Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-11-21
HEAR OF HISTORY
William A. Meese Delivers Ad-
dress Before Rock Is
land Club.
EVENTS OF THE EARLY DAYS
Audience Profits by Research Of the
Speaker-Indian Wars of Early
Period in This Country.

William \ Meese. Of Moline. last ev-
cning entertained the members of the
Rock Island Club with lecture ON
Early Rock Island" Mr.. Meese has
given much time. energy and expense
TO his researches, and contemplates
writing a history of Rock Island coun
". The lecture which he gave at the
cub las; evening is to be the first chap
ter of the history. and dealt with Rock
Island ana this locality up to- the time
Of the Black Hawk war, in 1892.
In his introduction. Mr. Meese stated
that he considered that no locality in
the state was the scene of so many in
cidentS OF historic value as Rock Island
county His lecture was a complete
account of the settlement of the county
by the various known tribes of Indians,
anu later the coming Of the white pio-
nccrs. He presented many interest
ing incidents of the early life of the
white settlers, and gave the names OF
the men composing the various com
paniCs enlisted in the Black Hawk
war. and many of the men al the head
of the early public affairs in this To-
cality.
The IIlini.
The Illni Indians. composed of a /
number of tribes. he said. were the
Indian nation who occupied this sec
ton of the state in 1900. and he told
of the movement of the Sacs and Foxes
from the eastern states TO Wisconsin.
and south TO Rock Island. which be
came the central part of the nation.
lie mentioned the various treaties be
tween the government and the Sacs
and Foxes previous 20 the Black Hawi; |
war when the nation under Black |
Hawk made the last Indian war in II
lnois 20 defend their tribal lands
against the western movement of the
white man. He gave as the cause OF
the Black Hawk war the petition of
the settlers to Gov. Reynolds. after
Black Hawk with a band had stopped
the sale of whisky to the Indians. by
destroying a store of the fire water
in q cabin on Nandruff's island
Mr.. Ncesc described the various viz /
lagos in the country surrounding the |
present site of Rock Island. and partic-
ularly that located on Rock river. some l
miles above its mouth. This village Il
had about 5000 population. West of I
there the Indians cultivated about p
GOO acres of land. This village was |
burned in 1871 or 1882. though Black
Hawk in his autobiography does not |
mention it's destruction.
Hack Hawk and keokuk.
Mr.. Meese gave an interesting sketch |
of the two Indian chiefs, Black Hawk |
and Keokuk. ut the head Of the two
nations. the Sacs and the Foxes. Blacl, |
Hawk. he said. was man who. as i |
white man, would have won promin-
once He recounted the incidents lead !
ing 10 the battle of Campbells island. !
when Mai. John Campbell with a com
pany was attacked by Black Hawk on /
the island. and compelled to retreat. |
leaving behind one of his boats. He |
told of the arrival of Col. George Day-
export. and of his life in this locality |
during the years preceding and during |
the Black Hawk war
The historian told of the firing OF /
the Sac village on Vandruffs island |
early in 1881. and the treaty which |
compelled Black Hawk 10 retreat west
OF the Mississippi.
bi"'N il'"N H"S o''h ''hSHitN anu
abused for his actions following this |
treaty but he should be judged by the |
circumstances. He was nearly G5 years |
of age. and he felt that he was defend |
ing his own against the white man |
He was the last of the Indian defend /
ers in Illinois," concluded Mr. Meese !
after recounting the incidents of the |
Black Hawk war in 1892 which ended
in the slaughter OF the Sacs on Aug. l.
followed by the subsequent treaty.
signed by Black Hawk. This was
when Black Hawk ratified the first
treaty. which he held was signeu with.