The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-23
WAsHINaToTs B1ETH.DAx.


The Ola Settlers Festival
The birthday Of Washington seems TO-
have been observed generally throughout
the United States. 10 some Of the larger
cities unusual honors were paid % the
memory Of him who was s.frst 10 war. frst
in peace and FIRST in the hearts Of his coun-
trymen." In New York city the day was
observed by a general suspension Of busi-
ness, the closing of all public Offices, firing of
salutes, ringing of chimes. services in the
churches In the day time, and special per-
formances in the theatres in the evening.
In Nashville, Tenn, business was entirely
suspended, Fully $4,000 people were on
the streets. Cannons were fred and
thousands of American flags were display
ed, The thing Of principal significance
was that the Federal, Confederate and col
ored population wed with each other mex
pressing sentiments which ignore past
differences and fully recognize the united
nationality.
In Rock Island the Old Settlers Of the
county held their usual annual festival at
the Bellows House. The party was COM
posed of old and young, and was larger
than usual, 162, tickets having been sold.
The MANAGEMENT was inefficient and
unsatisfactory. There seemed to be no
special committees for details-apd only
two of the executive committee were pre-
sent. No suitable arrangements were
) made for representatives of the press, with
out which no satisfactory report can DC
expected. The rooms, halls and dining
4 room were too small. dividing the party
9 into squads and rendering 1t partial fail.
; ure. Only about one-halt could be seated
: at supper Many young men took hrs'
i seats, while many ladies waited, and such
. men az Judge Kistler. Isaac Negus, James
= Taylor, George Mixter and others waited
!. for the boys, A committee should have
issued tickets admitting the older mem
: bers first, and other tickets for the seeont
= set. No register Of the guests was kept
ri A special committee, with their own book
2 should have registered every name an
residence, on arrival The company bein
divided, at supper, the formalities were
q partial failure, of course. The suppe
=, should be In. a room where the entire pal
J, ty could be seated, and no person shout
.oI leave the room until the ceremonies wer
8. concluded. -.-.......g
When the first tables were filled, Mr.
w K Philleo, the retiring president, deliyere
ID the following address:
so MR.. PHILLEos vALEDIcToRY.
~ Mr.. President, Old Settlers. Lad les and Gen
80 tlemeR:
ut To standing before sou this evening
before supper, as the retiring Presiden
!, of this association, | hore l appreclat
US try and be master OF it: that is, will tr
y and be brief.
fSl Gathered here again in this doubl
n / cabin OF our Old Settler friends, Jas. N
elfl Bellows and Ii. T. Taylor. who have er
nm larged it ST. ce our last meeting, for our e
N pecial accommodation-lt would not be OF
ot. Of place to recount ,me of the blessing
Of the past and recall some OF the Incident
OF the carly settlement Of this county
But, as this is the ninth anniversary G
,ro our society, many Of the most iuteresun
IN events have been spoken of. from tin
to time, and l will mention few or nor
at length. Allow me 10 refer. III fe
words, to q double one, and one whic
helps to mark the date of a residence he
ing which entities one to membership In OF
ig6 association. Irefer 70 that Uulon Sunds
ily. School pisnic in Warren's Grove. on ii
Fourth of July, lS45. SO generally ate
u ded by all our citizens; 50 joyous In !
and opening and progress, and SO wonderful
|, dem oralized near its close, as the news
be murder and robbery of Col. e or
Davenport,s at his home On the Islam
o nd spread like wlld-ire rough our city al
. .ha the surrounding country. The death al
, Sne funeral of the victim; tue pursuit; Il
10y capture thetrlal a1d execution OF Jot
az and Aaron Long, and Granville YOuu
the violators of the law, are things new
- to be forgotten, but are, and should b
set over, the one against the other. as
nee these later years is yonder monument
stl- Court House square. standing over agar
ther the graves Of the rebel dead on yond
OF Island, with its near 500 names of o
UNI dead but loved and honored citizen S
was diers covered with unperlshable glory
Ut slight but fitting tribute to their memo
and aud galor, following and GROWING as
not does all our se. will offerings to them q
was theirs as they went foith With our blessin
aud our prayers, our hopes aud our fears
fight and fail Tor the safety of the repu
lie, evidence 10 the world how Rock isla
the county, from its earliest settlement. b
,sc loved to honor her worthy, noble del
ron and will requite with simple justice b
recreant enemies. r.-
long And now, leaving ont all mention
w. earlier event, let me speak OF some
lea the pioneers OF progress. and their dom
@ T How, early in 1852, at Sugar Tree poi
near y ilsob' ferry, we Jaw l.. h. Sa
ton' pau9h, ia OBJ Warner, George Even
James Mapcs and others superintendit
getting ont and cutting rock for
fir-t railroad bridge on Rock River, ne
ract Colona which, with road bed AMI culve
-. from Green River to Rock Island, y
.s.' under contract with Warner u Sherw
THIS low, twenty one years a % td-Light, +,
lean % 1854, we were receIvlng. welcoml
we and 2 feastiug the excursiont
40 On the first ralho I'd ira
Hae ever fcached our city, or the fatf
bout u Waters, fiom any of the Eastern citi
How, ip August, 1854, with many Of :
,tter 'lder 9 z aas # Dayslport and Rock
own ieui i,l ,n 'me assa Oh she rs go1a seamo'
his e rst ST. ne OF the first pier Of the FIRST RI
Ten road bridge that ever spauned the N
Mr.. sis'lppi. under contract and managem'
this ~ .,, our pre- 'ene mo worthy ana Emerge
but hon a new cn,aer a,r,nnr ~ ,v;,h ~
ira Enn or. and h.aL 80 t. al r. LA ~