Untitled Document

Rock Island

TOWN OF ROCK ISLAND.

The Town of Rock Island came into being as a new edition of Stephenson, enlarged and revised by an act of the Legislature, passed in March, 1841. This act changed the name to Rock Island, and incorporated the latter as a town under a board of nine trustees. The trustees of the old village held over until the next annual election in September, but a special election was held on the first Mon day in April for four other trustees, who, together with the five old trustees, constituted the new board. The additional trustees elected were: John Buford, George W. Lynde Lemuel Andrews and James M. Bellows.

The boundaries of this town, as defined by this act, were made to include '' all that portion of land contained within the limits of the plat of the town of Stephenson, and all the additions thereto, as of record in the recorder's office, in the County of Rock Island . The following additions were made: Thomas and Wells' Addition, April 5, 1836 ; Spencer and Case's Addition, May 17, 1836 ; and Jones, Garnsey and Beardsley's, known as the Chicago or Lower Addition, October 22, 1836 .

As is well known, numerous additions have since been made to the city, extending its limits to something like ten square miles, viz: About two miles and a quarter in average width, by about three and a half miles in length. It was invested with a city charter by '' An Act to Charter the City of Rock Island," February 12, 1849. February 16, 1857, a more comprehensive charter was granted. November 4, 1879, by an election the incorporation was changed, and an organization effected under the general laws of the State, of 1872. A canvass of the votes by the City Council November 10, 1879, affirmed for organization, under the new general law, and on December 10, 1879, was certified to and made of record in the County Court. Its eastern boundary coincides with the western corporate limits of the City of Moline, and thus the two cities adjoin, and are connected by three street railways, as well as by the regular passenger trains of four railroad systems.

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