USA > Illinois > Rock Island County > Past and present of Rock Island County, Ill., containing a history of the county-its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late Rebellion, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 19
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The church formed out of this union was called "The Presbyterian
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
Church of Rock Island," and so remained till the 28th of May, 1875, when the "Broadway Presbyterian Church " was organized out of its members, and the mother church took the name of the "Central Presbyterian Church of Rock Island."
At first this church, under its original name, worshipped in a little, one-story frame school house, on the corner of Deer and Orleans streets, subsequently removed to another lot and occupied as a dwelling. Then Rev. Mr. Woodruff preached in one room of his own dwelling, on Orleans street, two blocks west of the former place. From this place the congrega- tion moved to Buffalo street, and occupied the second story of a house which had been built by Col. John Buford, and which was used as a school room and Public Hall. The building is still standing immediately south of the old woolen mill. The first house of worship of this body was erected in 1845, on lot No. 1, on block No. 11, in the lower part of Rock Island. It is still standing and has been recently used as a Catholic school room. The Second Church also built a house of worship 25x40, on the site of the present Central Church. In 1855 the present church was built. On the 1Sth of September, 1874, it was demolished by a fearful tornado, but was immediately re-built in its present form, and re-occupied July 4, 1875.
During the separate existence of the First Church, the building now owned and occupied by the congregation of St. Joseph's (Catholic) Church was built. It involved the church heavily in debt, and after the union of the First and Second Churches, was sold to the Catholics.
The Central Church building on Second avenue is a substantial and commodious, and even elegant, structure. The present membership of the church is very large, with a large and flourishing Sunday-school.
BROADWAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church is located in the eastern part of the city, and its members are at present erecting a beautiful and costly house of worship, on the cor- ner of Twenty-third street and Seventh avenue. Previons to the demolition of the Presbyterian church on Second avenue, the members of the Broadway Church composed part of that body ; but on that occasion they applied to the Presbytery for a separate organization. Their request was granted, and on the 28th of May, 1875, the church was organized in the lecture-room of the Presbyterian Church, by a committee of the Rock River Presbytery, consisting of Rev. Josiah Miligan, Rev. J. H. More, and Elder Snyder. Forty-five received letters of dismission, to join the new organization known as " Broadway Presbyterian Church." This church now hold service in the basement of their new building.
Rev. C. D. Nott temporarily supplied the church for five months. The present pastor, Rev. T. H. Hench, was elected Nov. 1, 1875. Present mem- bership, 102 ; attendance at the Sabbath-school, 166.
CHIPPIANNOCK CEMETERY,
which means "City of the Dead," was organized in 1855, at which date sixty acres of land were purchased, beautifully located one mile south of the city limits. The original cost of the ground and improvements was $10,000; since, $16,000 more have been expended in beautifying this secluded retreat.
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
By the terms of the charter, one-half the receipts were to be expended upon the grounds, but the company have liberally expended about three-fourths the amount in that direction.
The grounds are beautifully laid out in serpentine drives and walks, according to a plan made by Mr. Hotchkiss, who laid out the celebrated Greenwood Cemetery. They have been ornamented by the natural growth of timber, and by the addition of every variety of tree and shrub that will grow in this climate. The cemetery is under the management of a Board of five Directors, as follows : H. Hakes, President ; P. L. Mitchell, Secre- tary and Treasurer ; S. S. Guyer, J. M. Buford and B. D. Buford, Members.
THE OLD SETTLERS' PIONEER ASSOCIATION
of Rock Island County was organized Jan. 10, 1866, and at present numbers about 400 members. Meetings for the election of officers are held on the first Monday in February of each year ; a social re-union and picnic is held on each Fourth of July, and an annual supper on the 22d of February, Washingtons's Birthday. These occasions are usually fraught with good cheer on the part of the " old settlers " and their friends, who assemble to renew their fellowship of the days of " lang syne," and rehearse their recol , lection of forty and nearly fifty years ago, when Indians' wigwams were more plentiful in this region than the cabins of white settlers. A few there are, still living, who recollect those days, who were among the earliest settlers of this locality, but most of the pioneers have passed away. This society admits to its membership as "Old Settlers " all who came to the county prior to or during the year 1845. The present. officers are : James Taylor, President ; E. C. Cropper, Secretary ; William E. Brooks, Treasurer.
ROCK ISLAND TURN-GEMEINDE.
Organized April 16, 1857; incorporated in 1869. It consists of about sixty members. The regular business meetings of this society are held on the first Wednesday in each month. Tuesday and Friday evenings are de- voted to gymnastics, and Thursday and Saturday evenings to debating and music. The lectures given by this society are of a peculiarly interesting character, and are ably supported and well attended by the members. This society contemplate soon erecting a new Hall, which will be both elegant and commodious. The following are the present officers : August Hues- ing, President ; Basil Winter, Master of Gymnastics; Henry Schill, Recording Secretary ; P. Winter, Corresponding Secretary ; Thomas E. Schindler, Treasurer.
ROCK ISLAND ATHLETE CLUB.
This institution was founded by some twenty young men, in January, 1873, when a gymnasium was furnished, and athletic exercises formed the chief features of the club. There are now about one hundred active, paying members, and while the gymnasium is still kept up, it has ceased to be the principal object. Older gentlemen have joined the club, and its present
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
elegantly furnished rooms, on Illinois street, over the First National Bank, consist of a billiard parlor, containing two very handsome billiard tables, a card and reception room, a chess room and a gymnasium, which are open to members at all hours, no gambling or intoxicating liquors being allowed on the premises. The club runs a course of lectures and readings every winter, employing the best talent only. The membership fee is $10, and dues $2 per quarter. The officers are : Joseph Gaskell, President ; C. W. Dunham, Vice President ; Dr. C. C. Carter, Treasurer ; G. F. Evans, H. J. Lanorey and Spencer Gregg, Executive Committee ; J. S. Dart, Librarian.
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in 1871, and has held four annual fairs and several trotting meetings. The grounds of the society are immediately south of the city of Rock Island, on the road leading to Milan. About forty acres are enclosed, upon which are situated buildings for offices during the annual fairs, a large floral hall, an amphitheatre capable of seating five thousand people, and a large number of stalls and pens suitable for stock. The track-a half mile in length-is a very excellent one, and every year a large number of noted horses are to be found competing for the liberal purses offered by the society. The society offers about $5,000 cash premi- ums yearly, and the fair of 1875, has been pronounced "one of the best county fairs ever held in the State." The officers for 1876-7 are as follows: President, W. L. Sweeney, Rock Island; Vice President, C. H. Deere, Mo- line; Treasurer, S. K. W. Field, Rock Island; Secretary, J. J. Parks, Rock Island; Cor. Sec., H. C. Cleveland, Rock Island.
ROCK ISLAND LODGES.
MASONS.
Hall over the Rock Island National Bank on Second avenue.
Trio Lodge No. 57, instituted Oct. 4, 1848. Regular communications first Thursday in each month. Officers: James M. Montgomery, W. M .; Isaac Webster, S. W .; John H. Lloyd, J. W .; Henry Burgower, Treas .; Louis Bradford, Sec'y; R. M. Sweeney, S. D .; Thomas Johnston, J. D.
Rock Island Lodge No. 659, instituted October, 1870. Regular com- munications first Friday in each month. Officers: Morris Rosenfield, W. M .; P. D. Drake, S. W .; W. J. Brown, J. W .; W. S. Parsons, Treas .; Ephraim Wood, Sec'y; John R. Warner, S. D .; L. Holbertson, J. D.
Barrett Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., instituted Sept. 30, 1853. Regu- lar convocations first Tuesday in each month. Officers: H. C. Cleveland, H. P .; J. M. Montgomery, K .; J. W. Matthews, S .; A. J. Swanson, Treas .; J. M. Boney, Rec .; John Seigcrist, C. H .; W. M. King, P. J .; R. M. Sweeney, R. A. C .; W. J. Brown, J. T. Dixon, J. H. Lloyd, M. V.
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Rock Island Council No. 20, R. & S. M., instituted Oct. 4, 1866. Regular assembly first Wednesday in each month. Officers: J. W. Mat- thews, T. I. G. M .; Henry Burgower, D. T. M .; G. H. Osborn, P. C. of W .; H. C. Cleveland, Rec .; J. B. Cargill, Treas .; W. M. King, C. of C .; Phillip Lloyd, C. of G.
Everts Commandery, No. 18, Knights Templar, instituted Oct. 23, 1866. Regular conclaves second Wednesday in each month. Officers:
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
Henry C. Cleveland, E. C .; Alexander Steel, Generalissimo; James M. Montgomery, C. G .; Louis Kiesow, Treas .; W. L. Sweeney, Rec .; Joseph Gaskill, P .; John Seigcrist, S. W .; William J. Brown, J. W .; John Mat- thews, W .; William G. Morris, St. B .; Andrew J. Swanson, Sw. B .; Wil- liam M. King, C. G.
ODD-FELLOWS.
Hall northwest corner Illinois and Washington streets.
Rock Island Lodge No. 18, instituted July 4, 1846. Regular meetings every Monday evening. Officers: Philip Wagner, N. G .; Oliver Olsen, V. G .; James Johnson, R. S .; Charles Engel, Per. Sec .; W. L. Sweeney, Treas.
Ucal Lodge No. 608, instituted March 9, 1876. Regular meetings every Wednesday evening. Officers: M. S. O'Neil, N. G .; C. V. Post, V. G .; J. M. Reynolds, R. S .; George Atlers, P. S .; Jonas Bear, Treas.
Rock Island Encampment No. 12, instituted in 1848. Regular meet- ings first and third Friday evening in each month. Officers: Stephen Stader, C. P .; Philip Wagner, II. P .; Thomas Yates, S. W .: Julius Stroe- ley, J. W .; T. A. Johnson, Treas.
I. O. B. B.
Island Lodge No. 169, organized January 11, 1872. Officers: Ed. Lagare, Pres .; Ed. Kohn, Vice Pres .; Nate Jacobsen, Rec. Sec .; R. R. Grotte, Fin. Sec .; L. J. Levi, Treas .; Abe May, Mentor; I. Bamberger, Asst. Mentor; Isaac Epstein, Warden; J. H. Adler, I. Heinsfenter, H. Burgower, I. Bamberger, I. Epstein, Trustees.
UNITED ANCIENT ORDER OF DRUIDS.
Hall is Star Block opposite Harper House.
Rock Island Grove, No. 28, instituted April, 1872. Regular meetings every Thursday evening. Officers: Fred. Koch, N. A .; Charles Ritzer, V. A .; Jacob Ziegler, Treas .; Charles Otto, Sec .; Peter Sommers, I. G .; Jacob IIesley, Dept. G. A.
Charity Grove, No. 32, instituted October, 1872. Regular meetings every Friday evening. Officers: James Hardin, N. A .; Joseph Radel, V A .; Swan Yerngrin, Sec .; Conrad Schmidt, Treasurer; Matt. Frederickson, I. G .; Charles Oberg, O. G.
ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN.
Hall over No. 21 West Illinois street.
Rock Island Lodge No. 1, instituted November, 1875. Regular meet- ings every Monday evening. Officers: J. Sutcliff, P. M. W .; J. M. Groover, M. W .; J. B. Johnston, G. F .; J. H. Thornton, O .; A. A. Stearns, Recorder; C. Swanson, Financier; Gil. Swanson, Receiver; E. Martin, I. W .; L. Lawson, O. W .; L. Lawhead, G .; G. W. Lawrence, George Stoker, and J. Sutcliff, Trustees.
Island City Lodge No. 4, instituted June, 1875. Regular meetings every Tuesday evening. Officers: Henry Kinner, P. M. W .; C. M. Waters, M. W .; A. Altimus, G. F .; James F. St. Clair, O .; George
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
Downs, Jr., G .; George Alter, Recorder; John T. St. Clair, Financier; G. A. Solander, Receiver; Jonas Bear, I. W .; James Thompson, O. W.
Germania Lodge No. 6, instituted October, 1875. Regular meetings every Friday evening.
GRAND LODGE A. O. U. W. OF ILLINOIS.
Instituted July 30, 1875. Meetings semi-annually, in January and July. Officers: E. W. Boyington, P. G. M. W., Rock Island; E. C. Palmer, G. M. W., Rock Falls; M. Piggot, G. G. F., Quincy; W. H. Mc- Cormick, G. O., Beardstown; George R. Wells, G. G. Streator; G. A. Solander, G. Rec., Rock Island; E. Krell, G. Receiver, Rock Island; T. L. Mathews, G. W., Virginia.
MOLINE.
Moline, the City of Mills, is the chief manufacturing town of Rock Island County. It is, moreover, one of the leading manufacturing centres of the West, being situated upon a water-power which is practically inex- haustible. This power is formed by the Upper Rapids of the Mississippi, which begin twenty miles above Moline and are here utilized by a dam thrown across from the Illinois shore to the island of Rock Island. This dam, with the excavation of the basin above it, increases the natural head of the river to eleven feet, and contains a volume sufficient to drive more than a thousand times the amount of machinery at present in operation, although there are a dozen or more large and flourishing manufactories and .
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two of the largest plow factories in the world.
THE MOLINE WATER-POWER.
/
The advantages of this immense water-power attracted the attention of some of the early settlers. In a letter addressed to John W. Spencer, dated Burlington, Iowa Territory, July 18th, 1838, Hon. John Buford re- fers to it and to a proposed project for its utilization. He had visited the Upper Mississippi as far as the site of St. Paul, and liked the situation about Rock Island better than any other place he had seen. He predicted that at this point a western railroad would first strike the Mississippi River, and that Rock Island would become the centre of 50,000 population. In this curious old letter, Mr. Buford discusses with Judge Spencer a plan for a " canal " and mills at the Rapids, where Moline is now situated, the cost of which he attempts approximately to reckon np. "In the first place," he says, "fonr feet clear fall must be obtained. I would recommend to you to have a line of level run from the mouth of the Branch below the rocks and near the house occupied by one of your partners, upon the most favorable low grounds, and as high up the Rapids as experience and utility will au- thorize. I think the ground is most favorably adapted for such an in- provement. The average depth of the canal will not exceed nine feet."
Mr. Buford then makes an estimate of the probable cost of construct- ing such a canal, supposing it to be a mile and a half in length, sixty feet wide at the top and forty feet at the bottom. He says "it will contain 280 cubic yards to the rod. One mile and a half is 540 rods; 280 cubic yards
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IHISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
to the rod is 151,200 cubic yards, which at 10cts a vard will cost $15,120. Add to this 15cts a cubic yard for excavating and removing rock out of the canal, say 135 rods, or $5,670, and it will make the total sum $21,870."
To this Mr. Buford proposed to add a grist mill three stories high, 40 by 60 feet, with two run of burrs, costing $5,000, and a saw mill with two r'ın of saws, $2,500 more, " making the grand sum total of $30,000."
" This establishment," he says, "will build up Stephenson, and as the town and county demand, other additions will be added." Mr. Buford also recommended in this letter the formation of a joint stock company which should purchase and hold the lands along this proposed improvement, and he says " such lands in ten years will pay the original cost."
Mr. Buford was at that time or soon became a citizen of Stephenson, and was instrumental while in the State Senate in 1840-41 in getting the bill passed changing the name of Stephenson to Rock Island. But he was never practically identified with the development of the Moline Water- Power.
In 1841, Spencer, Sears and White built the first dam at this point. It was a wooden dam extending from the Illinois shore to the island of Rock Island. They also built a saw and a flouring mill on the Moline side, just north of where the Moline Plow Company's works now stand. Pitts, Gilbert & Pitts bought out Sears & Co., and in 1858 substituted for the old . wooden dam a new structure composed partly of stone and partly of frame, which was removed when the Government commenced the improvement of the water power.
In 1846, Charles Atkinson built a saw mill on the dam, afterwards known as the "old red mill," occupied by Chamberlain & Dean. And abont 1848, Spencer II. White built a mill at the north end of the dam on Rock Island. Here also Charles Atkinson started the first planing machine erer operated north of St. Louis.
The immense water power at Moline has been utilized in its present form in connection with the Government Works on the island-the great inland arsenal and armory of the United States-government making the necessary appropriations for the construction of the dam and entering into contract with the Moline Water Power Company to complete it and keep it in repair at the government cost.
Notwithstanding this and the great natural advantages of the situation, the business men of Moline are entitled to high rank among the intelligent, enterprising and progressive men of the State. The unsurpassed advan- tages which Moline affords for manufactures of all descriptions, have drawn hither that peculiarly practical class of men who build factories, organize labor and set the wheels of industry running.
The Moline Water Power Company was organized in 1865, the follow- ing being its original officers and members: Charles Atkinson, President; C. H. Deere, Vice President; J. M. Gould, Secretary; John Deere, D. C. Dimock, John Good, R. K. Swan, J. S. Keator, S. W. Wheelock.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY.
The Moline Review has the following approved statement of the con- tract of the Government with the Water Power Company:
" The United States Government, in order to avail itself of the Moline water-power for running the immense amount of machinery necessary to
the client.
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
its great workshops, in 1867, while President Grant was acting Secretary of War. entered into a contract with the Water Power Company, by which the company ceded to the Government their portion of the power on condi- tion that the Government make certain specified improvements, develop the power at its own cost, and give the company, in perpetuity, one-fourth of the whole, free from rent, repairs and expenses of every kind whatever. The Government also contracted to rent additional power to the company at a fixed price, so that with the growth of manufactures the power will be- come a source of revenue both to the government and to the company. Congress made the necessary appropriations to carry out the contract, the old dam from the main land to the island was torn out, the reservoir is to be deepened, the adjoining banks of the island raised and rip-rapped with rock, a wall of the heaviest Joliet stone was built longitudinally with the channel of the river, 2,400 feet in length, twenty feet in height, eight feet wide at the base, sloping to four feet at the top, with supporting buttresses of three feet at intervals of ten feet, the walls pierced at proper distances for gates or bulk heads. In addition to this longitudinal wall, an embank- ment 1,400 feet.in length, same height as the wall, with a cement core rip- rapped on the side next the river, has been built, practically continuing the wall and making manufacturing sites a distance of 3,800 feet above the new government dam in course of construction, along the entire length of which the present head of seven feet can be increased to eleven feet, with the the whole volume of the Mississippi River for a feeder."
This last statement is an exaggeration. for it is only that portion of the "volume of the Mississippi" which flows on the southern side of the island and of its artificial extension np the rapids, that enters the reservoir. The whole northern half of the river flows on unobstructed and is used for pur- poses of navigation.
OTHER ADVANTAGES.
The advantages of Moline as a manufacturing center are by no means limited to her water power, great and abundant as that is. While coal and lead abound in the immediate vicinity, with the river reaching to the im- mense lumber regions of the far north on the one hand and to the Gulf of Mexico and the tropics on the other, with railroads reaching out into rich agricultural regions to the northwest, west and southwest, as well as to the east, northeast and southeast, she has unsurpassed facilities for collecting the raw materials, and for the distribution of the finished products of her mills and manufactories to all parts of the country. Situated in the very heart of a rich agricultural region, the cost of living is reduced to a mini- mum. The city contained, in 1870, 4,166 inhabitants, and at the present time probably not less than 9,000, and is rapidly growing. New industries are constantly being added to those already so successfully established. The coming spring promises to see the erection of a large first-class rolling mill here. Parties have already been looking over the ground, who will un- doubtedly decide in favor of the enterprise. A more promising location for such could hardly be found in the West. There are at least 15,000 tons of merchant bar iron consumed in Moline, Rock Island and Davenport annually, and all the river towns from Quincy to St. Paul, would find it their most convenient source of supply. Such a mill would find no com- petition nearer than Chicago and St. Louis. An extensive wagon manufac- turing establishment, at present at Dubuque, we understand has made
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HISTORY OF ROCK ISLAND COUNTY.
arrangements to remove to Moline early in the spring. In general terms, it may be said the manufacturing interests of the city were never in a more promising condition. There is not a manufacturer here who has not all the orders he can possibly fill. The following are some of the leading estab- lishments, of which the city may well feel proud :
DEERE & CO. PLOW WORKS.
The Deere & Co. Plow Works have the reputation of being the largest establishment of the kind in the world. They employ over 600 hands, and the works have a capacity of 500 steel plows, cultivators, sulky and gang plows every working day in the year, making a grand aggregate of 150,000 implements. John Deere, the founder of these mammoth works, was a pioneer steel plow maker in the Northwest, having established the Grand Detour Plow Works (Lee County, Ill.) in 1838, whence ten years later he removed to Moline and founded the present establishment. At this time the "Deere Plow" is known in all parts of the world, having been shipped quite largely to Russia, Australia, South America and Cuba. The build- ings are ample to accommodate the immense business carried on. The new foundry erected last season is a substantial building 100 by 60 feet in size, the old foundry building now being used for pattern shops and core room. The main building, four stories high, contains the blacksmith shop, stocked with the latest improved machinery, the grinding and polishing room, etc. The wood-work shops occupy a building of similar design, three stories in height. In this building are the fitting room and the paint shop. The power for driving these immense works is derived from five water wheels of 50-horse power each and a steam engine of 100-horse power, in the rear of the main building, in the front of which are the offices. For convenience and expedition in shipping, a railroad track runs through the front end of the main building, beside which is the elevator, communicating with each floor of the building. In addition to the common Deere Plow, which is made in various styles, adapted to all kinds of soils, several specialties are manu- factured, among which are the Deere Gang Plow, the Triple Gang Plow, the Gilpin Sulky Plow, which is the ne plus ultra of all plows, and the Advance Walking Cultivator.
THE MOLINE PLOW CO.
The Moline Plow Company .-- This establishment was founded in 1864, on a capital of $20,000, with a force of twenty-five hands, turning out only 1,000 plows per annum. The business grew rapidly, and constant additions to the producing capacities had to be made to keep up with the increasing demand for the implements turned out. The Company was incorporated in April, 1870, with a paid up capital of $400,000. The officers are R. K. Swan, President ; G. O. Stephens, Vice-President ; C. W. Lobdell, Secre- tary ; A. S. Carson, Treasurer. In 1876, the capital had been increased to $600,000, the number of employees to 400 and the product to 50,000 plows, amounting to over $1,000,000. The works occupy about two acres of ground, and including the several floors, from five to eight acres. The iron working shop in which are the foundry, blacksmith shop, finishing room, hardening furnaces and Holly pump (for protection from fire), is 355 by 60 feet in size and 30 feet high. The grinding and polishing room, and the
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