left the institution under the exclusive control of the Swedes.

Additional

tutors and professors were added to the faculty as its wants required, at present seven professors and two tutors are employed in imparting instruction to over one hundred students. The institution was removed from Paxton Ill., to its present picturesque site in September, 1875. The fine edifice was erected at a cost of $35,000.

This institution comprehends three departments, viz.: 1st, The Preparatory, of three years, including instruction in the elements of the English, Swedish, Latin and German languages, and in history, geography and arithmetic, comprehending also a practical course for business men; 2d, The College, of four years, embracing the usual college course in the ancient classics, mathematics, the natural sciences, general history, and Swedish and English literature; 3d, The Theological, of two years, in which the Swedish language alone (at present) is used in imparting instruction.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The first library in the city for public purposes was organized September 22, 1855, under the name of "The Rock Island City Library and Reading Room Association." This association first occupied rooms in the upper story of Mitchell & Lynde's Block. Afterwards the library was moved into Harper's Block, where it remained till the fall of 1872, when it contained 2,000 volumes. On the 25th of November, 1872, the present public library was opened, in accordance with an act of the general assembly, approved and in force March 7, 1872., being the first public library organized in the State under the provisions of the general law. The books of the earlier institution were all donated to the present public library, and suitable rooms were secured in the Post-Office Block, which are still occupied. There are now in the library 5,000 volumes. There are received twelve daily newspapers, and about the same number of weeklies and monthly periodicals. The library and reading rooms are open from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. on week days, and from 2 P. M. to 5 P. M. on Sundays. Every actual resident of the city is entitled to the privileges of the library. The following are the officers Librarian, Miss E. Gale; Directors, S. W. McMaster, President; E. D. Sweeney, Alexander Steel, C. W. O'Niel, Henry Curtis, W. H. Gest, Dr. C. Trusdale, C. Speidel, H. C. Connelly.

THE PRESS OF ROCK ISLAND.

The first attempt at establishing a newspaper in Rock Island was by Henry C. McGrew, in 1839. Mr. McGrew was an Irishman who came to this country with his father in 1818. His father subsequently published The Torchlight, at Paoli, Ind., where Henry learned the printer's trade. He came here with his father in 1839, and about the middle of August of that year issued the first number of the Rock Island Banner and Stephenson Gazette. This was the first paper printed in Illinois nearer than Peoria, Springfield and Galena. It was neutral in politics till just previous to the election in 1840, when it became democratic. The town and county at that time were Whig. The Banner was printed on a sheet 30x32 inches, five columns to a page. The first office of publication was on Mississippi street near the ferry landing. It was several times changed during the

short existence of the paper. The Banner continued till the fall of 1841, when its publication was suspended, and the press and type moved to Galena, where Mr. McGrew commenced the publication of the Galena Sentinel.

THE UPPER MISSISSIPPIAN,

The second paper in Rock Island, was started on the 8th of October, 1840. It was a Whig paper, started in the heat of the political excitement of that year, though late in the campaign. It was "published weekly, and simultaneously in Stephenson, Rock Island County, Ill., and Davenport, Scott County, Iowa Territory." Its editors and proprietors were not at first announced, but all communications were to be addressed to Daniel Crist. Several leading Whigs aided Crist in the enterprise. It started as a sixcolumn paper, 22x30 inches in size, at $2.50 per year in advance. The name of Daniel Crist is as indissolubly associated with its early history as a Whig paper, as that of Hon. Holmon G. Reynolds is with its close, as a Democratic paper. Mr. Crist was a native of Pennsylvania, and had formerly published the Allegheny Republican, a Whig paper, in Allegheny County, New York. He came to the State of Illinois first in 1834, and again in 1836, stopping at Ellisville, in Fulton Co. In 1840 he came to Rock Island, and started the Upper Mississippian. The paper had an eventful, almost tragic history, and is more spoken of by old settlers than any other early institution. Mr. Crist, besides editing the paper, engaged in many enterprises before leaving Rock Island in 1852; after that, his career was quite changeable and eventful. In about 1860 he went to California, where he died Nov. 14, 1874. at the age of 68 years. He was a man of good natural abilities, but not highly educated.

The principal characters connected with the Upper Mississippian were Mr. Crist and Hon. Harmon G. Reynolds. The latter was a leading democrat, a polished gentleman, a man of large ability, of untiring energy, a sympathizer with and leader of the masses. Dr. Silas Reed had also considerable to do in furnishing editorial matter for the paper. Dr. Reed lived here a little over two years, from June, 1839, to February, 1841, and was appointed by President Harrison, Surveyor General of Missouri and Illinois. The paper was first published in a log cabin on Mississippi street, two numbers being issued there; the third contained a notice of its removal "to the 'White House' on Illinois street, one square above the Rock Island House." The Rock Island National Bank now occupies the place. January 7, 1841, John G. Powers became editor and proprietor, and D. Crist printer. Mr. Powers's connection with the paper was only nominal. From March 19, 1841, Daniel Crist conducted it to the close of that volume, Jan. 1, 1842, Mr. Powers being "proprietor of the press." At that date his (Powers) name disappears from the paper. June 10, 1841, the office was removed to the second story of John & C. Swortwouts' wagon shop, a building on the corner of Washington and Illinois streets. From Jan. 1, 1842, till Dec. 1844, the paper was edited and managed by Daniel Crist. Nov. 24, 1842, a new press was purchased for the paper, the old press having been seized and taken under a writ of replevin by J. G. Powers, making it necessary to print the issue for that week on the Gazette press in Davenport. March 23, 1844, Thomas Gregg, formerly editor of the Warsaw Message, became assistant editor, continuing till Oct. 5th of the same year. In Dec., 1844, the paper was assumed by Harmon G. Reynolds,

Esq., who changed the heading to Upper Mississippian and Rock Island Republican. Its office was on Eagle street, north of the Rock Island House. In April, 1845, it was removed to Mr. Buford's building, opposite the Eagle Hotel, on Buffalo street.

Mr. Reynolds' life was an eventful one. He was one of the most prominent, able and influential of the old settlers here. He was a lawyer by profession, having been admitted to the bar at Montpelier, Vt. He came to Rock Island in June, 1837; practiced law till 1850; taught school several years; served in various public offices, as State's Attorney, Probate Justice, County Judge, both here and in Knox County. In 1847 he was Postmaster of Rock Island; in 1854 held the same office at Knoxville; was assistant clerk of the Constitutional Convention in 1847, and of the House of Representatives in 1849 and 1861. Mr. Reynolds was a very prominent Mason; in 1858 he removed to Springfield, and in 1862 commenced the publication of the Masonic Trowell, which in five years reached a subscription list of 12,800. He now resides and practices law in Marshall County, Kansas.

June 26, 1845, Henry C. Randall became publisher and proprietor. Then it became the firm of H. C. Randall & Co., which was dissolved August 14, 1845. Mr. Reynolds continued the paper alone for a short time. In 1847 Jonah Case appeared as proprietor, and H. G. Reynolds editor. Col. Danforth says: "The last copy of the paper I have is dated Feb. 23, 1847," and thinks this "was about the last of the Upper Mississippian and Rock Island Republican." It expired early in 1847.

THE NORTHWESTERN ADVERTISER.

The first issue of this paper appeared in November, 1845. It was started as a Whig organ by Dr. Horatio P. Gatchell and Miles W. Conway. The former purchased the press at Dubuque, Iowa, and the paper was first printed in a small building on Miles Conway's lot, where Conway had a house and kept the postoffice. On the 12th of November, 1845, Miles W. Conway, Jr., died. He was a popular, talented and very promising young man. Dr. Gatchell came from Cincinnati to Rock Island as a Christian (Campbellite) preacher, in 1843 or 1844. He had been educated for a physician, and was a man of catholic sentiments and a very popular preacher. The early death of his associate discouraged him in his newspaper enterprise, and he failed to make the paper a very great success. The paper was disposed of to Gen. William Vandever, who moved the press and type to the" Rio Grande," a long, lone building standing back from Illinois street, in front of which, years after, Lee's Block was erected. It is now the back part of Brown's livery stable. The office was removed from there directly across the street to the second story of a wooden building occupied by Lee & Chamberlin as a stove store, where Mitchell & Parson's store now stands. From there it was removed to the other side of the street, a little east, in the second story of Guyer's building, now Hesley's saloon, where it remained many years. Its next remove was to the upper part of Lee's Block, formerly called "City Hall;" then from there to Gothic Block, where it remained the balance of its days.

Gen. Vandever purchased the Advertiser of Dr. Gatchell in May, 1846. He continued as editor and publisher about a year, when the office was sold to Messrs. Sanders & Davis, of the Davenport Gazette, who published it a few months, when it became the property of F. R. Bennett, Mr. Vandever

continuing in connection with the editorial department till after the election of General Taylor, in 1848, when he was appointed to a clerkship in Washington, and afterwards to a clerkship in the office of the Supervisor General of Iowa, at Dubuque, and where he has since remained in the practice of law. He settled at Rock Island in the spring of 1839. In Iowa he has been quite distinguished as a member of Congress two terms, in 1858 and 1860, and as a Colonel and General in the army during the late war. While connected with the Advertiser he was an able editor.

In the fall of 1847 the Northwestern Advertiser came into the possession of Francis R. Bennett, who changed its name to Rock Island Advertiser. A. G. Brackett became associated with him in 1851, continuing till the next year, when Mr. Brackett accepted the office of First Lieutenant in the regular army.

In the fall of 1853 the Advertiser office was sold to Raymond & Wharton, and Bennett went to farming in Scott county, Iowa. In September, 1851, Albert G. Brackett was senior editor, associated with Mr. Bennett, and while in that capacity published a series of articles on the early history of Rock Island County. He was a clear and forcible writer. He came to Rock Island in the fall of 1849.

Thomas R. Raymond was a native of Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, and was for several years connected with different newspapers in Ohio. He came to Rock Island in 1853, and, as before stated, became associated with Mr. Oliver P. Wharton in the Rock Island Advertiser. Mr. Wharton was an Ohio man, born in Muskingum County in 1830. He came to Rock Island about the end of September, 1853, and together with Mr. Raymond purchased the Advertiser office. The co-partnership continued till September 13, 1854, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Wharton continued the newspaper, removing the office to the third story of Lee's hardware store, then called "City Hall," and Raymond opening a job printing office in Gothic Block, afterwards the Register office.

The Tri- Weekly Advertiser was started by Raymond & Wharton, December 3, 1853.

Mr. Wharton started the Daily Advertiser September 13, 1855. And he writes that he stood over and under the enterprise till the spring of 1858, or about that time, when it became too heavy for him and he suspended the paper. He afterwards became connected with The Wheatland Times, at Wheatland, Iowa, with The Local, at Beaver, The Times, at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and The Vindicator, at Youngstown, Ohio.

From 1853 to 1858 the following changes were made in the proprietorship of the Rock Island Advertiser:

I. S. Hyatt was taken in as partner Jan. 16, 1856; in May following he retired, and Mr. Wharton conducted the paper alone till August 19, when T. R. Raymond became sole proprietor; Mr. Wharton, editor; Mr. Raymond, associate. December 1, following, Mr. Wharton's name disappears entirely from the paper, and Mr. Raymond introduces Dr. S. A. Paddock as a partner, but says "Mr. Wharton will still be connected with the paper as one of the editors." The firm was Raymond & Paddock. In 1855 Dr. Paddock had been connected with the Ottawa Republican. His connection with the publication of the Advertiser lasted less than a year, when the declining prospects of the paper induced him to retire and resume his practice of medicine at Princeton. Early in 1861 he took a company to Chicago

for the 9th Illinois Cavalry. He was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment, but on his way to the front was taken sick and died at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Bloomington, aged 39 years.

The Rock Island Advertiser continued to be published in the office of Mr. Raymond till some time in the spring of 1858, when it died, leaving the Whigs, or Republicans as they were now called, without any paper in town.

THE LIBERTY BANNER.

In the spring of 1846, a small, unpretentious sheet, called the Liberty Banner, was started in Rock Island, by C. B. Waite, since Chief Justice of Utah. As its name implies, this paper was devoted to the abolition of slavery, at that time a very unpopular subject; for while there were few who possessed hardihood and courage enough openly to advocate abolitionism, the great body of both political parties of the country, either ignored or violently opposed the doctrine. Mr. Waite had no printing office of his own, but procured his work done in the office of the Upper Mississippian and Rock Island Republican.

Mr. Waite was a native of Wayne County, New York. In 1840 his father removed with his family to Illinois and settled on the prairies near Chicago. He soon started a newspaper at St. Charles, Kane County, where his son learned the printers' trade, and after working in various offices in Illinois, and writing more or less for various papers, came to Rock Island in 1845, and worked in the office of the Upper Mississippian and Rock Island Republican. He traveled over much of the country on horseback seeking the scattering abolitionists and soliciting subscriptions, but the number of those who sympathized with him was small, and his paper soon died for the want of patronage.

He moved to Chicago in the fall of 1853. In 1862 President Lincoln appointed him Chief Justice of Utah Territory, which office he filled with credit till 1864, when he resigned. In 1865 he was appointed by Governor Lyons District Attorney for the principal judicial district of Idaho, which office he held for some time, and then returned to Chicago, where he still resides and practices his profession.

THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS.

From the discontinuance of the Upper Mississippian and Rock Island Republican, in 1847, to the fall of 1851, the Democrats were without a newspaper advocating their principles, the Advertiser, a Whig paper, being the only newspaper published in Rock Island. In the fall of 1851, Fred. S. Nichols and John W. Dunham purchased of George K. Budd, of the St. Louis Intelligencer, second-hand materials for a weekly paper, and on the 18th of October of that year issued the first number of a Democratic paper called The Rock Island Republican-the name of which was changed to The Rock Island Argus in 1855, because a political party had assumed the name Republican.

The paper was started in the back room of the second story of Whitaker & Everts' store, opposite the Rock Island House. In November, 1854, it was moved into the four-story brick building-the first four-story in the city-erected that summer by Charles Buford, northeast corner of Seventeenth and Second Avenue, where it remained seventeen years. In the summer of 1871 the Argus Block was erected, and the office moved to its present location in October of that year.