The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-26
was day and night of excitement and in


through the ceiling into the ball room, Gre
ating great excitement Fortunately no
no one was hurt. There was great thun-
der storm during the dance-one of the
greatest ever known, lightning striking in
several places near here. The supper
was the best ever gotten up in the then new
town. and the night rang out with fun and
iollity. with song and dance, toasts and
speeches, and with merry laugh and good
feeling the time passed quickly away. At
daylight those who could get home did so.
Others caaped down on the hall floor and
TOOK things easy. There was good deal
oflmoney paid to Capt. Powars, the bills
ranging from S. to 800 each, from the jol-
ly guests who were there.
Space forbids the relation of many in
teresting events of that night, or of subse-
quent events Of interest in con-
nection with the old Rock Island
House, for 40 years past. They would
fill volume and prove of absorbing in
terest to hundreds of people who have
dwelt within its walls That old house is
part Of the history of Rock Island
Within its walls thousands of people have
ate and slept in security There men in
ali walks of life have met, for business or
for pleasure. Business covering millions
has been transacted there. Religious
meetings have been held there. 1t was in
the old dining room of that house that the
First Presbyterian church of Rock Island
was formed, about 1888, under the
auspices of Rev. l. Pillsbury and Rev.
Mr. Montgomery. 1t was in the same
dining room that Dan Rice gave his first
exhibition in Rock Island,-or rather,
was to do so. Dan had not paid his IL
cense. He told the constable that he was
strapped" but would pay as soon as he
collected the money. He attended the
door himself and after the people were
pretty mnch all in that would be likely to
come, he left the constable in charge of
the door, pretending to go to his room Il
moment. He went up stairs, slid out of
window on shed roof and pulled across
the river in skiff. AT last the impa-
thence of the audience became so great
that in order to stop the calls for Rice,
Maj. Barrett, 10 his pompous dignifed
way, presented himself and spoke thusly
Gents. Dan has sloped" The house
was soon empty, and the next day nobody
could be found who was presenter would
admit that they were.
The old house was noted place fol
judges and lawyers. How many young
couples have been married there, OF
stopped there first on their wedding tour
Sad scenes of sorrow, death, and
mourning have taken place there,
also,-too many for pen to tell.
For nearly 40 years that old. house
was filled with all sorts of people, and
only those familiar with it can imagine
what little world it has been.
But this hurried article is only intended
as reminder of days gone by. 1t will
recall scenes of deep interest to many
and furnish topics of conversation for map,
an evening freside,-and perhaps tex
for somebody to write more careful
complete and entertaining history of the
old house, and what it has seen.
WHO HAVE KEPT IT.
The FIRST landlord was Capt. Henry
PcTGrr, who built and owned it. But be
sooa rci.;et! it to the Wetherels (fathel
and san and they to Rufus Kicker. anc
he WAS succeeded by David HAYES il
March 1858. only about months after i
was built, it already having had two land
lords in that short time. Mr.. Halves KEEP
: it about year and half or two year.
and was succeeded by Aleck and JacE
Van Court, and they were followed b,
Silas Marshall. We are not sure tina
these names occur in proper order, bu
; the house was kept by the persons named
4 up to lS46-some s years, when it camt
into the hands of Maj Benja F. Barrett
, and A K Phileo, and Barrett & Phiiler
were the landlords for about two years
3 when Mr. Philleo retired, and the hous,
, was then kept by Maj. Barrett TO abou
1854, when he leased it to e
< Downey, who built the story par
now standing. Downsy had mad
= some money as a saloon and restauran
! keeper his place being in the cellar uu
2 der the brick part, called ''the hole in th,
, ground" Dowhey was cripple and walk
ed with great difficulty, requiring tw
2 canes. Nobody had much respect for hin
and he was generally called 'Old Thous
e and Legs" He kept saloon and restaur
ant long time in that dark place, an,
4 many high old spree has taken plac
e there Downey "pocketed" all insults of
fered to him. charged big bills. and KEEP
3 his money. He was never known to spen,
cent until Maj. Barrett pei ~,itted him t
0 build that story addition. About tn
/; time it was done Downey ceased to b
: landlord and has been poor ever since
: He wasn't cut out for hotel keeper.
: Feb. 1856. Barrett sold out to Stephe
: Wooden and Marvin Hughitt. MI
Hughitt has since been general superin
q tendent of the Illinois Central r. r., an,
e is now general superintendent of the Chi
: cago & Northwestern r. r. Woodin