Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-24
FAMILY FEUD IS
RACING NEARBY
Regular Old Time Kentucky
Controversy Is on Just
South of County.
BROIL OF YEARS STANDING
Crops Out Recently and One of Par
Elephants Is Now in Precarious
Condition.

That a bitter family feud which has
led 10 repeated bloodshed has been
waged within a few miles of Rock
Island for the past ten years is not
generally known TO the public, but
such is the case. After a period OF
comparative quietude, the quarrel
broke out anew in the fight at Cop
peras Creek few days ago at a horse
sale, in which several of the partici-
pants we're seriously injured, the de-
tails OF which are familiar to the pub
lie. The quarrel originated over a
piece of land owned by a Moline man,
and the details OF the story have just
come 10 light.
DISPUTE OVER LAND.
Some ten years ago a Cleaveland
family, mountaineers from Tennessee,
moved 10 Eliza township, Mercer
county. Illinois, and bought a piece
of land adjoining that owned by Mo-
line party, who had rented his farm to
a Passmore family. The Tennesseeans
built a house over the line on the
property held by the PASSWORDS and
were requested TO take il off. This
aroused the antagonism of the Cleave
lands and they forbade their neigh,
bors to cross a strip of land which
had been considered public up to this
time, and which II was necessary for
the Cleavelands to use in order tc
reach a uublic highWav
TEAR DOWN FENCE.
Passmore had six boys. all littl,
fellows at that time, and because oil
the high feeling the feud was taker
mp by the boys as well as the parents
The first real trouble began at a husi
ing bee in that vicinity at which tim
the Cleavelands jumped upon the Pass
more boys and gave them an unmer
ciful beating Meanwhile the noun
taineers had fenced in the strip o
land which had been used as a public
crossing. The PASSWORDS tore thu
fence down and another fight ensueC
in which revolvers and shotgun
played a prominent part
THREATEN TO KILL.
During all this time the Moline maj
who owned the land adjoining tn
mountaineers had kept out OF III,
fight. and, in fact, the head OF tn,
Cleaveland family had threatened u
kill him on sight. but deciding tina
something must be done in order L
allow his tenants 20 secure som
means Of egress from the premises
the Moline man bearded the lion il
his den. and as a result of the inter
view old man Cleaveland apologize,
for his actions. But the feeling bC
tween the Cleavelands and the Pass
mores continued to run high.
BATTLE on LAUNCH
The next fight occurred som
months later. when on account of tn
extreme high water. IL was impract
cable to use the roads and farmer
who wished to go TO Muscatine ira,
eled by boat on the river Through
strange coincidence. both rival fan
lilies were on the same launch boun
for Muscatine. Hot words were e,
changed and both contingents barr
caded themselves in separate compar
ments, not, however. before one {
the feudists had swung an axe at hi
neighbor. Guns were numbered an
a hot firms ensued for several mi
utes. when other passengers int
vened. causing cessation of hostil
ties. on the return trip the mountain
GERS preceded the Passmore boys, an
knowing that their neighbors woul
have 20 cross the disputed strip
land. they laid in wait for them. TT
Passmore boys. who were still sma
and not able to fully take care
themselves, managed TO escape the
enemies by dragging a small Dol
through a swamp.
LOCAL MAN IN FIGHT.
A few days ago at a horse sale II
fight was renewed. but in the mea