ANDALUSIA SETTLERS

Early settlers in Andalusia included Napolean B. Buford, Sr. of Rock Island. He bought the site of Rockport at a tax sale. Although he built a warehouse and store in Andalusia he never lived in the city. However, in 1845 his wife, Katherine Buford, rechristened the town, Andalusia, after a town she knew of in Spain. Andalusia became the market place for the surrounding area.

In 1864, The Rockford, a daily steam packet operated by S. M. Boney, Capt. S. R. Buffum and John Buffum increased river traffic after the Civil War.

Other steamboat owners were: Capt. Samuel Mitchell of Davenport who owned the Lone Star, Capt. William Jones of Andalusia owner of the Louisa, and Capt. J. C. Bromley, who ran the steam ferry called the Wheeler. Other boatmen included Capt. Nathaniel Smith, A.F. Ekstrom, J. W. Ballard, Daniel Roe and S.R. Buffum.

Joseph Garnett bought land which he later sold to Seth Buffum. However, the property included his wife's grave so he bought back one acre to start a cemetery.

Other early settlers:

James Hill (considered a genius)
Dan Kelley, a cobbler
Mr. Hoath
Henry Thompson, owned a lumberyard
Robert Garnett, lumber salesman in 1858
Mr. Cobb
Mr. Boney
James Robinson
Edward Wright

Settlers in Andalusia in 1854:

Seth Buffum
Almon A. Buffum
John B. Buffum
Milton B. Buffum
Joe Buffum
Joseph Garett
E. F. Edstrom
Alfred Bing, teacher
M. V. Spencer
Sam Kenworthy
A. Morey
J. Ballard, wagonmaker from Virginia who arrived in Andalusia barefoot and without a coat.
William Dorman, storekeeper
Elijah Simmons
Mr. Wenks
Joel Dean
Mr. Conger and John Woods, preachers at the schoolhouse

The following came later (around the turn of the century):

Delos Holmes
Paul John
Mr. Segar
Henry Springmeier
Mrs. Mount
James Hill
Mr. Britton
R. E. Reede, grandson of Edward Wright