Rock Island County
History
Rock Island County has a very colorful history. From
Col. Davenport to Black Hawk to Gen. Rodman to John
Deere, interesting characters have helped build this area. The following
links provide some information on many aspects of the history of Rock Island
County.
- Pre-County
history and formation - Information from before 1800 to about 1836.
There are quite a few names of early settlers, Rock River Rangers and county
officers when the county was organized.
- Early
Settlers of Rock Island County - List of early settlers from the Rock
Island County History, 1879. Generously transcribed by Diana Hanson, Accredited
Genealogist.
- Saukenuk
Lives on in Rock Island - A brief description of the largest Indian
village in North America in the early 1800s. Black Hawk was born there. This
link is brought to you by Quad-Cities
ONLINE.
- Test Your
Black Hawk Knowledge - See how much you know about the man for whom
local institutions, roads, businesses and festivals are named. This link is
brought to you by Quad-Cities
ONLINE.
- History of
the Rock Island Police Department - Beginning in the 1840s, the Rock
Island Police has served the community for about 150 years. This link is
brought to you by Quad Cities
USA.
- History of
Rock Island Arsenal Confederate Prison Barracks - Excerpt from Rock
Island Confederal Prison Deaths - Compiled by Clifford W. Stephens (Command
Historian of Rock Island Arsenal) and Printed by Blackhawk Genealogical
Society of Rock Island, Illinois. Generously transcribed by Diana Hanson.
- History of
the Rock Island Public Library - Established in 1872, the Rock Island
Public Library is the oldest public library in the state of Illinois. This
link is brought to you by Quad Cities
USA.
- Augustana
Special Collections - A fantastic page devoted to the their collection
of photographs, diaries, biographies and interviews with early settlers.
This link is brought to you by Augustana
College.
- Moline
History - A good summary of the history of the city of Moline, Rock
Island County, Illinois. This link is brought to you by the City of Moline.
- John Deere:
Our History - A page devoted to the history of Deere and Company. It
includes the story of John Deere and information about the John Deere
Historical Site (not in Rock Island County). This link is brought to you by
Deere and Company.
- History of THE Rock Island Bank (link broken) - Beginning with the
Rock Island National Bank in 1871. This link is brought to you by THE Rock
Island Bank.
- History
of the Rock Island Centennial Bridge - Built between Rock Island. IL and
Davenport, IA and constructed from 1938 - 1940. This link is brought to you
by Quad Cities USA.
- Indian Tribes in
Illinois History at Lee Sultzman's site
Back to Rock Island
County Home Page