Moline Township (part 2 of 3)

"Foiirtli. Nancy Thomiison ami N'ancy off the \Mnncliagii I'mplicl and some \-(iung ^^'ells befoi'c W. ,1. lirasher, swoi'c that in men of his hand whom 1 knew had pre\ionsly October, IS'M). two Indians i-csiding in llii' been t lici-i' , and. 1 bclic\c. wil h an intention to village forty or lift}- miles abo\i> tlie mouth sup|iort ihe Sac Indians. I found that the of Hock Ri\-er, and called Sacs oi' W'iimcba- Prophet had jusi left lliei-c inv his \illaui'. goes, came t(i thi^ house of Hcnnah Wells which is within my agency upon Rock Hi\-ei', and commenced chasing some sheep, as if they and although he had pnwionsly promisiMl would kill them. Those Indians were ordeicd that he would j-el ui'u hcinie :md I'emain there, to desist, u|ion which they drew their kni\'es I lun'e reason to belie\-e that his object is to and made at the wmnan, who being alai'uied, get as manv <if his band and ot the other called for assistance. Sanniel Wells being bands of the Winiu'bagoes (who resiili- at sick ill the house at tin' time, ran out with a Ruck l\i\ci-, within my agency) as he can. ior pitchfork, and the Indians pursuetl no farther. the purpose of joining the Sacs and ot suit- London Tv. Case heard the alarm given, ami porting them in their ])rcsent pretensions, joined. The Indians then returned to the "I lia\e recently been at some of the prinriver bank eiiihty or one hundred yai'ds (lis- cipal \-illages of Winnebagoes within my tant ; when Case, thinking they were still in agency, and have ascertained from un(|Uespursuit of the slice)), went to ascertain the tionable authority that, although they had truth, and coniimj, near the Indians they lieen invited to join the Sacs, they had rewounded him se\'ei'ely ill threi' ]ilaces with a fused to do so. I think it will be prudent tor knife and tomahawk. me to follow the Ri-ophet, to prevent him

.loseph Maiiforth. before .loel Wells, fi-om iiiHuencing any of the Indians up the ,1. 1'., swore that he saw Sacs at a fence be- rivei' lo join him. Should I, however, find longing to .lohn AWUs, who forbid them go- that am' of llu' warriors ha\e left before my ing through, when they continued throwing arrival amongst them, I will (if you think down the fence. Wells attempteij to prevent it best) return immediately to this [ilace, them, when one of the Indians struck him bmiging with me three or four influential with his fist, and drew his knife. Danforth chiefs, who can lie relied on and who will, got a stick, and the Indians making several with my assistance, I think, be able to conattempts toward Danforth, he (Danforth) Irol them.

yesterday, apparently determined to defend themselves in tlieir present position. On the receipt of your letter on the 4th inst., I immediately hastened to this place with a view to give you the most satisfactory information upon the subject of it and tender my services in any way you may think useful. "I am, respectfully yours. "Henry Gratiot, Sub-Agent, etc. "Major-General Gaines."

The Rock River Rangers

At the suggestion of General Gaines the men and larger boys of the settlement formed themselves into a company, elected officers, and named themselves "Rock River Rangers," and tendered their services to General Gaines, who accepted the company of fiftyeight men, and mustered them into the service. No record of this company's enrollment has been found, it i)rol)al>ly never having been forwarded to Washington. Judge Spencer in his "Reminiscences," gives June 5th as the date. The following is a roster of the company:

The Illinois Soldiers

Governor Reynolds in defending his position in calling out the militia said: "If I did not act. and the inhabitants were murdered after being informed of their situation, I would be condemned from Dan to Beersheba; and if I levied by raising troops, when there was no necessity for it, I would also be responsible." Governor Reynolds knew that the settlers had applied to the Indian agent and the military officers of the United States and had obtained no relief, and lie says: "I considered it my duty to call on the volluiteers to move the Indians to the west side of the Mississippi." It was but seventeen years after the close of thc^ war of 1S12 and these same Sacs and Foxes had fought the Americans in that war. There were many of the old soldiers still young enough to enlist and they inflamed the young men to appear against their old foe. The governor had e.Ktracts from the petitions sent him circulated throughout the counties from which he had asked for troops. Moreover, he made, as he says, "both ]3riv;ite and public speeches to the masses," and urged the people and his friends to turn out for the defense of the frontier. He adds: "The warm feelings of the late election for governor had not yet died away, and my electioneering friends converted their electioneering fever into the military, which was a powerful lever in the crusade for Rock Island."

to the governor's call and appeared at Beardstown on or about the 10th of Juno. Some were armed with muskets, some witli shotguns and some with no firearms whatsoever, but all were mounted. The governor managed to purcliase enough muskets from a Beardstown merchant for the remainder of the troops. These muskets were light pieces, made with brass barrels for the South American service, and answered tlie jiurpose. The governor appointed Joseph Duncan, then a meml)er of Congress and afterwartls governor of tiiis state, brigadier general to take immediate command of tlie brigade, and Sanniel Whiteside a major, to lake comnuind of a s])y battalion.

This army left its encampment near Rushville for Rock Island June 15, the governor marching with tlie brigade. After a ]ileasant march the army encamped at Rockport, now Andalusia. Here there had been previously erecteil a small log cabin or stockade, which was used as headciuarters. During the afternoon a steamboat arrived at the encainpirient, coming fmm Fort Armstrong, loadeil with provisions. Tlu> camp at Rockport was laid out according to military practice, ])ickets were placed, as it was feared the Inilians might make a night attack, and the utmost vigilance was nbserved. The night was a beautiful <inc ami it passed off quietly without any disturbance.

General Gaines Makes A Demonstration

On the ISth of June, General Gaines sent from Fort Armstrong the steamboat Enterprise, carrying one company of soldiers and one cannon. The boat .steamed u]) Rock River, and passed the Indian village, the object being to overawe and intimidate the Indians. Black Hawk said: "'The water being shallow, the bout got around, which gave the whites some trouble. If they had asked for assistance, there was not a brave in my band who would not willingly have aided them." Judge John W. Spencer who was on the boat says: "Strange to say, although a steamboat was seldom seen in those days, the Indians seemed not to take the least notice of the biiat, not even looking at it, and even the women and children show'ed no signs of wonder or fear."

Prepare To Attack

On the morning of ,fune 2()th, bright and early, fieneral Duncan marched his army from Rockport to a i:>osition on Rock River opposite the Sac village. An attempt was made to ferry the troops across, liut it proved too slow, and General Gaines being shown a ford by George S. Miller, the army marched across through the water to Vandruff's Island. General Ciaines left Fort Armstrong on the steamboat Elnterprise, which had been fortified, and which carried one company of regulars and several cannon. The Enterprise entered Rock River and steamed up stream until op|)osite the Sac \'illage where it met (ieneral Duncan's army with which it was to co-o]3erate. The other nine companies of regular, together with tlii' Hock River Rangers, under command of C'aptain John Bliss, the then commandant of Fort Armstrong, maichcd from the fort to the Indian town.

,Iudge Spencer in his Reminiscences says: " JMajor Bliss formed our company of Rock Ri-\-er Rangers in an extended line of a half mile in front of the regulars, with one cannon in the rear, for our march for Rock River. We marched near where the road is now traveled until we reached General Rodman's land, then turning to the left until reaching the top of the bluff, taking the direction of Black Hawk's Watch Tower. On arriving there, we planted the cannon on the brow of tlie bluff and then commenced throwing grape and cannister into the bushes on Vandruff's Island." Vandruff's Island at this time was covered with bushes and vines so as to be impenetrable to the .sight at a distance of twenty feet. The Enterprise was run to the lower point of the island and several rounds of grape and caniiister were shot into the bushes to see if any enemy was there. The spy battaHon under Whiteside then formed a line of batth^ and swept the island, and it was then loarned that the north bank of Rook River was so near and so high that the firing had no effect. General Duncan's army followed in the wake of Whiteside's spy battalion and before they got to the north side of the island the army was so jammed up and mixed together that no luic knew where his company or regiment was. In the meanlime Captain Bliss with the regulars and the Rock Ri\er Rangers had learned that it was imi^ossible from that distance' to distinguish Indians from regulai-s ui- volunteers, and that their shots were as Hkely to kill friend as foe. The Indian village now became exposed to view Init no Indians were to be seen. The ri\-er. narrow lint dee]), lay between the army and the village, and the main part of Duncan's armv remained on the island until scows were found in which they wei'c fci'ried aci'oss."

Black Hawk says; "We ci-Dssril lhe i-i\-er during the night ami eiicauipcd siuiic disl;mce belc.w Rock Island." lie said hr would \\-a\v remained and been laken pi'isoner by tlic regulars but thai he "was afraid of tlic multitude of palefaced mililia. who were on horsi^- back. as th(>\' were undi'r no rcsti'aint of their chiefs."

The Illinois militia had ccmie to fight Indians and when thi'y foimd the redmen gone, they became determined to l)e avenged upon something. Shortly after they reached the Indian village it began to rain and soon the rain descended in torrents, and early the morning of the 2(ith, the troops commenced setting fire to the houses. Soon the frail dwellings were wrapjied in flames and in less than one hour's time almost every wigwam in the village was in ashes. CJox-eruor Ford who was present said: ".^nd thus ]5erishe(l an ancient village which had once been the delightful home of six or seven thousand Indians; where generation after generation had been born, had died and been buried; where the old men had taught wisdom to the young; whence the Indian youth had often gone out in parties to hunt or to war, and returned in triumph to dance around the spoils of the forest, or the scalps of their enemies; and where the dark-eyed Indian maidens by their presence and charms, had made it a scene of delightful enchantment to many an admiring warrior,"

The army spent the night at the Indian town, the regulars, however, going back tf) the fort. On the morning of .Jime 26, General Duncan marched his army to the Mississi])pi River and encamped on the exact spot where the City of Rock Island is now located, the camp extending from where the Rock Island Railway Com])any's freight dejiot is now located down to wheie the present ferry dock stands.

Th(> horses, some sixteen hunili'cd, were pastured in tli<' bend of the river below ami a strong g\uu-(l placcnl around them. During the .second night a steamboat came up the river and when o]i])osite where the horses were kept commenced blowing its whistle. This unnatural noise at night so frightened the animals that they broke loose and stampeded, and it was with difficulty that their guards escajied being trampled to d(^ath. The frightened animals ran oiU on the jirairies, up and down both river lianks, and it was several days before they could be recovered, some few liowe\-er being lost.

General Gaines m\ the 27th .sent a notice to Black Hawk that if he did not come to Fort .\rmstrong he would come after him with his army, a few of the Indians appeared but not Jilack Hawk. Gaines then sent a perem})tory order to the chief and in a few days Black Hawk and his chiefs and headmen to the imiiiher (if twenty-eight ap]3eared at Fort Aim St rent!,-, and (in June :^(1th, 1S31, a new treaty was sitrned liy wliicli the British hand (if Sacs again agreed t(j make their homes (in the west side of the Mississippi and ne\'er to cross such e.\ce])t with the consent of the I'residcut of the rnit(>d States or of the tuA-eriKir (if IHiiidis. iilack Hawk signed tliis treaty and then for the first time ratified, against his will, the treaty of 1804. This treaty was signe(l liy (lener.al (laines and ' Hevudlds fdr the I'nited States, and liv I'ljack Hawk and I \\enty-se\'en cliiefs and warridrs f(ir tlie Sacs and l'\)\es. The volunteer army was init ^alisfic(l with the result of this cam])aign and called tlu' treaty a "Corn Treaty" liecause (lenci'al (laines liad 1(1 tlie destitute Indians curn to keep them from starving. The ai'my was disbanded on Juh' '2d, and tlic men i-eturned to their hduies. Ndt a man was injured (ir killed, either by accident (ir by the Indians; nor did any die of disease, and strange to say udue fwv ap|ilii'(l f(ir a pensidU. This ended the first Black Hawk campaign.

For a long time after the signing (if this treaty there was Cdnsi(_lei'abl(' discussidu and much feeling over the cpuistion whether Generals Gaines and Dimcan knew that Black Hawk and his Indians had des(M-te(.l their village on the night of the U)th of Jime. Thomas Ford, afterwar(^ls Governor (if Illinois, wild was a militia ^-(llullteer and marched ahead with the spies, said:

"Gaines and Duncan had reasdii td belie\'e befdre the commencement of the march from the camp on the Mississipjii, that the Indians had departed from their village; that measures had been taken to ascertain the fact befdr<> the vohmteers crossed to Vandruff's Island; General Duncan, in company with the advanced guard, following the spies, preceded the main army in crossing, and that this will account for the want of order and confusion in the march of the troops." When the militia arrived opposite the Sac village the greatest confusion reigned in their midst. George S. Miller, a resident df this county, acted as guide, and when it became kudwn that the Indians were not in the ^-illage, (ieneral Duncan In^gan to reprimand ^liller for not letting him kiuiw that the main river was on the north side (if \'andruff's Island. Miller cursed him lo his tace at the head of his troo])s for refusing his services as a guide when offere(l the night before, and also censured him f(ir iidt gi\ing information which had lieen offered him, which inclines me to the belief that both Generals Gaines and Duncan knew that the Indians had departed. As witnesses to this treaty we find the names of twd Itdck Island settlers, .Jdseph Danfdrth and I'eiijaniin l'\ Pike.

Black Hawk with his band ikiw removed to Iowa near the mouth (if the Des Moines River, at the site of the abandoned Fort Madison. Neajidiie, secdiid in command, took a trip to Maiden, Canada, and updii his rettirn in the fall of is:-fl, told Black Hawk that he would receive assistance from the British.

Tlie Prophet, whdse \dllage on Rock River was where Prophetstown, Illinois, now is, and who had great influence over Black Hawk, also sent word that the Ottawas, Chippewas. Pottawatomies ami Winnebagoes would be with him and would render aid. Black Hawk after receiving these messages said: "We are to be happy once more." Black Hawk now directed all his efforts to getting together his warriors in anticipation of his march to his old village and its occupation, and prepared for an attack by the Americans should they again undertake to drive him away. The army through spies was kept informed of Black Hawk's actions, and early in April, Keokuk sent to Fort Armstrong a warning that Black Hawk was about to commence his march to reoccujn' his old village.

Again messengers were sent out from Fort Armstrong to warn the settlers of their danger and advising them to seek shelter at once, either at Fort Armstrong or in the stockade whieh had been erected ai'ound the trading store of Davenport and Farnham. The most daring and persevering of these messengers was Judge John W. Spencer. On foot he traveled as far as Dixon, going from cabin to cabin sounding the alarm and ad^'ising the settlers to seek protection. We cannot realize today the wild excitement and dread despair the news of an Indian uiirisiiii;- caused among our ])ionccr settlers. Few if any had horses to use in carrying their families and goods. 0.\en were the beasts of luu'dcn and the settlers were obliged to take what little they could and cany it on their persons. John Wakefield, in liis history of the Black Hawk War written in 1834, gives an amusing sketch, of the excitement attendant upon the news of the expected Indian attack. He. says: "hi the eastern part of the state the people were as nuich alarmed as in the northwest. Din-ing one of the many false alarms that 'The Indians are coming' a family was living near the Iroquois River that had no horses liut a lai'ge family of small cliildren. The father and nmther each took a child and the rest were directed to follow on foot as fast as possible. The eldest daughter also carried (me of the children that was not able to keep up. They fled to the river where they had to cross. The father had to carry over all the ciiildren at different times as the stream was high and so rapid the motlier and daughter conld not stem the current with such a hiu-- deii. When they all. as they thought, had got ox'cr they started when the cry of poor little Susan was heard on the opposite bank asking if they were not going to take her with them. The frightened father again pr(>pared to plunge into the strong current for his child, when the mother, seeing it, cried out; 'Never mind Susan! We have succeeded in getting ten over which is more than we e.xpected at first and we can better spare Susan than you, my dear.' So poor Susan, who was only about four years old, was left to the mercy of the frightful savages." But little Susan came off unhurt, as one of the neighbors who was out hunting came along and took charge of her.

All the settlers in this vicinity had come to Fort Armstrong and taken quarters there or in the stockade, both of which were overcrowded. After the first scare, the settlers wanted to go back to their farms and do their spring ])lanting. Captain Bliss, who commanded at the fort, yielded to their request, and arranged with them a signal of alarm in case they or any of them should be attacked, or were in iinminent danger of an attack, which signal was that they should "fire off a gun." When such gun was fired, every one should flee to tlie Island, .\pril 7, Joshiui Vandriiff and Hacklev Samnis, while crossing Vandruff Island, saw a flock of wild turkeys. They could not resist the temptation and, creeping within range, fired their guns at the flock, eacli man bringing down his bird. The noise of the two guns could be heard all over the settlement and it caused the greatest excitement, filling the hearts of the settlers with terror. Mothers caught their children and fled towards the fort. Those who had horses and were plowing, hastily, unhitched the animals, loaded their families upon the horses and started towards the fort. It is said some of the settlers lied ]iell-inell, leaving their families to take care of themselves. Vandruff and Samms soon realized the mistake, especially Joshua, when he encountered his wife and their ten children, running towards the fort. When the settlers reached the Mississippi they crowded the few skiffs tied to the shore and some came near being drowned. Captain Bliss had heard the gun-shots and hastily called together a company of his regulars and started to meet the Indians, while (':i])tain Phil Kearney, who was left in command of the fort, began preparing it for a siege. Bliss and his men got nearly to R.ock Kivei' wlicn they met Vandruff and Samms running after the fleeing settlers trying to ex]>lain the mistake. When these two told the cai-itain "how it happened," it is said the air became impregnated with sulphur, so loud and vehemently did that warrior swear. For many years afterwards, the "turkey scare" was a tender spot with Vandr\iff and Samms.

The 6th of April, ls:!2. Black Hawk, with about 1,000 Indians, including warriors, women, old men and children, together with all their possessions, crossed the Mississippi at Yellow Banks (Oquawka) and leisurely ]iroceeded up the east bank of the river to Rock River and thence u]) that river opposite to his old village where he camiied the night of April 12. The next morning he started for the Prophet's village with the intention, as he said. " to make corn." There is and always has been a question whether Black Hawk, when he crossed the Mississippi River and invaded Illinois in ls;32, intended attacking the Americans, or merely again occupying his village with the intention of resisting forcible removal, or whether he intended going to the Prophet's village merely to raise a crop. If he wanted merely to raise a crop, he could have done that as easily at the mouth of the Des Moines River as at Prophets! own. From Blac^k Hawk's biogra])hv we learn that the trip to Prophetstown was ])art of his |ilan to again get control of the site of his aiu'ient village and his cornfields. He tells us that while at the Des Moines "I concluded that I had better keep my band together, and recruit as many more as possible, so that I would be prepared to make the attempt to rescue my village in the spring." He then, as he says, "tried to recruit braves from Keokuk's band," and "requested my people to rendezA-ous at that place, and sent out soldiers to bring in the warriors, and stationed my sentinels in a position to prevent any from moving up until all were ready."

The taking with him his women, children and old men would indicate that he did not tin that trip contemplate war, as no Indian war party ever carries with it the women or children. Black Hawk imdoubtedly intended taking his women and children to the Prophet's village, there to leave them to make a crop, and during the summer continue his recruiting and possibly in the fall occupy his village. For had he intended going to war at once he would have stopped at his village and there made his defense.

At Yellowbanks the Prophet met Black Hawk, and made a talk to his braves, telling them "tliat as long as they were ])eacea,!)le, the Americans would not dare molest them. That we were not yet ready to act othei'wise. We must wait until we ascend Rock River and receive oiu- reinfoi cements and we will then be able to withstand an army."

On .lune 31, 1831, a war i)arty of nearly 100 Sacs and F(jxes had attacked a camp of Menominees situated about one half a mile about Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien and killed twenty-five. Black Hawk says the killed were Sioux and Menominees. Between the former and the Sacs and Foxes there had always been a bitter and hostile feeling. April 1, 1832, General Henry Atkinson, then commanding Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, received orders to proceed up the Mississippi .and demand from the Sacs and Foxes the principals engaged in the murder of the Menom-inees. Atkinson left St. Bonis April 8, with six companies of the Sixth Regiment, 220 men accompanying the expedition. Albert Sidney Johnson, afterwards a Confederate general, was a second lieutenant in this connnand.

April 10, Atkinson's army reached the Des Moines Rapids, where they were informed that Black Hawk and his warriors were marching up tiie river. The army now hastened to Fort Armstrong, arriving there the night of the I2th. The 13th, General Atkinson called the Indians then in that vicinity to the fort. Among those who came were Keokuk and Wapello. Atkinson demanded the murderers of the Menominees and these two disclaimed any part in that affair. General .Atkinson then started for Fort Crawford and also sent out messengers to warn the settlers of Black Hawk's coming. On the 19th of the month. General Atkinison returned to Fort Armstrong. Accompanying him was ]Aentenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, afterward-s President of the United States, and two companies of the First Infantry. Before leaving Fort Armstrong, General Atkinson had sent a letter to Governor Reynolds asking for state aid.

.^fter Black Hawk passed his old village. General Atkinson sent ('ai>tain Phil Kearney up Rock River after him, with orders for Black Hawk to return and recross the Mississippi, which order Black Hawk refused to obey, claiming his mission was a peaceful one.

The news that Black Hawk and his warriors were again marching u]) Rock River alarmed the whole northern frontier and the Governor daily received messages asking protection. George Davenport, the Indian trader on Rock Island, had before General Gaines' arrival written him: "From every information 1 have received, I am of the opinion that ihf intention of the ]5ritish band of Sac Indians is to commit depredations on the inhabitants of the frontier."

April 16, Governor Reynolds received General Atkinson's letter, asking the assistance of the state militia. Promptly on the same day the Governor issued the "following proclamation:

"Your country requires your services. The Indians have assumed a hostile attitude and have invaded the state in violation of the treaty of last summer. The British band of Sacs and other hostile Indians, headed by Black Hawk, are in possession of the Rock Ri-\-er country to the great terror of the frontier inhabitants. I consider the settlers on the frontier to be in imminent danger. I am in possession of the above information from gentlemen of respectable standing, and also from General Atkinson, whose character stands high with all classes. In possession of the above facts and information, I have not hesitated as to the coiu'se I should pursue. No citizen ought to remain inactive when his country is invaded, and the helpless part of the communit}' are in danger. I have called out a strong detachment of militia to rendezvous at Beardstown on the 22d inst. Provisions for the men and food for the horses will be furnished in abundance.

I hope my cotmtrymen will realize my ex- ]iectations and offer their services, as heretofore, with promptitude and cheerfulness, in defence of their country."

The season was wet and backward, and the farmers had been delayed in their work but, as in the year 1831, volunteers were eager and willing to offer their services, many of the most influential men in the state enlisting and many who neither had horses or could procure them, marching on foot.

April 27, the militia left Rushville and marched to Yellow Banks (Oquawka) from whence they marched up the Mississippi to the mouth of Rock River which they reached May 7. General Atkinson mustered the troops into the service of the United States, and May 9 they commenced their march up Rock River. Before marching Governor Reynolds engaged the services of Thomas Kinney, a Rock Island settler as a guide, Mr. Kinney beins; able to understand a little of the Sac language. In the march uj) the ri\'er, General White^^ide with the Illinois \'(ilunTeers marched on the east side. While (Jeneral Atkinson, with four lumdretl reg\ilars came, Sf)nie on the west side and some in boats with the sup])lies. With Atkinson was ('nhmel Zacharv Taylor.

It seems the martini s])irit of I lie citiz<'ns of Riiek Island Coiuity was n(it stilleil or satisfied by the marcli <if the Hock Rix'er Rangers in 1SI51 from h'ort .Armstrong to the Sac village, for in 1S3'2 we lind one company enrolled in the ser^'ice where e\'ery member save one was from Rock Ishmd Count v, th:it one lieing a bi'oiher of llie captain, and he came fr<im .Xdams County to enlist under his brother. Tlu> following is from I he I'olls as corrected and now on hie in the \\ ai' Department at Washington.

Captain, John W. Kenney, enrolled May 'JO, 1S32; First Lieutenant, .biseph l)anf<irth. enrolled i\Iay 20: Privates, Thomas Davis, enrolled May 20; Manly Danforth, enrolled .July 1; Samuel Danforth, enrolled May 20: Samuel Kenn(-y, em'olled May 20, on furlough: Thomas Kenney, enrolled June 12: (lentry McGee, enrolled May 20; Henry McNeal. enrolled May 20; Neel McNeal, enrolled July 1: James Maskal, enrolled May 20; Martin Smith, enrolled May 20; William H. Samms, enrolled July 1; Joel Thc>mpson, enrolled i\I:iy 20; William Thompson, enrolled May 20; lr:i Wells, enrolled May 20; Eri Wells, enrolh'd May 20; Asaph Wells, enrolled May 20; Xel- -son Wells, enrolled May 20; Rannah Wells enrolled May 20; Jeol Wells, Jr., enrolled May 20; Joel Wells, Sr., enrolled May 20; L\d<c Wells, Sr., enrolled May 20.

assigned to Colonel Moore's regiment and nuu-clied up Rock Hiver to Dixon, where it was assigned to an odd mounted battalion, couunanded l)y Major Sanuiel Hogart, and was t)rilered to do guard duty on tlu- frontier. It was must( red out Septembia' -1, \S'A2, at Maconilj.

The companies composing this odd battalion were: Captains Peter Butter's of War- I'cn County. ,Iohn W. Kenuey's of Hock Islaiul Coimtv. James White of Hancock C'ounty, ,Iohn Sain's of Fulton Count}'. William Me- Murty's of Kiuix County and Asel F. Hall's of Fulton County. It is impossible to learn just what duty the battalion did to which the Pjock Island comiiany was assigned. lieyiii>lds in "My ( )wn Times" says: "On the 12th of .lune 1 oi'dei'ed a battalion to be oi'ganized and to select their officers, to guard the frontiers bclwceii the Mississij)pi and l'eoi-ia on the north of Illinois River. Samuel Hogart was elected major of the battalion," l''rom another authority. I learn th.'it the company diil gu.ard duty on the frontier, drew its lalions dail\', ate lie.artily, played euchre and rcccixcd the r<'niunerat i\'e sum of 86 cents pei- d,a\- to]- each man ;ind his horse. Sauuiel Hogart, the nuijor of the odd battalion to which Kenney's company was attached, was before enlistment a merchant in McDouough County.

Rock Islanil Co\mty furnisheil more soldiers than those gi\ en in Captain John W. Kenney's company, ^'et. I have been .able to ti'ace but few owing to the fact that the rolls ale by no means complete. A large number joined the state militia and were never sworn into the United States ser\ice. conseipienth- no lecord was kept and their names will reUKun forever unknown. 1 have fre- (piently heard certain of our old citizens claim to have been in the Black Hawk War, a,nd have made diligent search for their names. I give in this sketch only such names as ap-

All enlistments were from twenty to thirty days and a great many enlisted in another company on the same day that their term of enlistment in one company expired.

Roswell H. Spencer

Roswell H. Spencer was a brother of Judge John W. Spencer and was one of the very early settlers. He seems to hn\e been an ardent patriot, having three enlistments to his credit, serving out each enlistment, and upon his term of service expiring again enlisting in a new company. He enlisted first in Captain Thomas Carlin's company which belonged to what was known as the spy battalion. He was enrolled May 10 at Rock Island, and mustered out May 27 at the mouth of the Fox River. He again enlisted May 27, 1S32, in Captain A. W. Snyder's company and was mustered out of sei-vice June 21, at Dixon's Ferry on Rock River. The same day we find him again enlisting in Captain Jacob M. Early's company and he was mustered out on White Water River on Rock River, July 10, 1832, by order of Brigadier General Atkinson, United States Army. This was one of the companies in which Abraham Lincoln served as a private.

James Knetsar

James Knctsar, who for many years lived in Moline and who died there in the eighties, was a member of Captain David Powell's company of mountivl volunteers. He enlisted in White County on June 16th, and was mustered out- of the service on August 2d at Dixon's Ferry (Dixon). The original records give his name as "James Netson." but they have since been corrected. Mr. Knetsar lost his horse, saddle and bridle in the service.

Reddish, The Tunnels And Kames

10; Luther Tunnel and William Tunnel, who were also enrolled that day. The records show that the night of May 22, Luther Tunnel lost his horse, account "affright of horses," there being a stampede that night. This company was part of an odd battalion of spies, commanded by Major D. Henry of the brigade of mounted volunteers commanded by Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside. It was mustered out of the service of the United States at the mouth of Fox River on the Illinois River May 27, 1832, and as the company was originally mustered in at Carrolton, the men were discharged two himdred and thirty miles from the place of their enrollment.

Charles Eames, who was sheriff of this county from 1837 to 1839, was a member of Captain Enoch Duncan's company of mounted riflemen, commanded by Colonel H. Dodge. He enlisted in company \\ith his brother May 19, 1832. He was mustered out of the service September 14.

The Well.S Family

The Wells family seems to have been a family of fighters. We find eleven of them enrolled in the company of Rock River Rangers in 1831, and in 1832 we find eight of these enrolled in Captain Kinney's company. Lucius Wells and John Wells were with Spencer in ('aptain A. ^\'. Snyder's company antl were present and participated in the batth; of Kellogg's Grove. Samuel Wells was also a member of Captain Seth Pratt's company of Illinois Volunteer Militia, stationed at Fort Armstrong, in the service of the United States from April 21 to June 3, 1832.

Historic Rock Island Co U N T Y.

April 21 to June 3, ISo'J, when it was inustored out. This company diil iiai-risoii duly. Tlic records say it was (-iiin])()S('il df men tmm Rock Island and adjacent counties, hut I have been unable to jilace but cmc. hi- beins Samuel Wells. The roster nf the ronipany is: Captain: Seth Pratt.

Benjamin Goliel in his reuiiniscenses speaks of joining a com])any and doing guard duty at the fort, but I do not find his luimc on the roster.

At the commencement nf hostilities. (!overnor Reynolds of Illinois, a]")]iointed (ieorge Davenport, the Indian trader on the island. one of the C[uarternuisters. his conimissidu giving him the rank of ciihuiel, by which title he was afterwards known.

The vohuiteer army after a hard ni:n-cli, reached Dixon on the evening of .May IDth, ahead of the regulars. Black Hawk and his Indians had in the meantime reached the Prophet's village and had sent word tn the Pottawatomies asking them to meet him in a council on Sycamore Creek, (since called

Stillman's Run.) The Pottawatomies were dividt'd. Shaubena, their Viighest chief, favored the whites, but J-iig Foot .and Mike (iirty, a half-breed, were for war. When Whitesides arrived at Dixon, he fniuid there ahead of him two independent batt .alions, in .all three hundred and fort>--one men. The om' was commanded by Major Isaiah Stillman, the other l;)y Major Davifl Hailey. These commands objected to joining the m.ain army except as rangers, they said llicy had come to "fight Indians" and belicx-ed if they were alloweil, thev could go out and in a few days end the troul)le. .Al'ler iimcli persvtasion, (ieneral Whitesiiles allowed Majors Stillman's :inil l'>aile\'s baltalions tn go dh a scouting ex|ic<litinn, .and nu the morning of ^lay 1.'5, thry set oul. In the afti'i-nooli of thi' 14th, they l)itche(l camp about thi'ce miles from Sycamore ('n'(k. Illack Hawk with forty of his Indians were but thr(>e miles from the camp of the whites. Tlii' Inifians were preparing a dog feast foi' tlic \-isiting Pottawatomies. Le.ariung th.a.t a body of white soldiers were making camp, lilack Hawk sent three of his young men with a white Hag to talk with the whites, and to arrange for a co\mcil with White P.e:i\-er (Atkinson). When the Indian iiarty was still a mik' away, they were iierceived by the \ii|unteers and almost the whole camp ruslied oul and captured the Indian envoys, and hurried them into camp. Black Hawk had sent five other Indians to follow those bearinsi' a while Hag, to watch and see how the others were reccdved. When the whites jjerceived the second party, about twenty of the mounted xdlmileers started in pursuit and killed two of the Indians, the other three escajied and returned to where lihu'k Hawk and his thirty-five braves were in camji. When Hhick Hawk heard of liow his flag bearers had been treated he pre]iared his braves to meet the whites, who were nowall in hot pursuit. The Indians with.drew behind a fringe of bushes and when the volunteers came within close range the Indians fired a volley. The volunteers fled, pursued by part of the Indiau.s. Niftht fall ended the chase. Stillman's and Bailey '.s brigade kept up the flight luitil they reached l)i.\on, twentv-five miles away. .Many of them never went to Dixon, but started for their own homes. The report went out that the whites had been defeated by Black Hawk and about two thousand warriors. The number of whites killed was eleven. While the number of Indians was three. One of the latter being one of the flag bearers, the two others being of the party of fwc that had followed the flag bearers.

It has been said lh:it Stilhnan's and Bailey's men were under the influence of licjuor, that they had taken with them several barrels of whiskey, and they were indulging freely in drink just before the Indian flag bearers appeared on the scene.

The firing on the flag of truce was, to say the least, dishonorable treatment. Had the whites received the truce bearers in the projier manner, there is no doubt that such arrangements would have been made that hostilities would never have commenced, and Black Hawk and his Indians would have returned to the west b.nnk of the Mississippi. Black Hawk and his hand were almost destitute of provisions and ammunition, and their captiu'e of Stillman's stores, highly elated them. Black Hawk now sent his women and children by way of the Kishwaukee to the swamps of Lake Koshkonbng near the headwaters of Rock River. The Winnebagoes acting as guides. Here his |-)arty was recruited by W'innebagoes and Pottawatomies.

On the day of Stillman's flefeat. General Whiteside with fovu'teen liundrcd men proceeded to the scene of battle and buri(Ml the dead. The State of Illinois has at Stillman Valley, erected a monununit in Imnor of those killed in this engagement. On the 19th, General Atkinson and the entire army moved up the Rock River, leaving Stillman and

Bailey, and their brigades at Di.xon. Atkinson soon however, returned to Dixon leaving General Whiteside with his volunteers to follow Black Hawk's trail. The volunteers now began to object to going farther, claiming that they were not com])elled to serve in Michigan territory. They also claimed to having enlisted for one month, and that their time of enlistments had expired. After several days the officers determined to abandon their search for Black Hawk and they turned aliout and marched south to Ottawa, where on the 271 h and 28th days of May, they were nuistered out of the service.

On the 22(1 day of May, a party of thirty I'dttawatomies and three Sacs, under Girty killed fifteen men, w-omen and children at the D.avis farm on Indian Creek, twelve miles north of Ottawa. Sylvia and Rachel, two daughters of William Hall, were taken captive and carried by the Indians to their camp on Lake Koshkonong. Afterwards, White ('row, a Winnebago chief, who had been sent to their rescue by Henry Gratiot, agent for the Winnebagoes, succeeded in purchasing them and delivered the girls to their relatives. At the time of the mustering out at Ottawa, Governor Reynolds called for at least two thousand men to serve during the war, and General Winfield Scott started from Fortress Monroe on the sea board with one thousand regulars. In- the meantime three hundred mounted volunteers vmder Colonels Frye and Henry agreed to remain in the field to jjrotect the frontier. Abraham Lincoln was among this niunber. He, having re-enlisted May 27, as a private. Black Hawk nowdivided his people into several parties and nuide forays against the whites.

On June 14th, a party of eleven Sacs killed five white men at Spafford farm on the Peckatonica Ki\('r. Colonel Dodge with twentynine men followed them aftd the next day killed eleven, although he had three killed luid one wo\mded in his own party.

a party of braves made an attack nii Apple River Fort, fourteen miles east of (ialena. After an liour's siege, the Imlians afirr destroying the neighborimj; cabins, wit liilrew.

On June 25th, the same ))arty attacked Major Dements' spy battalion, a hundred and fifty strong, at Kellogg's (ii-o\'e. (Icneral Posey arrived in time with a dctachnirni of volunteers for their relief. The Indians lost fifteen. The whites' loss was live. Skii'- niishes were had at Pluni l\i\('i- boit . I'uir Oak Grove, Snisiniwa .Monml. and l'>lne Mounds.

On .J\me 15th, the new troops met at I'^ort W'illnirn at Peril, their ai;gregale sti-englh was about tliree thousand and twenty men. making the entire army in the Held ahoiii four thousand effective men. Tlic ai'iiiy now uni.ler General Atkinson, m.arched u]i the east bank of l^ock l\i\ci'. While ('i-o\\ offered to conduct our army to lUack Hawk's camp, and that wilj' savage ke]it the whites on a goose chase for several days li-yiiig to entrap them. Black Hawk in the meanlinie, had started westward to the Wisconsin lti\-er, and on the evening of July '21st. the Indians were overtaken on the blutfs of the Wisconsin where a decisive battle was fought in which General Henry commanded the Amci'ican forces. This army charged the mciiiy and drove them fr<.im ]iosition after position with great loss, until sundown. This was the lirst important victory of the whites in this campaign. In the morning it was learned that the Indians were heading towards the Mississippi River and had left one hundi-ed and sixty-eight dead on the field. I \M'nty-fi\'e more being found next day along the trail. General Henry having lost but one man killed, and eight wounded.

On the morning of August 2d, the army reached the bluffs of the Mississippi. The Indians had reached the ri\-er and were making active preparations to cross. .\t this time, Captain Throckmorton commanding the steamer Warrior, arrived at tlie spot.

The Indians displayed a white flag. Throckmorton conuiianded them to come on bo:inl. Thev replieil that the\' could not. because thev had no boats. I'pon ihis Throckmorton final his six-])onnder camion loaih'd with canister into the Indians, killing t wenly-thi'ee women and children. Genei'al .\tkinson now came upon the scene, and at the mouth of the Had .\xe, attacked the Indian encampment. The Indians were c<nnplelely routed, suffering a loss of one liimdreil and \\\'\\- killecl, besides many drowneil in tlieii' atiempl to ca'oss the river. The American loss was but se\-enteen. General Atkinson with tln' i-aptun^l Indians, and about fifty women and children, went to Prairie cbi Cliien. There on August 7th. (iener.al Scntt with nini' cinnpani<'s of infantry from Fortress Moiii'oe. aiai\ed and assumed command. The \olunIeers imw retiu'ned to l)ixiui and were discliarged, on I lie 17th day of .VugMst. Plack Hawk, who had started back, was captured by some treacherous W'innebagoes and on the 27tli i\-av of ,\iigust was deli\ereil a capli\'e to the whiles at Prairie du Chien. He w;is kept that winter at Jefferson Barracks and in ,A|iril, 1S33, was sent as a jirisoner to I'^orti'ess Monroe where he was confined until .lim<' 4. when he was discharged, .\fter visiting the ]irincipal cities in the east, he returned west, locating on a small reser\ation on the Des Moines River in Davis County, Iowa, where he died (.)ctol)er 3. 183s. The following \'eai- his remains were stolen, and in the spi'ing ol' I sill Governor IjUcas succeeded in recovering them ;md caused the skeleton to lie deli\'ered at the then capitol at J-lurlinglon. When the capitol was removed to Iowa City, the remains were taken there. .January 16, 1855, they were destroj'cd by fire.

The final treaty was concluded September 21, 1S32. The treaty says: "Concluded at I'\irt Armstrong." but in consequence of cholera then raging at the fort, the treaty was held on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi now the State of Iowa.

Among the witnesses to this treaty were Antoine LeClaire, interpreter, Benjamin F. Pike, John W. Spencer and George Davenport, assistant quarter master genera! Illinois Militia.

Governor Reynolds in referring to this final engagement says: "Although the warriors fought with the coiu-age and valor of desperation, yet the conflict resembled more a carnage than a regular battle." Another noted authority calls it "a dishonorable

A])]jropriatc. indeed, is the above rpioted a[jpellation to the City of Moline, for now hei-e between Chicago, east, and San Francisco, west, nor between St. Paul, north, and St. Louis, south, is there a cit>- which can so fittinglv disport the magnitude of her industries and hei' products, or demonstrate a more i-ai)id growth. Why .Molinc has been enabled to win so many nninufactuiing establishments in the industrial field is merely nuitter of sii]iposition- either because of tlic utility of tlie water power, oi- that fhe more nominal figure than il has heretofore given at .S12,")00.000. The town has liftyl.)een possible to do. six miles of well kept streets, thirty-two of the latter, laid out the town of ]\Ioline, the same year. There were then l)ut thii-teen dwellings on the ground platted, and these were owned by Huntington AVelLs, I). B. Sears, Charles Atkinson, Benedict Patterson, Haskins Reynolds. J'Jell. Huntoon, Berham, Weis, \Miite and Kinzie. SidDsequently Charles Atkinson laid out hi.s first addition, which was followed by his second adcljtion in 1856; since which various additions have been made from time to time, till the place has reached its ]ireseut wide corporate dimensions. It extends on the east to the city limits of Rock Island, and west from that point about one and three quarter miles, and i.s about two miles in width north and south, with plenty of room to grow in either direction.

Moline was quite early incorporated as a tow-n, but the records having peri-shed in a fire, we liave no authentic information respecting the first municipal organization and officer.s. It was, however, incorijorated as a city under the (ieneral Law of the State approved .\i)ril 10, 1S72. On the third of that month a petition was presented to the board of trustees of the tottii of Moline asking the cjuestion of the adoi^tion of a city government, to be submitted to tlic qualified voters of the town for their decision. The petition was granted, and in piii'suance thereof an election was held on Tuesday, Aiigust 6, 1872, resulting as follows:

For city organization, 2G1 votes; against city organization, 22 votes; for minority representation in the city council, 21 votes; against minoi-ity representation in the city council, 247 votes.

In 1843 David Sears opened the first store in the house in which he lived, which was in close proximity to the grist mill. The first hotel dates from 1843, and was conducted by Huntington Wells. In 1842 Jo.seph Huntoon opened a shoe shop, and two years later (irove W. Bell was the town tailor. In 1843 Aynes Kinzie started a blacksmith shop on the ground since occupied by Deere and Company, and in 1S47 the nucleus of the world famed shops of Deere and Company was laid. The first school house was built by jirivate subscription in 1S43, and of brick, where religious meetings were also held. .Jose])h .Jackman was the first teacher, followed by S. P. Hodges, who was afterward.s county clerk. The first bank was the First National Bank, organizo<l in 1863.

Moline Postoffice

The Moline postoffice was estal^lislied in 1844, with David B. Sears as the first jxistmaster. The office was located in the ' ' Brick Store " (a building owned by Mr. Sears, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Streets <hi Second Avenue.)

Following him Dr. Wells had the office in a little room about twelve l)y sixteen feet on the alley corner of Seventeenth Street betw^een First and Second Avenues. George W. Bell succeeded Wells and moved tlie ofhce south to the corner where he had a tailor shop, .loseph .1. .lackninii was the next postmaster, and he again moved tlie office g<Mng east about half a hlnck on Second .\\-enue. In 1856 Absoloin I'). Williams w;is appointed postmaster and he was siu'cee leil in .I:dy. 1857, by Judge ,lohn M. (Jotihi. who ni.ix'e.l the office west on Second A\-enne t ) I he lot adjoining the |)i-esent postoffice building and in the rc-.w of the present site of the Pe )ple< Ti'usI and Saxings Uaidv. .ludge Gould had

The otHce remained in the ftanking room of Judge Gould until Octobei", IS73. when it was removec.l to the old library building on the corner of Fifteentli and l.ibi-ai'y Streets, where it remained until July, 1SS5, when it was temporarily placed in the liuilding on the south side of Third Avenue (two dooi-s from Seventeenth- Street) until December, ISS.'i, when it was inoveil to the present site on Third A\-enne and Sixteenth Street. A site has been purchased f(ir a new building at the corner of Thirtl Avenue and Eighteenth Streets, and there is an appnipriaticin <if $96, ()()() for the construction of a new liuilding, which it is expected will be occupied in 1909.

The first available report of the receipts of the postoffice is one pulilishecl by .Mr. Henienway of the receipts in the calendar xcar of 1S79. This shows the total receipts (jf the - illicc lo be .11 5, .346. ."iO. There weiv :!,l,-).s money orders i.ssued for $8(1,667.12, and 2,355 i)aid for $36,014.3;?. There were (i4() registered letters sent and 1,269 rercixcd. The total number of piecirs <if mail dispalclied was S61,3S9. Husiness hail not come to that piiint that the ollice was opened Sunda\'.

The re])orts of the auditiu' of the postoffice department show a rapid growth. In 1S91 the number of stam])s sold amounted to $24,433, 2S. and this was increased the next year more than $5,(K)(). Then followed five years of depressi(m, and it was not until the year ending .lune 30, IS97, thai there was an increase; the figures then being $31,4()5.16. Since then there has been a stea.dy increase, averaging something mor-e than eleven per cent annually. On account of the financial depression the receit)ts for the last year were but little moi'c than in the pi'e\io\is one, hax'ing l)een $79,306.19. .\n increase to $90,000 is confidently expected the on-rent fiscal year.

.\t the same time the ii umber of (jieces of mail <lis])atched lias so increased that in one week of 1907 when lliiw were counted there were 148,192 pieces, which would be at the rate of nearly as nniny in six weeks as were dispatched in the entire year of 1S79.

The first carriers went on duty July 1, 1887, Messrs. Baker and Hanson being two of the original four. Mr. Baker has been on duty continuoush- since, but Mr. Hanson resigned near the end of his twentieth year to go into business.

Moline Fire Department

According to the recollections of the "oldest inhabitant " the first fire department of Moline was organized in 1852. A hand engine, the "Metamora," together with a hose cart, and about two thousand feet of hose, constituted the entire fire appartaus of the city. Charles H. Deere was fireman of the hose company, and Doctor Sweetland foreman of the "Metamora." L. B. Mapes, M. A. Could, William Watt, H. E. Mapes. J. A. Holt and Frank Kerns were among the members. The "Metamora" was a mammoth concern, and a regular man-killer; but the boys claim that with twenty men on a side they could

There were banquets, balls and tournaments in those days, and it is said that a finer appearing company than the "Molines" coiUd not be found, and when on dress parade, won not only the admiration of the men, but captured the fair se.x as well.

1,. B. Mapes and William Watt were two likely young bloods, and when in harness were known as the "team of sorrels." With meager and cumbersome ap)iartaus, this company rendered e.xcellent service under extreme difiicullties; and their deeds of tlaring are seldom ('(pudle 1 in the fires of today.

Among the principal fires fought by the first firemen were those of the Howe, Childs and Mapes' mills, in 1855; 8ears' mills, Shaw's dry goods store, Dunn's hardware store; fires that tried the courage and nerve of the firemen. From 1865 down to the organization of the present department there are many missing links. The old ' ' Metamora" was kept until 1872, and then sold to ;\Iilan, a steam fire engine being purchased and named the "Mississippi," which is still on hand, but not in service.

Then was organized one of the m:ist remarkable organizations in the history of the pioneer service: the A. 0. T. (always on time) company. This company rendered strenuous and valuable service at the large and disastrous fire of the J. S. Keator saw mills, a loss of the entire plant with over ten million feet of lumber, making a total loss of $300,000. Fire help was called for. Rock Island responding with Rescue Steam Fire Engine No. 2, and Phoenix and Wide-Awake hose companies, and the Sash Factory hose company. Davenport sent over the Fire King Steamer and Fire King ho.^e company. Colonel Flagler sent "Uncle Sam" over from the Arsenal, Geneseo coming down with their engine and fire company. The Deere hose throwing first water, closely followed by the A. 0. T. company and the ]\Iinnehahas. The old "Mississippi" did magnificent work. .\11 the firemen were deserving of unusual and vmstinted praise, and all etpially deserving of worthy mention for their heroic work on that memorable night. The ladders of the first hook and ladder truck were constructed of two by fours, and very crude.

at this time roiisisfeil n[ one hundred men. and was sn1»li\iih'il into fnur hose companies and one hooi< and hid(k'r I nick cnnipany. and one steam lire en,<i,inc. The h.ose companies were the Tnion Xo. I, Onward No. 2, Minnehalia No. '.'-,, and Deane No. 4. In 1S93 the Union hos(> company No. 1 disbanded and a new company formed caUed the t'ohimhia No. 1. Tliere were als.) I'oni' indeiiendent hose companies, representing the following manufactories: Deere and Ciunpany, Moline Plow Company, I?arnard and Leas Manufactiu'in.t? (.'om])any. and Deere and Mansur Company; each company beinp; thoroughly eqiu])ped with all modern ai^pliances.

The present paid department was organized October 1, 1S96. the chief being H. ('. Reese, the olil \-olunteer chief, and J. C^. Hawk, assistant chief. Shortly afterward ,Iohn (2. Hawk was ap])ointed chief, and through his efficiency has held the position to the present time; the assistant chief now being F. Oscar Yoniigron.

The full force of the department is twenty men. The apparatus consists of: Three two-horse wa,gons in service, one two-horse wagon in reser\'e, one liook and ladder trucd-c, one (diief's buggy.

The department has one of the finest fire alarm systems, lieing the (lamewcll l''ire Alarm System. To W. 1'. Channing of I-!oston. and M. 0. I'^armer of Sahnu. Massachusetts, is due the credit for the lii'st successful employment of el<'cti'icity foi- giving instantaneous, universal and indefinili> alarms in case of fires. In 1 S.")."> (lamewcll and

Company Ijecame the owners of all patents of Channing and Farmer. The fire-alarm tele,E;ra])h svstem of Moline consists of a central oi- battery station, located at the water works; the wire circuit, which comiects the central station with the street signal boxes and the alarm appai'at us, consisting of combined electro-mechanical gong-strikers and indicators, located in the hose houses, and residence of the chief of the (ire department; the indicators sliowing in plain figures the number of the signal-b;ix from wdiich the alarm originates. .\ repeater is phu'ed in the central tel(>ph(me oflice. and each telephone has a "tire nund>ei'" c.irres|ionding witli that of the street sii;nal-biix.

The City of Moline lias an nnu-ually g i id water works system (the sujiply cimini', from the Mississijipi River), consisting of .a pu:nping station and hltering plant, and tliirty-li\'e miles of street water mains, with three luunlred and twenty-five city fire hydrants, fifty private hydrants, ami (wo hundreil and forty-five valves. The number of gallons of water filtererl during the year ending \])v'\\ 1, 190S, amounted to !)SS.419,23() galhms. (u- 2,700,598 gallons per day. The total inunber of gallons of water pumped to the City of Moline for the said yeai- was 949.71 1.37N gallons, being a daily consumption of 2,594,- .S39 gallons, being a dailx' inci-ease over the previous year of 151,792 gallons. They have 3,250 service ta]is, making an a\-erage of S31 .gallons of water ]ier day to each tap, or a ])er capita consumpt ion of one humli-ed galkuis for the entire City of Mcdine. Tlie consumption of fuel for the" past year was 7.114.(10(1 pounds of coal, being 19,437 pounds for <mcIi day. Hy computation, filtering 1.901 gall >ns of water for each pouruUof coal c insunie 1. Cost of coal for past year S5.S3S.59, or 9A:-.\)', tor each twent\-four hou:'s. Coagulate^ u.;' I thejiast year in tlie lilteriii'j; pl.i:it. 412.sr<l pounds of lime, beinj;' 3.1.'! grains foi- each gallon; 106,780 pounds of iron, or .81 grains per gallon: 19,87") pounds of alum, or 2.146 grains per gallon. 923,326,790 gallons of water were filtered with lime and iron at a cost of $1.17 per million gallons of water; the cost of iron being seventy-five cents per million gallons. Water filtered by alum at a cost of $3.05 per million gallons. Cost of filtering water for the past year has been $5,881.20, or $5.95 per million gallons. The total cost of pumping and filtering the water used during the past year, including all expenses at the water works and filtering plant, and water main expenses, has been $22,787.16. or equal to $22.04 per million gallons.

Moline Schools

The first school house in .Moline was !)uilt in 1843 on the north west corner of Sixteenth Street and Fourth Avenue, where the Burlington freight house now stands. "The people of the new town," says an old settler, ''felt the need of a school, and of some place in which to hold religious meetings." Accordingly the owners of the town site donated two lots; a subscription was circulated and a brick school house built, which was for several years used also as a place of worship by different denominations. The first teacher, who also served as city clerk and justice of the ])eace, was Joseph Jackman, a native of Mas.sachusetts, where he had been a school mate of Honorable Charles Atkinson. The school was subsequently taught by S. P. Hodges, who afterwards became county clerk. The jtresent school system dates from Ajiril, 1873, when, tuider the city charter, and in accordance; with the revi.sfed school laws, the following board of education was elected: C. A. Wheelock, president; H. H. (Jrover, secretary; William H. l^dwards, Ezra Smith, C, C. Nathan and .Jonathan Hiuitoon.

Deere, for the East Ward school a part of H. R. Edwards block, paying respectively $3,000 and $1,500 in bonds. The Central school which also contained the High school, was erected on the old site, the contract calling for an outlay of $25,000. I'rom these beginnings has grown the ])resent excellent system, which according to the last school report is housed in ten large buildings, with all modern improvements, employing one hundred and twelve teachers, including special teachers and superintendent; and exi)ended for instruction and supervision alone, exclusi^-e of care and maintenance of buildings and grounds for the season of 1907, .$68,186.74. The coiu'se of study begins with the kindergarden; carries the child through eight grades into the High school, from which, after four years, he may pass on to any of the leading luiiversities or colleges, or find himself e(|uii)ped with a good education for the business of life. Throughout the coiu'se there is instruction by special teachers in music, drawing, physical cultiu-e and the "higher grades," and in the High school is offered industrial work, in the shape of cooking and sewing for the girls, and manual training for the boys, looking possibly to the establishment before many years of a model trade school; an advantage much to be desired in such a manufacturing center as Moline,

Moline Public Library

Next to the ]jublic schools of Moline as a popular educative agency, is the Carnegie PuIjUc Library and reading rooms. Indeed this latter institution, in the design of its foiuiders, is intended to carry up education to a higher jilane than that reached by the |)ui)lic schools, and to lead to a broader and more comprehensive intellectual culture. To this end, its plan comprehends not nierely a collection of books, newspapers and magazines.

l)ut also an art sallerv, a plai-i' (if ainiiseinent anil social conversati<ni. a collection of rare curiosities and cahinefs of natural history anil till' \ario\is sciences.

In the Summer of LS7"2 the City Council approjiriated .fSOU. A meeting was on the 17th of Decemljer. and .$3,()t)() were ])ledgeil. the ladies organizing into a society and becoming responsible for $50(1 of the amount. This sum was soon increased to -?5, 57(5. 24. Rooms were obtaineil in the postoffice biiililiiig of the Honoralile S. W. Wheelock; the first installfnent of books was purchased, and the library o]iened to the liublic .lannary 6, 1S73. Mrs. Kate S. Holt was appointed librarian ^larch L".l. 1S7.'!.

The Iibrar\- found a generous patron in the pei'son of Honiil'able S. W. \Mieclock. whose nuinificent donation priniai-ily secured a permanent building for the librar\ . .Mr. and Mrs. \\'heeli)ck contributed -SoDd louard the original fund of the libral\-. .\s soon as the plans were completed, they also tendered the board the use of the second floor of the p)ostoffice building, which was accepted. Mr. Wheelock always manifested great interest in the library, and i)lanned with broad and comprehensive views of its usefulness.

On the Kith of March, IS77. he passed iner to the l)oard a deeil of the ])iistoliice building, the erection of which cost upwards of .|21),ll()l). and which was occupied imiil the opening of the new building.

The new Carnegie library opened to the pulilic .laiiuai-y 2(i, 1111)4, was erected at a cost of S7(),(l()(), of this sum Andrew Carnegie contributed .'$37,()()(). The business Men's Association of Moline constituted the most potent factor iji securing this sum from the iron master. At first Mr. Carnegie denieil the requests for his aid in erecting a library, but after a time, the matter was again iirgeij ujion him l.)y ^^'. A. .lones, who succeeded in his quest, and August iSl, IllOl. Moline was given notice that Mr. Carnegie had acipiiesci'd. and would donate .|37, ()()(). In respinise to a second request that the coul rilnition be made 150,000 instead of *37,l)01). .Mr. Carnegie raised the sum to .140,01)0. September 4. 1901, the library board accepted .Mr. Carnenegie's gift, and it was endorsed by the City Coimcil, November S, 11)01, the following were elected a building committee: C. -\. Barnard, L. 1). Dunn, Honoral)le ^^ . .\. Meese. O. F. Anderson, K. ('. J. Meyers.

December 3, 1901, the \'elie property, corner of Seventeenth Street and Fifth Avenue, was purchased for .|l().0(l(). As the $40,000 was contributed .solely for luiililiug ]iurposes the library board decided to s.ilicit public subscriptions to purchase the site. and on the 16th of Deceiiibei- twehc S.-iOO subscriijtions had been sccuri'd. with other moneys, amounting in all to about SI 3.0(11).

The corner stone was laid May 2, 190;;, and the pidilic exhil)itiiig an exceptional iiilcest' and enthusiasni in the progress of tlic Imildiiig the lilirar\' board again appealed for piiMic subscription, to the amount of $5,500, appending to their i-eipiest an itemized statement of the finances of the lilirary. As the time ehipsed more money was received by subscriptions and donations, until the sum amounted to .$7(),()()().

December 23, 1903, two bronze memorial tablets were ]ilaced in the hallway of the building. They were about two by three feet. The one on the right on entering the lilirary reads: "This building is the gift of Andrew Carnegie. Its furnishings were presented by the citizens of Moline. F. F. Borgolte, Architect." The one on the left reads: "Board of Du-ectors, 1903 - C. A. J5arnard. President; 0. F. Anderson, vice-president: ?I. S. Hanson, secretary; W. A. Meese, R. C. J. .Meyers, L. D. Dunn, M. J. McEniry, C. W. Mnton, W. J. Davis, J. B. Oakleaf.

The building is built of vitrified brick, trimmed with Jiedford Blue Stone. It contains 17,000 bound \-olumes, is equipped with every up-to-ilate a|ii.)liance, and is tastily and conviently arranged.

The librarian is Miss Minnie Kohler; assistants. Miss Hattie Skogh and Miss Lilian Owen. The librarj' is open from 9 A. M. to 9 J'. M. on week days, and from 2 P. M. to G P. M. on Sundays. The board of directors meets the. first Tiiesday of each month.

In 1.S91 .Judge .lohn M. Oould framed a bill and went to Springfield asking the Legislature for a two-mill tax to be levied for hospital purposes for cities tinder 100,000 inhabitants. After the bill was jiassed, a homo association was fornujd in 1892 and directors ap])ointed, consisting of Doctor A.

H. Arji, Doctor W. K. Sloan and W. B. T'lman. The directors looketl uj) a site, and during I lie time until 1898 the ta.'^ aceumuhition and doiuitions enabled them to build, and open the hospital that year with three patients. Prior to this the ladies had formed a society, .giving entertainments, the [iroceeds of which were used in fiu-nishing the hospital. Private individuals furnished private rooms, among which are the Swedish Ladies room of the Swedish Lutheran Church, the Allen room, Charles R. Stephens room, (ieorge Arthur Ste])hens room, the Deere room, the Children's ro(un (ftu-nished and kept by the late Mrs. Sarah L. Atkin.son), the S. H. Velie room, and the Athletic Club room. The Ladies Hospital Association have ke]_)t uji the furnishings. The location selected was the old Hiram Pitts home, where the school was started for the instruction of nurses, aiifl is now called the Nurses' Home. The training school for nurses is sujiported by the Ladies' Hospital Association, whirh furnishes their uniforms, and when they graduate gives each of them one hundred dollars. The superintendent of nurses is Miss Margaret Rooney; the matron. Miss Margaret Howe of Muscatine, Iowa; and there are ten nurses in attendance. The first board of directors (ajipointed by the mayor) was William Butterworth ajid Doctor August H. Arp.

The number of patients treated since 189S to August, 1908, amounts to 2,695. The hospital is supported by taxation and fees of patients, and is in very flourishing circumstances, with property in good condition, and self stistaining. The heating plant of the hospital is of the \'acuum A'apor System. A new bill has been presenteil to the State Le,gislature praying for the two mill tax to be increased to three mills.

At ]iresent William Butterworth is president of the association, and Mrs. I^lorence 1). Sleight, secretary. The staff consists of twenty of the leading physicians of the city. According to the law under which the hospital

MULINK HKAI.TH I )M1'.\ iJTM KXT. h,!,'";.!;!,! ' stali^irs nuj;ht he (ii;(;a\iz\tii>\. nhtained. rec(irds aie kepi iil' hirlhs. con- On Septeml)er U, I'.M)."). an mdinance was tagioii. deaths and Imrial p(>rniits issned. No jnissed by the C'it}- Council of .Moline. creatiiiii hni-ial is ]iermitt('d without such permit: and establishinsi a board of health. On these are made out in dnplic;ile form, fiivinu; ,lanuar\- '_'. I'.XKi. Dr. It. ('. .1. .Meyer was every important data, connected with such appoint(^l as the hi'st iMimmissioiuM-, and the burial: one is retained in tlie ofHce of the tirsi board coiisist(.'d (as requii-etl liy oi'di- health commissioner, the oth(>i' by the cemeuance) of the commissioner. |l|-. H. (". .1. tery board : thus a duplicate record is kejit. ;\Ieyor, chairman: the mayor. .Vndrew Olsen : pukk food divisiov. the chief of police, Edward Kittlesoii. secre- A laboratoiy was estahished in a room at tarv. The first meeting of the hoard was the water works, and the milk test begun held on .lanuary .'). 1906, at which time it was under the guidance and instruction of Prodecideil that to accomplish the purpose of fessor W. ,T. Trueman of the State rniversity this department it Wdidd be necessary to start at- r-rliana. Illinois. In the inspection of with an efficient and comi)etent force of men. dairies and food stuff valual)le assistance was The first order issued was for sobriety, as rendered by Frank Hoey, Charles H. Kyellfollows: To the employees of the health depart- quist and other state insiiectors. It was soon meni : Von are hereby notilied not to frecjuent found that the faucet used by thi> milk men s:iloons during working lioui's: all employees was not properly constrncled, and a larger found in saloons dui'ing workiughoms will Ix^ and straighter one, one thai could lie easier immediateh- discharged. H yoider of thcheidth cleaned, was recommcndcil and its installadepartment. R. C. J. Meyer. M . I ).. chairman. tion insisted upon: ihis wilh other recom- Tlie ordinance requii-es I he health <'om- mendations brought the milk pi-oduct up to missioner to set aside one hour each da\' dur- a high standard. .\l the suggestion of the ing which time he may heai- complaints, and health commissionei- an ordinance was passed transact other business in i-onnec1iim with by tlie City Cmmcil making it an (jffense to the olhce. The hmu- from '_' 1'. M. lo :i I'. M, sell or offer for sale any animal, fish oi- fowl was selected as the hour liest suited for such that was not drawn at the time of slaughter, purjio.ses. thus shutting out the cold sloi-age pi-oduct. Reports are Ijeing nnide weekly (o the and insuring sweet and wholesome meats, S\n-geon General Public Health and .M.arinc with little or no waste to the consumer. A Hospital Service. Treasur\- l>cparlnient, constant supervision is kept for unwholesome \\'ashington. D. C. food .stuffs, and upon the re(|uest of the health Monthly reports are m.'idc to llie ('it\- commissioner, an ordnnmci^ was passed grant- Council, and (uie to the State l'>o:u(l of Ileallh. ing power to the health dcpaltment to sieze The lirst I'eport to the ('it \- Council was m.ide such unwholesome food stuffs and destroy <ui I''ehruary 5. l'.)0(i. for the mouth of the same; this has had a beneficial effect, 1906. coxT.uaors nivisro.v.

etc., early in its history. H tiles ^overninfi such cases had to l)e fi)rniulateil, ami enforced; lint as the jieojile had lieen accustomed to la.xity in this regard, and did not understand the importance of strict regulations, considerable difhcnlty was encountered, and some arrests had to he made to enforce the rules. It was soon iliscovered that the department was handicapped by being surrouniled Ijy territory in which the quarantine regulations were not enforced. Arrangements were made l>y tlie health commissioners of Moline and of Rock Island to aj^point a committee of physicians of Hurk Island and Moline to co-ojjerate with the commissioners to formulate rules, and make them operative throughout this territory, as one; and the rules which had been adopted here in Moline were ]>ractically adopted, and the contagion stamped out. Jiut not without showing the urgent necessity of a contagious hospital, and through the efforts of Dr. Meyer the physician.s were organized and a committee appoin'ted, plans drawn and the Cit\' Council requested to provide funds for the construction of such building. This jietition was signed by all the ])hysicians in the city. l)\it without effect. Such building was to take care of all contagious, infectious, consumptive, and filthy di.seases in the city.

The ordiannce requires tlie police department to assist the health department, and all patrolmen are required to rejiort all nuisances and matter detrimental to health to the health commissioner. Besides this a health inspector is ]jrovided, to be subordinate to, and under the personal direction of the commissioner of health. Many unsanitary conditions were found and abated. For cleaning the alleys of the city it was found best to divide the city up into districts, and place a man with his cart in charge, and hold him responsilile for his district. In the Summer time the rulv bish and garbage is collected sejiarately; the garbage is required to be free from water ami l)laced in co\ei'ed cans for removal. Weecls are cut before the pollen have a chance to form, and all matters detrimental to health looked after.

rriu.ic iiA'rHs. It has long lieen known that boys and young men were in the lial>it of frequenting the slough and ri\er for bathing purposes, seeking out of the way and often dangerous places. To rectify such evils and to minimize the dangers incident to such practices, the health commissioner sought to establish a suitable place, and under proper supervision, where the ]:)leasures of the l)ath might be enjoyed, and the City Council was appealed to for permission to establish a bathing beach at Twenty-fifth Street, which was finally granted and construction commenced, but .owing to various difficulties, has not been completed.

Realizing the necessity of better accommodations for the public, and especially the stranger, the health commissioner urged the City Council lo take the initiative and establish accommodations in the City Park, and the ministers were urged to make provisions in their respective churches, with a general supervision entrusted to the police force, but so far nothing has been done.

Defect.S Ix Health Ordinanck

In establishing the Health Department of Moline, Health Commissioner Dr. R. C. J. Meyer discovered many defects in the health ordinance, and at various times recommended changes, and in his a,nnual report for 1906 recommended an entire recast to be made. Because of its many defects, and because the health commissioner is supposed to have supervision of all sanitary matters, but is shorn of the power to enforce his orders. For the reason that the men «ho are hired by the board that are not appointed by the City Coiuicil, it is imjjossible for him to get rid of incompetent, disobedient help if the lioard sees fit to keep them on the pay roll.

should he oiu>. and tiic cnie s:ihii\ sa\('il to 1S7.'!. This ordinance dedicated to the jjurthe people. Such and other recommenda- po.se of burial, tiie ])re.sent Riverside Cemetions were made by \)v. Mexci-, but without tery, and vested its management in a board seventy-five acres moi-e and afterwards ten present location of the cemetery will permaacres additional, mailing allogcthci- ninety nently injm-e the gi'owtli of the city and

This busiues.s was started in 1865. and shortly after Andrew Friburg associated himself with the company, and the nianiifactnre of plows was taken u|).

In 1 S()6 Mr. fleoi'ire Stejihens added enouj;li ca])ital (o the liusiness to make him an equal partiiei' with the others, and for a number of years the business was carried on under the firm name of Candee, Swan and Company. 'Sir. (ieor^e Stephens being in charge of the woodworking de|iartmeiit ; Mr. Friljerg of the blacksmith shop and iron woi'k; Mr. Swan did the Imsiiiess and attended to the sale of the product, and Mr.t'andee kept the accounts. The business proved a profitable one. and in 1870 was incorj)orated under the name of "Moline Plow Company" with an authorized capital of $400,000, about .1:300.000 of which was paid up. Several other parties became interested as stockholders in the concern, prominent among them being Captain Good, A. I.. Carson, S.W.Wheelock and A. R. Bryant.

The first president of the corporation was Mr. K. K. Swan; the second ]>resident Mr. S. W. Wheelock. who died in isitl. After the death of Mr. Wheelock. ^Ir. (leorge Stephens was elected ]iresident. His son. Mr. Cieorge Arthur Stephens, and son-in-law. Mr. F. (1. Allen were made co-managers and ,!ii\en entire charge of the Inisiness.

The company at that time had a paid up capital of .$800,000. which has been increased from time to time until it now reaches the enormous sum of .$6,000,000, the manufactured jiroduct having in the meantime increased |)roportionately until Moline i)lows are known the world over.

In 1S84 they brought oiit the Flying Dutchman sulky ])low, which revolutionized the sulky plow business the world over. Previous to that time all sulky plows had been of the two wheels variety, and in this respect are followers of the world-famous Flying Dutchman.

The sale of this ))low did a great deal towai'ds the building u]i of the lousiness and nuiking the lino manufactiu'cd by the Moline Plow Company popular witli the farming community.

In IS86 the !\Ioline Cham])ion corn {)lanter was bought out and produced a revolution in the Uianufacture of the corn planter almost ecpial to that produced l)y the Flying Dutchman in sulky plows.

V\) to the time they began the manufacture of the Moline Champion corn planter, the company had never built a corn planter, and in a very short time they were the leading manufacturers of this class tools.

Beginning as ]ilow manufacturers, they have from time to time taken on the manufacture of cidtivators, harrows, disc harrows, judverizei's, potato diggers, stalk cutters, cotton i)lanters, cane tools, sugar beet tools, and in fact, practicall}^ everything used in the way of agricultural implements excepting grain drills and harvesting machinery.

The present branch house system was inaugurated after ^Ir. George Stephens was elected president. Prior to that time the piroduct had been sold ])artially through traveling salesmen, partially through the jobbing trade and partially through some jobljing arrangements, of which the Plow Company was part owner.

The first branch house of the |)resent system was started at Kansas City. Missouri, in 1892; was followed very shortly l)y one at Omaha, Nebraska, and since that time branch houses have been organized at Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Indianajiolis, Indiana; Stockton, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; \\'inni]ieg, Canada; Denver, Colorado :f New Orleans, fjouisiana; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon, and the Dakota-Moline Plow Company, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, making in all fourteen magnificent branch houses, all of which, with one exce])tion, the Moline-Bain Companv. at Poi'tland, Oregon, are owned

'idle Moline idow Conipany and its liraiudi lionse.s emjdoy about two liiiridred (raveliiiii men in the United States. The olliee force of the Plow (.'oni|iany and the hraindi houses consists of in the neiglihorhood of three hnndred, and abont 1,200 men are constantly ein]j|oyed in the shop.

In addition t(.> tlie giKjils manufactured by the Moline Plow Comjiany, the branch htnises are j(djbers of \-ehi(des, wa.n'ons, firaiii diills. seeders, hay tools, feei^l mills and other classes of asricvdtural implements. A very large ))oi'tion of the \'ehicle8 and wagons are manufactured by the Mandt Wagon (.'ont])any at Stonghton, Wisconsin, and the llenney Buggy Company, of Freeport, Illinois, both institutions are branch factories of the Moline Plow Company, they lia\iiig been merged with that institution Se|itember 24, 1 900. Previous to the merger lliey wci'e owned |)rinci]ially and controlled by .Mi)|iii(> Plow Company .stockludders. Moline Plow Company stock was issued lioUeis in the Hennev and Mandt factories in lieu of stock in those concei'ns. and for this pur]iose the capital stock of the Plow Company was increased from $4,000,000 to .«;6,0()0,000. This increase repre.sented the c'ombined of the branch factories.

The wagon factory employs abend f(uir hundred men; the buggy factory about three himdred, an<l both are kept busy producing high grade good.s which liiid a I'eady market through the branch liouse of the Moline Plow Company.

Mr. George Stephens wdio was elected ]iresident in 1892, de]iarted this life on the 12th day of .July, 1902, full of years and honor, a man respected and lo\'e(_l l)y all who knew him. He died in his eightv-thii'd \ear

.'ind wa-- succeeded as. the pi-esident of the company by his s(ui. .Mr. (ieorge Arthur Stephens, who has pi'oven a worthy .successor to his father. Mr. (I. .\llen was at the .'anie time ad\-anced to the office of vicejiresident; Mr. C. U. Stephens, another .son of Mr. (ie(H-ge Stephens, is secretary and superintendent: C. A, Panister is treasurer.

The company's busines.s at the present time is the largest in its history, and is steadily growing, with e\-ery indication of contimung to do so for years to come.

The business policy, including the branch house system ado|)te(l by the co-managers, Mr. Stephens and Mr. 1". (1. Allen in 1892, has pro\en successful in e\'ery respect and indicates tli.il the judgment of Mr. George Stei)hens in placing the business in the hands of these men A\as good. Perha]).s he builded better even than he knew.

The Moline Wagmi Company is indisputably the lin'gest firm in the world exclusi\ely to the making of w.agons. From a nucleus which euibixlied but a reiiair and wagon shop which was capable of proilucing but one hundred wagons annually, this company, under the masterly haml and prolific jiiilgmeiit of its legitimate founder, Ml'. Morris R<isentield. siicceedetl with a rapidity unheard (jf. and forged to the front rank of industrial enter|irises not onh' in Moline, but in the United States.

In the mere shack in the eastern end of ^loline, wliere , lames First trudged over the forge and an\-il for fifteen years for a mere living, the Moline Wagon Conn>anv was inspired and given lif(" b\- Mori-is Rosenfield. Mr. First had ofiened tlie'shop in 18,")4. "Sir. Rosenfield, in the year of 1S(>9, jierceived the vast territiu'v in whicdi wagons were a crying need, and the golden oi)i")ortiuuties offered Ijy the energetic, hustling and rapidh' settling west.

]ii lli;il year, he foi-ined a piii'tiier.shi]) under tlie name of Heiiser, Kd.senfield and ('(unpany, Chai-les A. Renser Inn-ing been received into the The newly formed company at (iiice erected a two-story Ijrick building on the pi-esent site of the now world-famed manufactory, and em]iloyed fifty men from the stai't. In 1S71 [irudence suggested an enlargement of the luiiidings, and an increase in the working capital, and a stock company was formed and incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and was named the Moline Wagon Company. Mr. Ilosenfield was selected president and manager of the new corporation, an office he held up to the date of his death.

Immediatelj- after the Company's newformation, new buildings were erected, more wagons were built, and its trade extended to every i)ortion of the United States. The high standard of merit of its product which had been ]jre\'iously ])ainstakingly observed, was faithfully and zealously maintained until the name of the Moline Wagon Company liecaiiie accepted as the synonym of good material, scientific perfection and superior workmanship.

Branch houses were estaljlished in every part of the Unictn. the fame of the Moline hght running wagons spread with the rapidity that characterizes all worthy and reliable \(Mitnr(>s or ])roducts, and the company, notwithstanding the additional spacious buildings it had erected, the vast amount of modern niachinory it had installed, or the ])rodigious increase in its working force and increased capital, soon found it difficult to keep pace

.Aside from the manini<ith buildings, a lumber yard, everywhere dotted with great dry sheds, and covering fully ton acres, is maintainod in conjunction with the factory. The company has branch headquarters from the f.-irthost point east to the farthers point west; they meet the keenest competition o^ wagonnuikers everywhere, and their farm, truck and spring wagons, known resjiectively as "The Moline," and "The New Moline" light running wagons, are celebrated in c\-ery civilized clime.

The ]iresent officers of the company are: Walter A. Rosenfield, president; Morris Geismer, secretary and treasurer. That these gentlemen are dully qualified to manage the gigantic business is best illustrated by the continued prosperity the company is enjoying, the increased business which is theirs^ and by the rapidity with which the enlargement of the company's facilities becomes imperative. The Moline Wagon Company is now capitalized at $600,000, and its a-\-erage output is 30,000 complete wagons per annum. Its working force has been augmented until now it nvimbers a]:)pro.\imately four hundred workmen, among them the most skilled mechanics in their ])articular line to be found anywhere. The ground occuiiied by the Ijuildings covers over five acres, the buildings are of brick, six stories high, four hundred and fifty feet in length, ami two scpuires in width. They are jirodigious to im))ressiveness; the}- have been constructed with an eye to sanitation and convenience for the men emi)loyed. are well heated and lighted - the up-to-date machinery is amply protected, to insure safety to life and limb of operatives, and no friction l)etween employer and employee has ever arose to mar the ]iacifi<' relations of master and man.

The A'elie Carriage Com])any iilanf situated in iloline, Illinois, was established in 1902 by gentlemen of widely known reputations in the middle west and who had been affiliated witli manufacturing industries in that city for many years. Foreseeing a future scarcity of land for desirable factory sites, a tract of six and a lialf acres in extent was ])urchase(l. from which :[ strip four hundred and fift\- feel

Special consideration was gi\en liy the hnmlreil the first year (o thi'ee hundred and management in the an-angement of depart- fifty, the gi'eater prop<irtion IxMug heads of nients, so as to facilitate the manufacture of famili(v, located peuuanentiv in Moline and vehicles, each department compl(>te in itself \{tick Island, and the owners of homesteads and with operations systematized to he con- and as (hey ai'e employed steadily ten hours tinnous and pro.aressive and material econoni- a day throughout the entire year, the services ically handled. Employment of the most of the most skilled work men are assured, skilletl workmen, directed In- men of established reputations, iusure.l the manufacture Ml'TCM. WHI-lKl, COMI'.WV. of vehicles that are |)raclical, durable and The Mutual Wheel Company, Moline, Unreliable. The building is heated by steani nois. was organized in IS'.M and commenced throughout, thoroughly well lighted, thus operations on the present site about the first enabling the mento work totheljest advantage, of January. 1S92. The origimd caiiital in- taxed the cajiacity of the plant to its utmost, |>residenl of this company, and Morris Roseuso that an increase was foimd uecess,-u'y .-ind field was (he first \ice-pi'csiilen( . The busia second building was constructed in (he ues^ of tlie conipaiu" has increased \cvy

The Wright Carriage Body Comjiany was organized in 1902 with a capital of $50. (KM): seciu'in.g its chai'ter in November, 1902, as a stock com])any, its first officers being T. M. Seciiler, president: C. W. Wright, vice- ])resident antl manager: E. H. \\'ilson. secretary and treasurer. Its first board of directors were T. 1\I. Sechler. W. L. Velie, H. C. First. ('. W. Wright, Fred Peters, F. H. Wilson of Moline, and C. H. Dooley of Rock Island.

A two-stoi'y factory Imilding, one hundi-ed and fifty by sixty feet with sixty by sixty-five feet wing for engine, boiler and dry house, was erected and actual manufacturing of carriage and buggy liodics and seats began in :March, lOO.*^.

Ill October, 19(14. .Mr. \\'right withdrew from active connection with the com}.)any and v.. H. \Mlson. who up to this time had been in charge of the office and the financial affairs ( f ihe company, assumed the management.

Mr. \A'ilson at once reorganized the working fdrcfs and doubled the capacity of the ]>lant, creating an (nit]iut of ;!(l,0()0 coni|)lete jf)b,s |)er year.

At the annual nicedng of stockholders held Sei)teml)er ."J, 1906, it was voted to doulile the cajjital stock, making it $100,000; which was at once taken u]) almost wholly Ijy former stockholders and additional buiklings were constructed which allowed the company to again double its cai)acity.

This company has already made a re))>itafion for g(i(Hl work and is making fast strides (oward being one of Mobile's leading manufact uring plants.

The Moline Furniture Works was incorporated in 1S9.S with a cajiital stock of $2.5.000. Their princi])al nnmufacture is wood mantels, office and store fixtures, and siiecial fiu'niture to order. Officers of the company are: Geoi'ge \\ . .fohnson, president and treasurer; F. A. Landee, vice-jiresident ; F. A. Johnson, secretary. In 1907 the capital .stock was increased to $100,000. Since starting in 189S they have yearly ex])erienceu a very flattering inci-ease in their i)usiness,

American history can furnish no subject more inspiring than tiie achievements of men whose life stories are told in the growth of the industries which they alone created, especially \vhen those industries have developed into national in- international importance, as a result of constructive policies.

Militai'y achievement is a fruitful source of ])atriotic inspiraticm. but should lie drawn upon widi caution. It is fitting that oncoming generations should draw a portion of their inspirations from the soldiers of industry among whom th.ey must cast their lot.

Men who build up great industries, give employment to working men. and -wrest trade from foreign countries, shoidd be as nuich objects of national admirati<m as military heroes.

Progress results frcnn the birth of new desires and the growth of new necessities. Satisfying these new desires and supplying these new necessities call forth men of geniiis who devise the ways and means and lay the foimdations for new industries.

^^hile .lohn 1 )eere did not hejiin work on the '^teel plow until alter he was thirt\' \'eai's of au'e. his pre\ions experience had much to do with his siM'cess in this, the fireatf.sl effort ol his lite. He was a n.atural inecdianic and .a 1 horoiiiihly trained hhac-ksinit h. lie also .iiaiiied coiisiderahle e\|)erience that pro\-e(l heljiful in later years, while making hoes and ot lier farm tools.

In l.SoT Mr. Deere joiue(l the gretit stream of hardy settlers then piuitinji into the west, where opportunities for i2,aiiiiii<; fortune seemed uiilimileil. lie landed in (Iraiid Detour, Illinois, with his experiences and alioiit .seventy-fi\'e doll;irs in cash.

He immetlititely hejiati to work at his frtide, and cominii; in daily contact with farmers soon learned that their .greatest weed was a plow that would scour in their soil. His acti\e nund heiian to work on the prohlem of i)roducini; such a |ilow, and is was not loni;: liefore he h.ad a soIuti(Mi. The hrst steel plow was ciuisl ructed. li proxcd a success. A new epoch in .aiiricult ure was ushered in and a new aiitl ureal industry dates from that time.

farms [iroducitiu a lar^e surplus over and al)o\'e our daily wants. The handlin.u; of thi.s siu'plus pro\ides emplo\inent for an ai'in\' of wiirkin.u men and is the liasic support of most of the .ureal industries for which we ,ai-e justly famous.

The industry createil out of an idea in a prixate lilaidcsmit h shop, has urow ii haml in hand with auricnlttu'e until it has attaiiu'd the present iiuposiu.u ma.unit ude of Deere and Company. Its products are known the world o\'er and the mime of .lohii Deere ranks with those of I'lilton, Wall. Whitney and (Uhers of eipud impiirtance.

Stranue as it ,in;iy seem, the first diHi(Milty in marketiiii; the new steel |)lows was tu f;et farmers to try them. Several manufacturers had taken aiKanlaue of the demand for a self-polishiiifi plow, to market plows which were said to scmir, Inii in reality would not.

,lohn Deei'e stencilled his ])lows "self polisher," and displayed them in front of his' shop. I'assinu farmers would look at them and remark: "self-polisher f)e d- -d. there nevei' will lie a plow that will scour in this prairie soil." .Mr. Deere mi heariii"' such a remark would ask. "straufier, where do \-ou li\e'.'" ()ii lieinu told, he would rejily, " take this plow home with you and try it. If it does not scour, I will send and i;et it without any expense to you. If it does scour. I want you to pay me for it." Even ,sueh liberal terms interested only a few at first, tlie rest preferrinu not to lie bothered with tr\uiiu an implement which tXwx were sure would not woi'k. OiiK' two plows were put out in l.s:5S, and but leu in 1 ,s;^(). After this, howe\"er, the deiuand increased \-ery rapidly and the .ureat diliiculty was to suppl\- it. Ill fact, at no time has the dem.an I for .John Deei-e plows been coiii])letely supplied, which accounts for the steady, healthy ,urow tli in their manufacture.

for a large plow manufacturing indu.stry. In those days tliere were no railroads. Water was the only economical source of |)ower and avenue of transportation.

Mr. Deere, together with .Mr. Tate, his foreman, traveled about the c'ountry looking for a desirable location. Tliey finally decided on Moline, Illinois, an<l moved tliere in 1847, being attracted by the excellent water power and transportation facilities afforded l)y the Mississippi River at thiit jjoint.

The manufacture of jilows was begun immediately, and by the Autumn of 1848, the business had grown to such an e.xtent that it became necessary to form a more efficient organization. Mr. J. M. Ciould, who was then a member of the firm of Deere, Tate and Gould, 23roceeded to organize the office force, and establish a system of accounts. He also took hold of the selling end of the business, anil carried out the ])laiis for financing the company on a larger scale than befoi'c.

Merchants in those days woidd not Iniy jjIows outright, as they did other articles of merchandise. It was, therefore, necessary to leave the plows at the various agencies to be sold on commission. They were to be paid for at the time of sale, but many farmers gave their notes instead of cash. . Dealers would not advance anything on these notes and it was necessary to wait until their maturity in order to get money.