• • . C^ ■(. ■. °o ^*^-n^ V, ' = :o^ A^> :^!s^- ,^-^ '^r^^^ ^ > V ■ - ■ - ^oV' •^, c^' ^0 f^ate"^/ :m^- '^/ r^^ ^^/ ; ^^■■' •A; % * ly/ ^jii;^ ~ . » ■ " ' < o ■%%i5'^ .-?- i-iq. 'O . . ' \ . N" if ' • • ' i" » • • ^oV ">-o INDEX TO GENERAL HISTORY, Page EARLY HISTORY— The Sacs and Foxes— By William A. Meese 7-51 The Sac ami 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 1S12 '___1(5 The First Expedition 17 Major Canipliell's Expedition 17 The Battle of Campbell's Island 18 Black Hawk Celebrates 20 The Derelict 21 Major Taylor's Battle I.I2I 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 tlie Cause 27 The Second Petition 27 Benjamin F. Pike's Atlidavit 2S Governor Reynold's Acts 29 Gaines Goes to Fort Armstrong 33 The Settlers Affidavits 34 The Agent Fears Trouble 35 The Rock Hiver Rangers 36 The Illinois Soldiers 3(5 (ieneral Gaines Makes a Demonstration 37 Prepare to Attack 37 The Burning of Sac Village 38 The Stampecle __ 38 The Black Hawk War 1/.S9 The Turkey Scare 40 Black Hawk Starts 41 Cieneral Atkinson Comes to Fort Armstrong_41 The tiovernor's Prochimation 42 A Rock Island Comp;uiy 43 Other Rock Island Soldiers 43 Roswell H. Spencer 44 James Knetsar 44 Pag& Reddish, the Tunnels and Eames _ 44 The Wells Family 44 Captain Seth Pratt's Company 44 Rock Island Settlers in 1832.1 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 County Court House 72 The Orations 74 Edward D. Sweeney 74 Charles J. Searle..! 79 J. M. Gould . 82 The Completed New Court Hou.se 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 HI Bars(ow 101 Black Hawk Township 103 Bowling Township 107 Buffalo Prairie Township 1 111 Buffalo Prairie 112 Carbon Cliff. Vill.age 101 Canoe Creek Township 96 Coal Valley Township and Village 106 Coaltown 103 Coe Township 95 Cordova Township 94 Page Cordova Village, 94 Drury Township 112 Drury's Landing 113 Edginftlon Township 107 Edgington Village 109 East Moline, Village 102 Hampton Township 99 Hami)tt)n, Village 100 Hillsdale, Village. 98 Illinois City 113 Joslin 99 Lowell 104 Milan Village 105 Osborn 99 Port Byron 95 Port Byron, Village 96 Rural Township. _ 107 Rapids City, Village 100 Reynolds, Village 109 Rock Island, City 103 Sears, Village 103 Silvis, Village 102 South Moline Township 102 South Rock Island Township 103 Tippecanoe 100 Taylor Ridge, Village : 109 Zunia Township 98 Zuma Center 99 CITY OF ROCK ISLAND 113 Early History — Farnhamsburg and Stephenson 114 Town of Rock Island 115 Early Names of Our Streets 117 Some Old-Time Merchants and Citizens in 1855 and Prior 120 Colleges 131 Banks 137 Building Associations 141 Rock Island Mutual Building, Loan and Sayings Association 141 Black Hawk Homestead Building, Loan and Savings Association 141 BtTFoRD Block 148 Cemeteries 136 Fire Department 125 Ferry 144 Hospitals and Homes 136 Industrial Commission 142 Industrial Home. 146 Library 133 Manufacturies 140 Parks 128 Post Office 124 Police Department 125 Public Schools 130 Rock Island Cluu 143 Tri-Citv Press Club 145 Water Works 127 Young Men's Christian Association 146 €ITY OF MOLINE. 148 g Events of Early Days 149 Business Men's Association 169 Cemetery 159 Fire De partment 152 Health Department 157 Hospital 156 Library I54 Page Manufactories 159 Moline Plow Co 159 Moline Wagon Co 161 Velie Carriage Co 162 Mutual Wheel Co 163 Wright Carriage Body Co 164 Moline Furniture Works 164 Deere & Co 164 ArgiUo Works 167 Moline Club 170 Post Office 1.50 Public Schools 154 Retail Merchants' Association 170 Tri-City Manufacturers' Association 167 Water Works 153 WoMANs' Club of Moline 171 Young Men's Christian Association 171 ROCK ISLAND COUNTY _. ..173 First Entries of Land 173 Illinois and Mississippi Canal. 173 Pioneer Day's on the Mississippi Canal 175 Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane 179 Rock Island County- Infirmary and Poor House ISO Churches of Rock Island 180-193 Broadway Presbyterian 189 Edgewood Baptist Church 192 First Church of Christ (Scientist) 192 First Baptist Church 193 First Methodist Episcopal Church 180 German Evangelical Lutheran Im- manuels Congregation 196 German Evangelical Friedens Con- gregation 192 German Methodist Episcopal Church 189 Hebrew Congregations 191 St. James Catholic Church 184 St. Paul's (Belgian) CathoHc Church 193 Sacred Heart Catholic Church 193 Spencer Memorial Methodist Church 190 Trinity Episcopal Church 184 United Presbyterian Church 184 Churches of Moline 193-197 Christ Church 196 First Congregational Church 193 First Baptist Church 194 First Swedish Baptist Church 194 Sacred Heart Belgian Catholic Church 197 Second Congregational Church.. 196 Second Methodist Episcopal Church 195 Svveilish Methodist Episcopal Church 194 Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church 194 St. Anthony's (Roman Catholic) Church 194 St. Mary's Catholic Church 194 Plymouth Congregational Church 196 Churches of Townships 197-202 Andalusia 200 Bethesda, Canoe Creek Township 198 Cordova 197 Coe Township 198 Coal Valley 199 Drury Township 201 Edgiiigton 201 Hampton 199 Milan 199-200 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, No. 171 203 The Turn Verein 203 Fraternal C)rder 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 Mississippian, The 224 Commercial. The 220 Chronik Des West ens 224 Daily Dispatch, Moline 222 Page Liberty Banner, The 218 Liberty League. The 222 Mail, Molinel 223 Northwestern Advertiser, The 218 News, The 220 Neue Volks Zeitung 224 Port Byron Globe 223 Reynolds Pre.ss, The 224 Rock Island Register, The 220 Rock Island Union 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 Acade.my 230 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS OF GENERAL HISTORY. Facing Page Illinois Western llosjiital for the Insane ISO Main Buildings of the Modern Woodmen of America 204 Port Byron Academy 230 INDEX TO BIOGRAPHIES. Page A Ainsworth, Harry 20 Ainsworth, Henry A 18 Anderson. O. Frederick 143 Ari). A. H., Doctor 176 Ashdown, Mark 175 B Beal, Albert M 107 Bean, William H 140 Beardsley, Ezra M.. Colonel 101 Beardsley. James M., Major 99 eardsley. James M 102 Bei-nhardi . Carl 1.50 Bernh.irdi, Carl O.. M. D 149 Blanding. Virgil Marion 145 Blunt. Stanhope E., Colonel 11 Hover. John A., Deacon 47 Bracket t . James 160 Brown. Henry E 163 Browning. John H 164 Bviffum, Alnion A 107 C Caniiibell. 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 Coyne. Alexander W 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, George, Colonel 3 Davis, John B\irgess, Captain 118 ■Davis, Samuel Sharpe 28 V Deere, Charles 177 \Decre, John 92 Denkmann, Frederick C. A 69 Dimock. DcWitt Clinton : 103 Durham, Charles William, Colonel 97 Page E Eastman, William Fisk 82 Eddy, Warner L., M. D 156 Edging! on, John 8 Entriken, Walter Judson 172 Eyster, George Loughead, 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, Mary Fav, Mrs 139 Hayden, HeVbert B 135 Heagv, Samuel 98 Heck; Jo.si.ah G 170 Hemenway, Charles F 87 Hemenway, Luke E 87 HoUingsworth, Maurice A 169 Hubbard, Henry B 134 Huber, Ignatz 42 Huber, Otto 43 H unt oon , Joseph 170 Hurst, Elmore W 38 J Jackson, William 32 Johnson, George W 171 Johnson , Walter 123 Juhl, Xicholai 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 1.33 Leas, J. Sila.s 63 Liekefet t , Frederick C 1 .59 Little, Robert E 161 M McCabe. L. S 51 MeConochie, William .59 McDonald. Hugh A. J 84 McEnirv, Matthew J 46 McEniry, William 151 McEniry, William. Honorable 44 Mc(tlvnn. Patterson S 97 McHugh. Charles 131 Mc. Master. Sylvester Washington 127 Mackin, Thomas, Reverend 116 Marshall, William H_, 1.52 Matthews. David W 129 MediU. T. .1 10 Meese. William A 183 Mennicke. Christopher A 40 Metzgar. Judson D 107 Mitchell. Philemon L 7 Mixter, Frank 83 Mixter, (leorge 84 Montgomery', Alexander E 31 Montgomery, Robert J.. 1.57 Montgomery, Roberts 79 Montgomery, Samuel H 49 Morgan, Elmer E 164 Myers, James F., Doctor 173 N Negus, Isaac 17 Nessler, Thomas 166 Nourse, Charles R 128 O Olmsted, Robert Ward 11(1 Ostrom, Louis, Doctor 138 Owens, Alexander 1,58 P Parker, John W 1.53 Parnienter. Elwin Elbert 50 Pa vne, William 111 Page Pettit, Ciuy V 138 Potter. John W 62 R Robinson. James Franklin 6.5 Robinson. Thomas J., Captain 67 Roche. John W 168 Rosenfield. Max Daniel 1.5 Rosenfield. Morris 13 Rosenfield, Walter A 14 Rudgren, Martin Theodore 165 S Schaffer, Henry C SO 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 . (!ieorge 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 9r Titterington. Charles 1-1^ Titterington. Fred 142 Titterington. James B 129 Trenkenschvdi, 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 1 20 Weverhaeuser. Frederick 74 Wilson, Edgar H 107 Wilson, George T 133 Wilson, 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 Connelly, Henry C. Major ,34 Deere. Charles H 179 Deere, John 92 Denkmann, F. C. A 69 Fries, Peter 16 Gould, .1. M 57 Cue, Rev . 112-113 Guver, Samuel S 1 1.58 Greenawalt, P 108 Hawes, Chas. W, Major 90 Hawes, Frank B 140-141 Huber, Ignatz 42 Hurst, Elmore W 38 Jackson, 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 Mont,somery, Robert S 78 Montgomery, Alexander E. 30 Mitchell, Philemon L 7 McCabe, L. S 50 McConochie, William 58 McHuKh. 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 Schafi'er, 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 Weverhaueser, 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 Weil-Known Citizens ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS KRAMER & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS I9O8 3i FOREWORD THl'] work nii(lert;ikoii liy the publishers of Historic Hock Island Coixty is niam- tcstl\- :i work in tlic iiitorpst of ])ostprity and tin' historian of the future. Miii'h that has |ieriiiaiieiit \alue in hist oiA-uiakint; for this section of the Mississijipi \allev is here preseutcil in concise form and is written within the memory of peojile who hirtrely contrilintcd to its social, jiolitical and industrial development. Jt needs no jH'ophetic vision to forecast the futni-e of this community as one of ureatei- prospi'ritw irreater achiex-ement ami fii'eater potentiaht w and the mii;hty ri\-er flow inji past oui' dooi' ilest ined, it is helic\ cd, to hi'ar upon its liosoin t he C(Uiimei-ce of the inland seas-is A-ornl with tlie message it carries to the southhind on its way to join the waters of t he (1 ulf. .Amid scenes of (|uiet , iieauty in prairie proves, on tlii' unilulat ing slopes of wooded hillsides, and within the shadow of Vmsy and growing cities, "the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep," but their work lives after them, and their years of toil and hardship, not. un- mixed with the dangers of frontier life, are glorified in the annals of Historic Hock Isl.wd CouxTV. Cai-lyle tells us that the study of luograjihy is the most universally pleasant and profitable of all studies. The ]iresent \'olume, therefore, is rich in biographical information bronglit down to date, and the pid.)lishers confidently believe that the history of men and women, no less than the record of successful business enterprises makes for \alue aiiay un hake Michigan, near where Kaskaskias, ('ahukias, ami I'eiirias. ami with the foxes had made their habitation. Here whom were also classed the .Mascout ins. it seems hot li trilies v\cie frecpiently attacked sometimes calle(l the Sixth Trilie. These liy other trilies of Indians, until at last they tribes all were of the great Algonc|iiin nation. united, f(jrming ati ol'feiisi\-e and defensive Marijuette in his jonrnal speaks of meeting union, each howe\ cr. retaining its tribal the mini in 1()73, when he stoppe(l at the 1 )es name. Thi-oiigh intermai'riage and long Moines Hi\-er. and aftei'wards when, on his residence they liecame siilistantially one return, he c.'ime by way of the Illinois River ]ie(iple, an alliance lasting to this day. lioth from its mouth to Lake Micliigan. The scene the Sacs and l''oxes belong to the Algonipiiii of tlie Illinois' main residence was, however, family. in the central and southern parts (jf the state. A< wliat time these twn tribes came to Green lia\' is not kn(n\n. Manpiette'.s map Tin: s.vr.vxni-.ix ixni.\xs. .,j. ^^-3 \oc^iU's the Foxes on the Fox River About 1 7'-''.2 nortln\'estern Illinois became between the |.iresent (Ireen Ray and Lake the home and the hunting ground of the Sacs Winnebago, Father Claude Alloiiez, when and F^ixcs. Tin' wurd '■()u-Sakis" or "Sail- he established the mission of St. I'l'ancis Kee," now written S,ac and Sauk, is deri\'e(.l Xa\ier in KitiO, found them located near, and from the compound word " A-Sau-we-Kee " in KiT'J he commenced preaching the gospi I signifying yellow cart h, and " .Mus-ipia-Kee," to them. Ivarly in the eighteenth century the original name of the h^oxes, means red they were dri\cn from (ircM'n Bay and the Fox earth. The early h'rench name(l this tribe, River by the Menominees, who were aided by Renards and the Americans calle(l them the Ottawas, ('hi])pewas and the F'rench. Foxes. These tribes originally li\-eil on the The Sacs and F'o.xes made dejiredatioiLS on St. Lawrence River near CJneliec .ami Montreal. the French traders and exacted triliute fri m The F\ixes were the first to migrate west. them, wliereon the F'rench commandant of They settled along the ri^•er that bears their the post at Green Bay took a party of hi.s men HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY in covered boats, and while distracting the attention of the Indians, ojK'ned fire on them from the water, at the same time that his Menominee allies attacked their village from the banks in the rear. Those who snrvived the slaughter removed to the Mississippi River. On arriving there they foimd that country inhabited liy the Sauteaux, a branch of the ("hippewa tribe. Upon these they commenced war, finally driving them out of the country, which they then took possession of and occupied. This was aliout 1722. These tribes next waged war ujion the Mascoutins and in a Ijattle opposite the mouth of the Iowa River defeated and almost exter- mitiated this tribe. Thfy then formed an alliance with the I'uttawattomies, Menom- inees and W'iiiiiebagocs, and together attacked the Illinois and gr.'idiially drove these peo])|e further southw.nrd. The Sacs and Foxes have warred witii the Sioii.x, the Pawnees. Osages and other Indians, and their record shows that they ranked among the fiercest and most \\ at like trilx's. l)rake said of them: "The Sacs and Foxes are a truly courageous people, shrewd, politic and enteriirising, with nut nioie of ferocit}' and treachery of character than is common among the tribes by whom they were sur- rounded." S.\C AND I'OX TUI;.\T1I';S. The first recognition liy our government of the Sacs and Foxes was in the treaty made at Ft. Ilarmar. January 0, ITS!), which guar- anteed: "The individuals of said nations shall be at liberty to hunt within the territory ceded to the Fnited States, without hindrance or molestation, so long a.s thev demean tlieiu- .selves jjcaceably and offer no injtu'v or annoy- ance to any of the srd)jects or citizens of the said Fnited States." In 1S()4 VVilliam Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory, and afterwards Presi- dent of the United States, was instructeil Ijy President .b'fTeison to instittite nefroi iations 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 thirtl 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 Intlians "friendship and protection," paid them .'¥2. 234. .50 in goods, and guaranteed them goods each year there- ■•d'ter to the amount of .fl.OOO, fGOO of which was to be paid to the Sacs and $400 to the Foxes. By this treaty it was provided in .\rticle 7: " .\s long as the lands which are now ceded t(i the United States r(>main tlieir ]:)ro]ierty, the Indians belon<;-ing to the said tribes shall enjoy the privilege of living and hunting upon them." This article in the treaty caused much trouble Ijetween tlie goveninient and the Sacs and Foxes, and was tlie main cause of the Black Hawk War. Black 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 sjiring of 1804 a white person (a man or boy) was killed in Cuivre settlement by a Sauk (Sac) Indian. A party of United States troo]>s was sent from St. Louis to the Rock River village to demand the murderer. The Sacs surrendered and delivered him to the soldiei's :uid lie was conveyed to St. Louis and turned oxer tn t lu> civil authorities. During the latter pari of October, LS()4, (^uash- ipianie, (ine 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-fpiame. It is an Indi.-in custom and // / S T K I C R (J C K I S L A N D C V N T Y usage that if one Indian kills ann it became known that certain chiefs thus covering the blond and satisfying- the and headmen had withuiil .authority sold relatives of the murdered man," and the Sacs th(Mr lands, Quash-quame and his rompanions believed that by the giving of |)(mies and were degraded from their I'aidcs, Tiania, the peltries to the whites they coiilil secure the son-in-law of (Juash-cpiaiiic, bring elected to Indian's release. l>i« father-in-law's i)lace. Thomas Forsyth, for many years an Indian In bS15 a part of the Sacs and Fo.xes had trader, and from ISKi imtil ls;i() the agent of migrateil to the Missduri River, and Seinem- the Sacs and Foxes, in a manuscript written ber b'>, ISl.'), these Indians sent representa- in 1S32 says of this matter: •■()uash-quame, tives to the Portage des Sioux, where each a Sauk chief, who was the headman of this tribe made a separate treaty wit h t he govern- party, has repeatedlv said. 'Mr. Pierre CIkj- merit, agreeing to ratify the tre:il\ of Xovem- te.au. Sen., came several time> In my camp. ber S, 1 S(I4, and tn remain separate from, .and offering that if I would sell llic Lands on the render no assistance to, the Sacs ,and Foxes east side of the Mississijipi Hi\<'r, (iovernor then li\ing on Pmi-k Hixcr. Harrison would liberate my relation (meaning (hi the l.'ilh da\ of May, I.SKi, ;inotlier the Sauk Indian then in prison as abo\c treaty was entered into at St. bonis. This related), to which 1 at last agreed, and solil treaty was bet ween t lie " Sacs of Mock River" the lands from the month of the Illinois Ri\er and tli<" govei'iiineiit . it reallirnied the \\\^ the Mississippi River as high as the nuMitli treaty of bS()4 and all other contracts hereto- of Rocky River (now Rock River), and east to fore made bet ween the parties. To this treaty the ridge that divides the waters of the Mi,ss- is attacheti the mark of Ma-Ka-tai-me-She- Lssippi and Illinois Rivers, and \ never sold Kia-Kiak, or "Plack Sparrow Hawk," as any more lands.' Quash-quame also said to P>lack Hawk was also e.alled. \"et Black Governor Edwards, Governor Clark and Mr. Hawk said in ISIVJ: "Ihrr. jur tlic first Augustc Chouteau, commissioners aiipoinleil lime. I loucJnd tin- ijoom iiinll In tin tiuali/ not to treat with the Chijipewas, Ottawas and fowiving. hoircver, that lii/ tin net I i!i'nt(d to Pottawattomies of Illinois Ri\-er, in the sum- fiive aivai/ my villafjr. Had tlui/ , .rplaincd to mer of bsl6, for lands on the west side of »ii I slioNid hare npposal It iniil nci'ir would Illinois River, 'You white men may put on hare si(incd their tnatij as mij nrnit eondurt paper what ycni please, but again I tell you, /('(// clearlr/ prore." I never.sold my lands higher up the Mississipi)i In the treaty of 1S()4 the go\-ernnient had than the mouth of Rock River,'" agreed, in ortler to put a stop to the abu.ses It is claimed that the Indians were drunk and impositions practiced upon the Indians most of the time they were in St. bonis, a by private traders, to establish a. trading thing not unlikely. Forsyth said the Imlians house or factory where these Indians could be always believed the annuities they received, suiijilied with goods cheaper and better th.an were presents, and when he in bsis informed frcun pri\-ate Iradei's. This the go\-ernment them it was a part of the purchase jirice of concluded it was best not to continue, and a their lands, "they were astonished, and new treaty was made by which the Fnitetl refused to accept of the goods, denying that States paid the Indians $1, ()()() to be relieved 10 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY from this obligation. Black Hawk sisnod this treaty. Another treaty was made Aug- ust 4, 1824, which reaffirmed and recognized all former treaties. Each treaty left the Sacs and Foxes with le.ss land and fewer rights. For years there liad existed a hitter feeling between the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes, and .August 19, 1S2.5, William Clark and T>ewis Case on behalf of the government assembled these tribes, together with the Chippewas, Menominees, Winnebagoes, lowas, Ottawas and Pottawattomies at Prairie du Chien. and entered into a treat}- whose object was to end the wars between these nations. In this treaty it was agreed that the T'nited States should nm a botmdary line between the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes. It seems that this treaty iiroved unsatisfactory to the Indians, for July 'M). \S'M). aiK)lher treaty was entered into at Prairie du Chien in whicli the Sacs and Foxes ceded to the United States a tract of land twenty miles in width l.ying south of the line established Ijy the treaty of August H), 1825. The Sioux also ceded a strip twenty miles wide along the north line of said bound- ary. This forty utile strip was neutral terri- tor}-, open to all for hunting and fishing, and was alonir the Iowa River. their parents. The husband could at any time divorce his wife or add' another if he deemed best, and although the marriage ties were not strong, the ties of consanguinity were rigidly preserved. Hereditary rights were traced through the female line. This was accom])lished by means of the Totem, an institution or emblem which served as a distinction for the different clans or families. The family surname was represented by some bird 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, but coidd marry an Eagle, Hawk, or member of any other clan. This Totem s\'stem furnished the means of tracing family lineage through all their years of wandering and preserved their hereditary rights. The Sacs and I'oxes had from the early part of the eighteenth century occupieil the lianks of the Mississippi between the mouth of the JMissouri and the Wisconsin, the Sacs occupying the eastern side of the river, and the Foxes its western banks. SAC .WD l''OX CUSTOMS. The Sacs and F'oxes had many peculiar cus- toms, one lieing that each male child was marked at birth with either white or bhick color, the Indian mother alternating the colors so that the nation was evenly divided l)etwd< to the "White" party. Marriage among the Sacs and I'oxes required only the consent of the parlies and THr: HOMIiS OF THE SACS. The Sacs' house or wigwam was iriado by setting posts in the ground and siding it with bark. On top of the posts small poles were laid for rafters u])on which strips of bark were laid. These wigwams were about eighteen feet wide and fi-om twenty to sixt}'' feet long. West of the Hock River \-illage ttie Indians culti\-ated about one thousand acres, raishig corn, beans, squashes and melons. The Sacs and Foxes jjlanted their corn in the same hill year after year. They would dig up the hill each year and plant the coi'ii in tlie middle, cultivating it with a primitive hoe and hoeing it thre(> or fom- limes during a season. These corn hills were (luite large, many of them be- ing still visible a few years ago. The farming HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 11 was (1(1110 ]jrincipall\' li\- I lie women assisted l>y mound and the mourner addressed words of the old men and children, l-'rom llie >-ears endearment tn the dead, inrpiirina: how they 1780 to about 1820. the tradei's al I'l'aii-ie du faretl in tlic land nf spirils, and placed f I Chien came to the Sac villai^e Inr all llie corn ujion the u;ra\'es. The Sacs were particular thov used. After the ci'ops were liarveste(l, in their denionstral ions of arief. They dark- the Sacs would prepare to lea\c foi- 1 heir win- ened their faces with cluircoal. fasted and tor hunt. Jiiefore ,iioin,n the\- wduld diu; a abstained from the use of \-ermilion and round hole in the groimd about einhleen ornaments of dress. inclies in diameter. Carefiill\- remoxin,'.; Ihe Hlack Hawk said: "With us il is a (■ust(im sod and dii;t;inK i'wc or six feel lhe\' would to \'isit the graves of our fri(Uids and kee]) enlarsic it so that it would hold many bushels. them in repair for nutny years. Tlie mother These holes they would line with bark and will go alone to weep (i\-ei- the ,i;-ra\-e of her (lr\- jirass :\ud llieii fill up with their Ki'^ii'i*^ child. After he has been siu'cessful in war, and ve<;etables. \\'hen full lli('\' would re- the brave, with pleasure, visits the grave of place the sod and renun-e all traces of earth. his father, and repainis the post that marks often buildiuLi, a lire oxer it so thai no enemy where he lies. Tliei-e is no pl.ace like that could lind the place and steal the supply tlie\ where the bones of our forefathers lie to go to had laid up for the ne\t spring and summer. when in grief. Here, prostrate by the tombs \\'hen this was done the Sacs and l''o\es w cuild of our forefathers, will the (ireal Spirit take go off into Iowa and Missouri where tlie\- pity on us." would hunt. In the winter their lioiises were made li\" stickuig poles m the groimd ami bending them over so as lo form a half circle The old Indian town has by s(uue been about twelve feet in di.ameter. These were called "Saukenuk." How this name origi- co\'ere(l with rugs wo\-en of grass and with uated is not known. The first to use it was liides. Armstrong in his "Said 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 Foxes at 4,600, an increase of over one thousand in twenty years. In 1831, at the commencement of Indian liostilities preced- ing the Black Hawk War, ther(> were tw(mty families of whom twelve were Sacs and eight were Foxes, and their total number is esti- mated to have 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 Ri^-er to St. Louis, and attacked that then Spanish post. The British and their Indian allies oil May 26th. made their attack, but were repulsed by the inlialiitants and the small S]ianish garrison. They then crossed tlie Mississipju River and attacked the Amer- ican post at Cahokia. Colonel .lohn Mont- gomery was American commandant of the Illinois, and he having heard of the enemy's nu)vements, was prepared. General George Rogers Clai'k had while at the Falls f)f the Gliio learned of the threatened British-Indian invasion, and hiii'ried to the Illinois, arri\-ing on the night of the 25tli. and assisted in the defense. The British and Indians were re)iulsed .although one .\merican was killed. Gen(>ral Clark now ordered Colonel Mont- gomery to pursue the enemy, and Montgomery at the head of an army of three hundred and fifty soldiers, mostly Virginians, including a company of Illinois French Militia and some Spanish, marched to where Peoria now is and destroj-ed the Indian village on the Illinois. He then took up his march across the ])rairies to the Sac village near the mouth of Rock River. It was in the first part of ,Iune. early accoiuits do not mention the day of the month, but it was during the season that the Sacs and Foxes were always at their village cultivating their fields of corn. Black Hawk does not mention this American visit, due probably to the fact that an Indian seldom if ever men- tions defeat, (Colonel Montgomery himself makes scant mention of his journey, save in a letter written in 178.3 to the Board oj Cnm- missioners jor 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 Pidilic Interest wovdd HIST R 1 C R O C A / S L A N I) C U N T Y 13 not permit of my request bein,s: granted, that I must take command of the expetlition to Rock River." He then says: ''After Riving me instructions, he (Clark) left Kohos (Caho- kia) the 4th of June 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 marcli'd thi-ee hundred and fifty men to the lake o]ien on the Illinois River, and from thence to the Ruck Ri-\-er, Destroying the Towns and ('i-(i|is proposed. The Eniniy not I)ai-eing to fight me as they had so lately Reen Disbaiuled and they could not raise a sufiicient force '' James Aird, an early I^ritish 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 Suburljan) Island a trading post or station. The French Militia who accompanied Mont- gomery undoubtedly exjiected 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, ctc.A\w inhabitants of Cahokia complain grieviously of the \'irginians. They say in speaking of the Rock River Expedition: "Oh, Colonel Clark, affecting ahvays to desire our public welfare and under pretext of avenging us, soon formed with us and conjointly with the Spaniards a party of more than three h\mdred 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 commaiul in his place, he soon left >is. "It is, then, well to ex]ilain 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 glorious 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 ]iush on further, since we had almost no more provisions, powder and balls, which the Virginians had under- taken to furnish us." Thus at the Sac village at the mouth of Rock River was fought a battle during tlie War of the Revolution. How long it lasted, were there any killed or wounded, or if I'ritisli soldiers took part, our eai'iv records do not state, but in this farthest west of the Revo- Mitionary engagements, American soldiei's like their brothers in the east, triumphed. BLACK H.\WK AND KEOKUK. At the commencement of the ninetcontli centvu'y and up to the Hlaid< Hawk Wai'. the jirincipal and central figiu'e of the redmen in the upper Mississippi \'alley was the Sac chief. Black Hawk, who was born at the Indian village on Rock River in 1767. Ulack Hawk was of middling size and as Catlin says. "with a head that would excite the en\-y of a phrenologist: one of the finest that lu'a\en eAer 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 jiarty to defend liis 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 was also born at the Sac village on Rock River in 17S:^, and died in April, 1848, at the Sac and Fox Agency in Kansas. Early in the nineteenth century there seems to have arisen a flifference 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 has marked the ci luhict of the former (Sacs) towards the United States on many hate occurrences." This disagreement con- tinued to grow, and while some of the Foxes hoki with the Sacs, most of the Foxes were incHned 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 ])arty 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 duty 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 Mississip])i and built a ^■illage on the Iowa. Black Hawk, like Keokuk, was not an hereditary chief, but had risen to the position of chief of the war ]nirty througli the native vigor of his character and liis great success in war. Black Hawk had never suffered defeat. His band, which was much the larger, com- prised the chivalry oi 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 declineil. Yet the British were not loth to accept them, for directly after this we find that La Guthre, an agent of Great Britain, was at the Hock 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 lo power and position. Black Hawk was the great Indian covimoner. Keokuk was noted as an Indian orator; l^hick Hawk as an Indian warrior. THE CAUSE OF 1NDI.\N WARS. Every so called Indian w^ar in this country originated in a desire on the part of the white man to po.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, tliat 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 Revohitionary 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 accejitnnce on the part of tlie red- man was influenced by the force ofarms. "Did the red man foresee his impending doom, his forced retreat towards the setting smi, 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, anil, 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 fortli forked tongues of lightning." On the plains of Al)raliam, when French su- ])remacy west of the Alleghanies was forever lost, and I 'on line stood before the British oflicer wlio 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 CO U N T Y 15 fell a martyr to the Indian cause, und 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 Ha\^•k, made the last determined Indian defense of their homes and the resting place of their forefathers. SACS AND FOXES OF TODAY. After their removal tn lnwa, they by trea- ties in 1836 and 1842 ceded all tlirii- lands up to the Missouri River, and in .luno, 1885, these people were distrihuteil as fdllows: On Sac and Fox Resenaiioii in Iii\\a (Tama Countj-) about 380: on ruttawaluniie and Great Nemaha Agency Hcsorxalimi, near the northeast corner of Kansas, tlic Sa<-; and Foxes of Missouri about 1.S7: im Sai' and Vnx Resen-ation in Indian Toi-ritory, 457, and Mohoko's band, wandering in the west, about 35()--a total of 1,374. Almost all but the last named band arc farmers and herders. The agent at Sac and Fox Agency, Iowa, writing in 1884, said: "For honesty and truthfulness our Indians stanut 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. AVounded on Campbell's boat, ten regulars and one woman: on Rector's boat, four rang- ers, and on Riggs' boat four rangers; also ]\Iajor Campbell and Dr. Stewart, the garri- son surgeon, who was shot in the breast: a total of twenty-one, making the total eastial- ties thirty-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 expe- dition and the supplies 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. HL.\CK HAWK CELEBRATKS. 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 rest 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 cominenced 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 C O'U N T Y 21 he does not complain at the soldiers giving his men whiskej' the evening licl'ore, yet the next day he thought it "bad medicine." While Black Hawk and his Indians were dancing over their scalps, sex'eral boats passed down the river, among them a large boat, "carrying big guns." These boats were the "Governor Clark'' and the contractor's and sutler's barges from Pi-airi(> du Cliieii, wliieh garrison Campboll's cxiu'dition \\as intending to strengthen, but \\liich had been attacked by the British under Colonel McKay, on the seventeenth, two days ])revious. Captain Yeizer and his gvmboats leaving Prairie du Chien during the afternoon on the first da}' of the attack and started for St. Louis, leaving 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 Cnnipljell's boat lay for many years on the north shore nf Campbell's Island, wdiere 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 nf the Inirge 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 liuU ashore, found the planks in a good state of preservation and floored tlnnr 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.'' ^^.\JOR TAYLOR,'* BATTLE. After the capture of Fort Shelby by the British, Colonel A\'illiam McKay left for Maci- nac and Captain Thomas G. Anderson was in command. The British had great influence with the northwest Indians, and it is not to be wondered at as they made the Indians be- lieve that the Americans wcndd 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 C'aptain Anderson: "Assure them (Sacs and Foxes") that great efforts are being made by the king in their behalf, and that the ministry .-ire determined to make no peace till the lands plundered from the In- dians are restored. To attain tliis purpose, great reinforcements of troops are coming o\U." C)n August 14th, Lifuitenant 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 expedition to bring up an American gunboat which had been abandoned at a point a short disl.-mce 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 Lieutenant 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 Caj) 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 Graham on his return to the Rock River village found that the Indians now numbered about fifteen hundred, several bands of AVinnebagoes 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 .oth 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, thim- 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. Init not a gun w.as 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 jirairie to the beach op])osite the American boats, where they had a close view of them. Lieutenant (iraham 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 they 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 Suburban Island. The night before Gra- ham had cautioned the Indians not to fire without orders from him, but a Saidv warrior dtiring the night shot a corporal on one of the American boats commanded by Captain Whiteside. At daylight Major Taylor or- dered his men to attack the Indians and drive them from the Willow 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 writer 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 they were popguns. He escaped, but it was miraculous, as he was alone in advance of his cotnpany." 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- Ijcll's Island. At this time, abotit 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, l)egan to push off, and dropped astern of the rest, and made her way down the current. 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 they soon got out of our reach." The engagement lasted about one hour. Major Taylor in his report sai riddled with the cannon balls. I think the balls were nuidc of lead --at any rate they picrcnl the boats considerably.'' This was tlie third American expedition up the i\lississi]ipi River in the year 1S14, all ending in defeat and disaster. The liritish and Indians had possession of the country until December ■Jltli, when the jjeace of (ihent ended tlie war. In his autobiograpliy. Black Hawk says: "The British 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 Graham knew who was in command of the other party, and nowhere was I al:)le 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 Suburban Island as early as 1814 was known as Credit Island. FIRST SETTLI'IRS. The first while setth^r in this county was George Davenport, who came to tlK> Island of Rock Island in the spring of ISIG with Colo- nel William Lawrence and the Eighth Regi- ment of United States regulars at the time Fort .-\rmstrong was built. In LSI 7 Da^•en- port built a double log cabin on the Island of Rock Island at the ])lace where the "Old l)nv- enjiort 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 Imilt in 1833 and was foi- many years the most [iretentious residence abo\'e St. Louis, the timbers in the old Trading House being used in constructing llie new dwelling, in IS'24 Russell Farnhain came from Warsaw and entered into partnership with Davenport uiuler the firm name of Davenport it Farn- ham. In 1826 Davenport and Faridiain built the house on the main land just west of the V. 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 county 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 country had attracted the pioneer who is always in ad- vance of the settler, and who often is termed the scjuatter, and these people relying u|ion tlie protection of L^ort Armstrong began to select homes in this valley. During the year 1828 there were eight settlers to arrive — Caj)- tain B. W. Clark, an old soldier named Haney, Judge Pence, who 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 year 1S29 brought a number of new- comers — Judge John \\ . Spencer, who had been here the year before; Louden Case, Sr., and his three 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; Michael Bartlctt where Deere i^c Mansur's factory, 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 A'andrruff and his sons, who settled on \'andruff's Island; Charles H. Case and Benjamin F. Pike. SL.VVERV. 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 Stejihens 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 seciu'ed from him a warrant for Stei)hens' arrest for holding slaves. George Goble, the father of J^enjamin 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 ("ampbell'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 constitiition ; 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 Free. 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 United States court for Scott's freedom. This case was tried at St. Louis on May 15th, before the court and a jury, and the latter found that "Dred Scott was a negro slave, the lawful properly 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 ct)urt of the United States. It is re- ported in the 19th Howard. The substance of the decision was: HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY "Scott was not made free by lieins; taken to Rock Island in the State of Illinois. As Scott was a slave when taken to I'ort Armstronji into the State of Illinois by his owner, and was then held as s\ich, 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 T;,VNDS. In 182S and the early ])art of IS'i!) tieorge Davenport and Russell Farnhani entered the lands \ipon which the old fair grounds were located, and which extended from there about one mile east. William T. Brashar entered the lands upon a portion of which is now located Chippianock Cemetery. These and other pre-emptions were upnn lands 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 IjrouglU, into the market until the latter part of 18'_'9, 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 eviMi a greater distance had not been offered for sale, yet the government disposed of a few qiuir- ter sections at the mouth of this stream, cm- bracing the site of the village and fields cul- tivated by the inhabitants. The manifest object of this advanced movement upon the Indian settlements was to evade the pro\-isii)ns of the treaty, by having the governmental title to the lands pass into the hands of the individuals, and thus obtain .a ]irete\t for removing its owners west of the Mississippi. ESTABLISHMENT OF ROCK ISL.\ND 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 ccumty shall be. Section '2 provided that whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of the presiding judge of the circuit court 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 inhal.)itauts, 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 provided for. The act then states that after such election the said County of Rock Islanil shall l>e 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 183.3, when on Monday, July ■'■>. in jiursuance of due notice the legal voters of this county to the number of sixty-five met at the "House of John Barrel," anil 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 many new comers. They found the Indian homes occupied by pale faces, and among their corn hills they found the white man's wagon, liut more aggravating yet, they found the bones of their ancestors disturbed and laid bare upnti the grounil by tlie white man's plow. Black 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. Ho 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 \'alley. * * * 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, and for- warded it with all possible haste to the gov- ernor. This had the desired effect." THE ROCK ISL.^ND PETITION. The following is the petition sent to the governor by citizens of Rock Island: "April 30, 1S31. "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 pos.session 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 by turning in all their horses. They also throat- en our lives if we attempt to plant corn, and say they will cut it up; that we have stolen their lands from thorn, 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 destroyed all our crops, and made several attempts on the owners' lives when they attempted to prevent their depre- dations, and actually wounded one man by stabbing him in several ]5laces. 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; tlierefore, 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 your 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 si.x 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. Vandruff G. V. Miller S. Vandruff 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 CJentry McCall Thomas Davis HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 27 THE INDIAN AOENT REPORTS. The settlers not hearing from Governor Reynolds and receiving no aid from the offi- cials at Fort Armstrong, apjjlied to the Indian agent, and he wrote the following letter: "Rock Island, May 15, 1831. "Respected Sir: I have again to mention to you that the Black Hawk (a Sac chief) and his party are now at their old \-illage 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 tinned thi^ir 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 fr(jm 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 8acs and Foxes of 3d November, 1S()4. "I respectfully ask, would it not bi' l)(>tter 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 have been at my agency to have work done at the smith's shops. 1 have the honor to be, "Your obedient servant, "Felix St. Vraix, 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 Hawk saw his people bartering off their peltries and game f(n' whiskey 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 liis l)ra\-es, paddled in their canoe- from their village to Vandruff's Island. Silently the old chief marched up to the c-db'm followed by his braves. They did not stop to knock, but entered the door and silently rolled the barrel of whiskey outside the ca,l)in, knocked in the head with their tomahawks and allowed the ])ale faces' "fire water" to run on the ground. Then they 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 Bi'lle- ville in St. Clair 0)unty to personally ask the governor for assistance. He took with him the f(dlowiug jietition frcun the settlers. THE SECOND PETITION. "Farnhaml)urg, M;iy lU, 1S31. "To his Excellency, tlie Governor of the State of Illinois: "We. the undersigned, citizens of Rock River and its vicinity, having previously sent a petition to your honor, praying your pro- tection against these 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 oui 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 thetn 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 onr heads. They were, at tlie tim(> we sent om- 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 housp. 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 arc 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 sh.all not reap, a proof of which we had last fall; they almost entirely destroyed all our crops of corn, potatoes, etc, I^elievin;;: we shall receive protection from your 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 county and state, and made oath that some time in the month of April last they went to the old Indian Sac town, about thirty miles up Rock River, for the purpose of farming and establishing a ferry across said river, and the Indians ordered us to move away 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 peaceably 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. Chapman. "Sworn and subscribed this 11th day of May, 1S31. "Stephen Dewey, J. P. I!E^•.IA^H^; f. pike's affidavit. Upon his arrival at Belleville Pike prepared the following statement: "State of Illinois, St. C'lair County. "Present, Benjamin F. Pike, before me, a justice of the peace in and for the said county, and made oath and deposed, that' he has re- sided in the vicinity 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 hundred 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 only 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 al)ove 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 liave said that they would fight for their country where they reside, and would not permit the white people to occupy it at all. That s.aid white inhabitants are desirous to be protected, and tliat immediately, so that they may raise crops this spring and summer. " Benjamin F. Pike. "Sworn and subscribed l)efore me, this 26th May, 1S31. "John H. Dennis, J. P." GOVERNOR REYNOLDS .\rT.S. Pike presented his petition from the Rock River settlers and these affidavits personally to Governor Reynolds, who (in the same day issued a call for se\'en hmidred mounted militia, to move the Indians west of th" Miss- issippi River. He also wrote the following letter to General Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs: "Belleville, 26th May, IS.31. "Sir: In order to protect the citizens of this state, who reside near Rock River, from Indian invasion and depred.ations, I liave considered it necessary to call out a force (if militia of this state of abdut 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 thoy can, but forcibly if they must. Those Indians arc now. and so I have considered them, in a state of actual invasion of the state. "As yovi act as the public 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 snfticient force will a|ipear 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 you to them for th(Mn to remove to the west side of the river would effect the object of procuring ]ieace to the citizens of the state. There is no disposition on the part of the people of this state to injure those unfortmiate and deluded savages if they will let us alone: but a go\'ernment that does not protect its citizens deserves not the name of a government. Please correspond with me at this place on this subject. "Your ol)edient servant, ",IoHN 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 2S, 1S31. "Respected Sir: Since my last of the loth inst. on the sidjject 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 ihat a house had been unroofed instead of jiiilled down and biu'ned, and that the fence had caught fire by acci- dent. .\s 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 l.)een 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 measin-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 ROC K ISLAND COUNTY the Black Thunder, who is the principal of that hand. 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 (Qnash-quam-me^ had l)een 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 mi.xture of Winnebago, Sac and Fo.x band and headed by the Prophet, a chief. I have the honor to be "Your obedient servant, "Felix St. Vk.jin, Indian Agent. "Gen. William Clark, Snpt. Indian .\ffairs, St. Louis." Upon receipt of (iovernor Reynolds' letter. General William Clark sent to General Edward P . Gaines the ffiUowinsr letter: "Superintendency of Indian Affairs. "St. Louis, May 28, 18:51. "Sir: I have the honor to inclose you a copy of a letter of 'JGth inst., just received from the fJovernor of Illinois, by which yo>i will perceive he has thought it necessary to call out a force of about 700 militia for the protection of the citizens of that state, who reside near Rock River, and for the purpose of removing a band of Sacs which he states are now about Rock Island. "As the commanding general of this divi- sion of the arm}', I have thought it my duty to communicate to you the above information; and for the purpose 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 copies of my correspondence with the 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 LTnited 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 antuial visits at Maiden in Upper Canada for the ])urposc 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 i)y the L^nited States agents. "In justice to Keokuk, Wapello the Stab- HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 31 bing Chief, and. indcpfl, all the other real chiefs and principal men of both tribes, it should be observed that they have constantly and zealously co-operated with tlie u;ovorn- ment agents in fiu'therance of its views, and in their endeavors to effect the removal of all their property from th(> cedeil lands. "Any information in my ]iossession which 3'OU may deem necessary in relation to this subject will be ]iromptly afforded. With high respect, I ha\'e the honor to be "Your most obedient, servant. " William C'lark. " Maior-General Fdmnnd P. Ciaincs, Com- manding W'estern Department, U. S. X. "P. S. The agent for the Sacs and Foxes (Mr. St. A'rain) has received his instructions and will perform any service you may require of him with the Sacs and Foxes." General Clark the same day sent to Gov- ernor Reynolds the following communication in reply to his lettei-: "Supcrintendency of Indian Affairs, "St. Louis, May 28, IH'-U. "Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th iiist.. informing me of your having considered it necessary to call out a force of militia of about seven hundred for the protection of the citizens of Illinois who resiile near liock 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 lieen employed to effect their removal. " I have communicated the contents of your lett<'r to Cieneral Gaines, who commands the western di\'ision of the army, and who has full power to act and execute any military niOA-ement deemed necessary for the protec- tion of the frontier. I shall also furnish liini with such information regarding the Sacs and Foxes as I am possessed of, and would l)eg leave to refer ymi to him foi' any further pro- ce^edings in relation to this subject. I have the honor to Ije, with great respect, "Your obedient servant, " Wm. Clark. "His Excellency, John Reynolds, Ciovernor of Illinois. " Governor Reynolds certainly meant lousi- ness, for on the same day he sent the follow- ing letter: "iielleville. May 28, 18^1. "General Gaines. "Sir: I have received undoubted inf(U-ma- tion that the section of this state near Rock Island is actmdly invaded by a hostile IjatuI of the Sac Indians headed l)y Black Hawk; and in order to repel said invasion, and to lU'otect the citizens of the state, I have, under tlie provisions of the constitution of the I'nited States and the laws of this state, called on the militia, to the niinilier of 71)1) men, who will be mounted and ready for service in a very short time. I consider it my duty to lay liefore you the above inforinati(Ui, 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. "Tlie above mentioned mounted volim- teers (becau.se such they will be) will be in readiness immediately to move against said Indians, and, as Executive of the State of Illinois, I respectfvUly solicit your co-opera- 32 HISTORIC ROCK I SLAX D 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, ad^-ising me of your having received imdoubted information that the section of the frontier of yoiir state near Rock Island is invaded bj' 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 m}- duty to state to you that I have ordered six 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 my force, I will, in that event, communicate with Your Excellency by express and avail myself of the co-operation which you propose. But, tmder existing circumstances, and the present as- pect of our Indian relations on the Rock Island section of the frontier, I do not deem it necessan,^ 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.uxes, "Major-General by Brevet, Command." General Clark the following day forwarded to the War Department at Washington the following commimication : "Superintendency of Indian Affairs, "St. Louis, May 30. 1831. "Sir: On the 2Sth 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 remo\-ing 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- iately communicated it to General Gaines who 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 1.5th 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 ISLAXD COVSTY 33 part of the force under his command, six companies of which are now leaving this place for Rock River. The expedition (be the result what it may) cannot fail of pro- ducing good effects, even should the Indians be disposed to move peaceably to their own lands: and if not. their opposition should, in ray opinion, be put do'mi at once. "I have the honor to be. with high respect. "Your most obedient servant, ■• WiLLiAii Clark. "The Hon. John H. Eaton. Secretan,' of War." GAIXE5 GOES TO FORT AR.MSTROXG. General Gaines immediately proceeded to Fort Armstrong and upon his arrival with his troops commenced putting the fort in condi- tion to ^"ithstand a siege if necessary-. The six companies he brought with him from Jef- ferson Barracks were strengthened by fotir additional companies from Fort Crawford, at Prairie du Chien. Wisconsin. All 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 vahie that could be carried. The soldiers began target practice, and morn- ing and evening gims 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 imtil the twentieth in which to move. Pre- vious to this Black Hawk had held two inteniews with the Prophet, a Winnebago living at his village where Prophetstown is now located. The Prophet claimed to have had visions or dream.s. 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 thLs information - - ^' -k Hawk acted. GAI.XES ASKS AID FROM THE GOVERXOR. After the council. General Gaines at once sent by special messenger the following letter to Governor Reynolds: ""Headquarters. Rock Island. Jime 5. 1>>31. "■John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois. ""Sir: I do myself the honor to report to Yotu- Excellency the result of my conference with the chiefs and braves of -the band of Sac Indians settled within the limits of yotu" 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 dit^'erer.- treaties of 1S04. "16 and ""2-5. and c< ; with a positive a.ssurance that they mus: n^ovc off. and that I must as soon as they are ready assist them \vith 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 my- self of my present visit to see them well ptmished: and, therefore. I deem it to be the only safe measure now to be taken to request of Yottr Excellencv the battalion of mounted 34 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY men which yoii did mc tho honor to say ■U'culd co-operate with me. They will find at this post a supply of rations for the men, with some corn for their horses, toiiether 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 mitil the difference is over. "I have the honor to be, with great respect, "Your obedient servant, "EnwAiji) V. CIaixe.^. "Major-General liy !:!revet. Commanding. " P. S. Since writing the foregoing remarks, I ha\e learned that the Winnebagoes and Pottawatomie Indians have actuallv been invited l)y the Sacs to join tlicm. I'.ut the former evince no disposition to (Mimplv: and it is suppo.sed by Colonel Cratiot, the agent, that none will join the Sacs, except, ])erhaps, some few of the Kickapoos. E. P. G." This letter evidently plea.sed Governor Rey- nolds for he said: ''I was very much rejoiced on receiving this letter, as it juit my whole proceedings on a legal and constitutional footing-, and the responsil)ilil\- of the war was removed from me to the I'niied States." THE settlers' .affidavits. While at Fort .Armstrong the settlers had prepared another petition, together with numerous aftidavits. which they presented to General Gaines. The following is the sub- stance of the dejjositions of sundry citizens of the Rock River settlement, taken before William Brasher, J. P., and ,b)el Wells, J. P., on the 10th of June, IH'M. "First. John Wells, .lohii W. Spencer, Jonah H. Case, Rennah Wells, Samuel Wells, Benjamin F. Pike, Jo.seph Danforth and Moses Johnson, before Wm. P>raz(>r, .(. 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; threw down their fences, burnt or destroyed their rails, turned horses into their cornfields and almost destroyed their crojxs. stole their potatoes, killed and ate their hogs, shot aiTows into their cattle and put out their eyes, thereby rendering them useless to their owners, saying the land was theirs, and that they had not sold it. In April they ordered the deponents to leave their houses, 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 piu'chased the land of the XTnited States government. The Indians also IcA'eled deadly weapons at the citizens, and on some occasions hiu't some of the said citizens, for attemjiting to pre\-ent the destructiori of their projierty. 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. Nearly fifty Indians headed by their notoriotis 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 conmiitting many other outrages to the knowledge of the deponents. "Second. John Wells, before Joel W'ells, J. P., swore that on the 30th day of Septem- ber, 1.S30, he saw two Sac Indians throwing down his fence, who said they were doing it for the i)urpose of going through, in whicli they jiersisted althotigh 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 Samtiel 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 \\'ells. near the month of Rock River, and said that he must let the squaws cultivate his field, which Wells HISTORIC RO C K I S L A N D COUNTY 35 refusing, they liccaiiic inucli (lis|ilcasc(l, and |)anf(irlli willi liis knitV, amLfinallv ili'scrtcd told him til gd iif'f: iipcm WCIls' i-cfusal they tlic grcuind, l('a\iii,Li; his knife." went a«;n'. Tliat cm tlie ne\l da\- tlie same ,. r .■, , ,.,. . • , THK A(;E\T KKAKS riforBLE. chiets, with aliimt nity warnors, came, armed, and tciid WeUs that he must move nr they •'"ne 4. Ccneral (iaines wnile to Henry would eut the throats of him.self and family. <'i-atio1, suli-Indian agent, to investigate the andmakingmotions to that effect, upon which ■-situation at the Sac village at once; and on said Wells told them that he would take *'"■ twelfth that gentleman sent the foUow- counsel and tell them at three o'clock the ing reply: next day what would lie his determinatcm. " H.ock Island, .lune I'i, ls;51. Thi'\- consented, and went away; at the ap- "Sir: I have the honor to report to you pointecl lime they retiu'iied and told Wells that, agreeably lo my intimation to \'on I that lie must go off, which he accordingly visited the \illag<' of Sac Indians near this did, lea\ing all his ]iossessions to the Indians. ])lace yesterday fi-ii- the purpcise of iiersuailing "Foiirtli. Nancy Thomiison ami N'ancy off the \Mnncliagii I'mplicl and some \-(iung ^^'ells befoi'c W. ,1. lirasher, swoi'c that in men of his hand whom 1 knew had pre\ionsly October, IS'M). two Indians i-csiding in llii' been t lici-i' , and. 1 bclic\c. wil h an intention to village forty or lift}- miles abo\i> tlie mouth sup|iort ihe Sac Indians. I found that the of Hock Ri\-er, and called Sacs oi' W'iimcba- Prophet had jusi left lliei-c inv his \illaui'. goes, came t(i thi^ house of Hcnnah Wells which is within my agency upon Rock Hi\-ei', and commenced chasing some sheep, as if they and although he had pnwionsly promisiMl would kill them. Those Indians were ordeicd that he would j-el ui'u hcinie :md I'emain there, to desist, u|ion which they drew their kni\'es I lun'e reason to belie\-e that his object is to and made at the wmnan, who being alai'uied, get as manv ly 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 l'\ I'ikc. First Ijieutenant: .John \V. Spencer. Second Lieutenant: Griffith Auijury. Sergeants: Jam(\s Haskill Leonard Bryant, Edward Corbin. Corporals: Charles French, I5onj:imin fioble, ("harles (jase, Henry Benson. Allen, Archibald Noble, .\mos C. Brashar, William T. Syms, Thomas Bane, John Bartlett, Michael Been, Joseph Case, Jonah H. Danforth, Joseph Davis, Thomas Dance, Russell Frith, Isaiah Gardner, Thomas Harlan, George W. Hultz, Uriah S. Hubbard, Thomas Syms, Robert Sams, William F. Smith, Martin W. Stringfield, Sevier Thompson, Joel Vandruff, .Joshua Vandruff, Henry VandrulT, Samuel \'annetta, Benjamin Vannetta, Gorham Varner, Edward Wells, Levi Hubbard, Goodridge Henderson, Cyrus Johnson, Moses Kinney, John W. Kinney, Samuel Leek, ('onrad I>evitt, Tliomas McNeil, Henry Miller, George McGec, Gentry Wells, George Wells, Joel Sr. Wells, Joel, Jr. Wells, Huntington Wells, John Wells, Samuel Wells, Rinnah Wells, Asaph Wells, Eri Wells, Ira THE ILLINOIS SOLDIERS. Governor Reynolds in defending his 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 condemned from Dan to Beersheba; and if I levied by raising troops, when there was 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 lie says: "I considered it my duty to call on the vol- luiteers to move the Indians to the west side of the Mississippi." It was but seventeen years after the close of thc^ war of 1S12 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 e.Ktracts from the petitions sent him circulated throughout the counties from which he had asked for troops. Moreover, he made, as he says, "both ]3riv;ite 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 military, 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 l.GOO responded HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 37 to the governor's call and appeared at Beards- town on or about the 10th of Juno. Some were armed with muskets, some witli shot- guns and some with no firearms whatsoever, but all were mounted. The governor man- aged to purcliase 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 tlie jiurpose. The governor appointed Joseph Duncan, then a meml)er of Congress and afterwartls governor of tiiis state, brigadier general to take immediate command of tlie brigade, and Sanniel Whiteside a major, to lake com- nuind of a s])y battalion. This army left its encampment near Rush- ville for Rock Island June 15, the governor marching with tlie brigade. After a ]ileasant march the army encamped at Rockport, now Andalusia. Here there had been previously erecteil a small log cabin or stockade, which was used as headciuarters. During the after- noon a steamboat arrived at the encainpirient, coming fmm Fort Armstrong, loadeil with provisions. Tlu> camp at Rockport was laid out according to military practice, ])ickets were placed, as it was feared the Inilians might make a night attack, and the utmost vigilance was nbserved. The night was a beautiful osition on Rock River opposite the Sac village. An attempt was made to ferry the troops across, liut 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 Ciaines left Fort Armstrong on the steamboat Elnterprise, which had been fortified, and which carried one company of regulars and several cannon. The Enterprise entered Rock River and steamed up stream until op|)osite the Sac \'illage where it met (ieneral Duncan's army with which it was to co-o]3erate. The other nine companies of reg- ular, together with tlii' Hock River Rangers, under command of C'aptain John Bliss, the then commandant of Fort Armstrong, maichcd from the fort to the Indian town. ,Iudge Spencer in his Reminiscences says: " JMajor Bliss formed our company of Rock Ri-\-er 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 tlie 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 38 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND C U N T\Y rounds of grape and caniiister were shot into the bushes to see if any enemy was there. The spy battaHon under Whiteside then formed a line of batth^ and swept the island, and it was then loarned that the north bank of Rook 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 they got to the north side of the island the army was so jammed up and mixed together that no luic knew where his company or regiment was. In the mean- lime Captain Bliss with the regulars and the Rock Ri\er Rangers had learned that it was imi^ossible from that distance' to distinguish Indians from regulai-s ui- volunteers, and that their shots were as Hkely to kill friend as foe. The Indian village now became exposed to view Init no Indians were to be seen. The ri\-er. narrow lint dee]), lay between the army and the village, and the main part of Duncan's armv remained on the island until scows were found in which they wei'c fci'ried aci'oss." Black Hawk says; "We ci-Dssril lhe i-i\-er during the night ami eiicauipcd siuiic disl;mce belc.w Rock Island." lie said hr would \\-a\v remained and been laken pi'isoner by tlic regulars but thai he "was afraid of tlic multi- tude of palefaced mililia. who were on horsi^- back. as th(>\' were undi'r no rcsti'aint of their chiefs." THK VsrKMXC OF SAC \ILL.\(:E. The Illinois militia had ccmie to fight Indians and when thi'y foimd the redmen gone, they became determined to l)e 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 2(ith, the troops commenced setting fire to the houses. Soon the frail dwellings were wrapjied in flames and in less than one hour's time almost every wigwam in the village was in ashes. CJox-eruor Ford who was present said: ".^nd thus ]5erishe(l 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 around the spoils of the forest, or the scalps of their enemies; and where the dark-eyed Indian maidens by their presence and charms, had made it a scene of delightful enchantment to many an admiring warrior," THE ST.\MPEDE. The army spent the night at the Indian town, the regulars, however, going back tf) the fort. On the morning of .Jime 26, Gener- al Duncan marched his army to the Mississ- i])pi 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 Com])any's freight dejiot is now located down to wheie the present ferry dock stands. Th(> horses, some sixteen hunili'cd, were pastured in tli<' bend of the river below ami a strong g\uu-(l placcnl around them. During the .second night a steamboat came up the river and when o]i])osite where the horses were kept commenced blowing its whistle. This unnatural noise at night so frightened the animals that they broke loose and stam- peded, and it was with difficulty that their guards escajied being trampled to d(^ath. The frightened animals ran oiU on the jirairies, up and down both river lianks, and it was several days before they could be recovered, some few liowe\-er being lost. BI^ACK HAWK FDIiCEn TO SIGN' THE TKEATY. General Gaines m\ the 27th .sent a notice to Black Hawk that if he did not come to Fort .\rmstrong he would come after him with his army, a few of the Indians appeared but not Jilack Hawk. Gaines then sent a perem})tory order to the chief and in a few // 1 ST ORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNT Y 39 days Black Hawk and his chiefs and head- men to the imiiiher (if twenty-eight ap]3eared at Fort Aim St rent!,-, and (in June :^(1th, 1S31, a new treaty was sitrned liy wliicli the British hand (if Sacs again agreed t(j make their homes (in the west side of the Mississippi and ne\'er to cross such l■i^•('r, e.\ce])t with the consent of the I'residcut of the rnit(>d States or of the tuA-eriKir (if IHiiidis. iilack Hawk signed tliis treaty and then for the first time ratified, against his will, the treaty of 1804. This treaty was signe(l liy (lener.al (laines and ' l(l^•l■rn(lr Hevudlds fdr the I'nited States, and liv I'ljack Hawk and I \\enty-se\'en cliiefs and warridrs f(ir tlie Sacs and l'\)\es. The volunteer army was init ^alisfic(l with the result of this cam])aign and called tlu' treaty a "Corn Treaty" liecause (lenci'al (laines liad gi^■en 1(1 tlie destitute Indians curn to keep them from starving. The ai'my was dis- banded on Juh' '2d, and tlic men i-eturned to their hduies. Ndt a man was injured (ir killed, either by accident (ir by the Indians; nor did any die of disease, and strange to say udue fwv ap|ilii'(l f(ir a pensidU. This ended the first Black Hawk campaign. For a long time after the signing (if this treaty there was Cdnsi(_lei'abl(' discussidu and much feeling over the cpuistion whether Generals Gaines and Dimcan knew that Black Hawk and his Indians had des(M-te(.l their village on the night of the U)th of Jime. Thomas Ford, afterwar(^ls Governor (if Illinois, wild was a militia ^•(llullteer and marched ahead with the spies, said: "Gaines and Duncan had reasdii td belie\'e befdre the commencement of the march from the camp on the Mississipjii, that the Indians had departed from their village; that measures had been taken to ascertain the fact befdr<> the vohmteers 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 df this county, acted as guide, and when it became kudwn that the Indians were not in the ^•illage, (ieneral Duncan In^gan to reprimand ^liller for not letting him kiuiw that the main river was on the north side (if \'andruff's Island. Miller cursed him lo his tace at the head of his troo])s for refusing his services as a guide when offere(l the night before, and also cen- sured him f(ir iidt gi\ing information which had lieen offered him, which inclines me to the belief that both Generals Gaines and Duncan knew that the Indians had departed. As witnesses to this treaty we find the names of twd Itdck Island settlers, .Jdseph Danfdrth and I'eiijaniin l'\ Pike. TUIO UL.VCK UAWIv W.Mi. Black Hawk with his band ikiw removed to Iowa near the mouth (if the Des Moines River, at the site of the abandoned Fort Mad- ison. Neajidiie, secdiid in command, took a trip to Maiden, Canada, and updii his rettirn in the fall of is:-fl, told Black Hawk that he would receive assistance from the British. Tlie Prophet, whdse \dllage on Rock River was where Prophetstown, Illinois, now is, and who had great influence over Black Hawk, also sent word that the Ottawas, Chippewas. Pottawatomies ami 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 army 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 reoccujn' 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 whieh had been erected ai'ound 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 sounding the alarm and ad^'ising the settlers to seek protection. We cannot realize today the wild excitement and dread despair the news of an Indian uiirisiiii;- caused among our ])ionccr settlers. Few if any had horses to use in carrying their families and goods. 0.\en were the beasts of luu'dcn and the settlers were obliged to take what little they could and cany it on their persons. John Wakefield, in liis history of the Black Hawk War written in 1834, gives an amusing sketch, of the excitement attendant upon the news of the expected Indian attack. He. says: "hi the eastern part of the state the people were as nuich alarmed as in the northwest. Din-ing one of the many false alarms that 'The Indians are coming' a family was living near the Iroquois River that had no horses liut a lai'ge family of small cliildren. The father and nmther each took a child and the rest were directed to follow on foot as fast as possible. The eldest daughter also carried (me 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 ciiildren at different times as the stream was high and so rapid the motlier and daughter conld not stem the current with such a hiu-- deii. When they all. as they thought, had got ox'cr 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 pr(>pared 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 e.xpected 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 SC.\RE. All the settlers in this vicinity had come to Fort Armstrong and taken quarters there or in the stockade, both of which were over- crowded. After the first scare, the settlers wanted to go back to their farms and do their spring ])lanting. Captain Bliss, who commanded at the fort, yielded to their re- quest, and arranged with them a signal of alarm in case they or any of them should be attacked, or were in iinminent danger of an attack, which signal was that they should "fire off a gun." When such gun was fired, every one should flee to tlie Island, .\pril 7, Joshiui Vandriiff and Hacklev Samnis, while crossing Vandruff Island, saw a flock of wild turkeys. They could not resist the temptation and, creeping within range, fired their guns at the flock, eacli man bringing down his bird. The noise of the two guns could 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 lied ]iell-inell, 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 (':i])tain Phil Kearney, who was left in command of the fort, began preparing it for a siege. Bliss and his men got nearly to R.ock Kivei' wlicn they met Vandruff and Samms running after the fleeing settlers trying to ex]>lain the mistake. When these two told the cai-itain "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 Vandr\iff and Samms. BL.\CK H.\WK STARTS. The 6th of April, ls:!2. Black Hawk, with about 1,000 Indians, including warriors, women, old men and children, together with all their possessions, crossed the Mississippi at Yellow Banks (Oquawka) and leisurely ]iro- ceeded up the east bank of the river to Rock River and thence u]) that river opposite to his old village where he camiied 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 ls;32, 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 Prophets! own. From Blac^k Hawk's biogra])hv we learn that the trip to Prophetstown was ])art of his |ilan to again get control of the site of his aiu'ient 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 rendezA-ous 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 tin that trip contemplate war, as no Indian war party ever carries with it the women or children. Black Hawk imdoubtedly 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 stopped at his village and there made his defense. At Yellowbanks the Prophet met Black Hawk, and made a talk to his braves, telling them "tliat as long as they were ])eacea,!)le, the Americans would not dare molest them. That we were not yet ready to act othei'wise. We must wait until we ascend Rock River and receive oiu- reinfoi cements and we will then be able to withstand an army." GENERAL ATKINSON ('f)MES TO FORT ARM- STRONG. On .lune 31, 1831, a war i)arty of nearly 100 Sacs and F(jxes 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, 1832, General Henry Atkin- son, then commanding Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, received orders to proceed up the Mississippi .and demand from the Sacs and Foxes the principals engaged in the murder of the Menom-inees. Atkinson left St. Bonis 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 connnand. 42 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY April 10, Atkinson's army reached the Des Moines Rapids, where they were informed that Black Hawk and his warriors were marching up tiie river. The army now has- tened to Fort Armstrong, arriving there the night of the I2th. The 13th, 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 affair. 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 Atkinison returned to Fort Armstrong. Accompanying him was ]Aen- tenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterward-s President of the United States, and two com- panies of the First Infantry. Before leaving Fort Armstrong, General Atkinson had sent a letter to Governor Reynolds asking for state aid. .^fter Black Hawk passed his old village. General Atkinson sent ('ai>tain Phil Kearney up Rock 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 u]) 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 every information 1 have received, I am of the opinion that ihf intention of the ]5ritish band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier." THE GOVEUNOR's PROf'LA STATION. 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 respectable 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 coiu'se I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain inactive when his country is invaded, and the helpless part of the communit}' 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 cotmtrymen will realize my ex- ]iectations 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 been delayed in their work but, as in the year 1831, volunteers were eager and willing to offer their services, 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 services of Thomas Kinney, a Rock Island settler as a guide, Mr. Kinney HISTORIC RO C K ISLAND COU N T Y 43 beins; able to understand a little of the Sac language. In the march uj) the ri\'er, Gen- eral White^^ide with the Illinois \'(ilunTeers marched on the east side. While (Jeneral Atkinson, with four lumdretl reg\ilars came, Sf)nie on the west side and some in boats with the sup])lies. With Atkinson was ('nhmel Zacharv Taylor. A liclCK ISLAND COMP.WV. It seems the martini s])irit of I lie citiz<'ns of Riiek Island Coiuity was n(it stilleil or satisfied by the marcli following is from I he I'olls as corrected and now on hie in the \\ ai' Depart- ment at Washington. They all resided in Roek Island Count\', with the exee])tion of Thomas Kennev, who was from Adams County. Captain, John W. Kenney, enrolled May 'JO, 1S32; First Lieutenant, .biseph l)anfmpson, enrolled i\I:iy 20; William Thompson, enrolled May 20; lr:i Wells, enrolled May 20; Eri Wells, enrolh'd May 20; Asaph Wells, enrolled May 20; Xel- •son Wells, enrolled May 20; Rannah Wells enrolled May 20; Jeol Wells, Jr., enrolled May 20; Joel Wells, Sr., enrolled May 20; L\dlds in "My ( )wn Times" says: "On the 12th of .lune 1 oi'dei'ed a battalion to be oi'ganized and to select their officers, to guard the frontiers bclwceii the Mississij)pi and l'eoi-ia on the north of Illinois River. Sam- uel Hogart was elected major of the battalion," l''rom another authority. I learn th.'it the company diil gu.ard duty on the frontier, drew its lalions dail\', ate lie.artily, played euchre and rcccixcd the r<'niunerat i\'e sum of 86 cents pei- d,a\- to]- each man ;ind his horse. Sauuiel Hogart, the nuijor of the odd battalion to which Kenney's company was attached, was before enlistment a merchant in McDouough County. OTHKK ROCK ISLAND S(.»LDI KKS. Rock Islanil Co\mty furnisheil more sol- diers than those gi\ en in Captain John W. Kenney's company, ^'et. I have been .able to ti'ace but few owing to the fact that the rolls ale by no means complete. A large num- ber joined the state militia and were never sworn into the United States ser\ice. conse- ipienth- no lecord was kept and their names will reUKun forever unknown. 1 have fre- (piently heard certain of our old citizens claim to have been in the Black Hawk War, a,nd 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 reports 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. ROSWELL H. SPENCER. Roswell H. Spencer was a brother of Judge John W. Spencer and was one of the very early settlers. He seems to hn\e been an ardent patriot, having three enlistments to his credit, serving out each enlistment, and upon his term of service expiring again enlisting in a new company. He enlisted first in Captain Thomas Carlin's company which belonged 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, 1S32, in Captain A. W. Snyder's company and was mustered out of sei-vice June 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 Abraham Lincoln served as a private. JAMES KNETSAR. James Knctsar, who for many years lived in Moline and who died there in the eighties, was a member of Captain David Powell's company of mountivl 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 service. REDDISH, THE TUNNELS AND KAMES. In Captain Thomas Carlin's company, we find enrolled with Roswell H. Spencer, John Reddish, who enlisted at Rock Island May 10; Luther Tunnel and William Tunnel, 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 was 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 Carrolton, 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 company, serving from May 27 to Jvme 15. Charles Eames, who was sheriff of this county from 1837 to 1839, was a member of Captain Enoch Duncan's company of mounted riflemen, commanded by Colonel H. Dodge. He enlisted in company \\ith his brother May 19, 1832. He was mustered out of the service September 14. THE WELL.S 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 ('aptain A. ^\'. Snyder's company antl were present and participated in the batth; 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 service 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 CO U N T Y 45 April 21 to June 3, ISo'J, when it was inustored out. This company diil iiai-risoii duly. Tlic records say it was (•iiin])()S('il df men tmm Rock Island and adjacent counties, hut I have been unable to jilace but cmc. hi- beins Samuel Wells. The roster nf the ronipany is: Captain: Seth Pratt. Lieutenants: John M. Crnbtree, Joseph I,eister. Sergeants: Simjison Stew.'irl, William 15. Sisk, Elihu Sparks. Abraham Cral>tree. Corporals: James Stoekson. (ieor!j,'e Yates, James Keller, James Curry, Thomas I'm-ton. Fifer: James Carr. Privates: Gordon .\cton. .\allian liradbnry, Henry Hrantly, C. Cii-dwcll, Isaac Hmilh, Daniel Lirock, Amos Hradlcy, .John Pradshaw, John M. Bohvare. Ib'nry Castlebury, Stephen L. Cooper, John l)a\is, Samuel Smith, Henry Ford. William Foster. Isaac (iulliher, J'arnell Hamilton, Harrison Huidy, \\'illiam Hopper, Alfred Jackson, Jonathan Leijihton. Nicholas Long, James M. Low. Irc(lcll Law I'l'iice, Mar- tin Langston, Samuel Wells, l.arkin P>. L;uig- ston, .John Tx'tcher, lIem->- Melton, Francis McConnell, Frederick .McManicl, .lames New, Wm. ('. Uverstreet. John I'ervine, William Pointer, Jonathan Kuss, Andrews Smothers, Isaac Schmick. Benjamin Goliel in his reuiiniscenses speaks of joining a com])any and doing guard duty at the fort, but I do not find his luimc on the roster. At the commencement nf hostilities. (!ov- ernor Reynolds of Illinois, a]")]iointed (ieorge Davenport, the Indian trader on the island. one of the C[uarternuisters. his conimissidu giving him the rank of ciihuiel, by which title he was afterwards known. The vohuiteer army after a hard ni:n-cli, reached Dixon on the evening of .May IDth, ahead of the regulars. Black Hawk and his Indians had in the meantime reached the Prophet's village and had sent word tn the Pottawatomies asking them to meet him in a council on Sycamore Creek, (since called Stillman's Run.) The Pottawatomies were dividt'd. Shaubena, their Viighest chief, fav- ored the whites, but J-iig Foot .and Mike (iirty, a half-breed, were for war. When White- sides arrived at Dixon, he fniuid there ahead of him two independent batt .alions, in .all three hundred and fort>--one men. The om' was commanded by Major Isaiah Stillman, the other l;)y Major Davifl Hailey. These com- mands objected to joining the m.ain army except as rangers, they said llicy had come to "fight Indians" and belicx-ed if they were alloweil, thev could go out and in a few days end the troul)le. .Al'ler iimcli persvtasion, (ieneral Whitesiiles allowed Majors Stillman's :inil l'>aile\'s baltalions tn go dh a scouting ex|ice miles from the camp of the whites. Tlii' Inifians were pre- paring a dog feast foi' tlic \-isiting Pottawat- omies. Le.ariung th.a.t a body of white sol- diers were making camp, lilack Hawk sent three of his young men with a white Hag to talk with the whites, and to arrange for a co\mcil with White P.e:i\-er (Atkinson). When the Indian iiarty was still a mik' away, they were iierceived by the \ii|unteers and almost the whole camp ruslied oul and captured the Indian envoys, and hurried them into camp. Black Hawk had sent five other Indians to follow those bearinsi' a while Hag, to watch and see how the others were reccdved. When the whites jjerceived the second party, about twenty of the mounted xdlmileers started in pursuit and killed two of the Indians, the other three escajied and returned to where lihu'k Hawk and his thirty-five braves were in camji. When Hhick Hawk heard of liow his flag bearers had been treated he pre]iared his braves to meet the whites, who were now- all in hot pursuit. The Indians with.drew behind a fringe of bushes and when the vol- unteers came within close range the Indians 46 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND CO .(7"V T Y fired a volley. The volunteers fled, pursued by part of the Indiau.s. Niftht fall ended the chase. Stillman's and Bailey '.s brigade kept up the flight luitil they reached l)i.\on, twen- tv-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 fwc that had followed the flag bearers. It has been said lh:it Stilhnan's and Bailey's men were under the influence of licjuor, 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 the truce bearers in the proji- er manner, there is no doubt that such ar- rangements would have been made that hostilities would never have commenced, and Black Hawk and his Indians would have returned to the west b.nnk of the Mississippi. Black Hawk and his hand were almost destitute of provisions and ammunition, and their captiu'e of Stillman's stores, highly elated them. Black Hawk now sent his women and children by way of the Kishwau- kee to the swamps of Lake Koshkonbng near the headwaters of Rock River. The Winne- bagoes acting as guides. Here his |-)arty was recruited by W'innebagoes and Potta- watomies. On the day of Stillman's flefeat. General Whiteside with fovu'teen liundrcd men pro- ceeded to the scene of battle and buri(Ml the dead. The State of Illinois has at Stillman Valley, erected a monununit in Imnor 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 Di.xon. 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 com])elled to serve 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 aliout and marched south to Ottawa, where on the 271 h and 28th days of May, they were nuistered out of the service. On the 22(1 day of May, a party of thirty I'dttawatomies and three Sacs, under Girty killed fifteen men, w-omen and children at the D.avis farm on Indian 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 ('row, a Winnebago chief, who had been sent to their rescue by Henry Gratiot, agent for the Winnebagoes, 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 serve 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 vmder Colonels Frye and Henry agreed to remain in the field to jjro- tect the frontier. Abraham Lincoln was among this niunber. He, having re-enlisted May 27, as a private. Black Hawk now- divided his people into several parties and nuide forays against the whites. On June 14th, a party of eleven Sacs killed five white men at Spafford farm on the Peck- atonica Ki\('r. Colonel Dodge with twenty- nine men followed them aftd the next day killed eleven, although he had three killed luid one wo\mded in his own party. On .hme 24th, Black Hawk in conuuaiid of HISTORIC li C K ISLAND COUNTY 47 a party of braves made an attack nii Apple River Fort, fourteen miles east of (ialena. After an liour's siege, the Imlians afirr de- stroying the neighborimj; cabins, wit liilrew. On June 25th, the same ))arty attacked Major Dements' spy battalion, a hundred and fifty strong, at Kellogg's (ii-o\'e. (Icneral Posey arrived in time with a dctachnirni of volunteers for their relief. The Indians lost fifteen. The whites' loss was live. Skii'- niishes were had at Pluni l\i\('i- boit . I'uir Oak Grove, Snisiniwa .Monml. and l'>lne Mounds. On .J\me 15th, the new troops met at I'^ort W'illnirn at Peril, their ai;gregale sti-englh was about tliree thousand and twenty men. making the entire army in the Held ahoiii four thousand effective men. Tlic ai'iiiy now uni.ler General Atkinson, m.arched u]i the east bank of l^ock l\i\ci'. While ('i-o\\ offered to conduct our army to lUack Hawk's camp, and that wilj' savage ke]it the whites on a goose chase for several days li-yiiig to entrap them. Black Hawk in the meanlinie, had started westward to the Wisconsin lti\-er, and on the evening of July '21st. the Indians were overtaken on the blutfs of the Wisconsin where a decisive battle was fought in which General Henry commanded the Amci'ican forces. This army charged the mciiiy and drove them fr<.im ]iosition after position with great loss, until sundown. This was the lirst 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 hundi-ed and sixty-eight dead on the field. I \M'nty-fi\'e 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 reached the bluffs of the Mississippi. The Indians had reached the ri\-er and were mak- ing active preparations to cross. .\t this time, Captain Throckmorton commanding the steamer Warrior, arrived at tlie spot. The Indians displayed a white flag. Throck- morton conuiianded them to come on bo:inl. Thev replieil that the\' could not. because thev had no boats. I'pon ihis Throckmorton final his six-])onnder camion loaih'd with canister into the Indians, killing t wenly-thi'ee women and children. Genei'al .\tkinson now came upon the scene, and at the mouth of the Had .\xe, attacked the Indian encampment. The Indians were cr ])oint of Rock Island. The force of regnlars under Colonel \\'illiatn Lawrence^ who came up the river for the purpose of lo- cating and erecting the fort, arrived at the mouth rward Mrs. Goldsmith, reached the island. They were the first American ladies who ever ascended the ri^•er to this jilace. Mrs. Davenport died in 1S47. ageersuading them to retire peaceably to the west side of the Mississippi River. Abotit thirty chiefs were present. This council was held b\ (Icneral Gaines, who came from .lefferson Barracks in the steamer Fnterprise with a force of regular troops. It resulted in con\inciug General Gaines that the Indians were determined to fight rather than give u]) their possessiims. We shall ha^ i- more to say of these matters when we C(jine to gi\'e an account of the Black Hawk War in 1831 anil '32. During the war, Fort Armstrong was the rendezvous for the soldiers assembled in this (pLarter. On the 7th day of August, 1832, five d.ays 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 21st of September, for the strip 56 HISTORIC ROCK I f^L A N D COUNTY of land known as the "Black Hawk Pur- chase," in Iowa. This treaty vvas 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 & 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 1S40. Fort Arm- strong was then a depot for arms. Captain Shoemaker was placed in charge, and re- mained until 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 Cunmiings, 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 purposes. ROCK ISLAND ARMORY AND ARSENAL. The movement for the establishment of a Western Arsenal on Rock Island was begun as early 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 Congress 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 followuig named persons: Ira 0. 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 pam])hlet, with a map of this locality, upon the claims and advantages of Rock Island as the site for th(> 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- ture requirements of the Government , and that the preponderating growth of the northwest, // / .s' T R I C R C K ISLAND CO U N T Y 57 as well as the alisenee of any such estab- lishment within its limits, indieate that such an armory should be localetl uixni the upper Mississippi. Coming directly to the claims of Rock Island, the memorialists say: " H(>- lie\in,n that Rock Island, in the State of Illi- nois, in the centrality and safety of its geo- graphical position, the facilities it affortls for transportation to and from other ])arts of the country, the cheapness and aluiiidauce of its inoti\c ]iower and the materials used in the nuinufacttu'e of ai-nis, in the supply and cheaj)ness of labor and food, in tlic hcalth- fulness, spacioiisiicss and gcnci-al diiiiliility of the site, and the possession and ow nci'sliip thereof by the Government free of cdst or ex]:iense — enjoys advantages ('(lual. if not superior, to those possessed liy an\- other place in the northwest t(ir the jncntidn cif such an establishment — your lueiiiorialists would respectfully ask yoiu' attention to ;i brief notice of these adxantages." The :ul\an- tagcs are set forth in the ten or twehc pages which follow with great forct' and cogency of argument. In this docuinent we lind a re- port of the action of the Iowa Legislature and of the authorities of Illinois on the subject, and a certificate of tlie government agent in charge of the Island. JOINT RESOLUTIOXS OF THE IOW.\ LKlilSLATURE. "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 jjrocure the establishiniMit , at the earliest possible time, by the (ioveniiuenl of tlie United States, of an Arsenal and Armory, for the distributicui of arms to the stat(>s of the iu)rth\vest, on the Island of Rock Island, in the State of Illinois. "Resolved That the Secretary of State be requested to forward to each of tlu' Sena- tors and representati\-es in Congress a copy of these resolutions." 'Approved March 24, iMil." No session of the legislature of Illinois liad been helil immediately prior to this action, l)ut 'ioAcrnor Yates and the otlier state officers, both civil anil military, ad- (h'essed a letter to the Secretary of War, urging the location of the Armory upon Rock Island. certific'.vte from the oovernment agent. "I, T. ,1. Pickett, (Jovernment 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 nunibei-, wlui hold leases under and acknowleilge themseh'es teiumts of said Government, in which lease it is specificallv agi'eed that the 1,'ssors are to vacate the premises in thirt\' dtus from the date of l'ecei\int; notice i-e(pru-iiig them to lea\ e T. ,1. I'li'KETT, Go\'ernnieut .\gent. Hock Islanil. ill., Oct. '-'."i, bstil." Copies of the above memorial were freely distriliuteij among the membi-rs of Congress and laid on the desk of every senator and representative. An act of Congress pro- viding for the Arsenal antl .\rmory, and mak- ing an appropriation of -SlOO, ()()(), was passed July 11, 1.S62. In May of the following year a commission, composed of Major F. 1). Call- ander, Major C. P. Kingsbury and Captain F. J. Tread well, was sent by the Ordinance Department to locate the pro])osed Arsenal building on Rock Island. Sites also foi- mag- azines on the island were recomnieniled by the commission. Tlu' report was adopted and Major Kingsbury was ordered to take charge of the work of construction. He arrived in August, 1863, and (Ui the .'id day of Septem- l:)er broke ground for the government build- ing at the lower end of the island. F'rom an article prepareil by ('aptain L. M. Haverstick, and published in the Chicago Inter-Occan at the time we quote the follow- ing, with a few changes adapting it to our purjjose: 58 II I ST R I C R C K 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 that time foiward 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 it 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 necessary to buy out the interests of the [u-i- vate parties and of the railroad company. A commission consisting of General J. M. Scofield, Selden M. Church and .James Barnes, was appointed to a])])raisc the lands on the island owned by individuals. An act of (Congress, approved June 27, 1866, approj)riated the money necessary to buy out tlu-ir claims, authorized the rcloca. tion of the railroatl Ijridge, and ])rovided for compensating the railroad company 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 ]3risoners. 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 the22d, Colonel Richard Henry Rush arrived and took command of the post, and Colonel A. J. Johnson was ap- ])ointed in charsic of the prisoners. The first installment of prisoners, taken at the battle of Lookout Mountain, arrived from Chatta- nooga, Decend)er 3, 1863; and from that time until the close of the war a' large number of prisoners were kejit 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-i)()x, many of sciu'vy, 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 camum taken from the Confederates, planted with their muzzles in the ground, 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 // I sr U R I (' ROC K I S L .1 .V I) C U N T Y 59 and providing the fir.st funds t'oi' l)('i;innin.t; the necessary buildings. Major C. P. Kingsbury , a well kiinwn and competent officer of the (Jrdnance Depart- ment, was assigned as the first commandant and under liis direction, a year later, a store- house was erected at the lower or extreme western end of the Arsenal, whicli, with its tower and clocfc, has since Ijecn a landmark and an object of interest, not mei'ely to the inhaf>itants of the three cities, but also to all travelers on the main line of the Rock Island road. In 1S65 General Thomas .] . Rodman was assigned to the command, and followed in 1S71 by General I). \\'. I'lagler. who remained commamUxnt until 1S.S(). To ilicsc two of- ficers is mainly due the ui'iieral plan of the Arsenal as it exists today, with nearly all its ])rinci])al l^uildings; their concept ion of the dis|iosifion and arran.iiemeui df ihe leii ^i-eat sho])s, with the various subsidiai'v biuldiiiiis. was an immense ad\-ance o\'er the stereo- typed plan of all arsenal constrm-t ion of pi-e- eeding years, and in sulisequent develo]iments, in response to great demands upon the Ar- senal's resources, has [iroved most admirably adapted for the purpose for which designed. These plans as first prepared by liodman, developed by Flagler, and followed with only slight modifications by their successors, have resulted in the erection, principally of .loliet stone, of a magnificent eriuii)ment of shops, storehouses, l}arrackH. (juarters and numerous sulisidiary l)>iil dings. The shops comprise ten stone buildings sixty feet wide, built arouinl three sides of a rectangular central ccnirt, with fronts two hundred aiul ten feel and wings three hun- dre(l feet long: eight of Ihe shops are of four stories, the other two of only one, f)ut pro- viding in all over thirty acres of floor space. Seven of these buildings are now occupied liy machinery, the other three by the raw mater- ial for manufacture and by finished stores. There are also two large storehouses and numerous other small buildings for boilers for the heating |.ilant and for lumber, coal, oil. etc.. for ofhcer's quarters, soldiers' barracks and for the many other necessities of a large government manufacturing establishment. One of these storehouses replaced an earlier structure destroyed Ijy fire with its contents was only completed in the spring of 1905. 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 Iniildings of moi'e modern design, one frame and tlie other of yellovi brick, have been erected at the eastern end of Terrace Road, forming a most ;[tti'acti\'e addition to the residential district of ili<> .\rseiial, and durinsi the i^resent yeai'. the old Imildim^s, relics of ihe ('i\il War. used for main' \'ears as a luiSpital and as stables, have l)een replaced by attr;icti\e :\nd con\'enient modern struc- tures. In May, ISSti, ("(.loiiel T. ({. Baylor, Ord- nance Department, succee(led (ieneral Hagler as commandant. He was followed three years later l)y Colonel .1. M. Whitle more and he, in 1892, by Cieneral A. R. Hulfington, who con- tinued in command for five years. I'nder these officers the main buildings were carried to completion, manufactures prosecuted at a moderate scale, and under the latter, the present magnificent liridge from the Arsenal to Davenport erected. The island is connected with the three neighboring cities l)y 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 ('it\- of Daven- port is the third bridge pro\ ided 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 |uoneer bridge 60 H I i^TORlC ROCK I fi L A N D COUNTY across the Mississippi river from its mouth to its source and was completed fifty-two years ago, being used by the Rock Island 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 dtiuble railroad track above and double street car track and wagon bridge be- low. The traffic across this liridge is now much 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 number 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- Ijoring City of Rock Island. It was built in response to petitions from Arsenal workmen for their accommodation and under a special revocable license granteil by 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 reservetl solely for use of the employes. In March, 1897, Oaptain Stanhojie E. Blunt, Ordnance Department, was appointed commandant and through successive pro- motions to Major, I;ieutenant-(^oloiiel 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 throe-fourths of a mile across at its widest ])art. The main channel of the Mississippi river passes between the island and the Iowa shore, a much narrower branch separating it from the Illinois bank. Across this smaller stream, a short ilistance aliove the shops, a masonry dam has l)een 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 lu)using this installation, with generators, shafting and all other incidental machinery, has lieen 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 provitled, 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 th(> navy yards or other arsenals possess this combination of ample water HIS T HI C RU C K ISLAND C U N T Y 61 powpf and electrical transmission, and the de- veloi^nient of the power plant to its present really magnificent condition, perniittiiia: the greatest economy, with also the greatest facility and convenience of operation, is one of the principal distingiiishing features of the Rock Island Arsenal. Several years ago Congress made a prelimi- nary ap]iropriation 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 al)out two lunidrod and fifty finished rifles per day. The complete estalilishment of the plant required a material increase in the jiower ]H'o- vided and also its transmission to the new armory: it also included the completion of three of the Large shops, wiih elevators, a steam heating plant, lavatory conveniences, work benches for employes, rooms for fore- men and inspectors, anil the introduction of the man\' minor hut essential ajipliances rerpiisite for economical and efficient opera- tion, including even timnels connecting llie basement floors of the different shops, which afford passage for the heating ]jipes, fuel oil ]iipes, electric power and lighting wires, ami for small trolley cars for transportation be- tween buildings 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 manufactvu-e of gvm carriages, eqtiipments, small arms, etc., employs at present about 2,000 men, at a monthly charge for wages of from $12.5,000 to »! 30,000. 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 1S1)7. The total expenditures at the Arsenal in the fiscal year 1S97 for all purposes amounted to IfOS.S.OOO: whik." for the last three fiscal years it has averaged nearly S4. 000, Odd annually The Arsenal upon the scale now operated provides tlie soldici's' ordnance equipment for an armv of 00,000 men, and is besides constantly adding to the reserve supply. ]^y merely taking on additional emjiloyes it could, without delay, increase its output to meet the demaiuls of an army of half a mil- lion men. and by adding additional machin- ery, for which necessary space and power has been jirovided and its disposition arranged for, and also llir eniploNes foi- its o]ieration. this ovitput could be still fui'tlici' immensely increased. Besides the saddle in all its jiarts, beginning with the lumber used in the safldletree, the bridle, saddlebags, rifle scabbard, halter, horse-l)rush, cartridge Ikix, saber belt, anil many other articles included under the gener- al designation of infantry, cavalry and horse ecpiipment, are also made. The haversack, canteen, cup, meat can, kinfe, fork and spoon_ of duck and other material, which constitute the soldiers' more personal equipment, and of metal the bits, spvu-s, ])icket pin, etc.. which he also uses, are included in the manu- factures. I\Iany 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 liack. The Arsenal has recently completed .some six-inch Ijarbette carriages for seacoast forts and for four years past has been regularly engaged in the manufacture of a large number of the new three-itu'h field gun carriages, model of 1902, with the accompanying 62 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY limbers, caissons, battery wagons, and their 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, thoush at Rock Island it comprises as stated only a portion of the inanufacturing work. Tn 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 pvirpose 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 approximately 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 himdred and twenty-five finished mag- azine rifles per day, an industry in itself of greater magnitude than that of the army's other .small arm factory until within very recent years. Besides its manufactures the Arsenal is also the distributing point to all |)arts 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, 1863-65, $231,384.- 72; General T. J. Rodman, 1865-71, $2,302,- 626.30; General D. W. Flagler, 1871-86, $4,982,481.45; Colonel T. G. Baylor, 1886-89, .$663,4.50.00; 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, $11,085,8-35.33. The total disbursement for labor has been $17,213,056.90 since the establishment of the Arsenal to .luly 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 amovmt of machinery which had been installed, being operated to only a moderate extent and the disbursements, including wages, being mainly in connection with 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 slightl}' increas- ing but still very moderate extent. The third period embraces the great in- crease in amount and variety of manufacture, H I S T () R I V R O C K 1 S L A N D C O U N T Y 63 including that of small arms, and afCdinpany- iiig exjiansion of plant, with some inciden- tal huildinc; operations, commencing in the latter part of 1S<,I7, during the lirst year of the administration of Colonel Hhmt, sliglitly before the earlier days of tlie Sjianish War, and continuing to the present date. Senator Allison, to whose faith aiul interest in the Arsenal must be largely ascril)eoggy in pari and tlid not yield well until modern methods of diain- age were employed. Along the soulli side of the Rock River bottiuu blulTs aiipoar, the range rising abruptly in places tu an a\erage height of more than one lumdred feet. At Andalusia the bluffs approach the Mississi]ipi River which washes their base almost to the southern line of the county, except in a few places where an uncultivaleil low botloni intervenes, seamed with sloughs. This range of bluffs is cut up with hollciws and ra\ines aiul is covered with a luoclerate gniwth of timber, principally oak. Tlie rough land extending back into the highland for several miles is the least \aluable portion of the coimty for agriculture. Rock River is the princi|ia! stream within the borders of the coimty and furnishes a water power second only to the Mississi])))!. It rises in Wisconsin about midway between the Wisconsin River and Lake Michigan. Its course in Illinois is almost one hvmdred and eighty miles long. Its chief tributary, the Pecatonica, discharges its watei-s below the northern boundary of the state. The valley of the Rock River is one of the most healthfid and wealthy sections of Illinois. After form- ing a portion of the boundary between Henry and Rock Island Cu-ally belongs reference to a remarkable group of mineral springs known as the " Rinnah Wells" springs. They have lieen known from Indian days to lia\c uicdicinal pi'opei'- ties and smne of them were long ago improved by stone curbs and facilities for obtaining tlu^ water in perfect purit\'. The sediment of the water caused by natiu-al oi- ariitici.al evaporation is a whitish mineral salt of pi-o- nounced and I'ather agi'eeable soda t.-iste. These springs have also been called the "Wliite 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 |inipliecied years ago that a great resort would some day be built u]> near Andalusia. These expectations have so far been unreal- ized, tlie use of the waters luning 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 luecca of tourists and healthseekers. NATUR.\L SCENIC BEAUTY. The variety in the topography of Rock Island Comity has made possible scenery of commanding Ijeauty. Early voyagers were impressed with the charm of situation of Hock Island, the splendid island surroutided iiy the 68 // I ST Rl C R C K 1 S LAND COUNTY bright waters of the Mississi])])! mid hounded by the outlj-ing bluffs Hke unto a spacious amphitheatre changing with tlie seasons from the charm of green clad eminence to russet autumn foliage splashed with vermilion tints and then to sno>v-clad winter hills. Many chapters liave been written of this section. One extract will be sufficient to give an idea of all. Governor Reynolds in his "f.ife and Times" lias this paragraph: "The scenery about Kock Island is not surjiassed by any in the whole length of tlie Mississippi. 1| seems as thougbv Nature had made an effi^rt 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 se\cral miles long, and three-fourths of a mile wide. The rocks are covered with a fertile soil. The river washes arounrl its base witli a rapid current of pure and limpid water and Rock River, a few miles south, is seen in the dis- tance, forcing its way with £rreat rapidity over the rocky rapids into the Fatlier of Waters. The country around it is intersperse foreground lies the town of Milan to wliich the elevation and distance give picturesqueness. In the immediate foreground are the four channels of Rock River spanned by railroad and wagon liridges, the intervening islands covered with groves of stately elms and be- tween the shimmering and glancing 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 Indian settlements of the continent from the time when tradition begins. Black Hawk's Watch Tower takes its name from this Indian chief and great f^ac warrior; he having watched from its summit 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 hamlsome inn crowns the elevation and the varicnis attractions of a modern amusement park furnish recreation for the multitude. COAL MEASURES. In that portion of the county lying ^\est of Rock Island the coal measures are found as // I S T R I C ROC K ISLAND CO U N T V 69 "diitliers", overlayiii,^' aii- \ears cxten- thi(d4. H I ST O RI (' li C K I S L A N D C U N T Y 71 At this time the .settlers had to depend upon Fdi't Armstrdnii' for mail facilities. The matter of going to the postoliic-e liecanie l)urdensome, as it included ferriage to the island. This expense adde Upper I'recinct commciiccil at the mouth of the Marais d'()sicr Slough and continued as far west as Henry Ab'Xcal's house. The \-oters in this territory assembled at the home of Walter Phillips. The lemaiudcr of the county formed the bower J'recinct and the voting |jlace was fixed at the house owned by Daven- port and Faridiam in Farnhamsburg. The first .judges apijointeel in the Upper I'recinct were Asaph Wells, Janies Haskell and Thomas b. (lalpin: ii. the bowei". Joel Wells, Sr., William Hrashai' and William Carr. I'ebruary I'i. ls:v">, the legislature passed an act to establish the county seat of Hock Island Uount}'. Tlie i-on,missioiiers appointed under this law. on the .Sth day of .lune bs;-!5, locatetl and established the town of Stephen- son, and the county seat of Hock Island County. The commissioners were 'ieorge l)a\en]iort . John W. Spencer, and .lolm Vanatta. By order of the county commissionei's court, in November, ]SSr>, the records and courts of the county were remo\ed from Farnhamsbiu'g to Stephenson. The report of the commissioners was made June 8, 1835. This document ordered "that Charles R. Bennet be appointed to sur\ey the town of Stephenson, in Hock Island Coimty, 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 Ri'publiran. the Alton Spectator, the Northwestern Gazette and the Cialena Advertiser." The town of Sle|ihenson was therefore laid out by Charles R. P)eniiet and the plat recorded .luly 10, 18.3."). This recoreled plat, bears the certificate of Joseph Conway, clerk to the count_y coiu.missioners. The town com|>ri-^ed 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 erecteil and upon which the hamlsome modern court house now stands The lots were most generous, as Ifefilled a time when land was cheap. They measured eighty feet front and had a depth ol' one hundred and fifty feet. Colonel tieorge Davenport, .bilm W. Spen- cer and John Vanatta, the count}-' com- missioners, entered the town site of Stephen- sou for the purposes of a county seat, May 11, ls:-)6. Its descrii)lion was "the north- west fractional fpiarter of Section Ii5, con- taining 01.95 acres." This entry was made ill the lanil office of this disli'ici at (ialena. To add to ll Ilicial dignity of the local Courts, the commi.^sioners ordered September 7, 1.S3.5, " t hat .loseph Conway be authorized to get two seals, one for the circuit court of Ivock Island County and one for the county commissioners' court of Hock Island Comity, t he dexice to be a sheaf of wheat and a ])low." These coui-ts weve remo\ed from Farnhams- burg to the m.'w county seat, Stephenson, in No\-endier. bsii."). One iiu'ident of these eai'l\- daj's, having peculiai- interest through later national legis- lati in the old town until it was sold tn a (lernian. who converted the brick portion into a residence. It was in this hnildinp; that the murderers of Colonel Daven])ort were coidined, and from which they were led forth to expiate their crimes upon the jjallows on the morning of Octolier 29th, 1,S4"). Birch and P.a.xter were also confined tliere; the former took a change of venue to \A'arren County where he broke jail and escaped. I'axler esca])ed the gallows on the grountls of having no willful intention to take the life of his henefaetor: for while he laid the plct fcu- the rdliKei-y of Colonel Daveni.iort 's hou,^(>, and |)launcd with the robliers to be ready to enter it on that memfiralile I'ourth of July, he did it, thinking that the house would be unoccu|.)ied. Rut in that lie was ilisapiwinted : all the fauiiU- had gone to tlie celcbr.-it inn e\ce|iting tlie colonel. When the robbers entered, they unexpectedly found him in the house and t(! make siu'e of escaping with their plunder, murdei'ed him. Baxter was sen- tenced to the penitentiary for life but was afterwards parolled c^n the promise that he would leave this part of the comitry. The present jail was built in 1S.")7 at an initial cost of $60,()n(). Additions of note have since been added. Until this date, 1S.57, the jail building contained besides the sheriff's office and residence, the er 1, 1.S37. The building, a square brick structure, was of two stories with a central cupola. It stood on the square reserved for that jjurjtose when t!ie town was map)3ed out and on the land of the present temple of justice. Immediately after the jail fii'o in 1NS2, the peo]5le began to agitate a new c(nu't house. In January 18S3, the lioard of siijjervisors decided to erect an oHice building of sufficient capacity for the offices of count \' judse, cir- cuit clerk, and county clerk; consecpiently, a contrtict was made with S. J. Collins for a one-stor^■ brick building, situate on the soutli- east corner of court iKuise square, at a cost of about ?1.3,000. the l)uilding being com- pleted dui'ing t he year. During the time of its construction, office room was obtained in the old couiM hcise, and improvised space in the jail building. As Rock Island County grew it was soon a])parent that extensi\-e imjirovements and additions to the cnurt luiusc wduld lie neces- sai-y. This rehabilitation would have cost the county so much money that it seemeii to the wise men (piite the wrong thing to do, but rather ajjpeal to the jieople to decide at the polls whether or not it was their desire to bear tl.e expense of a new autl modern building. Supervisor .Joseph Fitzpatrick of Milan championed the movement. He intro- duced a resolution at the Ajiril term, 1S93. calling for a committee to investigate the needs of the C(ninty and the probable cost of a new court house, to rejjort 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 (•(unity. This committee composed of Supervisor Joseph Fitz|xitrick, .\. l'\ X'inton. .lames (1. Britton and Conrad Schneiiler made a favor- able report and thought .5125, 000 would be about the right amount. An election was hekl Novemfier 6, 1S94, ami the proposition to issue bonds to the amomit 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 ,739 Accord- ingly the contract was let, Charles J. T.arkin winning. Work on the foundation 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 1,. \\alker, chair- man: Phil Mitchell, Hon. William Jackson, Jt)hn Ohlweiler, T. S. Silvis. (deceased), Hon. Charles J. 8earle, H. P. Simpson, William McEniry, J. F. Hiiliinsou. (deceased), C. F. Lynde, S. J. Collins, S. S. Hull, Hon K. K. Parnienter, (deceased), W. P. (>viayle, (de- ceased) After the formal notice was made, the following crations were delivered by F.dward D. Sweeney. C. J. Searle and Judge J. .M. (lould at the laying of the corner stone of the new cotn-t house, October 1, 1.S9G. THE ORATIONS. (Orations printed in part.) Edward D. Swicenky. Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens: We celebrate ti>day 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 liefore this nuite block of granite as before the throne of the Eternal on e(|ual footing, no sjjccial i)rivilege of nobility or preference places one liefore the other. The significance of this great gathering is a trilnite of respect to the grand temple of jus- tice planned to rise frcun thi.s corner stone; and an acknowleilgement of homage to the fair (loddess of Justice, who, with sightless eyes and extended haiid under the law, holds the balances in which causes between man and man are weighed without ])artiality 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 together on this event. Itisthetraiisition moment from the old to the new; it is the passing of a great milestone in the career of oiu- (Miunty. More than fifty years of history is about to close its rectjrd today, and a new book presents itself in which we are to record events, yet in the Ijosom of the futtu-e; to he l)orn 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 my theme. The early beginnings of all comiuunities are rememljered with tlie greatest of interest and cherished in the fond recollections of those who have participated therein. The County of Rock Island was organized on the Sth day of July, 1833, it having been formerly a part of Jo Daviess County, and the first term of the circuit court was lield at the house of John Barrel, beginning on the '28th day (jf A])ril, 1834. This house stood on the banks of the Sylvan AVaters, 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 court 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 Benjaiiiin (Joble, the old settler who lavs the CDnier 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 ^h\ Goble as we of the [)re-;ent day, while we think he is a little too old to do heavy mason work, yet. if eallerl u|ion, that he would he as williii,!;' to serve as a grand juror to punish wrong doers as he was in those early times. I also find tlie name of our \-enerahle and woi'thy friend, Michael Ilartzell, that he served two terms as a grand juror in vindicating the law in this new-forming conuuunity. 1 also lind that .John Tindall, the Nturdy and prosperous farmer of liowling Townsliip, and Charles Titterington. the leading farmer of I'-dgiiig- ton, the father of our jirescnt cDUiily 1 1'casurer each served a term as a !;i'aiid junii- in t!ie house of John liarrel: all of lliesi; four are now present on this glad day to witness the laying of the corner stone of the new cotu't house, which to them nuist he an e\'ent of more than usual interest. 1 also find that William Rell was a grand juroi' at the house of .John Harrel at the .\nril term. 1S,'}7. Tliis gentleman, who always to(.)k such an interest in the affairs of our county and City of Hock Island, and always had a i)leasant woi'd and smile for everybody, is absent in l:>o(.ly, but we know must be present in mind. He is li\ii!g with his daughter, llosa, 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 coiu't dragging through tedious months, to which has been added the county court, now given common law jiu'isdiction with a civil and criminal docket, and with its long i)robate docket u]ion 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 \ill;ige on the site of the City of Rock Island and here and there a settler througliout the county. Now there are six incorpoi'ate townsand\'illages, full of activity and business, and two large com- mercial cities, teeming with industry, thrift and enterprise, growing in importance and nniltijilying in wealth; then the taxalile 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 cinmty three terms of the circuit ctnu't, with a pi-obale couiM in session sub- stanti;ill\- all the year round. The number of ci-inmials whirh come before the courts of oni- county for correction are surprisingly sm;dl. few comities in the state send a less number to the ])eniteiitiary, schools, and the jails for punishment, in accordance with their population than the County of Rock Island. As exidence of how carefully the legal limits are oijserved among us stands forth the fact that in the affairs of om' county, transacted by our honorable l>oard of supervisors, every step of the way in which they jjroceed being regulated and detei-mineil l>y law, not a legal contest is raised or issue made concerning the new ccuu't house, the greatest building ever yet erected in the county, which is rising to is comple- tion and will be built from fotmdation to dome without the circuit c(nn-t having taken cognizance of it in any manner whatever except to hear the hammers of the workmen and to fimilly obey the summons to quarter itself in the magnificent court room; as grand as the old hall of William Rufus, the pride of England ft)r a thousand years; which is being provided for it in accordance with law, there to administer the law for the i)eople "with malice towards none and with charity for all". Among the names of those who have served tlieir clay and stamped upon the events of the times in which they li\eil. the im|)ress of their character and have gone to theii' reward, and are in your memories while I sjieak, are; 76 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY Joseph Knox, Ira O. Wilkinson. E. R. Bean, John B. H:n\ley, Alfred Webster. J. J. Beard.-Oey, Robert W. Smith and Patrick O'Mara. The oratory of Joseph Knox will always be remembered by those who have heard him. The im]n-ession tliat 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 l>efore the .Athenians whether they would submit to i'liillip of Macedon. or resist him with arms, that Demostlienes es]ioused the cause. of war; in this he was opposed by the accomplished orator. Aschines. When Aschines adilressed the people they would say. what wontlerful eloipience. what a great oi-ator; when Demos- thenes would speak they would leap and shout, "let us go and light Phillip." Mr. Kno.x was often greeted with similar responses. Judge Wilkinson was a slave to his profession; he never allowed his mind to be occupied by anything which would draw him away from the pure pursuit and practice of the law. He was for many years tlie mentor of our bar and no young lawyer struggling with legal (lifFiculties ever went to him but he received liini kindly and f\u-nished material hell) 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." (leneral Hawley will be remembered as the impetuous, vigi- lant and aggressive advocate. He was like the jjlumcd knight of Ivry, always to the front in the thickest of the contest, pushing every advantage until victory crowned efforts. I'atrick O'Mara wa^ the silver- tcjngued orator of the bar, young, promising and brilliant; he was a shining mark for the shafts of death, which too soon claimed him for a prey. Time forbids further mention of the merits of the dead, but the best and the highest efforts of those who have gone and those who remain are to be found in the records of tlie courts, pul)lished in the 58 volumes of the .\ppellate and in the 155 volumes of the Supreme Coiu-t 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 ccun- prehension the liighest elements of law. There have been nineteen different judges who have held court in our county. Rich- ard M. Young was the first judge who ever held court in our county. He came from Galena and was succeeded by Daniel Stone, wdio came from the same place. Sidney Breese held the second term. He afterwards became a meml)er of the supreme court and served a number of years; was elected to the I'nited States Seiiate where he served a term, after which he went to the sujireme bench again, where he remained until his death in 187S. full of years, honors and goocl deeds. ]:)enjamin R. Sheldon held the May teriii. 1849; He afterwards went on the supreme bench, where he remained until his death, a good man and a strong judge. Thomas Ford held the 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 the 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 .\rthur A. Smith, who first held court here in 1879 and resigned on account of ill health in (he fall of 1894. Thus far I have said nothing about the oflices 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 oflice all the busi- ness done by the board of supervisors is written up and recorded; aside from this is the probate business of the county, which has grown to be of immense magnitude, and to which is added the records of the HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 77 couiitv oourt, civil and criminal pniceediii.us; within the hist few yeai's has passed lhri)ii,a;h the county clerk's ullice the proceedings for the paving; assessments, which has hecn a stii])end()iis work in itself. 'I'o appreciate the volume of the work which is done in this office you musf be accpiainted with its \'ast- ness and its importance. I wduld he pleased on this occasion to speak of the men who have acted as conntv clei'ks, and who have l)een responsible for an|)li ('(itiiM is the oMest. He will be remembored li\ all as long as we can remember atiyboily, as being the most accommodating, courteous and willing public servatit that ever served in the court house. The readiness to serve and aid anyone who had lousiness in his ollice came natural to him; what he did was disro!)ed of every semblance of affectation or effort. Mr. Conet was succeeded by Major Reardsley, who came into office in the latter jiart 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 ilnring the Rebellion, whom he e\er carried on his heart. The accounts kept in the book of remeiribrancc by Him, ■'who neither slumbers or sleejjs" will show a great credit to the ma.)or's account for the disinterested and patriotic work of these vears. John \. Cook sncceede responsible pn^iliou in ciui cnunly lli;iii that of looking after the trusts in the hand,-- ( llonoraMe John B. Hawley, the IloiKir.alile William H. (iesi and the Houoralile I'.eujai'hn Cable, ^^'e are indebted to these gentlemen foi- great services ill securing ap])ro])riat icuis for ihe National armorv on the Island. fni- the gi'oat bridge across the Mississijipi Ki\'er. the Moline dam. the \iaduct, the new go\ernnient build- ing now being erei'led, and Ihe Hennepin Canal.* The soldiers of Illinois were furemos! at Donaldson. Sliiloh. \'i(dlefed a credit- able founilation — 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 y(uir new "Temple of .Justice," 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 tempororj' 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 wotdd most interest those present, as well as future inhabitants of the county, to whose curious gaze the contents of this corner stone will be revealed, perhat)s a century frcmi now. My endeavor shall be to confine myself almost exclusively to matters o{ 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 aiul fall of many ^reat 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- eminent Iv a peaceful nation, our area has grown frnm .S27,S44 square miles in 17S9, to 3.60,3.844 square miles in IS').'), and that too, mostlv bv peaceful conquest. Our popu- lation has gruwn from 3,'.)29,'214 in 1700. to 62,622, 2.'iO in 1S90. Under the benign mflu- ence of the free institutions handed down to us bv our illustrious foi-efathers, frum a few scattered settlements, skirting along the .-Atlantic seaboard, we have developed uito a mighty nation. A tiaticm wluise institu- tions are not beyund impro\euie!it . but in the main, filled with a happv. prospermis people. A nation of inestimaljlc wealtli. .\ highly civilized nation, filled with churches, schools and libraries. .\ natimi making imprece- s, the wealth of her jirime- val forests and the hidden treasures of her mines, have ma.de her the gem of that great galaxy of states known as (he "tireat North- west," which has no ecpial in fertility, re- sources and possibilities of dexeloiuuent on the face of the earth. (ireat as our National and State develop- ment have been. Rock Island County has kept pace with our co;>.unon rmuitry; and that, too, notwithstanding the fact that we came so comparati\'ely 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 year 1673. The 80 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY first white settler was Colonel George Daven- port, who located, with his familj', on the beautiful island in the Mississippi River between here and Davenport in 1816, a time within the memory of quite a number of the grand old patriarchs within the sound of my voice. Little did the unbroken wilderness svoTounding 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 erecled on the main shore of our county was by Colonel Cieorge Daxcnport and Russell Karidiam, in the eastern ].'art of our present city. The first white chihl born in this vicinity was George Davenport, in ],S17. The first lands that were entered were entered October 19, 1829, by Colonel fJeorge Daven- port and Russell Farnhani, the governn;ent land office then being at (ialena, Illinois. The first marriage was that of James L. Burtis to Angelinc Beardsley, in 1833. In 18()o for the first time the flag of the l^nion 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 Cotmty, to drive the able and revengeful Black Hawk and his tribe beyond the Mississippi, to make way for the advanc- ing tide of settlement and civilization. It was not till 1833, 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 liarrel's house, in what was then called I'^arnhamsburg, now a part of the City of Rock Island. In 183.5 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 M. "^'oung 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 sviits, dis- close the names of the ancestors of a great many of oiu' present citizens, many of whom are ]irominentl\ known, but which my limited time will not permit me to give. The circuit then including Rock Island County was known as the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and inchnled 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, Drurv and Wilkinson. The first hotel, tavern as they were then called, was opened in 1S33, belonging to Jonah H. Case, whose family has ever since been prominent in the county. Private schools were opened at an early date, and free schools were estab- lished in IH^Q. The first church (Methodist Episcopal) was built in 1844; the first library opened in 18.5.5, and the first newspa]ier, 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 1S36; Cordova, in 1837; Hampton, in 1834; Rapid City, in 1833; (\)al Valley, in 1850; Andalusia, in 1859; Edgington, in 1843, and Reynolds, in 1876. HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY 81 Tlie afssesseil valiiatum (if the cininly in 1833, immeiliatcly after its (irKanizatidii was so low that the taxes collected only ;ini()unto(l to the sum of 153.723^, so that it can lie readily seen that the county's affairs did not permit any great tlefalcations on the part of the county officials. The populati. This county was in early times a part of the present County of Pike, which e.xtended north to the state line; afterwards embraced in what is now Jo Daviess County. The first court in this county was held in a log house, as I am informed, located neai- where the residence of Hon. Benjamin T. Cable stands, the town being named Stejihenson, On the 18th day of Noveml)er, 1S48, I arrived in the village of Jloline, to become a resident of the county, being a nieml)er of tlic firm of Deere, Tate & Gould, for manu- facturing farming implements, Messrs. Deere tt Tate being the practical members. My department was the financial. I ()])ened and kept the first set of account l)ooks, 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 l)ills 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, w'ere 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 jiaid 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 fi\-e to seven days to get replies to their letters sent to St. T>ouis, and four or five days to Chicago. At that time, and until alrout 1850 to 1853, there were four saw mills, one grist and one HISTORIC ROC K I S L A N D CO U N T Y 83 ineri'liaiit lldiiriii^ mill, diic l'iiuii(lr\' ami luacliiiie sho]3, and one w iMMlciiwarc facturv in .Mciline; one boat yard and iiiai-iiic ways, and line saw mill in Rock Island. 1 ia\cn]Hirl had nil manufactnring industry, 1 lliiiik. unlii about 1854. Previous to 1849 tlu' rounly business in every county in the state was transacted by a board of county commission- ers composed of three members, and on account of the prevailin.i; custom of not- ])i'o- viding by a proper assessment of taxation to pay claims against this county the warrants were from 10 to 45 and 50 per cent lielnw par; the iliscount being based upon the pruxiniity to, or from the time, they could be used in ]iaynient of taxes, and 1 think that e\'ery other covnitjf's finances w(>re about in the same concUtion. 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, Probabh' claimants iu uiaking prices for such supplies, included a high profit, knowing warrants would be issued upon a treasury that had no funds, and in addition persuaded the lioard to add one liundi'ed jier cent to the claim, and then inserted these words: "Doulile for depreciation of comity orders, and a warrant for twice the sum issued." I'nder tlie re\-iseil 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 .lames Weaver- ling associates, were elected ; the three persons, at regular quarterly sessicnis of the board in December, March, June and vSeptember in each year, and at as many s'pecia! sessions as were necessary, attendeil to all the county business, the same as is now transacted by our board of siipervisors; the ])roljate matters were adjudicated by the county judge at twehe sessions, upon the tliiid .Monda\- at each quarter, and llie first .Monilay of the other eight months, holding each session as long as circumstances i-ci|uii(>d and special sessions if needed; the fees were $2.50 each per day for actual time spent for the county. Judge Spencer resigned at the end of three years, and William liailey was elected to serve the remainder of the term, In Nov- ember, 1853, I was elected county judge, (leorge E. Holmes, of Port I5yron, and .lohn Kistler, of Buffalo Prairie, were my associates — two gentlemen several years my seniors. We ai'cepted the offices and qualified. I think it was at our first session for business — if not the first it «'as not later than the second — wliich was in the southwest corner room of the present court house, then occu- pied by the county clerk, and, I tliink, was the sheriff's quarters also. The next room north was the county ass(>ssor's and treas- urer's office; the southeast corner room, which was one-haH' of the present super. visiu''s room, was oci'upied by the circuit clerk and ex-ollicio recorder, who was Major Frazier Wilson; the next room north, upon the east side, was rented In (h'oi-^e W. Pleas- ants (now Judge Pleasants) and Henderson, lawyers. We measm'e 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 sigm^l ability and merited tribute of jiraise. The board of supervisors have ordered that on the 31st day of March, 1897, the ])eople shotdd be invited into this ind.)lic edifice, to cordially and (piietly enjoy and contemplate this ]niblic enterjjrise so auspiciously com- ))leted; hence we are now surrounded with a busy, earnest throng of citizens, who are this day, with music attending, treading the bi'oad aisles of this court house, enjoying the delight of its beauty, ;ind expressing by ^ HISTORIC RUCK I S L A N D CO U N T Y 87 their attendance their interest in the work that was so worthily conceived, and ha.s been so successfully completed. And now, in the jiresence of this court and the people, what shall lie further said on this occasion? We have built this house, doomed and ciipaliied, ]iriiiripally with imn, stone and marble, not onl\- because we wanted to build, Init to build with siu'h form and grace that it should stand in the midst of the l)eople as a public recognition of the su])rem- acy and majesty of the law; the law, not as a sliiftint!; ami uncertain influence to be chaiifieil by the casting of a die, but a controllinf!; moral and jiolitical 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 atlaptation to all Ijeing its strength and beauty. The majesty of its influence was well illustrated in the celebrated s]ieech of Earl Chatham, in the liritish Parliament, "The poorest man in his c'ottage 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 jiower dares not cross the threshold of that ruined tene- ment." When the citizen surveys this imblic structure, he can not only enjoy the grandeur of its appearance, but the mental fact that it is the monument of a free jieople, guided and insjHred by wise and just laws, and intent u]3on the enfcu'cement of them; laws to be obeyed until repealed; and if, in the course of time, experience demamls a change to meet new conditions, then shall the change be made, not by wilful disregard of existing enactments, Ijut by legal and constitutional methods, for only by such methods, and under such conditions, shall the "go\ern- ment of the jieople, by the people, and for the people," survive, and not jierish 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 ])assed the summit; what we have d(uie, or left undone, the world knows. The jiersonal and mental characteristics that have marked our lives and actions during the years of the past will ])rol)alily remain unchanged to the end. If our li\'es haxc not been well rounded out by u]iright condiu.'t and moral force, the fault has been with ourselves. Hapjiy for us if our ]iersonal characters lun-eso imiiressed our fellows that they are willing to concede that our lives have l.ieeii well spent. But there are at this bar, at this time more than at an\' 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 (piestion to ask what will be their position in this C(nirt, anil what estimate their fellow citizens will place upon them. Will they come and plead at this bar oidy for ]iersonal glory, that men may jiraise their ingenuity and skill as lawyers? Will they simply estimate their jiersonal 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 \'aried and exacting duties of the ])rofession, and their personal duties to their fellow jjractitioners, that inquiry will not be necessarj' to find out to what plane of jiublic estimation they have attained, — but the constant, truthful, kind and even tencu' of their jirofessional conduct shall lead men to a ]irompt, 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-si.x years; during 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 county courts. Considering the arduous and delicate duties that a judge has to perform, restraining the impetuous lawyer, client or witness, instructing and encoTU-aging the timid and independent, decid- ing delicate and intricate legal cjuestions, affirmed l)y positi\-e counsel and cpiestioned by others equally posit i\o: and yet, so deciding the questions iinohed that the decision shall carry with it tlie respect of all, — duties of this kind would appear to be so difficult that complaint would seem to be the rule; yet this bar, and the peo])Ie of thig county have a right, and it is their duty to accord to the judges now living and to the memory of those departed, that the work of the judiciar\' has been well and faithfully done; and the kindly and earnest exjiression of good feeling of the lawyers of this county 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 tlie 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 kindly assistance to the bar, the years of the futiu-e in that regard will be years of pleasant association and reci]»rocated kindnesses. And now, if the court ])lease, in view of the public interest now manifested in this court 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, 1 move that this court do now ailjourn. C. L. Walker's Adukkss. May it pleane your Ilonora : My name is not merit ioncd in the program, nor is the subject vvliich 1 wish to submit to your honors referred to therein. Vet as the matter is germaine to the proceedngs of the day, I ha\-e Ijccn rcciucsled b\- the committee in charge of the exercises 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 history of its organization and of the work of this committee. Prior to October, 1894, the court house project seemed to be regarded favorably by the ])eople, but about this time an under- current of op])osition developed and a series of articles ajjpeared 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 systematic and united efforts be put forth to overcome these objec- tions and to stimulate an active sentiment in fa\'or 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 secure 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. Sih'is, I'", iv Parmenter, William McEniry, // / .S T O R I C R U C K I ,S L A N D C U N T Y S9 S. 8. Hull, C. F. Lymle. Phil Mitclu'U, William carried the iirojiositions l)y 1,739 majority. Jaek.son, t'. J. Searle, H. P. Simiiscm, \V. P. The committee therefore believes that its Quayle, J. V. Kohinson, John Olihveiler, S. work was timely and thorouffh and made .1. ("ollins and myself. This committee or- ^-ictory i)(.)ssible. gaiiized by electing- H. P. Simpson secretary Of the money collected, 1553.67 was and myself chairman, and as thus organized devoted to the above purjioses, leaving a began work. balance of $118.33 in the treasury. The (Jf this committee C. F. Fyn])ointnients to this project, turned the tide of disaffection and l)eautiful temple of justice and right. 90 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND C OU N T Y COURT, BENCH AND BAR WILLIAM JACKSON The first term of the Cireuit Court of Rock IsLiml County was hekl April 28, 1834, in the house of John Barrel in Farnhamsburg, Richard M. Young presiding Judge. Farnhamsburg was located on the liank of the Mississippi River, in the east jjart 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 by John Barrel, a Mr- ginian. In November, 1835, the records and Court were removed from the house of John Barrel to Stephenson. Under an act of the Legislature of March 31, isli), the State of Illinois was divided into four judicial circuits. The Judges of the Su]ireme Court of the State held the Circuit Courts. The Circuit Courts are Corn-is of general jurisdicture. The County Commissioners Court was established .March 22, 1810. It had juris- diction throughout the County in revenue matters, county 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 County 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 Inisiness formerly done by the County Com- missioners Court, and so continued to 18.57. after which the County business was trans- actetl by the Board of Supervisors, the County being then organized under the townshi]) organization law. The following persons, residents of Rock Island, were at various times members of the County Commissioners Court: George Dav- en]K>rt, John W. Spencer, Jolm \'auatta, George W. Harlan, John S. Miller, Lucius Wells, Nathaniel Belcher, Jacob Coleman, Lemuel Andrews, Adol]3hus Dunla]), John R. Taylor, (ieorge S. Moore, John Kistler, William L. Lee, M. W. Wright, Samuel Sloan. Jacoi) Starr, T. C. Temple, Cai)tain 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 pi'obate matters and matters pertaining to the revenue. The Legislature conferred upon the Court a limited law jurisdicture, which it still possesses, although enlarged. The office of Count.y Judge has been filled by prominent citizens of Rock Island County: John W. Spencer, 1849 to 1852; William Bailey, 1852 to 1853; John M. Gould, 1853 to LS.W: Cornelius Lynde, Jr., 1857 to 1861; Joseph B. Danfojth, 1861 to 1865; John W. Wilson, 1865 to 1871; HISTORIC RUCK ISLAND COUNTY 91 .Samuel S. (luyor, 1S71 to 1S77; J. J. Glenn, 1S7S to 1897; Lucian Adams, ls77 to lil()2; A. A. Smith, 1S7S to 1S94; E. E. Parnientc]-. I'.KIL' lo 1906; Hiram Bigelow, 1895 to 1902: Roliert W. Olmsted, now acting Judge, Emery C. Graves, 1903; elected in April, 1007, in |ilace of E. E. Par- F. D. Ramsey, 1897; menter, deceased. William H. Gest, 1897. Courts of Probate were first cstaMished by Among the gentlemen named above as law February 10, 1S21. In the County of . fudges who were residents of the County of Rock Island Harmon (!. Reynolds was Rock Island are Ira 0. Wilkinson, .1. W. Proljate .Justice from ls;^9 to lS4(.i. He was l)rury, (ieorge W. Pleasants and William H. followed by Ira (). Wilkinson. 1.S47 to 1S40. (u'si. .Tudge Wilkinson, after lea^'ing the The Circuit Coui't resentati\es of the following named towns; Rock Island, H. .M. Marshall, Zachariali Cook; Canoe Creek, I. H. Marshall; Ham])ton, Lucius Wells; Dnny, Peter Demoss; l']tlging- ton, James Baker; Bowling, T. W. \'incent; Coal Valley, Lewis Wilson; Buffalo. O. H. P. Moore; Port Byron, David S. Hobert : Walker, Rinnah Wells; Fremont, A. S. Coe: ('amden, 94 // I STO RIC ROC K I S L A X I) C U N T Y H. J. Brunot: Moline, Jeremiah ("hainberlin: Cordova, George Marshall. September 18, 1857, by order of the board of supervisors, the names of the following towns were changed: Town of Camden, changed to Black Hawk; town of Fremont, changed to Penn; town of J?uffalo, changed to Copper; town of Walker, changed to Ziima. '.January 6, 1858, town of Copper, changed to Buffalo Prairie; town of Penn, changed to Coe. September 16, 1858, a part of Edgington Townshi]-), was, through the prayer of peti- tioners — citizens of Edgington Township — by order of the board of supervisors, named Andalusia. September 15, 1871, by petition of eight\-- three legal ^•oters of Coal A'alley Township, a partition of the township was made, and named town of Rural. March 3, 1873, a petition 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. Deceml)er 12, 187,3, bj^ a vote of the board of supervisors — yeas, nine; nays, eight; absent, one — it was ordered that the portion of Black Hawk Township lying north of Rock River and south of the corporate limits of the City of Rock Island, be detached from the Town of lilack Hawk and annexed to the Town of Rock Island. Decemlier 14, 1877, the board of super- visors adopted a resolution that the portion of Rock Island Township, south of the cor- ])orate 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 lake effect March 1, 1878. The corporate limits of the City of Rock Island to be the Town of Rock Island. November 16, 1872. I'pon petition by three-fourths of the voters and property liolders of the following tract to-wit: N. w. M, Sec. 6, T. 17, R. 1, 4th P. M., and W. fractional }4 (south of Sylvan Water) of Sec. 31, T. 18, R. 1 W., 4th P. M., the city council annexed said territory to the City 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 supervisors, that the Town of Moline be sub- divided. The incorporated City of Moline be organized as the Town of Moline; the remaining territory of Moline Township to be hereafter known as the Town of South Mf)line. CORDOVA TOWNSHIP. The town of Cordo\-a lies in the extreme. northeast end of the county. It is a frac- tional township, lying well up on the bluffs, and conunands one of the finest views on the Mississippi River. The earliest settler was Herdman East, who built a log cabin in 1836 on the iM-esent site of the village of Cordova. Other settlers coming that year and in 1838 were J. S. Phillips and John Marshall from New Jersey; (niy W. and Amazi Rathburn, Nelson and Chauncey M. Tripp from New York; William Kelley, Dudy Buck, Peter I^eardsley, A. G. Adams, Wm. Armstrong, Jeremiah Rice, Robert and Wm. Jenks, Dr. Thos. Baker, Renoni Haskins, A. Whiting, all having families. Nathaniel lielcher 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 jirincipal industry is the manu- facture of lime. VILLAGE OF CORDOVA. This village .situated principally in the township of Cordova, with a very small portion ill the township of Port Byron, lies HISTORIC h'OCK 1 S L A .\ 1) COUNTY 95 well iiji (in the l)luff and commands one "f the finest views on the Mississippi River, which stretches away in both directions until lost liy its windin.iis; the hlnf'fs at this point are ratlier aiiruiit. The earliest settler of this jilace was Ilerd- nian Ivist. who hnilt a lo,n. and on the -3d day of April, 1S77, the village was duly organized. Cordova is situated on the Mississijipi River, and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Baul Railway. COE TOWNSHIP. Coe, surroundeil by the townships of Canoe Ci'eek, Port Biyi-oii, Zuma and Cordova, is considered one of the best agricultural |i\-ron, and established a wocxl yard for su|iph-ing cord wood to steamlioats on the .Mississi]ipi Ri\er. Their location soon came to 1)0 known as Syms' Wood Yard. They were among the first white settlers in this locality, other residents being principally Sac and Fox Bulians. During the year 1.S2S Archibald Allen, Conrad Leek. Ceorge W. Harlan and others came with their families and settled in this townshi]). Archibald Allen traded with the Indians, buying skins and furs. He was afterwai'ds appointed superx'isor of roads, was elected to the ollice of constable, and from 1S33 to 1S34 was United States mail carrier between Fort Armstrong and (lalena. 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 1S36 it was known as Canaan. Mr. Allen ]_)uilt the first frame house l:)etween (^uincy and < lalena. 96 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY In 1830, Thomas Hubbard, H. East and Britton arrived and became residents of the new settlement. During this year a .son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Leek, which was the first white chikl born in the township. In tlie year 1831 a son of Geo. W. Harlan died, this being the first death in the town- ship. During the year 1832 Edmund A. Philleo 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 kejit 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 and subdivided 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. .\bout this time a tow-n was platted and Port Byron became a point of considerable business activit}-. (ieorge S. Moore erected a store building; the postoffice at Canaan was closed and ojiened at Port Byron, with Nathaniel Belcher postmaster. Mr. Belcher liuilt a hotel and the first frame dwelling. Dr. .Jeremiah H. Lyford, a graduate of Dart- mouth College, w'as the first physician; his [)ractice extended over a large territory, both ill Illinois and Iowa. Colonel Eads was a resident here for a time, living with Archibald Allen prior to taking u]j his residence on "'Hie Heights," at this time known as LeClairc, Iowa. His son was the famous .las. B. I'^ads, also living at Le- Clairc (hu-ing ihe lale 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 presidential election was held, at w'hich eleven votes were cast, all for Martin Van Buren. This is a school town. The Port Byron Academy is a flourishing institution, untler the management of the Congregational church; 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, 1856. The village was laid out in 1836, by Samuel Allen, Dr. P. Gregg, Nathaniel Belcher and Moses Bailey; the land was held in common by them. On the land 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, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. CANOE CREEK TOWNSHIP. It was about seventy years ago that white people first settled in what became Canoe // / S T R 1 C ROCK I S LAND C U N T Y 97 Creek Tcnvnsliip. Those first settlers were Jonas Carter. John M. \\'allil(l ha\-e an easy time tracing Mr. Walkers' title to th? land he owns. He has a deed signed by James K. Polk, president of the Ignited States, and it has never been trans- ferred. Mr. C'arter and Mr. Martin went to work at once on their arrival anil built log houses on their claim. These were the first liouses in what is now Canoe Creek Township. A part of the land covered by their claim is now owned by Wallace Woodburii and a part by William Pearsall, The land at that time had not been surveyed by the government, except into townships, Aliout 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. Very often one would take a sack of wheat and go on horseback to one of these places to have it grinmd into (lour. When they went by team it usually took se\'eral days. The mills had small bm'rs and groun. 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 lime resi- dent and land owner of the localitj'. 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 A: Quincy Railroad had a bridge here across Rock Ri\'er, the railroad line continuing to the l^riar -Bluff coal mines, but the bridge was afterwards removed to Barstow. HAMPTON TOWNSHIP. This tcnvnship 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 l)road valley running east and west through its center, e.xtending 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 l)irth 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 Oalena to visit her son, died just as the boat was landing, and she was biu'ied at Hamilton. The first couple married in tlie town was Joel Wells and Mary Mc- Murphy, by Jonas Wells, justice of the peace, in 1835. Within the township are six vill- ages: Hampton, Watertown, Sih-is. Carbon Cliff, Barstow and Rapids Cit}', all incor- porated villages but Barstow. The township contained some rich coal beds; some of which have been w^orked 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 witli the Western Union Railway, now the C, M. it St. P., at Watertown, was built in the winter of 1872 and 1873. Taylor Wil- liams and H. M. (iilchrist it Co., operated in 100 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY coal at Rapids City; Samuel Bowles. D. G. Porter and Silvis Bros, operating in the southern part of the township. Joel Thompson was the first postmaster, and received his appointment in the winter of 1837. Lucius Wells tau>;ht 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 & Pacific; 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 being subse- quently added. Another grist and saw mill was i)uilt l)y .Joseph Cox in 1838. A Mr. Runkle and a Mr. Blanchard sold the first goods. Joseph Garnett, the first l)lacksmith 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 \-otos of an election called and a))pi)iiiteil prior, to vote on village organiza- tion — the result of which was forty-si.x votes for organization and one vote against — the court decreed the \'illage of Rapids City to 1)C iiicoriioratpd. It is situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee i^: St. Paul Railwav. TIPPECANOE. Tippecanoe \'illage 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, aljout opposite Sycamore Chain. A very few jieople know of its ever having had an existence. It evi- dently was a paper town. VILLAGE OF HAMPTON. The Milage of Hampton, in Hami)ton Township, was survej'ed and ]ilatted soon after the organization of Rock Island County. Among the earliest business men were Joel Thomjison, Alonzo P. Clapp, Dower and Hammond, Samuel and David Lambert, M. W. Wriglit and Francis Black, followed by L. F. Baker, H. F. Thomas. H. 0. Norton, Dr. George Mncent, S. L. Brettun, and Wm. B. Webster. The first postoffice was estab- lished in the winter of 1837, Joel Thomjison being commissioned postmaster, followed by Francis Black, Samuel Heagy aiid L. F Baker. From the earliest settlement Hamp- ton was one of the principal ]ioints for sup- plies for the farmers in the upper end of the covmty, and even considerable territory in Henry County. Here they brought their grain and sold their pork, which was ])acked b}' M. W. Wright and Francis Black, and shipped dow^n 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 Alining >\: Railway Company, who ceased operations about fifteen HISTORIC RO C K ISLAND C U N T Y 101 years ago. The echicatioiial interests of the viUage are well attended to, having a goo()Ut thirty blocks. In this dis- trict at the present time are only four or five houses. In that year tlie postofhce depart- ment at Washington, D. C. was petitioned for a postoffice at this place to be called Milan. There being a ]iostoffice of that name already in the state, the department estab- lished the postoffice under the name of Hampton, from which name the townshi]) and village derive their names. BARSTOW. Barstow is not an incorporated village. When the Sterling branch of the Chicago, Burlington it Quincy Railroad was com- pleted through Hampton Township, a station was estalilished on land owned by Joel (!. 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 Ijusi- 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-fi\-e buildings and houses, an eating house, depot, restaurant, a general store, blacksmith sho]), 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 lAicius Curtis, who became the first ]5ostmaster. The Western Illinois Hos- l)ital for the Insane is located there. On the 14th day of March, lOO."), fifty-one legal voters of a district |irescribed. petitioned the county cotn-t for the organization of the Village of Watertown. The 15th day of A]iril, 1905, was set apart for an election to be hekl at the M. W. A. hall to vote for or against village organization; the result being sixteen votes for incorporation and forty-foiu' against. April 24, 19U5, another petition was pre- sented to the county court by forty-five petitioners for \illage organization and an election day apjiointed for the 13th day of May, 1905; the result being sixty votes for \-illage organization and thirty-eight votes against organizat ion. An election held the 17th clay of .Tune, 1905, for village trustees, resulted in the election of li'rank H. Sovey, John Rah, Henry C. McNeal and Dax'id Y. Allsbrow. A tie vote occurring of forty-nine votes for Eric Bowman and Henry Hillberg. Each came into court on the 23d day of June, 1905, and agreed to decide by lot. One of the officers of the court was blindfolded, two slips of ]iaper with each candidates names written thereon were j)laced in a hat, and the officer drawing therefrom, Eric Bowman was de- clared elected the sixth trustee. VILLAGE OF CAHBON CLIFF The village of Carbon Cliff lies in the south part of Hamilton Townshi]), and is princi|)ally noted for its pottery and tile works. November 13, lUOG, 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 Sth day of December, 1906, for or against \-illage organization, the elec- 102 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY tion to be held at Hennegan's store. The result of said election was fift.y-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, Claus F. Hansen, R. \'. O'Donnell and P. N. Hennegan being elected. TOWNS OF ROCK ISLAND AND MOILNE A history of the towns of Rock Island and jVIoline would ajiparently 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, 1S79. It comprises all the territory 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 extreme 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 Wells and Huntington Wells. VILLAGE OF SI L VIS. November 14, 1906, thirty-six petitioners representing over 300 resident population, petitioned the county court of Rock Island Cf)unty, Illinois, for the orgainzation of the \'illage of Silvis. An election was ordered to l)e held Decendjer 1, 1906, for or against village organization. The cor])orate limits of said village to be as described in ]ietitiou, al)out two scpiare miles. Result of election was seventy-nine votes for organization, and si.\ votes against. An election for six trustees was held January 12, 1907. R. Walsh, J. W. i'ikc, .lames Shannon, Win. Enimert, 1'. .1. Hall and Herbert Love being elected. The general railroad shops of the C, R. I. it P. R. R. are located here em]iloying 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 l:)uilding. The result of said election was forty-seven votes for organization and seven votes against. December 23, 1902, the votes were canvassed by the judge of the county court and two justices of the ]3eace, and annoimced 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 Jloline Township, seven miles east of Rock Island, and four miles east of Moline. The Rock Island Sy.stem, the C, M. & St. P., the D., R. I. & N. W. Railroads and the .Mississippi \'allov Tractiim Company electric line enter the village. This village t)ffers unprecedented opj)or- tunities for investment and factory locations. The po]nilation 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 1S.35, 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 jjlienomenal growth. From a mere ])asture, 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 ]iresent time is cjuite 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 Vanilruff'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 pa])er 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 si.x votes against. May 26, 1894, the following si.x trustees were elected: C. H. Dibbern, John E. Breen, B. Patterson, J. McCarty, J. F. Mead anil 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 scjuare, with the exception of a few hundred acres cut off from the northwest corner by the Mississip]ii 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 thev lived for many years. Other early settlers in the townshi]i were William Dick- son and Col. John Dickson, the latter for many j^ears justice of the peace; James Johnston, G. W. Heflin, James Dickson, Ira Whitehead, N. I). I^radley, Wm. Young. Daniel Pinkley, David Browiilee, Garret Davis, John Bulley, Morgan Fergurson, A. L. Buck and N. Bruner. The township has an abundant supjily of coal ami 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 DaA-enjiort. 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, he more largely utilized. At one time there were three paper mills on Rock River and two large flouring mills, one owned by James Johnston and one by the Sears company. All were consumed by fire. There are now two churches in this town- ship ;ind eight school houses. No other to\vn.> llevolutionary war. His grandfather and grandmother were nuu'dered by the Indians and Hutler's Rangers in the famous Cherry \'alley massacre. After the Revolution the father of William Dickson moved to West- moreland Conn ty.Pennsyh'ania. where William was brought tip till he was eighteen, when he moved to a farm in Erie County, Pennsyl- \'ania, near the shore of Lake Erie. Here he was married and became cpiite a noted man of his time, being at one time a meml^er of the Hoard of Canal Conunissioners of the State of Pennsylvania. He raised a family of nine children, seven sons and two daugh- ters. In the siiriiig of lSo4 he \'isited this portion of Illinois s for the tine, ('apt. .Ionian and .Mr. \'alentinc li\'ed same money and consiilered that they were just, over the line in Pre-emptiiui, but most making money rai)idly, of their land being in Rural they finally built I50WI IXC TOWXSHII' in this township. The first school was taught i, ,■ r„ , • , , , , 1 ,, ,, rp • . , , rr.1 £ i l-iowlmg lownsliip IS bomided bv Rural on bv Seth Irego, m a private house. The first , i, i ■ _;, , , 1 I, ■ iL. i<- 1 . 1 ^"'-' f'^'^*' I'^dgnigton on the west, north by school house was built m 1S46, bv contribn- ,,, , tt ■ , , , ,, ,• ,. ii .■ ,, ■ " /. i T Black Hawk and south bv Mercer County, tions trom the following persons: (;ipt. .1. m, . ,,.■ -^ . ,„. I, .,, . V M w I M ^' ^''•' '■"'iiiti'v i'-^ quite rolling, with sijlendid A. Jordan, Albert .A., .Alonzo S. and M. Savre. ,, i i r i T n, ,,,.1 i> • 1 X- 1 ,• r wii- larms, and plent\- of timber land and prairie. J. M. Wilson, Daniel \aleii1inc and William „„ ,. , ■ ,,. ^^ p • , r,,, , i -1 . I ^'"' '"'•'^' settlers were Mr. Bowling, John Crist. 1 hese persons also contributed nionev rr , ,, ,,.•,,. m , ,, , ., , ■ , .1 /; .1 . 1 !ir e.i 1 I " Ivndall, William 1 vmlall and Fdmond Crop- to secure the fir.st teacher. Mr. Sliedil. • . „ ,>-■,,'■ r., , ,, per, m I.S.5S, William Tvndall came to th e Robert Middleham, I'atrick Campbell, .,,.,,. TT 1, /„ , 11--11 • Ai- 1 , coiintv 111 lS.:i.'3, hvmg 111 Stephenson over two Henrv Brown, Charles Wilkinson, Michael ' , , ,, , tI • , Tj I, ' ui r T^ 1 1 M 1 ,- 1 years. In 1841 James, David and John liallman, rliilip Deal and .■\lexander Cordon, ,,, , ,, ,. , 1 1 ,■ i- • I • I ( larke ami .lolin .lolinston and Cliristoi)her all ot whom had tamilies, arru'cil m what is . ,, „ . , , , . now known as Rural Township, about tin year 1848. At that time the nearest liabita Armstrong all from Ireland - formed the next settlement, known as the Clarke settle- 1- ■ -1 ^ Tir-1 ,ri 1 Ai-i, ^ nient, m the southeastern part of the town- tion was SIX nules, at Milan (Camden Mills at , . ,, ,, t- • , , , ,, , ,■ \ T> 1 T 1 1 *i .1 . ^"'P- Curtiss .McKiught settled .soon after, that time.) Rock Islanil tluMi was the nearest postoffice. Alexaiuler Bailey, who won the appcllal imi of "Old Satan" among his neighljors, was IIDCIXCTOX TOWXSHIP also among the early Rural settlers. He This is one of the oldest settlements in the squatted on and held the southwest corner of coiuity. Three score and ten years have gone The first school was held about 1844 or 1845, in a small frame house on secti(ui 26. 108 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY into the past since the first white settlers set foot upon its soiL The first white chihh-en born here are now among the old men and 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, llany 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 lialo of sacredness about it. The pioneers have all jiassed away, and the old homes are inhal)ited 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 County, Illinois, and Dunlap and Edgington came prospecting from Steubenville, Ohio. Immigrants came overland in wagons, or down the Ohio and up the Mississippi I)y 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 foimd. 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 183.5. Those three cabins fortned a sort of triangle, with a path leading from one to the other. Such was the begniiiing of the settlement of Edgington Township. George W. Kell and Henry l'>bcrhart and family, 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 famih' from Mississijijii, 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 by Joseph Dunlap, at his own residence, in a very ]irimitive manner. The building was of logs. Its size was 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 // / S T HI r R () C K J S L A \ I) (' O i ' A' 7' 5' 109 a hair seive. But the wlieat floiir was, f(ir the most part, a first chiss quaHty of wliat is now called graham. Much corn meal was used. Neighbors on coming to the uiiii usually furnished their own horse ]iower, and did their own grinding, and the proprietor took no toll. EDGINGTON VILLAdI'; Is an imincori)orated 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 1). Parmenter opened the first store in 1.S43. in his house, a log cabin. He afterwards built what was calletl the old store, selling out to Isaac Negus and E. Burrall. The firm of Xegus A- Burrall sidjsequently built a larger and better building. They were succeeded by Charles R. Ainsworth, and ho by Hufus Walker. In 1855 Fish iV Lee commenced business here, afterwards locating in Rock Island. The railroad on the cast cut off the early tratle, and conditions now are much more quiet. TAYLOR RIDtlK VILLAGE Is not incorporated. It is situated in Bowling and Edgington Townshi|)s. The Rock Island ami Mercer County Railro^id was com]ilctcd to this ])lace in September, 1S76, and on the day of its comjiletion twenty-three cars of stock were shijiped to Chicago; and on the following day seventeen car loads. The village is surroundeil by a good agricul- tural country. It was laid out by ,1. L. Frankeberger, a civil engineer employed on the railroad, and contains two blocks and twenty-fo>n' lots, two stores, a bhu'ksmith sho|), an eating house, jiostoflice, drug store, hotel, elevator and excellent conveniences for currying on grain and stock business. The ])eo]ile along the line of the railroad have shown a remarkable degree of enterprise and liberality in cimtribiiting to the constructing of this road. Mr. .James Taylor gave the right of way here and .'?;i.l)(l(). and the ]ilace was named Taylor Ri- lished in 1S76, with R. B. Olmstead its first ])ostmaster. School District No. 7 was formed in 1877, the first school being taught in the house of Weaver Kuhns by Miss .Jenny Ivuhns. .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; sixty-seven votes l)eing cast: Thirty-three \-otes for organization, 110 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY aiul tliirty-four votes against organization. May 17, 1894, ii]ion petition to tlie County Court of thirty-one legal voters of the district, June 2, 1894, was apjiointed the date to hold another election on the proposition of village organization. Said election resulted, fifty- six for incorporation, and twelve against. July 3, 1894, 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 County. It is located on 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, Ijeing less than half the size of a congressional township. Though small in size it is one of the hustling townships of the county. Its history dates from the earliest settlement of the country. One of the first 'settlers was Captain 15. 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 Village of Andalusia. This house when first built was the only one Ijetween that of Joshua Van- druff on Vandruff's Island, at the foot of Black Hawk's Watch Tower, and Erastus Dennison's, at the u])per "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 present form, the west half of Henry Si)ringmeier'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 Vanatta, during the fall of 1834. This was afterwards bought and occu])ied by Jonathan Buffum, and for half a century was known as the old Buffum 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. They also brought with them the elder McNutt and his son John, a carpenter; Moses and Charles Titterington and two other lirothers and their families; also Charles and Harr}- Eberliart and families, and Adolph Dunlap, a noted gunsmith. James Robison and the Parmenters came a little later. Clark's Ferry, 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 Mississi]ipi 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 .|17,00t). 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, they sold thousands of dollars worth of town lots to such men as Daniel Webster, Henry Clark, John C. Cal- hoim. General George W. Jones and other jirominent peo])le, none of whom ever saw the lots. Rockport only grew on paper and HISTORIC ROC K I S L A N I) C O U N T Y 111 finally died a slow and easy death, was sold for taxes and bought up by Napoleon Bona- parte Buford, who relaid a ])ortii)n of it into lots and named the new town Andalusia. Their pubilc 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 passetl 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 roiuiniscent sketches, tells of a wedding ]«u-ty in the early days, where the knot was tied by the late Daniel Edgington, wheii a young man and justice of the peace. .John Cooiier 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 Comity for a license and were marrietl on this side of the river. The young justice had never performed a ceremony of this kind before and was more or less ner\-ous. Thus it ha])pened that he forgot to ask all the usual questions and when the consent of the bride had Ijeen signified he ])ronomiced them man and wife without ]iroi)ounding the usual queries to the groom. Mr. C'ooper, 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 liveil 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 Territoi'y, 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 jilat, which was a part of the olil paper city of Rockport. In 1843 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, ami named the place .\nd;dusia. In 1866 S. M. Boney had the i)lace re-surveyed and laid out into lots and Ijlocks with streets named. In early days tlie village did a, good prosperous business with the farmers and steaml)oat shiiiiiing trade. An election was held May 1(1, 1884, in the Town of Andalusia, at the liall of Robert Ross, for village organi- zation; the total vote being seventy. For \illage organization, tliii'ty-nine \'otes: against thirty-one votes. \'ote was canvassed and apjiroved 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 \-illage trustees, seventy-five votes lieing cast. Trus- tees elected were William Smith, John H. Brookman, James W. Ballard, Benjamin Dill, J. H. Britton and H. Mosher. BUFFALO PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP. This town, under original organization, was named Buffalo; afterward changed to Copjier, and then to its present name. Its northern boundary is tlie Mississip]>i River, the southern Mercer Count v, eastern 112 ■ HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY the To\vnshi])s (if Edsiington and Amlalusia, and west by Drury Township. John Edgington was the first settler, com- ing here in 1834 from Jefferson County, 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 jirominent in k)cal affairs. Samuel Sloan came in 1839 from Pennsyl- \-ania. The first boy born was a son to John and Susan Edgington, March 20, 1835, named James. The first school was in 1840, taught by a venerable Scotchman. A very thrifty class of the ]ieople were Germans, who came in an early day. The township is composed of prairie land and timber, about equally, with numerous fine and well imjiro^-ed farms. It is said that Buffalo Prairie derives its name from the fact that in the early settlement days a great portion of the ]irairie land had been long and strongly trodden and stamped by the buffalo in their early grazing groimds, together with their deep trail paths leading to their drinking (ihices. BIFFALO PRAIRIE Is situated in Buffalo Prairie Township, and not incorporated. Is a small place, with ])ostoffice and two or three houses. DRURY TOWNSHIP. Drury Township was named in honor of the Drury family, the earliest pif)neers of the townshi)). It is situated in the southwestern corner of the county and embraces one full congressional township and parts of three others. It contains some very rough and broken ui)land 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 foimd in the county. Some of the early settlers were: Miles, Isaiah, Reynolds, Kli, Silas and James Drury, William and Ithamar Reynolds, Jacob A. Seiver, William Huff, I., B. Elijah and James Essex, Matthew and Jeremiah LeQuatte, William Womacks, Solomon Simpson, An- thony Ricketts, John Ballard, John Har- liaugh, James McPherson, Harry Hampton, S. Prentiss, William Hays, John Boruff, Joseph and Antoine Blair, L. Y. 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 they had undertaken no light and easy task. They ' had many diHiciUties 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 Ije miles ajiart. All were on a common level as to mode of life and largely as to resources. All were"horney handed sons of toil." Their op]iortimities for mental growth and cultvu'e were of their own creation, and evolved from their own indi\'idualities. Nature was their teacher and natm-e's lessons were well learned. In those early days tliere were no schools for the children, no churches, no doctors, no mills, no stores, no roads, no liridges; just the rich soil, groves of timber, pure air and water, and a healthful climate. But they were hopeful, energetic, industrious and persevering. Years rolled by, other set- tlers came, schools and churches, roads and liridges, railroads, cities and villages were built, and those who have lived until the present day have witnessed a growtli 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 fifty 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 T O H I C R (J C K 1 S LAND C U N T Y 11:3 gddd hreail. Sliortly after he was niarried lie went to C'ainl)ri(lf>,e, Indiana, for a liousekeep- ing outfit. He got a Dutch (i\en. a skillet and an iron kettle, and these aniounlecl to their cooking utensils for some time. School teachers received so much a pupil instead of :i salary. A log caliin on the Miles Drury place was used for a school house, and another one on Section 29, commonly known as the" hull pen." Mile.s Drury 's barn was used as a church. The people were ohliged to go to DiMiry's handing, si-\ miles away, for (heir mail, and paid twenty-five cents postage on every letter. Mr.s. Rosman says when they went vi.siting, oxen and a lumber wagon was their carriage. They sheareil their sheep before they sold them in Indiana, and cloth wa.s made from this wool by her mother, who carded, spun and wove it by hand. Reynolds Drury settled at Drury 's Landing. where he opened a general store, bought grain and pork and did a flourishing business. \ jjostoffice was established thei-e at an earl\- day and it became for a time the principal market place foi- this section of the couiilry. Hut the building of railroads chan,!j,eil business centers and residents of the town now trade at Muscatine. Isaiah and Silas Drui-y had a grist mill, a saw null ;ind a wool-carding machine, located on Section 1*0, on Copperas Creek, built as nearly as can be recalled, in \S'.\~ or is;-!,S. Dr. 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 bi-ed lixc stock as can be found anywhere, liut to Buffalo I'rairie Townshiji lielongs the dis- tinction of raising " Alex," kiuiwn for man\' years as the faste.st horse in the woi'ld. Daniel Hayes had the honor of breeiling and rai.sing this speedy animal. Her time was •2-mH- There is one rural free delivery mail route in the townshi]) and three iiostofiices. The latter are located as follows: Ferdinand, in the southeast corner of the township, with Mrs. Ryan as i:)ost mistress; Foster, on Section 17, with .1. II. Foster as jiostmaster; and Wray- \ille. in the center, with Helen Wray as post- mistress. The name " Wrayville," was sug- gested by .lames Hritton, wlu) was teaching school at that point, when a name was wanted. The educational advantages of the town- ship are fully e(pial to those of any agricid- tural commiinit)'. We ha\'e nine schools wliose districts ai'e wli"ll\' within the town- stii|), and two union schools, one being in the district reaching into .Mercer County. DRIRVS LANDINC. \\'as nothing but a steamboat landing, and at one time in the early days, considerable shij)))ing was done from its old warehouse, .Just liack of the Landing a \-ilIage named Richmond was |)latted b}- S. R. Drury, and filed .May 7. 18415, and affirmed by the County Commissioners. It was fi\'e blocks long, only one block deep, willi one side street sixty feet wiile. I'unnim; liack from the Mississi])pi l{i\('r. a slough bordering the place on b;)(h east and west sides. ILI.I.XOIS (TTV Is situated in b;illi Drui-y and Buffalo I'rairie Townships. It is not an inciu'porated \illage. Has a church, (wo stores, a hotel, blacksmith shop, postoflice with two rural nuiil routes, public school and public square, and about fifty houses, with a ])opulation of a little over two hundred. Illinois City was laid (Md at an early date, and ([uite exten- sively platted, its owiun' anticipating great results. For scune years the village thrived nicely, but when the railroad came a few miles away, tratle was diverted, and ruined the prospects of Illinois ("ity, CITY OF ROCK ISLAND. The City of Rock Island is a well laid-out and snl)stantially built town, containing a 114 HISTORIC ROCK ISLAND COUNTY l)o])ulati(in of alxnit :V_', ()()(). In our recently issued city directory is ^iven 14,055 names; which by the visuid multiple of 2}.{ would give us a popvdation of 31,624. It i.s situated on tiie Illinois side of the Mississippi River, at the foot of the Upper Rapids, and just below 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 bhifTs on the Iowa side ai)iiroach the shore, so that the City of Davenpoi't lies chiefly on the hillsides; on the Rock Island side the hills recede to a tlistance of more than a mile, leaving a broad and l)eautiful plain on which the city is built. This plain is sufficiently elevated to afford a dry and healthy location, and is boimded 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 background to the city plat. Here the s]iace is amply sufhcient for a city of a h\mdred thousand inhabitants. From almost any point of observation in this city the views are fine. They combine a landscape of mingled art and nature: the cities of Daven- ])ort. Rock Island and .Moline, with their tall spires and smoking factories; the Island of Iviick Ishunl in the broad liright channel of the .Mississi])])i, and connected with both shores by its magnificent iron liridges. Look- ing up the I'ivei' t(i\\ar