The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-01-02

farms of Iowa stretch far afties are rood
direction. Its railroadit contributes large
and by means Of xasiness of Rock Island
annual sums t9s of shipment, splendid
BESIDE esh6ding also creates heavy com
: steamoS water, during running seasons
inesse and substantial bridge of ice, at the
lresent time, perceptibly swells its trade with
the Iowa sections adjoining. The commence
ment of this era of prosperity can be traced
to the commencement of the Sterling and
the completion of the Western Union roads
Previous to that, Cordova very much resem
bled the "city built upon the sand" and
though it did not "wash away as irritated
residents sometimes profanely wished, yet
like the city built on rock, it continued to
Hstand," with q stolid deafness anything but
agreeable to property holders.
The first settler in the township was Mr..
John Marshall, who arrived in the year 1885.
In 1886 he, was followed BY William Mar.
shall, Sen. In 1887 the balance of the fam
lily came, consisting of William Jr., iona
than, Charles B., George, and E. L. Mar.
shall, the latter being now practicing ply
stefan at Keithsburg. During the same
season, Mrs. Elizabeth Cool also came, &C.
companied by her sons, Jerry, Jonathan,
Stout, and Isaac. In 1888 Mrs. Charity
Marshall arrived with her sons John, Will
lam, Henry, Theodore, Jared, and Jacob.
The foresight which these spartan-like moth.
ers displayed in bringing their stalwart sons
to new land worthy of the husbaudman's
toll, can now be seen in broad farms that
TEEN with wealth and plenty. No village
was formed, but all those mentioned at once
commenced cultivating the soil, and to their
energy and industry can be traced the com.
mencement of one of the most prolific Sec
tons in this quarter of the state Their dis.
position for substantial improvement has
handed down to the present farmers of this
locality, a reputation for thrift and success,
not equaled in any of the districts adjoining.
For good stock, and commodious barns, the
vicinity of Cordova is famous Many of the
earliest settlers were from New Jersey, and,
from that prosperous little state, brought
with them those steady, industrious habits,
which, if they do not always ensure wealth,
never fail to block the approach of poverty.
The town was laid out in 1886, by Mr.
John Marshall, who shortly afterwards sold
q half interest in his venture to Mr.. Charles
Baker. The first store was opened in the
year 1910, by Ambrose & Little. To trace
the mercantile business up to the present
time would be impossible owing to the innu.
merable changes. In lS43 the first church
was erected by society of Baptists, under
the charge of Rev. T. Wakefield. Among
The earliest succeeding ministers, was Elder
Rutledge, an old and highly esteemed resi-,
dent OF LeClaire. In 1867 the old church
was superseded by the present structure, a
and commodious brick. The So
,iety now numbers one hundred and forty
members, under Rev. DR.. j. D. Cole. In 1857.
he Methodist denomination erected a brick
office, still occupied, and now under the SUI
'ervision of Rev. Mr.. Irwin. In the same
ear the Advents erected church, the soci.
ty being now under Rev. G.. w. Rathburn
'iso, society was formed by Rev Walter
shaw, an English divine, denominated the
saints, numbering about thirty members.
mis- gentleman erected a church, and con-
'nued to preside over it until his death, about |
month ago. In 1857, saw mill was
recsed, which has since been torn down.
A considerable amount of grain is handled |
this point every year, the principal ship
lents being made by rail, though that sent
water also aggregates heavily. In the
asst two years, about two hundred thousand
usheis OF grain have been shipped per an.
um. During the past autumn, Mr.. w. G.
larshall erected a fine brick elevator about
'rty feet square, and the same high, with a
apacity of twenty thousand bushels. In
EDITION to this, there are four warehouses.
ne Jointly occupied by Vim. G. Marshall
nd John Q. Wynkoop, and the others by J.
DOL, James Armstrong, and VIM. G.. Mar.
nall. In addition to these named. T.. F
urner and A. R. Sill are interested in the
rain business. Baled straw has lately be
ecome an article of shipment of consider.
Die Importance, large quantities being bill
to S. W. Wheelock's mills at Moline, for
anufacture into paper, much of it return
g IN the latter shape, to the merchants of
lie town. During the last three months.
lie receipt of merchandise by rail has
mounted to two hundred and fifty thousand
ounds.
Ahe PORK and cattle business is not very
xtensiye, but quite worthy of mention
+. Armstrong and A. r. Stills have hand.
ID the pork business this fall, the latter be.
lg the heaviest operator. They have ship.
ed over two thousand head to Chicago.
dressed, considerable portion
avlng been purchased on the "Wapsy
ottoms,' on the other side of the river
he same dealers, and also d. Zimmerman
ave shipped about a thousand head of cat.
during the past year, not making this
nsiness much of speciality. About n
illion and half feet of lumber have been
I'D this year, principally by j. F. Hall &
o. j. Cool has lately opened yard, with
BOD prospects. We were assured BY relia.
e citizens of good judgement that Cordoya
wv offers fine opening for the establish.
ent of saw MILL The lumber now sold