Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-19
Mercer County, First Settled
by Mound Builders, is Created
by State Legislature in 1885

Mound builders were the first set
tiers of Mercer county.
History of the early days and
] subsequent discoveries of traces of
the giant Aborigines throughout the
rich tract of territory in Keiths-
burg and New Boston townships
have proven this fact
Along the bluffs of the Mississippi
river near Keithsburg and New
Boston complete skeletons have
been unearthed from huge mounds
apparently constructed hundreds Of
years ago.
The first authentic record o.
Mercer county, however, dates back
to that period in its history when
the Red man, members of the Sac
and Fox tribes, roamed the hills
and valleys of the vast expanse of
territory which now includes Rock
Island, Henry, Mercer, Henderson
and Warren counties.
No main camps CT villages Of the
Indians were located here, but what
is now Mercer county proved
popular hunting and fishing ground
for the tribesmen. 1t was the same
treaty, made in 1904 by General
William Henry Harrison and under
which Rock Island county was
thrown open to the white man,
that made the occupation of Mercer
county possible and gave the
east of the Mississippi river with
out molestation from members of
the Sacs and Foxes. Under its
terms the red man was to have the
right to hunt and live upon the land
until it was disposed of for settle
ment
In 1927 trouble arose among the
Indians. 1t spread to the white set
tiers. After number of minor
clashes a general uprising of the
Indians occurred which eliminated
in the Black Hawk war. Govern
ment troops were sent against the
savages who gave battle but were
defeated With the capture of Black
Hawk and others of the most i'm
portant chiefs Of the Sacs and
Foxes, the power of the red man
was broken and he was driven
westward-farther and farther
from his old haunts and favorite
hunting grounds.
Fast on his heels came the white
man, pioneers who eagerly seized
upon the rich, fertile hills and val
legs of the territory now composing
Mercer county
Instead of by railroad or automo-
bile, along well established routes,
he came in great covered wagons
called prairie schooners." through
wild uubeaten paths. There were
no bridges or homes along the way.
Rivers and streams were forded
and rude log huts built as the need
became felt Game was plentiful
throughout this section and the
early settler had but to step out !
side his cabin to secure what meat
he needed. Isolated from all civili-
cation, however. those hardy men
and women faced many severe |
trials in blazing their way to the !
yellow Banks" on the Mississippi !
river.
DennisOns First Settlers.
History gives William and John |
Dennison. father and son, credit for !
being Mercer county's first white |
settlers. They located near what is F.
now New Boston, April 20, 1927. |
The vicinity was then known among 1
the Indians as the yellow Banks"
Henry W. Dennison, son of John
". Dennison, born n 1882, was the
first white child to be born within
the boundary lines of what later
came to be Mercer county.
The next known settler was John !
Vanatta. his selection for a home
being the present site of the village
1f keithsburg.
The close Of the Black Hawk war
n 1882 gave immigration from east
ern points new impetus and numer-
Jus white men Jared into Mercer
county seeking homes. In 1874
among those to come were William
md Isaac Drury, Joshua. William
md Newton Willitts. Louis and JOS
.ph Noble and John Clancy. By the