Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-20
FLOATS BASED ON
FACTSOF HISTORY
Tomorrow Afternoons Centennial
Spectacle Will Wildly Recall
Events OF the Past
INDIANS FIGURE PROMINENTLY
Explanatory Notes VIII Assist to In
derstanding and Appreciation OF
the Coming Display.

Tomorrow afternoon historical pa
geantry which will take place on the
avenue in front of the grandstand on
the island will strikingly recall some
of the most important and interesting
events that have transpired since this
community was settled by the whites.
Each float has been planned to bring
out the leading features Of a story
which has been verified by local his
torians. 1t is necessary to know some
thing of these different incidents in
order to understand and appreciate
the pageant. The following explana-
| tory notes have been furnished by the
committee in charge:
The Earliest Wedding.
! The story runs that the first young
people married in this community
| came to the trading post on the is
/ land of Rock island looking for a
priest, circuit rider or magistrate.
None was available. George Dayen-
port, the trader, relying upon the au-
thority conferred by his commission
as postmaster, performed the cere-
mony after the bride had been decked
for the ceremony by Mrs. Davenport.
It is supposed that the neighboring
| young people, if there were any, Or
ganized an impromptu dance, in honor
of the event, with backwoods fiddler
| to furnish the music
lS29-Black Hawk Sells Land to Jonah
Case.
A pioneer named Jonah Case, look
ing for a home under the protection of
Fort Armstrong, found an empty wick
iup on the bluff of the city of Rock
Island and moved in. The owner, the
great war chief, Black Hawk, appear
ed and protested. "Saukie aukie !;
Saukie wickiup," said he. He ordered
Mr. Case TO leave. Mr.. Case asked
consideration. He showed Black Hawk
his family and then offered money for
the purchase of land and wickiup.
The offer was accepted. Black Hawk
brought a peace pipe, and after smok-
ing it with Mr.. Case, the pleased In
dian chief made him present of the
pipe. In the dramatization the role
of the pioneer Jonah Case is taken
by his grandson, Sheriff G. H. Rich
mond, and the yeritable peace pipe is
used.
/ 1S3l-Judge Spencer's Ride.
At the time of the Indian uprising
| known as the first Black Hawk war
a friendly Sank known as Halfbreed
Jim came to the pioneer, J. W. Spen-
GER, and told him the Indians medi-
tated an attack upon the white set
tiers. Judge Spencer set out upon an
expedition to the scattered cabins of
the pioneers. warning them of danger
They fastened to the sheltering walls
Of Fort Armstrong until after the
treaty of 1881 had been signed Thus
did the ride of Paul Revere find west
ern counterpart Shabbona, friend
ly Indian chief, did similar service of
warning the settlers of the Rock river
valley farther northward.
1S31-Recruits Enlist for Black Hawk
War.
When Governor John Reynolds is
sued his call for volunteers at the
beginning Of the second Black Hawk
war, citizens Of Illinois rallied to the
recruiting stations and enlisted to
fight Indians. Among the recruits
was Abraham Lincoln. He was elect
ed captain of company by method
in vogue in those days. The candi-
dates for captaincy asked the recruits
to fall in behind them. The man hav-
ing the largest following was consid-
cred elected Abraham Lincoln took
the first oath Of allegiance to the
United States when in camp near Mi
Ian. The officer administering the
oath Was General Henry Atkinson.
1S32-Treaty OF Black Hawk Pur.
chase.
At the close of the Black Hawk wal
a treaty was held with the Sauks and
Foxes by which the eastern portion
OF Iowa was transferred to the United
States. The prevalence of yellow
fever at Fort Armstrong caused the
treaty to be signed on the Iowa side
the location being near Fifth and
Farnam streets The United States
commissioners were Governor Johr
Reynolds and General Winfield Scott
There were many chiefs representing
the two Indian tribes, among then
keokuk and Wapello of the Sauks
Pashepaho, PoWeshiek and Wapello Of
the Foxes. The interpreter was An
tome LeClaire. At this treaty keokul
stipulated that a square mile of lane
should be given to Mrs. Antoine LIE
Claire and also that the LeClaires
build their home at the treaty site
In the dramatization of the treaty ar
incident is introduced which occurred
at one OF the many treaties of this
vicinity. The squaws being present
in numbers protested at the sale o.
lands by the braves, claiming that, as
they titled the ground. they and moi
the men were the rightful owners Of
the soil.
! l41-First Duel in Iowa.
From the building of the LeClairt
house, fine hotel at Second and MAR
streets. Davenport, in 1889, many came
from the east and south to stay in the
three towns of this community TO en-
JOY the hunting and other pleasures
of early days. These people of leisure
naturally contributed to the social life
of the frontier settlements. Amone
the people from the east were twr
young men, Ralston and Hegner. II
1S4l these two had quarrel because
Miss Sophia Fisher. Davenport
belle, had promised TO dance the same
waltz with both of them Ralstor
danced with Miss Fisher and was i'm.
mediately challenged TO fight a duel
These principals, and with seconds
Messrs. Finch and Sperry, and DR.
Gregg of Rock Island came to Daven.
port and at an early hour and sunrise
found them facing each other at &c
PAGES ready for the word. An offer tc
compromise made by Ralston was re-
jected by Hegner, who received a
bullet in the right arm when the word
to fire was given. The arm was band