St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-04

Dy tne rather OF all; acknOWledgln
no superior, fearing no rival, an
dreading no usurper.
8istarital.
For the ST. Charles Republican Intelligencer
DAVENPORT AND ROCK ISLAND
DAVENPORT is large and flourishin,
city, the capital Of Scott county
in the State of Iowa. 1t is situate
on the west bank of the Mississippi riv
er, at the foot of the Rapids opposit,
Rock Island, and fronting Rock islam,
city in the State of Illinois. It wa
named after Colonel George Daven
port, the Indian Agent, who was man,
years associated with John Jacob As
tor, Ramsey Crooks and others, in thu
Fur Trade, and murdered, few years
since, in his dwelling-house upon Rock
Island.
Antonine LIE Clair, a halfbreed, the
United States Interpreter for the Sact
and Foxes, in consideration of his faith
full services, was authorized by the
general government to select, at pleas
ure, within the territory of Iowa, two
tracts of land, each one mile square
His first selection was at the head ol
the Rock Island Rapids, and the sec
ond, fifteen miles below, at the foot ol
the Rapids and upon the tract las,
selected, he laid out town in 1861
and named it after his friend and asso
ciate, Col. George Davenport.
At this period, (1836) the exceeding
beauty of the scenery Of this interest
ing locality, was displayed in all its
natural attractiveness, and the region
round about exhibited few indications
of the white mans presence. On the
east side Of the Mississippi river, were
the rich alluvions, wooded hills, the
ancient but unoccupied fields and vii
lage plat of the Sacs and Foxes, theil
rude graves and historical associations
with an occasional cabin of the adven-
turous pioneer and squatter. On the
west side were the gracefully ascend
ing and undulating prairies, park-like
forests and islands of timber, with
scarcely visible mark or spot male
by the hand of civilized man; and in
the centre Of this unrivalled scenery,
was the beautiful Rock Island and old
Fort Armstrong, with their traditional
and historical recollections.
1t was upon this Island that the In.
dian agent and fur trader, Colonel
Davenport, resided, and his isolated
island-home, surpassed in natural
beauty and attractiveness, indoor spa.
ciousness, comfort and luxuries, and
outdoor tasteful embellishments and
productiveness, the far-famed resi-
dcnce of Blannerhasset, as described
by the fascinating eloquence of Writ.
This beautifully diversified, natural
scenery, is now materially changed
The populous and fourishing village
of Davenport, attracts visitations and
permanent settlement, by its beauty
Of location, it's tasteful construction,
it's healthful climate, the fruitfulness
Of the surrounding country, and its fa-
cilities for internal trade and COM
mcrce. Rock Island city has become
a large, bustling and prosperous town,
with its steamboat landings and rail-
road depots, and the beautiful Rock
Island has become the central pier
Of a magnificent Railroad Bridge,
which now spans the Father of Rivers.
The change is, indeed, material and
but the combination of the
and artistical, presents Pan
oramic landscape, SO grand and SO
beautiful that it must become q spot
Of multitudinous summer resort and
admiration.
Rock Island, in the Mississippi Riv.
er, is one of the most beautiful in the
whole extent Of the Father of Rivers.
It is situated in the Rapids of that no
BILE stream, about one hundred miles
south of Galena, and within the terri
torial limits of the State of Illinois,
The country, Immediately round about
is exceeding fertile and surprisingly
attractive-indeed, there is no other
inland spot of earth's surface more
lovely, attractive and desirable
Here, the Mississippi and Rock Riv.
ers have clear and rapid currents,
flowing over beds of rocks and gravel,
and bounded by the most lovely shores
Upon the western side of the Missis
sippi, are succession of gradually
ascending slopes, terminated by q
chain of graceful hills, beautifed by
thinly scattered forest trees, and isl
ands of timber-in appearance, a
boundless park, embcllished with ex
quisite taste /; and the eastern side il
not less beautiful, with its broad allu
vial plains and prairies, wooded hills
and pure waters.
In the centre Of this attractive nat
ural scenery, and a most prominent
feature in it, is Rock Island, upon the
southern point of which is Fort Arm
strong, uplifted on a parapet of rocks
At q period, SO long anterior, thai
the memory Of man runneth not to thu
contrary, the numerous and powerful
M;aaepay or Hlis; Confederacy, inhab
tied that extensive and fertile region
Of country, commencing above Rocl