Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-24

i
which was held at the Harper house
last night, will long be green in the
memories of those whose good for
tune il was to he present ON that oc-
casion.
1t proved a feast of solids for the
body and feast of recollections for
the mind. The latter alone. touching
as they do the events so intimately
connected with the making of the
city. are of real value, not only TO
the members themselves, but to the
people at large TO whom they are
disseminated in various ways and
laid mp as part of the history of the
community.
So there is every reason TO believe
that the function of last evening will
prove especially notable from the
fact that it will serve to- initiate a
perpetual custom.
1t was 9:1O when the % members
and guests that were to participate in
the affair formed in line i'm the par
lors and, headed by former Mayor j.
VI. Buford, the toastmaster. and for-
mer Mayor +. j. Medill. chairman of.
the association. entered the din
ing room to the strains of n march
rendered by Bleuer's orchestra. The
tables were arranged in the form OF
the letter + with the cross at the
south end of the hall and the trunk
extending north and south. The
speakers were placed at the south
table.
Those Who Were There.
The following took their places be-
side the board:
J. VI. Buford. T. J. Medill, II. G.. Con-
nelly. William McEniry. +. II. Guyer.
y w. Williamson. j. W. Lawhead.
Henry Kinner. F. Z. Robbins. Il. +.
Knox. Joseph l.. Haas. Phil Mitchell.
William McConochie. w c. Maucker.
W. Il. Mcintyre. V. VI. Banding. Hen
~ Carse. Charles r. Bladel, II. p
Hull. Peter Fries. George White. V.
Dauber. William II. Edwards. Il. Win
Ter. \. +. Nelson. ii. +. Simmon. w II.
Gest. Jr., John n Scott. Frank West
bay. George Schneider. II. c. Schaffer.
X. r. Anderson. VI. {. Snyder, w.
Hause. Charles Bleuer, J. +. Cramer,
+. \. Andrews. \. G.. Anderson. ~ j.
ID. MOeIler. ii. l.. Wheelan. II. y. Pen
der. Charles +. Willis, Andrew \.
Johnson. c. Il. Chamberlin. \. +. Sod
erstrom. Joseph Geigers William Ken
nedy, c. J. Larkin, Daniel Corken,
Fred G.. Gall. Gustav Stengel. J. X.
Brandenburg. f. +. Buffum. Edward
Dover. Val j. Peters.
The menu occupied an hour and
half i'm the serving and it left nothing
to be desired. if we except capacity.
The various courses were discussed
with the same -thorOughness as ever
characterized the officials of Rock
Island in looking after the welfare of
their constituents. and when at last
cigars were lighted at 1915. content
ment was written on every feature
and every member of that assembly
was ready TO absorb his share of flow
of oratory that followed. At the time
stated the toastmaster arose and af
ter referring to the absence of Capt.
II. j. Buford. who had been prevented
from holding the place at the head of
the table as the Oldest living ex-
mayor of the city, he announced that
he would forego the pleasure of deliv-
ering the address he had prepared out
of regard for the regular speakers,
and announced the first number.
Rock Island to 1860.
Tie first speaker was former
Mayor V. VI. Handing. whose subject
was rock Island to 1860" He said
in part: Fortunately for the citi-
zens of Rock Island but one legend
is extant in regard to its beginning. |
\ poet of no little celebrity in New
England, in an address delivered |
here. gave vent to his feelings in
these memorable lines:
when God Almighty made the earth,
The prairie and the highland,
In mere derision, fun and mirth.
He made this town Rock Island.
my personal. acquaintance with |
Rock Island began in July. 1856, and |
what | have to say of its history |
prior to that date must be wholly |
historic and traditional. Rock Is
land presents great variety of
scenery with no little natural beau
ty, as all my hearers know, and its
natural advantages are in keeping
with it's beauty. Prior to the advent
of railways TO the city it was the
most noted steamboat landing from
Quincy to GaIena. Historic record
affirms that our city was preceded
by the town of Farnhamburg. Here
the first house was built by Col.
and Russell Farnham in
1876. Here the county government
was formed, the first elections held
and the first postoffice established.
This place became the town of Ste
phenson. The town of Rock Island
came into corporate existence as the
successor of the town of Stephenson
by act of the Legislature passed
March. 1871. This act changed the
name to Rock Island and Incorporate
ed it as a town under a board of
trustees. The city government was
organized under new charter in
ls49. The first mayor was Benjamin
F. Barrett.
Schools In Early Days.