Untitled Document

FERRIES

A ferry was operated from Andalusia, formerly Rockport.Ill., to Buffalo, Ia., by Captain Clark.

The Cleveland Terry was operated across Rock river near Carbon Cliff.

Another ferry ran from Hampton.Ill., to Pleasant Valley. Ia,

Formerly the people forded Rock river from Camden Mills (now Milan) across Big Island to the site of the present town of Sears.

On June 4, 1838. a license was granted by the county commissioners court to Solomon Penny to run a ferry across Rock river in township 18, on the line between ranges 2 and 3, a license having previously been granted to Erskine Wil son to run a ferry across the same stream at another point.

The price of a ferry license was $65 per year, Col. George Davenport established the first public ferry across the Missis sippi, between Farnamsburg (now Rock Island) and Dnvenport, Ia,.in 1825.

This was operated in two sections, the first crossing the Illinois channel of the river known as the "slough." to the island of Rock Island, and the second crossing the main channel to the Iowa shore. The slough ferry landed on the Illinois shore near where the freight, depot of the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific railway now stands.

The Island landing on the main channel was just in front of the residence of Colonel Davenport. On the Iowa Shore there were two landings, one for arrival and one for departure. This was neeessary on account of the strong current which carried the boats well down stream on the passage over. The boats landed at a point at Davenport where Renwick's mill was afterward built, and were then poled to the upper landing at the foot of which is now Mississippi avenue from which point they again crossed to the island.

Ttie crew consisted of two oarsmen and a man at the helm to steer. The rates for putting a man and a horse across the river were $1.25; for a two horse. team were $2.00. and for single passenger in a skiff, twenty-five cents. In 1834 Antoine Le Claire established a ferry below the isand. which soon became the popular route, as there was no change of boats to be made.

He began with flat boats. and his first captain was I,. S. Colton. In 1836 Le Ciaire sold his franchise and boats to Capt. John Wilson and abandoned the ferry business. Captain Wilson built new boat.Up to this time the method of summons the ferry from the opposite shore was to call visoronsly and continue to do so until the boat was seen to start, but Captain Wilson introduced ferry "alarms" in the form of a hanging triangle which was an iron bar or a club, and while it usually succeeded in waking the town, accomplished the desired, purpoise of waking the ferryman if continued for a sufficient length of time.

Captain Wilson put on a steam ferry boat in 1842. which however was later taken off and not replaced until 1852. This was the first steam ferry on the Mississippi above St. Louis. There were twelve ferries chartered in 1842. every river town having ferry. After the death of Captain Wilson the Rock Island-Davenport ferry passed into the hands of his son-in-law, Judge John W. Spencer, and Thomas Robinson, then associate judge of the county court, the firm being J. W. Spencer and Company.

In 1855 J udge James Grant of Davenport, la., became a member of the firm, and the name was changed to Spencer. Robinson and Company. The first permanent steam ferry boat to ply between Rock Island and Davenport was the "John Wilson," the "Davenport" being added to the line in 1855, and operating with the "Wilson" in the busy days of 1855-6 before tbe completion of the railway bridge.

In 1857 a new steamer, the "Rock Island," was put in service, and the "John Wilson" was sold to run between Fulton, IIL, and Lyons, Ia.. The "Davenport" became a Government transport during the Civil war. The "Rock Island" continued in service for some time, and was replaced by the "J W. Spencer," whose successor was the "Augusta."' which was remodeled in 1902, and rechristened the "T. J. Robinson." The boat now in commission(1913). are "The Davenport" and the ''Rock Island." A first class service is maintained, a round trip being made every fifteen minutes. The original license to operate this ferry was issued by the United States treasury department April 7,1888 and the company was chartered as a corporation.

April 26th of the same year under the name of the Rock Island-Davenport Ferry Company, with a capital stock of 860,000. The original incorporates were: Thomas .T. Robinson, D. Nelson Richardso,. Henry Lischer. Joe R. Lane. Edward D. Sweeny and J. Frank Robin son, Thomas J. Robinson died in April.1899 and his stock in the ferry company was inherited by his son and only heir, who also became manager of the company. He in turn died in May, 1902. bequeathing his stock to Capt. Marcus L. Henderson, a cousin, who had charge of the ferry since 1896. At the next meeting of the company Captain Henderson was unanimously elected president mid manager, with H. E. Casteel as secretary and treasurer.

Historic Rock Island

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Illinois Ancestors

121906