Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-04-01
The World Wide War Trust

I tied Tor Tear o. dltturoinE HIM out
the noise % the fort has since driven
him away. and no doubt bad spirit
has taken his place
White settlers first located In the
vicinity o. Rock Island n ISIS. II was
the habit OF the Indians 10 leave their
villages for several months in each
year. and while they were absent the
white settlers moved IN and took pos
session. This created discortent and
hostility among the Indians when they
returned. and as the number OF set
tiers Increased the feeling became
stronger ~ the frequent ursings OF
the commanding officers AZ Fort Arm
strong and % the Indian agent on the
island. Keokuk. the head chief OF the
FOXES. and his tribe. IN accordance
with the treaties they had made. NOV
"a vcut % the Mississippi river and
established themselves on the Iowa
river.
Black Hauk and hts party - Sacs.
aomstines called the British Band. p"
because o. their adherence 70 the Eng
fish refused 20 go. Complaints from
the settlers % doprcdations % The In
diana rcrs frequent. tiii finally. In
n
that they must leave. The Wa- finally
broke out Ia 1859. and after much hard
arhtiuE On the months OF MAY. June.
Juiy. and August The whole o. Black
Hawks band vas destroyed. and the
great chief himself. together vith his
son and several other chiefs. we're
made prisoners.
AMER an eastern tour. which inciud-
- Washington and other cities. Black
HaWE lived with q remnant % hts
tribe on the pcs 2foiucE river. I'm
Iowa. until be- died tn 1855.
o. 1895 Rock Island had been 70
served from the public land % the
United states for military purposes. I
notwithstanding this fact. settlers re-
p~atediy tried 20 establish thcuFclFes
% the ISLAND On 1850 an order for q
public sale % thc island Co the highest /
bidder vas reversed BY the govern I
meat before the sale had been consur- .
mated
TIE nrst railroad 20 reach Rock D. /
land vas buut .n 1854 from Chicago .
by IRE Chicago q Rock Island Raj .
road go. The Mississippi Missouri I
Railroad then built q road from Dar- 4
export 10 Council Bluffs. and &c becam" 4
necessary 90 build q bridge 20 connect 4
tire two lines. such a bridge was con
strncfsd Ca 1855 from the Illinois
shore % the Island and from the Iowa
shore % the Island with an cmhark-
ueut across The island connecting the
two bridges. or rather the TWO parts
% ths Rock Island bridge. This bridge
b. not now CO. existence.
Many determined efforts Vere made
to acquire title 20 the land Of the IS
land because o. its desirable residence F.
1uaiiffcs. but chiefly because Of the
Eaterrower p1EsibilitieF- Several men
were succrs sf,ii 10 establishing such
elaine through the medium Of a spe-
-lal bin pas cd throuGh congress. and
.lc government afterwards rebouEtt
.he land 90 many times tle price paid
Tor 90 by these cnterprisins citizens.
Iu July. 1862. congress passed a bill
locating an arsenal "a Rock Island.
Ground for ihe first building. a large
.tnrrh1usc. was broken iu September.
1853. in the corner stone OF which
Here placed three newspapers -
gacs Island Union. q Davenport Ca
.ette aud O. Davenport Democrat "a
hair dollar. and a paper giving date
lf laying ui stone. the name ot the
pre- dent % the United States. the
same of else governor OF Illinois. and
.he names 90 the commanding officers
b. the arsenal
Extensive prison barTacks for pris-
iucrs OF war were built ON the island
~ 1859. and tine first building OF the
.rseual vas partly constructed hy the
nbor 90 confederate soldiers
Congress IN 1863 appropriated $780,
700 for the construction Of the pres
.uf Rock Island bridge. the building
n which was later given over 60 The
.nginscr department OF the army.
The arsenal plant. including build
ues. machinery. and 80 forth. has
,cen enlarged and extended from time
o time. and &C. no~ worth approx
natciy st001o.oo1.