Untitled Document

MOLINE TOWNSHIP

The history of Moline township is so interwoven with that of the city of Moline , that the record of the one is almost that of the other, although the township existed before Moline was much more than a village about the mills which, from very early times, were built to take advantage of the waterpower. As early as 1838, that eminent jurist. Judge Spencer, with Hon. John Buford. became interested in this locality as a future home of milling interests.

Their advocacy of this matter induced John W. Spencer. David B. Sears and Spencer H. White to build a dam in 1841. It was a crude affair of brush and stone, but was sufficient to operate the saw and flour mill they built on the Moline side of the river, just north of the present site of the Moline Plow Works. About this same period, these same men laid out a village to which they gave the name of Rock Island Mills, but its plat was never put on record.

PLATTING AND NAMING VILLAGE

The time was not yet ripe for the develop ment of a village, but in 1843, these founders of what they hoped would become Rock Island Mills village, combined with Huntington Wells, Charles Atkinson, Joel Wells and D. B. Sears, and surveyed and had platted the original village of Moline.

At that time the village, which was to develop into what was to be known as the ''City of Mills" of the Middle West, and now as "The Plow City,'' had only the houses belonging to Charles F. Atkinson, Huntington Wells and David B. Sears, and Messrs. Benedict. White, Thomas G. Patterson, Hoskius, Jonathan and Joseph Hnntoon, Gideon. M., Weir, Kinzie. Bell, Nazro Reynolds, and Benham. W. M. Huutington, Dr. H.. F. Salter, John Corbin and Thomas Merrimau.

There was some discussion over the name, some favoring Hesperia, which means "Star of the West." and others. Moline. which means "City of Mills." Considering the planned future of this village, the originators decided upon the name which even then fitted it exactly, and from then ou it has been known as Moline.

As early as 1842, the mill put up by Messrs. Sears, Spencer and White was in good miming order, and Jonathan Huiitoon was placed in charge. The first small store of the village was opened and operated by David B. Sears, in 1843, and it was soon succeeded by others of a more pretentious character. The first shoemaker was Joseph Huntoon, who opened his shop for business in 1842. In 1844, George W. Bell located here and began tailoring. The first general store was that opened ou Second avenue by Charles Atkinson, in 1845. In 1843, Cyrus Kinzie opened his blacksmith shop on the present site of the Deere Plow Factory. The manufacture of brick began in 1843, when Spencer H. White founded his brick yards. Huntington Wells looked after the needs of the traveling public in the first hotel of Moline, opening it in 1843. Addisoii Chamberlain conducted the first drug store, opening it in 1842.

The postoffice was established in 1S44. David B. Sears being the first postmaster. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1843, and Joseph Jacknian was the first teacher.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

Submitted by the Webmaster

Illinois Ancestors

030407