The evening Argus., 1865-11-20
NEWSPAPERS IN ROCK ISLAND
COUNTY.

We have had in contemplation, for some
time. the publication of an article IN regaru
to the early newspapers OF Rock island eoun-
tv I'M. for want of reliable information, u
has been delayed. Even now, after much IN
ouirv we have not the information necessary
for a full history of the various newspapers
started in the county. No files seem to have
besn preserved, aud we have been enabled to
find only here and there stray copy OF the
various papers. A complete history OF these
various publications., together with facts con :
nested with their character; the struggles OF
THAR various editors aud publishers to estab
lish them upon a permanent, paying basis
incidents connected with the life, character,
talents, &C., &C., of their various editors. and
the reasons for the failure of some of them,
would make a most readable book. But the
most we can do now is TO give what facts We
have gathered, hoping they may prove of
service to some future historian of the coun-
ty,-and that they viii be the means of elic-
iting communications from our old settler .,
upon the subject so that all the valuable
ed with newspaperdom in our county may
be written out, published and preserved in
some enduring form, for the information of
those who may fill the places We must, soon
or or later, yield to others.
Newspapers in Rock Island.
The first newspaper ever printed in Rock
Island, was the
ROCK ISLAND BANNER AND STEPHENSON GA
zETTE.
This was the first newspaper ever printed
in the county, the first number of which was
issued, at Rock Island. (thsn Stephenson
on the Oath day of August 1889. by II. Me-
Grew. 1t was published weekly, at So a
year.
In his first editorial, the editor says:
ssAs pa per will be perfectly neutral in poll
tics ii 10 almost superhuous to observe that the
editor will refrain from taking part in the discus
sion OF the political subjects OF the day, further
than the recording OF them with lmpartIalIty for
the benefit OF our readers"
This town was then called Stephenson,
and in the first number of the paper was the
following, in relation to the place:
''Four years ago there was but one house in
the town OF Stepheuson-now II contains about
IT'S neatly built houses, and quo Inhabitants,
stores, taverns, groceries, saddIer and har-
ness makers, cabinet maker shops, painters,
2biacksmths, ! cooper shop and turning estab-
ishment watch maker, pottery esta bIshment,
physicians, 4 lawyers, and beautiful court
house, stories high, and about 80 feet square,
The second number, bearing date oeptem-
Der 5, 1889, contained the following notice
The following named gentlemen were elected
Trustees of Stephenson, Aug. IS :-Lemuel An
drews, William Moore, George W. Lynde Harr-
son Boggess, William FriZzell. At meeting oil
the Trustees, on the I'd inst, Lemuei Andrews
chosen president, Harmon G. Reynolds,
Clerk, Jonathan Butfum, Treasurer, John A.
Boyer, Constable, aud ZacharIah Cook, Street
COMMISSIONER
We have one copy of the paper now before
US, dated March 81, 1S4l 1t is five col
umn paper, printed on sheet of 80 by p
inches, and bears the name OF Ii. e. Nc
Grew, editor, and purports to be "pu ublished
once week on Illinois Street, between Bea-
yer and Deer" probably in or near what was
called Bachelors Row" on the lot where
now stauds the residence Cf Mr.. II. S. Child.
1t contains the full inaugural address OF
President Harrison, to the exclusion of al
most everything else, except the advertise
ments. Among them we notice that Joseph
Conway, (brother of the late Miles W Con-
way) was clerk of the court. There are ad-
vertisements of Johnston & Mcbride, chair
makers; n. B. Buford, offering Bur- Mill
Stones, Boots and Shoes, Candles, Iron and
Nails, Soap, Eclectic School Books, &c, 40,
tor sale; one of the 'Rock Island cademi-
cal School," j. Alden Woodruff, Principal
lor at law; one of the .Rock Island Aca-
denny" D. j. Lloyd, Principal; and list of
letters, signed J. B. Wells, P. NJ.
The Banner was then a democratic paper,
having become such soon after it was start
ed, and remained such while it was printed
here. About the 1st of September, 1s41, the
press and type were removed, by McGrew,
to Gslena, where he changed the name of
the paper to the Galena Sentinel.
We met Mr.. McGrew, in Cincinnati, in
1856, where he then resided, but as we then
had no idea of looking up the history of Ro OK
Island newspapers, We neglected an oppo--
tunity which may never occur again, viz !:
to write down many items of interest which
he gave us connected with the early history
of Rock Island, and its first newspapers.
THE UPPER MIssIssIPPIAN
The second newspaper started in Rock
Island was the one named aboye, the first
number of which was issued on the Sth dav
of October, 1S40, a copy of which we have