Untitled Document

Rock Island County Courthouse

210 15th Street

Rock Island, Il. 61201

As attractive, perhaps, as any court house in the states and more remarkable in architecture by far than many, is the handsome county building of Rock Island. Stately and inviting for business, this edifice stands a monument to the progressive spirit of the people, who, keeping pace with the advance ment of the times, put it there.

Way back in 1826 a small but well designed building known as "John Barrel's house," enclosed within its walls the first gathering of men to transact Rock Island County business. That house stood in Farnhams- burg and besides being the first county court house, served as postoffice and hotel.The first jail was built in 1836—then the city was the town of Stephenson. John W. Spencer in October, 1835, was awarded the contract to build this jail, which was origi nally a hewed log building, two stories high and twenty-two feet square. The brick portion of the structure, afterward added, was built by Daniel Doty in 1839. It stood on lot No. 5 in block No. 15 in the old town until it was sold to a German, who converted the brick portion into a residence.

A s Rock Island County grew it was soon apparent that extensive improvements and additions to the court house would be necessary. This rehabilitation would have cost the county so much money that it seemed to the wise men quite the wrong thing to do, but rather appeal to the people to decide at the polls whether or not it was their desire to bear the expense of a new and modern building. Supervisor Joseph Fitzpatrick of . Milan championed the movement. He introduced a resolution at the April term, 1893, calling for a committee to investigate the needs of the county and the probable cost of a new court house, to report to the board at the July meeting, with recommendations as to the time and money necessary to erect such a court house as would compare with the wealth and progress of the county.

This committee composed of Supervisor Joseph Fitzpatrick, A. F. Vinton, James G.Britton and Conrad Schneider made a favorerable report and thought $125,000 would be about the right amount.An election was held November 6, 1894 ,and the proposition to issue bonds to the amount of $125,000 was carried by thefollowing vote: For the proposition to issue bonds, 3,913; against proposition, 2,1.74; majority for said proposition, 1,739. Accord ingly the contract was let, Charles J. Larkin winning.. Work on the foundation com menced June 26, 1895, and October 1, 1896 the corner stone was laid. The arrangements being in charge of the Old Settlers' Association.

The following men constituted the Court House Committee: Charles L. Walker, chair man; Phil Mitchell, Hon. William Jackson, John Ohlweiler, T. S. Silvis, (deceased), Hon. Charles J. Searle, H. P. Simpson, William McEniry, J. F. Robinson, (deceased), C. F. Lynde, S. J. Collins, S. S. Hull, Hon E. E. Parmenter, (deceased), W. P. Quayle, (deceased ).

Historic Rock Island

Illinois Ancestors