Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-19

/ James Hill worked almost all the time
| that l lived in the town in some one
of the warehouses and was a good man
all the time.
Bought Title to Town Site.
1 don't remember in what year the
new school house was built or the Bap-
fist church up near there. 1t was in
1866 that five or six of US bought the
title to the town site. We had it sur
veyed and plated to conform to the
original streets and lots as near as
possible. We gave each one the option
of buying the lots they were occupying
at reasonable prices. My brother 8.
NJ, bought the land east of town and
built the house that he occupied until
the time of his death
In the early part of the summer of
1864 there was a call for soldiers for
a term of 100 days. Amongst those en-
listing at that time were Frank Eby,
John T. Kenworthy, George Cobb and
Emery Jones. They served about six
months. Some time after B. 3. Eby
returned from the army. He bought
and built two-story building on the
corner south of Kenworthy's and start
ed a store, the Masons occupying the
upper story. l think that was his last
venture before leaving town. Soon
after Eby built, S. NJ. Boney & Co.
bought the lots and built the brick
store. That was the worst mistake of
my life, with one exception. 1t was
then that we expected a railroad and
that we would soon have city.
need not tell you any more about that.
While S. NJ. Boney & Co. occupied the
old store room, H. H. DeSanto started
a drug store in the Kenworthy store
building. He afterwards moved into
the store vacated by Eby, under the
Masonic lodge hall 1t was about that
time that he sold his interest to Aaron
Thompson, DeSanto still remaining
with Thompson. Mrs. Williams, moth
er of the Cobb brothers, and Mrs. Ed
DeCamp built a residene and kept
bOarders for a time Aaron Cobb, faith
er of F. A. and George, was familiar
figure around town. Mr.. Barrett built
a residence, where he and his daughter
lived until his death. About this time
DR.. James Cozad came to town and
hung out a shingle, returning soon af
ter to Fulton to get the girl that he
brought to town as his wife. Mary
Wells and Ed Atwood were married
that year. Two or three years after
that John Kenworthy was married to
Clara Wells. John had been admitted
to the bar at that time, but they lived
in Andalusia for time before moving
to Rock Island.
I think 1 am telling you long story
that many of you know as well and
maybe better than l do, so l will ring
Off I might tell lot more, but will
not impose any more on you. 1 will
only say in conclusion that 1 sold my
interest in the store soon after the
death of my wife, and have not been
in Andalusia very much since that |
time. L visited there between five and |
six years ago. Things had changed |
greatly during my long absence. l met |
but few of the ones that l used to |
know. Many had moved to other
places. but the greater portion of them |
had gone to the great beyond. where |
we must all go some time. But want |
to say to you all, especially to those of |
you who have known me in the days of |
old, that l have the most kindly feel |
ings for every one of you and for the !
dear old town Of Andalusia.
F. NJ. BONEY.