HISTORY OF DAVENPORT

 

Davenport is the seat of justice of Scott county, and the mostimportant town in the county. It is situated, on a plain upon
the western shore of the Mississippi, directly opposite the town of RockIsland, Illinois

At the close of the Black Hawk war, Gen. Scott, assisted by some of his principal officers, in consequence of cholera upon the island, met with representatives of the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, upon the site of the present city of Davenport, for the purpose of making a treaty with them.  By that treaty a section of land was reserved, and by the Indians given to Antoine Le Claire.  That reserve now is a portion of Davenport.

The claim upon which the city of Davenport was first laid out was made in 1833, and was contended for by a Dr. Spencer and Mr. McCloud.  The matter was finally settled by Antoine LeClaire buying them both out, giving them for the quarter section $150.  In 1835 Mr. Le Claire sold his "reserve" to a company which was formed for the purpose of purchasing and laying out a town site.  The company thus formed was composed of Major William Gordon, Antoine Le Claire, George Davenport, Major Thomas Smith, Alexander McGregor, Levi S. Colton, Philip Hambaugh, and Captain James May.  In the spring of 1836 the site was surveyed and laid out by Maj. Gordon, United States Surveyor, and one of the stockholders.  The spot selected included the area bounded on the east by Harrison Street, on the north by Seventh, west by Warren, and south by the river.  It included 36 blocks, and six half-blocks, the latter being the portions lying adjacent to Warren, on the west.

The first hotel or tavern was put up this year, and opened by Edward Powers, and is still standing on the corner of Front street and Ripley.  It was put up by Messrs. Davenport and LeClaire, and was called Davenport Hotel, in honor of the "city."  The first saloon was also started this year by an old sea captain, John Litch.  It was a log house, and stood on Front Street.  It was long a favorite resort for the politician and those who felt the necessity of using a "little wine for the stomach's sake and their often infirmities."  The captain did not always live up to the letter of the law, and the matter of license was probably contrary to his convictions of right, as he was on more than one occasion taken in hand by the Board of County Commissioners.

In October, 1836, James McIntosh opened a small stock of goods in a log house, built by A. LeClaire, on the corner of Ripley and Third streets.  In December following, D. C. Eldridge also opened a large stock of goods, and claims to be the first to keep a general assortment, with the intention of making it a business.

From History of ScottCounty, Iowa 1882

Wini Caudell and Contributors

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