The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-08-17
OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
tCommuuicated.l


EDITOR ARGus-Dear Sir:-My home i,
on this side of the river, but feel an inter
est IN the improvements, good works, and
good institutions, that have been, are being
and are to be, established in this signaly
favored Upper Mississippi country, on both
sides. have been looking at the various
and apparently magic Improvements that
have sprung up to startle the parties who
made them, at various points above ST.
Louis, IN the past forty three years
Ia 1927, the upper town on the Mississippi
river, above ST. Louis aud below Prairie du
Chen. was Clsrksville, Mo. Hannibal was
q landing place, where there was u wooden
shed commission warehouse and Il few
small residences. Some lots had been sur
yeved but no semblance of a town
Scipio WAS talked of as "a com pettor
town, one mile above, but never "came to
the front" About the time the said two
towns were being laid off, An old pioneer
hunter said at the tavern at Clarksvlle. Mo-,
strangers, let me tell you that Hanniboll
aud Sceepio were the greatest competitor
glunerals that ever fit on this airth'
la the month of Match, 1927. the steamer
Shamrock came to" at the Quincy landing.
where she remained an hour to repair her
wheels. number of the passe ngers went
up 20 see the town. When they came on
board, they had quite laugh and talk about
their "look for the town" They all admitted
that they had seen few log cabins, but all
agreed that they did not find any sem btauce
of town or streets.
The upper residence of white families on
the west side of the river then WAS Captain
Pfitchard's, which was situated near where
the town of Canton now is % miles below
the lower rapidsl. The next White family
above, on that side Of the river, was at Fort
Smelling, near the falls of St. Anthony.
The upper hsbitation, then, that we found
on the Illinois side, was that of Capt James
White and family. The said Capt. White
was the grandfather of Capt. Jas. W. Camp.
bell, who is the efficient and very popular
commander OF Que of the packets of the
Northern Line. From Capt. Whites where
Nsuvoo is now situated there was then no
haolta.ion of white or Caucasian families
except that of Col. George Davenport, on
Rock Island, on the east side until We
reached Prairie du Chien. There was q log
caolu commenced by the Rhosds' family, at
the point where Savanna Is situated, the
cabin not being rooted. The Rhosds family
went to the Fever River lead mines which
was few .msnths later called Galena |
give you tbs foregoing remiciscence to show
You that | know something Of the march of
improvement IN the valley of the Upper
Mississippi. | commenced writing this
scrap with the hope of drawing your atteu
ton, and, through the IIDeraity OF your pen
aud types, attract the notice and liberal
contribution OF at least a considerable nun
Der OF your readers to help one of the best
Institutions ever established in this God
favored country, viz: the Mercy Hospital,
near Daven port, Iowa, which is a lately
established house of mercy, where men.
women and children who are bereft of
friends, means, health and mental faculties
a-a cared for, nursed and attended to faith
fully.
This lsudable institution is under the care
and management OF the Sisters of Mercy"
That very useful society was commenced not
many wears since in Pittsburg, Pa, by a
few talented and highly gifted ladies', who
were brought from Ireland by the learned
and really good Right Rev.
Dc Michael O'Conuer. then
Bishop of Piusburg. Those few Sisters
ea5.oilshed n hospital al Pittsburg, Pa,
70 ,s done good service there. The society
became popular, and mas rapidly increased
in numbers. They have been the means Of
establishing hospitals and academies at
nany'im por,ant points. These excellent
ladies' devote their talents. services, fortunes
ald lives to supply the wants and to relieve
tae distresses of those who are beresved,
regardless of creed. religious or politi
cal. There is no prescription in the
Mercy Hospital" on account of birth place,
persuasion, or color of cuticle. l hope
your widely extended sheet may induce
many toimake contributions and attend q fair
to be gotten up, say in October next, for the
benefit of that institution. NJ, |
y. B.-I believe Mrs. Edwin
Smith and number of ladies and |
gentlemen, Protestant and Catholic, are
taxing an active part in Davenport to get
uD the said fair that may result in consider
able beneit to that laudabe public bench
ciary institution. l hope your widely exc
tended liberal paper will from now until the
closing of the fair advertise that people
VINO have a sprinkling of the milk of human
kindness in them will know where to take
or send their charities.