The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-23
ALEpo, Oct. 21st. 1875

ALEDo, Oct. 21st. 1875.
Quite number Of the boys belonging
to the old Seventeenth Illinois regiment Of
infantry, left here on the train this morning
for Avon, to participate in the annual re-
union of this regiment. For this occasion,
the old commander, Col. Leonard F, Ross,
gave special invitation to the boys of his
command to meet with him at his private
residence, and have good time generally
Last fall, Col. Ross was the Opposition
candidate for congress in his district, and
was defeated only by very small MAORI
ty, and this too, by allowing lot of sore
head Radicals TO use his name in conjunc-
ton with the temperance crusade, Had he
been content with the legitimate issues Of
the campaign in his congressional district
to-day he might append NC. to his name
"Sich is fatel" E
A short time ago it was quite current
that the member-elect from this congress
sional district had proved recreant to the
party that elected him. The charge seems
to have cmanated from Mr.. Bagby's views
on the financial question. l am glad to re-
and other issues 1t is charged against
him that he expressed wish to see Gov
Allen defeated in Ohio. II this be taken
as a measure ola mans fealty,I am appre-
hensive large portion of the ablest men
in the Democratic party will come in for
censure.
Appropo Of the recent election in Ohio,
i have good one to tell on Col. Robert
Holloway, of this county, He told me the
joke the other day, and while reciting it,
laughed as heartily as if he consid
cred it as good Offset to 1.-THE joke
on Snyder" On the Tuesday
morning of the Ohio election, Col. Hollo-
way being at his home, near Alexis, CON
cluded that he would hitch up his horse,
drive over to town and exercise his great
American privilege of suffrage. When he
had driven nearly two miles on his way,
the thought occurred to him that although
election day in Ohio, it was not election
day in Illinois. However, as he had some
doubts about the thing, he drove on
into town, and seeing there no evidence of
the important occasion, he concluded that
somebody was better informed about the
pedigree of short horns than of Ameri-
can politics. Now, considering the fact
that only last fall Col Holloway was a
candidate for the Congressional nomina.
ton in this district, and that he was
charged with being a little partisan,
think the above decidedly good. l dom
think this story will injure his politica
chances in the future, hence / make il
public.
Last week visited the home of Mr.. VIM
DruIy, near New Boston, aud was shown
by him the many things of interest to b.
seen about his residence, with the added
pleasure Of hearing something of the earl,
history of Mercer county from the lips O
its oldest living settler. Mr.. Drury set
tied near his present place of residence il
1888, and has resided there continuousl.
ever since. His entire possessions whel
he first arrived in Mercer county, consiste,
solely of the clothes on his back, and al
old sorrel horse valued at twenty dollars
Mr.. Drury is now worth over a half
million dollars, and has one OF the fines
houses, with all the modern appliances O
comfort, to be found in this entire regio
of country. His house is a commodiou
brick of handsome architectural design
supplied with luxurious furniture. pre-
vided with gas, and hot and cold water i
every room in the building Near his res
idence is a 6ve-story octagonal building
with a large wind wheel on top, whic
pumps water into two cisterns Of thirt
thousand gallons capacity, an
from here the water is distril
uted wherever wanted. In th
yard surrounding the house are sewers
beautiful fountains, constantly THROWN
jets of water in the dir, while costly staff
airy greets the eye at every turn. In
park in front of the residence, are dee
elk, and cashmere goats. Inside the hou.
are many articles, unique, beautiful an
valuable, There are several monster c
paintings, executed on the spot, and r.
presenting scenery in the vicinity.
Mr.. Drury acquired his present lari
fortune by sterling habits Of industry, ar
the exercise Of economy. He never q
lowed any lazy people about his place, al
he will not encourage idleness or vagrant
by giving from his ample means to tho
who are able to take care of themselve
In speaking of the rule by which he HI
governed himself through life, he said tn
he always put down certain stakes, as Il
representatives Of certain principles, ar
beyond which he would never CO. NJ
Drury is much beset by class of perpet
al dead-beats, who seem to think that
should divide some of his large meal
with them, and because he fails to appr
clate impecuniOus yagrancy, they denoun
him as being penurious. In many respec
Mr.. Drury might be regarded as eccentri
but one can not long be in his compar
without acknowledging q superior min
peculiar maybe, but solid nevertheless
He is a man Of considerable literary a
tainment, and surrounds himself wit
choicest reading matter, the sure index
cultivated mind. Mr.. Drury is sixty-s
years Of age, with long snow white bear
giving him a patriarchal flock, and with
countenance indicative of warm al
genial nature. He is a man of fine soci
qualities, delighting to entertain, both
the exercise of household inequalities, an
in reciting the vicissitudes Of iuterestil
personal Renaissance He is quite ha
and hearty, and does an amount of wo
that would make some of our young M
grow faint. There is much in the acti
career of Mr.. Drury, that would prove
wholesome experience to young men
the present day, and teach them maj
useful and valuable lessons.
AIEDo.
From the ", y Tribune,