Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-15
UNCLE SANS SERVANTS
History OF the Omee From ats E-tab-
Iishment ON the Island 90 the Pres
ent Day.

The Rock Island postoffice is the mos
important federal office In the Eleventh
congressional district, and there is conse
quently always more or less interest, of
general as we'll as political nature, asso
ciated with its history. IL is sixty-thre'
years since the first postmaster for thi
locality was appointed, Col. Geo
Davenport receiving his commission Al
postmaster on the island. Sept. 3, 1895
Col. Davenport's commission. which WA
) the first 10 be issued to a postmaster il
all this section of the country before the
state of Illinois became known, read a,
follows:
WASHINGTON CITY, ed April, 1895
SIR:-From information | receive. | con
clude it will be agreeable TO you to ac-
cept OF the office of postmaster at Rock
Island, Missouri. l herewith send you a
copy OF the law for regulating the post
office, a key for opening the mail, and
directions comfortable Herewith. You
will find these at Clarksville postoffice,
Missouri.
After executing the bond and taking
the oath, you may proceed in the duties
of the office without waiting for COM
mission.
| am, sir, your most obedient servant,
| JOHN MCLEAN.
Postmaster General.
To Mr.. Geo. Davenport.
In the fall of that year. Col, Daven>
mort rpnaivab hia cnm miasinn hut II uac
| severa years before he took the oath of
office, owing to the fact that there was
nobody within hundre Is of miles of here
qualified to administer it. The nearest
postotflce, as intimated by the postmaster
generals letter to Col. Davenport, given
above was at Clarksville, Mo and the
mails were carried on horseback between
the forts. The postoffice on the island
was discontinued on Nov. 8, 1884, and
Mr.. Joseph Conway was appointed post
master of "Farmhamsburgh April 4,
1885, This town was laid ont near the
lower end of what is now Rock Island,
but its name was soon changed to Ste
phenson, and Mr.. Joseph Conway was
appointed postmaster of Stephenson, |
Nov. 0. 1885. The exact location of the |
postotfice at that time was where now
exists quarry near the Gable mansion
on Moline avenue. This original post
Office was large log cabin contain
ing two rooms. and served for court
house as well as postoffice and residence
of the postmaster. Occasionally during
severe storms and heavy rains the posts
master would find it necessary to put
valuable matter between the beds to keep
it dry.
Miles W. Conway succeeded his broth. I
or as postmaster Nov. IL, 1886.
Hon. Joseph b. Wells, afterward lieut. s
enant governor of Illinois, was appointed |
postmaster June 10, 1910. That same
year the name of Stephenson was changed
to Rock Island. and Chas, A. Garnsey i
was really Rock Islands first postmaster, a
having been appointed April 10. 1871. a
Col. John Buford was commissioned 4
postmaster March 81, 1913. His office, n
"do thC POStOllSCi was lHSu On |
what is now First avenue between Six C
zenith and Seventeenth streets,
H. G, Reynolds succeeded Col. Buford o
lis commission dating August 81, 1s47. fl
E. r. Bean was commissioned post ii
Master May Ii, 1949 the office then be d
ng on the south side of what is now Ia
econd avenue between Seventeenth and
Eighteenth streets.
James Kelly became postmaster May
6, 1853, and he moved the office to Bal a
~ & Boyle's block, now known as W
Iitchell & Lyndes bank. fl
VIM. Frizzell was commissioned post II
laster May Is, 1855, but never quail to
ed. Ye
Lewis N. Webber was commissioned "
.pril 2, 1866. and during his administra- ID
on the office was kept on the south side of IT
hat is now Second avenue between Sew RI
n;eenth and Eighteenth streets. m
Fl. Field succeeded Mr.. Webber Sept. an
2, 1858 - 10
DIR. Calvin Truesdale was commits, ii
oned April 6, 1861, when the office was a az
oved back to the present location in d,
Iitchell & Lynde's bank.
Hon. J. B. Hawley was appointed post
aster March 3, 1865,
Capt. James F. Copp succeeded Mr. :"
awley Sept. 81, 1866. "'
Hon. NJ. B. Osborn became postmaster oe
pril 8, 1857. VI
Capt. L. M. Haverstick was commits W.
oned March 1, 1871 and took posses ~
on April II, with D. P. McKown as as ''
slant postmaster. ~,
William Jackson was commissioned
arch 90, 1873, and took possession hv
pril /, Mr.. McKown remaining as as. re-
slant.
Thomas Murdoch was commissioned
arch 6, 1876, and took possession April
of that year. A.,
Mai. J. NJ. BeardsleY was commits W.
oned Feb. 1S, 1880, but did not take ~
,ssession until April l. Thos. Murdoch -
as Maj. Beardsley's assistant ~,
At the close of Maj. Beardsley's term "a
ere was great strife among the ~
publicans for the office, the leading "a
,plicants being Maj, Beardsley and p, '
lex. Steel, and the appointment was n ot ba
termined until three months after the
piration of Maj. Beardsley's commits" :.