The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-29


VIM. Dickson, one Of the earliest explorers
and settlers of this section of country, who
is now passing his last years, surrounded by
contented progeny, and browning life
of labor with an age of ease" The Captain,
now in his eighty.fifth year, is one of the
mostly highly revered citizens of Camden,
whose accurate recollections of by-gone days
are rich with history and incidents. He 10
one of the last of that noble band Off pioneers,
whose youth was passed amid hara'n,pS anu
peril, to clear the way for th-' '''NiA"''on
now snr;nc;nr mn in even direction around
40 at;re of Pennsylvania, his earliest
wears were pas--d in the rude life of the
haclwooa- By his unaided perseverance
and lady he became a practsed engineer,
I'D before he had fairly reached the years
of manhood, held several responsible posi-
tons of his profession, in the service of his
native state.
On the breaking out of the war of 1912,
he was commissioned Captain, and served
with honor throughout that trying struggle.
In the summer of 1884. Capt. Dickson
started on horseback from Erie county, Pa,
and without single companion, penetrated
as far west as Illinois, his only guide being
the indian trails which then crossed the
country from every point of the compass.
His object was not only to CRAFTY that spirit
of adventure which paved the way to the
first occupation of this region, but also to
gather such information of its resources as
| might prove of future value. He mentions
being particularly struck with the rich soil
of the prairies of our state, and was fully
| convinced that in coming years, which he
believed to be immeasuraby distant, the
| finest farms of the country would be here
laid out and cultivated With this idea, he
carefully explored all that vast range lying
| between the Wisconsin River, on the north,
| and the Illinois on the south, and between
| the sites now occupied by Rock Island and
| Chicago-at that time wild and unproduc
tive wilderness. Hefrequently encountered
Indians in this tour, who gave intelligent de
scriptions of distant localities, all of which
| afterwards proved to be correct. His wan
behring's finally led him to Oquawka, then an
Indian trading post, where he applied for di
rections to Fl. Armstrong. These being
| given, in accordance he struck an Indian
trail, which eventually led him to the pres
ent site of Camden, then covered with a
dense growth of grass so high as to reach te
a mans shoulders when in the saddle. He
describes the scenery to have been, at thai
| time, like that of some wilderness paradise
| Far as the eye could discern, were the fair
unculuvated beauties of nature-rank, un
| cultivated and luxuriant. Rock River wa:
! 49, ----s s-~s-'fs.' 4i-~>s
present, and as it flowed smoothly, but with
| great swiftness, over its level even bed Of
! sold rock, its immense value as water
| power was just as plainly apparent as at the
present day. 1t required no minute exami
nation to establish this fact. A mere glance
| up and down its shores revealed the dor
mant wealth now so highly priced. The
| profession which Capt. Dickson had beer
| following for such length Of time, was EN-
inently calculated to enable him to form
reliable opinion on the matter. he was sat
isfed that some day that site would be pu
charmed by the delightful scenery and at
tractive surroundings, he determined tina
| there should be his future home. On ford
ing the south branch, he was surprised t
find white man comfortably domiciled il
log cabin on the Island, surrounded by
thriving family. They exchanged names
The new friend was Mr.. Joshua Vandruff
whose name the island now bears, and who's
sons are now among the most prosperou
farmers in the vicinity of Camden. On tn
north shore were the remains Of the Sau
Village, which had been destroyed by tn
troops from Fl. Armstrong, in the war the
just terminated. In speaking of this India
village, Capt. Dickson states that Carve
the celebrated European explorer, passe
the winter of 1855 there, and In one of HI
q volumes gives a lucid description of tn
= country surrounding, including the sites {
a | Rock Island and Moline, and also state
/, that at that time the Sank tribe could tur
: out force of twenty thousand warriors
e His description of this locality was so minut
Il as to be recognizable in 1882.
e On the following day the Captain conclr
Q ded his journey to Fl. Armstrong, fndin
E. Rock Island represented by solitary lo
4 cabin, standing opposite the island, som
r where in the present vicinity of BabcoC
st Andrews tannery. On the island, SON
i, fifteen hundred Indians were encampe
st awaiting the receipt of their annuities.-
E. While there he became acquainted wi
IS many of the prominent chiefs. and also wi
ot Col. Davenport, then carrying on a tradu
al post. For keokuk and Black Hawk, CAY
n Dickson entertained the most profound re
1t peet, believing them to be possessed
h minds of no ordinary calibre. consideril
~ the circumstances under which they hs
OF been trained After returning to Pennsy
II vanla Capt Dickson ventured forth again {
IL the following year, and travelled over d
IL snce OF three thousand miles, lying betwe'
'eA tha state and the Mississippi River.
On IN 1886, he removed his family westwar
err anu Se''ed at Camden, in pursuance of
eh previous EVOLUTION. This site, at that tim
We still remalna q wild, unbroken nrair;e