The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-03
GEORGE L. DAVENPORT.
One Who was Born in Rock Island
Over Three Score Years age,
Dies in Florida.

Early Saturday morning, at st. Angus
tine, Florida, occurred the death of Geo.
L. Davenport, brother of Mr.. Bailey Dav-
export, of this city. He died suddenly. of
fatty degeneration of the heart, which had
caused ill health for some time, on ac>
count of which he went to Florida last
December in the hope of receiving benefit
from the climate.
Mr. Davenport can well be called a
pioneer in this part of the country, for he
was born in Rock Island Nov. II, 1917,
and has lived in this vicinity the greater
part of the time ever since His only as
sociates in childhood, besides his brothers
were the Indians, who at that time lived
here. He was perfectly familiar with
their language and customs from
his daily contact with them. He
attended school in Cincinnati, in
st. Louis, in Winchester, Va, and at
Lincoln, III. In 1888 he went into bust
ness in Davenport and continued as a
merchant until in the sos. He was a
director of the Chicago, Rock Island &
| Pacific when it was first built, was at the
head of various business enterprises in
Davenport, being the first president of
the Davenport gas works, also president
| of the Davenport National bank. lie
built number of the largest business
blocks in Davenport, and was at one time
accounted one of our wealthicst citizens.
A crash in his business affairs lett him
with comparatively limited capital.
In 1879 Mr.. Davenport was appointed
Indian agent among the Musquakees in
Tama count, Iowa, bnt he was compelled
to give up the position on account of the
disease which ended his life
Mr.. Davenport was the first white child
born in this region, He has seen this
part of the country when none but red
men were its inhabitants; when Daven>
port, Rock Island and Moline were YET
to be conceived. He has seen the three
villages spring up and grow until the
place of his birth is surrounded by sixty
thousand people. lie saw the first steam
boat which plowed the waters of the Mis-
sissippi make her appearance around the
bend from below in 1923, ran to his
mother, frightened at the thing which
made such noise when it Whistei His
father, with others, founded Davenport,
and the son did more than any other one
man to build it up. His was q life of
unabated energy and push. He gained the
means to start Improvements and had the
ability to carry them out to success, He
was fine specimen of manhood, tall,
sinewy and well proportioncd,
with fine beard, which gave
him truly noble appearance,
Mr., Davenport was married in 1889 to
Miss Sarah G. Clark, who survives him.
She has been in Florida with him during
his stay there, devoting herself to the
alienation of his wants aud the easing OF
his suffering The children living are
Joseph A, a resident of Dakota; and
Misses Naomi L., kiltie c., and Henry
Clay and Ebenezer Cook, residents OF
Davenport. His brother, in this city,
Hon. Bailey Davenport, is younger
brother.
Miss Catharine Davenport arrived from
Florida this morning and Mrs. Davenport
and Miss Naomi will follow with the re-
mains, and will probably arrive this even
ing or tomorrow morning. They will
then be taken to Mr.. Bailey Davenport
| residence and will there await the arrival
of the sons who are absent, and who have
been telegraphed to. Services will then
be held by Catholic priest, to which de-
nomination deceased belonged. The re-
mains will then be placed in the vault al
ChippiannOck cemetery where they will
be kept until April, when they will be in
tered in the family lot il Oakdalc GENE
terry, Davenport, where his son, George
A. Davenport is buried. His son William
who died from the effects of wound re-
ceivcd during the war, when he served as
lieutenant, is resting in St. Mary's Gem
ctery.