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The highly educated Alderman Walsh was an organizer of the Celebration Dinner reception in 1854, but his first love was probably bugs. He came to the mighty Mississippi via Cambridge University. Farming eventually led to entomology, and Rock Island's "Bug Man" was a familiar site with his staff, net and dunce cap on which he pinned his specimens. Walsh became Illinois' first State Entomologist, and 50 years after his death, the United States Entomologist declared Walsh's work still authoritative and standard.

When the steam locomotive arrived from Chicago on February 22, 1854, it carried nearly 600 passengers. Event organizers had the distinct challenge of housing all those visitors in a town of 2,000 people. They naturally turned to Dr. Patrick Gregg, who probably knew everybody in town. He and his wife, Sarah, helped secure accommodations for each of the train passengers in the hotels and homes of Rock Island citizens. They also added the unique touch of brilliantly lighting up each residence during the celebratory evening. Thankful visitors specifically mentioned Dr. Gregg's hospitality in speeches. Although historical accounts frequently leave out women, today we also acknowledge Sarah Gregg for her amazing efforts.

Gen. Buford came to Rock Island when he was in his early 20s to survey river rapids in the area as Topographical Engineer at West Point. He returned in 1843 and engaged in banking, manufacturing and merchandising. With his half-brother, T.J. Buford, he operated Rock Island Foundry and Machine Shop opposite the steamboat landing. They manufactured steam engines, mill gearings and water wheels, so they were clearly interested in the intersection of steam locomotives and steamboats at Rock Island. He was secretary of the Rock Island & LaSalle Railroad in 1847, and by the late 1850s became president of the Rock Island and Peoria Railroad. Buford served as President of the Day for the Grand Arrival of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad in 1854 and months later joined the Grand Excusion voyage to St, Paul. After his meritorious conduct during the Civil War, he served as Government Inspector of the Union Pacific Railroad from 1867 to 1869.

Jerome J. Beardsley, Esq. (1810-1878) One of a handful of Rock Islanders known to have taken a steamboat to St. Paul as part of the Grand Excursion of 1854, Jerome Beardsley was also an attorney and land developer. Since he couldn't decide if Chicago or Rock Island would be the premiere Midwestern city, he operated offices from both. Beardsley, with his partners, platted Rock Island 's oldest kleighborhood, the Chicago Addition, in 1836. Perhaps it was his strong ties to Chicago — or his lawyerly eloquence — that led loccl leaders to ask Beardsley to pronounce the welcoming toast at the Celebration Dinner in 1854 and "mark era in the history of the world's progress.

Negus sewed in Rock Island in 1844 and pursued merchandising, banking and real estate. He rose to his highest prominence in Rock Island as the developer of businesses and buildings. Several of Rock Island's earliest large structures are attributed to him, including the original Rock Island House, Negus Flats, Negus Row Houses, Negus Hall and several buildings in the vicinity of old Market Square. He rode a steamboat on Grand Excursion and served on the Committee of Reception for the arrival of the train.

Mrs. Ellen (Deere) Webber (1832-1898) Twenty-two-year old Ellen Webber probably had a front seat at the festivities for Grand Excursion. As the daughter ofJohn Deere and married to the owner of the first foundry in Rock Island , she enjoyed a prominent and privileged life. She married 32-year-old C.C. Webber when she was 19, and they had six children together before he died in 1865. Her husband served on the "Committee of Arrangements" for the Celebration Dinner when the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad arrived on February 22, 1854

Maj. Benjamin Barrett (1802-1858) After the Cly of Rock Island's incorporation, long-time resident and entrepreneur Benjamin Barrett served as the first Mayor in 1849. Barrett later bought the failing Rock Island House, and established one of the most popular hotels of the age in Rock Island. During the elaborate celebration of the Grand Arrival of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad on February 22, 1854, Barrett graciously provided dinner for more than a thousand local people at his hotel while the VIPs held their victory dinner in a temporary structure near the depot.

Marcus Brutus Osborn (1803-1890) Bank presidents are always important people. They finance, they plan, they envision the future. Osborn, of the Rock Island Bank, was no different. He was a member of the first board of directors for the upstart Rock Island & LaSalle Railroad in 1847, served on the Committee of RecArian for the Grand Arrival of the train in February, 183Vand rode a steamboat to St. Paul in June, 1854 as part of the Grand Excursion.