The Davenport family is buried in Chippiannock Cemetery
Margaret, wife of George Davenport, b Mar 1769 King George Co. Va. d 23 Aug 1847.
Legal Documents--Revocation of Power of Attorney Mary L. Davenport to M. B. Young (14 May 1895)
Mrs. Susan B. Goldsmith b 10 February 1801 Erie, PA. settled Rock Island July 1816 d 5 Aug 1878.
Bailey Davenport sketch The Town Crier by George Wickstrom pp. 148-152.
Gen. T. J. Rodman succeeded May. C. P. Kingsbury.
1837-1842 Col. Davenport had a large part in negotiation of treaties by which the Indians ceded their rights
in Iowa lands to the U.S.
Accepted fact that Col. Davenport died in west room on 2nd floor due to blood stains. It was later used by Ellen
Lloyd as her bedroom. Lloyd family moved to Rock Island after 1869. Souvenir hunters almost destroyed house. Gen.
Rodman felt the Davenport House should be preserved as an historical monument to the early pioneers and suggested
Mr. Lloyd and his family should live in some other house on the island. Lloyds, however, members of the Episcopal
Church, wanted to move to R.I.
Misses Catherine and Naomi Davenport, granddaughters of the murdered colonel, provided funds for restoration
under the direction of Phil Mitchell.
Ellen Lloyd married Nov. 1865 Philip Lynch. They lived in Davenport house until house in Rock Island was ready.
Richard H. and Grace Anna Lloyd and daughter, Ellen. Richard H. Lloyd by direct appointment from Washington
D.C. came to Rock Island Arsenal 1864-1869 to design and supervise the construction of buildings suitable for manufacturing
war materials and for the housing of Army personnel. Major C. P. Kingsbury designated the Davenport house for use
of Richard H. Lloyd family.
Used by Government from Oct. 1867 until September 1871. Abandoned by government 1871 and fell into disrepair.
A Senator speaking in R.I. blasted the residents for neglecting structure. It was restored 1906 by Old Settler
Association.
Blueprint of original building, prepared by a Dep't of Interior engineer in 1837 is in the National Archives.
Part of uprights and cross section used in original house saved and utilized in 1906 restoration.
Newspaper articles--Future of Davenport House in Jeopardy. June 30 deadline for leasing.
Old Settlers Association of Rock Island County gave Davenport House back to Arsenal. Fails due to lack of funds.
4 July 1845 Col. Davenport murdered by bandits.
First meetings which the first railroad west of the Mississippi River sprang was held in the Davenport house.
The city of Davenport was planned in Davenport house, also.
Last of Davenport family left in 1863 when Rock Island became headquarters for Arsenal Command.
Newspaper Article undated prob. Davenport paper "Romance and History Centers in Colonel Davenport Home
at Rock Island Arsenal" (Picture showing dilapidated house).
"House recently restored" so paper ca 1906.
Councils with Indians--Black Hawk, Powesheik, Keokuk, and others.
In 1832 Abraham Lincoln, Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott and Jefferson Davis conferred here.
Gaudy red flowered wallpaper--R. I. Argus, Tues. Nov. 27, 1951 p. 14.
Legal Documents--Davenport Estate Lands, George
Zachary H. Goldsmith, deceased husband of Susan Goldsmith.
"Rock Island's Hermit Prince" by Jim Arpy Our Founding Fathers Series part 3 Sunday Times-Democrat,
Sun., Nov 5, 1967 pp. 1 and 5D.
Hon. Mayor Bailey Davenport Biog. sketch Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island County pub. 1885 pp.
343-344. Pictures, also.
Legal Documents--Revocation of Power of Attorney from Mary L. Davenport to M. B. Young filed 14 May 1895. Names
mentioned Joseph L. Davenport, husband of Mary L. Davenport, Bailey Davenport, W. C. Putnam, wit. James E. and
Clara C. Bruce.
1819--First church service held by Rev. Peter Williams, a Methodist, delivered the sermon, etc.
1816--Col. Davenport sent here by U.S. Government to be post trader at the newly established military post of
Fort Armstrong, etc.
Organizations involved in restoration project--Colonel Davenport House Association, Old Settlers Association
of Rock Island County, Colonial Dames, D. A. R.
Col. George Davenport House history, copy of map showing arsenal island by T. W. Walker and C. W. Stephens.
Murdered July 4, 1845.
"The Banditti of the Prairies" by Edward Bonney.
Davenport family sold all rights to the house and land for $40,740 when the Government established the Arsenal
during Civil War.
Direct descendents still living in 1958. Miss Mayme Davenport and Mrs. Vincent O'Connor of Wichita, Kans.
Davenport House Ass'n formed 1921. Greek Revival style of Federal Period architecture in Upper Mississippi Valley.
Library of Congress has on file drawings and photographs of the house. Built in 1833. Large 2 story addition at
rear used as a kitchen and servants quarters. It also had two wings--the west one used as trading post. Decorated
in bright colors. The Indians were fond of bright colors. but no direct passage to house.
Letter Dec. 17, 1935 Col. A. G. Gillespie, Rock Island Arsenal to John H. Hauberg re: repair of house.
The Argus, Sun., July 18, 1976 p. 10 "Blood All Gone"--Old Col. Davenport house on Arsenal being restored."
Moline Dispatch, Sat. Mar. 15, 1953 "125 year old Col. Davenport House 'Ill' of neglect--Old Settlers Ass'n
issued revocable license by War Dep't Oct. 8, 1906.
Bailey Davenport b 15 Sept. 1823 Cincinnati, Ohio came to Rock Island County 1823 made his will 8 July 1856
all to mother. 10 July 1856 married but soon divorced. died 10 Jan. 1890 Influenza 66 yrs. Lands auctioned 1891.
Will names older brother, George L.
George Davenport, wife, Margaret, b Mar. 1769 King George Co, Va. d 23 Aug. 1847 (This is Margaret's data, not
George's, editor's note)
Mrs. Susan M. Goldsmith b 10 Feb. 1801 Erie, Pa. settled Rock Island July 1816 d 5 Aug. 1878.
"Need $12,000 for Repairs--Future of Davenport House in Jeopardy" prob. Argus, April 1960.
"That Col. Davenport Home Is Certainly Davenport's Baby", Morning Democrat, Fri., April 15, 1966 p.
12.
Davenport House owned by U.S. Gov't under license, issued by War Dep't, to Pioneers and Old Settlers Ass'n of
Rock Island County.
"125 year old Col. Davenport House 'Ill' of Neglect" Moline Dispatch, Sat., Mar. 15, 1958 p. 8.
Quad-City Home Builders Ass'n. 1 Aug. 1960. Col. C. J. Williams, Rock Island Arsenal Commander, received authorization
to proceed with the rehabilitation of the Col. George Davenport house, etc.
"Future is Dark--Suggest Quad-City-Wide Plan to Restore Davenport Home", no date prob. Argus 1960
ca April 15.
Notes collected by N. Lucille Sampson from files in Rock Island County Historical Library. 1978.
