Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-01-07
EMMA ABBOTy,s LIFE.
Her EARLY Experienced IN MoIine-Hsw
She was Befriended and Aided as a
Poor &ssrl.

Her Early Experience IN M0line-How
She was Befriended and Aided as a
Poor Girl.
The Moline Republican of last evening
In an extended notice of the early life of
Emma Abbott. the great diva who died
at Salt Lake City Monday. tells how Mo-
line befrended the afterward famous sing
err when she was yet unknown to the
world. 1t says:
II was in 1855 that Emma, slender
innocent faced girl of fifteen or sixteen
sum ners, appeared in Moline, her only
companion being guitar. Her folks
had lived in Grend Detour. and were
therefore acquainted with John Deere's
folks. She came here to give a concert
and raise money for the support OF her
parents who were then living in Peoria
On reaching Moline she WAS directed to
60 to Mrs. s. W. Wheelock, who was q
very kind and benevolent lady. Mrs
Whet lock. charmed with her talents and
pretty face, took her and cared for her
for week. In the meantime q concert
for her benefit was gotten up and took
place in the old Congregational church,
the present c.. B. & Q. freight depot.
which then stood but little way
north of present location. Little
Emma was assisted in this entertain
ment by MISS Irene Mills (aow Mrs.
Charles Wheeler, of Kansas City, and
MIR. G. F. Hemenway acted as door
keeper. During the performance with
which everybody was delighted, an acct
dent occurred. one of the strings on the
young lady's guitar breaking In this d.
lemms young msn--none other than
MIR. Brown Mspes, our present liveryman,
sprang up and volunteered to get Miss
Abbott another string. He was gone but
short time and returned with the needed
article, and it is needless to say Miss Alb
bolt was greatly pleased. After that the
concert proceeded smoothly.
Ii seems the proceeds of the entertsin.
ment only amounted to SO Miss Alb
bott told Mir. S. W Wheelock that she
had wanted to send more than that TO
her parents and wished he would lend her
70. This he did. After tho songstress
had drifted to New York and her rich
friends there had raised money to
send her to Italy, one day Mr. Wheelock
received letter enclosing s. and thank
ing him for his kindness. During that
brief stay she made many friends here,
one OF them being a young man named
former who lived with Mr.. Wheelock,
and whom Emma entertained of an eve
ming singing Scottish dialect songs and
other ditties with guitar sccompanim, ut
In her inimithble fashion. After that she
visised Mr.. and Mrs. Wheelock a num-
Der of times, and shortly after her mar
rage she and her husband gave concert
in the Congregational, church, on which
occasion they took time to call on her old
benefactress, Mrs. Wheelock. who had
helped her in many ways to get q start.
Mr.. Wheelock has letter. left by his
late wife. written by Emma Abbott from
Italy, expressing gratitude for sll that
this excellent lazy had done for her. Mr..
Wheelock prizes this very highly how that
the author is dead
Mrs. Milton Jones. of this city, always
enjoyed warm sperso1sl acquaintance
with the singer. who never came to the
tri-cities that she did not send for Mrs
Jones, that she might enjoy several hours
pleasantly with her