Rock Island

River Navigation The office of the Government engineer in control of the Government improvement along the Mississippi, from the mouth of the Missouri River to St. Paul, together with a number of adjacent natural artificial water-ways, is located in Rock Island. Through its annual appropriations, about $800,000 are spent in the interests of improved navigation in the district indicated. The first Government engineer’s office established for the improvement of the upper river was located in Davenport, in 1866, and was in charge of General James H. Wilson. The office was originally intended to control only the improvement of the Rock […]

Riverside Cemetery The old Moline Cemetery consisted of about five acres, from the north center of the Bill Mills farm, each lot holder being a member of the Association. The association turning this over to the City of Moline, who purchased seventy-five acres more and afterwards ten acres additional, making altogether ninety acres. The. first burial ground in the Village of Moline was where Charles H. Deere’s residence now is, bodies being removed to the present old cemetery, from which a considerable number have been removed to the new part: some interments are still made in the older portion. The

Report of the Commissioners The report of the commissioners was made June 8, 1835. This document ordered “that Charles R. Bennet be appointed to survey the town of Stephenson, in Rock Island County, 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 Republican, the Alton Spectator, the Northwestern Gazette and the Galena Advertiser.” The town of Stephenson was therefore laid out by Charles R. Bennet and the

A Revolutionary Battle at the Sac Village 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 River to St. Louis, and attacked that then Spanish post. The British and their Indian allies on May 26th, made their attack, but were repulsed by the inhabitants and the small Spanish garrison. They then

Port Byron Academy The Port Byron Academy was established in Port Byron mainly through the efforts of Reverend A. A. Harper. His son, E. T. Harper was the first principal. The school was started in 1881 in the second story of the building now occupied by Adrian and Witter’s implement store, in the Dorrance Block. It has a strong Alumni, numbering among its members many prominent men and women. Professor M. J. Yolton, a graduate of the institution, is its present principal. The Port Byron Academy is located at Port Byron, one of the oldest towns in Rock Island County,

Port Byron, Illinois In the year 1826 two brothers, Robert and Thomas Syms, located on the present site of Port Byron, and established a wood yard for supplying cord wood to steamboats on the Mississippi River. Their location soon came to be known as Syms’ Wood Yard. They were among the first white settlers in this locality, other residents being principally Sac and Fox Indians. During the year 1828 Archibald Allen, Conrad Leek, George W. Harlan and others came with their families and settled in this township. Archibald Allen traded with the Indians, buying skins and furs. He was afterwards

The Press Of Rock Island County To Henry C. McGrew, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1818 with his father, belongs the credit of issuing the first newspaper published in Rock Island County. He came to Rock Island in 1839, and about the middle of August of that year started the Rock Island Banner and Stephenson Gazette, which suspended publication in the. Fall of 1841, when the press and type were moved to Geneseo. The paper was neutral in politics until 1840, when, during the presidential campaign of that year, it advocated the principles of the

Reply from Governor Reynolds “Belleville, May 28, 1831. “General Gaines. “Sir: I have received undoubted information that the section of this state near Rock Island is actually invaded by a hostile band of the Sac Indians headed by Black Hawk; and in order to repel said invasion, and to protect the citizens of the state, I have, under the provisions of the constitution of the United States and the laws of this state, called on the militia, to the number of 700 men, who will be mounted and ready for service in a very short time. I consider it my

Political Divisions The fortunes of Rock Island County have been those of the State of Illinois. In 1541, Ferdinand De Soto discovered the Mississippi River, crossing it somewhere near Memphis; and upon this discovery rested Spain’s claim and title to the “far west.” The country now known as the State of Illinois is shown on the very early Spanish maps as a part of Florida. Spain made no attempt., however, to plant her settlements in the “Illinois.” In 1763, at the close of the French and Indian Wars, Illinois became British territory, and so remained until July 4, 1778, when

Population of the Sacs and Foxes In 1805 Lieutenant Zebulon Pike on behalf of the United States government made an expedition from St. Louis to the sources of the Mississippi River. He says that the Sacs had three villages, one at the head of the Des Moines Rapids, the second on a prairie about two miles from the Mississippi at Oquawka, and the third on Rock River about three miles from its mouth. The Foxes or Reynards also had three villages, one on the Illinois side above the Rock Island Rapids, one at Dubuque and one near Prairie du Chien.

Pioneer Days On The Mississippi By S. W. Mc Master The first steamboat that landed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, was the Virginia, Captain Crawford, in 1823. She was one hundred and eighteen feet long and twenty-two feet wide. At that early day the conveying of supplies to the forts on the upper Mississippi was about all the traffic there was. During the few years immediately following the arrival of the Virginia there was but one boat a year. The Neville came in 1824; the Putnam in 1825; the Lawrence in 1826; the Fulton in 1827; the Eclipse in 1828, and

Pioneer Days On The Mississippi By J. W. Lawhead The names of a few of the many magnificent steamers that were frequent callers at our levee in the days before the civil war, when steamboat business was at its zenith, are still fresh in my mind. Many of our citizens will remember such boats as the Time and Tide, Brazil, Lady Franklin, Montauk, Bonacord, Anthony Wayne, Danube, Greek Slave, Julia Dean, Lamertine, Golden Era, Itaska, Grey Eagle, Effie Afton, Excelsior, James McKee, and Lusern. All these boats were large, finely equipped side-wheelers, for a stern-wheeler in those times was seldom

Other Rock Island Soldiers Rock Island County furnished more soldiers than those given in Captain John W. Kenney’s company. Yet, I have been able to trace but few owing to the fact that the rolls are by no means complete. A large number joined the state militia and were never sworn into the United States service, consequently no record was kept and their names will remain forever unknown. I have frequently heard certain of our old citizens claim to have been in the Black Hawk War, and have made diligent search for their names. I give in this sketch only

Some Old Time Merchants and Citizens in 1855 and Prior H. L. Abbott, “daguemean artist,” Illinois Street, east of Buffalo. Ainsworth and Lynde, “Boston Store,” dry goods and groceries, corner Water and Washington Streets. Christopher Atkinson, brickmaker and builder, on Bluff Road near the old grave yard, afterwards locating at the present earner of Seventh Avenue and Thirtieth Street, and later en Thirtieth Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. William R. Ayres, painter, in basement of old Methodist Church. Hawes and Babcock, David Hawes and George M. Babcock, stone quarry and lime kiln, south side of Moline Avenue, now Fifth

Organization Of Rock Island County In the early history of the State of Illinois, all the territory lying north and west of the Illinois River formed one county, under the name of Pike County. Prior to the organization of Rock Island County, it was attached to Jo Daviess County. By an act of the legislature, approved February 9, 1831, which after fixing the boundaries, and naming the county, provided for the election of certain county officers, whenever it should contain three hundred and fifty inhabitants; and that after such election, said County of Rock Island, should be considered as organized.

Rock Island County Organizations and Societies Fraternal Organization A fraternal organization, sometimes also known as a “fraternity,” is an organization that represents the relationship between its members as akin to brotherhood. There is a great deal of overlap between the terms Friendly Society and fraternal organization. Most mystical organizations are also fraternal.  The Fraternal Tribunes  Benevolent And Protective Order Of Elks  Arsenal Council, No. 171  The Turn Verein  Fraternal Order Of Eagles  The Modern Woodmen Of America  Royal Neighbors Of America Secret Societies A secret society is an organization that requires its members to conceal certain activities—such as rites of

The New Court House Of 1897 A detailed description of the exterior of the new court house does not seem necessary; it stands out with such grandeur. A typical temple of justice. The finely proportioned dome, the four turrets, and two pavilions, most materially add to the structure. Its dimensions are one hundred and fifty feet long, fifty feet wide, with extended pavilions and turrets on the two sides. The main structure is sixty feet high, the central dome towering to a height of one hundred and fifty feet. The magnificent, strong and stable presentation of the interior, including the

Official Documents Joint Resolutions Of The Iowa Legislature “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 procure the establishment, at the earliest possible time, by the Government of the United States, of an Arsenal and Armory, for the distribution of arms to the states of the northwest, on the Island of Rock Island, in the State of Illinois. “RESOLVED That the Secretary of State be requested to forward to each of the Sena-tors and representatives in Congress

Old Settlers Association Of Rock Island County Preliminary proceedings for the organization of an Old Settlers Association were commenced on the 11th day of December, 1865, by notices published in the Rock Island Argus and the Rock Island Union, calling a meeting at Jacob Norris and Company’s book store on the evening of Wednesday, December 13, 1865, On that evening ten or twelve old settlers assembled. Charles H. Case, esquire, was appointed chairman, and Major Frazer Wilson, secretary. A committee on organization was appointed, consisting of Jacob Norris, Doctor P. Gregg, William Bell, John H. Eby and Daniel Beals. January

Natural Scenic Beauty The variety in the topography of Rock Island County has made possible scenery of commanding beauty. Early voyagers were impressed with the charm of situation of Rock Island, the splendid island surrounded by the bright waters of the Mississippi and bounded by the outlying bluffs like unto a spacious amphitheatre changing with the seasons from the charm of green clad eminence to russet autumn foliage splashed with vermilion tints and then to snow-clad winter hills. Many chapters have been written of this section. One extract will be sufficient to give an idea of all. Governor Reynolds in

Name of the Village Saukenuk The old Indian town has by some been called “Saukenuk.” How this name originated is not known. The first to use it was Armstrong in his “Sauks and the Black Hawk War,” published in 1887. Catlin refers to it in 1837 as “Saug-e-nug,” yet none of our pioneer settlers mention it except as the “Sac Village,” or “Black Hawk’s Village.” Judge Spencer in his “Reminiscences,” in speaking of the year 1829, says: “We were here but a few days when two Indians came, the first we had seen. One of them commenced talking in a

The Moline Young Men’s Christian Association The Moline Young Men’s Christian Association was organized February 10, 1885. At that time the old rink was secured as temporary quarters and an efficient work carried on for several years. During the years of 1888 and 1889 a building fund was raised and a new structure erected which continued to be the home of the Association until destroyed some years later by fire. On January 1, 1903, the Association moved into the present quarters, where a steadily growing work has been maintained in the various departments, and whose spacious. well lighted rooms have

Mutual Wheel Company The Mutual Wheel Company, Moline, Illinois, was organized in 1891 and commenced operations on the present site about the first of January, 1 892. The original capital in-vested by the stockholders was about $40,000, and about fifty men were at first employed. Mr. D. M. Sechler, founder of the D. M. Sechler Carriage Company, was the first president of this company, and Morris Rosen-field was the first vice-president. The business of the company has increased very rapidly until at. the present time the factory is one of the largest in the United States in this line. The

Moline Retail Merchants’ Association This association, like the Retail Merchants’ Association of Rock Island, affiliates with both the National and State organizations. Like other bodies of its kind its objects are to advance and protect the business interests of its members, to abate trade abuses and illegitimate practices, to secure beneficial legislation, and in various ways produce a feeling of friendliness and co-operation between the varied business interests and the public as a whole. This association was instituted April 1, 1903. It is now incorporated. The first workers in the movement looking to the perfection of this organization were: B.

Moline Wagon Company The Moline Wagon Company is indisputably the largest firm in the world devoted exclusively to the making of wagons. From a nucleus which embodied but a repair and wagon shop which was capable of producing but one hundred wagons annually, this company, under the masterly hand and prolific judgment of its legitimate founder, Mr. Morris Rosenfield, succeeded with a rapidity unheard of, and forged to the front rank of industrial enterprises not only in Moline, but in the United States. In the mere shack in the eastern end of Moline, where James First trudged over the forge