Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-19
LOG DONATED FOR
EARLY RESIDENT
]. J. Parks, st. Louis, Makes Provision
for Tablet at Block House In Hon.
or of Miles W. Conway.
CANE HERE IN APRIL, 1926
Was Owner of First Home In Stephen.
son and Was Born in Kentucky
In 1890.

was the owner of the first home in the
old town of Stephenson. The article
came in letter from James ]. Parks,
Chicago. a former resident Of Rock Is
land
In the letter Mr.. Parks says: my
wife saw in a recent issue Of the Rock
Island Argus. that the old block house
of Rock Island was to be permanently
comn1emorated by a new building, and
that those desiring to have their
friends remembered might do so by
purchasing a tablet on one Of the logs.
Il am enclosing herewith, my check
for SO for such purpose in behalf Of
Miles ". Conway, who was the grand
father of my wife. l also enclose here
with copy of clipping from some
news paper, presumably The Argus,
about August, 1865. You will see from
this clipping that Miles ". Conway
was the owner of the first home in the
old town of Stephenson. He was born
in 1870, came to Rock Island in 1885,
and died in August, 1865. l am asking
YOU to see that the usual and proper
action is taken. All the information
that | have is contained in the news
paper. If there is any information you
desire, or anything to be done further
in connection with the matter, | will
thank you to advise me-"
Death of Miles Conway.
The clipping relative to the death Of
Mr.. Conway who was one of the earli-
est settlers here follows:
THE recent death Of our fellow
citizen, Miles W. Conway, Esq, and his
connection with the early history Of
Rock Island requires more than the
mere announcement of his death.
His early settlement in Rock Island
and the influence he exercised in max
ing it what it is, may not generally be
known.
'He was born in Mason county, KY,
in the year 1890. He landed on the
island of Rock Island in April. 1885.
At that time there was no house in
what is now the city of Rock Island,
and he was obliged to leave his family
at Fort Armstrong until he could pro-
vide house for them on the Illinois
shore. After remaining on the island
short time he moved to the Illinois
called "Farnamsburgh." AS many of
our citizens may not know the locality
Of Farnamsburgh, it is well to state
that it was a single log house in the
upper part of our city, and opposite
the present residence of P L. Cable,
Esq.
AT this time the county seat of Rock
Island was not located. and, as ensued
in those days contest was going on to
remove it. The great rival to Rock Is
land for the county seat was the farm
of Henry McNeal, about eight miles
above our present city. The commits
sioners appointed to locate the county
seat met at the house of Mr.. Conway.
He was in favor of Rock Island, and
he eXerted al his influence with the
commissioners to induce them to To-
cate the county seat at Rock Island.
1t was so located, and we are probably
more indebted to the eyertions of Mr..
Conway than to any other one man in
securing the county seat. In those
early days it was regarded a great
point to secure the county seat.
Stephenson Laid Out.
ty seat was donated by congress to the
county, and it was laid out in lots and
called Stephenson. There was a pub
lie sale of lots in July, 1885. Mr.. Con-
way purchased at that sale, and i'm
mediately commenced the erection of
a house. He built the first house in the
town of Stephenson, and moved into
it with his family about the middle of
November, 1885. That house still
stands, and from its after connection
With the affairs of Rock Island may be
regarded historic. 1t was postoffice,
court house, magistrates office. clerks
office and county commissioners Office.
From that time TO the day of his
death, he has been a citizen with us
and most excellent and worthy citi-
zen. He was by nature modest. and his
influence was eXerted in manner
consonant with his modest nature. He
had to be well known to be fully ap-
preclated, and many who NAV think
they know him, did, in fact, know but
little OF his real merit. That his in
tegrlty was appreciated is testified by
the fact that he was postmaster for
elected magistrate and probate JUS
tlce, and it is not now known that he
was ever defeated for any Office for
when he was candidate. His I'M
pending integrity and stern sense OF
Justice, was always apparent in judic-
lal adJudications, and this it was that
commended him to public favor. He
also was elected county surveyor
during all the years that he held office,
no Just word of reproach was ever cast
upon him.
AS citizen his moral character
was pure, and without spot or hem-
ish. He was kind. charitable and a
devoted Christian. Religion was with
MN practice and not a mere profess
sion. He lived and acted his religion.
IN his daily walk and conversation.
HE was man of more than ordin-
airy intelligence, was a great reader,
ana IN this respect, too, a person had
10 be we'll acquainted with him TO
ascertain, as his modest nature
shrank from public notoriety, and it
was only in private conversation with
| intimate friends that he was inclined
TO converse freely.
lie was an affectionate husband and
KIND and indulgent father. We can
nor omit TO mention a fact in connec-
ton with his family He had a num-
Der OF sons. and one son-in-iaw. A pc
euiiar fatality attended all the male
members of his family They all. with
one exception. died before him There
! Is but one living, and he is now in Ore
soh- He was greatly afflicted by the
death OF his sons, but he bore his at
/ hlctlon as became Christian.
Now, too, he is gone. The good
| cluzen. the kind husband and fathet