Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-26


institution. p rticularly
one whose existence dates
back into pioneer times.
m must of necessity be "a
tWW narrative of success and
QlvWp reverses, of good fortune
- and i'll fortune. These are
the elements and experiences that
enter into the life and character of
the average institution, .nIst as they
shape and influence maii's own eNis-
fence.
The Argus. in word. has had it's
ups and downs. and while II is not
and cannot he unmindful of the sad
der incidents that shadow the
retrospective view, its contempla-
ton of having reached the happy
golden meridian is attended by the
fullest sense of qualification and
gratitude.
The Argus looks into the future
with hope and contentment while il
renews its pledge of fealty To the city
which il its home. and its devotion
To every cause and principle for
which it may lift it's voice or exert
its influence.
The First Issue.
The first issue of the paper which
afterwards became The Argus was
gotten ous in Il rear room ON rhe
sc,.rd fluor Of what was he 4 kii',,v"
as the Whitaker d Everts building
located just east of the present
Argus building, Oct. Is. 1851. Al
though it began as the Rock Island
Republican ii was democratic in
politics then as now and the adoption
OF the present name was brought
about in 1875 by the formation of an
opposing political party which took
the one the paper bore. At the time
it was established. as has been the
case with the publication for the
most part since. The Republican was
the only democratic paper within
radius of 100 miles. Its publication
WAS begun by Fred 5. Nichols ard
John W. Durham and the outfit they
used was second hand one purchase
cd in ST. Louis. Boil; partners had
had considerable experience in news
paper work previous to their coming
IL Rock Island and their acquai1-
tance WAS formed while they were
WORKING together on the st L"nis
Infelligencer. Nichols was a north
erIi man and Durham n southerEer.
The latter soon became tired of the
under .aling and after SiX weeks he
soil. Dut to his partner and returned
10 the south Nichols continued
alone till November. 1852. when l'r
sold q half interest TO j. Ii. Dam
forth. .Ir.. whose connection with The
paper continued to Il more or less eN-
tent from that time till 1869.
Having acquired the interest of
Nichols in the spring of 1853 Mr.. Dan
forth continued as sole proprietor
three years. when a share was pur-
chased by Robert V Shurley. J he |
Ruford block At the northcrst corner !
Of Second avenue and Seventeenth |
street. the first four-stOry building |
in the city, was completed IN 1871 and /
The Republican took up quarters |
there which IL retained II years.
July IL of that year the first daily |
was issued. At that time there was |
no other daily nearer than Du5HGue.
Varied Experiences.
Sept. 16. 1851 Pershing q Connolly, |
the latter Mai. II. c. Connolly. then
publishers of the Rock Islander, |
bought the interests not owned by /
Mr. Shurley and the title of the paper /
WAS changed to The Rock Islander
and Argus \ week after this; 'rans-
action Mr.. ShurIey sold. out TO Mil |
ton Jones, who held an editorial po-
sitiOn on the paper till 1881. SEPT.
1G. 1859, J. Il. Danforth again secured
an interest, buying out Pershing d
Connolly. and the paper once more
became The Argus. In the meantime.
July Is. 1859, the daily was suspended
and Il tri-weekly begun. This was
continued till Sept. 1, 1861. when the
daily was resumed.
In 1869 Robert +. McNeal bought
out Mr.. Danforth, but Jan. 1. 1870, he
in turn parted with his interests to-
j. s. Drake and three years later
The Argus company was formed and
incorporated with capital stock Of
So. 900. In 1871 the Buford heirs
erected The Argus block next the
alley on the east side of East Seven
teenth street and the paper went into
its first exclusive quarters. Ten
years later Richardson 81 Powers ac-
auired controlling interest in the
company. For n brief year they
waged a struggle against adversely.
At the end of that time. in 1891. fl
nancial reverses necessitated sus-
pension of the paper. This under all
ordinary circumstances would have
been the end of The Argus. But
different fate was in store for it. j.
w. Potter, publisher of the Freeport