Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-22
PIONEERS OF COUNTY IN
THEIR ANNUAL REUNION

just as soon as | could. and l have al
ways been glad that | first saw the
light under Rock Island skies. Al
though absent many years. no place
seems quite as much like home to me
and while life lasts | will cherish the
sweet memories that cluster around
Rock Island and will ever hold in last
ing remembrance the friendships and
| attachments formed here during my
childhood and early youth. Wherever
my lot may be cast. or whatever the
future may have in store for me, will
ever remain loyal Rock Islander.
| odd settlers. it is fitting that you
meet once a year to talk over we olden
times During the past you met with
many difficulties. but you overCame
them. You worked hard. suffered many
| privations, and endured many hard
ships. but in the end you have triumph
ed, and indeed must be happy.
Couldn't Blame Him.
| "A more appropriate place to hold
| these. exercises than on the old Watch
Tower. could not be found | am glad
| that ! saw it before it was disfigured
| by the hand of man. 1t was far more
beautiful then than now. 1t is. indeed,
a historic place. Here the old chief,
| Black Hawk, watched the coming of
| his enemies. For miles he could dis
cover their approach. Here, many a
council of war was held. 1t is said that
he started from this point to inaugu-
rate the Black Hawk war. He was a
famous old chief. and this was his
home until seized by the white man.
When you stand upon this tower and
view the unsurpassed beauty of the
surrounding country, can you blame
this old Indian for fighting for his
home and the land of his birth? He
was a man of very kind heart and very
fond of children.
In 1887 my parents came to this
country in the old steamer Adventure.
Black Hawk was also a passenger. 1t
was after his capture and when he
was either prisoner or on parole. He
was very much interested in and at
tentive to my sister Hester, then lit
tie tot of > or years. On leaving the
boat he presented her with string of
beads These beads have been in our
family ever since and preserved as a
precious souvenir. That little girl is
present. and our aged mother would
be were it not for the infirmities of
age.
Two Rock Islands.
In my minds eye | behold two Rock
Islands-One of 50 years ago or more
and the splendid one of today. l see
on the point of the island old Fort
Armstrong and the block houses.
see the Indians. painted in their gaudy
cQlorS. with their sQuaws. pappooses
and PONIES, coming into town to receive
their annuities from the government
see the old steamboat, and hear her
puff. puff, puff, as she asCends the
river before landing at our levee.
can see the old dam at Moline. with
its primitive mills and factories. can
see the old Methodist church in Spen-
GERS square. opposite the Harper
house, and the old brick schOolhouse
nearby. where | learned my A B C's.
see our old schoolmaster. Quincy
Mcneil. and almost feel the sting of
his rod, which he never spared if the
bad boy deserved punishment
Il see the old Rock Island house.
W ltll It's StIldl IdluIbIu u D. Il DdlIttl.
| can see the old shot tower. saw mills.
boat yard. fOundries, the store of Bail
ey & Boyle when boy | thought it
the greatest store in the wOrldD, and
the old warehouse on the levee. be-
longing to B. II. Langley. towering
above every building in the city, with
its odd shaped roof. | have seen the
highest sky-sCrapeTs in Chicago and
New York, but none ever seem taller
than did this old landmark then. |
can see the men who laid the fOunda-
tions of this city and county. Joseph
Knox, DR. Gregg, George MiXter, John
Deere, Judge Gould. David Sears Cthe
father of Moline and the man who built
the first dam from the island to the
main shore). the Ainsworths. the
Wheelocks, Daniel Gordon. John War
ner. Elijah Reynolds, Bailey Daven-
port. Thomas Salpaugh. Judge Drury.
Isaac Negus. Squire Halves, Mai. Will
son. Holmes Hakes. the Atkinsons, p.
l.. Gable. the Bufords. Ben Harper,
Judge Spencer. Capt. John Wilson (the
original ferryman). the Cases. Tricks.
Chamberlains. Beans. Darts, Guyers.
RobinsOns. Lannon'S, Deans. and scores
Of others. In fact. if were to mention
all the pioneers worthy of notice.
would call the entire roll of the old
settlers.
Reign Of Terror.
These men were brave, patriotic.
and determined Nothing will more
clearly show their sturdy character
than TO call to mind the hanging of
John Long. Aaron Long and Granville
Young. This vicinity. as well as north
ern Illinois and large portion of Iowa.
was infested with a blOodthirsty gang
of horse thieves. highwaymen. and
murderers. There was no safety from
this marauding band. II was a terror
10 every community. To oppose il
meant almost certain death II was