tine, contained about six houses, and had the appearance of being a very sickly place, if I could judge from the looks of the citizens who came aboard the steamer."

This has reference to the summer of 1838, when the writer, Mr. Henry C. McGrew, came up the river. In all the distance described, from Quincy to the lead mines at Galena, Stephenson was then the most noted steamboat landing. Here, for many years, travelers from the "Sangamon Country" and Fort Clark, reached the river on their way to Galena, and the mineral regions north.

TOWN OF ROCK ISLAND.

The Town of Rock Island came into being as a new edition of Stephenson, enlarged and revised by an Act of the Legislature, passed in March, 1841. This Act changed the name to Rock Island, and incorporated the latter as a town under a board of nine trustees. The trustees of the old village held over till the next annual election in September, but a special election was held on the first Monday in April for four other trustees, who, together with the five old trustees, constituted the new board. The additional trustees elected were: John Buford, George W. Lynde, Lemuel Andrews, and James M. Bellows.

The boundaries of the town, as defined by this act, were made to include "all that portion of land contained within the limits of the plat of the town of Stephenson, and all the additions thereto, as of record in the Recorder's Office, in the County of Rock Island." By consulting the records, we find that the following additions had been made: Thompson & Wells' Addition, April 5, 1836; Spencer & Case's Addition, May 17, 1836; and Jones, Gurnsey & Beardsley's, known as the Chicago or Lower Addition, October 22, 1836. About seventy additions have since been made to the city, extending its limits to something like four square miles, viz: a mile and a quarter in average width, by about three and a half miles in length. Its eastern boundary coincides with the western corporate limits of the City of Moline, and thus the two cities join each other, and are connected by a street railway, as well as by the regular passenger trains on the railroads.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

The City Government of Rock Island was organized under a new Charter, in 1849, and the following is a complete list of the Mayors from that date to the present: 1849, Benjamin F. Barrett (Whig); 1850, Joshua H. Hatch (Whig); 1851, P. A. Whitaker (Dem.); 1852 and '53, William Frizzell (Dem.); 1854, Ben. Harper (Whig); 1855, Benjamin F. Barrett (Whig); 1856, William Bailey (Whig); 1857, Patrick Gregg (Dem.); 1858 and '59, Thomas J. Buford (Dem.); 1860, Calvin Trusdale (Rep.); 1861, '62, '63, '64 and '65, Bailey Davenport (Dem.); 1866, Calvin Trusdale (Rep.); 1867, William Eggleston (Dem.), resigned August 5; 1867, B. H. Kimball (Dem.) to fill vacancy; 1868, Thomas Murdock (Rep.); 1869, James M. Buford (Dem.); 1870, Porter Skinner (Dem.); 1871, Elijah Carter (Rep.); 1872, Thomas Murdock (Rep.); 1873, Bailey Davenport (Dem.); 1874, Thomas Galt (Rep.); 1875, Bailey Davenport (Dem.); 1876, '77 and '78, William P. Butler (Rep.).

GROWTH AND BUSINESS OF THE CITY.

For many years

her progress

Rock Island is an active growing city. has been steady and substantial. Within her limita are located the works of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the Peoria and Rock Island, the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis, and the Western Union Railroads. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Company have a large round house and machine works here, which have brought to the city a large force of operatives. The following will convey some idea of the general business of the place: one woolen mill, two implement factories, two flouring and two saw mills, four steam planing mills, two machine works, one stove manufacturing company, four carriage and wagon factories, two iron works. and foundries, one glass factory, one establishment for making glue, eleven hardware firms, ten meat markets, one large brewery, eleven merchant tailor's stores, fifteen boot and shoe dealers, nine dry goods, twenty-one grocery stores, six drug stores, ten hotels, three daily, weekly and semi-weekly newspapers, nine law firms, ten physicians, and seventeen churches.

These and other branches of business are constantly increasing, and new enterprises being added. Within the past few years some very fine and substantial business blocks have been erected, and two fine hotel buildings-the Harper and Rock Island Houses. These furnish accommodations for the traveling public unsurpassed in any western city. From a report made in 1874, it appears that over one hundred buildings had been erected the year previous; among the more prominent of these may be mentioned the Star Block, a new planing mill, wagon factory, and a score or more residences worth from $5,000 to $10,000 each.

ROCK ISLAND MANUFACTURES.

The manufacturing industries of Rock Island are doing as well as those of any other city, under the reign of the hard times, from which the country seems to be emerging. Though these are not as numerous, in proportion to her population, as those of her near neighbor, Moline, still they make a very handsome showing, and their products have made the name of Rock Island familiar in many a household and on many a farm in the far West, as well as on this side the river.

PLOW WORKS.

The Rock Island Plow Works of B. D. Buford & Co. is one of the leading industrial establishments of the city. The manufacture of plows at this place by B. D. Buford & Co. was commenced as long ago as 1855, though on a very modest scale as compared with the present large and flourishing establishment. The popularity of the plows turned out by this company demanded a constantly increasing production, and a corresponding increase of capital, and in 1871 the Rock Island Plow Works were incorporated as a joint stock company. The buildings of the company now cover three full blocks, and are furnished with all the latest improved machinery, and all the appliances for the successful prosecution of the business. monster steam-engine of 250 horse-power furnishes the motive power that drives all the machinery in this great establishment. Over 300 hands are constantly employed, who, with all the modern labor-saving machinery, are

A

enabled to turn out an immense number of implements. Over fifty different styles of steel plows are manufactured, besides cultivators, harrows, road scrapers, etc. Among the plows turned out we may mention the "Buford Old Ground Plow," with iron and wood beams, with steel blocks instead of cast-iron, and being made of patent cast-steel are evenly and perfectly hardened on the face, and the large sizes have the adjustable three horse clevis; about thirty varieties are made with slip shares, which are in duplicate and interchangeable. They also turn out numbers of sulky and gang plows. The "Browne" iron sulky plow, which, with the new and important improvements for 1877, is said to be superior to anything in its line. It is made entirely of iron and steel, is durable, easily managed by one lever, and in a moment is set to plow any depth. Among the cultivators is the well known Black Hawk Cultivator, made entirely of wroughtiron and steel, with open tongue and either high or low hitch. The Defiance is a single tongue low hitch cultivator, similar in construction to the Black Hawk, both being combined riding and walking cultivators. They also manufacture a tongueless cultivator which has many admirers. Their Gang Plow for four horses does good work, as well in quality as in quantity.

LUMBER MILLS.

The lumber manufacture is a leading industry of Rock Island, and boasts at least one of the most extensive lumber mills on the river, that of Messrs. Weyerhauser & Denkman. This mill was established on a small capital in 1859, and has grown to its present proportions mainly through the enterprise and energy of its proprietors. The capital invested at the present time is about $250,000, and 220 hands are employed. The mill is 200 x 80 feet in size, and two stories high, and in addition to the saw-mill contains lath and shingle mills. The capacity of the saw-mill is 110,000 feet of lumber per day, which would give for last year's product about 24,000,000 feet of pine lumber, 2,500,000 shingles, and 3,000,000 lath. The value of the productions for 1876 amounted to about $250,000. Lumber, lath and shingles are shipped to Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas on the west and south-west, and to Illinois on the east and south-east. Preparations have been made for a large and active demand for the coming

season.

Keator & Co's saw-mill was established in 1870. The mill is a two-story building 160 x 50 feet in size; runs double and single circular saws; one gang of saws; one edger, planers and moulders. Capital invested, $100,000; employs 100 men, and turns out 11,000,000 feet of lumber per annum.

J. R. Warner, planing mill and flour mill; commenced the business in 1874. The flouring mill is a fine four-story building 66 x 33 feet in size; is well appointed; has three run of stones, and is worked to the full capacity all the time. Both mills are driven by one powerful steam engine. The planing mill, and sash, door and blind factory, 95 x 74 feet, is one of the best arranged and equipped mills west of Chicago. It is fitted with all the best approved machinery for the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and for planing and dressing lumber. The building is heated throughout with steam, and is especially protected against fire, being connected with the Holly Water Works, and supplied with hose that can be turned upon any portion of the building, at a moment's notice. Some 25 hands ar employed on full time.