Rock Island

Events Of Early Days The original proprietors of the water power, in 1841-42, laid out some lots on the south side of Main Street, now Second Avenue, opposite the grounds now occupied by the Plow Works, and formerly occupied in part by the old grist mill, which was built in 1841 by David B. Sears, John W. Spencer and Spencer H. White, as was also the dam, and named the place “Rock Island Mills.” The plat, however, was never recorded. In 1843 Charles Atkinson, 1). B. Sears and others purchased of Huntington Wells a portion of his farm lying east … Read more

Establishment of Rock Island County, Illinois In 1828 and the early part of 1829 George Davenport and Russell Farnham entered the lands upon which the old fair grounds were located, and which extended from there about one mile east. William T. Brashar entered the lands upon a portion of which is now located Chippianock Cemetery. These and other pre-emptions were upon 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, … Read more

Early Slavery in Rock County At this time in the southern part of the the state Negroes were held in bondage, under what was known and recognized as the indentured or registered servant’s act. This was contrary to the ordinance of 1787 which governed the admission of Illinois into the union as a state, but our Legislature enacted laws which our courts upheld, by which slavery existed in Illinois. In May, 1829, a man named Stephens from St. Louis settled on. the Mississippi where Walker Station now is, two miles east of Moline, bringing with him twenty black slaves, and … Read more

Edgington Township, Illinois This is one of the oldest settlements in the county. Three score and ten years have gone into the past since the first white settlers set foot upon its soil. The first white children born here are now among the old men and women of our times. They are the Dunlaps, Edgingtons, Titteringtons, Montgomeries, Parks, Parmenters and Eberharts. Only a few of them reside here now to tell the story of their childhood days. Many have removed to other parts of the globe, and some have passed the bourne whence none return, and so the name of … Read more

Early Rock Island Businesses The first brick store in Rock Island was built by Lemuel Andrews, and is still in existence, just east of the Court House, and now occupied by Mrs. Roessler, adjoining the old frame house built and occupied by Mr. Andrews, and long occupied by Mrs. Benjamin Cobb. This old brick building was a general store, kept by Andrews and Mc-Masters. Mr. Andrews later building on the site of the present E. P. Reynolds’ homestead, a good brick residence with a large porch around three sides, and facing the slough, beside the county road, where the railroad … Read more

Early Settlements of Rock Island County Undoubtedly the first white men to cast their eyes upon Rock Island soil were Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette, when they and their five French canoe-men, in June 1673, floated from the mouth of the Wisconsin River down the broad Mississippi. We do not know that they landed at any spot in the boundary of what is now Rock Island County, but as they came over the Rock Island rapids, gliding down the swift flowing water, they could not fail to notice the Island of Rock Island with its rocky shores and beautiful … Read more

Early Names of Rock Island Streets In the original plat of the town of Stephen-son the alleys were named. The main streets running east and west, parallel with the river, were : Mississippi, Illinois, Orleans, Rock River, and Moline Avenue; its continuations being Highland, and Canal Streets. The alley between Mississippi Street and Illinois Street was named Cherry Alley, then came Violet, Pink and Rose Alleys; between Orleans and Rock River Streets, Peach and Plum Alleys; between Illinois and Orleans Streets, running north and south, in the blocks east and west of the Court House. The names are surely not … Read more

Deere & Company Our activities as a nation are industrial, not military. American history can furnish no subject more inspiring than the achievements of men whose life stories are told in the growth of the industries which they alone created, especially when those industries have developed into national or international importance, as a result of constructive policies. Military achievement is a fruitful source of patriotic inspiration, but should he drawn upon with caution. It is fitting that on-coming generations should draw a portion of their inspirations from the soldiers of industry among whom they must cast their lot. Men who … Read more

Drury Township, Illinois Drury Township was named in honor of the Drury family, the earliest pioneers of the township. 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 upland and some smooth bottom land; much of it, however, is of the best quality as to soil, and there are as some fine farms in this township as can be found in the county. Some of the early settlers were: Miles, Isaiah, Reynolds, Eli, Silas and James Drury, William and Ithamar Reynolds, … Read more

Court, Bench and Bar The first term of the Circuit Court of Rock Island County was held April 28, 1834, in the house of John Barrel in Farnhamsburg, Richard M. Young presiding Judge. Farnhamsburg was located on the bank of the Mississippi River, in the east part of the City of Rock Island, a short distance west of the residence of the Hon. Ben T. Cable. The first house built on the present site of the City of Rock Island, then Farnhamsburg, was a log house built by Colonel George Davenport and one Russell Farnham, who was engaged in business … Read more