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

At the meeting Of the Andalusia
Memorial association last Saturday
evening the following "reminiscences
were read by John Kane, who has
been a resident OF the village since
childhood and who presided over the
meeting:
AT the request of some of your citi-
zens I give some OF my recollections
of the early days in your town as
remember them AS it Is quite long
time ago, and have no data, must
depend on my memory entirely. In
thinking over 1t I find that my great
est difficulty in giving the correct
dates. SO you must excuse any errors
that may creep in. was somewhat
acquainted with your business men
while was clerk in the Ed Burrell
store in Edgington. That was in the
summer of 1859. or the two general
stores, William Dorman owned one
and Joseph Hazlett and J. w. Ballard
the other, Under the firm name of
Hazlett & Ballard
came to Andalusia to clerk In the
store of B. F. Ely That was in 1860.
His store was in the Kenworthy store
while r. A. Cobb had store in the
Hazlett & Ballard building. One of
the other men in business there was
John Hoaths grain buyer His building
was east OF the Kenworthy mill, while
J. W. Billiards. warehouse was farther
down the river. While speaking of
grain dealers, Jabez Cobeldick stored
and bought grain in Greenbush; s. r
Kenworthy owned and operated the
stone Touring mill, Eli Jones, ST., be-
ing the boss miller, with his son Jason
as assistant, while Bill Jones and A. G.
Eberhart kept the engine running. AS
flour was shipped In barrels in those
days, John Kenworthy did the packing
act. I do not think John was stuck
on the job, but he stuck TO it a long
time. AS there was no ferry boat,
there in those days, they frequently
had to get coal brought from Buffalo
in a fiat boat. By starting above Buff
falo they managed to work it across
the river to Andalusia,>
Other Stores Opened.
I do not know whether there were
other stores than the two have men
toned, but little later on there were
others started. At that time James
Westbay had a blacksmith shop. Dan
Kelly put half soles and patches on
our shoes. Tony Wenks burned old
sold lime. J. H. Britton did the plas-
tering. John Houston, James Fergu-
son and Alex Hayes the carpenter
work, and John and S. R. Buffum had
the only lumber yard at that time.
Later on, Norton and Smith estab
lished yard. Norton did not remain
long in the business but sold his in
terest to Henry Thompson. That firm |
was still doing business there when |
1 moved away from Andalusia.
While speaking of lumber yards, |
Gamble & Wakely landed a raft there /
and started yard, with s. G. Wakely
the resident manager. in the year 1896.
Buffum brothers sold an interest in
their business to l. L. Walker. 1t was
then Buffum Bros. & Walker. After /
a few years Buffun Bros. sold their /
Interest to Walker and Hartman, they |
continuing until the accidental poison |
ing of Walker. Hartman soon after |
closed out the business.
To go back to the first year I was |
IN AnOaluSla, IQ0T6 was not STSdI
many of US, but we always had good /
time When we had a dance nearly |
every one was expected to attend, and |
did, and when there was not |
dancing enough at home many Of us
attended the dances in Buffalo.
In the spring of 1851, when the
south fired ON Fort Sumter, things |
changed very much in Andalusia. |
can remember the names of nearly |
all who enlisted at various times, but |
as you have a list of them all 1 wi
not attempt to give them.
Baby Learned to Swim.
It was in the summer of 1881 that |
r. A. Cobb built and operated ware
house and moved into the house close
by. I remember when the water got |
up near their fence. Mrs. c. was
afraid her baby might be drowned.
She went to her fathers to remain.
She afterwards got used to the water.
I have seen that same baby, Eddie"
and two younger ones floating down
the river, ell three astride of one
plank Besides the names 1 have
will mention a few Of the
names of those living there and in the
Starting southwest of
town, there was Lorenzo Parmenter
and family and Dan Bopes. In Green