Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-06
OF PIONEER
historical Incidents That Have Been Into the
markable of A. c. Fulton

/
toned quarter section lines, contain
ing % acres, more or less, with the
buildings thereon.
The terms of payment will be one
third of purchase money at time of
sale. balance in two equal annual in
stallments, with interest.
When the sad news arrived, on
March 23. Is43, that Rock Island had
been rejected by the commissioners,
all thought it to be hope forlorn. l
Immediately wrote, the best L could,
to President Tyler, and various. de-
partments at Washington, but did
not receive any answer; wrote to the
Hon. Mr.. Casey, an Illinois member of
congress, who was the chief worker
in the arsenal cause, and wrote to-
Senator Charles NJ. Conrad, of Loui-
siana. Hon. Casey wrote that all
hope had vanished through the de-
cision of the commissioners and the
president.
The Hon. Charles NJ. Conrad, for
whom 1 had performed a small ser
vice in the early 30's, and who had
then declared that he would store the
recollection within his memory as
long as recollection held a seat with
in him, Immediately wrote me from
Washington that he had entered on
his task. and all that man could per-
form would be performed by him.
Fortunately, in July, 1850. Hon. Con
rad came into power as President
Fillmore's secretary of war. He went
/ to work and never ceased until
crowned with success. Resolution is
Iomnipitent!
There is herein a great opportuni-
ty for serious thought. Had that one
single man. the Hon. Charles NJ. Con
rad. never been created, then never,
never would any arsenal island be
known to the world.
Never would hundreds of thou
sand of Uncls Sans dollars be paid
out here.
Never would thousands of jour
mails. in this year 1901, have heralded
the grand march of progress within
this then wild section of creation.
Never. never!
The writer was one of the three
praisers of the George Davenport
land on the island.
Times clock told its many hours
up to July, 1862, before the extensive
arsenal works, as now, were officially
permitted to exist. Respectfully
yours. y. {. FULTON.
In the '4O's and early SOS we had Il
vast number of roads to locate with
their numerous bridges. The three
county commissioners superintendent
all work; no extra pay.
The records witness that during the
year 1851 the county commissioners,
+. s. wing. l. w. Wiley and 4. {. Full
ton. received but S91.5O, and the en-
tire paw of the commissioners court
from the year 1S47 up to the year
1852. being four years. was but
$3.50. Judge j. +. Dillon was clerk
of the last session.
1 will roll up the curtain of time
and present the long past.
! In 179S our navy consisted of three
frigates. - sloops of war, seven arm
ed cutters, and many of our merchant
men carried heavy guns and extra
crews for an emergency.
The first continental congress met
at Philadelphia on the 5th of Septem-
Der. 1774. On Dec. -, 1776, congress
assembled in Baltimore. On Sept. "a,
| 1777, at Lancaster, Pa. In December.
1888, congress assembled at Annapo-
! lis, Md. On Nov. l. 1874, at Trenton,
n. j. On Jan. II, 1885, it assembled in
! New York. On July 16, 1890. congress
decided to establish the seat of gov
eminent at Philadelphia for 10 years,
and at the end of that time to per-
manently locate at some point on the
Potomac river, and our congress held
its first session at Washington, ID. C.,
in $500, after being for many years
driven around by the armed British
and their Hessian allies.
The first settlement in Iowa was
made by Julian Du Buque on the 22nd
of September. 17ss. He purchased
from the Indians the land where now
stands the city of Dubuque. The lead
mines there existing was the induce
ment. After the death of Du Buque.
in 1910. the Winnebagoes, Sacs and
Fox Indians drove the few white min
ers east over the Mississippi river.
Under the administration of Presi-
dent jefferson. Minister Livingston
closed a treaty with Napoleon /. on
the 3Oth day of April. 1903, for the
purchase of the province of Loulsi-
ana. for the sum of S15,0O0,00O, and on
Dec. 20, 1903. the vast province was
officially delivered to Gov. Claiborne,
of Mississippi, and Gen. Wilkinson
amidst the waving of banners and
the thunder of artillery, at New Or
leans.
On March 20. 1904, this territory
was divided into two provinces. The
southern was called the province OF
Orleans, and the northern Louisiana.
The dividing line was at Chickasaw
Bluffs.
Then came Capt. Lewis and Lieut..
Clark. under the authority of Presi-
dent jefferson, to make their eN-
| traordinary exploring expedition
| .L.o .In rnst mast and over nm