Untitled Document

BOUNDARIES

Rock Island township is bounded by the Mississippi river on the south and west. Moline township on the north, and South Rock Island township on the east. It is the smallest of all the townships in area, and largest with regard to population, while industrially and commercially, it ranks first.

FIRST WHITE SETTLERS

It is probable that the first white settlers of the township were George Davenport and Russel H.. Spencer, who located here in the late twenties; many were here at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war in 1831.

Among those who arrived prior to 1832 were Griffith Aubury, Archibald Allen, John L. Bain, John Barrel, Michael Bartlett, Edward Bruner, William T. Brasher, Henry Benson, Joseph Been. Leonard Bryant, Jonah H. Case, Louden Case. Sr., Louden Case, Jr., Charles H. Case. Horace Cook, B. W. Clark. Samuel Kinney. Thomas Kinney, Erastus Kent, Thomas Lovitt. Joseph McCoy, Henry McNeil, George V. Miller, Gentry McGee, Neel McNeil, James Maskal, Ames C. Noble, Judge Pence, Benjamin Pike, John Reddish, Thomas Syms, Robert Syms, Edward Certain, William Carr, Martin Culver, Manly Danforth, Joseph Danforth, Thomas David. Russel Dance, George Davenport, Thomas Davidson, Isaiah Frith, Charles French, Russel Farnham, Thomas Gardiner, Benjamin Goble. Antoine Gouquy, John Graft, James Haskill, George W. Ilarlan. Uriah S. Hultz, Thomas Hubbard. Goodridge Hubbard. Cyrus Henderson, David B. Hail, William Henry, William Heans, M. S. Hulls, a Mr. Haney, Moses Johnson, John W. Kinney. William Sams. Martin W. Smith, Sevier Stringtield, Josiah Smart. H.. Sampson. John W. Spencer. Roswell H.. Spencer. William Thompson, Joel Thompson, Luther Tunnell, William Tunnell. Josliua Vaudruff, Henry Vanruff. Samuel Vanruff. Benjamin Valletta. Gorman Vanetta. Edward Vorner, Levi Wells, George Wells. Joel Wells, Sr., Joel Wells, Jr., Huntington Wells, John Wells, Samuel Wells, Rinnah Wells. Asaph Wells, Eri Wells, Ira Wells, Nelson Wells, and Lucius Wells.

FARHAMSBURG

The town of Farnhamsburg was the first in Rock Island township, and the first settlement on the east side of the river. Colonel Davenport built the first house, and Russel Farnham was his partner in trading with the Indians, which the two carried on so profitably. This house was erected in 1826, and was near the landing to the old fort, and was associated with the early history of the county, for in it was transacted the first county business and it was known as the "Court House" until removal was made to the permanent seat of justice. The first post office was established here.

A village was laid out around this historic house, in what is now lower Rock Island. Some of the earlier buildings are still standing.

ROCK ISLAND TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois

Submitted by the Webmaster

Illinois Ancestors

030407