Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-15

-.-s' - S's~ouhthJs Wseos M huufoxt "
the County Hoard In Behalf OF the
Doaori.1n Which HIS Reviews the L..
Wressieg Life Of the Deceased Pioneer
Chs'rman Csreys Reply.
a fine oil painting Of Col. George
Davenport will adorn the walls OF
Rock Island county's new court
house. A. this mornings session OF
the board OF supervisors the picture
was presented to the county by Msj.
II. c. Connolly aud Col. Henry Cur
tbs in behalf OF Miss Naomi l.. and
Catharinn Davenport, the grand.
daughters of the deceased colonel.
In presenting the portrait. Maj.
Connolly said:
AT the special request Of Miss
Naomi L. Davenport and Miss Cath
arine Davenport, daughters Of
George L. Davenport, deceased,
take pleasure in presenting through
your honorable body to the people
Of Rock Island county, q portrait in
oil Of their grandfather, the late Col.
George Davenport.
This county was organized in
1854. Col. Davenport Was one Of
the three county commissioners.
who first had charge of its financial
affairs. Under the supervision of
these commissioners, the court
house, which has given place to this
new temple of justice, was erected.
Col. Davenport was especially active
in devoting time and labor to build
ing the old court house. 1t is the
wish Of his granddaughter, as well
as all those who appreciate what Col.
Davenport did as pioneer in this
locality, that you give the portrait 8
place within the portals of this new
building, so that future generations
may look upon his kindly face.
I'm many respects MIR. Davenport
was q remarkable man. Born in
1888 in England, at the age O; II,
with an uncle, who was master Of q
ship, he started On seafaring life
Daring the three years he followed
the sea he visited many of The ports
OF Europe. While with his ship at
ST. Petersburg, the vessel with its
cargo was conii:cated. and the crow
Was imprisoned by the Russian gov
eminent. From cold end hunger
they suffered great hardships. AZ
ter some months they were released,
and their vessel was restored to
them. This was in 1903. His next
voyage in 1901 was from Liverpool
10 New York. After a successful
trip the ship was ready to start on
its return. The sailors commenced
TO heave the anchor, when one Of
their number was knocked over
board. Davenport quickly jumped
into boat, caught tue sailor as he
was going under the water and
held him until others as
sisted in saving him. As ne
jumped Mr.. Davenport fractured one
o! his legs. There was no surgeon
on board the vessel, and he was
taken TO hospital in New York
City 20 be cared for. This incident
changed his destiny. He left New
York for Railway, New Jersey, and
from there he went to Carlisle, Pa.
Here he met Lieut.. Lawrence re-
cruiting for the army. Mr.. Daven-
port enlisted and was made SER
geant. He joined his command in
1876 He took part in the Sabine
expedition against the SpsDiards.
He commanded one OF the keel boats,
and while going up BED river was
struck by an car and knocked
into the water. As he came up he
clutcbed the blade of the oar and
was saved. He was made bearer OF
dispatches TO Fort Adams on the
Mississippi. and with one man in a
canoe started down stream. Their
boat struck q snag and the occu-
pants escaped only with their lives.
They made their way across the
country, through forests, swamps,
sloughs and other distractions. Mr..
Davenport was a soldier in New Or
leans during the Burr expedition.
lie arrested DR.. Bollman fox treason,
and placed him in confinement. In
1907 with the troops he was sent
into the Choctaw country. From
here he went east 70 recruit for the
army. He was stationed at Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Pittsburg and
other points. He came west by
water in 1910. In the Peoria lake
expedition under Gen. Howard he
especially distinguished himself and
aided in bringing about a treaty Of
peace with the Pottawatomies.
Until lSl4 he aided in protecting
the white settlers on the western
frontier from Indian depredations.
In the spring OF 1914 his command
was ordered to Join Gen. Brown on
the Canadian frontier. The sol.
diers descended the Mississippi
river and went up the Ohio
to Pittsburg. From here they
marched across the mountains &c
the town Of Erie. where they took
vessels for Fort Erie. Here they
were reviewed, and without delay
marched to Lunday's Lane. partici'
pating in the battle. Mr.. Davenport,
was with the asaultiug party which
drove the British from their works
1.-The muskes, now in possession Of
his grautdaughters, is believed t1
be the one he carried at Lundy'.
Lane. Returning TO the barrack: