Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-12
.M'EN|Ry ELECTED
OFFICER SOCIETY
Moline Man Is Chosen Secretary Of
Rock Island County Histor.
zeal Association.
MAKE PLANS FOR CENTENNIAL
Arrangements for Observing Tooth An.
ulversary Of State Are Discussed
ut Meeting.


cd secretary Of the Rock Island Coun.
~ Historical society to succeed the |
late Orrin S. Holt Of this city, when |
the organization met in monthly |
meeting at the Rock Island club yes
terday afternoon.
The board also discussed the local
celebration of the state centennial.
and Chairman Phil Mitchell, OF the
centennial committee of Is previously
apcointed, announced that he would
cali a meeting OF that committee in a
few DAYS, to consider plans for local
program.
Three members were added to this
committee those being added are: E.
c Fisher. superintendent Of schools
IN Rock Island; L. A. Mahoney. super
in,endent of schools in Moline, and
Or. Gustav Andreen, president OF Au-
=. rustana college This committee will
make all plans for the celebration
here.
The Holt Memorial.
The Holt Memorial, which was
adopted. and which is made part OF
the record of the society, is as fol.
lows:
The Rock Island County Historical
society has sustained an irreparable
loss in the death of its secretary, Or
rim s. Holt. Mr.. Holt, whose death
occurred on Tuesday, Jan. s, 1919.
had been secretary of the soci-
ETY. for about a year. and member
Of the board OF directors for abou;
five years. During these years he hal
been one OF the most active and effec-
tive members, not only as contrib
utor of local historical papers but as
A constructive force in its operation
and aspirations.
Gentle, kind and self effacing, 1t Is
peculiar fact that he was able to &C
complish more in the affairs OF the
society than any other, one member
and it is due to his constant effort AMI
persistent work that this organization
has accomplished so much during the
last few years. Among these things
Il is but fair to state that the recog-
milton this county has received by the
ILLINOIS State Historical society is due
largely to his efforts secOnding the
work of our president, and by CORE
spondence and contributions OF local
historical matter to the State Histori'
cal Journal.
Among the more important of his
contributions to local history were
the following in which he collaborateo
with David Sears: EARLY History OF
Moline" STORY of the Rock River
Delta" story Of the Island Of Rock
Island" and "A Biographical Sket :,
Of D. S. Sears" The last of these
and Russell Farnham, Globe Trot
ter" were contributions to the State
Historical Journal In addition t
these he wrote many articles of his
torical interest for the local press
gathering and preparing vast anone
of local historical material. Amona
these may be mentioned THE Las
DAYS of Chief Black Hawk" the ma
terial for which he gathered while en-
gagged on construction job q
Marengo, Iowa; Pittsburgh, the Gate
way of the Northwest" relating
particularly to the influence of the In
dian wars in western Pennsylvania
y and eastern Ohio upon the settlement
of northern Illinois. material 10
which he gathered while visiting hi
daughter at Pittsburgh. Pa.
Other Sketches.
His other historical sketches, Wnlc'
were published from time to time :;
the local press comprise many inter
esting items, and his STORY OF For
Armstrong" published in the officia
program of the Fort Armstrong cen
tennial celebration is classed as on
of the best and most complete recital
Of local historical events.
1t was, however. in his quiet, earn
est and persistent efforts in the pro
motion of the Rock Island County His
torical society that his loss will b
most seriously fell. In view OF tn
above it is meet and fitting that thi
society take recognition Of his splen
did work. There, in special sessio
assembled the board OF director
thereof:
Expressive profound sorrow OF tn
members, individually and collective
ly in the death of their late associate
0rrin s. Holt; that in his death IN
society has lost one of its most value
officers; that the members have los
genial friend and companion; tins
the society has lost most value
member, and that the community ma
lost one who had done more in IN
interest OF the preservation OF its Il
cal history than any other: BE
therefore =
Ordered that this expression OF IN
board be spread upon the records
the society and that copy therefor
be sent to his only living relative. h
daughter. Miss j. Alma Holt. as lno
cative of the feeling of esteem ar
friendship in which her father va
held by those with whom he was a
ISOLATED and who knew him best.