The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11
PORT BYRON.
A Brief History of tho Town and I5s
Surroundings.

Previous to 1886, the business along the
river at the head of the rapids extended
about one and a half miles.
Mr.. Archibald Allen owned aud lived
where he now resides, on the N. W. frac.
"a, t. 10, l f., and called the place
Canaan. The post Office was then there,
Mr.. Allen postmaster. Mr.. Samuel Allen
resided on the northwest frac. "a, 10, E.
Each place had wood yard, and the
principal business of that time was the
river trade. Robert and Thomas Symmes
lived on the s. w. frac. Is, Il,
There was no title to any of the land in
this region then only claims. In 1886,
Mr. Walter Phillips, then of Rock Island,
on account Of an improvement commenced
on Mr.. Samuel Aliens tract previous to
1884, proved up a presumption, and
obtained title to the same, he retaining
one-half Of the land. In 1886, Doctor
Gregg, Samuel Allen, Moses Bailey, and
n. Belcher laid the tract off into town.
Mr.. George Davenport, ST., and Q. Il.
Bennett, of Galena. purchased an interest
with Phillips. At the time the town was
laid out, Mr.. Allen had comfortable log
dwelling and log store. In the fall of
1887, Messrs. Hamburger 4 Belcher built
the first frame building, and put in a stock
of goods.
The next season Mr.. Henry Powers, late
of Rock Island, and Messrs. Stevens &
Hosmer, also Of Rock Island, each built
frame building. The post Office, during
the winter of 1887 was removed to Port
Byron, N. Belcher, post master, During
the winter of 1857 and spring of 1887,
Warren Wilcox, n. Dorrance, Silas
Marshal, George S. Moore and others came
here to reside. DR.. j. III. Lyford, who was
for long while the only physician in the
north end of the county, came in the
spring of 1886. Of the old settlers who
resided here about that time, we think Of
DR.. Nyford, n. Dorrance, Warren Wilcox,
widow Of Geo. S. Moore, and others who
the Port Byron House was built by n.
frame dwelling by Moses Bailey, and some
other buildings that we now do not recol
lect. Mr.. Moore started grocery, to
self and Mr. Samuel Allen. Mr.. Allen,
the father Of George Allen, died about
1888.
The Port Byron House was opened in
the fall of 1887 by Silas Marshall, now of
Elizabeth, and for while was a famous
place for sleigh rides for parties of young
folks from Rock Island The principal
merchant from the time the town was laid
out for some years was Geo. S, Moore.
Subsequently, about 1885, Hon. Geo. K.
Holmes commenced business with him,
which was continued until the time Of Mr..
MoOre's death in 1854, Mr.. George W.
Gates, now of Missouri, was also a partner
in the house awhile.
During that time, about 1861, the house
of Brown IL Devore was established,
n. Belcher being partner in the same
awhile. Messrs. Temple & Dodge also
sold goods number Of years, also Durfee
Il Wilmar, Messrs Durfey, Pratt Il Co,
Gates, Evans u Co., Temple, Robinson &
Co., Judge Robinson, now Of Rock Island, J
Wiltshire & Allen, Belcher 4 Sheppard,
Charles Marshall and others were in trade
here during that time, from 1851 to 1860.
A new and flourishing mill was built by
Messrs. Dorrance, Temple & Co., on the
Symmes fraction, and was burned in 1851
or 1852. Subsequently another was built
at the upper end of the town by W. |.
Sheppard (now deceased Mr.. G. W.
Gates afterwards owning it or having an
interest in it. The saw mill yet
stands, and is owned by Gate,
4 Iolinger. The Messrs. Hobarts estab
llshed a stove and tin shop here over
twenty years since, and still operate IL
DIR. Lyford established the first drug
store, which is now managed by his sou
VIA. H., who has also succeeded him il
his practice Dr. Il. T. Rogers camt
about 1851, and followed his profession
good many years, and has now opened
drug store, and established bank two d
three years ago and is doing good SAT,
business.
DR.. Wilson Fleming came about 1856
and has acquired large practice, has
large drug store started some years since
and withal has added two or three farm
to his possessions Messrs. Brown 4 De
wore also added banking business to theil
mercantile business, and since Mr., Brown
death, Mr.. DevOre had a partner in tn
bank, Mr.. W. |. Sheppard, until his death
since that time the banking business ha
been done by himself seperate from tn
mercantile business.
Hon. Il. Ii. Johnston came here ant
commenced the practice Of law about tn
year 1856. Since then, with the exception
Of the time he was in the army, he ha
done the principal part of the law business
it being somewhat divided for some year
with S. r. Allen, Esq, who has now re
moved to Little Rock. OF course there
are many persons not named here, and IN
cidents that took place, which are omitted
in this hasty sketch.
For number of years previous to 1860
we had been laboring to get railroad t.
to our town. The first project was the ok
Warsaw and Rockford R. r., for which
individuals Of our town subscribed $4,000
That project died and has not breathed fo
some years and was finally buried by FL
W. Thornton, all there being left of it fol
some time was his passes to New York, anc
we lost our $4,000. Next came the Ster
ling and Rock Island railroad
for which we subscribed $l5,OOl
secured by mortgages, That project
after having its ups and downs, was gobbl
ed up by the Rock Island road, and WI
again was minus our $4,000 But fnall,
in 1860 we did get railroad. Since tha
time up to the present, perhaps but few
towns have done, as a whole, more pros
porous business than the business men Of
our town. We only need manufacture;
and merchants among US.
We have two brick churches, Congrega-
tional and Methodist; q school house which
cost ST. 900, with town hall attached
We have four dry goods houses, three
groceries, three drug stores, two millinery
establishments, three blacksmith shops
one harness shop, three shoe shops, one
wagon shop, one saw mill and lumber ward