Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-23

I Rosedale cemetery there.
this time Captain Clark secured,
through the kindness of his staunch
friends. Generals Jones and Dodge.
senators from Iowa, the contract for
carrying the United States mails,
which was at that early period a very
valuable acquisition.
In 1857 Captain Clark removed from
/ Davenport to Buffalo, where he opened
the coal mines TO supply the pack
cts with their products. The coal was
mined and hauled to the mouth of
Bowling creek, at which point the
packets landed for coaling at that
time. He was now quite wealthy, but
in 1859 the financial crisis came upon
the land like northern blizzard,
sweeping every one before it, Captain
Clark not being an exception. But he
did not grow disheartened. He had
already experienced reverses and his
schooling in that stern discipline stood
/ him in good stead. The most secure
banks crumbled into invisible frag-
ments. leaving nothing but wildcat
swindles. from which sprang many
fine buildings for the unfortunate cred
itors TO gaze upon while gTieying over
their misplaced confidence. During
those dark hours that tried mems
souls, many noble hearted, hOT est
men like Antoine LeClaire. J. NJ y.
Burrows. and others. fell to rise no
more financially. A few With stood he
blast, though they lost moucy. and
they came forth with honor. brighte n
/ ed by the rough usage they had re-
ceived
After the sunshine streamed through
the clouds once more, Captain Clark
! found himself with but a moiety, al
though il was sufficient to supply him
with a comfortable home in his old
age. ana TO grant a few Injuries for
his declining years. In 1868. together
with Captain Dodge Captain Clark
laid out an addition 10 the city OF Buff
falo, which still bears their names.
Two streets in the city were also call
ed after them. The heirs Of Captain
Dodge and Captain Clark himself still
possess extensive interests in that To-
cality.
STRONG DEMOCRAT.
Captain Clark was a democrat and,
while for many years in intimate as
sOciation with the leaders of the party
in his state, he never aspired to pub
lie Office. In his relations with his
fellow men he closely Appropriated
the ideal citizen. Courteous. consid-
crate. hospitable and warmly sympa-
thetic he was al the same time a man
OF independent ideas. sound judgment
and great decision Of character.
His faculties were unimpaired up
TO the last. Occupying for years the
unique position OF sole survivor of
the first settlers of this locality he
did not, as so many others of ad-
yanCed years do. dwell altogether in
the past. One Conyersing with him
could not help marveling at his grasp
% current events and the thoroughly
up to date atmosphere surrounding
him. After hearing him tell of his
personal experiences with the Indians
before most of the grandraClers of the
present day were born il seemed in
conceivable that he could. through all
the intervening years. have kept so
fully abreast of the march of events.
The following personal "reminiscences
of Captain Clark's life in this vicinity
are condensed from paper read be-
fore the Andalusia Memorial associa-
ton in 1905, and from the exchange
Of memories of early days that follow
Cd the reading Of the paper:
There were scant postal facilities
in 1927. when the boy Clark myself
first Went upon the island fort Arm
stroagb. Mail was obtained from Ga
lena. about 100 miles away. by send
ing two soldiers on foot 10 that place.
The news OF President Jackson's cleo
ton in 1928 was not received until
late IN December. although the cleo
Jion had taken place In August, and
then by messenger service, the mes
senger being Hon. John W. Spencer,
requiring a week for the trip
PICTURE OF GEORGE DAVENPORT.
The first palefaoe | remember see I
ing outside Of my own family. was
George Davenport. He was the first
white settler in the vicinity of Rock
island. There were three Davenport
families. not al all connected-an liv-
ing on Rock island-Jhe others being
George Marmaduke and Colonel VII
liam Davenport. One was the George
I have just named the Indian trader, |
lOceted where the old -rading house
still remains en- the government is /
land Him ! remembc- very well. He