davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

later as the Bridge house. D. B.
Sears occupied it as boarding house
for his hands.
Charles Atkinson in 1S43 built the
first brick house, the Moline house,
which is still standing Huntington
Wells was the first landlord. About
the same time Charles Atkinson built
his brick residence, which still
stands just east of the old Moline
house
In 1S43 Arson NJ. Hubbard came
IL Moline and during the first sum-
stands just across the alley from the
Moline house. Antoine LeClaire, who
was a great lover of music, bought
the instruments for the first brass
band, but there was not enough mr.
sic in Davenport to furnish the neces-
sary wind, so LeClaire was glad to
dispose of the instruments to Mr..
Hubbard, who in the fall of 1874 Or
ganized the first brass band, consist
ing of following persons: A. NJ. Hub
bard, leader; Jonathan Huntoon, Jo-
seph Huntoon, William H. Edwards,
Thomas Merryman, Joseph Merry
man, Thomas Davis, Henry Keyes and
Newman Benedict. 1t was this band
that played at the Fourth of July cele-
bration in 1S45 while Colonel George
Davenport was being murdered. 1t
was this band that furnished the mu.
sic for the great banquet on the 22nd
of February, 1854, upon the compile
tion of the Chicago & Rock Island
railroad to the Mississippi river.
Arson NJ Hubbard also organized
the first Congregational church choir,
Which was the first church choir
within so miles, and is still singing as
a voluntary choir, Mr.. Hubbard set
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

ting the example by always giving his
best services as his share in the Cos
pei work. He was the first pupil of
the great Lowell Mason to carry his
heaven-inspiring melodies to the Miss
issippi valley.
In 1S47 John Deere, who had made
the first steel pillow by taking a mill
saw and bending it over a log, came
to Moline in company with R. N.
Tate and Judge J. NJ. Gould and from
that beginning Moline has since be-
come known as the pillow city of the
world"
D. B. Sears had log house on the
river bank in what is now the Moline
Wagon company lumber yards. 1t
was there that he built his famous
red barn.
The town of Moline was laid out by
what was called the Mill company,
Charles Atkinson, d. B. Sears, and
Huntington Wells contributing the
land. p. H. Oglevie, a French sur.
veyor. had been employed to make
the survey and plat. When it was
completed a meeting was called for
the momentous task of christening
the child. The plat, which was a
good one, was placed on the barn
floor and d. B. Sears. Charles Atkin.
son, Huntington Wells and P. H.
Cglevie lay on their bellies on the four
sides of the plat to discuss what the
name should be-. Charles Atkinson
proposed a name which signified
western Star" Various other
names were proposed, when Oglevie
said why not call it Moulin" which
| is French for mill. This struck al
! favorably and the name was adopted
after Americanizing 1t into Moline
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
ORGANIZATION OF OLD
SETTLERS IS ACTIVE

CONTINUED from Preceding PageD
Elton c. Chopper, Frazier Wilson, n.
Belcher, Charles Latin, Adolphus Dun
lap. Daniel Mosher, E. p Reynolds,
John Lusk. Ira d. Whitehead. A NJ q.
Hubbard, Orrin Skinner, William H.
Edwards, c. d. Edwards, William Mil
Ter. d. y. Beal. NJ Hartzell, s. W. Nc
Master, James II. Blythe, Thomas Mer-
ryman, Charles Titterington. J. L.
Bean. Daniel Gordon. George H. Ed
wards. f. j. Searle. H. S. Case, Reuben
HOLSTER, Martin c. Prick, J. IL. Gle
land, j. FL Marshall, ]. G. Heck. Cyrus
Valentine, William Coyne, j. A Scarf
and William Lyford.
SECRETARY Fl YEARS.
J. II. Cleland. the present secretary,
is now serving his 21st year in that
capacity. The present officers are:
Observation-Disclosures Robson. Anda.
lusia
Vice Presidents - W. H. Whistler
JOY; William Payne, Rock Island
George W. McMurphy. Hillsdale;
George Cooke, Moline: George H
Richmond. South Rock Island.
Secretary and Treasurer. H. Gle.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

Continued from Preceding Page)
first newspaper, was published by
Daniel Crist.aIn 1916 J. H. Barnett
opened the first livery stable Feb.
%, 1854, Rock Island celebrated the
completion of the Chicago & Rock
Island railroad. being the first rail-
road to reach the Mississippi river
William n. Brashar, son of William
T. Brashar, was the first white boy,
and Mary Case, the first white girl
hOrn in the county, to the old settlers,
and James Edgington was the first
white boy born south of Rock river.
John Edgington, for whom Edgington
township was named, settled on the
farm on which he died, in 1884, to
witch he brought his bride, Susan
Crabs, and they lived the first six
months after locating without being
able to see another white woman.
They are probably entitled to be call.
ed the first settlers of the southern
part of the county.
Henry McNeal, who left home. and
lived among the Indians when he was
II years of age, was the first settler
OF WATERFOWL, locating there in 1928.
He built the first frame barn in Rock
Island county. He raised the first
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

Continued from Preceding Page.)
gateway to the city from the south,
while the road to Moline from the be-
ginning followed the same general
route as now. Fourth avenue west
of Seventeenth street was largely
used in the 40's as a straight-away
race course. There were but few
houses on either side and no objection
was offered to running horses there,
fer that was one of the few popular
sports of that day. There were no
tlotting horses worth mentioning
then. and PAGERS were unknown on
the track
There were not over half a dozen
ture vas more than two stories in
height. Log houses were common.
Yards were generally Of good size
and often they were fenced with
rails. Lumber was all brought down
from the north. where 1t was sawed.
Rats were floated, not towed. There
were no graded streets. There were
few board walks built at, different
elevations and OF different widths, to
suit the ideas OF the respective build
ers.
Ordinary conveniences OF the pres
ent day were totally lacking. Even
water was scarce and for many years
a number Of men made a living regu-
larly peddling river water from door
to door. There were no street lights
till the latter SOS, and then oil lamps
were put in.
The people were largely supported,
| directly or indirectly, by the river.
Many heads of families were employ
ed on boats. or else engaged in trade
made possible by water transporta-
/ ton There were no manufacturing
industries. Commodities shipped out
were limited almost entirely to edi-
BILE wares, such as grain and meat.
st. Louis was the principal market,
! though the northern pineries took
good share of the local output of pork.
ANDALUSIA BETTER KNOWN.
There was considerable travel from
the east to the west by wagon, but
little of it came this way before the
advent of the railroad. Clark's ferry
at Andalusia was much better known
| to the wayfaring stranger than Rock
Island was and 1t was to the former
crossing place that he bent his steps.
This is Rock Island as 1t existed
in the rough before a railroad came.
and as described by tnose who lived
/ here then. 1t was merely a settlement
on the river, no more important than
Andalusia, Hampton, Cordova, or any
other village of that day. II was far
behind these villages as they are now.
Compare the Rock Island Of the 40's
with the Rock Island of today and
marvel at the transformation that has
been wrought by the hand of map In
but little over half century.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

fruit on the mainland, Colonel Daven-
port antedating him with some apples
on the island. Dennis Warren is
probably entitled to be called the first
peddler of the county, and became one
of the largest, if not the largest, land
owners in the county. He was pres
ent at the auction sale in 1884 when
Rock Island was first offered to the
public and purchased two lots on
which the new government building
now stands.
Shortly afterward he was arrested
under an ordinance of the town
against peddlers and was fined SIS.
He then made a vow that he Would
never imp owe or sell those lots as
long as he lived. He kept his word.
They were never improved or sold
until his administrator sold them to
the government.
Moline impounded Charles Atkin.
sons COW and she has had no park to
this day. Now the first lesson taught
is that it is the spirit rather
than the letter of the law that should
| re enforced.
The first settler of Moline was Joel
Wells, who built a log cabin on the
river bank where the Keator sawmill
now stands, a little more than the
| breadth of the street northeast of the
old Moline house.
This house was used for all public
purposes for several years. 1t was
at this house that the great preacher
Peter Cartwright, preached the first
sermon ever preached in Moline. II
vas at this home that Collin D
James, a Methodist missionary, or
ganized the First Methodist Episco
pal church of Moline.
! But David B. Sears will probably be
! always recognized as the father OF
| Moline, because he was the INST to
conceive and carry out the idea OF
damming the father of waters. This
he did, in company with John w
/ Spencer, Calvin Ainsworth and Spen
Ger H. White, building the first brush
dam from the mainland to the island
But William Carr had in 1S3S-1S3S
built a sawmili on Mill creek south
east of Milan. The dam and mil
were III 1otls Will d Sd"
mill in the first story and a run Of
stones in the second. This was the
first mill built in the county and was
then the only one within a radius o.
a hundred miles. Jonathan HuntooI
was the first miller. The mill STOOD
on the mainland near the entrance o.
the government bridge.
Nearly the whole of the bushes:
part of Moline was then a log YARD
for this mill In 1S43 Charles Atkin
son came to Moline and, in company
with Arson NJ. Hubbard and Oliver
Chamberlin, purchased a right in the
water power and built a sawmill OF
the dam about half way from the
shore to the island, and in this mil
place.. the first circular saw used OF
the river north of st. Louis.
In 1890 Spencer H. White built the
first frame house, which is still stand
ing and was known as the Buffalo, ant
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
LABOR UNIONS IN
ROCK ISLAND ARE
WELL SUPPORTED
Movement Has Accomplished
Much Locally to Better the
Workingman's Condition.
TRI-CITIES ARE AFFILIATED
Industrial Home Building in This
City Headquarters for Strong
Central Organization.
ABoR unions have fourished in

r ABOR unions have fourished in
Rock Island since the very be-
~ ginning of the organization
movement in this country and the
condition OF the workers in practic.
ally all vocations has been greatly
tettered thereby. AS a rule the move
ment has been along conservative
lines and the unions have been ably
CfhCered
In addition TO other affiliations To-
cal unions are united with those of
Moline and Davenport in a delegate
assembly known as the Tri-City Fed.
Grafton Of Labor. For many wears
tho same function was discharged by
TIE Tri city Labor congress, which. By
n process of elimination gradually
came 70 be in fact a Rock Island and
Moline organization. Two years ago
tie con gress united with the Daven.
port Trades and Labor assembly un-
der the present name The Tri-City
Federation meets. as did the Congress.
at the Rock Island Industrial Home
building. the dates being the first and
third Thursdays Of each month. The
PRESENT officers are:
President-F. w. White.
Vice President-R. A. Evans
Recording Secretary-Ed Gardner.
Financial Secretary-E. J. Asper.
gren.
Treasurer-A. Nelson
Guard-M. S. Ecker
The unions represented in Rock Is.
End include carpenters, printers,
p-essmen, iron molders, painters.
transfers. cigar makers. machinists,
fyitchmen. moving picture machine
Operators. electrical workers, plumb.
crs. theatrical stage employees, bar.
tenders, street railway employees,
brewery workers. structural iron
workers, blacksmiths and helpers,
bakers and confectionery workers.
hcrseshoers. metal polishers. buffers
and platers, sheet tin and metal
workers, BARRIERS. railway men, must
clans, chauffeurs, etc.
A quarter OF a century ago the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
Corn Planters

Rock Island Planters for and cotton the results Of
advancement from the first two planter leading up the
recognized variable drop
tial to the intensive growing of today.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
Rock Island Hay Leaders

The Rock Island Cylinder Hay Loader is evolution
from the original hay loader invented % years ago
which have been sold than other hay leaders
bined.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

farmer than any other one manufacturer.
More original tools, features and ideas
in implements have been produced, de-
velOped and given to the public than by
any other ploW company in existence.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
Sulky Flows

The frameess suky plow originated 18 ago,
marking change suky pillow construction and providing
servceabe riding pow moderate price, to fit the needs
the farmers that time.
Copies of the principle originating with Rock Island
been made by practically every other pillow maker.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
ORIGINAL SITE OF ROCK
ISLAND NOT PROMISING

Continued from Preceding Page.)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

The Rock Island oscilating scraper-a important
feature of disc harrowswas distinctive improvement orig
mating here and became fayoraby known recognized
practically essential superior devices for
the purpose that every pow maketo hold tradewas
forced pay royalty 10 Island Plow COMPANY
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

The latest invention originated with the Island
Plow company, the famous "CTX pow bottom
only UNIVERSAL bottom found only on Rock Island
sulkies and gangs
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

CONTINUED from Preceding Page)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27

The Rock Island Plow Co., in it's present
location. has manufactured up-tO-date
farm implements for 81 years. During
this time it has invented and developed
more implements of real value to the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
CultivatOrs

Original cutivator builders of the ricties Now
varied line including the famous Perfection Leveress Com
bined Cuvator Rock Island, Bully Boy
handle all crops under conditions in every part of
the cultivated globe.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
land, Rock Island.
SOME FIRSTS IN ROCK
ISLAND COUNTY

Continued from Preceding Page.)
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
FAMILY RUNT
Kansas Man Says Coffee Made Him
That.

Coffee has been used In our family
of eleven-father, mother, five sons
and four daughters-for thirty years
/ am the eldest of the boys and have
always been considered the runt Of the
family and a coffee topper.
Il continued to drink 1t for years I'M
til l grew to be a man, and then /
found ] had stomach trouble, nervous
headaches, poor circulation, was I'M
able to do q full days work, took medi-
cine for this, that and the other thing,
without the least benefit. In fact l
only weighed 116 when l was %.
Then 1 changed from coffee to Pos
tum, being the first one in our family
to do so. | noticed, as did the rest OF
the family, that ] was surely gaining
strength and flesh. Shortly after l
was visiting my cousin who said, You
look so much better-you're getting
fat
AT breakfast his wife passed me
a cup of coffee, as she knew I was al
ways such coffee drinker, but said,
No, thank you
J
coffee? What do you drink
Postum l said, or water, and I
am we'll They did not know what
Postum was, but my cousin had ston-
ach trouble and could not sleep at
night from drinking coffee three times
a day. He was glad to learn about
Postum, but said he never knew cof-
fee would hurt anyone" (Tea is Just
as injurious as coffee because it con-
tains caffeine, the same drug found
in coffee.)
after understanding my condition
and how / got well he knew what to
do for himself. He discovered that
coffee was the cause Of his trouble as
he never used tobacco or anything else
Of the kind. You should see the change
in him now. We both believe that IL
persons who suffer from coffee drink
ing would stop and usa Postum they
could build back to health and happi-
ness" Name given by Postum Co.,
Battle Creek, Mich.
There's a reason" Read the little
book, "The Road to MELVILLE" in pkgs.
Ever read tho above letter. A new
one appears from time to time. They
are genuine, true, and full! Of human
Interest.
Ever read the above letter. A new
one appears from time to time. They
arc genuine, true, and full Of human
interest.
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09

age to the ship. AS soon as I had
grappled with that difficulty, he
caused another to present itself, and
when that, too, was met, he stuck an
other ship before me, creating very
dangerous situation. l felt slightly
outraged by this ingenuity in piling
trouble upon a man
wouldn't have got into that
mess l suggested, mildly could
have seen that ship
No, you couldn't. The weather's
thick
oh 1 apologized, blankly"
The examiner did not stop there
Diff Guilty followed difficulty in the
imaginary homeward voyage, until,
when just off lee shore with out
lying sandbanks, the examinee said
desperately, Il shall have to think
little, sir"
Doesn't look as If there were much
time to think" was the sardonic re-
ply.
mo. sir" the examinee responded,
mot on board a ship; but then
could see. AS 1t is, SO many accidents
have happened that I really can't re-
member what there's left for me to
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
PILED DISASTERS TOO THICK
Board of Examiners Could Think of
Accidents Quicker Than Sailors
Could Master Them.

Some writer's OF sea tales pile Incl
dent on incident and adventure on adj
venture with a fine disregard Of
probabilities. One Of the authors least
guilty Of such extravaganza. Joseph
Conrad, who was a sailor before he
turned author, has recently told of
the examination that he underwent
for his masters certificate-an ordeal
that not every writer of marine
"thrillers'' could have passed SO well.
The examiner began by trying to
make him talk nonsense.
But | had been warned of that
fiendish trait. and contradicted him
with great assurance. After while
he left off. So far, good. Placing
me then In a ship OF a certain size,
at sea, under certain conditions Of
weather, season, and SO forth. he or
dered me to execute certain ma
noeuver. Before / was half through
with it. he did some material dam
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
HISTORIC OLD ENGLISH CLOCK
Timepiece at Hampton Court psiace
of Remarkable Construction
ard Great Age.

The clock at Hampton Court palace
derived It's unpleasant title by reason
of superstition that whenever any
one long resident In the palace dies
the clock Immediately stops. 1t Is
of record that when Anne of Den
mark, the queen Of James l., died that
st stopped almost before the last
stroke sounded. Since that time 1t
is said to have repeated this grisly
proceeding each time royal person
age within its Jurisdiction died
At any rate, tho clock has an In
teresting history quite aside from this.
It was the first astronomical time
piece made in England, being CON
structed in 1910 for Henry VII.
Thirty-two years ago It was brought
out OF shed wherein 1t had lain
neglected for nearly half a century;
and by order of the then secretary Ut
the Office of works 1t was re-erected
in the courtyard opposite the entrance
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09

work with. Have 1 two anchors at
the bow, sir?"
Yes. But there's only one cable.
You've lost the other"
Then | would back them if / could,
and tail the heaviest hawser on board
on the end of the chain before letting
go, and If she parted from that, which
is quite likely, l would just do moth
ing"
Nothing more to do, eh?"
mo, sir I could do no more"
You could always say your pray
ers"
But the exhausted captain of this
vessel in multiform distress was not
shipwrecked, after ALL He passed
with credit.-Youth's Companion.
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
Physical Training In China.

Miss Abby 8. Mayhem, for eighteen
years director of physical training for
women at the University Of Wiscon
sin, has accepted a similar position al
Shanghai under the auspices of the
Young Wornen's Christian association
From this city. which she will make
her headquarters, she Is to orsanizs
the work Of physical training 70,
women in all parts OF the republic
Special classes for native women
wishing to take up the teaching az
physical training as a means Of live
lihood Will be her first consideration
and the adoption of 1t into the public
girls schools Is only matter OF time
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
MAKING Himself at Home.

Doris was radiant over recent ad-
dition to the family, and rushed out
of the house to tell the news to pass
ing neighbOr.
ooh, you don't know what we've got
upstairs!"
What Is it?"
Its a new baby brother" and she
settled back upon her heels and fold
ed her hands to watch the effect.
you don't say SO! Is he going to
stay?"
81 guess so.'-very thougbtfully.
Hes got his thirgs off"
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09

to the state apartments. There is his
tortcal evidence to the effect that it
was built by one Nicholas Crater, a
German astronomer who came to
England at the invitation Of Cardinal
Wolsey.
This old timepiece tells the hour,
the month, the day of the month, the
position OF the sun, and the number
OF days since the beginning Of the
year, the phases of the moon and its
age, the hour ct which 1t crosses the
meridian. and the time of high water
at London bridge The time required
to wind it is half an hour every week.
The weights have a descent of over
sixty feet.-Harper's Weekly.
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
CnIY II in Order.
viii nothing move your"
Not unless 1T is my move.

written number Of authoritative
works Oh chemistry. His two brothers
are also eminent in the field of chem.
istry-. One is the lecturer of the dye
ing department of the University OF
Leeds. and the other the head of the
chemistry department of the Borough
Polytechnic institute, London. Pro.
fessor PerkiH, when not busy in the
laboratory, hnds relaxation in music
cricket and gardening
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09

Prof. William Henry Perkin, who
has Just announced the discovery Of a
process for the manufacture OF syn
thetic rubber, has been professor of
organic chemistry at Owens college,
Manchester, England, since 1892 His
experiments have already cost $175,-
600. Professor Perkin, it Is announced,
is under contract for nineteen years
at a salary of $4,000 yearly. He has
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
Different.

Daughter-Since it Is your wisb,
dear parents, that / should marry the
rich old brewer, | consent, although
he is seventy years old.
Mother-But he is only sixty.
Daughter-Sixty! Tell him to ask
me again in ten years.-Meggendor
Blaetter.
The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-08-09
q Year Hence.

Miss observation-disclosures, do you
think papa knows Harold is going to
call for me in his aeroplane?
Mamma-O, l think so, dear. He's
been hanging around the skylight with
a club all afternoon.