Daniel Prince

History and reminiscences vol 1

…our grove, village and township have been named, but enough has been said to prove that the founder of the early settlement here was no mean character, but one who justly deserves our profound respect and one who should be held in grateful remembrance by all our younger citizens as well as the early settlers. Source Old Settlers’ Union of Princeville and Vicinity. History and Reminiscences, from the Records of Old Settlers Union of Princeville and Vicinity; Material Comprised in Reports of Committees on History and Reminiscences for Years 1906-1910. Vol. 1. Peoria, Ill., E. Hine & Co., Printers, 1912-….

Biography of Henry Bly

Lee County Illinois

…staying for a while at their first stopping place, our subject proceeded to the valley of the American River, and later on in the spring of 1851 went up the Sacramento River to Scott River in Oregon with others, but before reaching their destination he and his companions found gold at what is now known as Shasta. At that place, Mr. Bly mined nearly all the precious mineral that he obtained while in the Golden State during the fifteen months that he remained there. There he had full experience of the rough life of a frontier mining camp. Excitement ran…

Biography of Thomas Clayton of Nelson Township

Lee County Illinois

Thomas Clayton, born on April 19, 1814, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, was a prominent farmer and community leader in Nelson Township, Illinois. Moving to Illinois in 1856, he initially rented land before purchasing a 200-acre farm in 1859. Known for his contributions to the township’s development, Clayton also served as Supervisor and participated in public life. He married Mary Wright, with whom he had six children. After his death in 1885, Mary and their surviving son, Owen L. Clayton, continued to manage the farm. Thomas was an active member of the Lutheran Church and a respected figure in his community….

Report of the Commissioners

…plat recorded July 10, 1835. This recorded plat bears the certificate of Joseph Conway, clerk to the county commissioners. The town comprised within its modest limits twenty blocks in addition to the one set aside for a public square upon which the county buildings were to be erected and upon which the handsome modern court house now stands. The lots were most generous, as befitted a time when land was cheap. They measured eighty feet front and had a depth of one hundred and fifty feet. Colonel George Davenport, John W. Spencer and John Vanatta, the county commissioners, entered the…

Rock Island Arsenal

Rock Island Arsenal Summing up the history pertaining to the Rock Island Arsenal, located upon the Island of Rock Island, and lying conjointly, one might say, between the cities of Moline, Rock Island and Davenport, is no light task. In the data which contributes to the construction of this history, some of which has been incorporated verbatim, there are numerous dates and incidents which give rise to conflicting thoughts and deductions and the writer has been compelled, in some instances, to resort to comparisons upon which to base his judgments. Since the advent of Colonel George Davenport, May 10, 1816,…

Address By Hon. William J. Jackson

…where the law has been administered, under which the people have lived, and under its benign and protecting influence, have prospered. It has been sacred to the people, because therein the sovereignty of the law was asserted, a sovereignty that assumed the form of organized law, which has always commanded, and still commands, the fealty and respect of the citizens of Rock Island County. In this beautiful edifice in which we are now assembled, we are to continue the administration of public justice, to decide under the forms of law and in a spirit of impartiality, so far as it…

Biography of Perry Stancliff of Wyoming Illinois

…ceased. An Indian raiding or hunting party was traveling by boat down the Spoon River, which the Indians called “Feather River”, and on this occasion the Indians disembarked near Modena, Stark County, IL and killed a settler and his red haired wife. The Indians again moved down river, but the news of the attack reached Wyoming first and the settlers were ready. The settlers determined that the Indians would probably come ashore again at the bend of the river where General Samuel Thomas had a cabin located near the bank of the river. A number of the men of Wyoming…

Geology of Rock Island County

…exposed. Under this division lies the third division which consists of a fine grained compact stone, of gray or dove color. This extends below the river level and is of an unknown thickness. It has been penetrated by borings to the depth of one hundred and seventy-five feet. This Devonian limestone of the third division forms the bed of Mississippi and Rock Rivers in this region. Rock River from Milan almost to the Mississippi is paved with what seem to be massive blocks of this compact stone irregular in size and contour and worn to smoothness by the ceaseless flow…

Natural Scenic Beauty

…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 handsome inn crowns the elevation and the various attractions of a modern amusement park furnish recreation for the multitude. Early Settlements of Rock Island County Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908…

Biography of Hon. Abijah Powers

Abijah Powers Residence

Hon. Abijah Powers, a respected figure in Palmyra Township, passed away in 1891, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and community service. Arriving in Lee County in 1838 with just $5, Powers transformed his life through hard work, eventually owning extensive farmlands. A descendant of a family with historical significance, including Hiram Powers the sculptor, Abijah was deeply involved in politics as a Republican, served as Town Supervisor, and represented his district in the Illinois General Assembly. Known for his genial nature and commitment to the Congregational Church, Powers’ life story is a testament to perseverance, community contribution, and moral…

Pin It on Pinterest