Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-08
GEN. GRANTS OLD HOME.
s. W. AIcMaster GROWS Reminiscent After
Visit TO GRIena.

l hock Island, OCT. -EultOr ARG Us
Galena from 1886 to the early SOS
was the commercial and financial GEN.
ter of the northwest, furnishing the
capital for all the immense lead trade
and for the lum Der trade of Wiscon-
sin that sought market down the
Mississippi When Minnesota was
Iopened for settlement Galena built a
large number of steamers for that
trade, sending out for some years two
boats each day crowded with passen
gers coming from all sections of the
eastern states seeking homes in this
new state of beautiful lakes and rolling
prairie land.
The lead from all the mining dis
tricts was hauled into G4lena and
stacked upon the levee in piles four
feet high. 1t was hauled in what was
called prairie schooners drawn by six
to eight yoke of oxen. These teams
came here from southern and middle
Illinois, coming up in the spring and
back in the fall, generally making
their homes in their wagons. From
| the migration of these transfers
comes the term sucker state :"
During most of this period nearly all
the steamers running on the upper
| Mississippi came into G tlena and
loaded up with lead. have seen 10
TO Is boats lying at the wharf at
time loading aud unloading, the levee
and the street crowded with mer-
;handise and household goods going
TO Minnesota and northern Iowa.
At this time there were a number
If daily stages running out to the
mining towns. Some of the heaviest
leads in the whole mining district
we're opened and worked near Galena
and within the present town site Up
to 1856 the little city did more busi
ness than any other city in the Uni
ted States with the same population,
1000. When the railroads reached
the Mississippi the trade OF the city
was diverted TO other points, and in Il
few years was mostly confined to the
local trade of the vicinity. The first
exodus from Galena and vicinity was
in 1S49 to California. Thousands left
and crossed the plains seeking their
fortunes in that far of land After
1858 many business men, lawyers
ard mechanics ltf. Galena, scattering
all over the northwest, by their energy
and enterprise helping TO build up
the towns in which they settled.
Hundreds of the most influential cit
liens went to Chicago. many of them
taking leading part in the uPbuild-
ing of that great city. 1t was said at
one time that the Galena contingent
furnished more than half the brains
of Chicago. Go where you will. in
any of the western states, you will
fiud Galenans and their descendants.
So much for Galena of the past.
In my recent visit | spent my time
seeing old and new friends, going all
over the business part along the line
OF Main street. For about one mile
found every store occupied. and all
seemed to be doing we'll. They have
q good country trade | saw many
signs of marked Improvement in new
buildings and in improvements and
repairs Of new sidewalks. The many
discoveries of link ore in this sec
tion will, l think, give the old town a
boom. They are fading inexhausti-
BILE beds of this ore. An immense
lead has been opened in tue town
limits less than mile from the new
court house. Capitalists are taking
hold of the new industry, putting in
new aud improved machinery for
raising the ore and for pumping out
the heavy flow of water that obstructs
deep mining. The link is now taken
to La Sale. Smelling is an indus ~
that might be started in Rock Island
and think it would pay. We have
the coal near by. 1t takes nearly two
tons of coal to smelt one ton of link.
The mineral can be transported here
as cheap or cheaper than to La Sale.
Our business mems association would
do we'll to look this matter over.
Galenans are very proud of their
beautiful park, in which is found the
massive Grant and soldiers monu-
ments. 1t is situated on the east side
of the river on an elevation rising
about so feet above the river level.
Standing on this elevation looking
north you see the city describing a
semi circle following the sinuoGs
windings of the little river, Main
street bench and High streets mas
sive brick buildings rising tier above
tier-church spires shooting up here
and there-and near the crest OF the
steep bluff, rising 200 feet above the
river level, we see number OF hne
brick dwelling houses with massive
stone stairways leading up TO them,
The foundations of these dwellings are
cut out of the solid rock. Standing
in this beautiful park and thinking of
the past of this quaint old lead city
of the hills, 1 thought how fitting it
was that Galenans and their descend
ants. who are scattered all over the
country, should come once every
year to celebrate Grants birthdiy.
In