Rock Island

History of the Industrial Commission Following a wide spread movement among cities and towns to develop their commercial and manufacturing importance and recognizing that this could best be attained through an organization whose efforts would be con-fined to this field of activity the Industrial Commission of Rock Island was created. The first step necessary thereto was accomplished through the contribution of a fund of $10,000 intended to meet the expenses incidental to the work for a given period, and upon the attainment thereof an organization was effected by the creation of five committees, namely: The manufacturers, the railroads, the jobbers, … Read more

General Rodman’s Plans General Rodman’s plans were submitted to Congress during the session of 1865 and approved. An appropriation was made to begin work on the new buildings; and from that time forward steady progress has been made until now Rock Island Arsenal is the fore-most in the United States. A portion of the Island had been sold under a special act of Congress. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company had located their track across the island and built upon its banks the abutments for their bridges. When the Government decided to utilize the island for a permanent … Read more

The Governor’s Proclamation April 16, Governor Reynolds received General Atkinson’s letter, asking the assistance 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 River country to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants. I consider the settlers … Read more

Geology of Rock Island County The soil of the Rock River and Meredosia bottoms is the rich alluvial deposit that is found in the neighborhood of all streams in this part of the Mississippi basin. The small portion of the county lying north of the bluff line is level sand prairie. This level stretch assists the imagination in calling up a vision of a mightier Mississippi than the one with which the earliest inhabitants of the valley were acquainted. In those earlier ages of the earth’s history when the river divided at this point with its main channel in the … Read more

Governor Reynolds Acts “Belleville, 26th May, 1831. “Sir: In order to protect the citizens of this state, who reside near Rock River, from Indian invasion and depredations, I have considered it necessary to call out a force of militia of this state of about seven hundred strong,. to remove a band of the Sac Indians who are now about Rock Island. The object of the government of the state is to protect those citizens by removing said Indians, peaceably if they can, but forcibly if they must. Those Indians are now, and so I have considered them, in a state … Read more

General Atkinson Comes to Fort Armstrong On June 31, 1831, a war party of nearly 100 Sacs and Foxes had attacked a camp of Menominees situated about one half a mile about Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien and killed twenty-five. Black Hawk says the killed were Sioux and Menominees. Between the former and the Sacs and Foxes there had always been a bitter and hostile feeling. April 1, 1832, General Henry Atkinson, 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 … Read more

General Clark to the War Department “Superintendency of Indian Affairs, “St. Louis, May 30, 1831. “Sir: On the 28th inst. I had the honor of receiving a letter from the Governor of Illinois dated the 28th, informing me of the measures which he had considered it necessary to pursue for the protection of the citizens of his state from Indian invasion and for the purpose of removing a band of Sacs then about Rock Island. A copy of his letter and my answer herewith enclosed. “Deeming the information received from’ the Governor of Illinois important, I immediately communicated it to … Read more

General Gaines Reply to Gov Reynolds ” H. Q. Western Department, May 29, 1831. “His Excellency, Governor Reynolds. “Sir: I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, advising me of your having received undoubted information that the section of the frontier of your state near Rock Island is invaded by a hostile band of Sac Indians headed by a chief called Black Hawk. That in order to repel said invasion, and to protect the citizens of the state, you have called on the militia to the number of 700 militiamen to be in … Read more

Fort Armstrong About the time the fort was completed the Indians began crossing to the island and would watch the soldiers in its construction. They would often sing and go. through some of their dances to amuse the soldiers, and the latter began to think that the Indians were peaceful. The Hon. Bailey Davenport de-scribed an incident during this time that shows that the Indians had not become reconciled to the erecting of the fort. He said: “One day a small party came over to dance, and after the dance the colonel in command gave them presents. In a few … Read more

Gaines Asks Aid From The Governor After the council, General Gaines at once sent by special messenger the following letter to Governor Reynolds: ” Headquarters, Rock Island, June 5, 1831. “John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois. “Sir: I do myself the honor to report to Your Excellency the result of my conference with the chiefs and braves of the band of Sac Indians settled within the limits of your state near this place. “I called their attention to the facts re-ported to me of their disorderly conduct towards the white inhabitants near them. They disavow any intention of hostility but at … Read more