The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-03

ing Office was moved into it, and also
after the printing Office was moved out Of
it. 1t is now the back part OF Browns
livery stable, The printing Office was
moved from there directly across the
street to the second story of wooden
building occupied by Lee & Chamberliu
asia stove store, and standing on the
ground where Mitchell & Parsons store
now stands. From there it was moved to
the other side of the street, little east
and in the second story of Guyer's build,
ing, now Hesley's saloon, where it re-
NAMED for many years. The Porters fin
ally moved their book store into the store
underneath, and at last they got lease of
the upperSrooms for bindery, and then
the Advertiser moved into the upper part
of Lees block, formerly called City
Hal" where it remained until it died.
The ostenslble object in starting the
paper was to have a Wing organ-but
behind this idea, and the real actuating
motive Of the enterprise was personal
hostility to Reynolds. He was the lion
10 the path. He had great strength among
the country people, and he must be
broken down if possible. But, after
Vandever bought the paper it became
more a Wing than an Anti Reynolds
paper, and the Antl-Reynolds influence
was divided
William Vandever settled in Rock Is
land in the spring Of 1889, and the first
year was a clerk in a store, Afterwards
he spent some time in the law Office of
Knox and Drury, and subsequently did
some government surveying. In 1914 be
was elected county clerk, and served two
years. In May 1916 he and others pur.
chased the North Western AdUertiser from
DR.. Gatchell, who had, few months be.
fore, established the paper. Mr.. Van
dever continued as editor and publisher
of the paper for about a year when the
Office was sold to Messrs. Sanders & Da-
Wis, of the Gazette, in Davenport, who
published it few months when it became
the property of Mr.. +. r. Bennett, though
Mr.. Vandever was connected with the
editorial management until after the cleo
ton of Gen. Taylor, in lS49, when he
was appointed to a clerkship in Washing
ton, and afterwards to clerkship in the
Office Of the surveyor general of Iowa, al
Dubuque, and where he has since re-
sided, opening law Office there.
In 1858 he was elected to congress on
the Republican ticket in the Dubuque dis
tret, and was reelected IN 1860. On the
breaking out of the war he entered the
military service of the United States, as
Colonel Of the 9th Iowa Vol. Infantry,
and vas promoted to be a general office
in 1862, serving to the end of the war
aud retiring to private lire. He was bor1
at Baltimore, Md, CD the 3lst day Of
March 1917; but, at nine years of age
removed with his parents to Philadelphia
! which was their original place of resi-
dence.
In the way of education he had only thu
t advantage of the schools and academies
OF the city, and he continued to reside il
, Philadelphia until his removal to. the ives
in 1889.
A friend who knew the beginnings O
q r ock Island well, writes me as follows:
DIR. Reed, DR.. Gatchell and Mr.. Van
, dever were able editors. Reed was bitter
ly partzan; Gatchell was classical stiltet
S and selt-im poI tant; Vandever was genial
e and lazy but lion when reused, and {;
, tiger in a contest"
Another friend writes me as follows:
DIR. Gatchell will be remembered by oil
e residents Of Rock Island aud Davenport
b as an eloquent and talented minister 0
the sect known as Disciples. AS pulpi
orator he was one of the most eloquen
T, and effective speakers of that day, ant
4 was, in private life, man of irreproach
s able character. But whatever induce,
y him to become journalist was puzzle t.
. every one. If it was to print as well a
preach his sermons, it was not necessary
D for he could preach them extempore quit
& as well as he could write them, and peopl
d in those days appeared to prefer to tax
!. their gospel orally.
"Wm. Vandever, who succeeded Dr.
u Gatchell in the AdUertiser, was then
= young man of strong Wing proclivities
J. popular with his party and quite prom
nent 10 local politics. He was intense
almost bitter-in his dislike of the Demo
crazy of that day, and the AdUertaSe,
d under his control, contained no NOR
u gospel exhortatiOns, but exhortatiOns an
. denunciations from the stump; aud S
r bitter and personal a partizan did tn
u paper become that il aroused correspond
ing bitterness on the Democratic side, an
personal collisions and combats were o
not uDfrequent occurrence. Thos. Biddi
, son (since deceased) champloned the Dem
p. ocratic hosts. Though not large man h
Il was true blue. and no man, Wing o.
! Democrat, could handle" him in per
r. sonal interview. VIM. Frizzell was an
other Democrat who had an ugly way 0
+ striking from the shoulder" when thing
: didn't go to suit him The Democrats a
that time had no organ in Rock Islant
and 50 had no way Of replying to or meet
ing the charges of the AdUOrtiser, excep
orally or pugIlistically. on the street Th
: Wings therefore, run the paper, while tn
Democrats held public sentiment level Of
3 the street, NJ et arms.
3 10 be Continued)