The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-20
ORION.
The Place-Ths Loestion-fhs Business-0ld
Acknowledgements -schools-Pros-
psots-R. B. I. Rosd-New Survey
Co., &c.,

We recently paid q visit this charming
little city in embryo and viii attempt
slight description of our trip. the place and
country, hoping it may prove interesting to
our RAIDERS, who We feel assured know but
little of Orion, although many OF our
merchants drive quite brisk trade with its
dealers.
! Leaving Rock Island at $50. per H., n. l
& St. L. R. R., we started for the village VI
Camden. which We succeeded IN rescninR
.hou,6p. NJ. and left for Coal valley,
e ,;nutes after. We overlook Coal Val
,.v i. little before Z, and about 20 minutes
after. we stepped on the platform(3) q,
Orion After q somewhat adventurous
tramp in the mud, We finally brough. up at
the hospitable mansion of Mr. Levi Higgins
who took US under his protecting wing
during our stay.
THE TOWN
of Orion (for uerly known as Dsanington) is
sn old one and commenced its career about
1887, at which time there were but few
inhabitants, but from '37 to about 1856 it
settled up quite rapidly. In 1856 it came
TO q stand, till the years '63 -64. The
present town numbers about 500 inhabitants
The
LOCATION
of the place is favorable for large inland
city it being situated on the highest rise o.
ground between the Rock and Edwards
rivers-some $50 feet above the level of our
city. The place is noted for its healthiness'
sickness not being the fashion there, and il
consequently is not followed. The
BUSINESS.
of Orion speaks well for it's future. The
business establishments at present are:
Of general variety stores there are three,
conducted by W. C. Trego & Co.; john
Ovens Fred DUR.
One drug store supplies the demand, the
property of Craig i Trego here also is the
Post Ofice.-Trego, P NJ, and an Insursnc.
agency and land office, both we'll represent
ed by DR.. Craig.
The Orion House, c. D. Trego. proprietor,
furnishes the necessary accommodations for
man and beast.
Tin and stove stove store, 81. W. Rishell
A provision store and meat market is
carried on by Trego Il Kendall.
There are two shoe shops, where Aug
Blixt and F. R. Wsnglin labor for the good
of mems soles.
OF wagun shops there are three, owned BY
Thos Ough; A. B. Kinsny; Joseph Belkie.
Two carpenter shops, VIM Rodenbaugh' +
and W. L. Kendall's.
A furniture store is being erected by A.
| P. Erickson.
There are four blacksmith shops in Orion
and two saloons.
Harness shop by j. Ough.
There is but one brick building in the
place, erected in 1856.
This We believe is full and correct list OF
the business firms.
There are two buildings of public
worship in the place, one erected by tn.
Ba psisis, the other by the Methodists, both
neat and tasty ediiees. The Lutheran society
have Purchased lot and intend building 8
church in the spring.
There are three resident ministers, Rev
DR. Emerson, of the Baptist persuasion, and
Rev. DIR. Head, Methodist. The name OF
the other We did not learn.
! The worthy disciples of Gslen, are in
themselves a host, although but few in
mum ber-namely, Drs. Long, Knowles, and
Powers, the latter formerly of this city.
| The statutes of the la~ are bound in one
volume, and called DR.. Craig, although
| small in stature, yet We venture to back him
for ''all that's out"
The Old Settlers, as they are called by
the new corners, are few in number, and ar,
| fast enough yet for the times We give &
list, which we think is complete: Messrs
II. b Lloyd, E. K. Bsckfan, H. B. Engle
Henry S Trego, Allen Trego, Amos kinsey
an Mrs. Susan Blackfan.
| The inhabitants do not brsg Of their
town, but of the land, of the surrounding
country, which they claim to be one of the
richest agricultural sections of Illinois.
The buildings in process OF erection al
presen, are about 10 or IL in number, and
include large snd commodious passenger
and freight depot, Town Hall, 22x40, g
warehouse for agricultural implements, By
McGovern, of Camden, and q number O.
stores and residences.
| The educational facilities Of the place are
excellent, and the schools well attended by
some l6O children. The Misses Laird are
conducting a private and boarding school
giving tae pupils all the benefits that are to be
derived at the various institutions of the kline
throughout the country, and are receiving q
very liberal patronage from the inhabi,ant.
of Orioh and Henry county. The other is 6
common free school, but as good Is the best
The societies of the place are few in mum
Der, there being but two, Good Templar
organization, which has no stated place o.
meeting, and a singing society, just organic
ing.
The junction of the R. R. l. and P. & R
|. roads is at present on Mr.. Levi Higgins
farm. The Rockford depot will be on ,bt
west side of the town, and the Peoria depo
on the east side, thus leaving the town in the
centre The surveyors were engaged, while
we were there, in locating direct line north
to Minsrsville, abou, 9 miles, which is to be
graded and ironed at once. The Rockford
road is already ironed over two miles south
of Oeion, aud the work is progressing fast
The good people Of Orion have been and
are still, to some extent, taxed to their ut
most to board and lodge the railroad hands
engineers, surveyors, and the horde of men
that always follow the advent of the iror
horse into a new place. Trees and hen roos t