
a close view of them. Lieutenant Graham 
selected the Sioux to guard the cannon be- 
cause he said "as they promised they would 
rather be killed to the last man than give up 
the guns." The British planted their guns 
on an elevated spot, where the}' commanded 
a view of the Willow Island as well as the 
upper part of Credit Island. This place is 
about where the dam commences that leads 
to Subiu'ban Island. The night before Gra- 
ham had cautioned the Indians not to fire 
without orders from him, but a Sauk warrior 
during the night shot a corporal on one of the 



American boats commanded by Captain 
Whiteside. At daj'light Major Tajdor or- 
dered his men to attack the Indians and 
drive them from the Willou- Island, where 
they had appeared in large numbers. The 
American soldiers charged the enemj', who 
retreated, wading to Credit Island. Major 
Taylor then ordered Captain Nelson Rector 
to drop his boat down to Credit Island and 
rake the island with artillery and drive the 
Indians off. Rector did so, the Indians re- 
treating unto cover. 

Of Rector's charge an early ^Titer said" 
"Captain Rector was dressed richly, with a 
splendid military uniform and a large red 
feather in his hat. Thus equipped, he drew 
his sword and walked deliberately on an open 
sand beach, a short distance from the enemy, 
and ordered his company to follow him. 
Many Indian guns were fired at him, which he 
disregarded as if Ihey were popguns. He 
escaped, but it was miraculous, as he was 
alone in advance of his company." 

Captain Nelson Rector was a brother of 
Lieutenant Stephen Rector, who on July 
19th so heroically rescued Lieutenant Camp- 
bell and his ill-fated boat's crew at Camp- 
bell's Island. 

At this time, about 7 o'clock, the British 
guns began to play on the American boats. 
The first shot passed through Lieutenant 
Hempstead's boat. Lieutenant Graham in 
his report dated September 7th said: "In 
about three-quarters of an hour the largest 
of their boats, which was ahead of the others, 
after having about fifteen shots through her, 
began to push off, and dropped astern of the 
rest, and made her way down the ctirrent. 
The others soon followed her. We kept firing 
at them along the bank as far as the ground 
would permit us to drag the guns, but thej' 
soon got out of our reach." The engagement 
lasted about one hour. Major Taylor in his 
report said: "I was compelled to drop down 
about three miles before a proper place pre- 
sented itself for landing, as but few of the 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



23 



boats had anchors sufficient to stop them in 
the river. Here I halted for the purpose of 
having the wounded attended and some of 
the boats repaired, as some of them had been 
injured by the enemy's artillery." The land- 
ing was on the Illinois shore. 

The British and Indians had no losses, 
while the Americans had eleven men badly 
wounded, three mortally. Taylor's fleet re- 
turned to St. Louis. An early writer said: 
"I saw in the harbor at St. Louis the boats 
that were in Taylor's battle at Rock Island, 
and they were riddled with the cannon iialls. 
1 think the balls were made of lead — at any 
rate they pierced the boats considerably." 

This was the third American expedition up 
the Mississippi River in the year 1814, all 
ending in defeat and disaster. The British 
and Indians had possession of the country 
until December 24th, when the peace of Ghent 
ended the war. 

In his autobiography, Black Hawk says: 
"The Briti-sh landed a big gun and gave us 
three soldiers to manage it." Writers of 
Western History have differed regarding 
Taylor's engagement, some accepting Black 
Hawk's version, have credited the battle as 
solely an Indian victory, saying the Indians 
were re-inforced by only three British sol- 
diers and one cannon. Others have said 
that there were present a large number of 
British soldiers. Neither Taylor or (iraham 
knew who was in command of the other party. 
and nowhere was I able to learn the details, 
until during the winter of, 1906 and 1907, I 
found in the Canadian archives the corre- 
spondence between the British officers relat- 
ing to the part they took in this early western 
event. From these archives. I learned that 
Black Hawk had a company of British sol- 
diers with three cannons. That the cannon 
were first planted on the Island of Rock 
Island two years before the erection of Fort 
Armstrong, on ground afterwards occupied 
by Fort Armstrong and that Subiirban Island 
as early as 1S14 was known as Credit Island. 



FIRST SETTLERS. 

The first white settler in this county was 
CJeorge Davenport, who came to the Island of 
Rock Island in the spring of 1816 with Colo- 
nel William Lawrence and the Eighth Regi- 
ment of LTnited States regulars at the time 
Fort .Armstrong was built. In 1817 Daven- 
port built a double log cabin on the Island of 
Rock Island at the place where the "Old Dav- 
enport House" now stands, one part of which 
he used as a store in which he carried on the 
business of an Indian trader. The old ruin 
now standing on the north shore of the island 
was built in 1833 and was for many years the" 
most pretentious residence above St. Louis, 
the timbers in the old Trading House being 
used in constructing the new dwelling. In 
1824 Russell Farnham came from Warsaw 
and entered into partnership with Davenport 
under the firm name of Davenport & Farn- 
ham. In 1826 Davenport and Farnham built 
the house on the main land just west of the 
P. L. Cable residence and afterwards occu- 
pied by John Barrel. This house was used 
for many years as the seat of justice for this 
county and in our coiuity records is referred 
to as the "House of John Barrel." 

In 1828 the country along Rock River had 
not been surveyed and consequently was not 
open to entry. Yet the fame of the fertility 
of the soil and the beauty of the coimtry had 
attracted the pioneer who is always in ad- 
vance of the settler, and who often is termed 
the squatter, and these people relying upon 
the protection of Fort Armstrong began to 
select homes in this valley. During the year 
1828 there were eight settlers to arrive — Cap- 
tain B. W. Clark, an old soldier named Haney, 
Judge Pence, \\ho settled on Rock River, 
and John Kinney, Thomas Kinney, George 
Harlan, Conrad Leek and Archibald .Allen, 
the last five settling where Rapids City now is. 

The j-ear 1829 brought a number of new- 
comers — Judge John ^^'. Spencer, who had 
been here the year before; Louden Case, Sr., 
and his tlii'ee sons, Jonah, Louden, Jr., and 



24 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Charles, who settled on what is now known 
as the Case place on Rock River: Rinah Wells 
and his four sons, Rinah, Jr., Lucius, John 
and Samuel, who also settled on Rock River; 
Joel Wells, Jr., who settled near Hampton; 
Joel Wells, Sr., Levi and Huntington Wells, 
who settled at Moline; Joseph Danforth a 
* mile above Moline; IMichael Bartlett where 
Deere tV: Mansur's factor}', Moline, now is; 
George Goble and his son, Benjamin, about 
two miles above Moline; William Brashar, 
who settled south of the present city of 
Rock Island; Joshua ^'andruff and his sons, 
who settled on \'andruff's Island; Charles H. 
Case and Benjamin F. Pike. 

SLAVERY. 

At this time in the southern part of the 
the state negroes were held in bondage, under 
what was known and recognized as the inden- 
tured or registered servant's act. This was 
contrary to the ordinance of 1787 which 
governed the admission of Illinois into the 
union as a state, but our Legislature enacted 
laws which our courts upheld, by which 
slavery existed in Illinois. In May, 1829, 
a man named Stephens from St. Louis settled 
on the Mississippi where Walker Station now 
is, two miles east of Moline, bringing with him 
twenty black slaves, and built two cabins. 
There were but few settlers in this locality, 
but this new departure was not in accord with 
their ideas, and in October Joseph Danforth 
traveled to the nearest justice of the peace, 
who resided at Galena, and secured from him 
a warrant for Stephens' arrest for holding 
slaves. George Goble, the father of Benjamin 
Goble, knowing Danforth's intention, warned 
Stephens, who immediately started south 
with his slaves. Stephens' two cabins were 
afterwards taken by two brothers named 
Smith, who floored the cabins with planks 
taken from the hull of Major Campbell's keel 
boat, which had burned only to the water's 
edge, and which had lain imbedded in the 
sand on Campbell's Island where it stranded 



on that ill fated July 19, 1814. No one after 
this ever tried to own slaves in this county, 
although some of the officers at Fort Arm- 
strong had negro servants, some of whom 
were held as indentured blacks, a few as 
slaves. One of the latter afterwards gained 
national prominence. 

Dred Scott was a negro slave owned by Dr. 
John Emerson, a surgeon in the United States 
Army, and in the year 1834 came with the 
doctor from Missouri to Fort Armstrong on 
Rock Island, where the doctor was stationed. 
Scott remained at Fort Armstrong until 
May, 1836, when he went with the doctor to 
Fort Snelling (now Minnesota) where he 
married Harriet, a slave of his master, and 
had two children. Slavery was illegal in 
both places; in Illinois by our constitution; 
in Minnesota (Upper Louisiana Purchase) by 
the Missouri Compromise. 

In 1838 Scott was taken to Jefferson Bar- 
racks, a military post at St. Louis, Missouri, 
and here an action was brought in the cir- 
cuit court of the state by Scott to test the 
question of his freedom. The St. Louis court 
held that Scott's residence on free soil had 
made him Frp;e. The case was appealed to 
ths supreme court of Missouri which court 
reversed the decision of the St. Louis cir- 
cuit court and held Scott was a slave. In 
the meantime Dr. Emerson had sold Dred 
and his family to John F. A. Sanford of New 
York and suit was brought against Sanford 
in the LTnited States court for Scott's freedom. 

This case was tried at St. Louis on May 
1 5th, before the court and a jury, and the 
latter found that "Dred Scott was a negro 
slave, the lawful property of the defendant." 
A new trial was refused, and Scott carried his 
case to the supreme court of the United States. 

The final decision in the Dred Scott case 
was the longest, and up to that period, the 
most interesting one ever given by the su- 
preme court of the United States. It is re- 
ported in the 19th Howard. The substance 
of the decision was: 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



25 



"Scott was not made free by being taken to 
Rock Island in the State of Illinois. As Scott 
was a slave when taken to Fort Armstrong 
into the State of Illinois by his owner, and was 
then held as such, and brought back into 
Missouri in that character, his status, as free 
or slave, depended on the laws of Missouri, 
and not of Illinois, He and his family were 
not free, but were, by the laws of Missouri, 
the property of the defendant." 

THE SETTLEMENT OF L.VND.S. 

In 1828 and the early part of 1829 George 
Davenport and Russell Farnham entered 
the lands upon which the old fair grounds 
were located, and which extended from there 
about one mile east. William T. Rrashar 
entered the lands upon a portion of which is 
now located Chippianock Cemetery. Tliese 
and other pre-emptions were upon lauds that 
had for nearly a century been the village and 
the cornfields of the Sacs. These entries 
were within the letter, but contrary to the 
spirit of the treaty of 1804. These lands 
were not open to settlers, nor brought into 
the market until the latter part of 1829, and 
one authority says: "Consequently all who 
had settled on them previous to this were 
trespassers, having violated the laws of con- 
gress and the pre-existing treaties. The 
most advanced settlements at that time did 
not approach nearer than fifty or sixty miles 
of Rock Island, and the lands for even a 
greater distance had not been offered for sale, 
yet the government disposed of a few quar- 
ter sections at the mouth of this stream, em- 
bracing the site of the village and fields c\il- 
tivated by the inhabitants. The manifest 
object of this advanced movement upon the 
Indian settlements was to evade the provisions 
of the treaty, by having the governmental 
title to the lands pass into the hands of the 
individuals, and thus obtain a pretext for 
removing its owners west of the Mississippi. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 

By an act of the Illinois Legislature en- 
titled "An act to establish Rock Island Coun- 
ty," approved and in force February 9, 1831, 
it was provided by Section 1 thereof what the 
boundaries of this county shall be. Section 
2 provided that whenever it shall be made to 
appear to the satisfaction of the presiding 
judge of the circuit coiirt of Jo Daviess Coun- 
ty, to which this county was then attached, 
that the said County of Rock Island con- 
tains three hundred and fifty inhabitants, 
it shall be his duty to grant an order for the 
election of three commissioners, one sheriff 
and one coroner to serve in and for said coun- 
ty until they be superseded by the persons 
elected at the next general election, which 
shall take place after the special election here- 
in jjrovided for. The act then states that 
after such election the said County of Rock 
Island shall be considered as organized and 
entitled to the same rights and privileges as 
the other counties in this state. Owing, how- 
ever, to the Black Hawk War no effort was 
made to organize the county until 183.'^, when 
on Monday, July .'5, in pursuance of due notice 
the legal voters of this county to the number 
of sixty-five met at the "House of John 
Barrel." and elected county officers. 

THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE. 

In the spring of 1831, when Black Hawk 
and his people returned from their winter 
hunt, they found the few white settlers whom 
they had left the fall before increased by naany 
new comers. They found the Indian homes 
occupied by pale faces, and among their corn 
hills they found the white man's wagon. 
But more aggravating yet, they found the 
bones of their ancestors disturbed and laid 
bare upon the ground by the white man's 
plow. Bhick Hawk and his people had borne 
much the past few years but this seemed too 
much. He protested, and was told the white 
man had bought the land from his white 



26 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



father in Washington. He could not under- 
stand this. Judge John W. Spencer in' his 
"Reminiscences" says: "Black Hawk gave 
the settlers to understand that after this 
season they must go south of Rock River, 
or above Pleasant Valley. * * * This 
move on the part of the Indians made it 
necessary for the settlers to look about and 
see what they could do for their protection." 
and, Judge Spencer says, "We had petitioned 
the governor of the state in the summer of 
1829 without his taking any notice, but now 
we concluded to try it again. We made a 
statement of our grievance, and of the order 
of Black Hawk for our removal, anil for- 
warded it with all possible haste to the gov- 
ernor. This had the desired effect." 

THE ROCK ISLAND PETITION. 

The following is the petition sent to the 
governor by citizens of Rock Island: 

"April 30, 1831. 
"His Excellency, the Governor of the State of 
Illinois: 
"We, the undersigned, being citizens of 
Rock River and its vicinity, beg leave to 
state to your honor the grievances which we 
labor under and pray your protection against 
the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians who have 
again taken possession of our lands near the 
mouth of Rock River and its vicinity. They 
have, and now are, burning our fences, des- 
troying our crops of wheat now growing b}' 
turning in all their horses. They also threat- 
en our lives if we attempt to plant corn, and 
say they will cut it up; that we have stolen 
their lands from them, and they are deter- 
mined to exterminate us, provided we don't 
leave the country. Your honor, no doubt, 
is aware of the outrages that were committed 
by said Indians heretofore. Particularly last 
all, they almost destroj-ed all our crops, and 
made several attempts on the owners' lives 
when the}' attempted to prevent their depre- 
dations, and actually wounded one man by 



stabbing him in several places. This spring 
they act in a much more outrageous and 
menacing manner, so that we consider our- 
selves compelled to beg protection of you, 
which the agent and garrison on Rock Island 
refuse to give, inasmuch as they say they have 
no orders from government: therefore, should 
we not receive adequate aid from your honor, 
we shall be compelled to abandon our settle- 
ment, and the lands which we have pur- 
chased of the government. Therefore, we 
have no doubt but vour honor will better 
anticipate our condition than it is represented, 
and grant us immediate relief in the manner 
that to you may seem most likely to produce 
the desired effect. The number of Indians 
now among us is about six or seven hundred. 
They say there are more coming, and that the 
Pottawattomies and some of the Winnebagoes 
will help them in case of an irruption with 
the whites. 

"The warriors now here are the Black 
Hawk's party, with other chiefs, the names 
of whom we are not acquainted with. There- 
fore, looking up to you for protection, we beg 
leave to remain, yours, etc." 
(Signed) 

John Wells Thomas Lovitt 

B. F. Pike William Heans 

H. McNeil Charles French 

Albert Wells M. S. Hulls 

Griffith Ausbury Eli Wells 
Thomas Gardiner Asaph Wells 
J. VandrufT G. V. Miller 

S. A'andruff Edward Burner 

John L. Bain Joel Thompson 

Horace Cook Joel Wells, Jr. 

David B. Hail J. W. Spencer 

John Barrel ■ Joseph Danforth 

William Henry William Brazher 

Erastus Kent Jonah H. Case 

Levi Wells Samuel Wells 

Joel Wells Charles French 

Michael Bartlet Benjamin Goble 

Huntington Wells Gentry McCall 
Thomas Davis 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



27 



THE INDIAN AGENT REPORTS. 

The settlers not hearing from Governor 
Reynolds and receiving no aid from the offi- 
cials at Fort Armstrong, applied to the 
Indian agent, and he wrote the following 
letter: 

"Rock Island, May 15, 1S31. 

"Respected Sir: I have again to mention 
to you that the Black Hawk (a Sac chief) and 
his party are now at their old village on Rock 
River. They have commenced planting corn 
and say they will keep possession. I have 
been informed that they have pulled down a 
house and some fences which they have 
burned. They have also turm^d their horses 
in wheat fields and say they will destroy the 
wheat so that the white people .shall not re- 
main among them. 

"This is what I expected from their man- 
ner of acting last fall, and which I mentioned 
to you in my letter of the Sth October last. 
I would not be at a loss were it not for the 
seventh article of the treaty with the Sacs 
and Foxes of 3d November, 1804. 

"I respectfully ask, would it not be better 
to hold a treaty with those Indians and get 
them to remove peaceably, than to call on the 
military to force them off? None of this 
band has as yet called on me for information- 
A few ha\-e been at my agency to have work 
done at the smith's shops. I have the honor 
to be, 

"Your obedient servant, 

"Felix St. Vrain, Indian Agent. 
"Gen. William Clark, Supt. Ind. of St. Louis." 

WHISKEY THE CAUSE. 

One of the settlers living on what is now 
Vandruff's Island, kept a sort of tavern where 
whiskey was sold, and here the Indians came 
to barter for fire water. Black Hawtk saw 
his people bartering off their peltries and 
game for whiskej' and he saw the ruin that 
the white man's "fire water"' was creating 
among them. He protested and begged the 



white man to stop selling the Indians whiskey, 
but the sale went on. One day he, with 
some five or six of his braves, paddled in their 
canoes from their village to Vandruff's 
Island. Silently the old chief marched up to 
the cabin followed by his braves. They did 
not stop to knock, but entered the door and 
silently rolled the barrel of whiskey outside 
the cabin, knocked in the head with their 
tomahawks and allowed the pale faces' "fire 
water" to run on the ground. Then thej' 
rowed back to their village. 

This last act of the Indians greatly excited 
the whites and Benjamin F. Pike, a settler, 
afterwards our first sheriff, was sent to Belle- 
ville in St. Clair County to personally ask the 
governor for assistance. He took with him 
the following petition from the settlers. 

THE SECOND PETITION. 

"Farnhamburg, May 19, 1S31. 
"To his Excellency, the Governor of the State 
of Illinois: 
"We. the undersigned, citizens of Rock 
River and its vicinit}-, having previously sent 
a petition to your honor, praying your pro- 
tection against the.se Sac Indians who were 
at that time doing every kind of mischief as 
was set forth and represented to your honor; 
but feeling ourselves more aggrieved and our 
situation more precarious, we have been com- 
pelled to make our distress known to you by 
sending one of our neighbors who is well 
acquainted with our situation. If we do not 
get relief speedily we must leave our habita- 
tions to these savages and seek safety for our 
families by taking them down into the lower 
counties and suffer our houses and fences to be 
destroyed, as one of the principal war chiefs 
has threatened if we do not abandon our 
settlement his warriors should burn our houses 
over our heads. They were, at the time v/e 
sent our other petition, destroying our crops 
of wheat, and are still pasturing their horses 
in our fields, burning our fences, and have 



28 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



thrown the roof off one house. They shot 
arrows at our cattle, killed our hogs, and every 
mischief. 

"We have tried every argument to the 
agent for relief, but he tells us they are a 
lawless band, and he has nothing to do with 
them until further orders, leaving us still in 
suspense, as the Indians say if we plant we 
shall not reap, a proof of which we had last 
fall; they almost entirely destroyed all our 
crops of corn, potatoes, etc. Believini; we 
shall receive protection from 3'our excellency 
we shall go on with our farms until the return 
of the bearer; and ever remain your humble 
supplicants, etc." 

This petition was signed by almost all the 
persons who signed the first petition. On 
his way to Belleville in St. Clair County, where 
Governor Reynolds lived, Mr Pike stopped 
over in Fulton County where he secured the 
following affidavit: 

"State of Illinois, Fulton County. 

"Personally appeared before me, Stephen 
Dewey, an acting justice of the peace in and 
for said County of Fulton, and State of Illi- 
nois, Hiram Sanders and Ammyson Chapman, 
of the aforesaid count}- and state, and made 
oath that some time in the month of April 
last they went to the old Indian Sac town, 
about thirtj' miles up Rock River, for the 
purpose of farming and establishing a ferry 
across said river, and the Indians ordered us 
to move awav and not to come there again 
and we remained there a few hours. 

"They then sent for their chief and he in- 
formed us that we might depart peaceabl}' 
and if we did not that he would make us go. 

"He therefore ordered the Indians to 
throw our furniture out of the house; they 
accordingly did so and threatened to kill us 
if we did not depart. We therefore discov- 
ered that our lives were in danger, and 
consequently moved back again to the above 
county. 



"We then supposed them to be principally 
Winnebagoes. 

"H. Sanders. 
"A. Chapmax. 
"Sworn and subscribed this llth day of 
May, 1831. 

"Stephen Dewey, J. P. 

BENJAMIN F. pike's AFFIDAVIT. 

Upon his arrival at Belleville Pike prepared 
the following statement: 

"State of Illinois, St. Clair County. 

"Present, Benjamin F. Pike, before me, a 
justice of the peace in and for the said countj% 
and made oath and deposed, that he has re- 
sided in the vicinitj- of Rock River, in the 
State of Illinois, for almost three years last 
past ; that he is well acquainted with the band 
of the Sac Indians whose chief is the Black 
Hawk, and who have resided and do now 
reside near the mouth of Rock River in this 
state; that he understands so much of the 
said Indian language as to converse with the 
said Indians intelligibly: that he is well 
satisfied that said Indians, to the amount 
of about three himdred warriors, are extreme- 
ly unfriendly to the white people; that said 
Indians are determined, if not prevented by 
force, to drive off the white people, who have 
some of them purchased land of the United 
States near said Indians, and said Indians to 
remain sole occupiers of the said country. 

"That said Indians do not onlj' make 
threats to this effect, but have, in various 
instances, done much damage to said white 
inhabitants, by throwing down their fences, 
destroying the fall grain, pulling off the roofs 
of houses, and positively asserting that if the 
whites do not go away they would kill them: 
that there are about forty inhabitants and 
heads of families in the vicinity of said Indians 
who are immediately affected by said band of 
Indians; that said Pike is certain that said 
forty heads of families, if not protected, will 
be compelled to leave their habitations and 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



29 



homes from the actual injury that said 
Indians will commit on said inhabitants; that 
said band of Indians consists, as above 
stated, of about three hundred warriors, and 
that the whole band is actuated by the same 
hostile feelings towards the white inhab- 
itants; and that, if not prevented by an armed 
force of men, will commit on said white 
inhabitants. That said Indians have said 
that they would fis;ht for their country where 
they reside, and would not permit the white 
people to occupy it at all. That said white 
inhabitants are desirous to be protected, and 
that immediately, so that they may raise 
crops this sprina; and summer. 

"Benjamin F. Pike. 
"Sworn and subscribed before me, this 
26th May, 1831. 

"John H. Dennis, J. P." 

GOVERNOR REYNOLDS ACTS. 

Pike presented his petition from the Rock 
River settlers and these affidavits personally 
to Governor Reynolds, who on the same day 
issued a call for seven hundred mounted 
militia, to move the Indians west of the Miss- 
issippi River. He also wrote the following 
letter to General Clark, Superintendent of 
Indian Affairs : 

"Belleville, 26th May, 1S31. 

"Sir: In order to protect the citizens of 
this state, who reside near Rock River, from 
Indian invasion and depredations, I have 
considered it necessary to call out a force of 
militia of this state of about seven hundred 
strong, to remove a band of the Sac Indians 
who are now about Rock Island. The ob- 
ject of the government of the state is to pro- 
tect those citizens by removing said Indians, 
peaceably if they can, but forcibly if they 
must. Those Indians are now, and so I have 
considered them, in a state of actual invasion 
of the state. 

"As you act as the piiblic agent of the 
United States in relation to those Indians, I 
considered it my duty to inform you of the 



above call on the militia and that in or about 
fifteen days a sufficient force will appear 
before said Indians to remove them, dead or 
alive, over to the west side of the Mississippi; 
but to save all this disagreeable business, per- 
haps a request from yoii to them for them to 
remove to the west side of the river would 
effect the object of procuring peace to the 
citizens of the state. There is no disposition 
on the part of the people of this state to injure 
those unfortunate and deluded savages if they 
will let us alone; but a government that does 
not protect its citizens deserves not the name 
of a government. Please correspond with 
me at this olace on this subject. 

"Your obedient servant, 

"John Reynolds. 
"Gen. Clark, Supt., etc." 

Felix St. Vrain, the then agent for the Sacs 
and Foxes, had in the meantime gone to St. 
Louis and in the following letter sets out the 
situation at Rock River: 

"St. Louis, May 28, 1831. 

"Respected Sir: Since my last of the loth 
inst. on the subject of the band of Sac Indians, 
etc., the Indian village on Rock River near 
Rock Island, I have heard from the Indians 
and some of the whites that a house had been 
unroofed instead of pulled down and burned, 
and that the fence had caught fire by acci- 
dent. As regards the destroying of the 
wheat, etc., the Indians say that a white man 
hauled some timber through a field and left 
the fence down by which means their horses 
got into the field. This, however, has been 
contradicted by the white inhabitants of that 
place. They say that the Indians are con- 
stantly troubling them by letting their horses 
into their fields and killing their hogs, etc. 
This, however, I am confident is occasioned 
in a great measm-e by whiskey being given 
to the Indians in exchange for their guns, 
traps, etc. 

"I had a talk with the principal chief and 
braves of that band of Indians. I spoke to 



30 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



the Hlack Tlnmdor, wlio is the ]irincipal of 
that band. I told them that they had sold 
those lands to the government of the United 
States and that they ought to remove to their 
own lands. They then said that they had 
only sold the lands south of the river. I then 
produced the treaties and explained to them 
that they had relinquished their rights as 
far as the Ouisconsin. Quash-quam-me (the 
Jumping Fish) then said that he had only 
consented to the limits being Rock River, but 
that a Fox chief agreed (as he understands, 
afterwards) for the Ouisconsin; that he 
(Quash-quam-me) had been deceived and that 
he did not intend it to be so. I had consider- 
able talk with them on this subject, and 
could discover nothing hostile in their dispo- 
sition unless their decided conviction of their 
right to the place could be construed as such. 
I have been informed that a white man and 
his family had gone to an Indian village on 
the borders of Rock River about forty miles 
from Rock Island, for the purpose of estab- 
lishing a ferry, and that the Indians at that 
place had driven them away at the same 
time saying to them that they would not 
hurt them, but they should not live there. 
This village is occupied by a mixture of 
Winnebago, Sac and Fox band and headed 
by the Prophet, a chief. I have the honor 
to be 

"Your obedient servant, 

"Felix St. Vr.^in, Indian Agent. 
"Gen. William Clark, Supt. Indian Affairs, 
St. Louis." 

Upon receipt of Governor Reynolds' letter, 
General William Clark sent to General Edward 
P . Gaines the following letter: 

"Superintendency of Indian Affairs. 
"St. Louis, May 28, LS3L 
"Sir: I have the honor to inclose you a 
copy of a letter of '26th inst., just received 
from the Governor of Illinois, by which you 
will perceive he has thought it necessary to 
call out a force of about 700 militia for the 



jjrotoction of the citizens of that state, who 
reside near Rock River, and for the purpose 
of remoA-ing a band of Sacs which he states 
are now about Rock Island. 

"As the commanding general of this divi- 
sion of the army, I have thought it my duty 
to communicate to you the above information; 
and for the pm-pose of putting you in posses- 
sion of the views of the government in rela- 
tion to this subject, as well as to inform you 
of the means which have been heretofore 
employed for the removal of the Sacs now 
complained of, I enclose to you herewith 
coi)i('s of my correspondence with tlie war 
department and with the agent for those 
tribes, also extracts from such of their reports 
as had immediate relation to the subject. 

"The Sacs and Foxes have been counseled 
with on the subject of their removal from the 
lands which they had ceded to the United 
States. The prospect of collisions with the 
white settlers who were then purchasing 
those lands, and the interminable difficulties 
in which they would be involved thereby 
were pointed out, and had the effect of con- 
vincing a large majority of both tribes of the 
impropriety of remaining at their old village. 
They, therefore, acquiesced in the justice of 
the claim of the United States and expressed 
their willingness to comply with my request 
to remove to their new village on lowy River, 
west of the Mississippi, all but parts of two 
bands headed by two inconsiderable chiefs, 
who, after abandoning their old village, have, 
it appears, returned again, in defiance of all 
consequences. 

"Those bands are distinguished and known 
by the name of 'The British Party,' having 
been for many years in the habit of making 
annual visits at Maiden in Upper Canada for 
the purpose of receiving their presents, and 
it is believed to be owing in a great measure 
to the counsels they have there received, that 
so little influence has been acquired over 
them by the L^nited States agents. 

"In justice to Keokuk, Wapello the Stab- 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



31 



bing Chief, and. indeed, all the other real 
chiefs and principal men of both tribes, it 
should be observed that they have constantly 
and zealously co-operated with the govern- 
ment agents in furtherance of its views, and 
in their endeavors to effect the removal of all 
their property from the ceded hinds. 

"Any inform.ation in my possession which 
you may deem necessary in relation to this 
subject will be promjitly afforded. With 
high respect, I have the honor to be 

"Your most oliedient servant, 
" WlLLT.\.\I Cl.\rk. 

"Major-General Edmund P. Gaines, Com- 
manding Western Department, U. S. \. 

"P. iS. The agent for the Sacs and Foxes 
(Mr. St. Vrain) has received his instructions 
and will perform any service you may require 
of liini with the Sacs and Foxes." 

General Clark the same day sent to Gov- 
ernor Reynolds the following communication 
in reply to his letter: 

"Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 
"St. Louis, May 28, 1831. 

"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge 
the receipt of your letter of the '26th inst.. 
informing me of your having considered it 
necessary to call out a force of militia of 
about seven hundred for the protection of t he 
citizens of Illinois who reside near Rock 
Island invasion and for the purpose of remov- 
ing a band of Sac Indians who are now about 
Rock Island, etc. 

' ' You intimate that to prevent the necessity 
of employing this force, perhaps a request 
from me to those Indians to remove to the 
west side of the Mississippi would effect the 
object of procuring peace to the citizens of 
your state. In answer of which I would beg 
leave to observe, that every effort on my 
part has been made to effect the removal of 
all those tribes who had ceded their lands. 
For the purpose of affording you a view (in 
part) of what has been done in this matter, I 
enclose you herewith extracts from the re- 



ports of the agents for the Sacs and Foxes, 
by which it will be seen that every means,- 
short of actual force, has been emplo\'ed to 
effect their rcmo-\-al. 

"I have communicated the contents of your 
letter to General fiaines, who commands the 
western division of the army, and who has 
full power to act and execute any military 
movement deemed necessary for the protec- 
tion of the frontier. I shall also furnish him 
with such information regarding the Sacs and 
Foxes as I am possessed of, and wouhl beg 
leave to refer you to him for any further pro- 
ceedings in relation to this subject. I have 
the honor to be, with great respect, 
"Your obedient servant, 

"Wm. Clark. 

"His Excellency, .John Reynolds, Governor 
of Illinois. " 

Governor Reynolds certaiidy meant lousi- 
ness, for on the same day he sent tlic follow- 
ing letter: 

"Belleville, May 28, 1831. 
"General Gaines. 

"Sir: I have received undoubted informa- 
tion that the section of this state near Rock 
Island is actually invaded by a-ho.stile band 
of the Sac Indians headed by Black Hawk; 
and in order to repel said invasion, and to 
protect the citizens of the state, I have, under 
the provisions of the constitution of the 
United States and the laws of this state, called 
on the militia, to the number of 700 men, who 
will be mounted and ready for service in a 
very short time. I consider it my duty to 
lay before you the al)ove information, so as 
you, commanding the military forces of the 
United States in this part of the Union, may 
adopt such measures in regard to said Indians 
as you deem right. 

"The above mentioned mounted volun- 
teers (because such they will be) will be in 
readiness immediately to move against said 
Indians, and, as Executive of the State of 
Illinois, I respectfully solicit your co-opera- 



32 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



tion in this business. Please honor me with 
an answer to this letter. 

"With sincere respect to your character, 
"I am, your obedient servant, 

"John Reynolds." 

To which letter General Gaines replied as 
follows : 

" H. Q. Western Department, May 29, 1831. 
"His Excellency, Governor Reynolds. 

"Sir: I do myself the honor to acknowl- 
edge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's 
date, advising me of your having received 
undoubted information that the section of 
the frontier of your state near Rock Island is 
invaded by a hostile band of Sac Indians 
headed by a chief called Black Hawk. That 
in order to repel said invasion, and to protect 
the citizens of the state, you have called on 
the militia to the number of 700 militiamen 
to be in readiness immediately to move 
against the Indians, and you solicit my co- 
operation. 

"In reply, it is my duty to state to you 
that I have ordered si.x companies of the 
regular troops stationed at Jefferson Bar- 
racks to embark tomorrow morning and 
repair forthwith to the spot occupied by the 
hostile Sacs. To this detachment I shall, if 
necessary, add four companies. With this 
force I am satisfied that I shall be able to 
repel the invasion and give security to the 
frontier inhabitants of the state. But should 
the hostile band be sustained by the residue 
of the Sac, Fox and other Indians to an ex- 
tent requiring an augmentation of mj^ force, 
I will, in that event, communicate with Your 
Excellency by express and avail myself of the 
co-operation which you propose. But, under 
existing circumstances, and the present as- 
pect of our Indian relations on the Rock 
Island section of the frontier, I do not deem 
it necessary or proper to require militia, or 
any other description of force, other than 
that of the regular army at this place and 
Prairie du Chien. 



• I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
"Your obedient servant, 

"Edmund P. G.unes, 
" Major-Gcneral by Brevet, Command." 

General Clark the following day forwarded 
to the War Department at Washington the 
following communication : 

"Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 
"St. Louis, May 30, 1831. 

"Sir: On the 28th inst. I had the honor 
of receiving a letter from the Governor of 
Illinois dated the 28th. informing me of the 
measures which he had considered it necess- 
ary to pursue for the protection of the citizens 
of his state from Indian invasion and for the 
purpose of removing a band of Sacs then 
about Rock Island. A copy of his letter and 
my answer herewith enclosed. 

"Deeming the information received from 
the Governor of Illinois important, I immed- 
iate!}^ communicated it to General Gaines 
W'ho happened to be in this place at the time, 
and shortly after was called upon by Govern- 
or Reynolds himself, to whom I gave such 
information respecting the Sacs complained 
of as had come to my knowledge, and also 
furnished him with such of the reports of the 
agent for those tribes as had relation to the 
subject. To the Commanding General I 
furnished similar information: and also for 
the purpose of possessing him of the views 
of the government on that subject, I gave 
him copies of such of my correspondence with 
the War Department as had any relation there- 
to. 

"I also enclose to you copies of two reports 
of the agent for the Sacs and Foxes of the 
15th and 28th inst. By the first it will be 
seen that the band complained of is deter- 
mined to keep possession of their old village; 
and it is probable from a knowledge of the 
disposition evinced in the matter by the Sacs 
and for the purpose of dispossessing them, 
that the Commanding General has thought 
proper to make a display in that quarter of a 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L A N D COU N T Y 



33 



part of the force under his command, six 
companies of which are now leaving this 
place for Rock River. The exjiedition (be 
the result what it may) cannot fail of pvo- 
diicing good effects, even should the Indians 
be disposed to move peaceably to their own 
lands; and if not, their opposition should, in 
my opinion, be put down at once. 

"I have the honor to be, with high respect, 
"Your most obedient servant, 

" WlLLI.\lI Cl.vhk. 
"The Hon. John H. Eaton, Secretary of War." 

GAIXES GOES TO FORT AKMSTROXG. 

General Gaines immediately proceeded to 
Fort Armstrong and upon his arrival with his 
troops commenced putting the fort in condi- 
tion to withstand a siege if necessary. The 
six companies he brought with him from Jef- 
ferson Barracks were strengthened by four 
additional companies- from Fort Crawford, 
at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. .\11 the 
settlers in this vicinity were warned of im- 
pending danger and came to the fort with 
their families, bringing their horses, cattle 
and everything of value that could be carried. 
The soldiers began target practice, and morn- 
ing and evening guns were fired, something 
not heretofore done. June 5, General Gaines 
sent for Black Hawk, Keokuk, Wapello and 
other chiefs for the purpose of holding a coun- 
cil. Black Hawk came to the council attended 
by all his chiefs and many warriors, all in war 
paint, carrying arms, and singing war songs. 
None but the chiefs were allowed to enter the 
fort, and here in the presence of Keokuk, 
Wapello, and other head chiefs. General 
Gaines told Black Hawk that he and his band 
must move west of the Mississippi River, and 
that if they did not go, he, Gaines, would move 
them by force. Gaines gave the Indians 
until the twentieth in which to move. Pre- 
vious to this Black Hawk had held two 
inten-iews with the Prophet, a AVinnebago 
living at his village where Prophetstown is 
now located- The Prophet claimed to have 



had visions or dreams, and said that the 
white soldiers would do no one any harm; 
that their object was merely to frighten the 
Indians, and it was upon this information 
that Black Hawk acted. 

GAINES ASKS AID FROM THE GOVERNOR. 

After the council. General Gaines at once 
sent by special messenger the following letter 
to Governor Reynolds: 

"Headquarters, Rock Island, June 5, 1831. 
"John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois. 

"Sir: I do myself the honor to report to 
Your Excellency the result of my conference 
with the chiefs and braves of the band of Sac 
Indians settled within the limits of your state 
near this place. 

"I called their attention to the facts re- 
ported to me of their disorderly conduct 
towards the white inhabitants near them. 
They disavow any intention of hostility but 
at the same time adhere with stubborn perti- 
nacity to their purpose of remaining on the 
Rock River land in question. 

"I notified them of my determination to 
move them, peaceably if possible, but at all 
events to move them to their own side of the 
Mississippi River, pointing out to them the 
apparent impossibility of their living on 
lands purchased by the whites without con- 
stant disturbance. They contended that 
this part of their country had never been sold 
by them. I explained to them the different 
treaties of 1804, '16 and '25, and concluded 
with a positive assurance that they must move 
off, and that I must as soon as they are ready 
assist them with boats. 

"I have this morning learned that they 
have invited the Prophet's band of Winne- 
bagoes on Rock River, with some Pottawat- 
omies and Kickapoos, to join them. If I 
find this to be true, I shall gladly avail nw- 
self of my present visit to see them well 
punished; and, therefore, I deem it to be the 
only safe measure now to be taken to request 
of Your Excellency the battalion of mounted 



34 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



men which you did mo the honor to .^ay 
would eo-operale with me. They will find at 
this post a supply of rations for the men. with 
some corn for their horses, together with a 
supply of powder and lead. 

''I have deemed it expedient under all the 
circumstances of the case to invite the fron- 
tier inhabitants to bring their families to this 
post until the difference is over. 

"I have the honor to lie. with great resjiect, 
"Your obedient servant. 

"Edward P. 0.\iNi:.-i. 

"Major-General by I^revet, Commanding. 

"P. 8. Since writing the foregoing remarks. 
I have learned that the Winnebagoes and 
Pottawatomie Indians have actuallv been 
invited by the Sacs to join them. P>ut the 
former evince no disposition to comply: and 
it is supposed liy Colonel Gratitit, the agent, 
that none will join the Sacs, except, perhaps, 
some few of the Kickapoos. E. P. G." 

This letter evidently pleased Governor Rey- 
nolds for he said: "I was very much rejoiced 
on receiving this letter, as it put my whole 
proceedings on a legal and constitutional 
footing, and the responsibility of the war was 
removed from me to the United States." 

THE settlers' AFFIDAVITS. 

While at Fort Armstrong the settlers had 
prepared another petition, together with 
numerous affidavits, which they presented to 
General Gaines. The following is the sub- 
stance of the de])ositions of sundry citizens 
of the Rock River .settlement, taken before 
William Brasher, J. P., and Joel Wells, J. P.. 
on the 10th of .Tune, 1S31. 

"First. John Wells, John W. Spencer, 
Jonah H. Case, Rennah Wells, Samuel Wells, 
Benjamin F. Pike, Joseph Danforth and 
Moses Johnson, before Wm. Brazer, J. P., 
swear that the Sac Indians did through the 
last year repeatedly threaten to kill them for 
being on their ground, and acted in the most 
outrageous manner; thi-ew down their fences, 



burnt or destroyed their rails, turned horses 
into their cornfields and almost destroyed 
their crops, stole their potatoes, killed and 
ate their hogs, shot arrows into their cattle 
and put out their eyes, thereby rendering 
them useless to their ow-ners, saj-ing the land 
was theirs, and that they had not sold it. 
In April they ordered the deponents to leave 
their hou.ses, and turned from fifty to one 
hundred horses into one man's wheat field, 
threatening that the fields should not be 
reaped, although said owners had purchased 
the land of the United States government. 
The Indians also leveled deadly w^eapons at 
the citizens, and on some occasions hiu't some 
of the said citizens, for attempting to prevent 
the destruction of their property. Also that 
the Indians stole their horses, some of which 
were returned by the agent six or eight months 
after, and in a miserable condition : others 
were never heard of again, Xearly fifty 
Indians headed by their notorious war chief, 
all armed and equipped for war, came to the 
house of Rennah Wells, and ordered him to be 
off or they would kill him. which, for the 
safety of his family, he obeyed. They then 
went to another house, rolled out a barrel of 
whiskey and destroyed it, as well as committing 
many other outrages to the knowledge of the 
deponents. 

"Second. John Wells, before Joel Wells, 
J. P., swore that on the 30th day of Septem- 
ber, 1S30, he saw two Sac Indians throwing 
down his fence, who said they were doing it 
for the purpose of going through, in which 
they persisted although forbidden by the 
owner, and when the owner attempted to 
prevent them, one of them made a pass at 
him with his fist, and drew- his knife on him. 

"Third. Rennah and Samuel Wells, be- 
fore Joel Wells. J. P., swore that on the 29th 
of May a party of Sac Indians, calling them- 
selves chiefs, with Black Hawk at their head, 
came to the house of Rennah Wells, near the 
mouth of Rock River, and said that he must 
let the squaws cultivate his field, which Wells 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



35 



refusing, they beciuno much displeased, and 
told him to go off; upon Wells' refii-sal they 
went away. That on the next day the same 
chiefs, with about fifty warriors, came, armed, 
and told \\'ells that he must move or they 
would cut the throats of himself and family, 
and making motions to that effect, upon which 
said Wells told them that he would take 
counsel and tell them at three o'clock the 
next day w-hat would be his determinaton. 
They consented, and went away; at the ap- 
pointed time they returned and told Wells 
that he must go off, which he accordingly 
did, leaving all his possessions to the Indians. 

"Fourth. Nancy Thompson and Nancy 
Wells before W. J. Brasher, swore that ■ in 
October, 1830. two Indians residing in the 
village forty or fifty miles above the mouth 
of Rock River, and called Sacs or Winneba- 
goes, came to the house of Rennah Wells 
and commenced chasing some sheep, as if thej' 
would kill them. Those Indians were ordered 
to desist, upon which they drew their knives 
and made at the woman, who being alarmed, 
called for assistance. Samuel Wells being 
sick in the house at the time, ran out with a 
pitchfork, and the Indians pursued no farther. 
London L. Case heard the alarm given, and 
joined. The Indians then returned to the 
river bank eighty or one hundred yards dis- 
tant; when Case, thinking they were still in 
pursuit of the sheep, went to ascertain the 
truth, and coming near the Indians they 
wounded him severely in three places with a 
knife and tomahawk. 

"Fifth. Joseph Danforth, before Joel Wells, 
J. P., swore that he saw Sacs at a fence be- 
longing to John Wells, who forbid them go- 
ing through, when they continued throwing 
down the fence. Wells attempted to prevent 
them, when one of the Indians strttck him 
with his fist, and drew his knife. Danforth 
got a stick, and. the Indians making several 
attempts toward Danforth, he (Danforth) 
knocked one of them down with his stick. 
The Indian rose several times and made at 



Danfoi'th with hi.s knife, and^finally deserted 
the groimd, leaving his knife." 

THE .\GEXT FEARS TROUBLE. 

June 4, General Gaines wrote to Henry 
Gratiot, sub-Indian agent, to investigate the 
situation at the Sac village at once; and on 
the twelfth that gentleman sent the follow- 
ing reply: 

"Rock Island, June 12, 1831. 

"Sir: I have the honor to report to you 
that, agreeably to my intimation to you I 
visited the village of Sac Indians near this 
place yesterday for the purpose of persuading 
off the Winnebago Prophet and some young 
men of his band whom I knew had previously 
been there and, I believe, with an intention to 
support the Sac Indians. I found that the 
Prophet had just left there for his village, 
which is within my agency upon Rock River, 
and although he had previously promised 
that he would retiu-n home and remain there, 
I have reason to believe that his object is to 
get as many of his band and of the other 
bands of the, Winnebagoes (who reside at 
Rock River, within my agency) as he can, for 
the purpose of joining the Sacs and of sup- 
porting them in their present pretensions. 

"I have recently been at some of the prin- 
cipal villages of Winnebagoes within my 
agency, and have ascertained from \mques- 
tionable authority that, although they had 
been invited to join the Sacs, they had re- 
fused to do so. I think it will be prudent for 
me to follow the Prophet, to prevent him 
from influencing any of the Indians up the 
river to join him. Should I, however, find 
that any of the warriors have left before my 
arrival amongst them, I will (if you think 
it best) return immediately to this place, 
bringing with me three or four influential 
chiefs, who can be relied on and who will, 
with my assistance, I think, be able to con- 
trol them. 

"In my opinion there are at least 400 
warriors at the Sac village which I visited 



36 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



yesterday, apparently determined to defend 
themselves in their present position. On the 
receipt of your letter on the 4th inst., I 
immediately hastened to this place with a 
view to give you the most satisfactory infor- 
mation upon the subject of it and tender my 
ser\'ices in anj"^ way you may think useful. 
"I am, respectfully yours. 
"Henry Gr.\tiot, Sub-Agent, etc. 
"Major-General Gaines." 

THE ROCK RIVER RANGERS. 

At the suggestion of General Gaines the 
men and larger boys of the settlement formed 
themselves into a compan}\ elected officers, 
and named themselves "Rock River Rang- 
ers," and tendered their ser\-ices to General 
Gaines, who accepted the company of fifty- 
eight men, and mustered them into the ser- 
vice. No record of this company's enroll- 
ment has been found, it probably never hav- 
ing been forwarded to Washington. Judge 
Spencer in his "Reminiscences," gives June 
5th as the date. The following is a roster of 
the company: 

Captain: Benjamin F. Pike. 

First Lieutenant: John W. Spencer. 

Second Lieutenant: Griffith Aubury. 

Sergeants: James Haskill, Leonard Bryant, 
Edward Corbin. 

Corporals: Charles French, Benjamin Goble, 
Charles Case. Henry Benson. 
Allen, Archibald Noble, Amos C. 

Brashar, William T. Syms, Thomas 



Bane, John 
Bartlett, Michael 
Been, Joseph 
Case, Jonah H. 
Danforth, Joseph 
Davis, Thomas 
Dance, Russell 
Frith, Lsaiah 
Gardner, Thomas 
Harlan, George W. 
Hultz, Uriah S. 
Hubbard, Thomas 



Sj^ms, Robert 
Sams, William F. 
Smith, Martin W. 
Stringfield, Sevier 
Thompson, Joel 
VandrufT, Joshua 
Vandruff, Henry 
Vandruff, Samuel 
Vannetta, Benjamin 
Vannetta, Gorham 
Varner, Edward 
Wells, Levi 



Hubbard, Goodridge 


Wells, 


George 


Henderson, Cyrus 


Wells, 


Joel Sr. 


Johnson, Moses 


Wells, 


Joel, Jr. 


Ivinney, John W. 


Wells, 


Huntington 


Kinney, Samuel 


Wells, 


John 


Leek, Conrad 


Wells, 


Samuel 


Levitt, Thomas 


Wells, 


Rinnah 


McNeil, Henry 


Wells, 


Asaph 


Miller, George 


Wells, 


Eri 


McGoe, Gentrv 


Wells, 


Ira 



THE ILLINOIS .SOLDIERS. 

Governor Reynolds in defending Ixis posi- 
tion in calling out the militia said: "If I did 
not act, and the inhabitants were murdered 
after being informed of their situation, I 
would be cnndomned from Dan to Beersheba: 
and if I levied by raising troops, when there 
w£Cs no necessity for it, I would also be re- 
sponsible." Governor Reynolds knew that 
the settlers had applied to the Indian agent 
and the military officers of the United States 
and had obtained no relief, and he says: 
"I considered it my duty to call on the vol- 
unteers to move the Indians to the west side 
of the Mississippi." It was but seventeen 
years after the close of the war of 1812 and 
these same Sacs and Foxes had fought the 
Americans in that war. There were many 
of the old soldiers still young enough to 
enlist and they inflamed the young men to 
appear against their old foe. The governor 
had extracts from the petitions sent him 
circulated throughout the counties from 
which he had asked for troops. Moreover, 
he made, as he saj-s, "both private and pub- 
lic speeches to the masses," and urged the 
people and his friends to turn out for the 
defense of the frontier. He adds: "The 
warm feelings of the late election for govern- 
or had not yet died away, and my election- 
eering friends converted their electioneering 
fever into the militarj-, which was a powerful 
lever in the crusade for Rock Island." 

Although it was the most busy time in the 
year with the farmers some 1,600 responded 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



37 



to the governor's call and appeared at Beards- 
town on or about the 10th of June. Some 
were armed with muskets, some with shot- 
guns and some with no firearms -whatsoever, 
but all were mounted. The governor man- 
aged to purchase enough muskets from a 
Beardstown merchant for the remainder of 
the troops. These muskets were light pieces, 
made with brass barrels for the South Amer- 
ican service, and answered the purpose. 
The governor appointed Joseph Duncan, 
then a member of Congress and afterwards 
governor of this state, brigadier general to 
take immediate command of the l)rigade, 
and Samuel Whiteside a major, to take com- 
mand of a spy battalion. 

This army left its encampment near Rush- 
ville for Rock Island June 15, the governor 
marching with the brigade. After a pleasant 
march the army encamped at Rockport, now 
Andalusia. Here there had been previously 
erected a small log cabin or stockade, which 
was used as headquarters. During the after- 
noon a steamboat arrived at the encampment, 
coming from Fort Armstrong, loaded with 
provisions. The camp at Rockport was laid 
out according to military practice, pickets 
were placed, as it was feared the Indians 
might make a night attack, and the utmost 
vigilance was observed. The night was a 
beautiful one and it passed off quietly without 
any disturbance. 

GENERAL GAINES MAKES A DEMONSTRATION. 

On the 18th of June, General Gaines sent 
from Fort Armstrong the steamboat Enter- 
prise, carrying one company of soldiers and 
one cannon. The boat steamed up Rock 
River, and passed the Indian village, the ob- 
ject being to overawe and intimidate the 
Indians. Black Hawk said: "The water 
being shallow, the boat got around, which 
gave the whites some trouble. If they had 
asked for assistance, there was not a brave in 
my bantl who would not willingly have aided 
them." Judge John W. Spencer who was on 



the boat says: "Strange to say, although a 
steamboat was seldom seen in those days, 
the Indians seemed not to take the least 
notice of the boat, not even looking at it, and 
even the women and children showed no signs 
of wonder or fear." 

PREPARE TO ATTACK. 

On the morning of June 20th, bright and 
early, General Duncan marched his army 
from Rockport to a position on Rock River 
opposite the Sac village. An attempt was 
made to ferry the troops across, but it proved 
too slow, and General Gaines being shown a 
ford by George S. Miller, the army marched 
across through the water to Vandruff's 
Island. General Gaines left Fort Armstrong 
on the steaml)oat Enterprise, which had been 
fortified, and which carried one company of 
regulars and several cannon. The Enterprise 
entered Rock River and steamed up stream 
until opposite the Sac village where it met 
General Duncan's army with, which it was to 
co-operate. The other nine companies of reg- 
ular, together with the Rock River Rangers, 
under command of Captain John Bliss, the 
then commandant of Fort Armstrong, 
marched from the fort to the Indian town. 

Judge Spencer in his Reminiscences says: 
"Major Bliss formed our company of Rock 
River Rangers in an extended line of a half 
mile in front of the regulars, with one cannon 
in the rear, for our march for Rock River. 
We marched near where the road is now 
traveled until we reached General Rodman's 
land, then turning to the left until reaching 
the top of the bluff, taking the direction of 
Black Hawk's Watch Tower. On arriving 
there, we planted the cannon on the brow of 
the bluff and then commenced throwing 
grape and cannister into the bushes on Van- 
druff's Island." Vandruff's Island at this 
time was covered with bushes and vines so as 
to be impenetrable to the sight at a distance 
of twenty feet. The Enterprise was run to 
the lower point of the island and several 



3S 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



rounds of grape and cannister were shot into 
the bushes to see if any enemy was there. 
The spy battalion under Whiteside then 
formed a line of battle ;uul swept the island. 
and it was then learned that the north bank 
of Rock River was so near and so high that 
the firing had no effect. General Duncan's 
army followed in the wake of Whiteside's 
spy battalion and before thej^ got to the north 
side of the island the army was so jammed up 
and mixed together that no one knew where 
his company or regiment was. In the mean- 
time Captain Bliss with the regulars and the 
Rock River Rangers had learned that it was 
impossible from that distance to distinguish 
Indians from regulars or volunteers, and that 
their shots were as likely to kill friend as foe. 
The Indian village now became exposed to 
view but no Indians were to be seen. The 
river, narrow but deep, lay between the army 
and the village, and the main part of Duncan's 
army remained on the island \mtil scows were 
foiuid in which they were ferried across." 

Black Hawk says: "We crossed the river 
during the night and encamped some distance 
below Rock Island." He said he would have 
remained and been taken prisoner by the 
regulars but that he "was afraid of the multi- 
tude of palefaced militia, who were on horse- 
back, as they were under no restraint of their 
chiefs." 

THE ISUK.VIXli OF .S.AC VILL.\GE. 

The Illinois militia had come to fight 
Indians and when they fo\md the redmen 
gone, they became determined to be avenged 
upon something. Shortly after they reached 
the Indian village it began to rain and soon 
the rain descended in torrents, and early the 
morning of the 26th, the troops commenced 
setting fire to the houses. Soon the frail 
dwellings were wrapped in flames and in less 
than one hour's time almost every wigwam 
in the village was in ashes. Governor Ford 
who was present said: ".-^nd thus perished 
an ancient village which had once been the 



delightful home of six or seven thousand 
Indians; where generation after generation 
had been born, had died and been buried; 
where the old men had taught wisdom to the 
young; whence the Indian youth had often 
gone out in parties to hunt or to war, and • 
returned in triumph to dance aroimd the 
spoils of the forest, or the scalps of their 
enemies; and where the dark-eyed Indian 
maidens by their presence and charm.s, had 
made it a scene of delightful enchantment to 
nianj' an admh-ing warrior." 

THE ST.\MPKDE. 

The army spent the night at the Indian 
town, the regulars, however, going back to 
the fort. On the morning of .Time 26, Gener- 
al Duncan marched his army to the Mississ- 
ippi River and encamped on the exact spot 
where the City of Rock Island is now located, 
the camp extending from where the Rock 
Island Railway Company's freight depot is 
now located down to wheie the present ferry 
dock stands. 

The horses, some sixteen hundred, were 
pastured in the bend of the river below and 
a strong guard placed around them. During 
the second night a steamboat came up the 
ri\er and when opposite where the horses 
were kept commenced blowing its whistle. 
This imnatural noise at night so frightened 
the animals that they broke loose and stam- 
peded, and it was with difficulty that their 
guards escaped being trampled to death. 
The frightened animals ran out on the prairies, 
up and down both river banks, and it was 
several days before they could be recovered, 
some few however being lost. 

BLACK HAWK FORCED TO SIGX THE TKE.\TV. 

General Gaines on the 27th sent a notice 
to Black Hawk that if he did not come to 
Fort Armstrong he would come after him 
with his army, a few of the Indians appeared 
but not Black Hawk. Gaines then sent a 
peremptory order to the chief and in a few 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



39 



days Black Hawk and his chiefs and head- 
men to the number of twenty-eight appeared 
at Fort Armstrong, and on June 30th, 1831, 
a new treaty was signed by which the British 
band of Sacs again agreed to make their 
homes on the west side of the Mississippi and 
never to cross such river,, except with the 
consent of the President of the United States 
or of the Governor of Illinois. Black Hawk 
signed this treaty and then for the first time 
ratified, against his will, the treaty of 1804. 
This treaty was signed by General Gaines 
and Governor Reynolds for the United States, 
and by Black Hawk and twenty-seven chiefs 
and warriors for the Sacs and Foxes. The 
vohniteer army was not satisfied with the 
result of this campaign and called the treaty 
a "Corn Treaty'' because General Gaines had 
given to the destitute Indians corn to keep 
them from starving. The army was dis- 
banded on Jul}' 2d, and the men returned to 
their homes. Not a man was injured or 
killed, either by accident or bj' the Indians: 
nor did any die of disease, and strange to say 
none ever applied for a pension. This ended 
the first Black Hawk campaign. 

For a long time after the signing of this 
treaty there was considerable discussion and 
much feeling over the question whether 
Generals Gaines and Duncan knew that Black 
Hawk and his Indians had deserted their 
village on the night of the 19th of June. 
Thomas Ford, afterwards Governor of Illinois, 
who was a militia volunteer and marched 
ahead with the spies, said: 

"Gaines and Duncan had reason to believe 
before the commencement of the march from 
the camp on the Mississippi, that the Indians 
had departed from their village; that measures 
had been taken to ascertain the fact before 
the volunteers crossed to Vandruff's Island; 
General Duncan, in company with the ad- 
vanced guard, following the spies, preceded 
the main army in crossing, and that this will 
account for the want of order and confusion 
in the march of the troops." When the 



militia arrived opposite the Sac village the 
greatest confusion reigned in their midst. 
George S. Miller, a resident of this county, 
acted as guide, and when it became known 
that the Indians were not in the village, 
General Duncan began to reprimand Miller 
for not letting him know that the main river 
was on the north side of Vandruff's Island. 
Miller cursed him to his face at the head of 
his troops for refusing his services as a guide 
when offered the night before, and also cen- 
sured him for not giving information which 
had been offered him, which inclines me to 
the belief that both Generals Gaines and 
Diuu'an knew that the Indians had departed. 
As witnesses to this treaty we find the 
names of two Rock Island settlers, Joseph 
Danforth and Benjamin V. I'ike. 

THE ULAfK HAWK WAH. 

Black Hawk with his l)and now removed to 
Iowa near the mouth of the Des Moines 
River, at the site of the abandoned Fort Mad- 
ison. Neapope, second in command, took a 
trip to Maiden, Canada, and upon his return 
in the fall of 1831, told Black Hawk that he 
would receive assistance from the British. 

The Prophet, whose village on Rock River 
was where Prophetstown, Illinois, now is, 
and who had great influence over Black 
Hawk, also sent word that the Ottawas, 
("hippewas, Pottawatomies and Winnebagoes 
would be with him and would render aid. 
Black Hawk after receiving these messages 
said: "We are to be happy once more." 
Black Hawk now directed all his efforts to 
getting together his warriors in anticipation 
of his march to his old village and its occupa- 
tion, and prepared for an attack by the Amer- 
icans should they again undertake to drive 
him away. The ami}- through spies was 
kept informed of Black Hawk's actions, and 
early in April, Keokuk sent to Fort Arm- 
strong a warning that Black Hawk was about 
to commence his march to reoccupy his old 
village. 



40 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Again messengers were sent out from Fort 
Armstrong to warn the settlers of their dan- 
ger and advising them to seek shelter at once, 
either at Fort Armstrong or in the stockade 
which had been erected around the trading 
store of Davenport and Farnham. The 
most daring and persevering of these messen- 
gers was Judge John W. Spencer. On foot 
he traveled as far as Dixon, going from cabin 
to cabin somiding the alarm and advising the 
settlers to seek protecti(ni. We cannot realize 
today the wild excitement and dread despair 
the news of an Indian ujjrising cavised among 
our pioneer settlers. Few if any had horses 
to use in carrying their families and goods. 
Oxen were the beasts of burden and the 
settlers were obliged to take wliat little they 
could and carry it on their persons. John 
Wakefield, in his history of the Black Hawk 
War wi'itten in 1834, gives an amusing sketch 
of the excitement attendant upon the news 
of the expected Indian attack. He says: 
"In the eastern part of the state the people 
were as much alarmed as in the northwest. 
DiH-ing one of the many false alarms that 
' The Indians are coming' a family was living 
near the Irocjuois River that had no horses 
l)ut a large family of small chiliiren. Tlie 
father and mother each took a child and the 
rest were directed to follow on foot as fast as 
possible. The eldest daughter also carried 
one of the children that was not able to keep 
up. They fled to the river where they had 
to cross. The father had to carry over all the 
children at different times as the stream was 
high and so rapid the mother and daughter 
could not stem the current with such a l.iur- 
den. When they all, as they thought, had 
got over they started when the cry of poor 
little Susan was heard on the opposite bank 
asking if they were not going to take her 
with them. The frightened father again 
prepared to plunge into the strong current 
for his child, when the mother, seeing it, 
cried out: 'Never mind Susan! We have 
succeeded in getting ten over which is more 



than we expected at first and we can better 
spare Susan than you, my dear.' So poor 
Susan, who was only about four years old, 
was left to the mercy of the frightful sav- 
ages." But little Susan came off unhurt, as 
one of the neighbors who was out hunting 
came along and took charge of her. 

THE TURKEY SCARE. 

All the settlers in this vicinity had come to 
Fort Armstrong and taken quarters there or 
in the stockade, l)oth of which were over- 
crowded. After the first scare, the settlers 
wanted to go back to their farms and do 
their spring planting. Captain Bliss, who 
commanded at the fort, yielded to their re- 
quest, and arranged with them a signal of 
alarm in case the.v or any of them should be 
attacked, or were in imminent danger of an 
attack, which signal was that they should 
"fire off a gun." When such gun was fired, 
every one should flee to the Island. .\]n-\\ 
7. Joshua \'andruff and Hackley Samms, 
while crossing Vandruff Island, saw a flock 
of wild turkeys. They could not resist the 
temptation and, creeping within raitge. fired 
their guns at the flock, each man bringing 
down his l>ir(l. Tlie noise of the two guns 
c()\ild be heard all over the settlement and it 
caused the greatest excitement, filling the 
hearts of the settlers with terror. Mothers 
caught their children and fled towards the 
fort. Those who had horses and were plow- 
ing, hastily, unhitched the animals, loaded 
their families upon the horses and started to- 
wards the fort. It is said some of the settlers 
fled pell-mell, leaving their families to take 
care of themselves. Vandruff and Samms 
soon realized the mistake, especially Joshua, 
when he encountered his wife and their ten 
children, running towards the fort. When 
the settlers reached the Mississippi they 
crowded the few skiffs tied to the shore and 
some came near being drowned. Captain 
Bliss had heard the gun-shots and hastily 
called together a company of his regulars and 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



41 



started to meet the Indians, while Captain Phil 
Kearney, who was left in command of the 
fort, began preparing it for a siege. Bliss and 
his men got nearly to Rock River when they 
met Vandruff and Samms running after the 
fleeing settlers trying to explain the mistake. 
When these two told the captain "how it 
happened," it is said the air became impreg- 
nated with sulphur, so loud and vehemently 
did that warrior swear. For many years after- 
wards, the "turkey scare" was a tender spot 
with Vandruff and Samms. 

BLACK HAWK STARTS. 

TIic 6th of April, 1S32. Black Hawk, with 
about 1,00U Indians, including warriors, 
women, old men and children, together with all 
their possessions, crossed the Mississippi at 
Yellow Banks (Oquawka) and leisurely pro- 
ceeded up the east bank of the river to Rock 
River and thence up that river opposite to 
his old village where he camped the night of 
April 12. The next morning he started for 
the Prophet's village with the intention, as 
he said, " to make corn." There is and always 
has been a question whether Black Hawk, 
when he crossed the Mississippi River and 
invaded Illinois in 1832, intended attacking 
the Americans, or merely again occupying 
his village with the intention of resisting 
forcible removal, or whether he intended 
going to the Prophet's village merely to raise 
a crop. If he wanted merely to raise a crop, 
he could have done that as easily at the mouth 
of the Des Moines River as at Prophetstown. 
From Black Hawk's biography we learn that 
the trip to Prophetstown was part of his plan 
to again' get control of the site of his ancient 
village and his cornfields. He tells us that 
while at the Des Moines "I concluded that I 
had better keep my band together, and re- 
cruit as many more as possible, so that I 
would be prepared to make the attempt to 
rescue my village in the spring." He then, 
as he says, "tried to recruit braves from 
Keokuk's band," and "requested my people 



to rendezvo\is at that place, and sent out sol- 
diers to bring in the warriors, and stationed 
my sentinels in a position to prevent any from 
moving up until all were ready." 

The taking with him his women, children 
and old men would indicate that he did not 
on that trip contemplate war, as no Indian 
war party ever carries with it the women or 
children. Black Hawk undoubtedly intended 
taking his women and children to the Pro- 
phet's village, there to leave them to make 
a crop, and during the summer continue his 
recruiting and possibly in the fall occupy 
his village. For had he intended going to war 
at once he would have stop])pd at his village 
and there made his defense. 

At Yellowbanks the Prophet met Black 
Hawk, and made a talk to his braves, telling 
them "that as long as they were peaceable, 
the Americans would not dare molest them. 
That we were not yet ready to act otherwise. 
We must wait until we ascend Rock River 
and receive o\u' reinforcements and we will 
then be able to withstand an army." 

GENERAL ATKINSON COMES TO FORT ARM- 
STRONG. 

On J>me 31, 1831, a war party of nearly 
lUO Sacs and Foxes had attacked a camp of 
Menominees situated about one half a mile 
about Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien and 
killed twenty-five. Black Hawk says the 
killed were Sioux and Menominees. Be- 
tween the former and the Sacs and Foxes 
there had always been a bitter and hostile 
feeling. April 1, 1S32, General Henry Atkin- 
son, then commanding Jefferson Barracks at 
St. Louis, received orders to pro('eed up the 
Mississippi and demand from the Sacs and 
Foxes the principals engaged in the nuu-dcr 
of the Menominees. Atkinson left St. Jjouis 
April 8, with six companies of the Sixth Regi- 
ment. 220 men accompanying the expedition. 
Albert Sidney Johnson, afterwards a Confed- 
erate general, was a second lieutenant in this 
command. 



42 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



April 10. Atkinson's army reached the Des 
^Toines Rapids, where they were informed 
that Black Hawk and his warriors were 
marching up the river. The army now has- 
tened to Fort Armstrong, arriving there the 
night of the Tith. The loth, General Atkin- 
son called the Indians then in that vicinity to 
the fort. Among those who came were Keo- 
kuk and Wapello. Atkinson demanded the 
murderers of the Menominees and these two 
disclaimed any part in that aflfair. General 
Atkinson then started for Fort Crawford and 
also sent out messengers to warn the settlers 
of Black Hawk's coming. On the 19th of the 
month. General Atkinson returned to Fort 
Armstrong. .Accompanying him was Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterwards 
President of the United States, and two com- 
panies of the First Infantry. Before leaving 
Fort Armstrong. General Atkinson had sent 
a letter to Ciovernor Reynolds asking for state 
aid. 

.A.fter Black Hawk passed his old village, 
General Atkinson sent Captain Phil Kearney 
up Rook River after him, with orders for 
Black Hawk to return and recross the Miss- 
issippi, which order Black Hawk refused to 
obey, claiming his mission was a peaceful one. 

The news that Black Hawk and his war- 
riors were again marching up Rock River 
alarmed the whole northern frontier and the 
Governor daily received messages asking pro- 
tection. George Davenport, the Indian tra- 
der on Rock Island, had before General 
Gaines' arrival written him: ''From everj' 
information I have received, I am of the 
opinion that the intention of the British band 
of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on 
the inhabitants of the frontier." 

THE governor's PROCLAMATION. 

April 16. Governor Reynolds received 
General Atkinson's letter, asking the assist- 
ance of the state militia. Promptly on the 
same day the Governor issued the following 
proclamation: 



"to the militia of the NORTHWESTERN 
SECTION OF THE STATE. 

'■ Fellow- Citizens: 

"Your country requires your services. 
The Indians have assumed a hostile attitude 
and have invaded the state in violation of the 
treaty of last summer. The British band of 
Sacs and other hostile Indians, headed by 
Black Hawk, are in possession of the Rock 
Ri\er country to the great terror of the fron- 
tier inhabitants. I consider the settlers on 
the frontier to be in imminent danger. I am 
in possession of the above information, from 
gentlemen of resjjectable standing, and also 
from General .Atkinson, whose character 
stands high with all classes. In possession of 
the above facts and information, I have not 
hesitated as to the course I should pursue. 
No citizen ought to remain inactive when 
his country is invaded, and the helpless part 
of the community are in danger. I have 
called out a strong detachment of militia to 
rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d inst. 
Provisions for the men and food for the horses 
will be furnished in abundance. 

I hope my coimtrymen will realize my ex- 
pectations and offer their services, as hereto- 
fore, with promptitude and cheerfulness, in 
defence of their country." 

The season was wet and backward, and 
the farmers had lieen delayed in their work 
but, as in the year 1831, volunteers were 
eager and willing to offer their ser^-ices, many 
of the most influential men in the state en- 
listing and many who neither had horses or 
could procure them, marching on foot. 

April 27, the militia left Rushville and 
marched to Yellow Banks (Oquawka) from 
whence they marched up the Mississippi to 
the mouth of Rock River which they reached 
May 7. General Atkinson mustered the 
troops into the service of the United States, 
and May 9 they commenced their march up 
Rock River. Before marching Governor Rey- 
nolds engaged the sersdces of Thomas Ivinney, 
a Rock Island settler as a guide, Mr. Kinney 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



43 



being able to understand a little of the Sac 
language. In the march up the river, Gen- 
eral Whiteside with the Illinois Volunteers 
marched on the east side. While General 
Atkinson, with four hundred regulars came, 
some on the west side and some in boats with 
the supplies. With Atkinson was Colnnel 
Zachary Taylor. 

A ROCK ISL.\ND CO.MP.AXY. 

It seems the martial spirit of the citizens 
of Rock Island County was not stilled or 
satisfied by the march of the Rock River 
Rangers in 1831 from Fort Armh^tronj; to the 
8ac village, for in 1832 we find one company 
enrolled in the service where every menil>(>r 
save one was from Rock Island County, that 
one beinu- a brother of the captain, and he 
came from Adams County to enlist under liis 
brother. The following is from the rolls as 
corrected and now on file iia the \A ar Depart- 
ment at Washinjrton. 

They all resided in Rock Island County, 
with the exception of Thomas Kenney, who 
was from Adams County. 

Captain, John W. Kenney, enrolled May 20, 
1832; First Lieutenant. Joseph Danforth. en- 
rolled May 20; Privates, Thomas Davis, en- 
rolled May 20; Manly Danforth, enrolled July 
1; Samuel Danforth, enrolled May 20: Sam- 
uel Kenney, enrolled May 20, on furlough; 
Thomas Kenney, enrolled June 12: Gentry 
McGee, enrolled May 20; Henry McNeal, en- 
rolled May 20; Neel McNeal, enrolled July 1; 
James Maskal, enrolled May 20; Martin Smith, 
enrolled May, 20; William H. Sannns, en- 
rolled July 1; Joel Thompson, enrolled May 
20; William Thompson, enrolled May 20; Ira 
Wells, enrolled May 20; Eri Wells, enrolled 
May 20; Asaph Wells, enrolled :\Iay 20; Nel- 
son Wells, enrolled May 20; Raniuih ^^'ells 
enrolled May 20; Jeol Wells, Jr., enrolled May 
20; Joel Wells, Sr., enrolled May 20; Luke 
Wells, Sr., enrolled May 20. 

After being received into the I'nited States 
service at Fort Armstrong, this company was 



assigned to Colonel Moore's regiment and 
nuirched up Rock River to Dixon, where it 
was assigned to art odd mounted battalion, 
commanded by Major Samuel Bogart, and 
was ordered to do guard duty on the frontier. 
It was mustered out September 4, 1832, at 
Macomb, 

The companies composing this odd bat- 
talion were: Captains Peter Butter's of War- 
ren County, John W, Kenne}''s of Rock Island 
County, James White of Hancock County, 
John Sain's of Fulton County, William Mc- 
]\Iurty's of Knox County and Asel F. Ball's 
of Fulton County. It is impossible to learn 
just what duty the battalion did to which 
the Rock Island ccunpany was assigned. 
Reynolds in "My Own Times" says: "On 
tlip 12th of June I ordered a battalion to be 
organized and to select their officers, to gviard 
the frontiers between the ^lississippi and 
Peoria on the north of Illinois River, Sam- 
uel Bogart was elected major of the battalion," 

From another attthority, I learn that the 
company did guard diitj- on the frontier, 
drew its rations daily, ate heartily, played 
euchre and received the remunerative sum 
of 86 cents per day for each man and his 
horse. Samuel Bogart, the major of the odd 
battalion to which Kenney's company was 
attached, was before enlistment a merchant 
in McDonough County, 

OTHER ROCK ISLAND SOLDIERS. 

Rock Island County fm-nished more sol- 
diers than those given in Captain John W. 
Kenney's company. Yet, I have been able 
to trace but few owing to the fact that the 
rolls are by no means complete. A large num- 
ber joined the state militia and were never 
sworn into the United States ser\ ice, conse- 
quently no lecord was kept and their names 
will rcunain forever unknown. I have fre- 
quently' heard certain of oiu- old citizens 
claim to have been in the Black Hawk War, 
and have made diligent search for their names, 
I give in this sketch only such names as ap- 



44 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



pear on record in the rejiorts of the war de- 
partment. 

All enlistments were from twenty to thirty 
days and a great many enlisted in another 
company on the same day that their term of 
enlistment in one company expired. 

KOSWELL U. SPKNCER. 

Roswell H. Spencer was a brother of Judge 
John W. Spencer and was one of the very early 
settlers. He seems to have been an ardent 
patriot, having three enlistments to his credit, 
ser\'ing out each enlistment, and npon his 
term of service expiring again enlisting in a 
new company. He enlisted first in Captain 
Thomas Carlin's company which lielonged to 
what was known as the spy battalion. He 
was enrolled May 10 at Rock Island, and 
mustered out May 27 at the mouth of the Fox 
River. He again enlisted May 27, 1832, in 
Captain A. W. Snyder's company and was 
mustered out of service Juno 21, at Dixon's 
Ferry on Rock River. The same day we find 
him again enlisting in Captain Jacob M. 
Early's company and he was mustered out on 
White Water River on Rock River, July 10, 
1832, by order of Brigadier General Atkinson, 
United States Army. This was one of the 
companies in which Abrah.-im Lincoln served 
as a private. 

JAMES KNETSAR. 

James Knetsar, who for many years lived 
in Moline and who died there in the eighties, 
was a member of Captain David Powell's 
company of mounted volunteers. He enlisted 
in White County on June 16th, and was 
mustered out of the service on August 2d at 
Dixon's Ferry (Dixon). The original records 
give his name as "James Netson." but they 
have since been corrected. Mr. Knetsar 
lost his horse, saddle and bridle in the sen-ice. 

REDDISH, THE TUNNELS AND EAMES. 

In Captain Thomas Carlin's company, we 
find enrolled \vith Roswell H. Spencer, John 
Reddish, who enlisted at Rock Island May 



10; Luther Tunnel and William Ttmnel, who 
were also enrolled that day. The records 
show that the night of May 22, Luther Tunnel 
lost his horse, account "affright of horses," 
there being a stampede that night. This 
company was part of an odd battalion of 
spies, commanded by Major D. Henry of the 
brigade of mounted volunteers commanded 
by Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside. It 
w'as mustered out of the service of the United 
States at the mouth of Fox River on the 
Illinois River May 27, 1832, and as the com- 
pany was originally mustered in at Carrcflton, 
the men were discharged two himdred and 
thirty miles from the place of their enroll- 
ment. 

John Reddish was also in Captain Samuel 
Smith's compan}-, servuig from May 27 to 
Jime 15. 

Charles Eamcs, who was sheriff of this 
county from 1837 to 1839, was a member of 
Captain Enoch Dimcan's company of mounted 
riflemen, commanded by Colonel H. Dodge. 
He enlisted in company with his brother May 
19, 1S32. He was mustered out of the sendee 
September 14. 

THE WELLS FAMILY. 

The Wells family seems to have been a 
family of fighters. We find eleven of them 
enrolled in the company of Rock River 
Rangers in 1831, and in 1832 we find eight of 
these enrolled in Captain Kinney's company. 
Lucius Wells and John Wells were with 
Spencer in Captain A. W. Snyder's company 
and were present and participated in the 
battle of Kellogg's Grove. Samuel Wells 
was also a member of Captain Seth Pratt's 
company of Illinois Volunteer Militia, sta- 
tioned at Fort Armstrong, in the sendee of 
the United States from April 21 to June 3, 
1832. 

CAPTAIN SETH PRATT's COMPANY. 

I find a company of Illinois Volunteer 
Militia was stationed at Fort Armstrong and 
was in the service of the United States from 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



45 



April 21 to June 3, 1832, when it was ninstored 
out. This company did garrison duty. The 
records say it was composed of men from 
Rock Island and adjacent counties, but I 
have been unable to place but one, he being 
Samuel Wells. The ro.ster of the company is: 

Captain: Seth Pratt. 

Lieutenants: John il. Crabtree, Joseph 
I.eister. 

Sergeants: Simpson Stewart, William B. 
Sisk, Elihu Sparks, .\braham Crabtree. 

Corporals: James Stockson, George Yates, 
James Keller, James Curry. Thomas Biu'ton. 

Fifer: James Carr. 

Privates: Gordon Acton, Nathan P>rad!.i\u'y, 
Henry Brantly, C. Girdwell, Isaac liooth, 
Daniel Brock, Amos Bradley, John J^radshaw, 
John M. Bohvare, Henry Castlebury, Stejihen 
L. Cooper, John Davis, Sanuiel Smith, Hem-y 
Ford, William Foster, Isaac GuUiher, Parnell 
Hamilton, Harrison Hunly, William Hopper, 
Alfred Jackson, Jonathan Leighton, Nicholas 
Long, James M. Low, Iredell Lawrence, Mar- 
tin Langston, Samuel Wells, Larkin B. Lang- 
ston, John Letcher, Henry .Melton, Francis 
McConnell, Frederick McDaniel, James New, 
Wm. C. Overstreet, John Pervine, William 
Pointer, Jonathan Russ, .\ndrews Smothers, 
Isaac Schmick. 

Benjamin Gobel in his reminiscenses speaks 
of joining a companj^ and doing guard duty 
at the fort, but I do not find his name on the 
roster. 

At the commencement of hostilities. Gov- 
ernor Reynolds of Illinois, appointed George 
Davenport, the Indian trader on the island, 
one of the quartermasters, his commission 
giving him the rank of colonel, by which title 
he was afterwards known. 

The volunteer army after a hard inarch, 
reached Dixon on the evening of i\lay lOth, 
ahead of the regulars. Black Hawk and his 
Indians had in the meantime reached the 
Prophet's village and had sent word to the 
Pot taw-atomies asking them to meet him in a 
council on Sycamore Creek, (since called 



Stillman's Run.) The Pottawatomies were 
divided. Shaubena, their highest chief, fav- 
ored the whites, but Big l''oot and Mike Girty, 
a half-breed, were for war. When White- 
sides arrived at Dixon, he fotuid there aliead of 
him two independent Vjattalions, in all three 
hundred and forty-one men. The one was 
commanded by Major Isaiah Stillman, the 
other liy Major IX'iA'id Bailey. These com- 
mands objected to joining the main army 
except as rangers, they said they had come to 
"fight Indians" and believed if they were 
allowed, they could go out and in a few days 
end tlie trouble. .4fter much pei-suasion. 
General Whitesides allowed Majors Stillman's 
and Bailey's battalions to go on a scouting 
expedition, and on the morning of May 13, 
they set out. In the afternoon of the 14th, 
they ]iitched camp al)out Ihree miles from 
Sycamore ('reek. Black Hawk with forty of 
his Indians were but three miles from the 
camp of the whites. The Indians were pre- 
paring a dog feast for the visiting Pottawat- 
omies. Le.arning that a body of white sol- 
diers were making camp. Black Hawk sent 
three of his young men with a white flag to 
talk with the w-hites, and to arrange for a 
council with White Beaver (.\tkinson). When 
the Indian party was still a mile awa3^ they 
were perceived by the volunteers and almost 
the whole cam]) rushed out and captured the 
Indian envoys, and hurried them into camp. 
Black Hawk had sent five other Indians to 
follow those bearing a white flag, to watch 
and see how the others were received. When 
the whites perceived the second party, about 
twenty of the mounted vobniteers started in 
pursuit and killed two of the Indians, the 
other three escaped and returned to where 
]51ack Hawk and his thirty-five braves were 
in camp. When Black Hawk heard of how 
his flag bearers had been treated he prepared 
his braves to meet the whites, who were now 
all in hot pursuit. The Indians withdrew 
behind a fringe of bushes and when the vol- 
unteers came within close range the Indians 



46 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



fired a volley. The volunteers fled, pursvied 
by part of the Indians. Night fall ended the 
phase. Stillman's and Bailey's hrisrade kept 
up the flight until they reached Dixon, twen- 
ty-five miles away. Many of them never 
went to Dixon, but started for their own 
homes. The report went out that the whites 
had been defeated by Black Hawk and about 
two thousand warriors. The number of 
whites killed was eleven. While the number 
of Indians was three. One of the latter being 
one of the flag bearers, the two others being 
of the party of five that had followed the flag 
bearers. 

It has been said that Stillman's and Bailey's 
men were under the influence of liquor, that 
they had taken with them several barrels of 
whiskey, and they were indulging freely in 
drink just before the Indian flag bearers ap- 
peared on the scene. 

The firing on the flag of truce was, to say 
the least, dishonorable treatment. Had the 
whites received tlie truce bearers in the prop- 
er manner, there is no donbt that such ar- 
rangements would have been made that 
hostilities would never have commenced, and 
Black Hawk and his Indians would have 
- retnrned to the west bank of the Mississippi. 

Black Hawk and his band were almost 
destitnte of provisions and ammvmition, and 
their capture of Stillman's stores, higlily 
elated them. Black Hawk now sent his 
women and children by waj' of the Kishwau- 
kee to the swamps of Lake Koshkonong near 
the headwaters of Rock River. The Winne- 
bagoes acting as guides. Here his party 
was recruited by Winnebagoes and Potta- 
watomies. 

On the day of Stillman's defeat. General 
Whiteside with fourteen hundred men pro- 
ceeded to the scene of battle and buried the 
dead. The State of Illinois has at Stillman 
Valley, erec+ed a monument in honor of those 
killed in this engagement. On the 19th, 
General Atkinson and the entire army moved 
up the Rock River, leaving Stillman and 



Bailey, and their brigades at Dixon. Atkin- 
son soon however, returned to Dixon leaving 
General Whiteside with his volunteers to 
follow Black Hawk's trail. The volunteers 
now began to object to going farther, claim- 
ing that they were not compelled t(> sen'e in 
Michigan territory. They also claimed to 
having enlisted for one month, and that their 
time of enlistments had expired. After sev- 
eral days the officers determined to abandon 
their search for Black Hawk and they turned 
abovit and marched south to Ottawa, where 
on the 271 h and 28th days of May, they were 
nmstered out of the service. 

On the 22d day of May, a party of thirty 
Pottawatomies and three Sacs, under Girty 
killed fifteen men, women and children at the 
Davis farm on Indi.an Creek, twelve miles 
north of Ottawa. Sylvia and Rachel, two 
daughters of William Hall, were taken cap- 
tive and carried by the Indians to their camp 
on Lake Koshkonong. Afterwards, White 
Crow, a Winnebago chief, who had been sent 
to their rescue by Henry Gratiot, agent for 
the W'innebagoes, succeeded in purchasing 
them and delivered the girls to their relatives. 
At the time of the mustering out at Ottawa, 
Governor Reynolds called for at least two 
thousand men to ser\'e during the war, and 
General Winfield Scott started from Fortress 
Monroe on the sea board with one thousand 
regulars. In the meantime three hundred 
mounted volunteers under Colonels Frj'e and 
Henry agreed to rem.ain in the field to pro- 
tect the frontier. Abraham Lincoln was 
among this number. He, having re-enlisted 
May 27, as a private. Black Hawk now 
divided his people into several parties and 
made forays against the whites. 

On June 14th, a partj^ of eleven Sacs killed 
five white men at Spafford farm on the Peck- 
atonica River. Colonel Dodge with twenty- 
nine men followed them and the ne.xt day 
killed eleven, although he had three killed 
and one wounded in his own party. 

On June 24th, Black Hawk in command of 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



47 



a party of braves made an attack an Apple 
River Fort, fourteen miles east of dalena. 
After an hour's siege, the Indians after de- 
stroying the neighboring cabins, withdrew. 

On June 25th, the same party attacked 
Major Dements' spj^ battalion, a himdred and 
fifty strong, at Kellogg's Grove. General 
Posey arrived in time with a detachment of 
volunteers for their relief. The Indians lost 
fifteen. The whites' loss was five. Skir- 
mishes were had at Plum River Fort, Hun- 
Oak Grove, Sinsiniwa Mound, and Blue 
Mounds. 

On June 15th, the new troops met at Fort 
Wilburn at Peru, their aggregate strength 
was about three thousand and twenty men, 
making the entire army in the field about 
four thousand effective men. The army now 
under General Atkinson, marched up the 
east bank of Rock River. White Crow 
offered to conduct our army to Black H.awk's 
camp, and that wily savage kept the whites 
on a goose chase for several days trying to 
entrap them. Black Hawk in the meantime, 
had started westward to the Wisconsin River, 
and on the evening of July 21st, the Indians 
were overtaken on the bluffs of the Wisconsin 
where a decisive battle was fought in which 
General Henry commanded the American 
forces. This armj' charged the enemy and 
drove them from position after positi(>n with 
great loss, until sundown. This was the first 
important victory of the whites in this cam- 
paign. In the morning it was learned that 
the Indians were heading towards the Miss- 
issippi River and had left one hundred and 
sixty-eight dead on the field, twenty-five 
more being found next day along the trail. 
General Henry having lost but one man killed, 
and eight wounded. 

On the morning of August 2d, the army 
readied the bluffs of the Mississippi. The 
Indians had reached the river and were mak- 
ing active preparations to cross. At this 
time. Captain Throckmorton commanding 
the steamer Warrior, arrived at the spot. 



The Indians displayed a white flag. Throck- 
morton commanded them to come on board. 
They replied that they could not, because 
they had no boats. Upon this Throckmorton 
fired his six-pounder cannon loaded with 
canister into the Indians, killing twenty-three 
women and childi-en. General .\tkinson now 
came upon the scene, and at the mouth of the 
Bad .A.xe, attacked the Indian encampment. 
The Indians were completely routed, suffering 
a loss of one hiuich-ed and fifty killed, besides 
many drowned in their attempt to cross the 
river. The .\mcrican loss was l)ut seventeen. 
General Atkinson with the captiued Indians, 
and about fifty women and children, went to 
Prairie du Chien. There on Avigust 7th. 
General Scott with nine companies of infantry 
from Fortress Monroe, arrived and assumed 
command. The vohinteors now returned to 
Dixon and were discharged, on the 17th day 
of August. Black Hawk, who had started 
back, was cajitured by some treaclrerous 
Winnebagoes and on the 27th day of August 
was delivered a captive to the whites at 
Prairie du Cliien. He was kept that winter 
at Jefferson Barracks and in April. LSSS, was 
sent as a prisoner to Fortress Monroe where 
he was confined until June 4. when he w'as 
discharged. After visiting the ]3rincipal cities 
in the east, he returned west, locating on a 
small reservation on the Des Moines River 
in Davis County, Iowa, where he died October 
3, 1S3S. The following year his remains 
were stolen, and in the spring of 1840 Govern- 
or Lucas succeeded in recovering them and 
caused the skeleton to be delivered at the 
then capitol at Burlington. When the capi- 
tol was removed to Iowa City, the remains 
were taken there. January 16, 1S55, they 
were destroyed by fire. 

The final treaty was concluded September 
21, 1832. The treaty says: "Concluded at 
Fort Armstrong." but in consequence of 
cholera then raging at the fort, the treaty was 
held on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi 
now the State of Iowa. 



48 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Among the witnesses to this treaty were 
Antoine LeChiire, interpreter, Benjamin F. 
Pike, John W. .Spencer and George Davenport. 
assistant quarter master general Illinois 
Militia. 

Governor Reynolds in referring to this 
final engagement says: ".Although the war- 
riors fought with the courage and valor of 
desperation, yet the conflict resembled more 
a carnage than a regular battle." Another 
noted authority calls it "a di.-honorable 
chapter in the history of the borders.'' Out 
of the band of nearly one thousand Indians 
men, women and children who crossed the 
Mississippi at Yellow Banks in April, not 
more than one hundred and fifty lived to tell 
the story. The American loss in this war was 
about two hundred and fifty. The financial 
cost to the government- and the State of Illi- 
nois was nearly S2,000,000. 

ROCK ISL.\ND SETTLERS IN 1832. 

The following is a list of settlers of this 
county, as complete as I have been able to 
make from the data that I have found, in the 
spring of 1S32. Just previous to tbe break- 
ing out of the war in 1832, there was quite an 
increase of settlers, many of whom left. 
Some stayed during the war and then left 
and I have not been able to learn their names. 
Anbury, GriflSth Kinney, Samuel 

Allen, Archibald Kinney, Thomas 

Bain, John L. Kent, Erastus 

Barrel, John Lovitt, Thomas 

Bartlett, Michael McCoy, Joseph 

Burner, Edward McNeil, Henry 

Brasher, William T. Miller, George V. 
Benson, Henry McGee, Gentry 

Been, Joseph McNeil, Neel 

Bryant, Leonard Maskal, James 

Case, Jonah H. Noble, Ames C. 

Case, Louden, Sr. Pence, Judge 

Case, Louden, Jr. Pike, Benjamin 

Case, Charles H. Reddish, John 

Cook, Horace Syms, Thomas 

Clark, B. W. Syms, Robert 



Corbin, Edward 
Carr, William 
(yulver, Martin 
Danforth, Manly 
Danforth, Josejth 
Davis, Thomas 
Dance, Russel 



Sains, William F. 
Smith. Martin W. 
Stringfield, Sevier 
Smart, Josiah 
Sampson, H. 
Spencer, John W. 
Spencer, Roswell H. 



Davenport, George Thompson, William 

Davidson, Thomas Thompson, Joel 

Frith, Isaiah Tunnell, Luther 

French, Charles Timnell, William 

Farnham. Russel Vandruff, Joshua 

Gardiner, Thomas \'andruff, Henn' 

Goble, Benjamin Vandruff, Samuel 

Gouquy, Aiitoine ^^1netta, Benjamin 

Graft, John ^'anetta, Gorham 

Hnskill, James Vomer, Edward 

Harlan, George W. Wells, Levi 

Hultz, Uriah S. Wells, George 

Hubbard, Thomas Wells, Joel, Sr. 

Hubbard, Goodridge Wells, Joel. Jr. 

Henderson, Cyrus Wells, Huntington 

Hail, David B. Wells, John 

Henry, William Wells, Samuel 

Heans, William Wells, Rinn.ah 

Hulls, M. S. Wells, Asaph 

Haney, Wells, Eri 

Johnson, Moses Wells, Ira 

Kinney, John W. Wells, Nelson 
Wells, Lucius 

The Kinneys above mentioned are the same 
whose names in the roster of the war depart- 
ment are given as Kenney. 

INCIDENTS CONCERNING FORT ARMSTRONG. 

About the time the fort was completed the 
Indians began crossing to the island and 
woiild watch the soldiers in its construction. 
They would often sing and go through some of 
their dances to amuse the soldiers, and the 
latter began to think that the Indians were 
peaceful. The Hon. Bailey Davenport de- 
scribed an incident during this time that 
shows that the Indians had not become 
reconciled to the erecting of the fort. He 
said: "One day a small party came over to 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



49 



dance, and after the dance the colonel in 
command gave them presents. In a few days 
after, and while a large number of soldiers 
were out cutting timber, a large party of 
warriors, headed by the Ne-ka-!e-quat, came 
over in canoes and landed on the north side 
of the island, and danced up to the entrance 
of the encampment, and wanted to enter 
and dance in front of the commander's tent. 
About the same time a large party of warriors 
was discovered approaching over the ridge 
from the south side of the island, headed by 
Keokuk. The colonel immediately ordered 
the bugle sounded to recall the soldiers from 
the woods, and had all imder arms (about 
six hundred) and the cannon run ovil in 
front of the entrance, ready to fire. The 
Indians were ordered not to approach any 
nearer. The colonel, taking the alarm be- 
fore Keokuk's party got near enough to rush 
in, saved the encampment from surprise and 
massacre." 

THE POWDER PLOT. 

Be it truth or fiction there is connected 
with the history of Fort Armstrong an inci- 
dent that to my mind possesses more reasons 
in favor of its being fact than fiction. 

After the Black Hawk War, some soldiers 
happening to enter the cave in "Rock Island 
Arsenal," found three kegs of powder each 
attached to a fuse. No one seemed to know 
how these things had come 'there, but after 
the war some Indians had said that Black 
Hawk when he marched up Rock River in 
April, 1832, stopped overnight at his old 
village, and during the night of April 12 he, 
with over two hundred braves, had gone to 
the island, crossing at the ford between Rock 
Island and Moline, remaining there nearly 
all night. It was said his intention was to 
see if he could not capture the fort. Black 
Hawk, in his autobiography, does not mention 
this incident, the reason being that his at- 
tempt to blow up the fort proved a failure. 
It is a fact that Black Hawk was on the island 
that night. Benjamin F. Pike, the captain 



of the Rock River Rangers in 1831, and 
afterwards sheriff to this county, together 
with two companions, had been selected to 
do picket and scout duty that night. They 
took their place ne.ar the ford, and some time 
near midnight saw Black Hawk and his 
braves cross the slough to the island. They 
at once ran to the fort and to the stockade 
and gave the warning. 

The garrison at this time was commanded 
by Captain Bliss who had with him only two 
companies of infantry, partly full, not over 
eighty men. The stockade around Colonel 
Davenport's store was filled with settlers 
and their families and was crowded to its ut- 
most capacity. By an oversight the only 
well on the premises had not been enclosed 
in the stockade. Dreading fire from the 
Indians' fire arrows, every bucket, tul) and 
barrel was hastily filled with water and the 
anxious settlers momentarily awaited the 
attack. An old swivel had been brought up 
from the fort and this was loaded to the brim 
and placed in front of the gate, where Ser- 
geant Hanchett of the garrison, with a smol- 
dering fire by his side, stood ready to fire it 
off at the first approach of the enemy. The 
night was one of terror to the settlers; a 
drifting rain and pelting hail storm had set in, 
and the occasional claps of thunder and 
flashes of lightning but added new alarm to 
the already frightened women and children. 
At about 2 o'clock in the morning the firing 
of cannon was heard from the direction of 
the fort and those in the stockade believed 
the attack had commenced, but they were 
soon apprized that the firing was from the 
cannon on board the steamer Chieftain, which 
brought General Atkinson and his regulars 
from St. LouLs. 

It is said that when the people at the stock- 
ade heard the firing of cannon and the shouts 
of the garrison welcoming the reinforcement, 
they believed it the shouts of triumph of the 
Indians at the capture of the fort, and Elder 
Kinney of Rapids City, a devout Presbyterian 



oO 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



advised IIkmh all to "iinito in an appeal to 
God as their only hope of safety:" whereupon 
Antoine Gouqiiy, Colonel Davenjiort's French 
Servant, said, "Ze prayer he be good for ze 
vimmin an ze childer. hut he be not wort one 
cent to fight ze Injins. Wattair, he be bet- 
tair zan ze prayer." 

Black Hawk had been with the British so 
much that he well knew the use of gunpowder. 
He was in the attack on the fort at Detroit 
and undoubtedly believed he could with a 
few kegs of powder blow up the fort at its 
gate and the rock embankment upon which 
it stood, and then with his braves rush in oij 
the weak garrison. The Sac chief knew also 
that the fort was but weakly garrisoned. 
The Prophet had several times attempted to 
enter its gate, but had been kept out on the 
orders of Major Bliss, who suspected treachery. 
The last attempt of the Prophet to enter the 
fort was but a few days before Black Hawk's 
attempt to capture it. 

THE BURNIXG OF THE FORT. 

For thirt}--nine years the fort stood as first 
constructed, and though evacuated and no 
longer the abode of the soldier since 1836, 
it was used as a Government warehouse and 
was a picturesque sight, being an object of 
interest to all travelers up and down the 
river as well a,s to visitors to this locality. 

On Sunday afternoon, October 7, 1855. 
some vandal set fire to the historic buildings. 
J. B. Danforth, .Jr.. agent of the quartermas- 
ters department of the army, in charge at 
that time, in a letter WTitten on the 9tl^ of the 
month to Major D. H. Vinton, quartermaster 
United States Army at St. Louis, said, "Sir: 
The barracks and one block fort "at this place 
were destroyed bj' fire yesterday (Sunday) 
afternoon. I was in the city at church at the 
time the fire originated. I immediately 
rallied abotit a hundred men with buckets, 
and endeavored to quell the flames, but to no 
pm-pose. We had no fire engine, and it was 
impossible to stay the progress of the con- 



flagration. The buildings were fired by some 
persons to me vuiknown, and in the following 
manner: About thirty kegs of powder had 
been stored in the magazine by the contract- 
ors for the improvement of the rapids, by 
permission of the secretary of war. The 
magazine had several times been broken 
open and powder stolen. It was then stored 
in a safe room, or what was believed to be 
safe in the barracks. It had all been taken 
away, except one keg and one or two parts 
of kegs. Some persons, while I was at church, 
had broken open a window and ignited a part 
of a keg of powder, thus causing the loss of 
the buildings. I have published an adver- 
tisement (at my o\\-n expense) to endeavor to 
find out the perpetrators of the outrage, 
which I hope will meet your approval. I 
send you a copy of my paper, containing the 
advertisement and an editorial notice of the 
fire." 

When the United States government (under 
the act of 1862) commenced the construction 
of Rock Island Arsenal in 1863, all that re- 
mained of Fort Armstrong was removed. 
The first building erected stands nearly on 
the site of tlie old fort, and the window frames 
of the basement of this building are made of 
oak obtained from the old fort. 

ROSTER AT THE FORT. 

The officers and troops stationed at Fort 
Armstrong from August, ISIO (first return 
on file), until abandoned May 4, 1836, were 
as follows: 

Commanding officers: Lieutenant Colonel 
Willoughbv ilorgan, from 1819: Captain M. 
Marston, from August 1819 to June 1821, of 
Company F, Fifth Infantry; Captain S. Bur- 
bank, from June, 1821 to Jime, 1823, of Com- 
pany D, Fifth Infantry; Major J. H. Vose, 
from June, 1823 to June 4, 1825, of Companies 
D and F, Fifth Infantry; Captain S. Burbank, 
from June 4, 1825 to May 21, 1826. of Com- 
panies D and F, Fifth Infantry; Major J. H. 
Vose, from May 21, 1826 to October 9, 1827, 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND C U N T Y 



51 



of Companies E and H, Fifth Infantry; 
Captain J. Plympton, from October 9, 1827 
to April 28, 1828, of Companies E and H, 
Fifth Infantry; Major S. Burbank, from April 
28, 1828 to April 30, 1828, of Companies E 
and H, Fifth Infantry; Captain J. Cireen, from 
April 30, 1828 to June, 1828, of Companies C 
and G. Third Infantry; Captain J. S. Nelson, 
from June, 1828 to August 13, 1828, of Com- 
panies C and G, Third Infantry; Captain J. 
Green, from August 13, 1828 to July 27, 1830, 
of Companies C and G, Third Infantry; Cap- 
tain John Bliss, July 27, 1830 to July 26, 1831, 
Companies D and H, Third Infantr}'; Cap- 



tain T. J. Beall, from. July 26, 1831 to Sep- 
tember 2, 1831, of Companies C and K, First 
Infantry; Major John Rliss, from September 
2, 1S31 to May 4, 1832, of Companies C and 
K, First Infantry; Captain T. J. Beall, from 
May 4, 1832 to October 26, 1832, of Companies 
C and K, First Infantry; Lieutenant A. S. 
Miller, from October 26, 1832 to December 2, 
1832, of Companies C and K, First Infantry; 
Captain T. F. Smith, from December 2, 1832 
to June 8, 1833, of Companies G and K, First 
Infantry; Lieutenant Colonel W. Davenport, 
from June 8, 1833 to May 4, 1836, of Com- 
panies G and K, First Infantry. 



POLITICAL DIVISIONS 



The fortunes of Rock Island County have 
been those of the State of Illinois. In 1541, 
Ferdinand De Soto discovered the ^lississippi 
River, crossing it somewhere near Memphis; 
and upon this discovery rested Spain's claim 
and title to the "far west." The country now 
known as the State of Illinois is shown on 
the very early Spanish maps as a part of 
Florida. Spain made no attempt, however, 
to plant her settlements in the "Illinois." 

In 1763, at the close of the French and 
Indian Wars, Illinois became British territory, 
and so remained imtil July 4, 1778, when 
Colonel George Rogers Clark and his Virgin- 
ians captured the British forts and settle- 
ments. In October of that year, Illinois was 
by act of the General Assembly of Virginia 
created the "County of Illinois," and became 
a part of the commonwealth of Virginia. 

During the Revolutionary War, Illinois 
and what is now the states of Ohio, Indiana, 
Michigan and Wisconsin, was claimed by each 
of the states of New York, Massachusetts, 
Connecticut and Virginia. In 1785 these 
states surrendered their claim to the General 
Government, and then Congress passed ap 



act for the government of this country, which 
was designated "Western Territory." but 
nothing was done towards organizing a form 
of government. On July 13, 17S7, Congress 
passed the celebrated ordinance known ,as the 
"Ordinance of 1787," for the government of 
this country, then called the "Northwest 
Territory." In 1788 the first officers were 
appointed. In 1790 the country now Illinois, 
was established as St. Clair County, named 
after General Arthur St. Clair, the first gover- 
nor of the Northwest Territory. 

In this year Illinois County became part of 
Indiana Territory, and in 1809 the country 
west of the Wabash, north of the Ohio and 
east of the Mississippi, was erected into 
Illinois Territory, which was divided into 
two counties — Randolph and St, Clair — the 
territory now Rock Island County forming 
part of St. Clair County. On September 14, 
1812, our county became a part of Madison 
County, and on January 31, 1821, we were 
made a part of Pike County. This was the 
first county erected by the State of Illinois. 

January 28, 1823, Fulton County was 
erected from Pike County, and we became a 



52 



' HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



part of the former, and so remained until 
January 13, 1825. when we became a part of 
Peoria County. On February 17, 1827, Jo 
Daviess County was erected from Peoria 
County, and Galena became our coimty seat. 
We remained part of Jo Daviess County until 
1833, when Rock Island County was organ- 
ized, with the boundaries as thej' exist 
today. 

The ordinance of 1787 provided for the 
forming of one or two states out of the terri- 
tory now the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. 
The ordinance provided that the northern 
boundary of the territory now Illinois should 
be an east and west line drawm through the 
southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. 
Had this provision been carried out when 
Illinois was erected into a state in 1818, that 
part of Rock Island County east of Moline 
would now^ be in Wisconsin. 

When the bill to admit Illinois as a state 
was presented to Congress and referred to the 
committee, our northern boundary was as 
defined in the ordinance of 1787, which 
would have left out of our state the counties 
of Lake, McHenry, Boone, Winnebago. Steph- 
enson, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, 
Kane, De Page, Cook, Lee, Whiteside, and 
also a portion of Kendall, Will. La Salle and 
Rock Island Counties. 

In 1816 the United States made a treaty 
with the Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawat- 
omie Indians and it became necessary to 
establish the point where a line "due west 
from the southern extremity of Lake Michi- 
gan" would strike the Mississippi River. 
Such a line was siu^^eyed by John Sullivan in 
1818, and a monument was erected at its 
terminus, "on the bank of the Mississippi 
River near the head of Rock Island." This 
place is between Seventeenth and Eighteenth 
streets in the City of Moline, and is now 
occupied by the Moline City Waterworks. 

Alexander Pope, the representative from 
Illinois in Congress, was fully alive to the in- 



terests of his constituency. Mr. Pope asked 
to strike out of the bill the description which 
bounded Illinois on the north b\' a line drawn 
directly west from the southerly boundary 
of Lake Michigan, and insert the following: 
■"Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash 
River, thence up the same and with the line 
of Indiana to the northwest corner of said 
state; thence east with the line of the same 
state to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence 
north along the middle of said lake to north 
latitude 42 degrees 30 minutes; thence west 
to the middle of the Mississippi River, and 
thence down along the middle of that river 
to its confluence with the Ohio River, and_ 
thence up the river along its northwest shore 
to the beginning." This carried. 

The northern boundary of Illinois was thus 
fixed, and was made to include a strip of 
land sixty-one miles nineteen chains and 
thirteen links wide, extending from Lake 
Michigan to the Mississippi River, embracing 
a sm-face of 8,500 square miles. The line 
siu-veyed by Sullivan in 1818 was accepted 
as a true line until 1833, when Captain Talcott. 
while making the siun^ey of the Ohio-Michi- 
gan boundary, was instructed to ascertain 
the exact point on the Mississippi River which 
is due west from the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan. He established this point 
as being "about seven miles north of the fort 
(Armstrong) on Rock Island." 

From 1829 to 1848 the question of adding 
these fourteen northern and a portion of the 
four other Illinois counties to Wisconsin was a 
prominent one in the northern part of the 
state. Strange to s.ay, for many years most 
of the people living in the northern part of 
the state were in favor of being added to 
Wisconsin; but when Wisconsin was admitted 
as a state in 1848 its southern boundary line 
was fixed at the heretofore established north- 
ern bovmdary of the State of Illinois, and 
thus was forever settled what for many years 
was a subject of much dispute. 



HISTORIC ROC K I S L A N D COUNT Y 



53 



ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 



(Originally named Island of Rock Island) 



COLONEL STANHOPE E. BLUNT 



Summing up the history pertainina; to the 
Rock Island Arsenal, located upon the Islaiul 
of Rock Island, and lying conjointly, one 
might say, between the cities of Moline, Rock 
Island and Davenport, is no light task. In 
the data which contributes to the construc- 
tion of this history, some of which has been 
incorporated verbatim, there are numerous 
dates and incidents which give rise to con- 
flicting thoughts and deductions and the 
writer has been compelled, in some instances, 
to resort to comparisons upon which to base 
his judgments. 

Since the advent of Colonel George Daven- 
port, May 10, 1816, several histories of the 
Arsenal have been written, and a number of 
personal memoirs of well known pioneers 
have been printed. Of these latter, the 
reminiscences of the late Judge J. W. Spencer 
probablj' afford the most authentic report, 
and it is to be deplored that he did not pursue 
his work to the end that would dispel all 
doubts as to many transformations and con- 
ditions throtigh which the Arsenal passed 
during the days of the early pioneers and the 
settlement of Rock Island County. 

Starting at the beginning, the pm-poses 
and anticipations relative to old Fort Arm- 
strong naturally present- themselves; and as 
this celebrated fort was l)uilt on the Island of 
Rock Island, acquired through a treaty with 
the Indians in the year 1804, it will be proper 
to precede our account of it by a Ijrief de- 
scription of the island itself. Rock Island 
is situated on the Mississippi River, opposite 



the upper end of the City of Rock Island, 
and between it and Davenport on the Iowa 
side. It is about two and three quarters 
miles long by three-fourths of a mile wide, 
and contains an area of nearly a thousand 
acres. The base of this island is a mass of 
limestone, of the Hamilton group, which 
underlies this section of coimtrv. At its 
lower extremity this rocky exposure 
rises in an almost perpendicular wall to a 
considerable height above the water, and was 
the cause of its being called by its appropriate 
name — Rock Island. 

This mass of light grey or whitish limestone, 
rising in the broad channel of the Mississippi, 
and crowned with its luxuriant covering of 
natural forest trees, was an object of great 
interest to the early explorers in this region, 
and its effect was greatly enhanced by com- 
ing in view of it unexpectedly, as the traveler 
was sure to do, in passing the bend in the 
river a short distance below. After Fort 
Armstrong was built on the lower point of 
this island, the view on ascending the river 
became still more picturesque, and it has been 
described as one of the most romantic and 
beautiful scenes in the whole western coim- 
try. Mr. Henry C. McGrew, who published 
the first newspaper in Rock Island, and of 
whom mention is made elsewhere, wrote a 
letter in 1870, in which he said: 

"Although thirty-eight years have passed 
since I first landed at Rock Island, I shall 
never forget my first impressions of the place. 
It was a beautiful moonlight night in Jime; 



54 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



and, as I stood upon the deck of the steamer, 
as we rounded the bend below the village, 
and beheld old Fort Armstrong on the island 
in the river, with its whitewashed walls, 
pretty gardens and officers' houses, the scene 
was charming, presenting the appearance of 
some ancient castle. Then there was the 
village of Davenport on the opposite bank, 
with its white painted cottages, and on the 
east, Rock Island, encircled by the bluffs. 
The panorama inspired me with a feeling of 
happiness I shall never forget; and, coupled 
with the idea that I was on the outskirts of 
civilization, gave the whole scene an air of 
romance." 

Governor Ford, in his History of Illinois, 
speaking of the arrival of the soldiers here dur- 
ing the first Black Hawk disturbance, in 1831, 
says : 

"The volunteers marched to Rock Island 
the next morning, and here they encamped 
for several days, precisely where the town of 
Rock Island is situated. It was then in a 
complete state of nature, a romantic wilder- 
ness. Fort Armstrong was built on a rocky 
cliff at the lower point of an island, near the 
center of the river, a little way above; the 
shores on each side formed of gentle slopes of 
prairie extending back to bluffs of considerable 
height, made it one of the most picturesque 
scenes in the western country. The river here 
is a beautiful sheet of clear, swift-running 
water, about three-quarters of a mile wide. 
Its banks on both sides were inhabited only 
by Indians, from the Lower Rapids to the 
fort; and the voyage up stream, after several 
days progress through a wilderness country, 
brought the traveler suddenly in sight of the 
fort, perched upon a rock, surrounded by the 
grandeur of Nature, which, at a distance, 
gave it the appearance of one of those en- 
chanted castles in an uninhabited desert, so 
well described in the Arabian Night's Enter- 
tainments". 

The island was the favorite resort of the 
Indians long before it had ever been visited 



by the white man. "Here they loved to 
assemble for their summer pastimes, and to 
indulge in the simple amusements of their 
race; along these rocky shores was their fa- 
vorite fishing-ground; the swift current which 
here pours down over successive chains of 
rapids, was the scene of many a dash and 
frolic in their light canoes; and here dwelt the 
kindly spirit who.se protecting power pre- 
served the red man, and over whose subter- 
rean abode none dared to walk but with the 
silent step of supreme reverence and awe." 
The estimation in which the Srx and 'Fox 
Indians held this island is well described by 
Black Hawk in the following language: 

' ' This was the best island in the Mississippi, 
and had long been the resort of our young 
people during the summer. It was our gar- 
den, which furnished us with strawberries, 
blackberries, plums, apples, and nuts of vari- 
ous kinds, and its waters supplied us with pure 
fish, being situated in the rapids of the river. 
In my early life I spent many happy days on 
this island. A good spirit had care of it, who 
lived in a cave in the rocks inamediately under 
the place where the fort now stands, and has 
often been seen by our people. He was 
white, with large wings like a swan's, but ten 
times larger. We were particular not to make 
a noise in that part of the island, for fear of 
disturbing him. But the noise of the fort 
has since driven him away, and no doubt a 
bad spirit has taken his place." 

The events which led to the building of 
Fort Armstrong on Rock Island are elsewhere 
fully described. The British band of Sacs 
and Foxes had been troublesome in this re- 
gion all through the latter part of the War of 
1812-14. The British had captured the fort 
at Prairie du Chien, and had not only pro- 
vided the Indians of this locality with artil- 
lery, munitions of war, and men, but had left 
them at the close of the war with feelings of 
strong and bitter hostility to the Government. 
From Jefferson Barracks, below St. Louis, to 
the mouth of the Wisconsin, the Government 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COU XT Y 



55 



had practically no established militaiy post 
by which to enforce its authority or to afford 
protection to its citizens, whose duties might 
call them into this jjortion of the ITnited 
States. The river was, moreover, a highway 
of the nation, which must be kept guarded by 
suitable, military stations along its banks. 
The situation at Rock Island was central, 
accessible, and in near proximity to the most 
dangerous body of Indians on the river: it 
was also nearly centrally located on the west- 
ern border of that great tract of country 
which these Indians had ceded to the United 
States in the treaty of 1804, and which would 
soon be opened for actual settlement. 

At the time the fort was built, there were 
at least 4,000 Indians living on the main 
shores and adjacent to the island. All those 
On the east side 'were the wards of the Gov- 
ernment, living on Government lands, which 
I 'mm were nllov.-ed by the terms of the treaty 
t'l iiceiipy so long as these lands belonged to 
the United States. 

BUILDING OF THE FORT. 

In 1816 Fort Armstrong was built on the 
lower point of Rock Island. The force of 
regulars under Colonel William Lawrence 
who came up the river for the purpose of lo- 
cating and erecting the fort, arrived at the 
mouth of Rock River and examined the coun- 
try for a suitable site. They decided on the 
above location. On the 10th of May, 1816, 
they landed on the island, and as soon as they 
had completed their encampment. Colonel 
Lawrence employed the soldiers to cut logs 
and build storehouses for their provisions. 
He also had a bakehouse and oven erected, 
whicli was the first building finished on the 
island. The erection of the fort and its 
accompanying buildings soon followed, and 
was named Fort Armstrong, in honor of the 
secretary of war. 

It was a substantial structure of hewed 
logs, built in the form of a square, the sides of 
which were four hundred feet in length. A 



blockhouse was built at each of the four 
angles, and embrazures for cannon and loop- 
holes for musketry were provided. A maga- 
zine, store-house, barracks, and officers' 
quarters were erected within the enclosure, 
and sections of heavy stone work built for 
protection against fire. 

Colonel George Davenport came with the 
troops as contractor for the Commissary De- 
partment. On the 10th of August, 1816, Mrs. 
Davenport and Mrs. Lewis, afterward Mrs. 
Goldsmith, reached the island. They were 
the first American ladies who ever ascended 
the river to this place. Mrs. Davenport died 
in 1847, aged 72 years. Mrs. Goldsmith, a 
venerable relic of the ]K)st. died in the 76th 
year of her age. 

In 1823, the Virginia, laden with iHdvisions 
for the garrison at Prairie du Chein, touched 
the fort. This is said to have been the first 
steamboat that landetl on the island. In 
1831 , the old Fort on the island was the scene 
of a council with the Sac and Fox Indians, 
with a view to persuading them to retire 
peaceably to the west side of the Mississippi 
River. Aljout thirty chiefs were present. 
This council was held by General Gaines, who 
came from Jefferson Barracks in the steamer 
Enterprise with a force of regular troops. 
It resulted in convincing General Gaines that 
the Indians were determined to fight rather 
than give up their possessions. 

We shall have more to say of these matters 
when we come to give an account of the Black 
Hawk War in 1831 and '32. During the war, 
Fort Armstrong was the rendezvous for the 
soldiers assembled in this qtiarter. On the 
7th day of August, 1832, five days after the 
battle of Bad Axe, General Winfield Scott ar- 
rived from Fortress Monroe with a force of Uni- 
ted States regulars to assist in putting down 
the Black Hawk disturbance. He was, as we 
know, too late for that, but in season to call 
together the conquered Sacs and Foxes at 
Rock Island, and to conclude a treaty with 
them, on the 2Lst of September, for the strip 



56 



HISTORIC ROCK I S^L AlN D COUNTY 



of land known as the "Black Hawk Pur- 
chase," in Iowa. This treaty was not held 
at Fort Armstrong, as was contemplated, 
owing to existence of cholera among the sol- 
diers, which then prevailed, but was held on 
the opposite side of the river, on the grounds 
formerly occupied by the Chicago, Rock Is- 
land A: Pacific Depot, and now by the Kimball 
House. At that time, there were about 
1,500 soldiers at the fort. 

Fort Armstrong was evacuated by the 
garrison in 1836, but the island was still held 
as a military reservation by the Government 
under successive agents appointed to take 
charge of it. The first of these was General 
Street, Indian agent at Prairie du Chien, who, 
by order of the Government, established the 
Indian Agency on the island soon after the 
withdrawal of the troops. In the spring of 
1838, the Indian Agency was removed to 
Agency City, Iowa, on the Des Moines River, 
and General Street was succeeded by Colonel 
George Davenport, who had charge of the 
island until the spring of 1840. Fort Arm- 
strong was then a depot for arms. Captain 
Shoemaker was placed in charge, and re- 
mained vmtil the spring of 1845, when the 
arms, being required for the Mexican War, 
were shipped to New Orleans, and Captain 
Shoemaker went with the army to Mexico. 
He was succeeded by Thomas Drum, who 
died in 1853, when Sergeant Cummings, of 
Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien), was ap- 
pointed, and on his declination, Colonel J. B. 
Danforth, Jr., was appointed, January 20, 
1854. In 1857, H. Y. Slaymaker, of Daven- 
port, was appointed. In May, 1861, T. J. 
Pickett succeeded Mr. Slaymaker, and held 
the position until the island was again oc- 
cupied for arsenal piu-poses. 

ROCK ISLAND ARMORY AND ARSENAL. 

The movement for the establishment of a 
Western Arsenal on Rock Island was begun 
as earlv as 1839, in which year it was made the 
object of a special survey and the subject of a 



report to the War Department by Major Bell, 
of the Ordnance Department, as a feasible 
and desirable location. In 1843 its advan- 
tages for that purpose was reported to Con- 
gress by a commissioner appointed by the 
President, under the provisions of an act of 
Congre.ss approved September 9, 1841. At 
a later date it was also the subject of a recom- 
mendation to the Government for the same 
public use. 

It was not until the summer of 1861 that 
the initial step was taken by the citizens of 
Rock Island looking to the accomplishment 
of this object. On the first day of July, of 
that year, a petition addressed to the senators 
and representatives in Congress was drawn 
up by the following committee of citizens of 
Rock Island, viz: N. B. Buford, J. Wilson 
Drury, Ira O. Wilkinson, Ben Harper, Reu- 
ben Hatch, George Mixter, J. B. Danforth, 
Jr., and P. L. Cable, asking Congress to estab- 
lish a national armory and arsenal on Rock 
Island, and setting forth the special advan- 
tages of the site for such an establishment. 

By the action of these gentlemen another 
committee of leading citizens of the three 
cities — Rock Island, Moline and Davenport — 
was appointed, consisting of the following 
named persons: Ira O. Wilkinson, N. B. Bu- 
ford, H. C. Connelly, J. Wilson Drury and 
Bailey Davenport, of Rock Island; W. H. F. 
Gurley, George L. Davenport, and G. M. 
French of Davenport, and C. ,\tkinson and 
P. R. Reed, of Moline. These gentlemen 
memorialized Congress in an ably prepared 
pamphlet, with a map of this locality, upon 
the claims and advantages of Rock Island as 
the site for the proposed Western Arsenal 
and Armory. 

This memorial sets forth that a new Ar- 
mory and Arsenal, for the manufacture, safe- 
keeping and distribution of arms and muni- 
tions of war, are of pressing national necessity 
demanded alike by the present wants and fu- 
tiue requirements of the Government , and that 
the preponderating growth of the northwest, 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



57 



as well as the absence of any such estab- 
lishment within its limits, indicate that such 
an armory should be located upon the upper 
Mississippi. Coming directly to the claims of 
Rock Island, the memorialists say: "Be- 
lieving that Rock Island, in the State of Illi- 
nois, in the eentrality and safety of its geo- 
graphical position, the facilities it affords for 
transportation to and from other parts of the 
country, the cheapness and abundance of its 
motive power and the materials used in the 
manufacture of arms, in the supply and 
cheapness of labor and food, in the health- 
fulness, spaciousness and general eligibilitv 
of the site, and the possession and ownership 
thereof by the Government free of cost or 
expense — enjoys advantages equal, if not 
superior, to those possessed by any other 
place in the northwest for the location of such 
an establishment — j-our memorialists would 
respectfully ask your attention to a brief 
notice of these advantages." The ad\-an- 
tages are set forth in the ten or twelve pages 
which follow with great force and cogency of 
argument. In this document we find a re- 
port of the action of the Iowa Legislature and 
of the authorities of Illinois on the subject, 
and a certificate of the government agent in 
charge of the Island. 

JOINT RESOLUTIONS OF THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. 

"Be It Resolved by the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the State of Iowa, 
That the senators in Congress from this State 
be requested to use their utmost exertions 
to procure the establishment, at the earliest 
possible time, by the Government of the 
United States, of an Arsenal and Armory, 
for the distribution of arms to the states of 
the northwest, on the Island of Rock Island, 
in the State of Illinois. 

"Resolved That the Secretary of State 
be requested to forward to each of the Sena- 
tors and representatives in Congress a copy 
of these resolutions." 

'Approved March 24, 1S61." 



No session of the legislature of Illinois 
had been held immediately prior to this 
action, but Governor Yates and the other 
state officers, both civil and military, ad- 
dressed a letter to the Secretary of War, 
urging the location of the Armory upon Rock 
Island. 

CERTIFICATE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AGENT. 

"I, T. ,1. Pickett, Government Agent for 
the Island of Rock Island, hereby certify that 
the lands owned by the Government on said 
island are free from the claims of squatters, 
and that the only occupants thereon are 
eight in number, who hold leases under and 
acknowledge themselves tenants of said 
Government, in which lease it is specifically 
agreed that the lessors are to vacate the 
premises in thirty days from the date of 
receiving notice requiring them to leave 
T. J. Pickett, Government Agent. 
Rock Island. 111., Oct. 2.5, 1861." 

Copies of the above memorial were freely 
distributed among the members of Congress 
and laid on the desk of every senator and 
representative. An act of Congress pro- 
viding for the Arsenal and Armory, and mak- 
ing an appropriation of $100,000, was passed 
July 11, 1S62. In May of the following year 
a commission, composed of Major F. D. Call- 
ander, Major C. P. Kingsbury and Captain 
F. J. Treadwell, was sent by the Ordnance 
Department to locate the proposed Arsenal 
building on Rock Island. Sites also for mag- 
azines on the island were recommended by 
the commission. The report was adopted and 
Major Kingsbury was ordered to take charge 
of the work of construction. He arrived in 
August, 1863, and on the 3d day of vSeptem- 
ber broke ground for the government build- 
ing at the lower end of the island. 

From an article prepared by Captain L. 
M. Haverstiek, and published in the Chicago 
Inter-Ocean at the time we quote the follow- 
ing, with a few changes adapting it to our 
purpose : 



58 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



"An arsenal merely for the storage and 
repair of arms was not what the Ordnance 
Department contemplated, nor what the 
country needed at Rock Island. Therefore 
in August, 1865, General T. J. Rodman was 
assigned to the command of the island, with 
instructions to prepare plans for an armory 
and arsenal combined, where small arms and 
other munitions of war could be manufactured 
as well as repaired and stored. The great 
scientific knowledge and long experience of 
General Rodman peculiarly fitted him for 
this work, and the result was an elaborate 
plan, equal to the wants and interests of the 
country.'" 

GENERAL RODMAN'S PLANS. 

General Rodman's plans were submitted to 
Congress during the session of 1865 and ap- 
proved. An appropriation was made to be- 
gin work on the new buildings; and from thiat 
time forward steady progress has been made 
until now Rock Island Arsenal is the fore- 
most in the United States. 

A portion of the Island had been sold under 
a special act of Congress. The Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company 
had located their track across the island and 
built upon its banks the abutments for their 
bridges. When the Government decided to 
utilize the island for a permanent and ex- 
tensive manufacturing depot, it was found 
necessar}- to buy out the interests of the pri- 
vate parties and of the railroad company. 
A commission consisting of General J. M. 
Scofield, Selden JI. Church and James Barnes. 
was appointeii to appraise the lands on the 
island owned by individuals. 

An act of Congress, approved June 27, 
1866. appropriated the money necessary to 
buy out their claims, authorized the reloca. 
tion of the railroad bridge, and provided for 
compensating the railroad companj- for 
changing its route across the island. The 
same act made an appropriation to begin 
work on the development of the waterpower. 



Under this and subsequent acts the Govern- 
ment united with the railroad company in 
the erection of the iron bridge, which served 
the general purposes until the constitution 
of the present magnificent bridge, sharing 
in the expense and securing a free wagon way 
in addition to the railroad tracks. 

By order of the War Department, in July, 
1863, Rock Island was made a military 
prison for the confinement of Confederate 
prisoners. During the same month, Captain 
Charles A. Reynolds, Assistant Quarter- 
master United States Army, arrived, and 
commenced building a prison and barracks. 
The first soldiers for guard duty arrived 
November 2, 1863. Lieutenant Colonel Schaff- 
ner arrived on the 19th of November and 
took command. On the 22d, Colonel Richard 
Henry Rush arrived and took command of 
the post, and Colonel A. J. Johnson was ap- 
pointed in charge of the prisoners. The first 
installment of prisoners, taken at the battle 
of Lookout Mountain, arrived from Chatta- 
nooga, December 3, 1863; and from that 
time until the close of the war a large number 
of prisoners were kept under a strong guard 
upon the island. The whole number of 
prisoners confined here was 12,215; the num- 
ber of deaths was 1,960. About 500 died of 
small-pox, many of scurvy, and others of 
various diseases, chiefly pneumonia. They 
were put into rough boxes and buried in 
trenches. The corner-posts of the cemetery 
where their ashes repose, are composed of 
cannon taken from the Confederates, planted 
with their muzzles in the grotmd, and strung 
around with chains. Within this enclosure 
sleep nearly 2,000 Confederate dead. At a 
few of the graves, friends of the deceased 
have erected plain headstones, and placed 
on them a few simple inscriptions. There 
is also near the head of the island, a Union 
soldiers' cemetery where 310 graves are en- 
closed by a neat fence. 

On July 11, 1862. Congress passed the act 
authorizing the establishment of the Arsenal 



HISTORIC ROCK IS L A N D C U N T Y 



59 



and providing the first funds for beginning 
the necessary buildings. 

Major C. P. Kingsbury, a well known and 
competent oflicer of the Ordnance Depart- 
ment, was assigned as the first commandant 
and under his direction, a year later, a store- 
house was erected at the lower or extreme 
western end of the Arsenal, which, with its 
tower and clock, has since been a landmark 
and an object of interest, not merely to the 
inhabitants of the three cities, but also to all 
travelers on the main line of the Rock Island 
road. 

In 1S65 General Thomas .T. Rodman was 
assigned to the command, and followed in 
1871 by General D. W. Flagler, who remained 
commandant until 1SS6. To these two of- 
ficers is mainly due the general plan of the 
Arsenal as it exists today, with nearly all its 
principal buildings; their conception of the 
disposition and arrangement of the ten great 
shops, with the various subsidiary buildings, 
was an immense advance over the stereo- 
typed plan of all arsenal construction of pre- 
ceding years, and in subsequent developments, 
in response to great demands upon the Ar- 
senal's resources, has proved most admirably 
adapted for the purpose for which designed. 

These plans as first prepared by Rodman, 
developed by Flagler, and followed with onl^- 
slight modifications by their successors, have 
resulted in the erection, principally of Joliet 
stone, of a magnificent equipment of shops, 
storehouses, barracks, quarters and numerous 
subsidiary buildings. 

The shops comprise ten stone buildings 
sixty feet wide, built around three sides of a 
rectangular central court, with fronts two 
hundred and ten feet and wings three hun- 
dred feet long: eight of the shops are of four 
stories, the other two of only one, but pro- 
viding in all over thirty acres of floor space. 
Seven of these buildings are now occupied by 
machinery, the other three by the raw mater- 
ial for manufacture and by finished stores. 
There are also two large storehouses and 



numerous other ,,inall buildings for boilers 
for the heating plant and for lumber, coal. oil. 
etc., for officer's quarters, soldiers' barracks 
and for the many other necessities of a large 
government manufacturing establislmient. 

One of these storehouses replaced an earlier 
structure destroyed by fire with its contents 
\ras only completed in the spring of 190.5. 
It is most recently erected of all the main 
buildings of the Arsenal. 

For many years the commandant's quar- 
ters and three others of stone have provided 
accommodations for the assistant officers, 
but within the last few years two attractive 
biuldings of more modern design, one frame 
and the other of yellow Ijrick. have been 
erected at the eastern end of Terrace Road, 
forming a most attractive addition to the 
residential district of the Arsenal, and diu'lim- 
the present year, the old buildings, relics of 
the Civil War. used for many years as a 
hospital and as stables, have been replaced 
by attractive and convenient modern struc- 
tures. 

In May. 1886, Colonel T. G. Baylor. Ord- 
nance Department, succeeded General Flagler 
as commandant. He was followed three years 
later by Colonel J. M. Whitte more and he, in 
1892. by General A. R. Buffington. who con- 
tinued in command for five years. Under 
these officers the main Iniildings were carried 
to completion, manufactures prosecuted at a 
moderate scale, and under the latter, the 
present magnificent bridge from the Arsenal 
to Davenport erected. 

The island is connected with the three 
neighboring cities by bridges built and owned 
by the Government and maintained and 
guarded by the Arsenal, and by its own track 
with the railways that reach them. The 
bridge from the .Arsenal to the City of Daven- 
port is the third bridge provided for railway 
and subsequently for general traffic. Of the 
first nothing now remains but a vine-covered 
stone pier about a quarter of a mile above the 
present structure. It was the pioneer bridge 



60 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



across the Mississippi river from its iiidutli to 
its source and was completed fifty-two years 
ago, being used by the Rock Ishind railroad 
until October, 1872, when a bridge upon the 
present location was finished. Twenty-four 
years later this latter bridge, having proved 
insufficient for the traffic to which it was sub- 
jected, the present magnificent structure was 
finished. Its total length is 1 ,550 feet, divided 
into five spans and one draw. It is double 
decked, with a double railroad track above and 
double street car track and wagon bridge be- 
low. The traffic across this bridge is now tuuch 
greater than formerly and is an indication of 
the growth of population in the cities of Rock 
Island and Davenport, which it connects. 
Now it is at the rate of about 40,000 engines 
annually, over 80,000 passenger cars, and 
340,000 freight cars. In addition over 450,000 
teams and nearly 1,000,000 pedestrians. 

Only about 1,000 steamboats passed up 
and the same n\imber down and the traffic 
through the draw of barges and rafts has 
decreased year by year. 

A trolley line also crosses the bridge and is 
traversed during the year by over 100,000 
street cars. A branch of this line was some 
years ago extended from Fort Armstrong 
Avenue, crossing the western end of the is- 
land, for about a mile up to the shops and 
extending beyond across the branch of the 
river at the south of the island to the neigh- 
boring City of Rock Island. It was built in 
response to petitions from Arsenal workmen 
for their accommodation and tinder a special 
revocable license granted bj' the Secretary of 
War for that purpose. It is not available 
for general traffic from Davenport to Rock 
Island, nor from either city to the Ar- 
senal, being reserveil solely for use of the 
employes. 

In March, 1897, Captain Stanhope E. 
Blunt, Ordnance Department, was appointed 
commandant and through successive pro- 
motions to Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and 
Colonel, the latter grade being given in June, 



1906, has through more than ten years' con- 
tinued in command. 

Colonel Blunt's administration has been 
marked by great expansion in the Arsenal's 
facilities for manufacturing war material; 
over $1,200,000 worth of modern machinery 
being installed in the shops, and the power 
transmission system changed from the anti- 
quated wire rope transmission of the water 
power to a modern hydro-electric plant of 
amply capacity for the Arsenal's needs. 

The island, containing nearly 1,000 acres, 
is irregular in shape, about two and one-half 
miles long and three-fourths of a mile across 
at its widest part. 

The main channel of the Mississippi ri\'('r 
passes between the island and the Iowa shore, 
a much narrower branch separating it from 
the Illinois bank. Across this smaller stream, 
a short distance above the shops, a masonry 
dam has been constructed producing, in con- 
sequence of the reach of rapids opposite and 
above the island, a water power of ample 
capacity; having a head of from seven and 
one-half to eleven feet, according to the stage of 
the river, and on the dam, operated by twenty 
turbines, have been installed three alternating 
current generators of 1,650 kilowat total 
capacity, with the accompanying exciters, 
switchboard, etc., required for their operation. 

The building housing this installation, with 
generators, shafting and all other incidental 
machinery, has licen completed, not only in a 
substantial but in a highly ornamental man- 
ner, rendering the power house not only one 
of the most interesting objects for visitors to 
the Arsenal, but also from its appearance one 
of the most attractive. 

At present nearly 3,000 horse-power is thus 
provided, which can be increased, if it should 
ever prove necessary, by utilizing pen- 
stocks on the dam now occupied, and 
installing the corresponding additional elec- 
trical machinery. 

None of the navy yards or other arsenals 
possess this combination of ample water 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



61 



power and electrical transmission, and the de- 
velopment of the power plant to its present 
really magnificent condition, permitting the 
greatest economy, with also the greatest 
facility and convenience of operation, is 
one of the pruicipal distinguishing features 
of the Rock Island Arsenal. 

Several years ago Congress made a prelimi- 
nary appropriation for the necessary machin- 
ery for manufacture of small arms at the Ar- 
senal, following it at the next session with a 
sufficient sum to permit the installation of a 
plant that should turn out about two hundred 
and fifty finished rifles per day. 

The complete establishment of the plant 
required a material increase in the power pro- 
vided and also its transmission to the new 
armory: it also included the completion of 
three of the large shops, with elevators, a 
steam heating plant, lavatory conveniences, 
work benches for employes, rooms for fore- 
men and in.spectors, and the introduction of 
the many minor but essential appliances 
requisite for economical and efficient opera- 
tion, including even tunnels connecting the 
basement floors of the different shops, which 
afford passage for the heating pipes, fuel oil 
pipes, electric power and lighting wires, and 
for small trolley cars for transportation Ise- 
tween biuldings of the various components of 
of the rifles in the different stages of their 
manufacture. 

In this small-arms plant and in the shops 
of the southern row over 2,400 machines of 
a great variety are disposed, with the shaft- 
ing for their operation and the necessary 
benches, and the other numerous appliances 
requisite for their occupancy by workmen. 
Operation of the shops upon the scale now 
required for the manufacture of gun carriages, 
equipments, small arms, etc., employs at 
present about 2,000 men, at a monthly charge 
for wages of from $125,000 to $130,000. If 
compared with its operation ten years ago 
it will be observed that four times as many 
men are now employed as at the earlier date 



and that the monthly wages are about five 
times greater. The annual tonnage of re- 
ceipts and issues is also five times greater 
than in 1897. The total expenditures at the 
Arsenal in the fiscal year 1897 for all purposes 
amounted to $68,'?, 000; while for the last three 
fiscal years it has averaged nearly $4,000,000 
annually 

The Arsenal upon the scale now operated 
provides the soldiers' ordnance equipment 
for an army of 60,000 men, and is besides 
constantly adding to the reserve supply. 
By merely taking on additional employes it 
could, without delay, increase its output to 
meet the demands of an army of half a mil- 
li(m men, and by adding additional machin- 
ery, for which necessary space and power has 
been provided and its disposition arranged 
for, and also the employes for its operation, 
this output could be still further immensely 
increased. 

Besides the saddle in all its parts, beginning 
with the lumber used in the saddletree, the 
bridle, saddlebags, rifle scabbard, halter, 
horse-brush, cartridge box, saber belt, and 
many other articles included under the gener- 
al designation of infantry, cavalry and horse 
equipment, are also made. The haversack, 
canteen, cup, meat can, knife, fork and spoon ^ 
of duck and other material, which constitute 
the soldiers' more personal equipment, and 
of metal the bits, spurs, picket pin, etc., 
which he also uses, are included in the manu- 
factures. 

Many sets of artillery harness are annually 
made and also the numerous parts and gen- 
eral supplies pertaining thereto. Also pack 
outfits for mountain artillery by means of 
which gims, their carriages and ammunition 
are carried on mule back. 

The Arsenal has recently completed some 
six-inch barbette carriages for seacoast forts 
and for four years past has been regularly 
engaged in the manufacttn-e of a large number 
of the new three-inch field gim carriages, 
model of 1902, with the accompanying 



62 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



limbers, caissons, battery wagons, and tbcir 
tools, implements, etc. This is of itself a 
most important work, requiring the services 
of a number of the best mechanics, and would 
alone be deemed elsewhere a sufficient task 
for many an establishment, though at Rock 
Island it comprises as stated only a portion 
of the maniifacturing work. 

In order that the field artillery carriages 
manufactured at the Arsenal may be tested 
before issue to develop any unknown defects 
if they should exist, all such material is proof 
fired at grounds specially laid out for that 
purpose at the upper or eastern end of the 
island. This included a large timber and 
sand butt into which the projectiles are shot, 
and which is of such dimensions that they 
cannot emerge therefrom. The many addi- 
tional instruments for determining the veloc- 
ity of the projectile, velocity of recoil of parts 
of the carriage, or pressure of the powder 
charge in the bore, and other features neces- 
sary to give the constructing officer of ord- 
nance the information which he needs in de- 
signing other material, or in verifying the 
correctness of the design undergoing proof, 
are also installed in special structures erected 
at the proving ground for their reception. 
With these buildings is included an obsen-a- 
tion tower permitting by its use a river 
range for firing up the river of approximatel.y 
6.500 yards and enabling these carriages to be 
tested and proof fired under an elevation. 

The Arsenal also makes the wooden targets 
of different designs and all the paper targets, 
steel silhouette frames, and pasters used in 
target practice, as well as the insignia indi- 
cating the soldiers' classification in markman- 
ship, and the various insignia on saddle 
cloths, rosettes on bridles, and similar orna- 
mental jewelers' work. 

In its armory shops the daily output for 
several years past has been from one hundred 
to one hundred and twenty-five finished mag- 
azine rifles per daj', an industry in itself of 
greater magnitude than that of the army's 



other .'^mall arm factory until within very 
recent years. 

Besides its manufactures the Arsenal is 
also the distributing point to all parts in the 
middle west for the product of other arsenals 
and of the private establishments from which 
the government purchases. 

The total cost of the Arsenal from its es- 
tablishment to July 1, 1907, including the 
erection of the permanent buildings, the ac- 
quisition, development and later improve- 
ment of the water power, the large bridge 
across the Mississippi, and the smaller ones 
to the Illinois shore, and the purchase and 
installation of the machinery in the shops, 
under the different commandants is as follows: 

Major C. P. Kingsbury, 1863-6.5. S231,3S4.- 
72; General T. J. Rodman, 1S65-71. S2,302,- 
626.30; General D. W. Flagler. 1871-86, 
$4,982,481.45; Colonel T. G. Baylor, 1886-89, 
$663,450.00; Colonel J. M. Whittemore, 1889- 
92, $377,318.48; General A. R. Buffington. 
1892-97, $477,375.50: Colonel S. E. Blunt, 
1897-07, $2,051,198.88; total, $11,085,835.33. 

The total disbursement for labor has been 
$17,213,056.90 since the establishment of the 
Arsenal to .July 1. 1907. 

During the first twenty-five years, or 
up to the conclusion of General Flagler's 
administration, construction of buildings, 
bridges, roads, etc., and the earlier steps in 
development of water power formed the 
principal work, the very limited amount 
of machinery which had been installed, being 
operated to only a moderate extent and the 
disbursements, including wages, being mainly 
in connection w'ith building construction. 

In the second period, continuing until 
about the time of the Spanish War, construc- 
tion except for the rebuilding of the bridge 
from the Arsenal to Davenport, nearly 
ceased, while the manufacturing operations 
of the Arsenal continued at a slightly increas- 
ing but still very moderate extent. 

The third period embraces the great in- 
crease in amount and variety of manufacture, 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L A X D C o JJ y T Y 



63 



inchiding that of small arms, and accompany- 
ing expansion of plant, with some inciden- 
tal building operations, commencing in the 
latter part of 1897, during the first year of 
the administration of Colonel Blunt, slightly 
before the earlier days of the Spanish War, 
and continuing to the present date. 

Senator Allison, to whose faith and interest 
in the Arsenal must be largely ascribed the 
generous appropriations granted during many 
years past for its construction and develop- 
ment, is quoted as saying that "Rock Island 
Arsenal, during the few months of the late 
Spanish War, more than returned in advan- 
tage to the country the great cost of its con- 
struction; and unquestionably in a war of 
any magnitude and diu-ation this cost would 
again be repaid many fold. 

The Arsenal from March, 1897 to August, 
1907, was commanded by Colonel Stanhope 
E. Blunt, Ordnance Department. The other 
officers are now Majors Babbitt, Thompson 
and Burr; Captains Gallup and Hillman and 
Contract Surgeon Craig. The garrison is a 
detachment of one hundred soldiers of the 
Ordnance Department, 

Commencing .in the spring of 1907, the 
superstructure of the old truss bridge, over 
Sylvan Water, connecting the Island with the 
Illinois shore, was removed, for the prepa- 
ration of the new viaduct concrete bridge. 
The old four stone piers, with two abutments, 
were used in the new substructure, and 
owing to the girder stvle of construction of 



the new bridge, fo\ir new concrete piers were 
built. The new viaduct bridge was designed 
by Ralph Modjeski, the noted architectural 
engineer, and built under the supervision 
of the war department ; the contractors being 
Bayne and Hewett of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Its construction represents an expenditure 
by the government of $12.5,000, with S1600 
additional, for widening the causeway, be- 
tween the bridge and Fort Armstrong Avenue, 
and bridge sidewalks. The Tri-City Railway 
Company, assiiming the cost of the brick 
cemented driveway, trolley poles, and new 
tracks, amounting to $10,000; making a total 
cost of .SI 36,600. The new bridge was 
opened for street car and passenger traffic 
December 12. 1907; opened for general 
traffic, December 18, 1907, and was accepted 
by the government, January 16, 1908. 

The width of the structure is twenty feet 
between curbs, with two sidewalks, each six 
feet. 

The incline approach from the City of Rock 
Island side consists of the original stone wall 
one hundred and twenty-four feet long; the 
new concrete wall, .joining same, extending 
to railroad track abutment, is one hundred 
and seventy feet long. The bridge proper 
consists of eleven spans, making a length 
of 801.1 feet, and total length with approach 
approximately 1096 feet. The solidity of the 
entire structure is evident in every detail. 

The present commandant of the Island, is 
Colonel S. E. Hobbs. 



64 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



TOPOGRAPHY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Rock Island County lies upon the western 
boundarj' of the great agricultiiral prairie 
state of Illinois. This boundary, the majes- 
tic Mississippi River, is bordered by bluffs 
that give a rugged and diversified surface to 
this river county. Rock Island County is 
notpbly a river county, for it stretches for 
almost sixty miles in an irregular strip along 
the Father of Waters. It bIso has for its 
boundary line (for the upper half of the 
comity) upon the southeast another famous 
stream, Rock River. The third natural 
boundary is Meredosia Slough or creek which 
separates Rock Island from Whiteside County 
for some miles on the comity's northeastern 
portion. The county is separated into two 
somewhat compact sections or portions by 
the Rock River which crosses the county on 
its way to union with the Mississijjpi. 

The northern section of the county has 
unusual topographical interest, being almost 
entirely upland of an elevation of fifty to 
one hundred feet above the general level of 
the rivers on either side. This wall of bluffs 
varies greatly in outline and picturesqueness. 
It is of gentle declivity at times and at others 
of rugged abruptness. The bluffs along the 
Mississippi follow the river in general and for 
the most part rise from the water's edge. A 
few miles above the present locations of 
Moline and Rock Island the bhiff line recedes 
from the river, and an alluvial plain of rich- 
ness and gentle slope is formed. The bluffs 
which form the other side of this plateau of 
the upper county section are manifest in 
rugged beauty along the north bank of the 



Rock River near the location of Milan. The 
lines of bluff and stream diverge not far east 
of Milan, leaving a broad stretch of alluvial 
acres. The same relative location of bluff 
and stream and plain is maintained after the 
Meredosia Slough is reached. From this creek 
the bluffs turn west and reach the Mississippi 
near Cordova. Men of research say that it is 
altogether probable that in the early days 
of the great river its path lay, through the 
Meredosia Slough and the bed and valley of 
Rock River. If so, the portion of Rock 
Island County under consideration, at one 
time was upon the western or Iowa side of 
the Father of Waters. This elevated tract 
of the upper county was originally well 
covered with undergrow'th and scattering 
timber. Its surface is fairly rough but is 
generally continuous except where a depres- 
sion called Pleasant Valley cuts across the 
upland region from Hampton on the Mississ- 
ippi to Carbon Cliff on Rock River. The 
farms in Pleasant Valley are considered among 
the best of the upper county. The elevated 
region has been farmed many years and has 
been made to jdeld productively, especially 
in cereals and fruits. The bottom lands are 
of surpassing fertility. Along the rivers 
there are some sandy tracts that are unfitted 
for tillage, but in the main the farmers of this 
portion of the county have greatly prospered. 
The southern portion of Rock Island 
County is a fairly symmetrical rectangle 
thirty-three miles from east to west. It has 
for its northern boundary the Mississippi 
and Rock Rivers. Its western boundary is 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



65 



also the Mississippi wliicli tiiriistothesouthwanl 
at Muscatine on the Iowa shore or just west of 
Dnir3''s landing; on the Illinois side. Merner 
County lies to the south and Henry County to 
the east of this' portion of Rock Island County. 

This section comprises the greater part of 
the excellent farming lands of the county. 
There are alluvial bottom lands, rolling up- 
land prairies and bluff lands of less agricul- 
tural value. The prairies responded most 
quickly to the efforts of the early settler and 
have for many years shown the most beautiful 
farms in the county. The alluvial lands were 
some what swampy or boggy in part and did 
not yield well until modern methods of drain- 
age were employed. Along the south side 
of the Rock River bottom bluffs appear, the 
range rising abruptly in places to an average 
height of more than one hundred feet. At 
Andalusia the bluffs approach the Mississippi 
River which washes tlieir base almost to the 
southern line of the county, except in a few 
places where an uncultivated low bottom 
intervenes, seamed with sloughs. This range 
of bluffs is cut up with hollows and 
ravines and is covered with a moderate 
growth of timber, principally oak. The 
rough land extending back into the highland 
for several miles is tlie least vahiable portion 
of the county for agriculture. 

Rock River is the principal stream within 
the borders of the county and furnishes a 
water power second only to the Mississippi. 
It rises in Wisconsin about midway between 
the Wisconsin River and Lake Michigan. Its 
course in Illinois is almost one hundred and 
eighty miles long. Its chief tributary, the 
Pecatonica, discharges its waters below the 
northern boundary of the state. The valley 
of the Rock River is one of the most healthful 
and wealthy sections of Illinois. After form- 
ing a portion of the boundary between Henry 
and Rock Island Counties it di\ides the latter 
into its northern and southern portions and 
empties into the Mississippi about three miles 
below the Citv of Rock Island. In the last 



few miles of the stream there is a sharp fall in 
level, and as a result a series of beautiful rapids. 

GEOLOGY. 

The soil of the Rock River and Meredosia 
bottoms is the rich alluvial deposit that is 
found in the neighborhood of all streams in 
this part of the Mississippi basin. The small 
portion of the county lying north of the bluff 
line is level sand prairie. This level stretch 
assists the imagination in calling up a vision 
of a mightier Mississippi than the one with 
which the earliest inhabitants of the valley 
were acquainted. In those earlier ages of 
the earth's history when the river divided at 
this ]3oint with its main channel in the slouffh 
and Rock River bed it was miles in width. 
This prairie was a broad hearlland and bar. 
The bluff buttressed upland of the northern 
cotmty was a noble island rising from the 
waters of the swiftly rolling, magnificent 
river. The sand brought down by the cur- 
rent lodged against the head of this great 
island and the sand plain was slowly formed, 
just as the bars are now being formed against 
every obstruction in the river in these days. 

This great stream which has left its history 
written on bluff and bar and pictured in 
sculptured bedrock and drifted cairn has no 
more perfect record than its old shore line 
marked high along its bluffs. The town of 
Cordova is built almost entirely upon a terrace 
which was once the bed of the river. This 
terrace is fifty feet above the present low water 
mark of the Mississippi. This reminder and ev- 
idence of the ancient river's majesty can be 
traced along the slough and Rock River bluffs 
until that river empties into the Mississippi. 

Evidences of glacial drift are almost absent 
in this county. Genuine drift gravel and 
boulders are scarce. The soil of the bluffs 
and hills is a marly deposit kncjwn as ''loe.ss" 
which overlies blue clays and sands. Farther 
from the river the "loess" gives place to fine 
luminated drift clays such as cover most 
Illinois high prairies and upland barrens. 



66 



HISTORIC ROC K ISLAND COUNTY 



The surface soil is underlaid by founda- 
tions of stone nf successive geologic ages. 
At the eastern end of the county near Hamil- 
ton the upper and more shaley beds of the 
Hamilton limestone first appear in outcrop- 
pines along the Mississippi bank. Still 
heavier outcrops show near Moline. Here 
the stratum is thicker, is brown in color, and 
is fossil bearing. Farther west near Rock 
Island and Milan the Hamilton is thicker, 
bedded with more irregular stratification, 
the color bluish white or brown on recent 
fracture, and the rock of firm texture and 
density. 

The island in the Mississippi known as 
Rock Island is a great mass of this Hamilton 
limestone, chiseled into shape by the water. 
covered with eomparativelv thin soil and 
splendidly wooded. This island is rich in 
indications of primitive conditions in this 
section as it has stretche? of forest that have 
been allowed to retain their natural beauty 
and charm. 

The Devonian limestone of this county 
have been divided by scientists for litho- 
logical reasons into three divisions namely: 
the upper, the middle and the lower; each 
marked by its distinguishing character- 
istics. The upper-most division is limestone 
of gray or brown color, is rough and coarse- 
grained, and filled with the shells and corals 
that mark the Hamilton beds. The deposit 
is from thirty to forty feet in thickness. The 
middle division is made up of argillaceous 
and calcareous shales of equal thickness, this 
rock being filled with characteristic Hamilton 
fossils. The most easily noted outcropping of 
this division is between Rock Island and Moline 
where in quarrying a perpendicular space of 
thirty feet has been exposed. Under this 
division lies the third division which consists 
of a fine grained compact stone, of gray or 
dove color. This extends below the river 
level and is of an unknown thickness. It has 
been penetrated by borings to the depth of 
one hundred and seventy-five feet. 



This Devonian limestone of the third 
division forms the bed of Mississippi and Rock 
Rivers in this region. Rock River from 
Milan almost to the Mississippi is paved with 
what seem to be massive blocks of this com- 
pact stone irregular in size and contour and 
worn to smoothness by the ceaseless flow of 
the rapid current. The depth of this lithic 
stream bed has not been determined. At 
Sears' mill which formerly stood below Black 
Hawk's Watch Tower, rock was quarried 
from the stone floor of the channel to the 
depth of twenty feet, and it is probable that 
they were only upon the upper surface of the 
formation. .\t Cleveland near the eastern 
line of the county this same rock appears in 
the bed of the stream, so that it is probable 
that the bed of Rock River in its course along 
and through Rock Island Coimty is formed 
of the Hamilton limestone at times obscured 
and overlaid by a mud deposit made possible 
by irregularities in the formation and moder-- 
ate river fall. The limestone of the Rock 
River bed shows few fossils. 

It is this same division of the Hamilton 
limestone that forms the bed of the Mississippi 
throughout the sixty miles that this stream 
washes the shores of Rock Island County on 
the north and west. It created the terrors 
for the early navigators by its "hog-backs" 
and rocky chains thrown across the rapids in 
their sixteen miles of declivity and rapid 
rush of the mighty current. From the City 
of Rock Island to the western border of the 
county there are but few places where the 
bed of the stream is so near the surface of the 
water as to cause trouble to the rivermen. It 
is an alternation of stretches of sand, mud and 
rockj' bottom. 

At Andalusia excellent building stone has 
been quarried from this lowest member of 
the Hamilton group. The layers are com- 
paratively thin. The stone is fossiliferous 
and of a dove or light blue color. 

Another limestone formation appearing 
locally that has added to the wealth of Rock 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U N T Y 



67 



Island County is the Xiapiara deposit which 
outcrops heavily from Cordova to Port Byron. 
A little south of Hampton it disappears l)e- 
neath the outliers of the coal measures. At 
Cordova this limestone has a tough consisten- 
cy and hornstone appearance, differing in 
these respects from the same formation as it 
appears farther north along the river bank. 
All the upland region of the upper county 
lying above Pleasant Valley is underlaid by 
this Niagara limestone. The upper soil and 
upland clay is cut thro^igh by the streams 
and in the beds of these small waterways the 
limestone appears. 

This Niagara limestone has been commer- 
cially valuable through its burning into 
excellent quicklime which is strong, white 
and ]nire. At Cordova and Port Byron there 
have been for many years extensive works 
for the manufacture of lime and this has 
found its way on its merits into the markets 
of this country The Hamilton limestone 
has also been found very available for lime- 
burning and great quantities of this raw 
material have been converted into merchant- 
able lime. The limestone deposits of Rock 
Island County have furnished inexhaustible 
quantities of building stone to the quarryman 
and builder. 

Another lithic mine of wealth to the settlers 
of Rock Island County has been the deposit of 
sandstone which outcrops in the lower part of 
the county. For a half century a quarry in a 
ravine midway between Millan and .Anda- 
lusia has furnished building stone or rock for 
heavy masonry. The stone is dark colored 
and iron stained and comes from a stratum 
about ten feet thick. This deposit seems to 
be available by removing the soil deposit at 
any point along the bluffs to the west line of 
the county. Near Copper Creek in Drury 
Township there is a quarry which has supplied 
the demand for this material for walls which 
has proved durable and reliable where it has 
been \ised. After many years of use it seems 
to be unaffected by the elements. 



The clays of the upper part of the coimty 
have been used for commercial purposes. 
There are unlimited deposits of material for 
the manufacture of drain tile and this has 
become an important industry at various 
points, the most important point for manu- 
facturing and shipping being Carbon Cliff on 
account of excellence of clay and convenience 
to railroads. The vein of potter's clay which 
also appears in this section of Rock Island 
County has been worked to advantage. 
There has been a pottery in successful oper- 
ation at Hampton for many years. 

In this series of geological notes naturally 
belongs reference to a remarkable group of 
mineral springs known as the "Rinnah 
Wells" springs. They have been known 
from Indian days to have medicinal proper- 
ties and some of them were long ago improved 
by stone curbs and facilities for obtaining the 
water in perfect purity. The sediment of 
the water caused liy natural or artificial 
evaporation is a whitish mineral salt of pro- 
nounced and rather agreeable soda taste. 
These springs have also been called the 
"White Sulphur Springs", also the "Soda 
Springs" and through the similarity of the 
waters to those famous ones of Saratoga 
and their marked "medicinal value it was 
prophecied years ago that a great resort 
would some day be built uj) near Andalusia. 
These expectations have so far been unreal- 
ized, the use of the w-aters having been limited 
to local converts to their good qualities. It 
may yet be that Andalusia with its romantic 
name and waters of healing may yet attract 
the attention of the world and that this 
beautifully located village may be the mecca 
of tourists and healthseekers. 

NATUR.^L SCENIC BEAtJTY. 

The variety in the topography of Rock 
Island County has made possible scenery of 
commanding beaut}^ Early voyagers were 
impressed with the charm of situation of Rock 
Island, the splendid island surrounded by the 



68 



// / N T O h' I (■ HOC K I S L A N D CO U \ T Y 



bright waters of the Mississippi and bounded 
by the outlying bluffs like unto a spacious 
amphitheatre changing with the seasons from 
the charm of green clad eminence to russet 
autumn foliage splashed with vermilion tints 
and then to sno>v-elad winter hills. Many 
chapters have been written of this section. 
One extract will be sulficient to give an idea 
of all. Governor Reynolds in his "Life and 
Times" has this paragraph: "The scenery 
about Rock Island is not surpassed by any 
in the whole length of the Mississippi. It 
seems as though Nature had made an effort 
in forming this beautiful and picturesque 
country. Rock Island itself presents a grand 
and imposing appearance, rising out of the 
waters of the Mississippi a solid rock with 
many feet elevation. It is several miles 
long, and three-fourths of a mile wide. The 
rocks are covered with a fertile soil. The 
river washes around its base with a rapid 
cm-rent of pure and limpid water and Rock 
River, a few miles south, is seen in the dis- 
tance, forcing its way with great rapidity over 
the rocky rapids into the Father of Waters. 
The countrj' around it is interspersed with 
beautiful groves of timber, which give to the 
scene a sweetness and a beauty rarely equaled. 
The blue hills in the distance, directing the 
course of the river, are seen on the north and 
the south to rise with gentle slopes from the 
water to considerable elevations, and the 
valley between, embracing the river is some 
miles in extent, presenting a variety of surface 
and a beauty of landscape never surpassed." 
This scenic beauty Rock Island County 
naturally shares with the part of Iowa lying 
on the opposite bank of the Mississippi- 
There is however one location of great natural 
beauty soleh^ within the boundaries of this 
county. It is the rugged upland formed on 
one hand by the bluffs of the Mississippi and 
on the other by the precipitous bluffs of the 
Rock River. From countless elevations on 
this tract there are views of surpassing 
beauty. The eye is challenged by striking 



declivities of solid rock; rests admiringly 
upon stretches of woods that border winding 
streams of bright and limpid water and rests 
peacefully upon widely stretching farmlands 
marked by hedgerows and clumps of trees. 
Rising abruptly for a height of two hundred 
feet above the water level is the eminence 
known as Black Hawk's Watch Tower. 
From the crest of this noble hill a panorama 
of striking beauty is unrolled before the eye 
of the visitor. To the west stretches the line 
of bluffs that overlooks the confluence of the 
waters of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers. 
To the southwest one can see the location of 
Black Hawk's village. To the south in the 
foregroimd lies the town of Milan to which the 
elevation and distance give picturesquene.ss. 
In the immediate foreground are the four 
channels of Rock River spanned by railroad 
and wagon bridges, the intervening islands 
covered with groves of stately elms and be- 
tween the shimmering and gliincins: waters 
hurry over rocky rapids. The neighborhood 
of the Watch Tower, as it is familiarly known, 
is rich in Indian legends through its having 
been the location of one of the largest Intlian 
settlements of the continent frotn the time 
when tradition begins. Black Hawk's Watch 
Tower takes its name from this Indian chief 
and great Sac warrior; he having watched 
from its siunmit the approach of the troops 
sent against him by Governor Reynolds at the 
beginning of the short, sharp and decisive 
conflict known in history as Black Hawk's 
War. The Watch Tower is easily accessible 
from Rock Island, Moline, Davenport and 
Milan by electric lines and is visited annually 
by many thousand tourists and residents of 
this locality. A handsome inn crowns the 
elevation and the various attractions of a 
modern amusement park furnish recreation 
for the multitude. 

COAL ME.ASURES. 

In that portion of the county Ij'ing west of 
Rock Island the coal measures are found as 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



69 



"outliers", overlaying; and resting uncon- 
formably upon the Devonia and Upper 
Silurian limestone, as far north as the vicinity 
of Port Bvron, where it finally terminates. 
The most northerly point where a workable 
bed of coal has been found on this side of the 
river, is at Rapids City, where the seam is 
from four to five feet thick, and OA-erlies 
the Niagara limestone, with only a few 
feet of thickness of -shales and fire clay 
between. 

Two miles east of Hampton, where coal 
shafts ha\-e been sunk, are good seams from 
four to five feet thick. The Carbon Cliff 
mines were the earliest XAorked on the west 
side of Rock River. For many years exten- 
sive coal operations were carried on at this 
point but the limited supply of coal finally 
became so nearly e.xhausted that mining 
here was discontinued. 

The triangular piece of elevated land east 
of the City of Rock Island, bounded by 
I'leasant "\'alley, Rock River and the Mississ- 
ippi, is a mass of coal materials, resting upon a 



Devonian or Upper Silurian formation of 
imderlying limestone. 

.\11 that part of tb.e county, south and east 
of the Mississippi and the Rock River ranges 
of bluffs, is imderlaid by the coal measures. 
In every part of the county the coal measures 
are covered with a deep deposit of drift-clays. 
At ;\Iilan, Carbon Cliff, and east of the City 
of Rock Island, this drift clay is from forty 
to seventy-five feet in thickness. 

South of Rock River the coal measures 
are more regular and more extensively 
developed than in the northern part of the 
county. The coal mining industry in this 
county has become most important. The 
thickness of the coal seems to vary from 
three and a half to five and a half feet and is 
reached at a depth of from forty to one 
hundred and twenty feet. Coal is raised at 
the principal mines by steam power. The 
active operations in mining have greatly 
enhanced the value of contiguous lands, and 
led to the introduction of railroads as a special 
means of transportation. 



70 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 



In the early historv of the State of Illinois, 
all the territory lying north and west of the 
Illinois River formed one county, under the 
name of Pike County. Prior to the organ- 
ization of Rock Island County, it was at- 
tached to Jo Daviess County. 

By an act of the legislature, approved 
February 9, 1831, which after fixing the 
boundaries, and naming the county, provided 
for the election of certain count\- officers, 
whenever it should contain three hundred 
and fifty inhabitants; and that after such 
election, said County of Rock Island, should 
be considered as organized. Said boimdaries 
were as follows: Beginning in the middle 
of the channel of the Mississippi River, on the 
north line of Township 15, north, and west 
of the Fourth Principal Meridian; thence 
running eastwardly on said line to the Fourth 
Principal Meridian; thence north to the 
middle of the channel of Rock River; thence 
up the middle of said channel to the Marais 
d'Osier Slough; thence along the middle of 
said slough to the middle of the channel of 
the Mississippi River; thence down along the 
middle of said channel to the place of 
beginning. 

On the first daj' of March, 1833, a further 
act was passed, and three commissioners were 
appointed to select and locate a permanent 
seat of justice for Rock Island County; 
and when selected to be called Stephenson, 
in commemoration of Colonel Benjamin 
Stephenson; also by said act the citizens of 
Rock Island County were authorized to elect 



on the first Monday of July, 1833. three 
county commissioners, one sheriff, three 
justices of the peace (to reside in separate 
districts), three constables, and one coroner. 

An election was held July 5, 1833, at the 
house of John Barrel, in Farnhamsburg, 
near the point where the south end of the 
present south bridge of the Rock Island 
Railroad is now located. 

At this meeting, which was duly held at 
the time and place appointed, sixty-five 
citizens were present and took part. Joseph 
Danforth, Joel Wells, Sr.. and William H. 
Simms served as judges, and Joseph Conway 
and W. Thompson as clerks. Those honored 
by election to the county commissionership 
were: George W. Harlan, John W. Spencer 
and Colonel George Davenport. Benjamin 
F. Pike was made sheriff; Levi Wells, coroner; 
George W. Harlan, J. B. Patterson, and Joe 
Wells. Jr.. justices of the peace; George V. 
Miller, Huntington Wells, and Edward Cor- 
bin. constables. These were the pioneer 
office-holders of Rock Island County. 

The covmty commissioners met at John 
Barrel's and organized three days later. 
Joseph Conway was made clerk and Joseph 
Wells. Sr., treasurer and assessor. As there 
was neither count}- seat or am- count}' build- 
ing, the commissioners ordered that sessions 
of court and general elections be held at the 
house of John Barrel in Farnhamsburg. 
Asaph Wells and Joel Wells. Jr., were ap- 
pointed supervisors of roads at the March 
term, 1834. 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U N T Y 



71 



At this time the settlers had to depend upon 
Fort Armstrong for mail facilities. The 
matter of going to the postoffice became 
burdensome, as it included ferriage to the 
island. This expense added to the postage 
of twenty-five cents on each letter became 
grievous and the settlers petitioned the 
postmaster-general for a postoffice to be 
established at the convenient and useful home 
of John Barrel. This was done in 1834 
and Josej)h Conway made postmaster. 

In June, 1834, the county was divided for 
convenience into rwo voting precincts, these 
being denominated the "Upper" and the 
"Lower." The boundaries of the Upper 
Precinct commenced at the mouth of the 
Marai.s d 'Osier Slough and continued as far 
west as Henry McNeal's house. The voters 
in this territory assembled at the home of 
\\'alter Phillips. The remainder of the county 
formed the Lower Precinct and the voting 
place was fixed at the house owned by Daven- 
port and Farnham in Farnhamsburg. The 
first judges appointed in the Upper Precinct 
were Asaph Wells. James Haskell and Thomas 
L. Galpin; in the I,o\ver, Joel Wells, Sr., 
William Brashar and William Tarr. 

February 12, 183.5, the legislature passed 
an act to establish the county seat of Rock 
Island County. The con.missioners ap))ointed 
under this law, on the 8th daj- of June 1835, 
located and established the town of Stephen- 
son, and the county seatof Rock Island Comity. 
The commissioners were George Davenport, 
John W. Spencer, and John Vanatta. 

B}- order of the county commissioners 
court, in November, 1835, the records and 
courts of the county were removed from 
Farnhamsburg to Stephenson. 

The report of the commissioners was made 
June 8, 1835. This document ordered "that 
Charles R. Bennet be appointed to survey 
the town of Stephenson, in Rock Island 
County, as soon as practible." A further 
provision of the report was to the effect 
that "one-third of the town lots be offered 



for sale on the 11th of July next, and that 
the same be published three times in the 
St. Louis Republican, the .'Vlton Spectator, 
the Northwestern Gazette and the Galena 
Advertiser." 

The town of Stephenson was therefore laid 
out by Charles R. Bennet and the plat 
recorded July 10, 1835. This recorded plat 
bears the certificate of Joseph Conway, 
clerk to the county couunissioners. The 
town comprised within its modest limits 
twenty blocks in addition to the one set 
aside for a public square upon which the 
county buildings were to be erected and 
upon which the handsome modern court 
house now stands. The lots were most 
generous, as befitted a time when land was 
cheap. They measured eighty feet front 
and had a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. 

Colonel George Davenport, John W. Spen- 
cer and John Vanatta, the county com- 
missioners, entered the town site of Stephen- 
son for the purposes of a county seat, Maj' 
11, 1836. Its description was "the north- 
west fractional quarter of Section 35, con- 
taining 61.95 acres." This entry was made 
in the land office of this district at Galena. 

To add to the official dignity of the local 
courts, the commissioners ordered September 
7, 1835, "that Joseph Conway be authorized 
to get two seals, one for the circuit court of 
Rock Island County and one for the county 
commissioners' court of Rock Island County, 
the device to be a sheaf of wheat and a plow." 
These courts were removed from Farnhams- 
burg to the new county seat, Stephenson, in 
November, 1835. 

One incident of these early days, having 
peculiar interest through later national legis- 
lation and civil war was the onlering of the 
court that a tax of one-half per cent be 
levied "on slaves or indentured negro or 
mulatto servants, pleasure carriages, dis- 
tilleries, horses, nuiles, cattle, watches and 
their appendages, household furniture, clocks, 
wagons, carts, sheep and town lots." 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



By this listing of slaves among real and 
personal property with a recognized cash 
value to be the basis of a percentum tax the 
ownership of slaves was recognized in this 
section which later took important and 
active part in the war which destroyed and 
discoimtenanced the entire system of slave 
ownership. The occasion of the tax levy 
upon "indentured negro servants" was the 
holding of slaves by some of the officers at 
the Fort Armstrong garrison. When these 
officers were transferred to this post they 
brought with them these "indentured negro 
servants." This practice though not sanc- 
tioned by the constitution and laws of the 
State of Illinois was possible under the old 
territorial laws, enacted when Illinois was 
a part of the Territory of Indiana. Under 
these territorial provisions permitting slaves 
to be introduced into this free soil as "inden- 
tured servants," many lived in Illinois. In 
1810 there were one hundred and sixty-eight 
slaves in this state. Ten years later the 
number had increased to nine hundred and 
seventeen. Ten years later in 1830 there 
were seven hundred and forty-six slaves 
within the borders of Illinois. It was about 
this time that Dr. Emerson, the surgeon 



of the post, brought to this section as his ser- 
vant, the famous negro, Dred Scott. When 
Fort Armstrong was evacuated in 1836, 
Scott went with his master to Fort Snelling 
in .Minnesota and there proceedings were 
commenced which culminated in the Dred 
Scott decision by the Supreme Court of the 
United States, one of the history making 
incidents of ante-bellum times. Dr. Emer- 
son afterwards made Davenport his home, 
erecting a handsome residence on East 
Second Street. There he died and wa"s 
buried at an early cemetery, now the crossing 
of Sixth and LeClaire Streets. 

In 1829, it is a matter of history that a 
number of slaves were held for a short time 
in Rock Island County on a farm just above 
:Moline. Their owner, a southern man, 
brought them with him when he moved to 
this section. He brought his holding to the 
number of seventy-five expecting to give 
them their freedom and place them tipon 
lands entered in this section, but the 
colored people preferred to return to their 
"sunny" southern home, and were allowed 
to do so after experiencing the rigors of one 
northern winter. 



COUNTY COURT HOUSE. 



As attractive, perhaps, as any court house 
in the states and more remarkable in archi- 
tecture bjf far than many, is the handsome 
county building of Rock Island. Stately 
and inviting for business, this edifice stands 
a monument to the progressive spirit of the 
people, who, keeping pace with the advance- 
ment of the times, put it there. 

Way back in 1826 a sijiall but well designed 
liuilding known as "John Barrel's house," 



enclosed within its walls the first gathering 
of men to transact Rock Island County 
business. That house stood in Farnhams- 
burg and besides being the first county court 
house, served as postofTice and hotel. 

The first jail was built in 1836— then the 
city was the town of Stephenson. John W. 
Spencer in October, 1835, was awarded the 
contract to build this jail, which was origi- 
nally a hewed log building, two stories high 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COU N TIY 



73 



and twenty-two feet square. The brick 
portion of the structure, afterward added, 
was built by Daniel Doty in 1839. It stood 
on lot No. 5 in block No. 15 in the old town 
until it was sold to a German, who converted 
the brick portion into a residence. 

It was in this building that the nnu'derers 
of Colonel Davenport were confined, and 
from which they were led forth to expiate 
their crimes upon the gallows on the morning 
of October ^Oth, 1S45. Birch and Baxter 
were also confined there: the former took a 
change of venue to Warren Covuity where he 
broke jail and escaped. Baxter escaped the 
gallows on the grounds of liaving no willful 
intention to take the life of his l)enefactor; 
for wliile he laid the plot for the robbery of 
Colonel Davenport's house, and jjlanned 
with the robbers to be ready to enter it on 
that memorable Fourth of July, he did it 
thinking that the house would be unoccupied. 
But in that he was disappointed: all the 
family had gone to the celebration excepting 
the colonel. When the robbers entered, 
they unexpectedly foimd him in the house 
and to make sin-e of escaping with their 
phmder, murdered him. Baxter was sen- 
tenced to the penitentiarj- for life but was 
afterwards parolled on the pn.mise that he 
would leave this part of the country. 

The present jail was built in 1857 at an 
initial cost of $60,000. Additions of note 
have since been added. Until this date, 18-57, 
the jail building contained besides the 
sheriff's office and residence, the offices of 
circuit clerk, recorder, and the county 
clerk. 

A contact with >Ionah H. Case to furnish 
200,000 bricks at eight dollars a thousand, 
was the first step toward the erection of the 
then, new court house. That was in April, 
1836. In June the contract for the building 
was let to Samuel Smith for $10,500, to be 
completed December 1, 1837. The building, 
a square brick structure, was of two stories 
with a central cupola. It stood on the square 



reserved for that purpose when the town was 
mapped out and on the land of the present 
temple of justice. 

Immediately after the jail fire in 1882, the 
people began to agitate a new court house. 
In January 1883, the board of supervisors 
decided to erect an office building of sufficient 
capacity for the offices of county judge, cir- 
cuit clerk, and county clerk: consequently, a 
contract was made with S. J. Collins for a 
one-story brick building, situate on the south- 
east corner of court house square, at a cost 
of aljout S13,00(), the building being com- 
pleted during the year. 

Diu'ing the time of its construction, office 
room was obtained in the old court house, 
and improvised space in the jail building. 
As Rock Island County grew it was soon 
apparent that extensive improvements and 
additions to the court house would be neces- 
sary. This rehabilitation would have cost 
the county so mucli money that it seemed to 
the wise men quite the wTong thing to do, 
but rather appeal to the people to decide at 
the polls whether or not it was their desire 
to bear the expense of a new and modern 
building. Supervisor Joseph Fitzpatrick of 
Milan championed the movement. He intro- 
duced a resolution at the April term, 1893, 
calling for a committee to investigate the 
needs of the county and the probable cost 
of a new court house, to report to the board 
at the July meeting, with recommendations 
as to the time and money necessary to erect 
such a court house as would compare with 
the wealth and progress of the county. 

This committee composed of Supervisor 
Joseph Fitzpatrick, A. F. Vinton, James (i. 
Britton and Conrad Schneider made a favor- 
able report and thought $125,000 would be 
about the right amount. 

An election was held November 6, 1894, 
and the proposition to issue bonds to the 
amount of $125,000 was carried by the 
following vote: For the proposition to issue 
bonds, 3,913; against proposition, 2,174; 



74 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



majority for said proposition, 1 ,789 Accord- 
ingly the contract was let, Charles J. Larkin 
winning. Work on the founrlation com- 
menced June 26, 1895, and October 1, 1896 
the corner stone was laid. The arrangements 
being in charge of the Old Settlers' Asso- 
ciation. 

The following men constituted the Court 
House Committee: Charles L. Walker, chair- 
man; Phil .Mitchell, Hon. William Jackson, 
John Ohiweiler. T. S. Silvis, (deceased), Hon. 
Charles J. Searle, H. P. Simpson, William 
McEniry, J. F. Robinson, (deceased), C. F. 
Lynde, S. J. Collins, S. S. Hull, Hon E. E. 
Parmenter, (deceased), W. P. Quajde, (de- 
ceased). After the formal notice was made, 
the following orations were delivered by 
Edward D. Sweeney. C. J. Searle and Judge 
J. M. Gould at the laying of the corner stone 
of the new court house, October 1, 1896. 



THE ORATIONS. 

(Orations printed in part.) 

Edw.\rd D. Sweexky. 
Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens: 

We celebrate today the laying of the corner 
stone for the new court house, and the occa- 
sion is an event which awakens in us emotions 
of the deepest interest. While it is true that 
this vast assemblage of citizens are of divers 
nationalities, of varied political faiths, and 
of many religious beliefs, we all stand before 
this mute block of granite as before the 
throne of the Eternal on equal footing, no 
s])ecial privilege of nobility or preference 
places one before the other. 

The significance of this great gathering is a 
tribute of respect to the grand temple of jus- 
tice planned to rise from this corner stone; 
and an acknowledgement of homage to the 
fair Goddess of Justice, who, with sightless 
e3'es and extended hand under the law, holds 
the balances in which causes between man 
and man are weighed without partiality or 



favor, and determined. The law-abiding 
people of this great county as by one common 
impulse, from the various pursuits of life, the 
farmers from their fields, the merchants from 
their counters, the mechanics from their shops, 
the bankers from their desks, and the hum- 
blest toilers from their work, have come to 
witness the simple act of the laying of this 
stone. It must be that in this there is much 
that ought to challenge our thoughtful con- 
sideration and engage our earnest contempla- 
tion for the hour which we are permitted to 
spend togetheron thisevent. It is the transition 
moment from the old to the new; it is the 
passing of a great milestone in the career of 
our county. More than fiftj' years of history 
is about to close its record today, and a new 
book presents itself in which we are to record 
events, yet in the bosom of the future; to be 
born each day and each month in the coming 
years. The thought which occupies every- 
one here assembled must be in reference to 
the old court house, its associations of law- 
yers, and judges, of law suits, of law and its 
administration, and of officers — and this is 
mj' theme. 

The early beginnings of all communities 
are remembered with the greatest of interest 
and cherished in the fond recollections of 
those who have participated therein. The 
County of Rock Island was organized on the 
8th day of July, 1833, it having been formerly 
a part of Jo Daviess County, and the first 
term of the circuit coiu-t was held at the 
house of John Barrel, beginning on the 28th 
day of April, 1834. This house stood on the 
banks of the Sylvan Waters, just west of the 
Cable residence, and was chosen by the 
county commissioners as the tem])orary 
place of holding the court and the village was 
called Farnhamsburg. In this house was 
held the covirt until abandoned at the Sep- 
tember term, 1837; in all six terms of court. 
At each of these terms there was a grand jury 
selected and chosen, and in looking over the 
list of names which compose these grand 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



75 



juries, I find that Benjamin Ggble, the old 
settler who lays the corner stone today, was 
a grand juror at three of these terms. It is 
very evident that they in those days had as 
good an opinion of Mr. Goble as we of the 
present day, while we think he is a little too 
old to do heavy mason work, yet, if called 
upon, that he would be as willing to serve as 
a grand juror to punish wrong doers as he 
was in those early times. I also find the 
name of ou.r venerable and worthy friend, 
Michael Ilartzell, that he served two terms 
as a grantl juror in vindicating the law in this 
new-forming comnuniity. I also find that 
John Tindall, the sturdy and prosperous 
farmer of Bowling Township, and Charles 
Tilterington, the leading farmer of Edging- 
ton, the father of our present county treasurer, 
each served a term as a grand juror in the 
house of John Barrel; all of these ionr are 
now present on this glad day to witness the 
laying of the corner stone of the new court 
house, which to them must be an event of 
inore than usual interest. I also find that 
\Mlliam Bell was a grand juror at the house 
of John Barrel at the April term. 1837. This 
gentleman, who alwaj-s took such an interest 
in the affairs of our county and City of Hock 
Island, and always had a pleasant word and 
smile for everybody, is absent in body, but 
we know must be present in mind. He is 
living with his daughter, Rosa, at Toledo, 
Ohio, and in a ripe old age. 

This was the beginning of our long coiu't 
dockets of hundreds of cases and terms of 
court dragging through tedious months, to 
which has been added the county court, now 
given common law jurisdiction with a civil 
and criminal docket, ami with its long [jrobate 
docket ui)on which are the estates and through 
which already has passed nearly all the titles 
to real estate within the limits of the county. 
The population of the county has grown from 
350 to about 45,000; at the time of the organi- 
zation there was one straggling village on the 
site of the City of Rock Island and here and 



there a settler throughout the county. Now 
there are six incorporate towns and villages, fviU 
of activity and business, and two large com- 
mercial cities, teeming with industry, thrift 
and enterprise, growing in importance and 
multiplying in wealth; then the taxable pro- 
perty of the county was a few hundred 
dollars, now it is over eight millions. For a 
few years there were only two terms of court 
in each year, but very soon the legislature 
gave this county three terms of the circuit 
court, with a probate court in session sub- 
stantially all the year round. 

The number of criminals which come 
before the courts of our coimty for correction 
are surprisingly small. Few comities in the 
state send a less number to the penitentiary, 
schools, and the jails for punishment, in 
accordance with their jiopulation than the 
Count}- of Rock Island. As evidence of how 
carefully the legal limits are observed among 
us stands forth the fact that in the affairs of 
our county, transacted by our honorable 
board of supervisors, every step of the way 
in which they proceed being regulated and 
determined by law, not a legal contest is 
raised or issue made concerning the new court 
house, the greatest building ever yet erected 
in the county, which is rising to is comple- 
tion and will be bviilt from foimdation to 
dome without the circuit coiu't having taken 
cognizance of it in any manner whatever 
except to hear the hammers of the workmen 
and to finally obey the summons to quarter 
itself in the magnificent court room; as grand 
as the old hall of William Rufus, the pride of 
England for a thousand years; which is Ijeing 
provided for it in accordance with law, there 
to administer the law for the people "with 
malice towards none and witii charity for 
all". 

.\mong the names of those who have served 
their day and stamped upon the events of 
the times in which they lived, the imjiress of 
their character and have gone to their reward, 
and are in your memories while I speak, are; 



76 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Joseph Knox, Ira 0. Wilkinson, E. R. Bean, 
John B. Haw ley, Alfred Webster. J. J. 
Beardsle}-. Robert W. Sniitli ant! Patrick 
O'Mara. ' 

The oratory of Joseph Knox will always be 
remembered by those who have heard him. 
The iiaipression that his oratory made upon 
my mind when a young man, was that it was 
close akin to that of Demosthenes. History 
records that when the issue was before the 
Athenians whether thej' would submit to 
Phillip of Macedoa, or resist him with arms, 
that Demosthenes espoused the cause of war; 
in this he was opposed by the accomplished 
orator. Aschines. When Aschines addressed 
the people they woidd say, what wonderful 
eloquence, what a great orator; when Demos- 
thenes would speak thej' wotdd leap and 
shout, "let us go and fight Phillip." ilr. 
Knox was often greeted with similar responses. 
Judge Wilkinson was a slave to his profession; 
he never allowed his mind to be occupied bj- 
anything which wotild draw him away from 
the pure pursuit and practice of the law. He 
was for many years the mentor of our bar 
and no young lawyer struggling with legal 
difficulties ever went to him but he received 
him kindly and furnished material help with- 
out claim of compensation. He did not lay 
down his work until the hand of disease 
arrested his powers, and like "Nicanor" he 
"lay dead in his harness." General Hawley 
will be remembered as the impetuous, vigi- 
lant and aggressive advocate. He was like 
the plumed knight of Ivry, always to the 
front in the thickest of the contest, pushing 
every advantage tmtil victory crowned 
efforts. Patrick O'Mara was the silver- 
tongued orator of the bar, young, promising 
and brilliant; he was a shining mark for tlie 
shafts of death, which too soon claimed hira 
for a prey. Time forbids further mention of 
the merits of the dead, btit the best and the 
highest efforts of those who have gone and 
those who remain are to be found in the 
records of the courts, published in the 58 



volumes of .the Appellate and in the 15.5 
volumes of the Supreme Court reports. It is 
in this work the real test comes of the law- 
yer's knowledge of the law and his merits as 
a lawyer, who has within his grasp and com- 
prehension the highe.st elements of law. 

There have been nineteen different judges 
who have held court in our count}^ Rich- 
ard M. Young was the first judge who ever 
held court in otu- county. He came from 
Galena and was succeeded by Daniel Stone, 
who came from the same place. Sidney 
Breese held the second term. He afterwards 
became a member of the supreme court and 
served a number of years; was elected to the 
United States Senate where he served a term, 
after which he went to the supreme bench 
again, where he remained until his death in 
1S78, full of years, honors and good deeds. 
Benjamin R. Sheldon held the May term. 
1849; He afterwards went on the supreme 
bench, where he remained until his death, 
a good man and a strong judge. Thomas 
Ford held tlie April term of our court in 
1836; he afterwards became governor of the 
state and in his declining days wrote Ford's 
History of Illinois, the best yet written of 
tlie state. Of those who are not now in 
office, I know of only two who are living — 
the Honorable J. W. Drury, who was circuit 
judge from 1856 until 1859 or '60, and the 
Honorable Arthur A. Smith, who first held 
court here in 1879 and resigned on account 
of ill health in I he fall of 1894. 

Thus far I have said nothing about the 
offices of county judge and county clerk. 
The county clerk's office is the great work- 
shop of the county; in that office all the taxes 
are levied and extended, the judgment for 
tax sales entered and the record of the sales 
made and kept. In that office all the busi- 
ness done by the board of supervisors is 
written up and recorded; aside from this is 
the probate business of the cotmty, which 
has grown to be of immense magnitude, 
and to which is added the records of the 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



77 



county court, civil and criminal proceedings; 
within the last few years has passed through 
the county clerk's office the proceedings for 
the paving assessments, which has been a 
stupendous work in itself. To appreciate 
the volume of the work which is done iu this 
office you must be acquainted with its vast- 
ness and its importance. I would be pleased 
on this occasion to speak of the men who 
have acted as county clerks, and who have 
been responsible for and so ably and faith- 
fully discharged their obligations, but time 
forbids any lengthv notice. Of the ex- 
county clerks who are s+ill with us, Joseph 
Conet is the oldest. He will be remembered 
by all as long as we can remember anybody, 
as being the most accommodating, courteous 
and willing public servant that ever served 
in the court ho\ise. The readiness to serve 
anij aid anyone who had business in his 
office came natural to him; what he did was 
disrobed of every semblance of affectation 
or effort. Mr. Conet was succeeded by Major 
Beardsley, who came into office in the latter 
part of the war and performed herculean 
labors in the interests of the widows and 
orphans of the soldiers who died or had 
fallen in battle during the Rebellion, whom 
he e'.er carried on his heart. The accounts 
kept in the book of remembrance bj^ Him, 
"who neither slumbers or sleeps" will show 
a great credit to the major's account for the 
disinterested and patriotic work of these 
years. John V. Cook succeeded the major 
and his memory is embalmed in the hearts 
of all who knew him; he was succeeded by 
Mr. Donaldson, whose efficiency and relia- 
bility were not excelled by anj' one. Colonel 
Hjalmar Kohler, the present incumbent 
needs no commendation from me, his work 
shows for itself and his manner and demeanor 
in office are su.fficient to win for him the 
highest respect and regard. 

Of the e.x-probate justices and county 
judges there are only two living today, 
Captain T.J. Robinson, who acted as associate 



justice, with John W. Spencer as judge 
in 1849. and J. M. (umld who takes part in 
the exercises of this occasion, who was county 
judge in 1854 to 18.57. There has been no 
more responsible position in our comily than 
that of lookinji' after the trusts in the hands of 
executors, administrators and guardians, and 
faithfully have these trtist estates l)een 
guarded and protected by our county judges. 
The present incumbent, the Honorable l.ucian 
.\dams, has grown gray in the service of these 
trusts and no one has ever been allowed to 
suffer in his hands. 

Three members of Congress have been sent 
from our Coimty. The Honorable John B. 
Hawley, the Honorable William H. G est and 
the Honorable Benjamin Cable. AVe are 
indebted to these gentlemen for a:reat services 
in seeming ap])ropriations for the National 
armory on the Island, for the great bridge 
across the Mississippi River, the Moline 
daiu, the viaduct, the new go^•ernluent build- 
ing now being erected, and the Hennejiin 
Ca'^nal. 

The soldiers of Illinois were foremost at 
Donaldson, Shiloh, A'icksburg, Chickamauga, 
Lookout Mountain and in Sherman's march 
to the sea. General Sherman was their great 
leader in that famous march, but it is said if 
the old hero had fallen by the way, the boys 
would have gone right on to the sea. The 
Illinois soldiers l:)rought home from the fields 
of the south three hundred battle flags taken 
from the enemy, and it was an Illinois flag 
that floated over the advance guard of the 
soldiers who first marched into Richmond 
with President Lincoln at their head, in 
April, 186.5. All honor to the old soldiers 
and love and charity to all their kith and kin. 

Solomon's Temple surpassed all former 
ones in its glory and grandeur, but in follow- 
ing years there was erected a second temple, 
and the glory of the latter house exceeded 
the former. The days of the early pioneers 
were full of noble deeds, efforts and struggles, 
around which a halo of heroism lingers, while 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLANE COUNTY 



the names of the men and women who took 
part in the stirring events of those days are 
held in tender remembrance by tlieir descend- 
ants and the peojile of today. No state in 
the I'ninn excels Illinois in the race of noble 
pioneers who wrought out of the broad 
untracked and uniilled prairies the beginnings 
of the greatest agricultural state of the 
Mississippi valley, and which laid the foun- 
dations of greatest and grandest common- 
wealth of the Union, and no county in 
all of the one hundred and two in the state 
can boast of a nobler band of early settlers 
than can our County. The limit line of 
pioneer and old settlers' life is drawn at the 
vear 18-50 and all time subsequent is counted 
out. I-et due honor and credit be given to 
the early settlers and old pioneers and to all 
who have heljied in the early efforts to lay 
the base of the institutions of which we are 
so proud today and to which we can point 
with becoming pride; but no one will think of 
comparing what has been accomplished in 
the advancements of civilization since the 
date of the limit with what has gone before. 
In 1850 the City of Rock Island had been 
organized only one year and was a mimicipal 
infant, and Moline, now the proud city of 
factories, schools and churches, was still a 
village, and ouside of these there was not an 
organized town or village in the county; the 
iron horse had never sounded his sonorous 
tones on the shores of the Father of Waters: 
the great plow factories of the Twin Cities 
were only in the prophecies of the dim future; 
the magnificent water works, now sending 
flowing water through every street and into 
every house, were unthought of; paved 
streets, which have come to us within the 
last eight years, and which make our cities 
the rivals of those in the old world of a cen- 
tury's growth, were not even in the dreams 
of the oldest inhabitant; while every man 
was his own letter carrier, express messenger 
and "telephone girl." Never since the days 
when Adam and Eve went forth from the 



Garden of Eden, unsandaled and uncovered, 
was human nature so well clothed, so well 
fed, so well housed and surrounded with 
the conveniences and luxuries of life, as 
today; we are all pleased to hear the old 
settlers talk of the "good old times," and 
never tire of hearing rehearsed the events of 
early pioneer life: but we who did not live 
in these "good old times" may be excused 
for speaking of the "good new times." 

Today the forces of the "good old times." 
and the forces of the "good new times" meet 
on this common platform to lay the corner 
stone of the new court house and blend 
without rivalry in a united effort for the 
common weal. 

At the April term, A. D., 1893, of the 
board of supervisors. F. M. Sinnet, Esq., 
was elected chairman, and in his address 
to the board, returning thanks for his election, 
among other things he said that the necessity 
existed for the erection of a new court house, 
and he believed that the times were propi- 
tious for its erection. During this session 
of the board, Joseph Fitzpatrick. Esq., 
then su.pervisor from Black Hawk, came 
to the f)ffice of Sweeney tt Walker and talked 
to the same effect, and Jlr. C. L. Walker 
prepared resolutions setting forth that the 
necessity existed for a new court house and 
that the times were propitious for the build- 
ing of the same. The resolutions were 
delivered to Mr. Fitzpatrick who introduced 
them in the board then in session and they 
were adopted. The resolutions, among other 
things, provided for the appointment of a 
committee to report on the feasibility of the 
project at the next meeting in Jul}-. 

In the meantime Charles J. Searle. our 
young and vigorous state's attorney, with 
his accustomed zeal and enthusiasm, took 
hold of the work and put the report of the 
committee in shape, which was presented at 
the next session of the board and adopted, 
and the cause of the new court house vs'as 
sqiiarely before the people. The press, which 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L AN E COUNTY 



79 



has always been a great factor in the pushing 
forward of the welfare of the county in all 
channels, took hold and advocated the enter- 
prise, the people with great unanimity 
seconded the move and the board of super- 
visors, pushed on until the building of the 
new court house became a fixed fact. 

Messrs. Larkin and Collins and the Rock 
Island mechanics have completed a credit- 
able foundation — one strong enough to sus- 
tain the National Capitol — from which will 
rise a building worthy of our county and the 
times in which we live. 



Ch.^rles J. Searle. 

Mr. President, Citizens of Rock Island County , 
Ladies and Gentlemen: 

I feel highly flattered at being accorded the 
privilege of taking part in the important 
ceremony of laying the corner stone of your 
new "Temple of .Tustice," and while the 
nature of a statistical paper for permanent 
preservation, requires me to indulge in a 
greater use of statistics than is conducive to 
present any temporory interest, I have 
striven, in the very limited time I have had 
to bestow upon the task, to cull out of the 
records and traditions of the county such 
statistical information as in my opinion 
would most interest those present, jis well as 
future inhabitants of the county, to whose 
curious gaze the contents of this corner stone 
will be revealed, perhaps a century from now. 

My endeavor shall be to confine myself 
almost exclusively to matters of local interest, 
but no historical or other information con- 
cerning Rock Island County would be complete 
without takingsomewhat into consideration the 
history and growth of our country as a whole. 

The records of the world's history disclose 
the rise and fall of many jireat and prosperous 
nations, but history never recorded such 
great, rapid, and, we hope, enduring, progress 
of a people as has been witnessed in the 
United States since its formation. Pre- 



eminently a peaceful nation, our area has 
grown from ,S27.844 square miles in 1789, to 
3,603.844 square miles in 1S95, and that too, 
mostly by peaceful conquest. Our popu- 
lation has grown from 3,929,214 in 1790. to 
62,622,2.50 in 1.S90. Under the benign influ- 
,ence of the free institutions handed flown to 
us by our illustrious forefathers, from a few 
scattered settlements, skirting along the 
Atlantic seaboard, we have developed into 
a mighty nation. A nation whose institu- 
tions are not beyond improvement, but in the 
main, filled with a happy, prosperous people. 
A nation of inestimable wealth. A highly 
civilized nation, filled with chtuxhes. schools 
and libraries. A nati(m makinp; unprece- 
dented strides in industry, art, science and 
education. A nation that is indeed the "land 
of the free an<l the Ik hop of the brave." A 
nation of the utmost possibilities of resources 
and development, and destined, I hope, to 
be diu'ing all time, the greatest, grandest 
nation the world ever saw. 

Illinois, ovu- beloved state, taking its name 
from the Indian word. "Illini." signifying 
"Superior Men," has, in the short space of 
seventy-seven years, from its admission in 
1818, grown to be a mighty empire of 
3,826,351 people. The virgin soil of her 
wonderful prairies, the wealth of her prime- 
val forests and the hidden treasures of her 
mines, have made her the gem of that great 
galaxy of states known as the "Great North- 
west," which has no etpial in fertility, re- 
soiu'ces and possibilities of development on 
the face of the earth. 

tireat as our National and State develop- 
ment have been, Rock Island Coimty has 
kept pace with our common country: and 
that, too, notwithstanding the fact that we 
came so comparatively late in the order of 
settlement. Marquette and .loliet were likely 
the first white persons to set eyes on the then 
wild, beautiful and romantic scenery of Rock 
Island County, at that time the home of the 
Indian and the buffalo, in the vear 1673. The 



80 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



first white settler was Colonel Georsje Daven- 
port, who located, with his family, on the 
beaiitifu! island in the Mississippi River 
between here and Daven]iort in 1816, a time 
within the memory of qiiite a number of the 
grand old patriarchs within the sound of my 
voice. Little did the unbroken wilderness 
surrounding that solitary habitation, distant 
hundreds of miles from any other, forbode the 
marvelous development that has taken place 
here since its erection. The first house 
erected on the main shore of our county was 
by Colonel George Davenport and Russell 
Farnham, in the eastern part of our present 
city. The first white child born in this 
vicinity was George Davenport, in 1S17. The 
first lands that were entered were entered 
October 19, 1829, by Colonel George Daven- 
port and Russell Farnham, the governn;ent 
land office then being at Galena, Illinois. The 
first marriage was that of James L. Burtis to 
Angeline Beardsley, in 1833. In 1805 for 
the first time the flag of the Union proudly 
waved .over Rock Island County's present 
domain, is beautiful field of blue then only 
contained a constellation of seventeen stars 
instead of forty-five, as now. 

The early settlement was slow, for, while 
nature was kind and presented few obstacles 
to settlement, the savage and treacherous 
Indian did. It required the Black Hawk 
War of 1832, that had for battle ground the 
beautiful prairies and unbroken forests of 
Rock Island County, to drive the able and 
revengeful Black Hawk and his tribe bej^ond 
the Mississippi, to make way for the advanc- 
ing tide of settlement and civilization. 

It was not till 1S33, that the inhabitants 
had increased sufficiently to justify the legis- 
lative act of that year, providing for the 
organization of the county, and even then 
the total vote of the county was only sixty- 
five. The first seat of justice was established 
in the same year, at John Barrel's house, in 
what was then called Farnhamsburg, now a 
part of the City of Rock Island. In 1835 



the seat of justice was changed by com- 
missioners appointed by an act of the legis- 
lature, to the present site, in what was then 
called the town of Stephenson. Richard 
il. Young was the first judge to preside over 
the circuit court, Joseph Conway was the 
clerk, Benjamin F. Pike, sheriff; Thomas 
Ford, state's attorney, and Joel Wells the 
foreman of the grand jury. Lists of the 
jurors, witnesses and parties to suits, dis- 
close the names of the ancestors of a great, 
many of our present citizens, manj"- of whom 
are prominently known, but which my 
limited time will not permit nie to give. The 
circuit then including Rock Island County 
was known as the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and 
included the counties of Cook, LaSalle, Put- 
nam, Peoria, Fulton, Schuyler, Adams, Han- 
cock, McDonough, Knox, Warren, Jo Daviess, 
Mercer and Henry. The first attorneys at 
the bar were Ford. Turney, Smith, Maxwell, 
Strode, Walker and Mills; these were soon 
followed by such well remembered characters 
as Knox, Drury and Wilkinson. The first 
hotel, tavern as they were then called, -was 
opened in 1833, belonging to Jonah H. Case, 
whose family has ever since been prominent 
in the coimty. Private schools were opened 
at an early date, and free schools were estab- 
lished in 1856. The first church (Methodist 
Episcopal) was built in 1844; the first library 
opened in 1855, and the first newspaper, the 
Rock Island Banner and Stephenson Gazette 
was started in 1839. 

The City of Rock Island, including the 
towns of Stephenson and Farnhamsburg, 
and outlying additions, was organized in 
1841. What was known as "Rock Island 
Mills" was in 1843 organized into the beau- 
tiful City of Moline, "the city of mills." 
Camden, afterwards "Camden Mills" and 
now Milan, was laid out in 1843; Port Byron, 
in 1836; Cordova, in 1837; Hampton, in 
1834; Rapid City, in 1833; Coal Valley, in 
1856; .\ndalusia. in 1859; Edgington. in 
1843, and Reynolds, in 1876. 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



81 



The assessed valuation of the county in 
1833. immediateh^ after its organization was 
so low that the taxes collected only amounted 
to the sum of $53,723^, so that it can be 
readily seen that the county's affairs did not 
permit any great defalcations on the part of 
the county officials. The population of the 
county in 1840, at the time of the first census, 
was 2,610 souls. 

But few in numbers, and poor though they 
then were, the people of the county in 1835, 
with commendable public spirit and ambi- 
tion, and with a realization of the future needs 
of the county, resolved to build a court house. 
They let the contract for $10,500, furnishing 
the brick themselves at a cost of $1,600, 
making a total cost of $12,100 at the time 
of the acceptance of the completed building 
in 1838. Humble as it now seems, it was 
then a grand structure, one of the finest 
buildings in the state, and was the pride of the 
city and county for years. Its erection had 
entailed an expenditure of perhaps not less 
than $10 for every man. woman and child 
in the county, which in view of the poverty 
of the ]ieo]3le and the scarcity of money then 
in circulation, was indeed an evidence of the 
greatest puldic spirit; an amount of money 
harder to raise then than $1,000,000 would 
be now by the people of this county. Could 
the walls of the old building relate the scenes 
they have witnessed, what a story they could 
tell. From it have issued more than 17,000 
official licenses, authorizing the solemn, God 
ordained rites of matrimony; and there we 
find the sad record of thousands of deaths; 
records of joy and happiness on the one hand, 
and of grief and sorrow on the other. There 
are recorded the story of elections, the history 
of the rise and fall of many an ambition. 
There are preserved the evidences of the 
titles of the people to their homes and their 
belongings; the administration of the estate 
of departed loved ones; the financial records 
of the county; the enlistment of the heroic 
volunteer for the preservation of our National 



life, and his honorable discharge; in the record 
of the 11,697 civil causes that have been 
recorded on the dockets of the circuit court, 
we have a record of conquest and defeat, 
justice and injustice, poverty and wealth, 
anxiety and exultation, hope and fear. The 
criminal records, disclosing 4,554 cases, tell 
us a tale of injustice, hate, malice, revenge, 
crime in all its hideous forms, from the most 
trivial offenses, to robbery, rape and murder. 
If its walls would reverberate the echoes it 
has heard and flash upon our vision the sights 
it has seen, what sights we would indeed 
behold, what sounds we would hear! We 
would see every phase of human character, 
good and bad. We would witness the play 
of every emotion of the human mind and 
heart. We would see the joyous, hopeful 
bride, the grief stricken mother; we would 
see the anxious, uplifted faces of litigants as 
they scrutinized the jury, or waited with 
bated breath for the decision of the judge; 
we would hear the exultant, victorious laugh 
of the victor, and the heart-broken sobs of 
the convicted criminal, his relatives and 
friends; we would see many a fierce combat 
between giants at the liar; we would be 
startled at their audacity; we would wonder 
at their display of earnestness and passion; 
we would be thrilled by their elocpience as 
they pleaded for the property, liberty and 
lives of their clients; we would anxiously 
await the verdict of the jury; and at last we 
would listen to the solemn sentence of the 
upright judge. But the old building has long 
been inadequate. 

From a popiUation of 2,610 in 1840 we now 
number nearly 50,000 souls. Instead of two 
marriages on record as in 1833, last year we 
had 390. To keep abreast of the times and 
to meet the demands of the coimty, the people 
have elected to build this fine building. 

On the 20th day of June, 1895, the contract 
for its construction was let for $112,201. 
According to the contract, it is to be fully 
completed by November 1, 1896. From all 



82 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



indications, it will be a grand and stately 
structure, an ornament, and the pride of the 
county for generations to come, and com- 
mensurate with the needs and demands of the 
county. It will jjerhaps remain the seat of 
justice of the county for a century. In it 
will be repeated, only on a large scale and in 
a more multifarious form, the history of the 
old court house. In it the county's affairs 
will be hereafter conducted, justice will be 
administered, rights secured, guilt punished, 
innocence vindicated; the constitutional rights 
of life, liberty and the pursuits of happiness 
conserved. The time is not far distant when 
coiu-t will have to be held throughout the 
year; yes, when the court will have to be 
held in sections, for this court house will 
still be in use when this county will have a 
population of 150,000 people or more. 

Well may the people of Rock Island County 
anticipate the era of wonderful increase of 
population, wealth and progress we are just 
now fairly entering upon, by the erection 
of this grand building; for second to none in 
natural resources, industry and thrift, we 
will be in the van of enterprise and progress. 



J. M. CIOULD. 

Mr. Chairman, Friends and Fellow Citizens; 

Having been informed that the board of 
supervisors had requested that the ceremony 
and laying of the corner stone of the new 
court house should be by the Old Settlers' 
Association of the county, and that I had 
been requested to make some remarks upon 
the occasion, I deem it will be proper to do 
so in a sort of historical line, and will say that 
I will not trespass upon your time with a long 
harangue. 

This county was in early times a part of 
the present County of Pike, which extended 
north to the state line; afterwards embraced 
in what is now Jo Daviess County. The 
first court in this county was lield in a log 
house, as I am informed, located near where 



the residence of Hon. Benjamin T. Cable 
stands, the town being named Stephenson. 
On the 18th day of November, 1848, I 
arrived in the village of midline, to become 
a resident of the county, being a member of 
the firm of Deere, Tate & Gould, for manu- 
facturing farming implements, Messrs. Deere 
& Tate being the practical members. My 
department was the financial. I opened and 
kept the first set of account books, by double 
entry, in the county, learning at the time 
that the system was not used in Scott County', 
Iowa. We did not have any banking facili- 
ties in either of the three towns. Cook & 
Sargent, of Davenport, occasionally, could 
sell us bills of exchange upon St. Louis, and 
sometimes New York, but not often upon the 
latter named city. Our business away from 
here was generally with St. Louis, as our 
only transportation facilities, except by 
wagon to Chicago, were by the river. Our 
remittances were usually made in the season 
of navigation by the captains or clerks of the 
steamboats. There were no regular paydays 
for our employes, and we seldom paid much 
money to them, except upon final settlement, 
when they were either discharged or resigned. 
We gave orders upon merchants with whom 
we could arrange for credit, in the three towns 
for such goods as were needed, and usually 
boarded our single men with parties whom 
we could supply, in our dealings with farmers, 
such articles as they could use, namely: 
vegetables, meat, fuel, etc. We had a daily 
mail coach to and from Chicago and St. Louis, 
which, in the winter, was the only means of 
public communication with other towns. 
Letters for Chicago and St. Louis were sent 
by stage, which followed the river to Albany, 
then via Union Grove, now Morrison, Dixon 
and thence for St. Louis via Peoria and zig- 
zag to destination, requiring from five to 
seven days to get replies to their letters sent 
to St. Louis, and four or five days to Chicago. 
At that time, and imtil about 1850 to 1853, 
there were four saw mills, one grist and one 



HISTORIC ROCK IS L AND COUNT Y 



83 



merchant flouring mill, one foundry and 
machine shop, and one woodenware factory 
in Moline; one boat yard and marine waysj 
and one saw mill in Rock Island. Davenport 
had no manufacturing intlustry, I think, until 
about 1854. Previous to 1849 the coimty 
business in every comity in the state was 
transacted by a board of county commission- 
ers composed of three members, and on 
account of the prevailing custom of not pro- 
viding by a proper assessment of taxation to 
pay claims against this county the warrants 
were from 10 to 45 and 50 per cent l)elow par; 
the tliscount being based upon the proximity 
to, or from the time, they could be used in 
payment of taxes, and I think that every 
other county's finances were about in the 
same condition. 

At one session, the records of which I saw, 
and probably the same was true of others of 
the board, claims were allowed merchants 
for supplies for paupers and for other pur- 
poses. Proliably claimants in making prices 
ff>r such supplies, included a high profit, 
knowing warrants woukl be issued upon a 
treasur}' that had no funds, and in addition 
persuaded the board to add one hundred per 
cent to the claim, and then inserted these 
words: "Double for depreciation of county 
orders, and a warrant for twice the sum 
issued." Under the revised constitution of 
1848, the law abolishing the county commis- 
sioners' court, and creating what was termed 
a county court in 1849, with one county 
judge and two associate justices of the peace, 
was enacted. At the first election under 
the new law, John W. Spencer was first judge, 
and Thomas J. Robinson and .James Weaver- 
ling associates, were elected : the three persons, 
at regular quarterly sessions of the board 
in December, March, June and September in 
each year, and at as many special sessions as 
were necessary, attended to all the county 
business, the same as is now transacted by 
our board of su~pervisors; the probate matters 
were adjudicated by the county judge at 



twelve sessions, upon the third Monday at 
each quarter, and the first Monday of the 
other eight months, holding each session as 
long as circumstances required and special 
sessions if needed; the fees were $2.50 each 
per day fen- actual time spent for the county. 
Judge Spencer resigned at the end of three 
years, and William Bailey was elected to 
serve the remainder of the term. In Nov- 
ember, 1853, I was elected county judge. 
George E. Holmes, of Port Byron, and John 
Kistler, of Buffalo Prairie, were my associates 
— two gentlemen several years my seniors. 
We accepted the offices and qualified. I 
think it was at our first session for business — 
if not the first it was not later than the 
second — which was in the southwest corner 
room of the present court house, then occu- 
pied by the county clerk, and, I think, was 
the sheriff's quarters also. The next room 
north was the county assessor's and treas- 
urer's office; the southeast corner room, 
which was one-half of the present super, 
visor's room, was occupied by tlie circuit 
clerk and ex-officio recorder, who was Major 
Frazier Wilson; the next room north, upon 
the east side, was rented to George W. Pleas- 
ants (now Judge Pleasants) and Henderson, 
lawyers. We discovered that the records of 
the county were in a very unsafe condition 
respecting the risk of fire, all being in 
wooden cases in the rooms named, and 
concluded that the matter was of so much 
importance that a building must be erected 
which would be nearly fireproof, and having 
only a very poor substitute of a jail, 
would combine the two departments under 
one roof. We had no money and county 
warrants were so much Ijelow par that it 
was utterly impossible to use them, and the 
only course to pursue was to get a special 
law passed, which could l)e done at that 
period, permitting the issue of bonds for 
$20,000 which we succeeded in accomplishing 
and sold them at par as they bore interest 
at ten per cent. We procured the erection 



84 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



of the present jail with several offices. Now 
we have come to our court house beautiful, 
or at least the foundation. 

THE COMPLETED NEW COURT HOUSE OF 1S97. 

A detailed description of the exterior of 
the new court house does not seem necessary; 
it stands out with such grandeur. A typical 
temple of justice. The finely prgportioned 
dome, the four turrets, and two pavilions, 
most materiall}' add to the structure. Its 
dimensions are one hundred and fifty feet 
long, fift}' feet wide, with extended pavil- 
ions and turrets on the two sides. The 
main structure is sixty feet high, the central 
dome towering to a height of one hundred and 
fifty feet. The magnificent, strong and 
stable presentation of the interior, including 
the marble work, wood work, painting, tile 
flooring, bronze, iron, fresco and other orna- 
mental work, harmonize; all reflecting great 
credit on the architects, Gunn and Curtis; 
Charles J. Larkin, the contractor, and Stephen 
J. Collins, superintendent. 

In the basement is the engine room, fans, 
steam pi^e,s. engineer's work room, and store 
room for old time files and records. The 
boiler room is in a separate brick building 
in the rear of the jail building, a tunnel 
running from the boiler room, to the engine 
room of the court house. On the first floor 
are grouped the offices of the sheriff, the 
master in chancery, the coroner, the janitor, 
the county superintendent of schools, ladies' 
waiting room, the county surveyor, public 
and ladies' lavatories, and waiting rooms. 
Broad stairways lead to the \ipper floors, 
also a good elevator. 

On the second floor are the offices of county 
judge, circuit clerk, county clerk, county 
treasurer, also county court room and super- 
visors' room. The circuit and county clerks' 
offices have large, well lighted, roomy vaults 
adjoining, fitted with metallic furnishings. 

On the third floor circuit court room, 
judge's private room, court stenographer's 



rooms, court library room, clerk of the 
court room, rooms for state's attorney 
(private and reception), jui;y rooms, and 
witness rooms. On the fourth floor is the 
Memorial Hall designed for the Grand Army 
of the Republic members, and other loyal 
societies. The furnishings throughout all 
the offices are exceedingly rich, tasty, and 
substantial. 

The following material was used in its 
construction: Over 2,000 perch of LeClaire 
stone was used in the foundation, which is 
laid on rock foundation, with one foot of rock 
concrete on the bottom to fill holes and level 
off. The base or water table is of Carthage, 
Mo., granite; the die and sill course of dressed 
blue Bedford stone. The first and second 
stories of rock-faced buff Bedford stone and 
the two upper stories of sand-rubbed buff 
Bedford. Eighteen thousand cubic feet of 
stone was used above the foundations; 360 
tons of iron beams in the buildings, 120 tons 
of steel was used in the construction of the 
tower, and about eightj^ tons of steel was 
used in the ornamental work. One million 
six hundred thousand hard brick was pur- 
chased and used in the structure: eighty 
tons of copper for cornices and roofing; 
40.000 square feet fire proofing for arches; 
15.000 square feet of plain plastering, besides 
a large amount of ornamental stucco work: 
30.000 feet of maple flooring, together with 
11,000 square feet Mosiac flooring; 7, -500 feet 
Tennessee marble wainscoting. 

The floors contain 2,2.50,000 pieces of 
marble. Four nations contribute to the 
floor; black marble from Belgium, red from 
France, white from Italy, and pink from 
Tennessee. 

The board of supervisors, through their 
broad and liberal spirit, together with the 
strenuous and faithful efforts of the citizens' 
committee brought about the result of giving 
the county the handsome building we have. 
The dedication ceremonies occurred March 
31, 1897, and were unusually prominent, the 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



85 



new court house being opened for inspection, 
the circuit court in session in the old court 
house, adjourning to the new court house for 
the dedication ceremonies, and occupancy 
by the court, and the presentation by the 
chairman of the board of supervisors of the 
keys of the new building to the sheriff of the 
county. 

The following addresses were made by 
William Jackson and Charles L. Walker, 
the sentiment of which toward the bench and 
the bar were exceptionally complimentary. 

Address by Hon. William J. Jackson. 
May it please the Court: 

I desire to make a motion for the adjourn- 
ment of this court, but preliminarj^ thereto 
I wish to say a few words, which I hope may 
be deemed appropriate to this occasion and 
the circumstances under which this court is 
now in session. 

This day is an interesting one to the mem- 
bers of this bar and the people of this county. 
We have just withdrawn forever from a 
forum that for more than sixty years has 
stood in the midst of the people, as the 
visible place or temple where the law has 
been administered, under which the people 
have lived, and under its benign and protect- 
ing influence, have prospered. It has been 
'sacred to the people, because therein the 
sovereignity of the law was asserted, a sov- 
ereignty that assumed the form of organized 
law, which has always commanded, and still 
commands, the fealty and respect of the 
citizens of Rock Island County. 

In this beatuiful edifice in which we are 
now assembled, we are to continue the admin- 
istration of public justice, to decide under 
the forms of law and in a spirit of impartiality, 
so far as it can be done by human agencies, 
the claims of contending litigants, and to 
preserve, protect, and maintain the rights 
of the state, and the individual rights and 
interests of the people, collectively and 
respectively. 



Almost sixty-four years have passed since 
the first session of this circuit court, which, 
on the 28th day of April, 1834, was held at 
the plain and unpretentious log and frame 
house of John Barrel, in the eastern part of 
this city. Judge Richard M. Young presiding. 
The machinery of justice, thus set in motion, 
was started under very humble circumstances. 
The house of John Barrel contained no 
paneled ceilings, frescoed walls, or marble 
wainscoting. There was harmony and uni- 
formity of design, finish and color, both in 
the interior and exterior, yet it was more in 
keeping with nature, than art; yet the decrees 
of that court, from that plain forum, were 
recognized and regarded by the people, the 
pushing, hardy, tolerant and hopeful pioneers 
of that day, who had pushed ahead into this 
country, then the far west, to found for 
themselves and the generations to come 
after them, a local government. 

The architectural style, beauty and finish 
of this edifice especially interests the members 
of this bar. The years of the past have come 
and gone; the administration of the law and 
the business of the courts has not been done 
in marble halls, yet it has been well done. 
At no time have the people considered it 
necessary to assume or take the administra- 
tion of the law out of the regular channels; 
they have always entrusted it to the direction 
of the lawfully constituted authorities. 

There is not, at this bar today, a lawyer 
that connects us with the beginning of our 
judicial existence, but few links, however, 
intervene between this assemblage today 
and the very beginning. This, how'ver, 
can only be said of the lawyers. We have 
with us today in this room, citizens of ad- 
vanced years, who were active citizens of 
this county in the years of the beginning; 
who helped to lay, firm and deep, the founda- 
tion of law and order in this county, and who 
can, and do, today, rejoice that the work was 
so well done and has been so well maintained. 
To emphasize this present thought, we would 



86 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



pray that in the conduct and lieart of the 
future people of this county, there shall 
dwell that sense of the dignity and supremacy 
of the law that so signally characterized the 
fathers. 

The log house of John Barrel was soon 
superseded by the brick court house, to which 
we have this day bidden adieu, and while we 
contemplate the grandeur of the present 
edifice, and consider the burden, voluntarily 
imposed by the people to provide for its 
construction, we must not forget that the 
pioneers of this county, according to their 
numbers and ability, assumed an equal 
burden to provide the court house that we 
have just abandoned, which, in the day of 
its completion, was the pride of this part of 
the northwest. 

The construction of this court house in 
which we are now met, is not the result of a 
protracted effort, first suggested in the board 
of supervisors in April, 1893, by Supervisor 
Joseph Fitzpatrick, the means to erect pro- 
vided by the people, by vote in 1894, the 
foundation stone laid in October, 1S9.t: 
and completed for dedication in March, 
1897. 

The necessity for a new court of justice was 
promptly recognized by the honorable board 
of supervisors, although the building of a new 
structiu-e involved increased taxation, and 
added to existing burdens, yet the people of 
this county, by their votes, declared that the 
time had come when the character and dignity 
of the county, in connection with its execu- 
tive and judicial departments, demanded a 
temple of justice that would truly represent 
the progress, culture and improved artistic 
taste of the present. The people decreed; 
it has been done. 

We look around, and beyond, and behold 
this edifice, beautiful in design, symmetrical 
in proportion; in its architecture the designer 
lives, and will continue to live to tell the 
onlooker how, in his brain, there was planted 
that quality of art and artistic appreciation 



of form, color, quality and proportion, that 
could conceive and plan this b\iilding, about 
which there can be only one expression, 
"How beautiful!" 

Not only does the building display the 
skill and artistic talent of the designer, but 
also the skill of the more humble craftsman, 
who, by cunning manipulation, mechanical 
conception and execution could, and has, 
so worthily and successfully fashioned and 
built that which the artist in beauty designed. . 

This court house stands as a monument 
to the good taste, broad and liberal spirit of 
the board of supervisors of this county, who, 
notwithstanding many adverse and discour- 
aging criticisms, yet, believing that the 
people of Rock Island Countj' were worthy 
of a structure that should represent the 
intelligence and energy of the people, had 
the courage and determination to build this 
building. For the push, energy and official 
integrity that has brought the work to so 
successful a termination, we will today 
award to the board of supervisors that 
measure of credit, recognition and praise 
that is their due. 

We should not, at this time, when speaking 
of the means and forces that insured the 
successful completion of the court house, 
forget the faithful contractor, and the super- 
intendent, who have so well performed their 
labors, and won for themselves the recogni- 
tion of their fellow citizens, who will award 
to them the credit of having performed 
their work with signal ability and merited 
tribute of praise. 

The board of supervisors have ordered that 
on the 31st day of March, 1897, the people 
should be invited into this public edifice, to 
cordially and quietly enjoy and contemplate 
this ])ublic enterprise so auspiciously com- 
l>leted; hence we are now surrounded with a 
bu.sy, earnest throng of citizens, who are 
this day, with music attending, treading the 
broad aisles of this court house, enjoying 
the delight of its beauty, and expressing by 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



87 



their attendance their interest in the work 
that was so worthily conceived, and has been 
so successfully completed. 

And now, in the presence of this court and 
the people, what shall be further said on this 
occasion? We have built this house, doomed 
and cupaloed, principally with iron, stone 
and marble, not only because we wanted 
to build, but to build with such form and 
grace that it should stand in the midst of the 
people as a public recognition of the suprem- 
acy and majesty of the law; the law, not as a 
shifting and uncertain influence to be changed 
by the casting of a die, but a controlling moral 
and political force, that stands guard by day 
and by night, shielding and protecting all 
classes alike; not only the house of luxury 
and refinement, but an all powerful influence 
encircling and protecting the cabin of the 
poor; a law so potent that it tempers the 
power of the executive, as well as the will of 
the people; the limitations of the law being 
its safety, its adaptation to all being its 
strength and beauty. The majesty of its 
influence was well illustrated in the celebratetl 
speech of Earl Chatham, in the British 
Parliament, "The poorest man in his cottage 
may bid defiance to all the forces of the 
Crown; it may be frail, its roof may shake, 
the storm may enter it, but the King of Eng- 
land cannot enter it, — all his power dares 
not cross the threshold of that ruined tene- 
ment." 

When the citizen surveys this public 
structure, he can not only enjoy the grandeur 
of its appearance, but the mental fact that 
it is the monument of a free people, guided 
and inspired by wise and just laws, and 
intent upon the enforcement of them; laws 
to be obeyed until repealed; and if, in the 
course of time, experience demands a change 
to meet new conditions, then shall the change 
be made, not by wilful disregard of existing 
enactments, but by legal and constitutional 
methods, for only by such methods, and 
under such conditions, shall the "govern- 



ment of the people, by the people, and for 
the people," survive, and not perish from 
the earth. 

I am loath to close my remarks without a 
few words to my associates at this bar. 

The sixty-four years of the judicial life of 
this court is behind us. Many of us passed 
the summit; what we have done, or left 
undone, the world knows. The personal 
and mental characteristics that have marked 
our lives and actions during the years of the 
past will probably remain unchanged to the 
end. If our lives have not been well rounded 
out by upright conduct and moral force, the 
fault has been with ourselves. Happy for 
us if om- personal characters have so impressed 
our fellows that they are willing to concede 
that our lives have been well spent. 

But there are at this bar, at this time more 
than at any former period of its history, 
many young men of varied talents, who will 
be the leaders of the future. It is an inter- 
esting and important question to ask what 
will be their position in this court, and what 
estimate their fellow citizens will place upon 
them. Will they come and plead at this bar 
only for personal glory, that men may praise 
their ingenuity and skill as lawj^ers? Will 
they simply estimate their personal impor- 
tance by their gains, without reference to 
the means and instrumentalities used to 
command these gains, or will the lawyers of 
the future at this bar be men whose highest 
aim shall be so to discharge the varied and 
exacting duties of the profession, and their 
personal duties to their fellow practitioners, 
that inquiry will not be necessary to find 
out to what plane of public estimation they 
have attained, — but the constant, truthful, 
kind and even tenor of their professional 
conduct shall lead men to a prompt, instant 
and cordial recognition of their personal 
worth. I hope this may be the standard of 
the lawyers of this county. 

A word to the judges of this court. I speak 
after an experience of thirty-six years; diu-ing 



88 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



those years I have had the honor to appear 
before all the judges that have presided in 
the circuit and count}- courts. Considering 
the arduotis and delicate duties that a judge 
has ■ to perform, restraining the impetuous 
lawyer, client or witness, instructing and 
encouraging the timid and independent, decid- 
ing delicate and intricate legal questions, 
affirmed by positive counsel and questioned 
by others equally positive; and yet, so 
deciding the questions involved that the 
decision shall carry with it the respect of all. — 
duties of this kind would appear to be so 
difficult that complaint would seem to be the 
rule; 3'et this bar, and the people of thig 
county have a right, and it is their duty to 
accord to the judges now living and to the 
memor}' of those departed, that the work 
of the judiciary has been well and faithfully 
done; and the kindly and earnest expression 
of good feeling of the lawj-ers of this count}^ 
towards the judges is a just and proper 
tribute to the bench of the courts of this 
county. If, in the future, another court 
house shall supplant the beautiful one in 
which we are now gathered, and it is then 
said about the judiciary, as it can now be 
said, that the bench has been an inspriation 
and kindh- assistance to the bar, the years 
of the future in that regard will be years 
of pleasant association and reciprocated 
kindnesses. 

And now, if the court please, in view of the 
public interest now manifested in this cotirt 
house dedication, and to enable the judges, 
lawyers and officers of this court to join with 
their fellow citizens in this gathering of the 
people, I move that this court do now adjourn. 

C. L. Walker's Address. 
May it please your Honors: 

yiy name is not mentioned in the program, 
nor is the subject which I wish to submit to 
your honors referred to therein. Yet as the 
matter is germaine to the proceedngs of the 
day, I have been requested by the committee 



in charge of the e.xercises to address your 
honors thereon, and I therefore beg a mo- 
ment's indulgence before your honors shall 
pass upon the motion to adjourn. 

Thereupon His Honor Judge J. Glenn, 
presiding, granted the request. 

What I shall say will be on behalf of the 
citizens' court house committee of Rock 
Island and I have been requested first to 
give the hi.story of its organization and of 
the work of this committee. 

Prior to October, 1894, the court house 
project seemed to be regarded favorabh- bj- 
the people, but about this time an under- 
current of opposition developed and a series 
of articles appeared in some of the papers 
outside of this city, urging the voters to 
vote against the building of a new court 
house, and the issuing of the .$125,000 of 
bonds, both on account of the increased 
taxation and because the time was inop- 
portune. 

Owing to these conditions it seemed 
necessary that some sj-stematic and tmited 
efforts be put forth to overcome these objec- 
tions and to stimulate an active sentiment 
in favor of the project. 

To this end some of those in favor of build- 
ing the new court house determined to 
organize a committee to formulate means 
and measures to seciu-e it. 

Accordingly early in October a meeting 
was called at the office of State's Attorney 
Searle to consider the matter. Some twenty 
citizens attended and T. J. Robinson was 
elected chairman, and C. J. Searle secretary. 
After a full discussion of the situation a 
committee was appointed to report at a 
subsequent meeting. This meeting was held 
within a few days thereafter, and a sub- 
committee of fourteen was selected which 
should have full charge, and take such action 
as should seem advisable to secure favorable 
action by the voters. 

This sub-committee consisted of T. S. 
Silvis, E. E. Parmenter, William McEniry, 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U \ T Y 



89 



S. S. Hull, C. F. Lynde, Phil Mitchell, William 
Jackson, C. J. Searle, H. P. Simpson, W. P. 
Qiiayle, J. F. Robinson, John Ohhveiler, S. 
J. Collins and myself. This committee or- 
ganized by electing H. P. Simpson secretary 
and myself chairman, and as thus organized 
began work. 

Of this committee C. F. Lynde, J. F. Rob- 
inson and John Ohlweiler were appointed a 
committee to raise the necessary funds, and 
secured subscriptions from seventy-two citi- 
zens, of sums ranging from fifty cents to fifty 
dollars, aggregating six hundred and seventy- 
two dollars. 

The committee decided to make a com- 
plete canvass of each ward in this city by 
personal interview of the voters and see that 
a full vote was polled; and at the same time 
send from one to three men into each town- 
ship in the count}', to enlist the efforts of as 
many influential men of the township as 
possible, and employ one or more suitable 
men in the township to continue the work 
until the polls closed. 

The committee also prepared and printed 
literature consisting of original matter, e.x- 
tracts from the "opposition articles" with 
appropriate suggestions and distributed them 
throughout the county attempting to place 
pamphlets in the hands of every doubtful 
voter; enlisted the acti\e support of friendly 
papers, and thus aroused the friends of the 
project, turned the tide of disaffection and 



carried the propositions by 1,739 majority. 

The committee therefore believes that its 
work was timeh' and thorough and made 
victory possible. 

Of the money collected, $553.67 was 
devoted to the above purposes, leaving a 
balance of $118.33 in the treasury. The 
board of supervisors delegated the honor 
of laying the corner stone to the Old Set- 
tlers' Association, but refused to appropri- 
ate money sufficient to defray the necessary 
expensas of the exercises, and that society 
being without funds our committee appro- 
priated $47.94 to cover this deficit. 

After paying these bills there still remained 
$70.39 in the treasury-, and after thoughtful 
consideration the committee concluded that 
it would be appropriate and wise to apply 
the balance towards the purchase of some 
suitable memorial to be placed in the building, 
and finally decided to purchase and have 
hung in this court room portraits of all the 
chief justices of the United States Supreme 
Court than whom the names of no abler 
judges adorn the pages of judicial .action. 

This has been done and I now have the 
honor and pleasure of jiresenting to this court, 
on behalf of the seventy-two subscribers to 
the fund, the portraits which you now see 
upon the walls of this room, and the com- 
mittee trust they will be accepted by your 
honors as suitable appointments to this 
beautiful temple of justice and right. 



90 



HISTORIC ROCK I S LAX D CO U X T Y 



COURT, BENCH AND BAR 



WILLIAM JACKSON 



The first term of the Circuit Court of Rock 
Island County was held April 28, 1834. in 
the house of John Barrel in Farnhamsburg, 
Richard M. Young presiding Judge. 

Farnhamsburg was located on the bank of 
the Mississippi River, in the east part of the 
City of Rock Island, a short distance west of 
the residence of the Hon. Ben T. Cable. 
The first house built on the present site of 
the City of Rock Island, then Farnhamsburg, 
was a log house built by Colonel George 
Davenport and one Russell Farnham, who 
was engaged in business with Colonel Daven- 
port. This log house was afterwards enlarged 
and kept as a hotel b}- John Barrel, a A'ir- 
ginian. In November, 1835, the records and 
Court were removed from the house of John 
Barrel to Stephenson. I'nder an act of the 
Legislature of March 31, 1819, the State of 
Illinois was divided into four judicial circuits. 
The Judges of the Supreme Court of the State 
held the Circuit Courts. The Circuit Courts 
are Courts of general jurisdicture. 

The County Commissioners Court was 
e.stablished March 22, 1819. It had juris- 
diction throughout the County in revenue 
matters, count}' tax, licenses, and other 
public business. Three Judges formed the 
Court. One was the County Judge, the 
others Associate Justices. This Coiu't con- 
tinued until the Count}' Court was established 
by act of February 12, 1849. The County 
Court consisted of one Judge. It had probate 
jurisdiction. Under the law two Justices of 
the Peace were elected. These had authority 



to act with the County Judge to transact the 
business formerly done by the County Com- 
missioners Court, and so continued to 1857, 
after which the Count}' business was trans- 
acted by the Board of Supervisors, the 
County being then organized under the 
township organization law. 

The following persons, residents of Rock 
Island, were at various times members of the 
County Commissioners Court: George Dav- 
enport, John W. Spencer, John Vanatta, 
George W. Harlan. John S. Miller. Lucius 
Wells, Nathaniel Belcher, Jacob Coleman, 
Lemuel Andrews, Adolphus Dunlap, John R. 
Taylor, George .•>. Moore, John Kistler, 
William L. Lee. M. W. Wright, Samuel Sloan, 
Jacob Starr, T. C. Temple, Captain T. J. 
Robinson, James Weaverling, William M. 
Bailey, John M. Gould, George E. Holmes. 

The County Court was established by an 
act of the Legislature of February 12, 1849, 
in addition to its jurisdiction in probate 
matters and matters pertaining to the 
revenue. The Legislatm-e conferred upon the 
Court a limited law jurisdicture, which it still 
possesses, although enlarged. 

The office of County Judge has been filled 
by prominent citizens of Rock Island 
County : 

John W. Spencer, 1849 to 18.52; 

William Bailey, 1852 to 1853; 

John M. Gould, 1853 to 1857; 

Cornelius Lynde, Jr., 1857 to 1861; 

Joseph B. Danforth, 1861 to 1865; 

John W. Wilson, 1865 to 1871; 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



91 



Samuel S. Guyer, 1S71 to 1877; 

Lucian Adams, 1877 to 1902; 

E. E. Parmenter, 1902 to 1906; 

Robert W. Olmsted, now acting Judge, 
elected in April, 1907, in place of E. E. Par- 
menter, deceased. 

Courts of Probate were first established by 
law February 10, 1821. In the County of 
Rock Island Harmon G. Reynolds was 
Probate Justice from 1S.39 to 1846. He was 
followed by Ira 0. Wilkinson, 1847 to 1849. 

The Circuit Court of Rock Island County 
was originally in the fifth judicial circuit of 
the State of Illinois, afterwards in the sixth 
judicial circuit. In 1873 with the Counties 
Henry and Mercer it comjiosed the fifth 
judicial circuit. Afterwards, under the act 
of June 7, 1877, the Counties of Rock Island, 
Mercer, Henry, Henderson, Warren and 
Knox composed the tenth judicial circuit. 
Under the act of April 23, 1897, the Counties 
of Rock Island, Mercer, Whiteside and Henry 
now compose the fourteenth judicial circuit. 

Gentlemen eminent as jurists in this State 
have presided in the Circuit Courts of Rock 
Island County; we find on record the names of: 

Richard A. Young, 1834; 

Sidney Breese, 1835; 

Thomas Ford, 1836; 

Daniel Stone, 1837 to 1841 ; 

Thomas C. Brown. 1841 to 1848; 

Benjamin R. Sheldon, 1848 to 1849; 

William Kellogg, 1850 to 1851 ; 

Ira O. Wilkinson, 1850 to 1857; 

J. W. Drury, 1858 to 1860; 

John H. Howe, 1860 to 1861 ; 

Ira O. Wilkinson, 1861 to 1867: 

George W. Pleasants, 1867 to 1897; 



J. J. Glenn, 1878 to 1897; 

A. A. Smith, 1878 to 1894; 

Hiram Bigelow, 1895 to 1902; 

Emery C. Graves, 1903; 

F. D. Ramsey, 1897 ; 

William H. Gest, 1897. 

Among the gentlemen named above as 
Judges who were residents of the County of 
Rock Island are Ira 0. Wilkinson, J. W. 
Drury, George W. Pleasants and William H. 
Gest. Judge Wilkinson, after leaving the 
liench in 1867, went to Chicago, where he 
practiced law \nitii 18S1, when he returned 
to Rock Island County and resumed practice. 
He died August 24, 1894. Judge Pleasants, 
after he became Judge in 1867, continued to 
preside as such until the year 1897. He died 
October 22, 1902. For nineteen years he 
presided as one of the Judges of the first, 
second and third districts of the Appellate 
Courts of this State. 

Judge Drury after he retired from the 
bench in 1860, resvinied the practice of the 
law at Davenport, Iowa; he died March 1, 
1S99. 

Judge Gest is now one of the Circuit Judges 
of this judicial district. The members of the 
bar of Rock Island County who are now in 
actual practice are about sixty-five. Many 
of them are young men who have lately 
entered into the practice of the profession. 
The oldest memlaers of the l.)ar now living 
and nearly all are in actual practice, are 
John T. Browning, Edward D. Sweeney, 
William Jackson, Lucian Adams, Henry C. 
Connelly, M. M. Sturgeon, W. J. Entriken, 
William A. Meese, William R. :\Ioore, J. T. 
Kenworthy and Charles L. Walker. 



92 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



ROCK ISLAND COUNTY SOLDIERS' MONUMENT 



The feeling inspired in a great number of 
the people of the County, to pa\^ a tribute to 
the soldiers of this County, who had and would 
die in the war for the protection of the Union, 
was expressed and recognized by the Board of 
Supervisors December 17, 1863, by the 
passing of a resolution, appropriating $1,500 
toward the building of a suitable monument 
to be placed in Courthouse Square as a 
memorial to the soldiers of this County who 
died in the War of the Rebellion; and that 
their names be inscribed thereon. 

For the purpose of carrying out the intent 
of the resolution, the clerk of the Court was 
authorized to issue county orders to the 
amount of $1,500 to the County Monument 
Committee whenever they may call for them. 
The committee appointed were Nathaniel 
Belcher, B. H. Kimball, S. S. Foster, J. Q. 
Wynkoop and S. W. Wheelock. September 
12, 1S67, the Board of Supervisors authorized 
Major James M. Beardsley, chairman of the 
Citizens' Committee, to procure plans and 
specifications. The design presented by 
Leonard W. Volk, Sculptor, of Chicago, was 
accepted by the committee and contracted for. 

Committees were appointed throughout the 
County to solicit contributions from every- 
bod}-, which received a hearty recognition. 

December 17, 1868, the Board of Super- 
visors authorized the County Clerk to draw 
an order on the County Treasurer for the 
amount necessary to complete the Rock 
Island County Soldiers' Memorial Monument, 
upon the order of the County Monument 
Committee, after they should have expended 
the amounts already appropriated by the 



County and donated by the peojjle. The 
approximate cost of the monument was 
810,000; larger proportion coming from the 
people's donations. 

The base of the monument is Concord 
granite, and Athens, Illinois, limestone; the 
shaft, which is capped, is surmounted by a 
statue of a Union soldier; all of Italian marble, 
and is about fifty feet in height. A copper 
box was placed in the base, under the marble 
shaft, where was placed newspapers of the 
day, and historical documents. Names of 
all soldiers enlisted from the County are 
engraved on the bases. 

The monument was first placed a trifle 
north of midway, between the east entrance 
of the Court House and the street sidewalk. 

In removing the monument to its present 
location one of the base stones were broken 
and replaced with granite. On the base of 
the monument is inscribed this sentiment: 

"In memory of its patriotic and heroic sons, 
who served their country during the Great 
Rebellion, and died that the Nation might 
live. Rock Island County dedicates this 
Monument." 

On Friday, April 9, 1869— the day being 
the fourth anniversary of the surrender of 
Lee's army to General U. S. Grant at Appo- 
mattox Court House, Virginia — occurred the 
dedication of the Soldiers' Memorial Monu- 
ment. 

With clouds and rain the previous day, 
filled the feelings of the people with disap- 
pointment; but the morning dawned clear 
and beautiful. The crowds gathered from 
the cities and country, with a fine, strong and 



HISTORIC RO C K ISLAND COUNT Y 



93 



large representation of our Iowa neighbors. 
The Court House square, with Illinois and 
Orleans Streets, were crowded. The city 
was gaily decorated with flags, tiiuiting and 
banners. At about 2 o'clock the police and 
military formed at Court House square; the 
Masonic orders on Buffalo Street, the Odd 
Fellows and Good Templers on Illinois; the 
Fire Department on Market square, and the 
civic societies in Court House square. A 
long line of march was made, starting from 
Court House square; east on Orleans Street 
to Madison; north on Madison to Illinois; 
west on Illinois to Otter; south on Otter to 
Orleans; and east on Orleans to Court House 
square, where the ceremonies commenced. 
The military from the Island made a most 
commanding appearance. General T. J. Rod- 
man and most of the officers were present. 
The Turner Societies with their fine singing 
added nuich to the occasion. Salutes were 
fired, whistles blowing and church bells ring- 
ing. After the invocation to the people, 



Honorable Emery A. Storrs of Chicago was 
introduced, and made the main address of the 
day, a most eloquent and patriotic oration. 

The ceremonies of the day were highly 
interesting and impressive, and indication of 
the community's deep respect for the dead 
soldier. The occasion was the most memor- 
able in the history of Rock Island County — 
full 30,000 people being present. 

The twelve cannon originally placed around 
the Court House yard were given to the 
County by the War Department through an 
act of Congress, and are cannons captured 
from the Confederacy — several of them being 
spiked. Two of these cannon were after- 
wards presented to Graham Post No. 212, 
G. A. R., Moline, Illinois, and placed in 
Riverside Cemetery. 

Decoration Day ceremonies have been 
regularly observed ; first by the Rock Island 
Light Artillery, and since their disbandment 
bv G. A. R. Posts situate here. 



TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION 



September 1, 1856, on ajiplication of three 
petitioners, signed by over fifty legal voters 
of Rock Island County, praying for the 
question of township organization; it was 
ordered liy the court that the question be 
submitted to the voters of said coimty, to 
vote for or against township organization at 
the next November election. Abstract of 
votes given at said election resulted as fol- 
lows : 

For township organization, 2314. 
Against township organization, 147. 

Tuesday, December 2, 1856, the court 
apiK)inted Lemuel Andrews, NathanielBelcher 



and Flavel J. Whitney as commissioners to 
divide the county into towns, in accord- 
ance with general assembly act for township 
organization, passed February 17, 1851. 

June 29, 30, and July 1, 1857, credentials 
were presented to the board of supervisors 
by the representatives of the following named 
towns : 

Rock Island, R. M. Marshall, Zachariah 
Cook; Canoe Creek, I. H. Marshall; Hampton, 
Lucius Wells; Drury, Peter Demoss; Edging- 
ton, James Baker; Bowling, T. W. Vincent; 
Coal Valley, Lewis Wilson; Buffalo. O. H. P. 
Moore; Port Byron, David S. Hobert; Walker, 
Rinnah Wells; Fremont, A. S. Coe; Camden, 



94 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



H. J. Brunot; Moline, Jeremiah Cliainberliii: 
Cordova, George Marshall. 

September IS, 1S57, by ortler of tliel:)oard 
of supervisors, the names of the following 
towns were changed: 

Town of Camden, changed to Black Hawk; 
town of Fremont, changed to Penn; to^\^l of 
Buffalo, changed to Copper; town of Walker, 
changed to Zuma. 

January 6, ISoS. town of Copper, changed 
to Buffalo Prairie; town of Penn, changed to 
Coe. 

September 16, 1858, a part of Edgington 
Township, was, through the pra3'er of peti- 
tioners — citizens of Edgington Township — 
by order of the board of supervisors, named 
Andalusia. 

September 15, 1871, bj- petition of eightj-- 
three legal voters of Coal Valley To^Tiship, 
a jiartition of the township was made, and 
named town of Rural. 

March 3, 1873, a petitibn was presented to 
the board of supervisors, by Quincy McNeil 
and others, to annex that portion of the 
Town of Black Hawk north of Rock River to 
the Town of Rock Island. 

December 12, 1873, by a vote of the board 
of supervisors — yeas, nine;na}^s, eight; absent, 
one — it was ordered that the portion of Black 
Hawk Township l3'ing north of Rock River 
and south of the corporate limits of the City 
of Rock Island, be detached from the Town 
of Black Hawk and annexed to the Town of 
Rock Island. 

December 14, 1877, the board of super- 
visors adopted a resolution that the portion 
of Rock Island Township, south of the cor- 
porate limits of the City of Rock Island, 
extending to the north shore of Rock River, 
be created and constituted the new Town of 
South Rock Island, to take effect March 1, 
1878. The corporate limits of the Cit}' of 
Rock Island to be the Town of Rock Island. 

November 16. 1872. Upon petition by 
three-fourths of the voters and property 
holders of the following tract to- wit: N. w. 



H, Sec. 6, T. 17. H. 1, 4th P. M.. and W. 
fractional 3^ (south of S3'lvan Water) of 
Sec. 31, T. 18, R. 1 W., 4th P. M., the city 
council annexed said territory to the Citv of 
Rock Island, and made it a part of the 
Fourth Ward of said city. 

September 15, 1875. at a meeting of the 
board of supervisors the above tract (a part 
of Moline Township), to simplify adminis- 
tration and taxation, was annexed to the 
Town of Rock Island. 

March 14, 1879. Adopted by the board of 
super^^sors, that the Town of Moline be sub- 
divided. The incorporated City of ^loline 
be organized as the Town of Moline; the 
remaining territory of iloline Township to 
be hereafter known as the Town of South 
Moline. 

CORDOVA TOWNSHIP. 

The town of Cordova lies in the extreme 
northeast end of the county. It is a frac- 
tional township. Iving well up on the bhiffs, 
and commands one of the finest views on the 
Mississippi River. The earliest settler was 
Herdman East, who built a log cabin in 1836 
on the present site of the village of Cordova. 
Other settlers coming that year and in 1838 
were J. S. Phillips and John Marshall from 
New Jersey: Guy W. and Amazi Rathburn, 
Nelson and Chauncey M. Tripp from New 
York: William Kellew Dudy Buck. Peter 
Beardsley, A. G. Adams, Wm. Armstrong, 
Jeremiah Rice, Robert and Wm. Jenks, Dr. 
Thos. Baker, Benoni Haskins, A. Whiting, 
all having families. Nathaniel Belcher and 
Miss Jenks. and Joseph Mills and Miss Jenks 
were among the first married. The township 
is quite rough and broken, though some fine 
farms. The principal industry is the manu- 
facture of lime. 

TILLAGE OF CORDOVA. 

This village .situated principally in the 
township of Cordova, with a very small 
portion in the township of Port Byron, lies 



// / .S' T Hie R ( • K I S L A X D CO U X T Y 



05 



well up on the bluff and commands one of 
the finest views on the Mississippi River, 
which stretches away in both directions 
until lost bj' its windings; the Ijluffs at this 
point are rather abrupt. 

The earliest settler of this place was Herd- 
man East, who built a log cabin in 1836; 
John Marshall and family. Dr. Thomas 
Baker, Amazi R. Rathburn. Theodore and 
John Butcher coming the same year. William 
and George Marshall, Jonathan and K. S. 
Cool, and Joseph R. Sexton came in 1838. 

The town was laid out in 1837 by John 
Marshall and Dr. Thomas Baker, and the 
first frame houses were built the following 
year by these gentlemen. Lime kilns were 
early established, and for some years this 
was a busy point. The first school was 
taught by Dr. Baker in his own house, where 
he instructed in a primiti\'e way his own 
children, together with those of his neighbors. 

The first school house was built in 1863, 
and conducted under the common school 
laws of the state. Since Februar}' 16, 1865, 
a board of education, composed of six mem- 
bers, control school affairs. The especial 
pride to which the residents direct attention 
is their fine graded school which numbers 
upward of 300 scholars, under the super- 
vision of an efficient principal and corps of 
teachers. The school also has a well equi]iped 
circulating library. The principal product of 
the locality is corn, of which large shipments 
are made. The first postoffice was estab- 
lished in 1839, John Marshall being its first 
postmaster, who also kept the first hotel. In 
1853 the first grist mill was erected by 
Brigham and Marshall. A petition for village 
organization was filed March 16, 1867. An 
election was held and went against organiza- 
tion. In 1877 the subject was again sub- 
mitted to the voters and affirmed in favor of 
village organization, and on the 23d day of 
April, 1877, the village was dulj- organized. 
Cordova is situated on the Mississippi River, 
and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railwav. 



COE TOWNSHIP. 

Coe. surrounded by the townsliips of Canoe 
Creek, Port Byron, Zuma and Cordova, is 
considered one of the best agricultural jwr- 
tions of the county. John Walker was the 
first settler in 1835, followed shortly by John 
Butcher; his brother, Burrall Butcher, coming 
in 1836, and in 1851 locating on his brother's 
section, his brother having left for Cali- 
fornia, but died on his way there. Samuel 
Allen came in 1837, moving from what was 
afterwards the village of Port Byron. Sam- 
uel Ennison came shortly after from Indiana. 
Henry Smith, Henry M. Stockton and Isaac 
Hollister also coming in 1837. Mrs. Charity 
Marshall, a widow with nine children, came 
in 1S38 from New Jersey. The first to wed 
in the township were Hiram Walker and 
Mary Ennis, and David Allen and Miss 
Remson. 

PORT BYRON. 

In the year 1826 two brothers. Robert and 
Thomas Syms, located on the present site of 
Port Byron, and established a wood yard for 
supplying cord wood to steamboats on the 
Mississippi River. Their location soon came 
to be known as Syms' W^ood Yard. They 
were among the first white settlers in this 
locality, other residents being principally 
Sac and Fox Indians. 

During the year 1828 Archibald Allen, 
Conrad Leek, George W. Harlan and others 
came with their families and settled in this 
township. Archibald Allen traded with the 
Indians, l)uying skins and furs. He was 
afterwards appointed supervisor of roads, 
was elected to the office of constable, and from 
1833 to 1834 was United States mail carrier 
between Fort Armstrong and Galena. He 
was also postmaster, the office being kept in 
his own house, which was located just north 
of Syms' Wood Yard. Prior to its removal 
in 1836 it was known as Canaan. Mr. Allen 
built the first frame house between Quincy 
and Galena. 



96 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



In 1830, Thomas Ilnl.hanl, H. Mast and 
Britton arrived and became residents of the 
new settlement. During this j-ear a son was 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Leek, which 
was the first white child born in the township. 
In the year 1831 a son of Geo. W. Harlan 
died, this being the first death in the town- 
shij). 

During the }-ear 1832 Edmund A. I'hilleo 
was killed, the result of a quarrel over claims 
and possession of land. Mrs. A. Allen was 
the first adult person to die. The first school 
was taught in 1833. New settlers who came 
in 1834 were Walter Phillips, Geo. R. Allen, 
H. M. Smith and Presley Quick. The next 
year, 1835, Samuel Allen, William McKenney 
and a Mr. Hathaway came with their families. 
Samuel Allen kept a tavern in a double log 
house. His wife. Aunt Candace, as she was 
known, was a good cook, and they were well 
patronized. This year the government sur- 
veyed anil subdi\ided the public lands. In 
1836 the arrivals were Moses Bailey, Rufus 
B. Chase, Nathaniel Belcher, Jeremiah H. 
Lyford, Addison N. Philleo, Astimus Philleo 
and his daughter Lucretia. R. B. Chase 
manufactured the first white lime, for which 
Port Byron became noted. 

About this time a town was platted and 
Port Bj-ron became a pouit of considerable 
business activity. George S. Moore erected 
a store building; the postoffice at Canaan was 
closed and opened at Port Byron, with 
Nathaniel Belcher postmaster. Mr. Belcher 
built a hotel and the first frame dwelling. 
Dr. Jeremiah H. Lyford, a graduate of Dart- 
mouth College, was the first physician; his 
]iractife extended over a large territory, both 
in Illinois and Iowa. 

Colonel Eads was a resident here for a time, 
living with Archibald Allen ]irior to taking 
up his residence on "The Heights," at this 
time known as LeClaire, Iowa. His son was 
the famous Jas. B. Eads, also living at Le- 
Claire during the late forties and early fifties, 
removing from there to St. Louis. He 



became widely known as a builder of boats 
for the United States government, constructor 
of the St. Louis bridge and the jetties at the 
mouth of the Mississippi River. 

On August 1, 1836, the first election was 
held for the selection of representatives in 
the state legislature and in congress. On 
November 7th the first ])residential election 
was held, at which eleven votes were cast, 
all for Martin Van Buren. 

This is a school town. The Port Byron 
Academy is a flourishing institution, under 
the management of the Congregational 
chiu'ch; it has close relationship with Beloit 
College. The public schools are on a high 
order and are recognized for their good work. 

VILLAGE OF PORT BYRON. 

The village of Port Byron was incorporated 
in February, 18.56. The village was laid out 
in 1836, b}' Sanuiel Allen, Dr. P. Gregg, 
Nathaniel Belcher and Moses Bailey; the land 
was held in common by them. On the lanrl 
was but one log house and a small log store. 
The store was started by Walter Phillips. 
Shortly after the site was laid out Nathaniel 
Belcher built a frame store, and put in a 
stock of general merchandise, associating 
with him Mr. Hambaugh. The first grist 
mill was erected in the spring of 1849 by T. 
G. Temple and N. Dorrance. It was run by 
steam, and had one set of burrs for wheat and 
one set for corn. The first school was held 
in the old log store of Samuel Allen in 1838, 
Harriet Dodge being teacher. The first 
school house was of brick, and was built in 
1864. In addition to the public school, an 
Academy was erected in 1883, and is in a 
flourishing condition. The village is situated 
on the Mississippi River, and its railroad 
facilities are the Chicago, Jlilwaukee & St. 
Paul Railway. 

CANOE CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

It was about seventy years ago that white 
people first settled in what became Canoe 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNT Y 



97 



Creek Townsliip. These first settlers were 
Jonas Carter, John M. Walker and Joseph 
Martin. They came with ox teams from 
Wayne County, Illinois, and landed at Canoe 
Creek on the 26th day of August. 1835. 
Their first work was to cut down some small 
trees and make a pen for their stock, and then 
to cut some larger ones and split them up to 
make a rude shelter for themselves. Mr. 
John M. Walker is the only one of the three 
now living. After selecting his claim he went 
back to his former home and was married. 
He and his young bride then made their 
wedding trip on horseback from Wayne 
County to Canoe Creek. Mr. Walker still 
resides on his first choice of land. His wife 
passed away a few years ago. Abstractors 
would have an easy time tracing Mr. Walkers' 
title to the land he owns. He has a deed 
signed by James K. Polk, president of the 
United States, and it has never been trans- 
ferred. 

Mr. Carter and Mr. Martin went to work at 
once on their arrival and biiilt log houses on 
their claim. These were the first houses in 
what is now Canoe Creek Township. A part 
of the land covered by their claim is now 
owned by Wallace Woodburn and a part by 
William Pearsall. The land at that time had 
not been surveyed bj' the government, except 
into townships. Al)out three years after- 
wards it was subdivided into sections. 

At this time there was only one house 
where the Cities of Rock Island and Moline 
have since grown up. Mr. Walker informs 
the writer that their nearest neighbor to the 
north at that time was at Savanna, where a 
man lived who ran a ferry; and the nearest 
one to the east was at Dixon, where there was 
a stage station. 

Their first market place was Chicago, to 
which place they hauled all of their surplus 
grain and drove the stock which they had for 
sale. They would haul a load of wheat to 
Chicago and trade it for salt. This was slow 



and tedious work in those days, and there 
were no good roads and no bridges. 

They would often find streams with full 
banks, swollen by heavy rains, and would 
have to camp for days waiting for the water 
to subside so they could cross with a reason- 
able degree of safety. At a later date 
Savanna and Galena' became milling places, 
^'ery often one would take a sack of wheat 
and go on horseback to one of these places to 
have it ground into flour. When they went 
by team it usually took several daj's. The 
mills had small burrs and ground but slowly 
and each customer had to wait his turn to 
have his grist ground. 

Money was scarce in those days. People 
did not go to the stores every week as now, 
for groceries and other supplies. One old 
settler has stated that one year his grocery 
bill was made up of three items: one dollar's 
worth of sugar, a gallon of kerosene oil at 
seventy-five cents, and a barrel of salt. 
Wild game furnished most of the meat; 
Johnny cake, corn bread, and a little -white 
bread, potatoes and wild fruits, honey and 
maple syrup made up their bill of fare; and 
it was not so bad either. Housewives spun 
their own yarn and did their own weaving. 

The scarcity of money is illustrated by the 
statement of one old settler, who states that 
before he could raise the fifty cents per acre 
to pay the government for his land, he had to 
pre-empt it several times. First by himself, 
then his wife and his children, making 
repeated filings in order to hold the land until 
the money could be raised. 

The first house was of logs and was built by 
Jonas Carter. 

The first frame house was built by George 
Kendall. The first school house was built of 
logs and was located on Canoe Creek. 

The first frame schoolhouse was the Poplar 
Grove schoolhouse, and was built by John 
Denison. The first school was taught by Miss 
Johanna Herd. 



98 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



The first deed conveying real estate was 
signed by James K. Pcilk. president of the 
United States. 

The first ferry was at the big rock on the 
lleredosia. 

The first church built was the Bethesda. 

The first person buried in Bethesda Ceme- 
tery was Jlrs. Parry Henderson. 

The first person buried in Mt. Marie Ceme- 
tery was Mrs. Maria Liphardt. 

HILLSDALE VILLAGE 

Is in Canoe Creek Township and is not 
incorporated. It is a small village but has 
good school facilities, general stores, black- 
smith shop and two hotels. The first post- 
office was established in 1842 or 184.3, with 
Moses Hubbard as postmaster. The second 
postoffice was called Hill's Crossing. At this 
crossing a station was established by the 
Sterling & Rock Island Railroad, now the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quinc}-, and the 
village was laid out in 1868 by Richard Hill 
and named Hillsdale. It is the shipping 
point for a part of Canoe Creek and Zuma 
Townships. 

ZUMA TOWNSHIP. 

The first white child born in what is now 
Zuma Township was Mary Ann Sturdivan; 
the first white boy was L. \\'. Beal, long 
afterwards colonel in the army. The first 
school house was built in 1854. It is known 
as the Wake school house and is where all the 
elections are held. The first frame house 
built was by Mr. Center on what is known as 
the John Moody place. The houses in those 
days were small, rude and inconvenient. If 
they had floors they were usuallj- of good 
solid oak, an inch and a quarter or more in 
thickness. I remember of only two houses 
in those early days of 1850 that were painted; 
those were Nelson Wells and Joseph Shanks. 
Polished floors were unknown and rugs and 
carpets verj- scarce. The people who settled 
in Zuma in those earlj' daj's were generous 



and hospitable; the stranger was always 
welcome. They believed like President 
Roosevelt in having plenty of good girls and 
boys, and in those daj-s the bo3's helped their 
fathers and the girls their mothers. 

Mr. J. B. Walker has lived in Zuma the 
longest; he was born in 1838. The first brick 
house was built by Hiram Walker in 1853. 

There were no carriages or buggies in those 
days. If a yoimg man wanted to take his 
best girl out. they had to go on foot or horse 
back or ride in a lumber wagon. And the 
people seemed happy in those days, had good 
times and enjoyed themselves just as well as 
they do today, if not better. 

Among those who settled here fifty years 
or more ago, and whose farms are now occu- 
pied by persons of the same name are the 
following: Nelson Wells, Monroe Swank, 
Ambrose Searle, James Searle (on Rock 
River), Madison Bowles, George Wake, A. H. 
Mead, J. A. Donahue, Charles Schaffer, A. E. 
Herren, Davis Daily, Hiram Walker and 
Wesley Hanna. 

The first school house was built by sub- 
scription in 1855, and was called the Oak 
Grove school house. 

In 1856 the Syms school house was built 
with public funds raised by taxation. 

The first frame house was built by Ambrose 
Searle in 1838. The frame was hewed out, 
rafters and all. The shingles and lath were 
split or ' ' rived "' out of oak with an instru- 
ment called a "frow." The boards were of 
maple and were sawed at a mill between 
LeClaire and Princeton, Iowa, owned by a 
Mr. Barber. 

The first cider was made by Gregory Brown 
in the fall of 1857, from apples raised on his 
farm near Rock River. 

Chinese sugar was introduced into this 
township in 1857 and some molasses was made 
by Munroe Swank. 

The first postoffice was established in the 
township in 1848 and was called Fairport. 
It was located on section twenty-eight, on 



HISTORIC RO C K I S LAND CO U N T Y 



99 



the hank of Rock River, and Truman f!orton 
was postmaster. 

In the 3-ear 1856 A. F. Rnssell Wu\ out a 
town site at what is called Zuma Center. It 
soon had a store, blacksmith shop and shoe 
shop. 

JOSLIN 

Is situateri in the southeastern part of 
Zuma Townshi]\ and is a station on the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. It 
was located by Benjamin B. Joslin, who came 
to this county in 1853 and acquired 600 acres 
of good land in the locality, and marked out 
the village at the time of the building of the 
old Sterling Railroad. N. B. Joslin, his son, 
started the first store in 1870 and was the 
first postmaster. The village is not incor- 
porated, is small but has two general stores, 
one implement store, a new church, several 
dwellings and a good farming community 
surrounding it. The railroad station is named 
Joslyn, but the old family name is Joslin. 

ZUMA CENTER 

Is situated in Town of Zuma and is not 
incorporated. In 1S56 A. F. Russell laid out 
a town site which was named Zuma Center. 
It soon had a store, blacksmith shop and shoe 
shop. The bounds consist as laid out of 
three streets, two blocks and thirty lots. It 
is a small place with church, school and three 
houses. 

OSBORN. 

Named after Fred Osborn. a long time resi. 
dent and land owner of the locality. The 
village is not incorporated. It is situated in 
the southern part of Zuma Township, near 
Rock River and on the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quincy Railroad, and near the old Cleve- 
land ferry crossing. The postoffice, railroad 
depot and half a dozen houses constitute the 
village. At one time years ago the Sterling 
branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Railroad had a bridge here across Rock 



River, the railroad line continuing to the 
Briar Bluff coal mines, but the bridge was 
afterwards removed to Barstow. 

HAMPTON TOWNSHIP. 

This township is situated north and east of 
Moline Township, the Mississippi River form- 
ing the northwestern boundary, and the Rock 
River the southern. The township consists 
of bluffs along its northern and southern 
boundaries, with wide rich bottoms along the 
rivers and a broad valley running east and 
west through its center, extending from the 
Mississippi River to Rock River. Martin 
Culver made the first land claim in 1826. 
Rev. John Kinney and two brothers made the 
next claims in 1827. During 1828 Henry 
McNeal, Joel Thompson, Michael Bartlett, 
Asaph Wells and Joel Wells, Jr., settled in 
the same vicinity. The first birth, was the 
daughter of Henry McNeal — Mary Ann — 
born October 5, 1832. The first death occurred 
in 1829 or 1830, on board the Steamer Joseph- 
ine, on her way to Galena; a lady from Eng- 
land coming to Galena to visit her son, died 
just as the boat was landing, and she was 
buried at Hampton. The first couple married 
in the town was Joel Wells and Mary Mc- 
Murphy, by Jonas Wells, justice of the peace, 
in 1835. Within the township are si.x vill- 
ages: Hampton, Watertown, Silvis, Carbon 
Cliff, Barstow and Rapids City, all incor- 
porated villages but Barstow. The township 
contained some rich coal beds ; some of which 
have been worked for many years. Charles 
Ames opened the first coal mine. Heagy and 
Stoddard, and Taylor Williams operated 
quite extensively in coal on sections 15, 16 
and 22, where was located the mining town 
of Happy Hollow, now extinct, having at one 
time a population of 1,000 hard working, busy 
people. A railroad connecting these mines 
with the Western Union Railway, now the 
C, M. & St. P., at Watertown, was built in 
the winter of 1872 and 1873. Taylor Wil- 
liams and H. M. Gilchrist & Co., operated in 



100 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



coal at Rapids City; Samuel Hdwies. I). G. 
Porter and Silvis Bros, operating in the 
southern part of the township. 

Joel Thomp.son was the first postmaster, 
and received his appointment in the winter 
of 1837. Lucius Wells taught the first school, . 
in a log cabin, in 1833 and 1834. Elihu 
Wells was the first teacher under the school 
laws. 

In the years of 1833 and 1834, Henry Mc- 
Neal furnished all the wood for the Mississ- 
ippi River steamboats above the DesMoines 
rapids, and for forty years thereafter Hamp- 
ton was one of the principal points for 
furnishing coal and wood to the river steam- 
ers. Henry McNeal owned the first tax 
receipt issued in Rock Island County for 
taxes paid. Hampton Township is well 
supplied with railroads: Chicago, Rock Island 
& Pacifie; the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; 
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the 
Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern 
traversing her territory. 

VILLAGE OF RAPIDS CITY. 

Rapids City was surveyed and laid out in 
1838. About 1833 a grist mill was built by 
the Wells Brothers; a saw mill Ijeing subse- 
quently added. Another grist and saw mill 
was built by Joseph Cox in 1838. A Mr. 
Runkle and a Mr. Blanchard sold the first 
goods. Joseph Garnett, the first blacksmith 
shop in 1847. Henry S. Shurtliff started a 
regular grocery store in 1855, and afterwards 
added dry goods. In 1857 E. M. Prudens 
started a general merchandise store. 

August 12, 1875, the county court, after 
canvassing the votes of an election called and 
appointed prior, to vote on village organiza- 
tion — the residt of which was forty-six votes 
for organization and one vote against — the 
court decreed the Village of Rapids City to 
be incorporated. It is situated on the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. 



TIPPECANOE. 

Tippecanoe Milage was platted and filed 
for record the 2d day of September, 1839; 
the formality of going through the necessary 
forms of recording was done, and on February 
18, 1840, was approved by the county com- 
missioners. The plat was six blocks long an 
two and one-half blocks wide; recorded by 
Joseph Cox, Samuel Cox and David Jennings 
the 17th day of February, 1840. It was ■ 
located between Rapids City and Hampton, 
on the Mississippi River, about o])]iosite 
Sycamore Chain. A very few people know of 
its ever having had an existence. It evi- 
dently was a paper town. 

VILLAGE OF HAMPTON. 

The Village of Hampton, in Hampton 
Township, was surveyed and platted soon 
after the organization of Rock Island County. 
Among the earliest business men were Joel 
Thompson, Alonzo P. Clapp, Dower and 
Hammond, Samuel and David Lambert, M. 
W. Wright and Francis Black, followed by 
L. F. Baker, H. F. Thomas, H. O. Norton, 
Dr. George Vincent, S. L. Brettun, and Wm. 
B. Webster. The first postoffice was estab- 
lished in the winter of 1837, Joel Thompson 
being commissioned postmaster, followed by 
Francis Black, Samuel Heagy and L. F 
Baker. From the earliest settlement Hamp- 
ton was one of the principal points for sup- 
plies for the farmers in the upper end of the 
county, and even considerable territory in 
Henry County. Here they brought their 
grain and sold their pork, which was packed 
by M. W. Wright and Francis Black, and 
shipped down the river by the steamboats. 
In after years the coal interests were the 
principal business reliance; Heagy and Stod- 
dard and Taylor Williams being extensive 
operators. In 1884 Heagy and Stoddard were 
succeeded by the Northern Mining & Railway 
Company, who ceased operations about fifteen 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



101 



years ago. The educational interests of the 
village are well attended to, having a good 
school house and good instructors. 

The oldest person liorn in the township, if 
not in the county, now living, is George 
McNeal, who was born in 1834 in a log cabin 
which stood just south of the town hall in the 
same block in which he now resides. 

The assessors' plats show there exists in the 
Village of Hampton, an old village called 
Milan, which was platted in 1837. The plat 
showing about thirty blocks. In this dis- 
trict at the present time are only four or five 
houses. In that year the postoffice depart- 
ment at Washington, D. C, was petitioned 
for a postoffice at this place to be called 
Milan. There being a postoffice of that name 
already in the state, the department estab- 
lished the postoffice under the name of 
Hampton, from which name the township 
and village derive their names. 

BARSTOW. 

Barstow is not an incorporated village. 
When the Sterling branch of the Chicago, 
Burlington A: Quincy Railfoad was com- 
pleted through Hampton Township, a station 
was established on land owned by Joel G. 
Franklin, and named Franklin Crossing, a 
postoffice being soon after established and 
given the same name as the railroad station, 
and Mr. Franklin being commissioned its 
first postmaster. 

When the main line of the railroad was run 
to this place, the name was changed to 
Barstow, and shortly afterwards the name of 
the postoffice was likewise changed. A large 
transfer in mail, passenger and freight busi- 
ness is done here, to and from the Sterling 
branch, and despatched and received to and 
from the main lines to St. Paul and St. Louis. 
The village now comprises about twenty-five 
buildings and houses, an eating house, depot, 
restaurant, a general store, blacksmith shop, 
school house and postoffice. 



VILLAGE OF WATERTOWN 

Is located in Hampton Township, and was 
platted in 1857. The first store was started 
that year by Lucius Curtis, who became the 
first postmaster. The Western Illinois Hos- 
pital for the Insane is located there. On the 
14th day of March, 1905, fifty-one legal voters _ 
of a district prescribed, petitioned the county 
court for the organization of the Village of 
Watertown. The 15th day of April, 1905, 
was set apart for an election t<.) be held at the 
M. W. A. hall to vote for or against village 
organization; the result being sixteen votes 
for incorporation and forty-four against. 

April 24, 1905, another petition was pre- 
sented to the county coiu't by forty-five 
petitioners for village organization and an 
election day appointed for the 13th day of 
May, 1905; the result being sixty votes for 
village organization and thirty-eight votes 
against organization. 

An election held the 17th day of June, 
1905, for village trustees, resulted in the 
election of Frank H. Sovey, John Rah, Henry 
C. McNeal and David Y. AUsbrow. A tie 
vote occurring of forty-nine votes for Eric 
Bowman and Henry Hillberg. Each came 
into court on the 23d day of Jvme, 1905, and 
agreed to decide by lot. One of the officers 
of the court was blindfolded, two slips of 
paper with each candidates names written 
thereon were placed in a hat, and the officer 
drawing therefrom, Eric Bowman was de- 
clared elected the si.xth trustee. 

VILLAGE OF CABBON CLIFF 

The village of Carbon Cliff lies in the south 
part of Hampton Township, and is principally 
noted for its pottery and tile works. 

November 13, 1906, thirty-seven legal 
voters of Hampton Township, desiring village 
incorporation, petitioned the county court 
for same. The court ordered an election to 
be held on the 8th day of December, 1906, 
for or against village organization, the elec- 



102 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



tioii to be held at Hennegan's store. The 
result of said election was fifty-five votes for 
village organization and twenty-eight votes 
against same. An order was issued calling 
for an election for six trustees of the village 
the 12th of January, 1907. W. R. Carey, 
William Gearhardt, J. A. Hennegan, Clans F. 
'Hansen, R. X. O'Donnell and P. N. Hennegan 
being elected. 

TOWNS OF ROCK ISLAND AND MOILNE 

A history of the towns of Rock Island and 
Moline would apparently be similar and 
coincident to the history of the cities of Rock 
Island and Moline, the two towns being the 
corporate limits of the two cities. The date 
of the formation of these two townships is 
noted in Township Organization. 

SOUTH MOLINE TOWNSHIP 

Was organized as a town March 14, 1879. 
It comprises all the territor}^ originally in 
Moline Township, lying south and east of the 
corporate limits of the City of Moline. The 
history of the township, with the exception 
of its e.xtreme eastern portion is so strongly 
interwoven with Moline, it is hard to draw a 
historical line. Among its earliest settlers 
were David Sears, Charles Atkinson, Joseph 
Danforth, Joel W^ells and Huntington Wells. 

VILLAGE OF SILVIS. 

November 14, 1906, thirty-six petitioners 
representing over 300 resident popidation, 
jjetitioned the coimty court of Rock Island 
County, Illinois, for the organization of the 
Village of Silvis. An election was ordered to 
be held December 1, 1906, for or against 
village organization. 

The corporate limits of said village to be as 
described in ]ietition, about two square miles. 
Result of election was seventy-nine votes for 
organization, and six votes against. An 
election for six trustees was held January 12, 
1907. R. Walsh, J. W. Pike, James Shannon, 
Wm. Emniert, F. J. Ball and Herbert Love 



being elected. The general railroad sho]w of 
the C, R. I. & P. R. R. are located here 
em])loying from 1,.500 to 2,000 men. 

VILLAGE OF EAST MOLINE. 

On the 22d day of November, 1902, forty- 
two legal voters of the district petitioned the 
county court for the organization under the 
general law, of a village to be named the 
Village of East Moline. The 20th day of 
December was appointed as an election day 
to vote for or against village organization; 
election to be held at John Deere school 
building. The result of said election was 
forty-seven votes for organization and seven 
votes against. December 2.3, 1902, the votes 
were canvassed by the judge of the county 
court and two justices of the peace, and 
announced and adjudged for village organiza- 
tion. 

January 17, 1903, Andrew L. Mills, Thomas 
J. Gorman, Albert E. Bergholtz, Frank E. 
Palmer, August G. Schipper and James B. 
Hock were elected trustees. 

This is a rapidly growing village, and famous 
for its number of manufactories. At present 
the village is unable to accommodate the 
hundreds of working men who are employed 
there and at Silvis, a few miles above, and 
where the Rock Island shops are located. 
The employees of the gigantic shops are com- 
pelled to live in Rock Island, Moline and 
Davenport, for the most part owing to the 
fact that not a sufficient number of houses 
have been erected for their occupancy. 

East Moline was incorporated as a village 
December 23, 1902. It is situated in South 
Moline Township, seven miles east of Rock 
Island, and four miles east of Moline. 

The Rock Island System, the C, M. & St. 
P., the D., R. I. A N. W^ Railroads and the 
Mississippi Valley Traction Company electric 
line enter the village. 

This village offers unprecedented oppor- 
tunities for investment and factory locations. 
The population is now about 600. It 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



103 



has telegraph, express and telephone facili- 
ties. 

The village of East Moline was incorporated 
as a city in January, 1907. 

COALTOWN. 

What was considered old Coaltown was 
more of a locality than a village, embracing 
a territory contingent to numerous coal 
mines in the southeast portion of the present 
township of Hampton and a small part of 
South Moline Township, and a very active 
locality it was in the early days. At one 
point where Samuel Bowles, who came to this 
county in 1835, discovered the first coal bed 
in this vicinity, and at one time built a church 
there. The vicinity was called Bowlesburg; 
another vicinity Tinkerville. The Silvis 
mines are still running, and a branch of the 
D., R. I. & N. W. Railway run there. 

SOUTH ROCK ISLAND TOWNSHIP. 

The township extends south from the cor- 
porate limits of the City of Rock Island to 
the north shore of the Rock River. This 
township is exceedingly productive of agri- 
cultural products. Its chief distinction lies 
in its jjhenomenal growth. From a mere 
pasture, hills and farm lands it has developed 
into one of the most desirable residence 
portions of Rock Island County. The prin- 
cipal place of interest is the noted Black 
Hawk's Watch Tower, which at the present 
time is quite a summer resort. From this 
tower Black Hawk kept watch for his ene- 
mies, either red or white. 

There are few locations, if any, in the 
great northwest, that will compare with it in 
natural beauty of scenery. Black Hawk's 
Watch Tower is a prominent point of ground, 
rising almost perpendicularly some two 
hundred feet above the level of the Rock 
River; and from its summit one can look out 
over miles and miles of pastoral beauty, and 
seventeen miles of the Rock River Valley. 



ROCK ISLAND CITY 

Was located opposite the western end of 
Vandruff's Island, on the north shore of the 
Rock River, taking in the site of the old 
Sac Indian village. It was eighteen blocks 
long, running north from the river, and east 
and west nine blocks. It was platted and 
accepted by the County Commissioners July 
20, 1836, and recorded July 22, 1836. A 
beautiful paper city. 

VILLAGE OF SEARS 

Is located in the Town of South Rock Isl- 
and. Forty-three legal voters of South Rock 
Island petitioned the County Court to have 
the privilege of voting on the incorporation 
of the Village of Sears, under the general 
law; petitioners describing bounds and affirm- 
ing the district contained a population of 350. 

May 3, 1894, an election was held for or 
against incorporation, resulting in fifty-three 
votes for organization, and six votes against. 
May 26, 1894, the following six trustees were 
elected: C. H. Dibbern, John E. Breen, B. 
Patterson, J. McCarty, J. F. Mead and E. D. 
Fisher. 

BLACK HAWK TOWNSHIP 

Derives its name from the noted chief of 
the Sac and Fox Indians, who for many years 
had his home within the present limits of 
South Rock Island Township. 

This township originally was full six miles 
square, with the exception of a few hundred 
acres cut off from the northwest corner by 
the Mississippi River, and with Rock River 
flowing from the east nearly through its 
center. Afterwards the township was divided 
and Rock River became the northerly line of 
Black Hawk Township, and that part of the 
original township north of the river was 
named South Rock Island Township. 

The first marriage license in the township 
was issued on August 22, 1833, to Benjamin 
Goble and Barbara Vandruff, both now 
asleep in the beautiful Chippiannock Ceme- 



104 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



tery. They lived for many years on Big 
Island. 

Joshua Vandruff was an early pioneer and 
lived on what was then called Lowell Island. 
His sons, Joshua. Jr.. John, Henry, Jacob and 
James, all had farms on Big Island, where 
they lived for many years. Other early 
settlers in the township were William Dick- 
son and Col. John Dickson, the latter for 
many years justice of the peace; James 
Johnston, G. W. Heflin, James Dickson. Ira 
Whitehead. X. D. Bradley, Wm. Young, 
Daniel Pinkley, David Brownlee, Garret 
Davis, John BuUe}-, Morgan Fergurson. A. 
L. Buck and N. Bruner. 

The township has an abundant supply of 
coal and wood and is traversed by two rail- 
roads — the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific to 
Peoria, and the Cable and Mercer County 
Branch. The Peoria line was built in 1854. 
It also has an electric car line, connecting 
Milan, Black Hawk's Watch Tower, Rock 
Island, Moline and Davenport. The cele- 
brated Hennepin Canal, connecting the Great 
Lakes and the Mississippi River, is completed 
through this township. 

It also has one of the finest water powers 
in the state and some time it will, no doubt, 
be more largely utilized. 

At one time there were three paper mills 
on Rock River and two large flouring mills, 
one owned bj' James Johnston and one by 
the Sears company. All were consumed by 
fire. 

There are now two churches in this to-UTi- 
ship and eight school houses. No other 
township has better educational facilities. 

Martin Wliistler was the first merchant to 
open a general store in the township. 

The stars and stripes were first hoisted here 
in the summer of 1805, by Lieutenant Pike. 

The first land entered was on October 19, 
1829, b}' William T. Brasher, covering the 
location now occupied bj^ the cemetery. 

Black Hawk Township comprises a section 
noted not onlv for the beauty of its landscape, 



but also for being an exceedingly prosperous 
farming community. The bottom land is 
very rich and produces immense crops of 
corn, hay, jjotatoes and small grain, while the 
finest apples, peaches, grapes and berries are 
raised in large abundance, and all find ready 
market close at hand. It is not surpassed — 
perhaps not equalled — by any other section 
of the state, or the great west. Farmers, as 
a rule, are well-to-do, prosperous and happy, 
and a hajjpy home amidst such surround- 
ings means an extension of life. The south 
side of the township has a line of beautiful 
bluffs and are made practical from being 
underlaid with a vein of most excellent coal, 
from four to six feet thick. 

With rich soil, beautiful scenery, cheap 
fuel, clear running streams, extensive water 
power, transportation bj' rail, both steam and 
electric, by river and canal; nearby markets 
and a healthful climate; what more can be 
desired, and what is there lacking to make it 
an ideal farming communitj'? 

With farms paid for, and carrying an 
unquestioned value of SI 00 to §120 an acre, 
and with good health, why should not our 
farmers be contented and consequently happy. 

LOWELL 

Was located on the north shore of Lowell 
Island — now Vandruff's Island. It was sur- 
veyed in June, 1844, and plat approved by 
count}' commissioners the second of Sep- 
tember, 1844, and filed of record the 16th of 
October, 1844. The plat was executed for 
Joshua VandrufT, Zadoc Kalbaugh and 
Thomas Patterson, and was four blocks long, 
east and west, and three blocks wide, facing 
north on the main branch of the Rock River, 
about where the first present north wagon 
bridge crosses the river. Regularly named 
streets were Kalbaugh. Patterson and Mill 
running north to the dam. Lemuel Andrews 
kept the first store. It was short lived. An 
old canal was built here in the early forties, 
to surmount the Rock River rapids; for the 



HISTORIC ROC K I S L A N D C U N T Y 



105 



construction of which the government appro- 
priated $100,000 in gold. Foot prints still 
show where it existed. 

VILLACK OF .MILAN. 

On the south shore of Rock River, in 
Black Hawk Townshi]), stands Milan, deriv- 
ing a thrifty trade from her adjacent farming 
country. Cheap coal and abundant water 
power make ililan essentially a manufactur- 
ing point, though sad to relate, a nemises has 
aj)i«irently ]>ursued every establishment ever 
erect eil there. 

Milan was originally called Camden, and 
was laid out by William Dickson in 1843. In 
1848 the name was changed to Camden Mills, 
on account of there being another Camden in 
ychuyler Count)'. In 1S70 the name was 
changed to Milan. The ])Iace was incor- 
porated as a village in 1865. 

When white settlers first arrived here, the 
famous Sac village of Black Hawk stood on 
the op])osite side of the river. A colony of 
Kickapoos occupied the south shore below 
the town. In 1828 Rinnah Wells came here 
and .settled among the Indians, who did not 
leave their village till 1S31. Joshua \an- 
druff came the year following. For two or 
three years these pioneers and Indians lived 
together, and had their friendly intercourse 
and their disputes and qiiarrels. Mr. A'an- 
druff built where Sears' Mill now is, and lived 
there until he built his house on the island 
which bears his name, and where he died 
and was buried about 1859. Hi.s remains 
were afterwards taken up and removed to 
Chippiannock Cemetery. Mr. Wells died 
suddenly in 1852, being fouiul dead in his 
buggy on the road. 

William Dickson, the founder of the town, 
was the father of Colonel George Dicksdu. 
for many years justice of the peace in Milan. 
He was born in Newburg, N. Y., March 27, 
1783. His father was a Captain in the 
Revolutionary war. His grandfather and 
grandmother were murdered by the Indians 



and Butler's Rangers in the famous Cherry 
Valley massacre. After the Revolution the 
father of William Dickson moved to West- 
moreland County,Pennsylvania, where William 
was brought up till he was eighteen, when he 
moved to a farm in Erie County, Pennsyl- 
vania, near the shore of Lake Erie. Here he 
was married and became quite a noted man 
of his time, being at one time a member of 
the Board of Canal Commissioners of the 
State of Pennsylvania. He raised a family 
of nine children, seven sons and two daugh- 
ters. In the sjiring of 1S34 he visited this 
portion of Illinois on horseback, and returned 
home in the fall. In 1836 he returned here, 
and was one of the ])roprietors of the famous 
' ' Rock Island City '' scheme. In the spring 
of 1837 he brought his family here, and 
resided on the site of the old Sac town till 
1S67, when he sold to D. B. Sears and moved 
to Milan, where he died NovemI)er 25, 1869. 

Colonel John Dickson was born in Erie 
County, Pennsylvania, February 6, 1813, and 
came to Milan in 1844. 

The Dickson and Brunot Flouring Mill was 
built in 1843 by James Dickson and Felix R. 
Brunot. In 1846 Howard and Weeks biult 
a saw mill just below the above. In 1848 it 
was converted into a flouring mill and carding 
machine by James Dickson and N. D. Brad- 
ley. In 1843 Joshua \'andr\iff and Zadoc 
Calbaugh built a saw and flouring mill at the 
north end of the dam on Vandruff's Island. 
The flouring mill was struck by lightning and 
l)urned in 1857; the saw mill became delapi- 
dated and fell into disuse, and finally rotted 
down about 1870. 

Today Milan has no manufactories to speak 
of, and serves simply as a village trading 
point for the farming community. The glory 
of her earlier days, the immense in\-estments 
and the rugged ami acti\-e life which once 
made for Milan a rejnitation long to be 
remembered, the factories and shops which 
once represented upwards of a million and 



106 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



a-half of dollars — all have become a memory 
and constitute a ground for reminiscence only. 

COAL VALLEY TOWNSHIP AND 
VILLAGE. 

Coal Valley dates its staple history from the 
spring of 1857. Large deposits of coal in 
the vicinity, and the opening of mines, fixed 
its location. The first small coal mine was 
known as the "Bailey Coal Bank.'' 

In 1856 Ben Harper. S. S. Guyer and 
David Hakes acquired a large tract of land 
containing large deposits of coal ; thej- organ- 
ized a company to mine coal and construct a 
railroad to get it to market — the railroad 
being completed from Coal ^^alley to Rock 
Island in October, 1857. The first coal 
loaded on a railway car at the Valley was 
handled by Robert Lee, afterwards super- 
intendent of the mines of the Coal Valley 
Mining Company at Coal Willej', Cable and 
Sherrard; and considered one of the best coal 
mine experts in the state. At present he is 
resting on the laurels of a good honest bus}^ 
life. 

Opening the mines gave a strong impetus 
to the new town. The first business house 
was a general store, owned by Mr. Herrick; 
afterwards by Bailey and Boyle, then by 
Cable, Lee and Bardsley. The building is 
quite a landmark. The first physician to 
locate was Dr. Thomas Martin, coming from 
Camden Mills. The first meat market by 
Mr. Grantz, then by Thomas Corns, who 
came from Camden Mills and to Rock Island 
Count}- in ISoI. The first lumber j-ard was 
owned bj- Frederick Wej-erhaeuser, the great 
lumber and timber king. 

The first blacksmith was David Rowland, 
who was assisted by INIurt}' Connor. 

The first carpenters and builders were John 
Petty, William Myers and Richard and P. 
Callahan. 

The first hotel was kept by L. Evans, and 
called the Coal \'alley House. 



The first brick were manufactured by John 
T. Hass. 

About 1859 Philander L. Cable of Rock 
Island purchased an interest in the mines of 
Harper, Guyer i^- Hakes, and later acquired 
entire control, with R. R. Cable an interest. 
The Cables never having any trouble witlt the 
miners; helping them to get their homes; and 
it is understood, dividing with them the 
market price of coal — one-third to the firm.- 
one-third to the railroad and one-third to the 
miners; which would seem mutually equitable 
and just. The first shoemaker was Peter 
Schroeder, a German. The first settlers in 
the Valley were largely foreigners — Welch. 
English, German and Irish; but a more 
hospitable community was never known. 
Latch strings of all the homes were always 
on the outside. The first mail to Coal 
Valley was by stage. Mr. Dack of Rock 
Island was carrier. Mail was received once 
a week. The first postoffice was kept in 
what is now J. K. Stenstrom's shoe store. 
The first postmaster was Thomas Jones, who 
was also mine boss for Hakes, Guj-er & Harper. 
After the railway was built the mail was 
brought twice a week, then three times a 
week, and in the early sixties became dail}-. 
At one time Frederick Weyerhaeuser was 
postmaster; the present incumbent being 
Thomas J. Murphy, who has filled the position 
for ten years. 

The Coal \'alley Mining Company's mines 
being nearly exhatisted, the company sought 
a new field at Cable, .\fter the removal of 
the company from the "\'alley, a number of 
other mines were opened by the Black 
Diamond Coal Company; John J. Pryce and 
others. There is a vast field of coal, within 
a radius of two miles of the town; the owners 
of which are the Guinty heirs, the Hillier 
heirs, Robert 8ommerson, Thomas Lees, the 
Black Diamond Coal Company, Dr. W. F. 
Myers and the Banner Coal Company. 

Besides the coal mines the\- have a fine 
farming country; merchants of all kinds; a 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



107 



grain elevator; two large general stores; two 
meat markets; grocery stores; two black- 
smith shops; shoe store; drug store; barber 
shop; restaurant; livery and feed stable; 
brick yard; and all to make up a flourishing 
wide awake community. 

RURAL TOWNSHIP. 

The first settlers of Rural, which formerly 
formed part of Coal Valley Township, were 
Thomas and Davis Goodlow, brothers, who 
built the first house on section 29. John 
Farlow being the second, who came from 
Pre-emption Township, at which place he 
was the first settler. He built the small house 
on section 30 of this township. The first 
child born was a son of John Farlow, in 1839. 
The first marriage was that of David Good- 
low and Nancy Farlow. Before the j-ear 
1840 the following persons came to this 
township: A. L. and A. N. Sayre, J. M. 
Wilson, Capt. J. A. Jordan and Daniel \'alen- 
tine. Capt. Jordan and Mr. Valentine lived 
just over the line in Pre-emption, but most 
of their land being in Rural they finally Ijuilt 
in this township. The first school was taught 
by Seth Trego, in a private house. The first 
school house was built in 1846, by contribu- 
tions from the following persons: Capt. J. 
A. Jordan, Albert N., Alonzo S. and j\I. Sayre, 
J. M. Wilson, Daniel Valentine and William 
Crist. These persons also contriljuted money 
to secure the first teacher, Mr. Shedd. 

Robert Middleham, Patrick Campbell, 
Henrj^ Brown, Charles Wilkinson, Jlichael 
Ballman, Philip Deal and Alexander Cordon, 
all of whom had families, arrived in what is 
now known as Rural Townshij), about the 
year 1848. At that time the nearest habita- 
tion was six miles, at Milan (Camden Mills at 
that time.) Rock Island then was the nearest 
postoffice. 

Alexander Bailey, who won the appellation 
of "Old Satan" among his neighbors, was 
also among the early Rural settlers. He 
scjuatted on and held the southwest corner of 



section 1. His place was soon known as 
"Satan's Kingdom," and even to this day 
the land he held as a squatter is called ' ' The 
Kingdom." 

In 1850 Francis Baile}' settled on a farm 
in section ll, and soon thereafter a school 
house was built on his land, which is still 
known as the Bailey School House. 

In 1851 William and Charles Bailey, with 
their families, lived in the only log house in 
what is now Coal Valley. 

John C. Bailey relates that when he arrived 
in Rock Island, in 1849, that he labored for 
$4.00 per month and got a grocery order for 
pay. The family settled in Rural Township 
in 1851. They broke prairie for several 
years with oxen of from four to six to a 
plow. Upon one occassion they broke forty 
acres of ground for a neighbor and received 
as remuneration the munificent sum of .$80.00 
all in silver 50 cent jiieces. At another time 
they liroke a like number of acres for the 
same money and considered that they were 
making money rapidh'. 

BOWLING TOWNSHIP. 

Bowling Township is botmded by Rural on 
the east, Edgington on the west, north by 
Black Hawk and south b}- Mercer County. 
The country is quite rolling, with splendid 
farms, and plenty of timber land and prairie. 
The first settlers were Mr. Bowling, John 
Tyndall, William Tyndall and Edmond Crop- 
per, in 1838. William Tyndall came to the 
county in 1835, living in Stephenson over two 
years. In 1841 James, David and John 
Clarke and John Johnston and Christopher 
Armstrong — all from Ireland — formed the 
next settlement, known as the Clarke settle- 
ment, in the southeastern part of the town- 
ship. Curtiss McKnight settled soon after. 
The first school was held about 1844 or 1845, 
in a small frame house on section 26. 

EDGINGTON TOWNSHIP 

This is one of the oldest settlements in the 
county. Three score and ten years have gone 



108 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



into the past since the first white settlers set 
foot upon its soil. 

The first white children born here are now 
among the old men ami women of our times. 
They are the Dunlaps, Edgingtons, Titter- 
ingtons, Montgomeries, Parks, Parmenters 
and Eberharts. Only a few of them reside 
here now to tell the story of their childhood 
days. Many have removed to other parts of 
the globe, and some have passed the bourne 
whence none return, and so the name of 
Edgington has now a halo of sacredness 
about it. 

The pioneers have all passed aw-ay, and the 
old homes are inhabited by members of the 
old families or strangers. 

The first settlers were James Robison, 
Joseph Dunlap and Daniel Edgington. It 
was in the summer of 1834, when Andrew 
Jackson was president, and the State of 
Illinois had attained the age of sixteen years, 
that they planted homestead stakes. Robi- 
son moved up from Warren Count}', Illinois, 
and Dunlap and Edgington came prospecting 
from Steubenville, Ohio. Immigrants came 
overland in wagons, or down the Ohio and 
up the Mississippi by steamboat. Pros- 
pectors came mostly on horseback. Robison 
and Dunlap located on section 5 and Edging- 
ton on section 6. On each section good 
springs of water were found. Where Jacob 
L. Harris now lives, James Robison built his 
cabin, and returned for his family that same 
fall. 

About the center of the section, on the 
east border, Joseph Dunlap built a double 
log house. He and Edgington returned to 
Steubenville and brought their families. 
They came in the spring of 1835. Those 
three cabins formed a sort of triangle, with 
a path leading from one to the other. Such 
was the beginning of the settlement of 
Edgington Township. 

George W. Kell and Henry Eberhart and 
familj-, came in the spring of 1835. Charles 
Eberhart and family, John Titterington and 



family, with Moses and Charles Titterington, 
came in the fall of 1835. The Eberharts 
coming from New Jersey and the Tittering- 
tons from Ohio. 

In 1836 B. McNutt and family from Ohio, 
William Snell and family from Mississippi, 
Daniel Montgomery from Pennsylvania. Soon 
after came Alexander Hazlitt and family, 
W. D. Hatton, Parley Laflin and family, 
Joseph Asquith and family. In 1838 George 
Parmenter, Allen Parmenter. Lorenzo Par- 
menter, Seth Parmenter, H, H. Parks, A. J.- 
Webster and Timothy Dulton increased the 
settlement. 

Daniel Edgington was the first justice of 
the peace. The business of the justice was 
not very onerous in those days. Squire 
Edgington, however, had the honor of per- 
forming the first marriage ceremony that was 
solemnized; the parties united by him were 
John P. Cooper and Miss Mina Pace. 

The first school was taught in the cabin 
home of Mrs. Amanda Cushman, on section 
6. just opposite the present residence of Geo. 
T. Harris. Mrs. Cushman was the teacher. 

The first postoffice was kept in the Cush- 
man home, and Mr, C. D. Cushman was 
postmaster. It was not against the law to 
scratch matches on mail boxes, for there 
was no matches nor mail boxes. There were 
no postage stamps, no envelopes, no money 
orders, no registering of letters. 

The first storekeeping was by George D. 
Parmenter, in his own residence at the "four 
corners," where the Edgington village is 
located. 

The first and only grist mill, which was a 
great thing for the neighborhood, was con- 
structed b}' Joseph Dunlap, at his own 
residence, in a very primitive manner. The 
building was of logs. Its size w:as sixteen 
feet square, one story. The burrs were two 
granite boulders. The mill was run by horse 
power. Its grinding capacity was about 
fifty bushels per day. To make a fine quality 
of flour the bolting was done by hand with 



// I ST R I (• U O ( ' A" 7 N L .1 X D CO U .V T Y 



109 



a hair seive. But the wheat flour was, for 
the most part, a first class quality of what is 
now called graham. Much corn meal was 
used. Neighbors on coming to the mill 
usually furnished their own horse power, and 
did their own grinding, and the proprietor 
took no toll. 

EDGINGTON VILLAGE 

Is an unincorporated village, situate in the 
Town of Edgington. In the early forties and 
up to the coming of the railroad it was quite 
a thriving place. George D. Parmenter 
opened the first store in 1843. in his house, a 
log cabin. He afterwards built what was 
called the old store, selling out to Isaac 
Negus and E. Burrall. The firm of Negus 
& Burrall subsequently built a larger and 
better building. They were succeeded by 
Charles R. Ainsworth, and he by Rufus 
Walker. In 1855 Fish & Lee commenced 
business here, afterwards locating in Rock 
Island. The railroad on the east cut off 
the early trade, and conditions now are much 
more quiet. 

TAYLOR RIDGE VILLAGE 

Is not incorporated. It is situated in 
Bowling and Edgington Townships. The 
Rock Island and Mercer County Railroad was 
completed to this place in September, 1876, 
and on the day of its completion twenty-three 
cars of stock were shipped to Chicago; and 
on the following day seventeen car loads. 
The village is surrounded by a good agricul- 
tural country. It was laid out by J. L. 
Frankeberger, a civil engineer employed on 
the railroad, and contains two blocks and 
twenty-four lots, two stores, a blacksmith 
shop, an eating house, postoffice, drug store, 
hotel, elevator and excellent conveniences for 
carrying on grain and stock business. The 
people along the line of the railroad have 
shown a remarkable degree of enterprise and 
liberality in contributing to the constructing 



of this road. Mr. James Taylor gave the 
right of way here and $1,000, and the place 
was named Taylor Ridge in his honor. The 
railroad crosses the village transversely. 

VILLAGE OF REYNOLDS. 

Wait and Walker originally platted a por- 
tion of Section 36, of the township of Edging- 
ton, for a village, and gave it the name of 
Reynolds, in honor of Elisha P. Reynolds, the 
railroad contractor and long time resident of 
the City of Rock Island. The first plat con- 
tained three blocks of forty lots. The 
village as at present is situated in two counties 
and four townships. Edgington and Bowling 
Townships of Rock Island County, and 
Perryton and Pre-emption Townships of 
Mercer County. The Rock Island and 
Mercer County Railroad was completed to 
Reynolds October 6, 1876. On that day a 
half-mile of track was finished by 3 o'clock 
and at 6 o'clock thirty-three cars of stock 
were shipped to Chicago. A glorious day's 
result. The first building erected was the 
depot building, by Rufus Walker, and where 
was sold the first goods. W. D. Goodner 
erected the first hotel, the Commercial House, 
in 1876. The first blacksmith was H. 
Webster, winter of 1876. The first harness 
maker was Emil Helpenstell, in 1877. Joseph 
Flora the first wagon maker in 1877. The 
first physician. Dr. F. Stuart in 1877. The 
first grain buyers were Wait & Walker; load- 
ing grain directly into the cars from the 
farmers' wagons. The postoffice was estab- 
lished in 1876, with R. B. Olmstead its first 
postmaster. 

School District No. 7 was formed in 1877, 
the first school being taught in the house of 
Weaver Kuhns by Miss Jenny Kuhns. At 
present they have a fine commodious school 
house. The school is a graded one. 

An election held at the bank in Reynolds, 
February 28, 1891, for village organization, 
resulted as follows; si.xty-seven votes being 
cast: Thirty-three \-()tes for organization, 



no 



HISTORIC ROC K ■ I S L A A" D CO U N T Y 



and thirty-four votes against organization. 
May 17, 1894, ui)on petition to the Cotintj- 
Court of thirty-one legal voters of the district, 
June 2, 1894, was appointed the date to hold 
another election on the jiroposition of village 
organization. Said election resulted, fifty- 
six for incorporation, and twelve against. 
July 3, 1S94. J. P. Johnston, W. G. Davis, 
J. M. Walker, Gust Olson, W. P. Kuhns and 
R. P. Wait were elected village trustees. 

TOWN OF ANDALUSIA. 

Andalusia is one of the historic towns of 
Rock Island Countj-. It is located ou the 
Mississippi River, about ten miles west of the 
City of Rock Island. The township has 
about six miles of frontage on the river, but 
has less depth, being less than half the size 
of a congressional to'WTiship. Though small 
in size it is one of the hustling townships of 
the county. Its historj^ dates from the 
earliest settlement of the country. One of 
the first settlers was Captain B. W. Clark, 
father of Captain W. L. Clark, of Buffalo, 
Scott County, Iowa, now the oldest living 
first settler in the State of Iowa. 

A quarter section of land, which forms a 
part of the present town plat of Andalusia, 
was entered by Captain B. W. Clark, and in 
the fall of 1832 he built a hewn log house at 
the west end of what is now the Milage of 
Andalusia. This house when first built was 
the only one between that of Joshua Yan- 
drufT on Yandruff's Island, at the foot of 
Black Hawk's Watch Tower, and Erastus 
Dennison's, at the upper "Yellow Banks," 
now New Boston. The logs used in Captain 
Clark's house at Andalusia are still doing 
good service. They were taken down long 
years ago and hauled across the river on the 
ice to the Town of Buffalo, and at the jiresent 
form, the west half of Henry Springmeier's 
residence at that place. 

The next house built here was on the 
Sulphur Springs farm in the spring of 1834, 
by Hackley Sans. The next was built by 



John \'anaita, during the fall of 1834. This 
was afterwards bought and occupied by 
Jonathan Buffum, and for half a century was 
known as the old BufTum place, now owned 
by A. Hofer. This same fall Mr. Dunlap, 
Daniel and John Edgington came to this part 
of the new west and located lands just south 
of Andalusia. They soon returned to Ohio, 
and in the spring of 1835 chartered a boat 
and brought their families and household 
goods and became permanent residents. 
The}' also brought with them the elder 
McXutt and his son John, a carpenter; 
Moses and Charles Titterington and two other 
brothers and their families; also Charles and 
Harr}' Eberhart and families, and Adolph 
Dunlap, a noted gunsmith. James Robison 
and the Parmenters came a little later. 

Clark's Ferrj^ which was operated between 
Andalusia and Buffalo, became the most 
noted river crossing above St. Louis. Many 
of the first settlers of this section of the west 
came down the Ohio River by boat and then 
up the Mississippi to Clark's Ferry. Many 
of the first settlers of Scott, Muscatine, Cedar 
and Linn Counties, Iowa, crossed the river 
here. Captain Clark operated this ferry 
until 1836. when he sold his interests on this 
side of the river, including the ferry to Colonel 
Stephenson, W. S. Hamilton and a Mr. White- 
side, of Galena, Illinois, for S17.000. These 
men, with others, laid out the town of 
Stephenson, afterward Rock Island. They 
also laid out the town of Rockport, the east 
side of which was Fancy Creek, and the west 
side the creek on the west side of the Sulphur 
Springs farm, and the south line at least a 
mile from the river. They had it platted on 
paper in a most gorgeous and attractive 
manner and took it to Washington, D. C, 
where, it is said, thej' sold thousands of 
dollars worth of town lots to such men as 
Daniel Webster, Henry Clark, John C. Cal- 
hotm, General George W. Jones and other 
prominent people, none of whom ever saw 
the lots. Rockport only grew on paper and 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L A N D COU N T Y 



111 



finally died a slow and easj^ death, was sold 
for taxes and bought up by Napoleon Bona- 
parte Buford, who relaid a portion of it into 
lots and named the new town Andalusia. 

Their public schools have the well earned 
reputation for being amongst the best in the 
county. 

The Memorial Association is composed of 
old soldiers, old settlers and others. Its 
organization was effected by the members of 
Alfred Bing Post, G. A. R. The idea was to 
have an association that would be historical 
in character and in time, when the old 
soldiers have all passed away, would succeed 
the Post in a way, and aid in perpetuating 
the memories of war heroes and also of the 
historic characters conspicuous in the early 
settlement of the country. This organization 
sets an example worthy to be followed in 
other communities. 

Captain W. L. Clark, in his reminiscent 
sketches, tells of a wedding party in the early 
days, where the knot was tied by the late 
Daniel Edgington, when a young man and 
justice of the peace. John Cooper and Jane 
Fay were the contracting parties. They 
lived in Buffalo, which was then in an unor- 
ganized territory, so they came to Rock 
Island County for a license and were married 
on this side of the river. The young justice 
had never performed a ceremony of this kind 
before and was more or less nervous. Thus 
it happened that he forgot to ask all the 
usual questions and when the consent of the 
bride had been signified he pronounced them 
man and wife without propounding the usual 
queries to the groom. Mr. Cooper, who 
lived many years in Buffalo often asserted 
that he had been but half married. 

An interesting statement by Captain Clark 
is the following: 

' ' Since boyhood I have lived in the territory 
known as the Louisiana Purchase, State of 
Illinois, Michigan Territory, Wisconsin Terri- 
tory, Minnesota Territory, Black Hawk Pur- 
chase, Iowa Territory, and the State of Iowa, 



and all this time only moved one mile. I 
might add that I have a friend, 'Timber 
Woods,' of Burlington, Iowa, whose oldest 
son was born in Michigan Territory, his 
second son in Wisconsin Territory, his third 
son in Iowa Territory, and his fourth son in 
the State of Iowa, and all were born in the 
same log cabin, standing all the time on the 
same spot." 

VILLAGE OF ANDALUSIA. 

Captain B. W. Clark was the original owner 
of the village plat, which was a ]mrt of the 
old paper city of Rockport. In 1S43 Samuel 
Kenworthy opened a store in his log cabin, 
which stood near the river and ferry landing. 
In 1845 Colonel N. B. Buford bought at tax 
sale the lots of Rockport, built a store and 
warehouse, and named the place Andalusia. 
In 1866 S. M. Boney had the place re-surveyed 
and laid out into lots and blocks with streets 
named. In early days the village did a good 
prosperous business with the farmers and 
steamboat shipping trade. An election was 
held May 10, 1884, in the Town of Andalusia, 
at the hall of Robert Ross, for village organi- 
zation; the total vote being seventy. For 
village organization, thirty-nine votes; against 
thirty-one votes. Vote was canvassed and 
approved May 12, 1884, by County Judge 
Lucian Adams and Justice of the Peace, 
David Hawes, and James W. Ballard. The 
third day of June, 1884, an election was held 
in the village of Andalusia for six village 
trustees, seventy-five votes being cast. Trus- 
tees elected were William Smith, John H. 
Brookman, James W. Ballard. I^enjamin 
Dill, J. H. Britton and H. Mosher. 

BUFFALO PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. 

This town, under original organization, was 
named Buffalo; afterward changed to Copper, 
and then to its j^resent name. 

Its northern boundary is the Mississippi 
River, the southern Mercer County, eastern 



112 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U X T Y 



the Townships of Edgington and Andalusia, 
and west by Dniry Township. 

John Edgington was the first settler, com- 
ing here in 1S34 from Jefferson Coimty, Ohio, 
with his wife, who was Miss Susan Crabs, 
born in the same county, just married and 
together they came west. John Kistler was 
the next to locate in the vicinity, and who 
became quite prominent in local affairs. 

Samuel Sloan came in 1839 from Pennsyl- 
vania. 

The first boy born was a son to John and 
Susan Edgington, ilarch 20, 1835. named 
James. The first school was in 1840, taught 
b}^ a venerable Scotchman. A ver}- thrift}- 
class of the people were Germans, who came 
in an early day. The township is composed 
of prairie land and timber, about equalh-, 
with numerous fine and well improved farms. 
It is said that Buffalo Prairie derives its name 
from the fact that in the early settlement 
days a great portion of the prairie land had 
been long and strongly trodden and stamped 
by the buffalo in their earl}- grazing grounds, 
together with their deep trail paths leading 
to their drinking places. 

BUFFALO PRAIRIE 

Is situated in Buffalo Prairie Township, 
and not incorporated. Is a small place, with 
postoffice and two or three houses. 

DRURY TOWNSHIP. 

Drury TowTiship was named in honor of the 
Drury famil)^ the earliest pioneers of the 
township. It is situated in the southwestern 
corner of the county and embraces one full 
congressional to^Tiship and parts of three 
others. It contains some verj- rough and 
broken upland and some smooth bottom land ; 
much of it, however, is of the best quality 
as to soil, and there are as some fine farms in 
this township as can be found in the county. 

Some of the early settlers were: Miles, 
Isaiah, Reynolds, Eli, Silas and James Drury, 
William and Ithamar Re3'nolds, Jacob A. 



Seiver, W^illiam Huff. I., B. Elijah and James 
Essex. Matthew and Jeremiah LeQuatte. 
William Womacks, Solomon Simpson, An- 
thony Ricketts. John Ballard. John Har- 
baugh, James McPherson, Harry Hampton. 
S. Prentiss, William Hays. John Boruff. 
Joseph and Antoine Blair. L. V. Reed and 
M. H. Johnson. 

The settlers who came to this country in 
the thirties and the early forties to carve" 
homes for themselves and families found thej' 
had undertaken no light and easy task. They 
had many difficulties to overcome, many 
hardships to endure. They indeed lived the 
"simple life," in rude log cabins and with few 
comforts, while luxuries were not thought of. 
All settlers were neighbors, although they 
might be miles apart. All were on a common 
level as to mode of life and largely as to 
resources. All were ' ' horney handed sons of 
toil." Their opportunities for mental growth 
and culture were of their own creation, and 
evolved from their own individualities. 
Xature was their teacher and nature's lessons 
were well learned. In those early days there 
were no schools for the children, no churches, 
no doctors, no mills, no stores, no roads, no 
bridges; just the rich soil, groves of timber, 
pure air and water, and a healthful climate. 
But the}' were hopeful, energetic, industrious 
and persevering. Years rolled b}', other set- 
tlers came, schools and churches, roads and 
bridges, railroads, cities and villages were 
built, and those who have lived until the 
present day have witnessed a growth and 
development that has been indeed marvelous. 

Other reminiscences would undoubtedly 
find, many times, almost similar occurrences. 

Mr. John L. Wray, when a boy, worked from 
six in the morning until sundown for fiftj- cents 
a day, which was considered good wages. 

Mr. J. A. Seiver speaks of "planing" corn; 
that is, took ears of corn, before getting too 
hard, and shaved them across the bottom of a 
jack plane and shaved off the kernels. The 
corn shavings making good mush and very 



// / S TORI C R C K I S L A N D CO U N T Y 



113 



good bread, yhortl}- after lie was married he 
went to Cambridge, Indiana, for a housekee]i- 
ing outfit. He got a Dutch oven, a skillet and 
an iron kettle, and these amoimted to their 
cooking utensils for some time. School 
teachers received so much a pu])il instead of a 
salary. A log cabin on the Miles Drury jslace 
was used for a school house, and another one 
on Section 29, commonly known as the ' ' bull 
pen." Miles Drury's barn was used as a 
church. The people were obliged to go to 
Drury's Landing, six miles away, for their 
mail, and paid twenty-five cents postage on 
every letter. Mrs. Rosman says when they 
went visiting, oxen and a lumljer wagon was 
their carriage. They sheared their sheep 
before they sold them in Indiana, and clotli 
was made from this wool by her mothei'. who 
carded, spun and wove it by haml. 

Reynolds Drury settled at Drury's Landing. 
where he opened a general store, bought grain 
ami pork and did a flourishing business. A 
postofHce was established there at an early 
day and it became for a time the priuci|(al 
market place for this section of the covuitry. 
But the iniilding of railroads changed business 
centers and residents of the tnwn now tratle 
at Muscatine. 

Isaiah and Silas Drury had a grist null, a 
saw mill and a wool-carding nuichine. located 
on Section 20, on Copperas Creek, built as 
nearly as can be recalled, in 1(S37 or 1838. 

l)i'. Reynolds was the first physician in 
this township and in the lower end of the 
county. 

Residents of Drury Township boast of 
having some of as good, and as fine bred live 
stock as can be found anywhere, but to 
Buffalo Prairie Township belongs the dis- 
tinction of raising "Alex," known for many 
years as the fastest horse in the world. 
Daniel Hayes had the honor of breeding and 
raising this speedy animal. Her time was 
2:03^. 

There is one rural free delivery mail route 
in the township and three postofficcs. The 



latter are located as follows: Ferdinand, in 
the southeast corner of the township, with 
Mrs. Ryan as postmistress; Foster, on Section 
17, with J. H. Foster as postmaster; and Wray- 
ville, in the center, with Helen Wray as post- 
mistress. The name "Wrayville," was sug- 
gested by James Britton, who was teaching 
school at that point, when a name was wanted. 
The educational advantages of the town- 
ship are fully equal to those of any agricul- 
tural community. We have nine schools 
whose districts are wholly within the town- 
ship, and two union schools, one being in the 
district reaching into Mercer Count}'. 

DRCRVS L.ANTDINC. 

Was nothing but a steamboat landing, and 
at one time in the early days, considerable 
shipping was done from its old warehouse, 
.lust back of the Landing a village named 
Richmond was platted by S. R. Drury, and 
filed ilay 7, 1843, and afhrmed by the County 
Commissioners. It was five blocks long, 
imly one block deep, with one side street 
sixty feet wide, running back from the 
^lississippi Ri\cr, a slough bordering the 
place on b:)th east aiul west sides. 

ILLIXOIS CITY 

Is situated in Ijolh Drury and Buffalo 
Prairie Townships. It is not an incorporated 
\-illage. Has a church, two stores, a hotel, 
l.)lacksmith shii|i, postoftice with two rural 
nuiil routes, public school aiul ]iublic square, 
and about fifty houses, with a |io])ulation of 
a little over two hundreil. Illinois City was 
laid out at an early date, and quite exten- 
sively platted, its owner antici])ating great 
results. For some years the village thrived 
nicely, but when the railroad came a few 
miles away, trade was diverted, and ruined 
the prospects of Illinois City. 

CITY OF ROCK ISLAND. 

The City of Rock Island is a well laid-out 
a.nd substantially built town, containing a 



114 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



po])iilati()n of aliout ^'J.OOO. In our recently 
issued city directory is ^Wen 14,0.55 names; 
which by the usual multiple of 2},^ would 
give us a ]iopulation of 81.G24. It is situated 
on the Illinois side of the .Mississippi River. 
at the foot of the Upper Rapids, and just 
lielow the western extremity of Rock Island, 
from which it derives its name. The situa- 
tion of the city is one of the most beautiful 
that can be imagined. The bluffs on the 
Iowa side approach the shore, so that the 
City of Davenport lies chiefly on the hillsides; 
on the Rock Island side the hills recede to a 
distance of more than a nule. leaving a broad 
and beautiful plain on which the city is built. 
This plain is sufficiently elevated to afford a 
dry and healthy location, and is Ijounded by 
the river in front, forming a graceful curve 
southward at the lower end of the city, and 
in the rear of the distant hills, which form a 
charming backgroimd to the city plat. Here 
the space is amply sufficient for a city of a 
hundred thousand inhabitants. From almost 
any point of observation in this city the views 
are fine. They combine a landscape of 
nunglcd art and nature: the cities of Daven- 
])ort. Rock Island and Moline, with their tall 
s]jires and smoking factories; the Island of 
Rock Island in the broad liright channel of 
the Mississippi, and connected with both 
shores by its magnificent iron britlges. Look- 
ing up the river towartl the Island, the 
bridges, with their piers and spans, are seen 
stretching across a space of three cpiarters of 
a mile, at the ])oint formerly occupied by old 
Fort Armstrong, while in the distance rises 
the tall smoke stacks of the Government 
works, the Arsenal and Armory — almost 
hidden in the trees — which in this part of the 
Island have been preserveil. and the grounds 
converted into a beautiful syhan park- 
About the center of the Island, from a tall 
flag staff erected on top of a high structural 
iron pier, floats the Stars and Stiipes — symbol 
of national aiitliorit\-. 



The Island, the Arsenal works and groimds, 
and tlie wonderfid improvements of the water 
))ower. constitute the chief points of attrac- 
tion to visitors at Rock Island. 

EAIU.V HISTOUV F.\RXH.IMSBURG .\.XD 

STEPHENSON. 

The City of Rock Island was preceded by 
the Town of Farnhamsburg. the first settle- 
ment on this side of the river within the 
])resent City limits. Here the first house was 
built by Colonel Davenport and Russell 
Farnham. partners in the Indian trade, in 
1826. It stood near the landing from old 
Fort Armstrong, about a block south of the 
southern approach to the present railroad 
bridge over Sylvan Water, and on an elevated 
lime stone knoll. The county road from the 
east ran in front of it. and turned from the 
Moline road to the west of the Lemuel 
Andrews residence — now Honorable Ben T. 
Cable's residence — and down along where is 
now the Hurlington and ^lilwaukee Railroad 
tracks, until it reached Twenty-fom-th Street, 
where it met old Illinois Street, now Second 
Avenue. The house was a noted place in the 
early history of Rock Island County. Here 
the County Covernment was formed, the 
first elections held, and the first postoffice 
established; it was the seat of the Circuit and 
County Courts from 1833 to 1835. In the 
latter year, this original seat of justice of the 
county was sui^erseded by the Town of 
Stephenson, and a ■village laid out in what is 
now the lower ])art of the City of Rock 
Lsland. It was laid out by the commissioners 
authorized by the Legislature to establish the 
seat of justice for Rock Island County, anil 
contained the old county grounds, with a 
])ortion of the county buildings. There are 
still standing many of the earlier buildings 
erected by the pioneers and here were inaug- 
urated man}' of the first institutions of Rock 
Island. Stephenson was the cradle of Rock 
Island, the nursery of much of that intellec- 
tual and social life which has since expanded 
into the laraor and intenser life of the cit\-. 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



115 



The founder of the first newspaper here, in 
1839, thus speaks of the old Town of Stephen- 
son, as it appeared to him in 1840: 

"The inhabitants of the town and its 
environs could not be surpassed, if equalled, 
by any city in the west, for men of intelli- 
gence — courteous and kind in everything. 
Our judiciary consisted of Judge Stone, who 
was very soon superseded by Judge Brown; 
our bar consisted of Joseph Knox, Joseph B. 
Wells, J. \\'ilson Drury, and H. CJ. Reynolds; 
the clerk of the court was an old bachelor, 
Joseph Conway, brother of Miles Conway, 
who, with a Mr. Cooper, composed the 
magistrac}- of the village; while our medical 
department was represented by Doctor Gregg 
alone, a man eminent in his profession. 

"There were three stores in the place, kept 
by John Meller, Lemuel Andrews and a Mr. 
Kauffman. Two more came afterwards, viz: 
ilr. Bond and Mr. Moore. There was one 
tinning establishment, Lee & Chamberlin's; 
one saddler shop. J. il. Frizzell's; one cabinet 
maker's and one gunsmith's sho]); three 
taverns, ^Ir. Bently's en the river l)aiik; 
Buffum's, back of the Court House Square; 
and the Rock Island House on Main Street, 
kept b\- \'anConrt iV: Brothers. This was the 
leading hotel at that da}-. There was one 
restaurant, and one other, called a saloon for 
the want of a more ajjpropriate name. One 
minister of the gos])el (Presbyterian), Rev- 
erent "Sir. Stewart, preached in a little school- 
house liack of Doctor Gregg's residence on 
Main Street — our only church, lyceum and 
town hall. * * * The Powars family, 
Guarnseys and old "Sh. ^'andruff, who lived 
on the island in Rock River, and kept a ferry 
at the Rapids, and something for the inner 
man, were among the first settlers of Rock 
Island. There were but few places of any 
note above Quinc}-, Illinois. Where Keokuk 
now stands there was a trading post ke])t Ijy 
a half-breed, who sold liquor to the Sac and 
Fox Indians, and engaged in towing barges 
over the rapids with horses, to Fort Mont- 



rose. At the east side of the Mississippi, at 
the head of the rapids, at a place then called 
Commerce, was situated a stone warehouse, 
where passing steamers discharged freight for 
the surrounding country. The JMormons had 
a short time ]ireviously l)een driven out of 
^lissouri, and they encamped on the west 
bank of the river, awaiting transportation to 
the Illinois side to build the City of Nauvoo, 
and their wagcms and equipages presented the 
apjiearance of an army encamped. The town 
of Burlington, Iowa, had but few houses. * 
* * Bloomington. now Muscatine, con- 
tained about six houses, and had the appear- 
ance of being a very sickly jilace, if I could 
judge from the looks of the citizens who came 
aboard the steamer."; 

This had reference to the Summer of 1838, 
when the writer, Mr. C. McGrew, came up the 
river. In all the distance described, from 
Quincy to the lead mines at Galena, Stephen- 
son was then the most noted steamboat 
landing. Here for manj^ years, travelers 
from the "Sangamon Country" and Fort 
Clark, reached the river on their way to 
Galena, and the mineral regions north. 

TOWN OF ROCK ISLAND. 

The Town of Rock Island came into being 
as a new edition of Stephenson, enlarged and 
revised by an act of the Legislature, passed 
in March, LS41. This act changed the name 
to Rock Island, and incorporated the latter 
as a town under a board of nine trustees. 
The trustees of the old village held over until 
the next annual election in September, but 
a special election was held on the first Jlon- 
day in April for four other trustees, who, 
together with the five old trustees, constituted 
the new board. The additional trustees 
elected were: John Bufcn-d, George W. Lynde 
Lemuel Andrews and James JI. Bellows. 

The boundaries of this town, as defined by 
this act, were made to include ' ' all that por- 
tion of land contained within the limits of 
the plat of the town of Stephenson, and all 



116 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CorXTY 



tlie adilitions thereto, as of record in the 
recorder's office, in the County of Rock 
Ishmd." hy c()ii:~ulting the records we found 
that the following additions had been made: 
Thomas and Wells' Addition, April o, 1S36; 
Sjjencer and Case's Addition, May 17, 1836; 
and Jones, Garnse}- and Beardsley's, known 
as the Chicago or Lower Addition, October 
22, 1836, As is well known, numerous 
additions have since been made to the city, 
extending its limits to something like ten 
scjuare miles, viz: About two miles and a 
cjuarter in average width, by about three and 
a half miles in length. It was invested with 
a city charter by ' ' An Act to Charter the City 
of Rock Island," February 12, 1849. Feb- 
rviary 16, 1857, a more comprehensive charter 
was granted, November 4, 1879, by an 
election the incorporation was changed, and 
an organization effected under the general 
laws of the State, of 1872, A canvass of the 
votes bj- the City Council November 10, 
1879, affirmed for organization, under the 
new general law, and on December 10. 1879, 
was certified to and made of record in the 
County Court. Its eastern bounrlary coin- 
cides with the western corporate limits of the 
City of Moline, and thus the two cities adjoin, 
and aie connected by three street railways, as 
well as by the regular passenger trains of four 
railroad systems. 

The nearest approach to a "boom" exper- 
ienced by Rock Island was in 1854, when the 
old Chicago and Rock Island Railroad 
reached Kock Island in January of that 3^ear, 
being the first railroad to reach the Mississippi 
River; but in 1857, a year of panic, and 
heavy migration west, gave us a few years 
set-back; we regained, however, in good 
time, and since have had a steady, legitimate 
growth, one to be proud' of. From that 
])eriod the city began to move west in its 
i)uikling operations, and of late years, both 
east, west and soutli. The greatest credit 
for the vast and ra|)i<l improvement now 
enjoyed by Rock Island may be ascribed to 



the Citizens Improvement Association. Tlie 
proposer of the association was Richard 
Crampton, who, coming from a trip east, 
recognized that we were stagnant, needed a 
jjush and stu', and his ideas interested W . T. 
Medill, Will R, Johnston. Dr. Willard A. 
Paul, Fred Flass and others, and the associa- 
tion was organized. They advocated and 
secui-ed, through the good offices of tlie City^ 
Council, the special assessment tax for home 
improvement. 

This organization of business men perform- 
ing the same beneficial work now being 
accomplished by the Rock Island Clul). It 
was mainly through the efforts of the asso- 
ciation and club that the paving of our streets 
was secured, new additions were laid out into 
city lots, sidewalks brought to a high stand- 
ard, factories encouraged, and others secured, 
the force at the Arsenal enlarged, new bridges 
constructed, new railroads promoted, a new 
Federal building secured; all these materially 
increasing the population, and adding stren.gth 
and reputation to the city. 

Rock Island has a strong urban population, 
beautiful homes, cheap fuel, the finest of coal 
at our very door, an abimdance of water 
furnished by a fine combbied system of water 
works, a large water power adjacent to our- 
selves and neighb,oring city, awaiting develop- 
ment, a wealthy farming district surrounding 
us, and a location that capital and labor can 
both appreciate. There are few cities that 
can boast of, and offer more advantages for 
investment, than the City of Rock Island. 
The Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific; the 
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; the Chicago, 
^lilwaukee and St. Paid, and the Davenport, 
Rock Island and Northwestern Railroads 
entering her boiindarie-s — each of the great 
roads supplying every facility for both pass- 
enger and freight traffic. There is also a net 
work of electric surface cars running to Dav- 
enport, Aloline, East Moline. Silvis, Milan, 
Watertown, Rock Island .\rsenal. and a 
score of pleasure resorts, giving her one of 



HISTORIC ROCK 



1 SL. 


IND COUNTY 117 


10th. 




—Ohio. 


nth. 




— Swan. 


12th. 




—Otter. 


13th. 




— Beaver, and Sliort. 


14th. 




— Deer, and Stoddard. 


143^. 




— Cntter. 


15th. 




—Elk. 


16th. 




—Buffalo. 


17th. 




— Eagle. 


18th. 




— Washington. 


19th. 




— Jefferson, and (Ticny. 


20th. 




— Madison. 


21st. 




— Adams. 


22d. 




—Dock. 


23d 




— Broadway. 


24th. 




— Arsenal 


25th. 




— Davenport, and Keoknk. 


26th. 




— Stickney, and Raih'nad. 


27th. 




— Howard Avenue. 


28th. 




— Twenty-eiKhtii. 


29th. 




— Cohimbia, and Twenty-ninth. 


30th. 




—Elm. 


31st. 




— Andre\\-s. 


32d. 




— Kimball, and Tliirty-second. 


3Sth. 




— Robbins, or College Avenue. 


42d. 




— Sylvan, and Walnut. 


43d. 




— Francis. 


45th. 




— Brooks .\ venue. 


1st. 


Ave. 


— Mississippi, Water and Front 
Streets. 


2d. 


Ave. 


— Illinois. 


3d. 


Ave. 


— Orleans. 


4th. 


Ave. 


— Rock River. 


5th. 


Ave. 


— Moline Avenue, His,hland, and 
Canal Streets. 


0th. 


Ave. 


— Commercial, (commerce. Pleas- 
ant, Green, Cable, Cirove, and 
Sherman Streets. 


7tli. 


Ave. 


— Toledo, and Spencer Streets, 
and Second Avenue. 


8th. 


Ave. 


— Barnard, and Harper Streets. 


8K Ave. 


— Clark Street. 


9th. 


Ave. 


— Indian Boundary Street, and 
Prospect Street, and Xinth 
Avenue in Etlgewood Park. 


nth. 


Ave. 


— Atkinson Street. 


9>2 


Ave. 


— Toledo, and Fnion Streets, 



the finest street car systems anywhere. Her 
prosperity is evidenced bj' the parks and 
drives, which excite the admiration of all 
visitors; her substantial and commodious 
schools and colleges, the large number of 
churches of all prominent denominations, 
shops and stores of every kind, and manu- 
factories with millions of capital, giving 
eni])loyment to thousands of men. A plow- 
factor}^ which ranks Avith the best in the 
country, a large stove factory of prominence, 
an immense table oil cloth factory, a brewery 
with 1,500 barrel capacity, soda and mineral 
water factories, candy factories, inunense 
lumber, sash door and blind interests, large 
insurance agencies, good hos])itals, ample 
police and fire protection, the best of hotels, 
has a magnificent inU.)lic library, which is a 
home production. 

EARLY NAMES OF OUK STUKETS. 

In tlie original plat of the town of Stephen- 
son the allej's were named. The main streets 
running east and west, parallel with the 
river, were: ilississippi, Illinois, Orleans, 
Rock River, and Moline Avenue; its continu- 
ations being Highland, and Canal Streets. 
Tiie alley between Mississippi Street and 
Illinois Street was named Cherrj' Alle}-, tlien 
came Molet, Pink and Rose Allej-s; between 
Orleans and Rock River Streets, Peach and 
Phun AUej's; between Illinois and Orleans 
Streets, running north and south, in the 
blocks east and west of the Court House, 
The names are surely not suggestive of some 
of our present allevs. 

Streets and Avenues — old names and new: 



XEW. 


ORIGIXAL. 


1st. 


— Pike, and Pine. 


2d. 


—St. Clair 


3d. 


— Monroe. 


4th. 


—Carroll. 


5th. 


— Huron. 


(ith. 


— Main. 


7ih. 


—Pearl. 


Mil. 


— Ontario. 


(illi. 


— Exchange. 



118 



// 1ST UK I C ROCK ISLAND COUNT Y 



The first brick store in Hock Island was 
built by Lemuel Andrews, and is still in 
existence, just east of the Court House, and 
now occupied by Mrs. Roessler, adjoining the 
old frame house built and occupied by Mr. 
Andrews, and Ions occupied l)y Mrs. Benja- 
min Cobb. This (lid lii'ick luiihliufi was a 
general store, kept by Andrews and Mc- 
Masters. Mr. Andrews later building on the 
site of the present E. P. Reynolds' homestead, 
a good brick residence with a large porch 
around three sides, and facing the slough, 
beside the county i-oad, where the railroad 
tracks now are. 

Mr. Andrews afterward built the large, 
costly mansion known as the Cable residence. 
He also built the first saw and grist mill in 
the lower end of town, in 1841. The first 
boat yard was established by J. C. Holt, in 
1841, succeeded by Bailey and Boyle, about 
where the present Arsenal viaduct bridge is 
located. They h^ter established a large gen- 
eral store in a new brick block, on the present 
site of the i\Iitchell and Lynde block. 

The principal early-time liook store was 
that of H. A. Porter and Brother, in 1849, 
located on the south side of Illinois Street, 
between Buffalo and Eagle Streets. At one 
time their chief clerk was Richard Crampton, 
who arriA-ed here from New York ;\lay 1, 
1854, and e\-er since has been in the book 
business in this city. H. A. Porter and 
Brother went to Chicago in 1858, where they 
e.stablished the Chicago Type Foumlry. Mr. 
Crampton succeeding to their book business, 
later forming a partnershiji with .John G. 
Devoe, who at one time was a proof reader 
for Horace Greeley on the old New York 
Tribune, the firm becoming Devoe and 
Crampton, They started in at the old 
stand, afterwards moving to Frank Warren's 
old store, where Sam \\'right now is, and then 
to the old postoffice building of L. M. Webber, 
on which site Miss Byrnes is now in business. 
Later they moved into a new building erected 
bv Tom Plummer, the old lixci'v man, in the 



center of the same iilock, where his old livery 
stable was, the first story being below the 
street. The building was cpiite a tlistance 
from the siilewalk. ha\-ing a vn-y wide and 
long platform making a carriage way to the 
second story, nearly even with the street. 
Afterwards the firm mo\-ed across the street 
to the Peter Fries Ijuilding, located nearly on 
the site of the old W. H. Whitman residence, 
which .Mr. fries and family at one lime 
occupietl, where Voimg and ilcCombs now 
are. Devoe and Crampton's store was the 
political and newspaper headcpuirters of the 
city, everybody going there after supper for 
the Chicago papers and talk. Those were 
lively, chatty evenings. At one time they 
had a prominent elevated sign in front of the 
store on the outer edge of the sidewalk repre- 
senting a very large wheel, the spokes of 
which advertised their wares, and on the rim 
was the motto by which the establishment 
was long known — "The floral Center of the 
Intellectual World." 

Where Bengston's block is, in the early 
fifties, stood an old two-story long frame 
building, called Doty's Row, built in the 
forties. In 1855 Smith and Lathrop leased 
forty feet of the grounil on the corner foi- 
twenty years, at a yearly rental of four 
hundred dollars and taxes, and tearing down 
the old Doty Row, they built a three-story 
brick block, which they later sold to E. H. 
Smythe. It was called the E. H. Smythe 
block, a covered stairway running up the 
outside of the building, as does the present 
Bengston block, built on this old site in 1875. 
E. H. and H. A. Smythe were old clothiers 
here, having been preceeded by Knox and 
.Company. 

The chief caterers were Mr. an 1 Mrs. 
Butcher, two respected colored people, who 
will be remembered by a great many of the 
(lid timers. At their i-estaniant the best 
supper, game, steaks and chops, could be had, 
none better since their day; game, especially, 
being \('ry plentiful, (inail imuLI be l),)ughl 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



119 



for twenty-five cents per dozen in those days, 
and prairie chickens in comparison. Mrs. 
Butcher often served families at their home 
jiarties. 

The Butchers were located in a good sized 
frame house, back of the old Rock Island 
House toward the rivei-, on old West Eagle 
Street. They had an unusually bright, smart 
son, and there was no better dressed man in 
town than AI. Butcher. Dame Rumor says 
he used to wax the white boys at jioker; no 
names mentioned. He paid a short visit 
here a year ago from Memphis, his home now, 
where he was made provost marshal after the 
War of the Rebellion. 

The nlain provider for the inner man was 
old Fred Ridenbaugh, who conducted the old 
Young America — called the Empire — on 
Market Square, a place where the best men 
in town went for a supper, oyster stew, or 
drink — business men, lawyers and doctors. 
At his demise, according to his desire, the 
funeral was held from the First Presbyterian 
Church, its pastor, Reverend S. T. Wilson, 
officiating. 

One of the very early butcher shops, in 
1852, was that of L. Buttrick, situated in 
Market Square, near the ]iresent drinking 
fountain and hay scales. It was a small, 
one-story frame building, hoards running up 
and down, with a small shed addition in the 
rear, and all whitewashed. 

The first foundry and machine shop was 
established by Webber, Boyd and Company, 
in 1849, on the corner of Illinois and Broad- 
way Streets, succeeded by C. C. Webber and 
Company, and known as the Union Foundry. 
One door east, in 1855, was estat)lished the 
office of Lowry, Thomas and Company, 
proprietors of the Carbon Cliff Coal Mining 
Company. In 1853 N. B. and T. J. Buford 
built a foundry and machine shop on Water 
Street east of Buffalo. Another good old 
foundry man, an expert, was W. H. Thomp- 
son, who in 1856 had the \'ulcan Foundry 
near liroailwav and Moline .AAcnuo, facing 



what is now Twenty-fourth Street. His son, 
David C. Thompson, for the past thirty-six 
3-ears superintendent of the foundry at Rock 
Island Arsenal, became, under the tutelage 
of his father, an adept. W. H. Thompson 
was a great ' ' Bobby Burns " man. and always 
recognized his birthday. He could quote 
Burns galore, and with the genuine Scotch 
idiom. 

John Btdley, an Englishman, in 1S55 kept 
a crockery store on the corner of Buffalo and 
Rock River Streets, and was an importer of 
china, crockery and glassware. The building 
was a long one-story frame building, the 
boards running u]) and down, anil white- 
washed both inside and outside. He was 
commonly s])oken of as the "bully man." 

Lee and Wilmans had another crockery 
store in 1854, in a frame building just east of 
the present Central Presbyterian Church, 
north of the Covn-t House. 

.John Bengston came here in 1862, clerking 
in the drug store of C. H. Fahnestock, in the 
center of the block east of Buffalo Street. 
The store was conducted afterwards by 
Fahnestock and Lewis, and then by Charles 
A. Benser, who ni(i\ed to the corner of Eagle 
and Illinois Streets, the ])resent place of T, H. 
Thomas, where the old corner has had Cook, 
Sargent and Parker's bank, the grocery stores 
of il. S, Herrick, and Charles M. Knox, son 
of .foe Knox, one of our old time lawyers. 
There have also been two drug stores on this 
site. 

■J. K. Bard, in the nii<l(lle sixties, kept a 
grocery store called the "Painted Barrels," 
located under Dart's Hall. The store took 
its name from a prominent ele\'ated sign of a 
barrel painted in \-aried colors. 

In the centre of the block between Six- 
teenth and Seventeenth Streets, in the early 
sixties, used to be a large sized nursery dis- 
play grounds for the Hakes Nursery, which 
was in the rear of Holmes Hakes residence, 
now .Joseph Rosenfield's residence, on Seventh 
Avenue near Eighteenth Street. A two-storv 



120 



II I ST Rl C R C K I S L A N D C U N T Y 



brick building was built there afterwards, 
occupied by W. C. and H. T. W'adsworth as 
a dry goods store: they were succeeded by 
Mitchell and Parsons. Next door west, in 
1854. was the grocery store of Gray Brothers, 
Tom and Jessie. Near where Carse's Block 
now is, a heavy set man. known by the name 
of "Puff and Windy Smith," had a dry goods 
and general store. 

Henry Hcnsman started a stove store and 
tin shop in 1845. in the center of the post- 
office block on Illinois Street, next door to a 
butcher shop kept by .James Copp, senior. 
and his son. George. Mr. Hcnsman some- 
time later moved to the present Buford 
Block, leaving Rock Island for Denver in 
1863. He was succeeded by Hass and Kane, 
and afterwards by Michael Kane, J. B. Dan- 
forth being a silent ])artner. In 1855 George 
Whisler kept a grocery and seed store next 
to Copp's meat market; next door was Eric 
Okerberg. who came to Rock Island in 1851, 
said to be the first watchmaker in Rock 
Island County. 

In 1852 David Bowen and brother kept a 
one-story, good sized frame grocery store on 
the present postoffice corner. 

In 1862 David Don opened a stove store 
and tin shop on Illinois Street just east of the 
present Illinois Theatre. Robert Don, in 
1860, ran a bakery where the Beecher prop- 
erty is. just west of Carse's Hall. The old- 
time baker was Charley Yates, en Illinois 
Street east of Buffalo, and then Jake Aster 
on Market Square. For years Ernest Krell 
was baker, confectioner and caterer; alwavs 
ready to assist the ladies at their church 
socials. W. B. Sargent started a small 
grocery store in 1860 en the corner of Illinois 
and Washington Streets, where the Peoples 
National Bank stands, afterwards having as 
a partner, Harry Williams, then David 
Hawes. After Major C. W. Hawes, his son, 
returned from the Armj', he bought his 
father's interest. The store was a small 
frame building, painted a reddish brown, and 



Sargent and Hawes used to advertise it as 
the ■' Dilapitated Corner." It made way for 
fut\u-e improvements. ^Ir. Sargent and his 
son. Nute. in 1868. bought out the grocery 
store of J. H. Plummer. under the old Rod- 
man House. 

Warnock antl Kelly started the first soap 
factory, prior to 1855. advertising as manu- 
facturers of "candles, variegated soaps, and 
common soaps, and dealers in soda — ash and 
rosin." This mantifactory was near the boat 
yard. 

In December, 1859, Archie and Tom Shaw 
commenced pork packing on the present site 
of James S. Gilmore's packing house, and 
continued until 1870, when they went to 
Chicago, and James S. Gilmore succeeded to 
the business, which he has carried en ever 
since, making a continuous pork packing 
business for over forty-eight years at the 
same place. 

Joseph and Mayer Rosenfield started busi- 
ness in 1856, in hides and leather findings, 
in a one and one-half story building next to 
Gray Brothers' grocerj^ store, on the north 
side of Illinois Street, between Buffalo and 
Eagle Streets, afterwards moving to the 
Iglehart corner, then to the N. B. Buford 
Block, east of Carse's Hall, and afterwards 
to more commodious quarters at 1628 Second 
Avenue. 

SO.ME OLD-TIME MERCHANTS AND C'lTIZEXS I\ 
1855 AND PRIOR. 

H. L. Abbott, "daguemean artist," Illinois 
Street, east of Buffalo. 

Ainsworth and Lynde. "Boston Store," 
dry goods and groceries, corner Water and 
Washington Streets. 

Christopher Atkinson. brickmaker :.n I build- 
er, en Bluff Road near the old grave yard, 
afterwards locating at the present c.irner of 
Seventh Avenue and Thirtieth Street, and 
later en Thirtieth Street between Tenth and 
Eleventh Avenues. 

William K. .\yres. painter, in basement of 
(lid Methodist Church. 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L A X D CO U X T Y 



121 



Hawes and Babcock, David Hawes and 
George M. Babcock, stone quarry and linio 
kiln, south side of Moline Avenue, now Fifth 
Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street. David Hawes 
came here in 1835, returning to Nashville, 
and coming back in 1S37. 

John Barge, school teacher and City Clerk. 

Barnes and Handel, old saw mill, above 
railroad bridge, afterwards the site of the 
second Chicago and Rock Island railroad 
round house, the first round house being 
built on the north side of Illinois Street, at 
the foot of Broadway Street. 

Barrett and Cobb, auction store, Illinois 
and West Eagle Streets. 

.lolm Beierlein, old time coojjer, located on 
the corner of Rock River and Elk Streets. 

William Bell, carpenter and builder, one of 
our foremost citizens, quiet in manner, and 
a most thorough man was " Uncle Billy Bell." 

A. Benedict and Company, shoes, leather 
belting, etc., Illinois Street, west of Buffalo. 

Block and Loewonthal, clothing store. 
south side of Illinois Street, west of Eagle. 

Blythe and Stoddard, wagon and carriage 
makers, corner of Eagle and Orleans Streets, 
the ohl shoji being operated afterwards by 
Thomas Hooper. 

W. T. Riggs, watchmaker and jeweler, 
between Washington and Eagle Streets, 
commenced liusiness in the Spring of 1850. 

J. M. .Moore, in 1847, erected a two-story 
brick building ou the northeast corner of 
Illinois and Jiuft'alo Streets. In 1860 the 
main store was remodeled, another story ]Mit 
on. and a residence erected, adjoining the 
rear of the store, wliich was the first hard- 
ware firm. 

Clasius and Speidel, ilruggists, on the 
corner of IlHnois and East Eagle Streets, in 
the Buford IMock. Dr. Clacius coming here 
in 1858, Mr. Speidel jdined him the following' 
year. They sometime later sold out to (ileim 
and Hinckley. ,Iohn Bcngston buying the 
stock March 15, 1808, building and moving 
to his jiresent quarters in 1875. 



John H. Langley and Company, George W. 
1). Harris being the company, forwarding and 
commission merchants, steamboat agents, 
agricultural implements, cement, fire lirick. 
etc. Water Street west of Madis(ni Street. 
They were successors to E. T. Sawver and 
Company, prior to 1855. 

Peter Fries, wholesale dealer in wines and 
liquors, on the southeast corner of Wash- 
ington and Water Streets, commenced busi- 
ness in 1855, with F. W. Kellerstrass, who 
retired in 1861. TIk^ location was the old 
"Boston Store" of Cornelius Lynde, senior 
and junior. 

Biddison and (lilniore, com])osed of Joseph 
A. Biddison, George E. IJiddison and \A'illiani 
F. Gilmore. Planing Mill and corn mill, on 
the corner of Washington and Rock Rivei- 
Sti-eets; commenced business in 1853. 

Warner Mills, built in 1856, corner of Wasli- 
ington and Highland Streets, was a four- 
stor}' brick building, originally built for a 
barrel factory, but converted into a flouring 
mill, with a cajiacity of two hundred and 
forty barrels of flour a day. The flour mill 
was first run by Baker and Gilmore, then by 
John Warner and L. C. Biu-\vell, afterwards 
by John R. Warner, who later built on .-i 
heavy frame addition for a sash, door and 
blind factory, and ])laning mill, now occu])ied 
by the Rock Island Stair Works. There is 
still in existence on the premises one of the 
first artesian wells drilled in the city, one 
luuidred and fifteen feet deep. 

C. H. Leas and son, T. Silas Leas, built the 
first steam flouring mill, in the Winter of 
1854, on Water Street east of F^xchange, \A'. 
H. Hayes being their head miller. 

William AV. Langdell, blacksmith and 
farmer, Moline Avenue, near Littig's brewerv. 

Reaugh and Camertni, shingle factory near 
the boat yard. 

Hakes and Riggs, watches and jewel;-y, 
Illinois Street, west of Buffalo. 

Jacol) Sailor, saddlery, harness and trunk 
manufactory, Illinois west of Washinglr)n. 



122 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Sargent and Bollman, blacksmiths. Eagle 
Street south of Illinois. 

Amos Stillman, County surveyor. 1855. 

Henry Curtis, junior. City surveyor and 
civil engineer, whose work can still be seen 
on many of the original jilats on file in the 
Court House. 

W. L. Sweeney, wagon maker (1855) and 
Cyrus Churchill, blacksmith (1855), nuist 
have joined forces shortly after, as the old 
firm of Churchill and Sw^eenej- existed for 
years on Eagle Street south of Orleans. 

Whitaker and Everts, dry goods. Illinois 
west of Eagle. 

Uridge Whiffen. ornamental painter, an old 
timer and still on earth, generally known as 
John Whiffen. 

Peter L. Hig. brewerj-, on Moline .\venue 
east of Andrews Street (1855). 

Charles B. Knox, undertaker. Rock Ri\er 
and Madison Streets. 

John Lusk, collector on ferry boat, after- 
wards ran a hack between Rock Island and 
Moline. 

Bill Kale and Charley Fisher, barbers. 

H. A. J. McDonald, carpenter and builder, 
on Rock River Street east of Broadway, was 
the father of our present postmaster. 

A. J. Swanson, boots and shoes, started in 
1856 on the .south side of Illinois Street east 
of Buffalo and next door to Graham's stove 
store, and was afterwards, for many 3-ears, 
near the old Island City Hotel and Harper 
House, 

John Harper and Alexander Steel came 
from Chillicothe, Ohio, to Rock Island in 
1855, and started a hardware store at the 
present location of the Rock Island Savings 
Bank. They continued in business together 
until 1865, when John Harper removed to 
Denver and started in the hardware business 
there. They were succeeded by Harper and 
Company, a firm composed of William Harper, 
a brother of John, and his brother-in-law, J. 
R. McCalister, then of Aledo, Illinois, the 
latter being a silent partner. In 1S57 



William Harper died after a brief illness, 
and ^Ir. McCalister took charge of the busi- 
ness. On September 1, 1869, J. W. Stewart 
moved to Rock Island from Dayton. Ohio, 
and took Mr. Harper's interest, the firm being 
^IcCalister and Stewart. In 1874 Mr. Mc- 
Calister sold his interest to James M. Mont- 
gomery, then of Andalusia, Illinois. The 
firm. Stewart and Montgomery, continued 
until 1892. when J. W. Stewart bought Mr. 
Montgomery's interest and continued the 
business alone until 1905. being then suc- 
ceeded by the present owners, the Rock Island 
Hardware Company. The business has been 
in but two locations since the beginning, 
namely; The Second Avenue and Seven- 
teenth Street corner from 1$55 to 1877, and 
the Dart corner, Second Avenue and Eight- 
teenth Street, from 1877 to the present 
time. 

Quincy McXiel, school teacher in the little 
l)rick school house in Union Square, was one 
who used the rod and was for manj' j-ears a 
strenuous figure around the Court House, 
being at one time Circuit Clerk. 

C. S. Newberry and Brother, jtainters. Eagle 
and Water Streets. 

Jacob Norris, furniture <lealer, corner of 
Illinois and Elk Streets, was a well known 
character and politician. 

Childs and Baker, dry goods, crockery, etc., 
Illinois Street, east of Buffalo. 

Elton C. Cropper, builder and carpenter. 
East Eagle, north of Illinois; afterwards 
Police Magistrate. 

David L. Cunkle, millstone manufacturer, 
and dealer in flour mill supplies, Illinois 
Street, west of Jefferson. 

Fisk and Lee, brokers and insurance agents. 
East Eagle Street, north of Illinois. 

Tim Babcock, wholesale grocer, near Arf/ux 
office. 

W. Hurst, fruit and confectionery. Illinois 
Street, east of Buffalo. 

Charles Jeanneret, watchmaker and jeweler. 
Illinois Street, west of Washington, 



HISTORIC ROCK 1 S L A X D CO V N T Y 



123 



George D. Bromley, dry goods, jewelry, 
etc., Illinois .Street, west of Buffalo. 

N. B. Buford Block, the red brick building 
near the northwest corner of Illinois and 
Buffalo Streets. 

Bulkier and Pleasant 's Ciothic Block, north 
side of Illinois Street, between East Eagle 
and Washington Streets. 

Physicians: Patrick Gregg; Brackett anil 
Bulkley: Judd and Rathbun, eclectic; W. F. 
Cady: Calvin Truesdale; S. G. Plummer; 
William A. Knox. 

In 1858 Henry Tremann and Augustus 
Tremann opened a butcher shop oft the 
north side of Illinois Street, between Elk 
and Buffalo Streets. 

In 1855 Frederick Kramer, carpenter, 
.Moline Avenue, east of Andrew.s Street. 

1833. Reverend Asa McMurt}- was the 
first clergyman, and that year, or the j'ear 
following, organized a Methodist Episcopal 
Church. * 

1834. Charles H. and L. L. Case built the 
first house in Stephenson on the corner of 
Water and Beaver Streets. The building was 
used as a Court House luitil 1837, when the 
first Court House was built in Court House 
Square, being the first brick building in town. 
The first hotel in Stephenson was opened by 
Walter Phillips on Orleans Street, opposite 
the Coiu't House. 

1835. This Spring the town was surveyed 
by Charles Bennett, w-ho was the first sur- 
\eyor. J. H. Coon was the first brick maker 
and brick laj-er. 

1836. James Copp opened the first butcher 
stall, also packed the first pork. William 
Lathrop was the first wagon maker. Israel 
Showdy the first blacksmith. Morgan Fer- 
guson the first painter. Adam Y. Smith the 
first lawyer. Doctor P. Gregg opened an 
office, and kept drugs and medicines for sale. 
The first school house was erected on the 
corner of Orleans and Otter Streets. 

1837. First .ipwciry store opened liy R. H. 
Kinney. The first dentist was .1. H. Hranch, 



who had an office in the Rock Island House. 

1838. Jacob Sailor was the first harness 
maker and saddler, and John Thompson the 
first cooper. 

1839. The first stove store, tin and sheet 
iron factory opened by Lee and Chamberlin. 
Marcus B. Osborn was the first land agent. 

1840. Joseph Johnson, the first chair- 
maker. 

1841. Name of Stephenson, changed to 
Rock Island. 

1S43. B. F. Barrett opened the first 
lumber yard. 

1845. The first forwarding and commis- 
sion house opened by Henry Powars. 

1846. First livery stable by Josejih H. 
Jiarnett. 

1849. First telegraph office o)iened, con- 
necting with eastern lines \ia St. I.duis: 
Chicago communication was oi)eued in l.Soo. 

1850. First skylight daugerrean gallery 
by Erastus Downey. A. Benedict and Com- 
pany opened an extensive store of boots and 
shoes, leather belting, saddlery, hardware, 
and carriage trimmings, French and American 
calf skins, shoe thread, lasts, boot trees, awls 
and tacks. N, B. Buford and M. B. Clark 
l)eing the Conspany, location Illinois, west of 
Buffalo Street. 

1851. The Collegiate Institute and Female 
Seminary. The four-story brick liuilding in 
rear of the Rock Island Club house, and 
facing Third Avenue, was built and opened 
in 1852, by Reverend J. W. Dennison as 
principal. 

Rock Island Cias, Light and Coke Company, 
the first gas company in the city, was organ- 
ized June 24, 1854, and has been iii successful 
operation since January 1, 1855. The original 
stock was $100,000: Jacob Riley coming from 
Pittsburgh to install the plant. During 1854 
the company laid one and a iialf miles of 
street mains, had over one hiuidred private 
consumers, and thirty public lamps. Tl ey 
contemplated laying pipes to Moline duiin'j.- 
1855, Imt the extension was not made until 



124 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



1888. Benjamin Harper was prdjirietor for 
some time, later selling out to Sylvester 
Watts of St. Louis. W. H. Judge was the 
superintendent uj) to 1 892, when the property 
was sold to the Jirush Electric Light Com- 
pany, and in 1893 transferred to the Peoples 
Power Company, who at the present time 
have fort^v-fi^^e to fifty miles of street mains. 
The Rock Island County Agricultural 
Society, situated in the town of Rock Island 
for a number of years, on the old Camden 
road north of Cooperstown, was organized in 
1853, holding fairs in October of each year. 
At its first fair .S1.5().9.5 was distributed in 
premiums. 

1854. February 22d the Chicago and Rock 
Island Raih'oad being completed, the first 
train arrived. A big celebration was given, 
and an excursion of six steamboats carried 
the railroad officials and notetl visitors to St. 
Paul. 

1855. The Methodist portion of Church 
Sqmire was purchased by the City and the 
name changed to Union Square, and enclosed 
with a neat, fence. The first exclusive hat 
and cap store opened by Cook and Spangler. 
First exclusive music store started hy .1. T. 
Croft. First regular millinery and fancy (h-y 
goods store by Strickland and Judd. 

In 1855 there were four hundred and tliirty- 
four business places in Rock Island, including 
professional men. 

In October, 1839, was i)ublished the first 
local directory, only mentioning town officers, 
hotels, professional men and merchants. 

Pliysicians and Druggists: Haviland and 
Gregory, P. Gregg, J-. R. Hadsell (botanic), 
Silas Reod. H. Reardsley. 

Lawyers: .). Wilson Urur}- (ofiice in Shop 
of Dr. Gregg). .1. H. Wells, H. G. ReynoMs. 

Tinners: Lee and (^hamberlin. 

Shoemakers: I'^lihu Turner, John Motzgar. 

Bricklaj^ers and Plasterers: \\'. H. Sage, 
J. M. Bellows. 

Coopers: John 'l"hom]ison. .1. Millcnan. 

Drayman: .lohii Thompson. 



Butchers: James Copp, Robert Dunlap 
and Company. 

Watchmaker: R. H. Kinney. 

Blaci<sniiths: Hibliard Moore, J. Shonde. 

Saddlers and Harnessmakers: Jacob Sailor, 
J. .M. Frizzell. 

STAGE A.\U HACK ROUTES IX 1855. 

Rock Island and Moline Hacks run as fol- 
lows: Leave Rock Island at S. 9:30 and 11 
o'clock A. M.. and at 1. 2:30 and 5 o'clock 
P. M.; leave :Moline at 7:15, 9:15 and 11 
o'clock A. M., and 1, 3 and 4 o'clock P. M. 
Packages of less than one hundred and fifty 
pounds weight carrietl carefully and delivered 
jiromptly. 

Camden and Rock Island Hack leives 
Camden at 8 o'clock A. M. and 2 o'clock P. M. ; 
leaves Rock Island at 11 o'clock A. M. and 
6 o'clock P. :\I. 

Stages for Galena and Dixon, via Port 
Byron, leave the Rock Island House every 
Ti'iesday, Thursday and Saturday morning 
at 7:30 o'clock. For [Macomb at the same 
time and place. For Knoxville, every Tues- 
day and Saturday morning as above. 

ROCK ISLAND POSTOFFICE. 

The first jiostoffice in this comity was 
established in connection with old Fort 
Armstrong, April 23, 1825, Colonel George 
DaA-enport being the first postmaster. Owing 
to the fact that there was no one to administer 
the obligations of the position Mr. Davenport 
served a number of years without taking an 
oath. April 4. 1834, the first postoffice was 
established upon the mainland and Josejjh 
Conway was made the' first postmaster. The 
office was first located at Farnhamsburg, but 
when Stephenson became the country seat it 
was removed to somewhere in the neighbor- 
hood of what is now Seventeenth Street. In 
1843. when Colonel John Buford was post- 
master, the office was located between Six- 
teenth and Seventeenth Streets on First 
.\ venue. In 1849 it was removed to Second 
Avenue between Seventeenth and Eighteenth 



HISTORIC ROCK I S L A X D C U N T Y 



125 



Streets. In 1853 Bailey ;ind Hdvle's build, 
ing, in the rear of where Mitchell ;inil I.ynde's 
building now stands, was occupied. Tliree 
years later another remoA-al to the south side 
of Second Avenue, No. 1704, between Seven- 
teenth and Eighteenth Streets, was made, but 
in 1S61 Bailey and Boyle's building was again 
occupied, the office remaining there till the 
removal to the present quarters in tiie federal 
building in December, 1896. 

The different postmasters since the estab- 
lishing of the office with the term during 
which they served are as follows: 

Joseph Conway, 1834-1836; :Miles W. Con- 
way, 1836-1840: Jo.seph B. Wells. 1840-1841; 
Colonel John Bnford, 1841-1847: Harmon G. 
lieynolds. 1847-1849; Elbridge R. liean, 1849- 
18.33; James Kelly, 1853-1855; William Friz- 
zpll. 1855-1856; Lewis M. Webber, 1856-1858; 
Hernian Field, 1858-1861 ; Doctor Calvin 
Truesdale, 1861-1865; John B. Hawley, 1865- 
1866; Captain James F. Copp, 1866-1867; 
Marcns B. Osborn, 1867-1871; Captain J,. :\I. 
Ilaverstick, 1871-1873: William Jackson. 1.S7.3- 
1876: Thomas Murdock, 1876-1880; .Major J. 
M. Beardsley, 1880-1884; Major Charles W. 
Hawes, 1884-1888; Angu.st Hnesing, 1888- 
1889; Howard Wells, 1889-1893; J. W, Potter. 
1893-1897; T. H. Thomas. 1897-1906; Hugh 
A. J. McDonald, 1906. 

As one of the best indications of the manner 
in which the city has grown, the receipts of 
the pDstoffice at different periods during the 
])ast twenty-three years are given : 

1884 $15,441.84 1900 .'$69,2.50.91 

1885 ___._, 18,829.63 1901 .__ _. 77.881.96 

1889 23,560.38 1902 75,429.97 

1892 29,749.63 1903..- 74,108.17 

1896 30,721.84 1904 78,660.29 

1897 .. 34,495.95 1905 87.983.22 

1898 43,205.80 1906 88.375.64 

1899 57.440.11 1907 96,734.67 

The free delivery system was inaugurated 
in 1888 with five carriers. The money order 
dejiartment does an unusually large amount 
of l>usiness for a citv the size of I\ock Ishiiid. 



Twenty-nine mails are received and thirty- 
two dispatched daily. There arc now being 
received daily an average of over 12,000 
pieces of first class and 7,000 pieces of other 
mail. ■ The present office force consists of 
nineteen clerks, one au.xiliary clerk, eighteen 
carriers, three substitute carriers, one nn-al 
carrier, and one special delivery messenger. 
Ten jwstal stations are also located through- 
out the city. 

The office has been of tlie first class since 
1898. 

Paid money orders in 1907 were 105.469, 
amounting to .SI ,612,671.17. 

ROCK ISLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT. 

In the early days of Rock Island the police 
force was small, being in ])roportion to the 
needs of the city in this respect. As the 
)X)pulation increased the number of guardians 
of the property and peace of the citizens was 
gradually increased, mainly by the addition 
of night men. For many years the mar.shal 
was the only day man on ordinary occasions. 
He staid aliout the city (jffices and if anything 
came up demanding his services he went out 
alone and disposed of the business. About 
thirty years ago the first attempt was made 
to ])rescribe uniforms for the members of the 
force, but each man was allowed considerable 
latitude in the matter, with the result that 
there was a wide variety in the makeups. It 
is only during the last fifteen years that the 
officers have been uuifoi'med witli any degree 
of precision in the details of dress. 

The force now emploj-ed consists of; 
Chief <if police, two desk sergeants, two plain 
clothes men, a police matron, sixteen patrol- 
men, and the following apparatus; One rub- 
l)er tire anil.)ulance, one patrol wagon, one 
chief's buggy. 

ROCK ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The old ' ' Bucket Brigade " was followed by 
(lie i-egular A'olunteer I'ire Department, which 
^\■as (H-ganized in 1856. .■ind ;i i,,-ind engine 



126 



IIISTOinC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



imrchased, and named " \\'(-.sterii No. 1." 
Tli.e onginc \\ hen recei\ed was housed in a 
new two-story brick huildinK on the nortli- 
west corner of Court House Square. Frazer 
Wilson was elected ])resident, and (ieorge E. 
Biddison foreman. The company was limited 
to seventy-five members. 

Later another company was formed and 
took the name of "Aquarius No. 2" — motto 
"Water Hearer." The comjiany having a 
membership of si.\ty-five, with George L. 
Carlton as foreman. The second comjiany 
organized was the "Rescue No. 2." in 1.S.5S, 
and a doul)le-decker hand engine purchased, 
named "Rescue No. 2," and stationed in a 
new engine house on Jefferson Street, l)etween 
Orleans and Rock River Streets, afterwards 
Walter Dauber'.s old blacksmith shop. 

The old primitive ladder wagon was a 
rough convenience, the ladders likewise: the 
sides being of good sized gin poles, sawed 
lengthwise in the center, and heavy enough 
to take eight or ten men to raise them. The 
first modern Hook iuid Ladder Truck was 
purchased in 1S74; named the "Reveille," 
and housed in the Western No. 1 engine house. 
The Wide Awake Hose Company was exjjected 
to run this truck, but arrangements were 
made for quick word to a livery stable for 
a s])an of horses, often running their street 
hack on the .juni]) tf) furnish the horses. 

The first steam fii-e engine was purchased 
in LS69 and named the William Eggleston, 
and housed in W^estern No. 1 house. The 
second fire engine was the Reserve No. 2, 
piu'chased in 1S71. and hoiised in Rescue No. 
2 iuind engine house. 

In 1876 the department consisted of fi\e 
hose companies, one hook and ladder truck, 
and one steam engine held in reserve, and one 
hose carriage. The hose companies were the 
Phoenix No. 1, Wide Awake No. 2, Hope 
Hose No. 3, Rescue No. 4, Neptune No. 5. 
The old volunteer chiefs have been George 
Carlton, Elton C. Cropper, William Kale, 
S. Ji. Stoddard, A. Roswog, ('. 15. Kno.x, 



.lacob Udllcnhaupt . Thomas Yates, Patrick 
Kennedy, Thomas HoUman, in IS76. Harry 
Hall assistant chief, and .laines Johnston. 

Sei>tember 2. 1X01. the j)aid Fire Depart- 
ment of the City of Rock Island was organ- 
ized. Honorable William McConochie, mayor 
Daniel Corken. B. F. Knox and Winslow P. 
Tindall fire and light committee. William 
Ramskill was appointed chief, and Bernard- 
Hrahm assistant chief. The department at 
that time consisted of eight men, including 
officers. The apparatus included one two- 
liorse hose wagon, and one two-horse ladder 
truck, that was formerly used l)v the Volun- 
teer Fire Department. On March 8, 1892, 
the department was increased by three men, 
making tlie total number eleven men. On 
May 26, 1S94, two sub-stations were installed; 
No. 2 hose com])any located on Eighth Street, 
in the building formerly occupied by the 
Phoenix hose company; and No. 3 hose com- 
pany located on Twenty-sixth Street; these 
hose comjjanies consisted of three men each 
and one two-horse hose wagon. At this time 
T. J. Medill was mayor, and appointed Bern- 
ard Brahm chief of the department, and J. D. 
Collier assistant chief. In 1895, as mavor, 
11 F. Knox a|)pointed James Johnston as 
chief and .1. 1). Collier as assistant chief. 
Mr. Johnston had served the old volunteers 
as their chief with honor and credit to him- 
self and the city. In May, 1897, T. J. Medill 
being again elected mayor, J. D. Collier was 
apjiointed chief, and Peter Frey assistant 
chief. 

In 1899 Charles Hastings was ajjpointed 
chief under Mayor McConochie's administra- 
tion, aiul Peter Frey assistant. Mr. Hastings 
served as chief without interruption frf)m 
1899 until June 1, 190.5, when he resigned. 
Mr. Fred L. Tul)l)s was appointed chief 
September 9, 1905, and served until the 
Spring of 1907. when Mr. Hastings was again 
appointed chief, and Peter Frey assistant 
chief; and both are the present incumbents. 
The recognition of both Mr. Hastings and 



HISTORIC liO C K 1 S L A X I) COUNTY 



127 



^[r. Frey bespeak their merit and efficiency. 
Mr. Frey has been in continual service as 
assistant chief since May .5. 1S97. As one of 
the new chiefs says, "a kind word of praise 
for the volunteer firemen of liygone days 
should not be amiss; too much praise or credit 
can not be given these men who in the faith- 
ful, voluntary discharge of their tluty often 
endangered their lives and health, while 
responding to alarms of fire; often contracting 
serious illness and jjermanent disability; 
never receiving one cent of compensation for 
their services; these heroes of tlie other days 
deserve the same credit as the volunteer 
solider. but the public as usual in such cases 
withholds the reward that is due." 

At the present time the department force 
consists of nineteen men; eighteen men being 
paid full time, and one man acting as substi- 
tute when men are laying off through sick- 
ness or injuries, or on their annual fvndough. 

The apparatus of the department consists 
of three two-horse hose wagons, one two-horse 
h(Hik and ladder truck, and one chief's buggy. 

The truck and chief's buggy ai'c new; the 
new truck replacing the old Jiabcock truck 
which had been in service for thirtA'-one years. 

THE WATERWORKS SYSTIIM, 

August 14. ISTI. the city council passed an 
ordinance authorizing the location of a pump- 
ing station near the Rock Island Flow factory. 
at the west end of the city and the installing 
of \\ater mains along the business streets, 
l)onds to the amount gf $75,000 being issued 
to meet the cost. In a few years there began 
to he complaints that the water was bad, 
especially after a system of sewers had lieen 
built in 1878. The city was divided into two 
sewer districts, with Seventeenth Street as 
the dividing line, and the waste of the lower 
district in particular a])pears to have affected 
the water supply. In l.SSl the ])resent 
pumping station at the foot of Twenty-fourth 
Street was Iniilt, F, L. Cable contriliutiiig 
.|'2.").t)(l() toward its construction. .\ t\\(Mit\-- 



inch iidet pipe, 2,200 feet in length was laid 
to the channel at the north end of the (Jovern- 
ment bridge, and two Holly |)umps were 
installed, having a capacity of :{,()()0,()()() 
gallons a day. 

At the end of ten years the consumption 
of water in the city became so great that 
these facilities were inadecpuite. A Gaskcll 
pump with a capacity of ,5,000,000 gallons 
daily was installed and a thirty-incli inlet 
pipe was laid beside the old twenty-inch one 
to the channel of the river. At this time 
there was no way in which the water supply 
could be filtered and at times it was rendered 
unfit for most uses by the sediment caused 
by floods. A mechanical filter was donated 
by Honorable Jien T. Cable as a memorial to 
that gentleman's father. F. I,. Cable, and 
considerable im])rovement in the w.ater su]iply 
was noted. 

The bluffs above the city affording such 
e.xceptional advantages for the location of 
gravity filters and reservoirs, a strong senti- 
ment in favor of such an improvement 
developed and in 1897 the tract of land now 
known as Reservoir Fark was purchased from 
a syndicate of Rock Island ca[)italists for the 
sum of $27,600, and the following year the 
e.xcavation for six basins was begun. The 
system was adopted in response to the pains- 
taking efforts of the then mayor. T. ,1. Medill. 
In 1899 the work was done, but imperfections 
in the workmanship brought about through 
bhmders on the jjart of the engineer in charge, 
developed, and it became necessary to do a 
great part of the lining of the basins over 
again. The system is now in perfect working 
order. Its operating capacity is 3.000,000 
gallons daily, wliich is barely sufficient to 
supply the city's needs in ordinary times. 
There are two settling basins, three sand 
filters and a large clear water basin, the latter 
having a capacity of 5,500,000 gallons. The 
water is pumped direct from the ri\-ei- to the 
settling basins and after filtration it i-etiu-ns 
to the nuiius through the action of gravity 



12S 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



which gives sullicieiit pressure for ordinary 
jiiirposes. 

For fire protection and to furnish the bhiff 
district with water, a stand pipe lias been 
erected on Thirtieth Street and last year an 
electric puni|)ing station with a capacity of 
l.oOO.UOU gallons daily was placed near the 
reservoir. 

The total cost of the system to date 
(August. 1908) has been 8260,000. There 
are now 4.400 private consumers, and two 
hundred and fifty fire hydrants, against one 
hundred and sixty fire hydrants six years ago. 
The average daily water consumption is 
3.000.000 gallons, and daily operating capac- 
ity 16.000.000 gallons. There are about 
forty-five miles of water mains. A new 
pump was installed at the pumping house in 
February, 1907, at a cost of §25.000, which 
with the addition to the building made a 
total expenditure of S40,000. 

ROCK ISLAND PUBLIC PARKS. 

The parks of Rock Island consist of three 
public squares, and a tract containing about 
forty acres within the corporate limits, known 
as Long A'iew Park. The small parks are 
known respectively as Spencer Square, Ciarn- 
sey Square and Court House Square, 

Spencer Square is situated in what is known 
as Spencer and Case's Addition, this Addition 
was laid out in 1836 by John W. Spencer and 
Jonah Case. What is now known as Spencer 
Square was not laid out in lots, but in the 
first instance was occupied in part for school 
piu-poses. from April. 1846. to about 1850. 
The little old one-story brick school house 
being in the center of the square, the north- 
west part by the Fir.st Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and the southwest part by the 
Baptist Church, It ceased to be occupied 
for school purposes about the year 1850, by 
the Baptists about 1846, and in the year 
1855 the City of Rock Island bought out the 
claim of the Methodist Church. After the 
year 1855 it was not occupied for either 



church or school purposes. It was fenced in 
by the City, a large Liberty Pole erected, and 
trees planted; the fence was removed about 
the year 1870, since which time it has been 
in actual use by the public. 

Previous to the year 18S0. occasionally 
during periods of high water in the Missis- 
sippi River, Spencer Square, then known as 
Union Square, was flooded. This continued 
until the grade of Second Avenue was raised. 
This prevented any further flood on the 
Square. Previous to 1889 there existed in 
the City a society known as the Citizens 
Improvement A.ssociation. This association 
was organized for the purpose of advancing 
the imi)rovement of the City in matters 
material. 

The first objects of improvement advocated 
by the association was the paving of the 
streets and the filling up to grade of Spencer 
Square; the Square before that time was in 
a very rough condition. At one time a 
quarry was opened in the Square by the City, 
very much to the disgust of ilr. Ren Harper, 
who in 1870 built what is now known as the 
Harper House, situated on the west side of 
the Square. For the purpose of further 
improvement the Cit}- Council appointed the 
office of park commissioner without salary, 
to which office flavor William McConochie 
appointed William Jackson, a lawyer of the 
City. Immediately after his appointment 
^Ir. Jackson laid out the Sqiuire with cross 
and interior walks, then called upon the citi- 
zens for donations of statuary, vases, arches 
and other ornaments, the principal orna- 
ment was a fountain donated by Honorable 
Ben T, Cable and IMrs, Lucy Castleman, 

In 1892 a granite statute of the Indian 
Chief, Black Hawk, was presented by Otis 
J. Dimick, of Chicago, who for many years 
was a resident of Rock Island, ^lany citizens 
contributed to the ornamentation, costing 
altogether about S6,500. When completed 
the Square was conceded to be one of the 
handsomest in the northwest, the pride of the 



HISTORIC ROCK 1 SL A \ D CO U N T Y 



129 



citizens of Rock Island. Judge Spencer, 
after whom the Square is named, came to 
Hock Island about the year 1828, and resided 
here until his death-in 1878. He was a kind, 
Christian gentleman, held in high regard by 
all the people. The Square was named after 
him in 1885. 

About the year 1871 the heirs of Jonah 
Case endeavored to recover from the City 
an undivided half of the Square, claiming 
that the purposes of the dedication of the 
Square by the proprietors had been abandoned 
by the City and others, and that the Jonah 
Case half of the Square belonged to his heirs. 
Judge Spencer supported the City's claim. 
A suit was brought in the United States Court 
in Chicago by the Jonah Case heirs to recover 
the land, but the court sustained the posses- 
sion and right of the City. Since tliat time 
no attempt has been made to disturb the 
City in the possession of the Square as a 
public park. 

The Coiu't House Square was dedicated for 
County purposes by the County Commission- 
ers, who laid out the town of Stephenson in 
1835. Afterwards, in 1841, it was named the 
town of Rock Island, The Square was named 
Stephenson Square after one Colonel Benja- 
min Stephenson. On this Square is located 
the Court House and jail, the first Court 
House was built in 1837, the first jail in 1836. 
The present jail was built in 1857, the present 
Court House in 1895. It is never spoken of 
as Stephenson Square, always Court Hotise 
Square. 

Garnsey Square is located at the west end 
of the City, it is located in what is known as 
the Chicago or lower Addition, and was 
fir.st called Franklin Sqviare. It is named 
after Daniel G. Garnsey, who was one of the 
proprietors of the Addition. The Square was 
underlaid by a gravel deposit, a few trees 
were grown upon it, but the nature of the soil 
was not favorable to trees and vegetation. 

.•\bout the year 1881 the City Council 
induced by the popularity of the imi)ro\-c- 



ment of Spencer Square, resolved to improve 
Garnsey Square. With that end in view the}' 
hauled away the gravel underlying the Square 
and filled it u]) with clay; after that was done 
the Square was graded, trees were planted, 
also impro^■ed by walks and cross walks, a 
fountain, the gift of Weyerhaeuser and Denk- 
mann, was placed in the center, and improved 
and ornamented in other respects b_v gifts 
from citizens. Tlie Sq\uu'e is now a beautiful 
public resort. 

Long Mew Park contains about thirty-nine 
acres. It is bounded by Eighteenth and 
Twelfth Avenues, Seventeenth and Fifteenth 
Streets. The land was donated to the City 
for park purposes by Frederick Weyerhaeuser, 
Morris Rosenfield, Charles H. Deere and 
Captain T. J. Rol^inson 

The deed conveying the land, made by 
Rudolf Weyerhaeuser, who was trustee for 
the donors, is dated August 30, 1897, and 
contains a provision forbidding the sale, 
barter, gift or use of intoxicating liquors on 
the land. 

About 1902 ilr. Chris Gaetjer was appointed 
superintendent of the park without salary, 
but on account of the meager annual appro- 
priations made by the City Council little was 
done by way of improvement except the 
cleaning up of the land and the trimming of 
the trees. 

In 1905 the Honorable George W. McCask- 
rin, then ma3'or of the City, for the purpose 
of securing the permanent improvement of 
Long View Park, appointed a Board of Park 
commissioners, consisting of William Jackson, 
Fred C. Denkmann, William H. Dart, Otto 
Huber and Ed B. McKown. These gentle- 
men afterwards formulated a plan which was 
concurred in by the City Council, bj' which 
the City agreed to appropriate for two years 
the annual sum of $6,250, provided the 
citizens would subscribe a like stun. 

The work of obtaining subscriptions from the 
citizens was begun by the members of the board 
ill which they were assisted by Superintendent 



130 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Gaetjer. Tlie cffoii was successful. By 
the month of May. 1!)()(). the citizens' 
siibscriiition anKnuited to over .|13,OU0; there- 
upon the work of ])ermanent improvement 
was befiun. The phiii of iinjirovement con- 
sisted of hiving out macadamizing and drain- 
ing a road and l)rancli road through the park; 
excavating for two hikes on which beautiful 
swans and water fowl could disport, and be 
viewed with pleasure by visitors; the improve- 
ments also including a model public building. 
Cement walks, a waterfall, a lirooklet con- 
necting the lakes, a splendid pavilion over- 
looking the Cities of Rock Island and Daven- 
port, a rustic bridge and series of dams on 
the line of the lakes and connecting brooklet. 
A beautiful memorial fountain, the gift of 
Misses Naomi and Catherine Davenport, of 
Davenport, Iowa, in memory of their uncle, 
the Honorable Bailey Davenport, deceased, 
several times mayor of Hock Island. ^lany 
other valuable imjirovcments were made, all 
of which are highly ap]ireciated by the citizens 
of Rock Island, as evidenced by the numbers 
that visit the park daily. On the west side 
of the park is a children's ]ilay ground, with 
swings, slides and other fixtures for their 
amusement, the gift of Mrs. Anna Davis. 
From the varied character of the land com- 
posing Long Mew Park, with its beautiful 
plateaus, mounds, slopes, with the improve- 
ments nuide it is no exaggeration to say that 
when completed it will favorably com]3are 
with any ]iark on the Mississipjii River; the 
ease l)y which it can be reached by the people 
will make it always a center wliere the people 
can enjoy its restful and beautiful surround- 
ings. 

ROCK ISI.AXI) IMHI.IC SCHOOLS, 

The citizens of Rock Island at an early day 
evinced a great interest in education. Prior 
to 1857, the schools of Hock Island existed 
under the sub-district form of organization. 
At this time, however, the attendance liecame 
so large and the schools were growing so 



lapidly that a different organization became 
nece.ssary in order that the pupils of the 
district might enjoy better facilities for secur- 
ing a common school education. Through a 
united effort a law was enacted to incorporate 
the "Rock Island School District," and a 
charter obtained February 18, 1857. for the 
establishment of the present school system. 
This charter which was thus created for the 
government of the Rock Island schools, has 
been in force for over fifty years, and under 
its wise provisions the schools have been 
efficient in jjroviding excellent facilities for 
obtaining a good, common and high school 
education. 

The first board of education consisted of 
AV. L, Sweeney, George Mixter, Jacob Sailor, 
Elton C. Cropper, and David Hawes, Of 
this board Messrs. Cropper, Sailor and Haw-es 
served two years, George Mixter and AV. L. 
Sweeney six years. Of the forty-eight ])er- 
sons who have served on the board since 1857, 
J. M. Ruford served twelve years; S. AV. Mc- 
Master, eleven years; ]\[. D. Alerrill. thirteen 
years; F. M. Sinuett, ten years: and Mylo 
Lee, nine years. 

Among those who have rendered excellent 
service in Iniildiug up, from a snuill beginning, 
the excellent system, were William Bailey, 
Charles Buford. George Mixter, E. C. Cro]Ji)er. 
John Barge. A. F. Cutter, M. I). Merrill. 
Edward Burrall. and W. S. Knowlton. who 
have ]3assed to their eternal home. They 
are. howe\er, kindly remembered by thcni- 
sands who ha\-e enjoyed the educaticuial 
advantages they were so largely instrumental 
in providing. 

The first sujierintendent ]ilaced in charge 
of the schools, as organized under the charter, 
was B. M. Re\nolds, who served from lSo7 
to 1862. During the jiast forty years, the 
schools have had ten superintendents, whose 
names and terms of service are as follows: 

B. M. Reynolds, 1857-1862; A. M. Gow. 
186'2-1868; James M. Gow. 1868-1869: \\'. A. 
Bemis, 1869-1S71: J. V. Gowdv. 1S71-IS72: 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



131 



J. F. Everett, 1S72-1881; S. S. Kemble, 1881- 
1895; James A. Ament, 1895-1896; R. C. 
Young, 1896-1900; H. B. Hayden, 1900, luvl 
at present, 1908, our good superintendent 
and director. 

It will be observed that S. 8. Kemble. who 
is largel}' responsible for the system of schools 
which has been built up in the city, has had 
the longest term of service, having held the 
position of superintendent for fourteen consec- 
utive years. Superintendent Kemble did a 
grand work in our city during the long term 
he had charge of the schools; and, though he 
is today far away in his western home, he 
holds a warm place in the affections of our 
citizens, both young and old. 

The schools of the city are as follows: 

High School, Twenty-first Street and Sixth 
Avenue. H. E. Brown, principal; Cora L. 
Eastman, assistant principal. 

Hawthorne School, Eighth Street and Third 
Avenue. L. C. Daugherty, principal; ^lary 

E. Entrikin, assistant principal. 
Washington School, Thirteenth Street and 

Third Avenue. Emily Freeman, principal. 

Kemble School, Nineteenth Street and 
Fifth Avenue, .^dda Ellen Muse, principal. 

Lincoln School, Twenty-second Street and 
Seventh Avenue. Mary Piatt principal. 

School for Deaf Children, in Lincoln School 
building. 

Eugene Field School, Twenty-ninth Street 
and Seventh Avenue. Sarah Johnston prin- 
cipal. 

Irving School, Twelfth Street and Ninth 
Avenue. Leonora Witherspoon principal. 

Longfellow School, Forty-second Street and 
Seventh Avenue. Ida W. Lundy, principal. 

Horace Mann School, Thirty-seventh Street 
and Fourteenth Avenue. Mary L. Carter, 
principal. 

Grant School, Seventh Street and Eleventh 
Avenue. Dora E. Newton, principal. 

Board of Education of 1907 and 1908: C 
H. Seidel, W. B. Mclntyre, Hamlin H. Hidl, 

F. C. Denkmann, Doctor J. W. Stewart. 



Our district should congratulate itself upon 
the exceptional facilities that have been pro- 
^•ided for the education of its young people. 
Few cities have their school Ijuildings more 
wisely distrifnited, more substantial in struc- 
ture, and graceful in architecture, or more 
completely and comfortably furnished. 

In the year 1856 there was set on foot a 
]ilan to erect a High School building. A lot 
was imrchased for .16.000 and a building 
erected for $30,000. When nearly finished, 
on the night of July 4, 1858, it was fired, and 
the interior entirely destroyed. It was re- 
built and occupied in 1859. The second 
High School was burned February 15, 1901; 
after which the classes were conducted in the 
Broadway Presbyterian Church Sunday School 
rooms. The present High School was erected 
in 1901, at a cost of $125,000. Mr. Frederick 
F. Borgolte was the architect, and John Volk 
and Company the contractors. 

The original contract was $85,985; extras 
and additions making the total $125,000. 

The contract was let June 4, 1901, and the 
building opened for occupancy September 6 
of the same year. While the chief object of 
the High School is the preparation of pupils 
for life, rather than for college; several 
University prejniratory courses are offered. 
Graduates of this school who have completed 
any of these courses are eirtitled to a Uni- 
versity certificate which will admit them to 
any (jf the leading colleges and universities. 

COLLEGES. 

AUGUSTAXA COLLEGE. 

Augustana College and Theological Seminary 
was founded in 1860, making it one of the 
older educational institutions of the State. 

At a meeting held in Chicago, April 27, 
1860, the founders of the Augustana Synod 
(feeling the urgent need of teachers, preachers 
and citizens prepared to take the lead in 
religious and intellectual work) decided to 
erect an institution where young men could 
be prepared for the great work of life. This 



132 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



ilatc has liceii jienerally ohserx'ed e\er since 
as ■■Founders Day" by the churches (if the 
synod; the income from ail tliese celebrations 
to be fiiven to a permanent fund for an 
Aufiustana professorship. 

Durinj; the first three years of its existence 
(1S(3()-1S68) Angustana was located at Chicago 
Professor L. P. Esbjorn Ijeing president. 
Througli inducements from Paxton, Ford 
County. Illinois, in 1S63. Augustana was 
nio\ed there, where it remained for twelve 
years, under the successful guidance of 
President Doctor T. X. Hasselcpiist and 
Professor Henry Rock of Pennsylvania. The 
location at Paxton not being considered 
central enough a removal was very strongly 
urged, some wishing Chicago, and others the 
Mississipjii A'alley. Rock Island was finally 
chosen and ground broken for the new college. 
A few friends assembled on the forest-covered 
bluff at Rock Island, and as they prayed that 
the institution in its new home should become 
a teni]ile of the Lord and shed its benign 
influence far and wide, they thought of the 
tcnqile of the Israelites, and how men in 
their prayers turned t<iward it as a source of 
blessing to a whole nation. Filled with this 
feeling, they luinied the hill ■'Zion," which 
name it bears to this day. In 1875 the 
college was opened, although not thoroughly 
com])leted. Doctor Hassekiuist being jiresi- 
dent and Professor Rock vice-president. 

From these beginnings the institution has 
grown to be a first class American College, 
offering courses and doing work equal to the 
very best, with students numbering seven 
hundred and a faculty composed of men 
from the leading American and European 
universities. All departments are extremely 
strong and jjrogressive. The academic de- 
partment offers a foin--years' course, giving 
preparation for entrance to Vale and other 
universities. F(n- graduates who desire to 
become clergymen the institution has an 
excellent theological seminary. The college 
department of foin- years offers courses in 



classical and scientific work leading to the 
degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of 
Science, recognized by American universities, 
such as Yale and Harvard, and European 
universities. The normal dejiartnient jire- 
pares students for woi'k as teachers. In the 
conservatory of music thorough instruction 
is given in singing, violin. ])ipe organ, jiianp, 
harmoii}-, counterpoint, musical dictation, 
elocution, ph3-sical culture, orchestra instru- 
ments, and other subjects. The art depart- 
ment, under the direction of Professor Grafts- 
strom, a fellow student of the great artist, 
Zorn, has shown some excellent work. In 
the business department are taught book- 
keeping, stenography, type WTiting, and 
other necessary commercial branches. It is 
an institution that Rock Island should 
more than be proud of and appreciate. For 
tliirty-three years, in which it has made its 
home with us. under the guidance of Doctor 
(lustav Andreen. the scholarly gentlenuui 
who is now Augustana 's ]3resident. the college 
is experiencing an un])arallelled ])eriod of 
prosperity and growth. 

THK \ ILLA Di; CHAXTAI.. 

This institution (Home school for girls) was 
formerly known as Francis de Sales Academy, 
and was founded in 1864 at Maysville. Ken- 
tucky. In Aug\ist, 1S99. the academy was 
removeil to Rock Island. The Mlla de 
Chantal is located on one of the most beautiful 
bluffs o\-erlooking the Mississippi, and com- 
manding a superb view of the surrounding 
country. The institution was first incor- 
porated in 1S6G. under the title of "The 
Sisters of the Msitation." Maysville. Ken- 
tucky, and after its removal to Rock Island 
it was re-incorporated under the laws of the 
State of Illinois, with the new title, "The 
Sisters of the A'isitation," Rock Island. Illi- 
nois. By its charter the academy possesses 
all the rights and privileges of a collegiate 
institution. The course of study embraces 
the academic, intermediate ami primary 
departments. 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U X T Y 



133 



The academic department offers two 
courses, the general and the college prepara- 
tory; art, drawing, painting and crayon work 
are provided for in the course. The piano, 
organ, harp, mandolin and violin are taught 
by competent instructors. 

The department of elocution is under the 
supervision of a finished pupil of the Chicago 
School of Oratory. Foreign languages may 
1)6 studied under the supervision of accom- 
plished linguists. Aesthetic culture, and daily 
physical exercises receive special care. The 
library of the Villa de Chantal is one of the 
most complete school libraries in the State. 
The City of Rock Island is to be congratu- 
lated on possessing this excellent educational 
institution. 

THE ROCK ISLAND PIBLIC LIHRARY. 

The public library building of the City of 
Rock Island, is very beautiful in design and 
architecture, and is the most imposing edifice 
belonging to the citv, and of it all its citizens 
are justly jjroud. In fact it is readilv con- 
ceded to be the most beautiful and com- 
modious public building in the county, and 
with its valuable and well .selected library, 
both for reference and general literature, its 
influence for good in the community is very 
great and cannot be over-estimated. Its 
architecture is of "Ionic" design. Its in- 
terior decoration is in "Italian renaissance'' 
and most beautifvd in design and execution. 
Tiie building complete with all furnishings 
together with lot cost approximately .194,000. 

The present library is the result of arduous 
and incessant toil and attention; and it is to 
l)e deplored that no record of the exertions 
and sacrifices of the intellectual men and 
women who were primarily responsil)le for 
its l)eiiig, has been preserved. All the facts 
are therefore not obtainable, but tiiis mucli 
is known : 

Karly in June, 1855. a few imlilic spirited 
citizens of the city begun the serious consid- 
eration of this question, and it began to take 



definite form June 26, 1855. The Rock 
Islander of July 4, 1855, announced that 
"one of the oldest and most eminent citizens 
will gladly give one hundred dollars toward 
a library; provided nine others would give a 
like amount." On September 15, 1855, a 
public meeting of citizens was held in the 
basement of the First Presbyterian Church, 
and was organized by the selection of Hon- 
orable M. B. Osborn as chairman and H. C. 
Connelly and O. P. Wharton as secretaries. 
The desirability of a lilirary organization was 
discussed by Messrs. Bailey. Hayes, Pershing, 
Knox and Marshall, and sesulted in the 
appointment of Messrs. Knox, Velie, Steel, 
T. J. Buford, Pershing, Fish, Bailey, Conway, 
Harper and Kelly a committee to solicit sub- 
scriptions upon the conditions that those 
giving one hundred dollars, their children 
between the age of fourteen and twenty-one, 
should be life meml)ers: persons giving fifty 
dollars shoidd he life members; those giving 
twenty-five dollars shoukl be members for ten 
years, those giving ten dollars should be 
members for four years, and those giving 
three dollars should be members for one 
year. Five hundred dollars was subscribed 
at that meeting, and Messrs. Knox, Pershing 
and Wilkinson were appointed a committee 
to draft a constitution. 

On October 3, 1855, the organization was 
completed by the adoption of the name of the 
" Rock Island City Library and Reading 
Room Association" and the election of the 
Honorable Joseph Knox ])resident, H. C. 
Connelly vice-president. Honorable W. M. 
Bailey treasurer and R. M. Marshall secre- 
tary. At this meeting Mr. C. H. Waite of 
Chicago donated lot three, block fifty-three, 
Chicago or Lower .\ddition, valued at two 
hundred dollars, to the Association, and the 
hall ciiinmittee was instructed to lit up 
"Lilirary Hall" on the third floor of Jiaile}' 
and Boyle's block. On October 24. 1S55, an 
advertisement was inserted in the Rock 
IMandcr for a librarian, and Mr. Ricliani P. 



134 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



Cropper was cho.seti librarian. The reading 
roona was opened about November 7, 1855, 
from 10 A. M. to 10 P. M. On December 3, 
1S55, announcement was made tliat a large 
invoice of books had been received from New 
York and that the fully equipped library 
would be ojjcned to the public (in Tuesday 
and Wednesday following, from 1(1 to 12 
A. M., 1 to 5:30 and 6:30 to 10 I'. M. In 
1857 the nundjcr of volumes had increased 
to 1,000. P'or many years this association 
was prosperous, and proved a great benefit 
to the city. After some years the interest 
seemed to wane, and Mr. Charles Pettifer 
became librarian. During his incumbency the 
library substantially ceased to be popular and 
it was closed. 

Afterward some of the young men of the 
city organized an association known as the 
"Young Men's library Association," and the 
library of the original association passed to 
its control. It continued to he. a live and 
valuable association until the organization of 
the present City library, having increased 
the number of \(ilumes to 2,000, and was sup- 
ported by the annual dues of its members. 

It was not until August, 1872, that full 
public cognizance was taken of tlie manifold 
and far-reaching value of such an organiza- 
tion. In this last mentioned year the General 
Assembly of this State passed the present 
library law, and it was approved and came in 
force March 7, 1872. A few of the leading 
citizens of the City readily realized that a 
public library would be of inestimable value 
to the City, and they ]iromi)tIy ]iroceeded to 
avail themselves ol' the law, and their efforts 
to that end were readily sti|)ported by the 
mayor and V\ty Cinmcil of the City. On 
August 12, 1S72, tlic City Cotuicil pa.ssed an 
ordinance organizing a public library as a 
part of the City government, and at the same 
meeting Messrs. Henry Curtis and E. I). 
Sweeney appeared before the council, and on 
behalf of the "Young Men's i,il)rary Associa- 
tion," donated tie entire librai'v of that 



association, consisting of about 2,000 volumes, 
to the City. Thus the present public library 
was established, and it is believed to have 
l)een the second library established under the 
law of 1872. 

On October 12, 1872, Mayor Bailey Daven- 
port recommended to the City Council that 
Messrs. Kdward Burrall, Cornelius I-ynde, 
junior, E. I). Sweeney, W. H. Gest, L. M. 
Haverstick, Milton Jones, Conrad Spiedel, 
R. Lloyd and P. T. McKlhern should consti- 
tute the first hoard of directors, and they 
were unanimously approved as such directors. 
The Vioard organized by the electitm of 
Edward Uurrall as president and K. 1). 
Sweeney as secretary. 

The discussion of the proposition to erect 
a new library building in the City begun as 
early as 1895, and serious consideration was 
given it by the Ijoard of directors, collectively 
and individually, from time to time; Init 
definite action to that end was delayed for 
the reason that the majorit_y of the board 
thought it inadviseable to increase the taxa- 
tion upon the citizens to the extent necessary 
for such iiur]iose. During these years the 
different members of the board gave the 
cjuestion much thought, and various wealthy 
citizens of the City were approached u])on 
the subject, with the view to elicit their co- 
operation and financial aid toward the erec- 
tion of a suitable building as early as 1897. 
Mr. Frederick Weyerhaeuser early showed an 
interest in the project, and proposed to join 
with others he mentioned in providing a fund 
with which to build: but as no one else wcuild 
co-operate the project failed. ^Ir. Andrew 
Carnegie's attention was called to the needs 
of the City by one or more citizens other than 
members of tiie hoai'd of directors, but with- 
out being able to interest him in tlie matter. 

The accomodations for the lil):'a;\v beca lie 
so poor ami inadequate and tlie growing needs 
of the library so great, that finally the iward 
of directors, which consisted of Charles L. 
\\'alk<'r, ]iresi(lent ; .lohn \V. Welch, secretary; 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



135 



and Walter Johnson, Louis Kohn, Charles J. 
Larkin, C. W. Foss, Charles Fiebig, Alexander 
lie Soland, and Joseph Kerr, were compelled 
to take action looking toward the erection of 
a new library building by general taxation, 
and in view of the steady advance in real 
estate it seemed imperative that a suitable 
site be secured without delay, and the board 
finally, on October 10, 1S99, appointed a 
committee to consider the matter and report. 
On March 6, 1900, the committee reportefl 
that they had obtained an option on the 
present premises for $8,500, and the committee 
was continued to further consider the ques- 
tion. On April 7, 1900, they reported that 
Messrs. Drack and Kerns had been emjiloyed 
to prepare preliminary plans for a suitable 
liiirary building, and such ]>lans were sub- 
mitted, with the estimated cost of $70,000, 
The board unanimously approved such report 
and plans, and passed the required resolution 
for the erection of the building, out of general 
taxes, to be collected in seven yearly install- 
ments. On April 9, 1900, the City Council 
authorized and directed the board of directors 
to proceed to have such building erected. 

For this action, and the liberal and pro- 
gressive spirit manifested, the jieople are 
indebted to the following city otiicers: Hon- 
(iral)le William McConochie, Mayor; H. C. 
Schaffer, city clerk; and Aldermen George 
W. Aster, Fred Gall, John Lawhead, Thomas 
A. Pender, H. L. Wheelan, Andrew Soder- 
strom, Michael Concannon, Charles Willis, 
Albert Johnson, Robert Beck, Charles Heide- 
mann, Basilius Winter, J. O. Freed and Henry 
Elwell. 

On June 12, 1900, the board requested that 
the first installment of $10,000 be levied, and 
the City Council on June 26, 1900, duly 
ordered such levy. August 20, 1900, the 
l)oard of directors obtained a deed for the 
lots on which the building now stands. 

On November 13, 1900, Mr, Walker re- 
ported to the board of directors that .Mr. 
Fiederick Weyerhaeuser, in order to ))ei-niil 



the immediate erection of a library building, 
had very generously offered to give the 
l)oard outright $10,000 and to loan them 
$50,000 at five per cent, provided a fire proof 
and ornamental building be erected. This 
offer was gladly accepted and i)lans for such 
a building were ordered. Mr. Leonard Drack, 
architect, submitted plans of the present 
building, but when the bids for its erection 
were opened, it was found that it coidd not 
be erected within the jimoinit at the disposal 
of the board, except by eliminating the 
beautiful columns and ])ilasters. This dilem- 
ma was submitted to Mr. Weyerhaeuser, and 
he insisted that the beauty of the building 
should not be sacrificed; and in order to pre- 
vent it, generously gave $2,500 in addition, 
and ptn-suaded Mr. F. C. A. Denkmann to 
give a like amount. Sui)scquently. in order 
to eiuxble the board to liquidate the extra 
cost of the building occasioned by the diffi- 
culty of getting a safe foundation and some 
other necessary changes, Mr. Weyerhaeuser 
gave the further sum of $5,369.32, and 
finally his generosity induced him to purchase 
thirty feet additional ground adjoining the 
library lot on the east, so as to make the 
lot one hundred and fifty feet square, thus 
making his total gift to the library $20,769.32. 
The contract for the liuilding was entered 
into September 10, 1901, with Collins Broth- 
ers as general contractors, for $58,147, who 
immediately begun work. The corner stone 
was laid in the Fall of 1902, and the building 
was opened to the jniblic for general use 
December 15, 1903. The first floor consists 
mainly of one large room, divided only by the 
delivery desk with its attachments and 
metal stacks, into stack room, reading room, 
reference room and children's room. To the 
right of the stack room are the librarian's 
office and the work rimui. The stack room 
will accommodate 60,000 \-olumes. Up stairs 
are the directors' room, art room and audience 
room, the latter to Ije used in tiie future for a 
general reading nioui. In ilie ixisement are 



136 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 



rooms for Government documents, newspaper 
files, heating plant, lavatories, etc. All are 
finished in quarter-sawed oak. in antique 
finish. The rooms are thus conveniently 
arranged for entire supervision from the 
delivery desk, and the rooms are spacious 
and airy. It is, withal, a public institution 
for which the people of the city and county 
are justly proud, and for this they are largely 
indebted to the generosity and public spirit 
of Mr. Weyerhaeuser. It contains, in round 
numbers, 18,000 volumes, besides pamphlets, 
which are freely loaned to all citizens. The 
art and assembly rooms are large and well 
adapted to such uses, and the directors' room 
is beautifullj' decorated and furnished. 

The building committee consisted of Mr. 
C. L. Walker, elected member of the board in 
Juty, 1891, and who has been its president 
since July 25, 1893; Mr. J. W. Welch, ap- 
pointed a member of the board in 1890, and 
has been its secretary since Juh- 25, 1891; 
C. J. Larkin. appointed in 1886, and Louis 
Kohn, appointed in 1894. The present 
members of the board are Charles L. Walker, 
.John W. Welch, Claude W. Foss, Charles J. 
Larkin, Louis Kohn, Charles Fiebig, Alex- 
ander de Soland, C. P. Comegj-s and Doctor 
Joseph DeSilva.. Miss Ellen Gale is the 
librarian, and Miss Fanny F. Cleland first 
assistant librarian, and Miss Elsie Schocker 
second assistant. The library and reading 
rooms are open from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. on 
week days. 

HOSPITALS AXl) HOMES. 

For a city the size of Rock Island, it is 
adequately supplied with institutions for 
careing for the sick, injured and indigent. 

Bethany Home, for neglected children, 
orphans and deserving poor, located in the 
upper end of Rock Island, on Fifth Avenue, 
was formerly known as the Lnian Mission, 
and was located at Eighth Street and Fourtli 
Avenue. Later it wa.s transferred to South 
Rock Island, wl-.ere it was maintained until 



January 3. 1906. The new quarters are of 
brick, and are capable of accommodating 
fifty children. There are now forty inmates. 
The cost of the present home, inclusive of 
SI .000 transferred in real estate, was 810,600. 
It was incorporated July 12, 1899, and its 
donors and supporters ran into the hundreds. 
It is non-sectarian. 



This magnificent and much needed struc- 
ture was originally established in 1894, under 
the care of the Franciscan Sisters of the 
Immaculate Conception. In 1904 the present 
building, including the new section and alter- 
ations, was completed at a total cost of 
S60,000. The hospital is now self-supporting, 
twelve nurses are employed, twelve sisters are 
retained to perform the necessary work aside 
from nursing, and it has a capacity of one 
hundred patients. The building is an im- 
posing four-story brick structure, and is 
surrounded by a beautiful and spacious lawn. 
Miss Mary X. Robertson, widely known for 
ability as a trained nurse, is superin- 
tendent. 

CEMETERIES. 

Chippiannock Cemetery Association of Rock 
Island was organized in 1855. The cemetery 
grounds occupy a beautiful natural spot of 
sixty acres, one mile south of the City of 
Rock Island. Outside of the natural advan- 
tages, the grounds are beautifully laid out in 
winding drives and walks, according to plans 
made by Mr. Hotchkiss, who laid out the 
celebrated Greenwood Cemetery of Brooklyn. 
New York. The grounds are mainly sLijiing. 
with the hill top flat, backed by a wooded 
ravijie, and are nicely timbered with fine old 
trees. It is an ideal spot for a cemetery, and 
surpassed by very few in natural beauty. 
The name Chippiannock is of Indian origin, 
and means ''City of the Dead." Here rest 
over 7,000, including those removed from the 
old cemeterv at the head of Eagle Street. 



HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO U N T Y 



137 



The Hebrew Burying (iroiind Association 
of Rock Island was organized in 1.S69, and 
owns one acre in Chii)]iiannock Cemetery, 
very beautifully laid out and enclosed with 
a fine hedge. 

Calvary Cemetery Association, adjoining 
Chippiannock Cemetery (jh the southeast 
corner, contains about five acres, and was 
established nearly fift_y years ago. Three 
years ago it was incorporated under the name 
of "Calvary Cemetery Association," and is 
controlled by a board of directors. In this 
cemetery rest about one thousand. 

8t. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, located 
south of Chippiannock and Calvary, was 
instituted about ten years ago, aiul is gov- 
erned by a board of directors. 

Carr's Cemetery is located in South Rock 
Island, north side of the river road. 

Dickson Cemetery, is located in Sears. 

Lutheran Cemetery, located on the Twenty- 
fourth Street hill, one-half mile south of city 
limits. 

BANKS OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY. 

Before entering into details of the banks of 
Rock Island County it would be well to recall 
early conditions and incidents. 

Within the