The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-10
Our Early Local History,

DeH10cF0t, Tor copy OF MS notlce OF the |
death of Father Pelamourges, and on en-
closing it to US. he wrote as follows:
81 hope you will urge Mayor Davenport
to continue his early history articles.
Il have always considered it strange that
the pioneer settlers organizations of our
two counties have not made it point to
have several designated subjects written
up by competent persons every year. 1t
could be done by offering prizes on histori-
cal subjects. AS it is, their meetings. their
existence as organizations, are of little if any
value to posterity. If they saw it that
way they could, in few years, gather
enough authentic historical matter to make
a most valuable volume.
"0f course you and have picked up, in
a desultory way, good many matters of
early history and published them-but we
are new settlers and cannot be expected to
know much about early times here, or to
take as much interest in their records as
the pioneers themselves.
81 publish an article to-day on the first
residing families of this county. Iwish you
would duplicate the subject, if you have
not already done so, for Rock Island
county"
THE ARGUS has often suggested the
same thing for the consideration of the Old
Settlers Society-but nothing has been
done. A few addresses have been written,
but never published. Perhaps the manu-
script of those addresses is in existence-if
it is it should be published, and thus pre-
served. A yearly Journal of the doings of
this society should be published in suffi
cient numbers to be certain of its preser-
walton in case of fire or accidents. This
could be done now, from the beginning
and the sale of the pamphlet every year
would pay for printing.
AS to the article ION the first residing
families of this county" we nominate DIR.
Gregg to furnish it. THE ARGUS will be
glad to publish it, free of charge. Dr.
Gregg, by consultation with Judge Spen.
Ger and some others on the subject can fur.
nish reliable and readable article which
by publication: can be preserved for future
use.
And here is good time and place t.
say word or two more, in regard to local
history. MIR, John G. Campbell, secre
tary of the centennial commission, has sen
US circular which is as follows:
at seems proper that the local celebrations o
the Fourth OF July, 1876, which will be hell
| throughout the land, should be made to contribut
permanent historical memorial of the centennia
celebration,
in each county provision should be made 70
the delivery OF an address tracing the history o
that particular community for the past century, o
from the time of its settlement and including
sketch of its growth, its resources, industries
lshed in uniform size--that of the congressional
documents, for instance-in order that they may b
bound together by states.
ITO competent persons the preparation of sucl
addresses would not be an unduly burdensome task
but in the aggregate they would constitute in
valuable historical repository, such natio
has ever had the opportunity TO collect.
Designations OF the historians ought TO be mad
without delay in order that they may have time t
accomplish their work"
We suggest that the work be divides
among several competent men, as follows
l. The Political History of the County
2. The Agricultural and Mining.
8. The Commercial and Manufacturing
f. The Military History.
5. The early Professional Men-the
clergymen, lawyers. doctors, editors an,
school teachers.
Let competent man be appointed t
each subject, and let us have, besides tn
2 hard facts of history, some notices {
, pioneers in each of the five branche
0 named
/. If the Old Settlers Society would unde
: take to manage this business, an addres
S might be prepared which would Fill th
Il request of the centennial secretary, and
d might be printed and forwarded and boun
J. by states, as suggested. Unless son
1t organization already existing will act up6
y this matter, or some organization shall
% gotten up with especial reference to it.
course nothing will be done.
The subject was brought before the a
y nual meeting of the Old Settlers Socie
this week and referred to the fuller NEE
. ing which will occur on the 25th, at Il
"A annual dinner and festival We tru
- that some plan will be well considered, b
or tore that meeting takes place, so that
:. can be acted on at that time.