The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-11
COAL VALLEY.

A few days ago We made flying trip to
Coal Valley, on the rail road line so ably
presided over by our popular fellow citizen
r. R. Cable. A bright morning lent addi-
tional enchantmeat to the quiet, pleasant
scenes that characterize this short, but not
unattractive route. Though we passed at an
early hour, Camden was fully alive with the
sounds of business and industry. Further
up the valley, the well titled farms: girt in
by frowning bluffs on either side, presented
most charming aspect, and bu. for the sor-
ry figure we would have cut in a pillow field,
we might haveeeasily been tempted to lay
by the pen, and laugh at humanity from be-
hind the secure bulwark of a six foot rail
fence.
On reaching Coal Valley, we called on
Messrs. Thomas Corns, Peter Mulvany, DR..
Thomas Martin, and others, for facts in regard
to the progress of their thriving point, besides
making tour of all the business houses.
To DR.. Martin we are chiefly indebted for
a brief account of the early progress of the
place. The Doctor has resided there for
many years, is now Post Master, and served
with honor in the 126th, Illinois Infantry,
bearing captains commission. He is an
intelligent and social gentlemen, and well
able to give reliable information of that To-
cality.
Coal Valley Township is situated II
miles from this city by rail, is l J miles from
Rock Rivers miles from the C. R. ]. & P. R.
r. miles from Moline, and at present is
the terminus of the Rock Island & Peoria
Railroad. In the year l847, George Wash
burn settled half a mile north of the site
on which the town now stands, and laid of
farm, which is now owned by Thomas Leas
Esq. Settlements had been made ten years
previously on the prairies and on the bot
toms adjoining, but the bluff lands were not
at all desirable for farming purposes. Their
only attractions were the coal discoveries
consequently their settlement was rather de
DELAYED. Among the other early settlers
we might mention Abraham Edwards, now
of Colona, who moved from Rock Island to
Coal Valley in 1854,and settled On portion
Diamond Company. One of the earliest
banks opened, was the Knox, which was sar
ried on thirty years ago by John Ransom
Its proprietor, N. Reynolds, conducted tn
Mixter farm, several miles below, on tn
bottom. The coal was almost exclusivel
mined for country trade, scarcely STrsgo
load a day, on an average, being sent t
Rock Island or Camden, up to the yer s54
In about 1910, the Wilkinson bank wa
opened on the creek above town, while al
other bank was opened on the northern edg
of town at very nearly the same time, b
William and Charles Bailey. Numerou
small "diggings," for local use, were mad
thereafter, but none worthy Of mention.
1855, John Bailey and Thomas Leas opene
bank ON the west side of town. Thus fou
banks were being carried on simultaneous
ly, but, combined, they afforded employmeI
to not more than dozen hands, even whe
enjoying the heaviestpress of business, whic
invariably occurred in the winter. In 1856
as We have stated in a previous article, tn
Coal Valley Mining Company was organ
lied, embracing some of the most prominen
capitalists and business men of Rock Islani
After procuring the necessary authority the
commenced building the Rock Island a pa
oria Railroad, which reached Coal Valley !;
1857 and there terminated, on account ,
the financial crisis of that wear, and 9th.
obstacles needless to be mentioned. TIL
road, it is unnecessary to say, has not sine
been extended. While the enterprise prove
anything but profitable to the projectors.