Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-19

the Mississippi river and this great
body of land was thrown in for good
measure. Just think of it. If Pres
ident Jefferson had not secured the
louisiana purchase, you Davenporters
would now be living in France. in
stead of grandest and finest country iii
the world, and might at present be
fighting in the greatest war in the
worlds history.
The real occupation Of this island
by tie United States troops was May
10, 1916, and Immediately the soldiers
commenced the erection of the fort
and block house.
Remembers Old Barracks.
MY earliest recollections are Of
these, and well do I remember the
burning Of the old barracks. l re-
member too, q great political meeting
OIL This island A bridge of plank
and timber was built and with the
great crowd, |, as a boy of only eight
years, crossed over and attended the
meeting. 1t was a whig rally. Scott
and FTelinghUTsen were the candi
dates. Pretty young but an out and
out whig, and did my share of shout
ing too, I remember the orator, but
did not know his name until informed
by N. Mitchell that it was Long
John Wentworth Of Chicago. will long
remember that day. especially the
bridge, the big meeting and the roasted
OK.
In 1887 my parents came to this
country on the Old steamer Adventure
Black Hawk was also passenger. 1.
was after his capture and when he
was prisoner or on parole. He was
very much interested and attentive TO
my sister Hester, then a little tot of
three or four years. On leaving the
boat he presented her with string OF
heads. These beads have been in our
family ever since and preserved as a
precious souvenir.
My rather moved on to some land
on the banks of Rock river near Bar
stow, and tried farming. He met with
poor success. Every spring his farm
was under water When he could get
on solid ground again, ready to work,
ne was busiIy employed shaking with
the ague.
"A little later he moved to Rock Is
! land and worked at his trade as ship
( carpenter Soon he was foreman, then
owner and tor some sixty or more
years he built, repaired and operated
steamboats, on the upper Mississippi
river. He lived to see, within rad
/ JUS of 20 miles of the old farm, three
/ thriving cities, Moline, Rock Island
and Davenport with the surrounding
| country containing 100000 as happy
and prosperous people as could be
| found anywhere in all the world. The
! old settlers met with many difficulties,
! hut they overcame them. They worked
hard, suffered many priyations, but in
| the end triumped.
/ Recalls the Past.
I'VE of a younger generation have
reaped where they sowed. We are en-
! loving the fruits of their labor. Now
we are old but this week we have met
at the old home and are young again.
| At least | feel that way even II have
passed three score years and ten, the
allotted time Of the bible.
Yes. in nv minds eye, | see on the
point of the island old Fort Armstrong
and the block houses. | see the In
dams. painted in their guady colors,
with sduaws, papooses and ponies
coming into town to receive their an
nuities from the government. / see
the old steamboat and hear her puf,
| nuff nuff. as she ascendS the river be-
| fore landing at our levy. | can see
the old dam at Moline with its prlm-
tive mill and factories. | can see the
old Methodist church in Spencer S
square opposite the Harper mouse ana
the old brick school house nearby
where | learned my A. B. C.s. l see
! our old sChoolmaster, Quincy Mcneil
and almost feel the sting or his red
which he never spared, If the bad boy
deserved punishment.
~ see the old Rock Island house,
with its genial landlord, B. F. Bar
ratt | can see the old shot tower,
saw mills, boat yard, foundries, the
store of Bailey & Boyle, twhen boy
| thought it the greatest store IN the
world and the old warehouse on the
levy belonging to B. H. Langley. tow
ering above every other building in
| the CITY with its odd shaped ROOF. l
have seen the highest skyscrapers IN
| Chicago and New York, but none ever
| seemed taller than this old LANDMARK
| did then. -, IL.
| u can see the men who laid the
foundations of these cities ana couh-
ties. Joseph Knox, DR.. Gregg George
Mixter. John Deere, Judge Gould pay
| id Sears. the father OF Moline and Inc
man who built the first dais from the
island to the main shore; the AIMS
worths the WheeIocks, John Warner
Daniel Gordon, Elijah Reynolds, Bailey
Davenport George Davenport, Anton
ILeClaire, Judge Drury Isaac Negus
Squire Halves, Major Wilson, Holmes