Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-02

house were too limited TO afford occu-
Patton for the inmates. and recon-
mended that the premises then occu-
pied as poor house be exchanged for
a farm of not less than 800 acres. \
committee of four members consist
ing of John NJ. Wilson. NJ. \. Swiler.
Peter De Moss and Wesley Hanna
were appointed To carry cut the pro-
visions of the report Nov. 20 1860.
this committee reported they had sold
the old poor house and grounds con-
sisting of 81 acres for S691. and had
purchased the farm of James Smith
IN what was then known as Coal Val
ley township, consisting of $50 acres
of first quality upland prairie all un-
der fence and 100 acres under cult
walton with two small frame build
ings, good well of water and never
failing spring of water running
through the farm" for which they
paid $1,000. and this is the site of the
present infrmary of Rock Island
county.
First Record of Inmates.
In September. 1864, William San |
derson. who had held the office of ste |
ward from March. 1865. to this date. |
was succeeded by William 5. Bailey. t
whose salary was fixed at $500 per
year. the first record | find as to the
number of inmates is in March. 1872.
which shows that there was 81 at that
time. and in March, 1873. IS.
AT the August session Of the board
in 1873 the committee on poor house
was authorized to erect at once
suitable building for the steward and
his employees at cost not to exceed
81. 800.
The number of inmates steadily
as the population grew. The
record Of March, 1850. shows that
there were 81 being cared for. and in
april. 1851. 100.
"In March, 1881, Asa Butman was
appointed steward to succeed William
:. Bailey. and he was succeeded in
1854 by James Robertson, who rpceiv-
I'd salary of $1,000 per year, he to
pay all help.
March 6. Of this same year. the
BOARD decided that the time for APP
pointing the steward should be at the
December term of each year, the APP
continent to take effect Jan. ! fol- {
owing. Al the same meeting Il con c
ract was let for the construction Of l
4 new building to cost $2.32O, but the {
'ecOrd does not state definitely which :
building this was.
AT the April session. 1856. the com
nittee on poor farm was changed to 4
consist of three members instead of {
i've. Dee. Is of this same year w. II.
1. Dow WAS appointed steward. March I
/. 1890. plans were adopted for > l
tory building 3OX6O feet to form an |
IdditiCn TO the asylum. \ very i'm
'Ortant epoch in the history of the
poor farm occurred July II. 1895. {
when Supervisor Oberg offered res !
'lution that the title of the poor farm :
~ changed to county infirmary. This :
esoIution was adopted by unanimous {
ote. Dec. Is. after II years of faith I
al service as steward of the poor I
arm. W. II. II. Dow was succeeded by /
Iohn {. Swank, the present efficient t
md capable steward of the county ;
nfrmary. We find that in 1895 there 5
we're 161 inmates which appears to he !
he maximum. In February. 1902. the t
committee on county infirmary was I
directed to arrange for the erection l
# drug store building 1890. to be {
inished throughout at a cost not to {
,Xceed S7OO. This building was com
,letely destroyed by the fire of Dec.
., 1902.
Accepted by w. Il. Carey. 9
The building was accepted from the i
contractor. :. j. Collins, by Chairman 9
Y. II. Carey. in behalf of the board, ,
Who placed it in charge of Steward j. {
~. Swank. DR.. w. +. Taylor, superin- I
cndent Of the WATERFOWL asylum. 7
rave an address on Care of the In
aue." Then followed an open discus II
ion of Our Poor and Their Keep j
ny" by members of the board of SUI :
,ervisors and citizens. The invocation Q
vas pronounced by Rev. Layman. The {
peeches were interspersed with mu-
ic. :