Rock Island

The Young Men’s Christian Association Nearly thirty years ago the first Association was formed in Rock Island, with the same general objects as the present institution. It was engendered by a great religious revival, and E. W. Spencer, one of the originators of the idea, was elected the first president. Rooms were opened in the post office block, and Sunday afternoons religious meetings for young men were held. At the end of two years Mr. Spencer was called to other fields, necessitating his resignation, and the work was allowed to lapse. The present Y. M. C. A. had its origin […]

Zuma Township, Illinois The first white child born in what is now Zuma Township was Mary Ann Sturdivan; the first white boy was L. W. Beal, long afterwards colonel in the army. The first school house was built in 1854. It is known as the Wake school house and is where all the elections are held. The first frame house built was by Mr. Center on what is known as the John Moody place. The houses in those days were small, rude and inconvenient. If they had floors they were usually of good solid oak, an inch and a quarter

Woman’s Club Of Moline The Woman’s Club of Moline was founded May 23, 1903, by Mrs. Frank Gates Allen, of Moline, who called the first meeting, secured the place and speakers and presented a plan of organization which was adopted. The Club’s membership grew rapidly, outgrowing the capacity of successive meeting places, until it has five hundred and twenty-five members and holds its regular meetings in one of the largest church buildings in Moline -the First Congregational. The object of the Club, as stated by its constitution, “shall be to foster the interest of its members in literary, scientific, musical,

The Wright Carriage Body Company The Wright Carriage Body Company was organized in 1902 with a capital of $50,000; securing its charter in November, 1902, as a stock company, its first officers being T. M. Sechler, president; C. W. Wright, vice-president and manager; E. H. Wilson, secretary and treasurer. Its first board of directors were T. M. Sechler, W. L. Velie, H. C. First, C. W. Wright, Fred Peters, F. H. Wilson of Moline, and C. H. Dooley of Rock Island. A two-story factory building, one hundred and fifty by sixty feet with sixty by sixty-five feet wing for engine,

The Villa De Chantal This institution (Home school for girls) was formerly known as Francis de Sales Academy, and was founded in 1864 at Maysville, Kentucky. In August, 1899, the academy was removed to Rock Island. The Villa de Chantal is located on one of the most beautiful bluffs overlooking the Mississippi, and commanding a superb view of the surrounding country. The institution was first incorporated in 1866, under the title of “The Sisters of the Visitation,” Maysville, Kentucky, and after its removal to Rock Island it was re-incorporated under the laws of the State of . Illinois, with the

The War Of 1812 The Louisiana Purchase in 1803 gave the United States control of both banks of the upper Mississippi River. Previous to this time, but little was known of our upper river by the Americans, and not until Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike under orders from our government in 1805 came up the river from St. Louis, to discover its source, and to select locations for future United States posts, did our government have any definite knowledge concerning this country. At the beginning of the year 1814 the war with England was still in progress and though the warfare

Tri-City Manufacturers’ Association Tri-City Manufacturers’ Association Of The Cities Of Davenport, Rock Island And Moline. The Tri-City Manufacturers’ Association was organized in the year 1900, with C. H. Deere of Moline as president, and E. H. Sleight of Moline as secretary. The general object at that time was the promotion of the interests of the three cities along manufacturing lines. Although started with some enthusiasm, it soon languished and practically ceased to exist until two years later. When the machinists through-out. the country struck for a shorter work-day, the Tri-City Manufacturers’ Association awoke to life again, and practically reorganized as

Tri-City Press Club The Tri-City Press Club is an organization representing some sixty odd working news-paper men of the Cities of Rock Island, Moline and Davenport. The condition of active membership is identical with the editorial or business departments of the papers and other reputable journals of the three cities. Two other classes of membership are honorary and non-resident. The Club was organized at a banquet tendered representatives of the press of the three cities at Black Hawk Inn by Charles McHugh and J. F. Lardner, in September, 1898. The Club at its first meeting elected Mr. McHugh and Mr.

The Turkey Scare 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 planting. Captain Bliss, who commanded at the fort, yielded to their request, and arranged with them a signal of alarm in case they or any of them should be attacked, or were in imminent danger of an attack, which signal was that they should “fire off a gun.” When such gun was fired, everyone should flee

The Velie Carriage Company The Velie Carriage Company plant situated in Moline, Illinois, was established in 1902 by gentlemen of widely known reputations in the middle west and who had been affiliated with manufacturing industries in that city for many years. Foreseeing a future scarcity of land for desirable factory sites, a tract of six and a half acres in extent was purchased, from which a strip four hundred and fifty feet long and one hundred and twenty feet wide was set aside for building purposes. A factory building was erected and completed in the Fall of 1902, consisting of

Township Organization September 1, 1856, on application of three petitioners, signed by over fifty legal voters of Rock Island County, praying for the question of township organization; it was ordered by the court that the question be submitted to the voters of said county, to vote for or against township organization at the next November election. Abstract of votes given at said election resulted as follows: For township organization, 2314. Against township organization, 147. Tuesday, December 2, 1856, the court appointed Lemuel Andrews, Nathaniel Belcher and Flavel J. Whitney as commissioners to divide the county into towns, in accordance with

Town Of Andalusia, Illinois 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, being 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 B. W. Clark, father of Captain W. L. Clark, of Buffalo, Scott

Town Of Rock Island, Illinois The Town of Rock Island came into being as a new edition of Stephenson, enlarged and revised by an act of the Legislature, passed in March, 1841. This act changed the name to Rock Island, and incorporated the latter as a town under a board of nine trustees. The trustees of the old village held over until the next annual election in September, but a special election was held on the first Mon-day in April for four other trustees, who, together with the five old trustees, constituted the new board. The additional trustees elected were:

Topography of Rock Island County Rock Island County lies upon the western boundary of the great agricultural prairie state of Illinois. This boundary, the majestic Mississippi River, is bordered by bluffs that give a rugged and diversified surface to this river county. Rock Island County is notably a river county, for it stretches for almost sixty miles in an irregular strip along the Father of Waters. It also has for its boundary line (for the upper half of the county) upon the southeast another famous stream, Rock River. The third natural boundary is Meredosia Slough or creek which separates Rock

South Rock Island Township, Illinois The township extends south from the corporate limits of the City of Rock Island to the north shore of the Rock River. This township is exceedingly productive of agricultural products. Its chief distinction lies in its phenomenal growth. From a mere pasture, hills and farm lands it has developed into one of the most desirable residence portions of Rock Island County. The principal place of interest is the noted Black Hawk’s Watch Tower, which at the present time is quite a summer resort. From this tower Black Hawk kept watch for his enemies, either red

Stage and Hack Routes in 1855 Rock Island and Moline Hacks run as follows: Leave Rock Island at 8, 9:30 and 11 o’clock A. M., and at 1, 2:30 and 5 o’clock P. M.; leave Moline at 7:15, 9:15 and 11 o’clock A. M., and 1, 3 and 4 o’clock P. M. Packages of less than one hundred and fifty pounds weight carried carefully and delivered promptly. Camden and Rock Island Hack leaves Camden at 8 o’clock A. M. and 2 o’clock P. M.; leaves Rock Island at 11 o’clock A. M. and 6 o’clock P. M. Stages for Galena

The Standard Table Oil Cloth Company In July, 1901, the organization of the Standard Table Oil Cloth Company was effected; seven manufacturers sold their plants to the Standard Company.- These plants were largely located-in the east. The product of the company is light weight oil cloth, by which is meant oil cloth manufactured on a cotton base used for covering tables, imitations of leather, bag muslin, shelf and stair oil cloth. The company has never manufactured oil cloth for floors, which is a separate industry, inasmuch as floor oil cloth is manufactured on a burlap instead of a cotton base,

South Moline Township, Illinois Was organized as a town March 14, 1879. 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 Silvis November 14, 1906, thirty-six petitioners representing over 300 resident population, petitioned the county court of Rock Island County, Illinois, for

The Settlers’ Affidavits While at Fort Armstrong the settlers had prepared another petition, together with numerous affidavits, which they presented to General Gaines. The following is the substance of the depositions of sundry citizens of the Rock River settlement, taken before William Brasher, J. P., and Joel Wells, J. P., on the 10th of June, 1831. First. John Wells, John W. Spencer, Jonah H. Case, Rennah Wells, Samuel Wells, Benjamin F. Pike, Joseph Danforth and Moses Johnson, before Wm. Brazer, J. P., swear that the Sac Indians did through the last year repeatedly threaten to kill them for being on

Sac and Fox Treaties The first recognition by our government of the Sacs and Foxes was in the treaty made at Ft. Harmar, January 9, 1789, which guaranteed: “The individuals of said nations shall be at liberty to hunt within the territory ceded to the United States, without hindrance or molestation, so long as they demean them-selves peaceably and offer no injury or annoyance to any of the subjects or citizens of the said United States.” In 1804 William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory, and afterwards President of the United States, was instructed by President Jefferson to institute negotiations

Rural Township, Illinois The first settlers of Rural, which formerly formed part of Coal Valley Township, were Thomas and Davis Goodlow, brothers, who built the first house on section 29. John Farlow being. the second, who came from Pre-emption Township, at which place he was the first settler. He built the small house on section 30 of this township. The first child born was a son of John Farlow, in 1839. The first marriage was that of David Good-low and Nancy Farlow. Before the year 1840 the following persons came -to this township: A. L. and A. N. Sayre, J.

Sac and Fox Customs The Sacs and Foxes had many peculiar customs, one being that each male child was marked at birth with either white or black color, the Indian mother alternating the colors so that the nation was evenly divided between black and white. This distinction was kept alive during life, the object being to create rivalry and a spirit of emulation between the members of the tribe. Thus black was the competitor of white in their games and social customs, and each side tried to outdo the other, and in war to take more scalps. Black Hawk belonged

The Rock River Village The chief Sac village was located on the north bank of Rock River about two miles from its mouth. It was built about 1730, west of where the Rock Island and Peoria Railway crosses the river, and it extended down along the bank in a straggling form. It was one of the largest Indian towns on the continent, the oldest and longest inhabited, and had a population often as high as three thousand. It was the summer home of the Sacs. Here was located the tribal burying ground, a spot more revered by an Indian than

Roster At Fort Armstrong The officers and troops stationed at Fort Armstrong from August, 1819 (first return on file), until abandoned May 4, 1836, were as follows:Commanding officers: Lieutenant Colonel Willoughby Morgan, from 1819; Captain M. Marston, from August 1819 to June 1821, of Company F, Fifth Infantry; Captain S. Burbank, from June, 1821 to June, 1823, of Company D, Fifth Infantry; Major J. H. Vose, from June, 1823 to June 4, 1825, of Companies D and F, Fifth Infantry; Captain S. Burbank, from June 4, 1825 to May 21, 1826, of Companies D and F, Fifth Infantry; Major J.