Rock Island

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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. … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more