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CHAPTER XXVI AT THE COURT HOUSE THE HANDSOME PALACE OF JUSTICE-TABLETS WHEREON THE PIONEER SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION HAVE INSCRIBED THOSE COMING TO SCOTT COUNTY BEFORE 1846 - FULL LIST OF NAMES - THE COUNTY JAIL - THE SCOTT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY - DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST FAIR - BASEBALL WHEN THE PITCHER OVERSTAYED HIS TIME IN THE BOX AND GENTLEMEN CAUGHT FLY BALLS. Pictures included with this chapter are: Scott County's First Courthouse, Erected 1840-41 - Scott County Courthouse. The present temple of justice was erected in 1888 at a cost of $125,000. It is bounded by Fourth, Scott, Fifth and Ripley streets, and is constructed of stone. The architecture is quite pleasing to the eye. A number of decorations of allegorical design are placed in conspicuous places on the exterior. These are illustrative of historical periods of the Mississippi valley. The interior is conveniently arranged and is quite spacious. Upon entering the building, on each side of the main entrance, are marble tablets inserted into the walls upon which are inscribed the names of many of the earliest settlers of Scott county. The list and incription follow ezactly as they appear today:
MEMORIAL TABLET Dedicated to the Pioneers Who Settled in Scott County on or Before December 31st, 1846. Erected 1901 BY THE OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION 1833 Clark, W. L Clark, Ben W. Clark, Margaret B. Davenport, George L. Davenport, Sarah G. Davenport, George A. LeClaire, Antoine LeClaire, Margaret LeClaire, David LeClaire, Sarah 1834 Smith, Ira F. Davenport, A. H. Davenport, Harriet 1835 Bowling, James M Bowling, Margaret A. Condit, S. G. Condit, Phoebe Cook, Ira, Sen. Mitchell, G. C. R. Matthews, Margaret D. Smith, P. M. Van Tuyl, William Van Tuyl, P. V. Cook 1836 Averill, Leverett Burnside, James E. Burnside, Elizabeth Burnside, Elizabeth Baker Cook, Ira, Jr. Cook, William L. Cook, Ebenezer Cook, Ebenezer Cook, Clarissa C. Cook, Hon. John P. Cook, Eliza A. Cassell, Mary L. Dodge, Capt. Leroy Eldridge, D. C. Eldridge, Rebecca Eldridge, J. M. Eldridge, C. H. Friday, John M. Hyde, Andrew Hall, Dr. James Hall, Capt. W. P. Higgins, Henry W. Higgins, Maria W. Jones, Thomas Leonard, Maria H. Little, Samuel Mitchell, Nat'l. Mitchell, Anna Rhea McIntosh, James Parkhurst, Lemuel Spencer, Roswell H. Sullivan, David Rowe, Christopher Rowe, Elizabeth F. Welch, Cornelia M. 1837 Armil, John Armil, Susanna Armil, Jess L. Armil Thomas H. Armil, E. Bradon Armil, William Baker, Philip Baker, Louisa Barrows, Willard Bennett, Rodolphus Curtis, Phineas Curtis, Louisa B. Coleman, Andrew Carter, Vincent S. Carter, Ann Eliza Dyer, James Fuller, Dennis R. Fuller, Lovencia Forrest, John Forrest, Annie E. Forrest, John G. Forrest, Eugenia R. Glaspell, Susan Grant, Hon. James Hyde, Julia R. Hyde, Emma M. Hall, Mrs. Mahala Hedges, Sarah M. Lyter, Samuel Lyter, Sophia Leonard, Harvey Leonard, Pelagie McIntosh, Robert Macklot, Louis A. Mead, Rev. Enoch Pelamourgues, Rev. J. A. M. Rowe, William Rowe, Mary Summers, Laurel Summers, Mary Wallace, Mary M. A. 1838 Brownlie, James Brownlie, Richie Burrows, J. M. D. Burrows, Mrs. Sarah M. Collins, William S. Collins, Miles A. Cook, Mary Christie, Robert Weston, Col. Charles Dillon, Thomas Dillon, Rosanna Dillon, Hon. John F. Dillon, Anna Price Dow, Hildah A. Hall, Israel Hall, Rachel B. Hall, George F. Hickson, W. H. Hyde, George J. Hoge, David Hutt, Abraham Hitchcock, Jared Hitchcock, Lucy Jordan, Anna E. Jacobs, Mark C.-1837 Jacobs, Louise Littig, Petter, Sen. Littig, Mary Baily Littig, John, Jr. Littig, Louisa Littig, August N. Littig, Mary Logan, Andrew Maw, Johnson Maw, Julia Munger, Cheeney Munger, Priscilla L. Mead, James R. Mead, Mary E. McArthur, Gabriel McArthur, Elizabeth Owens, James F. Owens, John Parmele, Moses Parmele, Laura Parmele, Henry Parmele, Emma Condit-1835 Parmele, Edwin Parkhurst, Waldo Pope, John Paddock, Lenora Taylor, Edward Taylor, Precilla Wells, Bartholomew 1839 Billon, A. C. Billon, S. J. Wood Burrows, L. W. Burrows, Ruth Baldwin, Richard C. Baldwin, Flora C. Bradley, Horace Bradley, Elenor Collamer, L. B. Collamer, Mary A. Donaldson, Adam Donaldson, Rachel Donaldson, G. H. Donaldson, G. H. Donaldson, P. A. Donaldson, J. R. Donaldson, A. C. Evans, John Forrest, George Eldridge, John M. Eldridge, Joseph Eldridge, Mary A. Holbrook, John C. Inslee, William Jack, James Jack, Eliza C. Jack, Andrew Johnson, Ben Kober, Christian Kober, Sarah Lesslie, Charles Myers, C. F. Morton, John Prettyman, R. M. Prettyman, Mrs. R. M. Randolph, D. F. Randolph, Mary J. Rumbold, James, Sen. Rumbold, Margarette Rumbold, James, Jr. Rumbold, Isabella Rumbold, Dr. Thomas Rumbold, William Shaw, D. B. Thorington, Hon. Jas. Thorington, Mary Walraven, John Witherwax, Dr. J. M. 1840 Armil, Henry B.-1837 Armil, A. Jackson-1837 Armil, James L.-1837 Burrows, Elisha Burrows, David A. Burrows, Mary Buckwalter, David Buckwalter, Elizabeth Blood, Dr. Cyrus G. Dutton, Jerome Dutton, Celinda P. Hickson, W. H. Kelley, Walter Kelley, Mary McLoskey, A. A. McLoskey, Elizabeth Speer, William Speer, James Speer, Margaret Parker, Samuel Parker, Francis Parker, Rhoda C. Parker, Diantha Parker, F. J. Parker, Mary Parker, Rhoda Parker, Celinda Parker, Elizabeth Parker, Laura 1841 Ames, Charles Ames, Letitia Blakemore, F. V. Blakemore, Emily A. Davies, John L. Davies, Margaret J. Hall, Byron S. Newcomb, Daniel T. Newcomb, P. Viele Price, James Price, Mary Ann Pope, Isaac Tracy Pope, Mary Ann Pope, Robert H. Pope, Angeline H. Pope, Justus Pope, Sarah Wood Pope, William Henry Pope, Mary Allen Wood, Sarah Pope Wood, James W. Sanders, Alfred 1842 Fulton, A. C. Fulton, Mary Fulton, LeClaire Mitchell, Rose Ann Steinhilber, Ezekiel Steinhilber, Wilhelmine Van Patten, John P. Winrow, Catherine R. 1843 Cook, Edward E. Gray, William Gray, Mary A. Hughes, John Johnson, Elizabeth Reading, Kensyl Reading, Hannah Reading, August Stephens, James Townsend, Robert Williams, C. C. Williams, Eliza Williams, A. F. Barnes, Dennis-1842 Gabbert, Capt. W. H.-1846 Belken, Henry-1838 Moore, Levi-1835 Moore, Phebe-1835 1844 Adams, Rev. Ephraim E. Donaldson, E. B. Price, Hon. Hiram Peaslee, Ezekial Peaslee, Eliza Rigg, William Scott, J. Bowman Scott, Dorcus H. Stephens, Wesley B. Stephens, William Stephens, Hannah Wick, Marie Louisa Southland, Catharine Wick Follett, Maria Wick Wick, J. Edward Wick, Adrian F. 1845 Cook, Lowe P. Firday, Elizabeth Kessler, Frank Kessler, Mary Ann Kessler, John B. Kessler, Mary Kessler, William Karwath, Henry R. Karwath, Julia A. Belken Leonard, Thomas Meinhardt, J. L. B. Meinhardt, Regina K. Miller, Andrew Miller, Barbara Miller, Frank A. Sanders, Gen Add, H. Smith, Mary Reed Reed, Rev. Julius A. Reed, Caroline B. Wilkinson, Anna Reed 1846 Barr, Somon Barr, Susanna Briceland, Hugh Baurose, Louis Connor, John Connor, Ellen Clemons, L. W. Clemons, Mrs. E. L. Gilmore, Stewart Gilmore, Mary A. Grapengeter, Fritz Gillin, D. Gillin, Mrs. Ann Greehy, John Greehy, Margarette Jamison, John Kelley, John F. Miller, Nicholas Miller, Jane P. Miller, Mary J. Miller, Henrietta Martin, Luke Martin, Mary McLoskey, Charles A. Sherman, Ebenezer Wilson, George Guy, John A.-1845 Guy, Elizabeth J. Rambo, N. M.-1839 Rambo, Elizabeth Kessler, Franz X.-1845 Morton, Allibone Wilson, Nathaniel-1840 Wilson, William-1841 Wilson, Sarah-1841 Wilson, James H.-1842 Wilson, W. R.-1844 Wilson, N. J.-1845 Morgan, David-1841 Morgan, Mrs. Rebecca Woodward, Joseph-1842 Woodward, Mrs. Mary F.-1842 Woodward, Benjamin B.-1842 Woodward, Elizabeth E.-1841 Littig, Peter N.-1846 Littig, Emma G.-1846 comm.-J. M. Eldridge, Jesse L. Armil. 1833 Hebert, Louis Hebert, Margaret-1841 Hebert, Joseph L.-1845 1835 Noel, Adam Noel, Susan Gabbert, Henry 1836 Suiter, Philip Suiter, Nancy Suiter, John H. Suiter, Polly Ann Suiter, William M. Suiter, Jacob G. Suiter, Philip L. Suiter, Joseph-1837 Suiter, Francis M.-1839 Suiter, Hannah-1841 Suiter, James W.-1842 Suiter, Ellen E.-1844 Eads, Col. Thomas C. Eads, Ann Buchanan Eads, Capt. James B. 1838 Davenport, James H. Elder, Charles Elder, Mary Elder, Joseph Glynn, Mary H. 1839 Collamer, Lucian B. Collamer, Mary A. Cooper, Rafield Newby, Robert 1840 McGinnis, William McGinnis, Mary 1843 Snyder, Harriet Snyder, C. D.-1846 1844 Robeson, Thomas Robeson, Sarah B. Robeson, John E. Robeson, David S. children of T. and S. B. Robeson 1846 Coe, Joseph Coe, Catherine Wertz, Mary Suiter, Alice M.-1837 Cooper, John T.-1839 Stone, Horatio G.-1836 Stone, Hannah-1840 Stone, S. Clarissa-1844 1838 Cody, Isaac Cody, Mary B. Cody, Col. W. F.-1846 1842 Houghton, James, Sr. Houghton, Eliza 1844 Backus, George-1849 Backus, Eliza Robertson, John Robertson, Mary Neil-1847 Holm, Caroline-1846 Spencer, Roswell Hopkins-1833 1838 Nichols, O. P. Nichols, Caroline Nichols, G. M. Nichols, R. E. Nichols, W. J. Nichols, Isabell Coleman, J. H. S.-1840 Coleman, Ada H. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In explanation of the seeming lapses in the chronology of Scott county settlement it should be said that the tablets were placed at different times, the later ones amplifying the previous lists graven in marble, It is probable that the record has now been made of early settlement. In this list will be noted the best known man in the world, Buffalo Bill, and the builder of the great St. Louis bridge and Mississippi jetties, Capt. James B. Eads. THE JAIL North of the courthouse and in the same lot and connected with it by an underground passage, is a fine stone structure built after the courthouse, which is the county jail. It is fully equipped with devices for the restraint and safe lodgment of prisoners. It is modern in every particular and in its exterior presents a fine appearance. SCOTT COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY In 1853 the Scott County Agricultural Society organized, with H. M. Thompson as president; Judge James Grant, vice president, and John R. Jackson, secretary, and in 1854 the society held its first annual fair south of Sixth street, near Farnam street. In 1855 the next fair was held on land belonging to the association near the Orphans' Home, and the amount paid for premiums was $325. Meetings were held annually on these grounds until 1860, when the fair for that year was held on grounds leased of Antoine LeClaire which were situated north of Thirteenth between Perry and Farnam streets, and all of these meetings were well patronized. The next location was the present Central park and a later location was in northwest Davenport. The association continued to hold these annuals fairs up to about 1898, and since that time interest in such annual meeting of the farmers have ceased to be of interest to the community. Later on the mile Track Trotting Society was organized and had its grounds just outside of the norhtwest limits of the city, where was built one of the finest mile tracks in the country and where a number of records for speed were broken. The society held annual meetings up to about 1908, when they ceased. THE FIRST FAIR Miles A. Collins, an early settler of the county, contributed the following amusing article to the Half Century number of the Democrat and it is deemed a fitting finale to this subject, although it treats of the beginning of things in that regard: "Early on a morning in September, 1854, Eugene Bird and I husked a load of corn, where the Oakdale line of the Tri-City Railway Company is now running, bound for the first fair ever held in Scott county directly that work was done. Bushels of luscious peaches lay west of the house in the peach orchard, and we did not forget to fill our pockets. We paid twenty-five cents each to get inside of an enclosure made by settiing railroad ties on end, resting on each other till the enclosure was complete. Almost the first person we met was my father, who asked, 'How did you get in?' 'Why,' we said, 'we paid.' 'You ought not to have done it,' he replied. 'My family ticket (for which he had paid a dollar) lets us in free. You might just as well have saved your money.' Well-I thought that, as William A. Collins, commonly called Uncle Billy, the carpenter, had four sets of children in his family, all those admissions for a dollar might bear a little hard on the society, and it was no harm to help them out. Anyhow I saw the sights of the fair. "In the early summer of 1853 an organization had been formed, calling itself the Scott County Agricultural Society. It chose H. M. Thompson, president, James Grant, vice president, John R. Jackson, treasurer and James Thorington, secretary. Thursday, September 2, 1853, was a big day for Davenport. On that day the Mississippi & Missouri railroad was started, on the corner of Fifth and Rock Island streets, just north of father's house, which is still standing, doing duty as the storehouse of the Rock Island's dining car department. Antoine LeClaire threw the first shovelful of dirt that began the work. The start was witnessed by two brass bands of the city, the Odd Fellows in regalia, the Turn Verein, forty of Strong Burnell's sawmill men in a large wagon drawn by four hourses, and a great throng; some estimated 2,000 persons on the ground. I speak of this to show how it happened that so many railroad ties came to be on the ground that lay east of the corner of Fifth and Rock Island to the river, in LeClaire's cornfield. There were thousands of them. It was not so hard a matter for John R. Jackson to place them in line as a fence. This fence enclosed about an acre, from Sixth street south to about where the U. N. Roberts Company's sash and door factory is. The first thing that I noticed, after getting on the grounds, was the treasurer of the society driving a span of mules hitched to a self-raking reaper, going slowly around the grounds. This reaper had a way of automatically taking the sheaf from the platform, as a man's arm would do. As it was the first reaper of the kind that I ever saw in motion, its operation was interesting. Flour barrels were strung around the fence, covered with unplaned boards. At the foot of the same were bushels and bushels of potatoes and grain, and on the top were placed pantry stores and things good to eat. Not much show for trotting horses; did not take time to make a track; but there was a good show of carriage horses and farm teams. Adam Donaldson, I think, got first premium on carriage team. He also got first on his hogs, which were not numerous, as every man was expected to care for his own family, especially pigs. There was a large crowd in attendance and a good social time. Antoine LeClaire, of course, was there with his carriage. He had just finished his mansion on the hill above, now the house of Bishop Cosgrove, and he told us that we would find everything about it first class, from the stair rail of solid mahogany clear through." BASEBALL IN DAVENPORT IN THE SIXTIES Today, like other cities of this great republic, Davenport has its professional baseball team, which is a member of a league formed of various clubs in other cities, which play a stated number of games in the home places during the season, each club alternating in cities forming the league. Every member of the club has first been tried out for his particular position on the diamond and is expected to "make good" in the place he has especially fitted himself to "hold down," and he draws a salary commensurate with his skill and agility. The battery, made up of the pitcher and catcher, is the most important section of the club and much depends on the ability and generalship of the two composing it in preventing their opponents from scoring. The "national" game has, therefore, become not only a recognized sport of the American people, but it has also taken its place in commercialism and many millions of dollars are expended annually by devotees of the game. One city has its million-dollar baseball park and a number of others in the national leagues have grounds and their appurtenances that individually cost many thousands of dollars. The players, many of them, demand and receive the salary of a bank president of the first class, and the president of one the great leagues was but recently voted a salary of $25,000 annually, to continue a stated number of years. Such is modern baseball and the incidents relating thereto. In the '60s the game was altogether different, not only in the methods of playing it, but also in the stipend of the players. Today every player is an artist in his position on the diamond, and a run around the bases and to the home plate, making a tally, is now the exception in an inning rather than the rule. Hence, the winning team is rarely a victor by a score of more than, say, from one to five or six tallies. To show the difference in the game of yesterday, so to speak, and today, the following accounts of games played in 1866, as written by the sporting (?) editor of The Democrat, will make interesting, if not amusing reading, for the baseball "fan": THE DAVENPORT UNION BASEBALL CLUB "Anything calculated to develop the health and muscle of the young men of our city should certainly meet with all reasonable encouragement. A new club has been organized in our city with the above title and on Saturday last had a trial of skill on the level ground near the stone schoolhouse on West Third street. The following are the officers and members: president, Parker W. McManus; vice president, Charles S. Glaspell; secetary, Theodore K. Caldwell; treasurer, Samuel J. Priest; members, William J. Bailey, J. A. Bamber, H. T. Bawden, M. Carroll, J. W. Coon, E. P. Cook, L. S. Davis, E. Glaspell, A. L. Mossman, R. Moore, D. Moore, J. T. Temple, D. C. Porter; directors, M. Carroll, R. Moore, T. K. Caldwell. "The matched baseball game between the Union club of this city and the Wapello club of Rock Island came off on Saturday last at the appointed place and resulted in the victory of the Wapellos. A large number of spectators attended, the greater portion being ladies. The game commenced at 2:15 o'clock, the Wapello boys having their first inning. The following is an official report of the game. We wish the Union boys better luck next time:
"Fly balls caught by the following gentlemen of Wapello: C. Platt, 1; H. Platt, 1; M. Sturgeon, 2; R. Chamberlain, 1. Union: J. W. Coon, 2; A. L. Mossman, 3; C. Durm, 1; Claspell, 1; P. McManus, 1. Umpire, William Sayles, of Moline; scorer. W. S. Gates, of Rock Island. The Scott baseball boys played a match with the Union boys - both organizations of this city - at the grounds of the latter, corner of Sixteenth and Ripley streets, on Saturday afternoon. The weather was delightful and a large audience, among which were many of the fair sex, was present. The boys wee all in excellent trim and the result is shown by the following figures which indicate that the Scotts took the palm:
"Fly catches - Watson, 1; West, 2; Reed, 1; Robbins, 1; C. Gaspell, 1; E. Galspell, 1; McManus, 1. Umpire, W. E. Carmichael. THE PESTIFEROUS WAPELLOS "Democrat," October 9, 1866 (Base Ball Items).-"For some time past political matters have prevented us giving that attention to local news which we always endeavor to do. On last Saturday afternoon the Scott Baseball club of this city paid another friendly visit to their rivals at Rock Island, the Wapello club. Those Wapello boys play a heavy game and are very hard to beat. The Scott boys are new hands at the amusement and did not expect to win a victory, but proposed to do their 'level best.' The Wapellos won the game, but as the Rock Island Argus states, 'were a little surprised at the improvement the "Hawkeyes" had made since their last visit.' We predict that the Scott club will come out all right in the end. These contests are carried in the most friendly manner, the members of either club conducting themselves as gentlemen. At the present time the baseball fever is spreading from Maine to Texas. In every state in the union the young men are banding together for the fostering of this athletic amusement. As in all our towns and cities and brain is taxed much beyond the dictates of discretion, it is to be hoped that this healthy diversion will everywhere be encouraged by the press and public." CLEANED UP PEORIA In "Gazette," October 22, 1866.-"Welcome to the Wapello club. The Wapello Baseball club of Rock Island were received at the depot there last Saturday evening on their return from Peoria, where they had a trial of skill with the Enterprise club of the latter place. The Wapellos carried off the first prize of $100, also the prize of $25 for the best thrower. The game was well played, with many fine runs, catches and battings. The score was eighty-five to fifty-four in favor of Wapello. A supper was provided for the Wappelos on their arrival in Rock Island. We congratulate them on their success. We understand from one of the club that they had a very pleasant visit. The Peoria club did the handsome thing by the Rock Islanders." PLAYED IN UNIFORM From the "Gazette," October 8, 1866.-"A friendly game was played last Saturday forenoon between the Quickstep club of Rock Island, and the Mississippi club of this city, composed of young lads from fifteen to eighteen years of age. The grounds were in fine condition and the participants in the game did their best. The sport was witnessed by quite a crowd of spectators. The Rock Island club wore a uniform cap of blue and white and were a wide-awake crew, and proved themselves too much at baseball for our boys. The result of the game was: Rock Island, 55; Davenport, 42. The clubs separated with the best of feeling and another meeting will soon come off between them, when we wish the Mississippi better luck." |