The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
"reminiscences of Early Days.

Probably no county in this state or Iowa
has so many interesting historical facts con
ncctcd with its organization rs Rock Island
But ctiIl there are many interesting little ac
cidcnts and ScrapcN that occurred in the early
settlement of the county winch will probably
never be publishcc, but which, if they We're
would give the people of today an idea of the
high old times they used to have when Dr.
Gregg, 5. w. McMastcr, Deacon Haws, Jane,
Taylor 4, X. Phllco, John 4, Boyer. Isaac
NcguS, Uncle Joe Johnston, and host OF
others, were boys together. The meeting,
Of the Old Settlers Society generally brings
forward many of these little sketches of from.
tier life, but rs no effort is made by the man
ayers to have them placed upon the record, OF
the society, they are soon forgotten.
The following which we take from the Chi
cago Interior is from the pen of DR.. Gregg,
and will probably bring a smile 10 the faces OF
many Old Settlers who remember the cirgum-
stances:
The tale Of a tumor and whisky in a recent
issue of the Interior, reminds me of this true
story: "On the 4th of july, 1915, Colonel
Davenport was murdered on Rock Island The
object was money of which the assassins got
little In short time six of the murdcrers
were arrested, two Longs Burch, Fox, Baxter.
and Young. Fox made his escape from Indi.
anopois where he was under arrest. Burch
escaped from the Knoxville Jail where he had
been on change Of venue Baxter was sen.
fenced to the pcnitcntiary for life, and the two
Longs and Young were executed here on the
same scatiod.
They were tried before Judge Brown, since
deceased, in California He was an upright
man hut very eccentric and Chcstcrticldan in
~ ~ a,,l mol I, ,,a-.ipo,
he said, Gentlemen you have had fair trial
and eminent counsel have been assigned to
YOU" And closing hc said Gentlemen. your
bodlc> will bc given to the Doctors for diSSCc
ton" The bodies were assigned To me. | was
the family physician and was with the Colo.
mel when he died four or five hours after re-
Cciycd the fatal shot II was warm weather
and | could not manage all the bodies. We
buried Aaron Lon" diSscctcd John Long
and have his skeleton now at the Rock Island
posi- hospital
had a letter from medical friend in 81
Louis, asking mt To give him one of the bod.
les. | a>scncd, and be sent mr n barrel OF
rum in which to put the body had the cask
unhcadrd and the body placed therein and
rolled on deck of = steamer On It's arrival in
-. Louis, the caSk Was sent to the doctors of
fcc. In the course of the day the doctor came
down io the boat, and addressing the captain
said. Captain DIR. Gregg sent me a barrel oi
rum nom Rock Island. In, il j. nearly all
~unc"
We'll, Doctor" replied the captain. those
--roustabout, viii smell liquor a mile of
and 90 for II, bui Just -ay what the damage is
and will pay H."
oh, never mind Captain" said The doctor
the body came all right"
"Bu,lN" exclaimed The captain. "what body :
oh said the doctor, the body OF one al
Colonel Duycnpor'~ muHlcrcrs was in thai
cask."
"Ugh-aug and the captain rushed
for the buluarks and the doctor dropped that
subject and wen, for the other"
We hope that the DIR will not let this matter
drop now-bu, that he viii continue ,o pre-
pare, for our home papers. similar sketches OF
his early life IN Rock Island couniy-Ra l.
iaHd Irg,e.