The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-23
HArr,rON.

drizzlng rain, occasionally varied by storms
of sleet, failed to render apparent the innu.
merable natural attractions surrounding that
pleasantly located town. Had this been our
first tour In that direction, and our knowl-
edge Of the business of the place less COM
Plete and ancient, the iced and deserted streets
would have given rise to very unfavorable
Impressions. But as we had previousl,
known, Hampton is going straight ahead on
the road of progress, and not even the most
aussere freaks of our eapricious climate can
wholly block its commercial wheels. Bv
calling on the principal merchants of the
place, and our own observations, we found
that even on such day, Hampton was by
no means enjoying Rip Van Wrinkle slan,
Der. Stores were thronged with customers
from the country, and Judging from indoor
appearances, everything moved on as usual.
From several we'll informed citizens we col.
lected the following brief notes in regard to
past and present.
The first settler Of Hampton township was
Lucius Wells, who came there from Pike
county, this state, in 1888. Mr.. Wells, now
siSty-nVe years of age, is native of Yer.
mont, from which state his parents removed
to OHIO at an early day. In his fifteenth
year he left the latter state with a marty of
emigrants. who, on reaching Illinois, set.
tied IN Pike County, the long intervening
distance having been travelled with teams in
the usual frontier style. During his extend
ed residence in this county, Mr.. Wells has
satisfactorily served the public az sheriff al.
SO number OF times as a member of the
board of supervisors, and filed various OH
Ecial positions,-now discharging the
duties of Justice of the Peace. Immediate
ly after his arrival, he was followed by his
brother John, Michael Bartlett, and Henry
Nc Neal, all of whom Eve now living with
the exception of Mr.. Baraet who died
year ago last summer, Mr.. Nc Neal is now
citizen of Watertown, two miles below
Hampton.
Among the other early settlers, all enjoy.
ing good health, are E. F. Arcularias, VIII
liam and Horace Cook, J. B. and Augustus
Cox, Joel G. Franklin, Ira Weatherhead,
and Francis Yost. The latter, hardy vet
eran OF the army of the first Napoleon, is
lightweight years of age.
The principal inducement for locating at
this point, was the fact that it then las now,
afforded q safe and convenient steamboat
landing, notwithstanding the dangerous
rapids above and below and also gave prom
Use OF a fine and available water-power. st.
Louis and Gslena were then the main mar
kets OF this section, water transportation be,
ing the only kind practicable
The town was laid out in 1887, by Henry
McNeal, and Charles s. Hampstead, CAPT.
talist of Galena, who is still residing there
At later day Mr.. McNeal, Alfred Sanders,
then one of the editors and proprietors of the
Davenport Gazette, and now deceased, and
Alonzo Nourse of Moline, laid out Water
town. Among the few Improvements made
previous to this year, and to illustrate the
value placed on educational interests even
at that remote time, we should mention that
In 1884, just one year after the first settler
had arrived, a levy was made On eyery able
bodied man of the settlement to build a loo
school house. This was located on the bluff
about mile back of town. and under the
careful supervision and primitive discipline
of Mr.. Lucius Wells, the young ideas were
taught to shoot in proper manner. In H.
38, this was found incapable of answering
the demands OF an increasing population land
another one was constructed, also of logs.
within the limits of the village. In the alb
scence of churches, these buildings we're also
used for holding divine service. TIL. pio
neer preacher was the Rev. Mr.. McMurey
of the Methodist denomination, whose flock
numbered thirty five members. In 1912,
another school house was required, which was
promptly erected, and this time of brick
Having been supplanted by a more impos-
ing structure, this one has since neen vaca-
ted, and is now used as q town hall. The
town and country surrounding having made
considerable progress, in 1851 the first saw
mill was projected and built just above town,
by Lucius & George r. Wells. Its capacity
was sufficient to cut three thousand feet of
oak per day, or four thousand feet of pine
besides considerable quantity of lath and
plckets. To meet the demands of the times,
1t was frequently run day and night,cutting
double the regular amount. A few years
ago, the lumber business having somewhat
declined, operations were discontinued, and
the machinery taken out.
In 1853, VIM. II. Luse put up a three sto.s
~ frame grist mill, back of town, which was
supplied with two run OF stone The water
used was drawn from wells Three years
afterwards, it was sold to George R. McMur.
Phy, who added a saw mill to it. In 1865
Ne sold 1t to Isaac Negus, who two years ago,
disposed of it to C. W. Fernald. the present
proprietor. In 1853, the catholics, number
ing fourteen families, erected a substantial
frame church. Up to the present time ,bsv
have been supplied from Rock Island h..
1t is rumored that priest will be permane,.-
~ stationed there in few weeks. IN.
denomination now numbers City six families.
In 1856, the Congregational church v..
built, the necessary funds being mostly MO
cured by public subscription. The s-., p -.