Hampton Township, Illinois
This township is situated north and east of Moline Township, the
Mississippi River forming the northwestern boundary, and the Rock River
the southern. The township consists of bluffs along its northern and
southern boundaries, with wide rich bottoms along the rivers and a broad
valley running east and west through its center, extending from the
Mississippi River to Rock River. Martin Culver made the first land claim
in 1826. Rev. John Kinney and two brothers made the next claims in 1827.
During 1828 Henry McNeal, Joel Thompson, Michael Bartlett, Asaph Wells and
Joel Wells, Jr., settled in the same vicinity. The first birth, was the
daughter of Henry McNeal-Mary Ann-born October 5, 1832. The first death
occurred in 1829 or 1830, on board the Steamer Josephine, on her way to
Galena; a lady from England coming to Galena to visit her son, died just
as the boat was landing, and she was buried at Hampton. The first couple
married in the town was Joel Wells and Mary Mc-Murphy, by Jonas Wells,
justice of the peace, in 1835. Within the township are six villages:
Hampton, Watertown, Silvis, Carbon Cliff, Barstow and Rapids City, all
incorporated villages but Barstow. The township contained some rich coal
beds; some of which have been worked for many years. Charles Ames opened
the first coal mine. Heagy and Stoddard, and Taylor Williams operated
quite extensively in coal on sections 15, 16 and 22, where was located the
mining town of Happy Hollow, now extinct, having at one time a population
of 1,000 hard working, busy people. A railroad connecting these mines with
the Western Union Railway, now the C., M. & St. P., at Watertown, was
built in the winter of 1872 and 1873. Taylor Williams and H. M. Gilchrist
& Co., operated in coal at Rapids City; Samuel Bowles, D. G. Porter and
Silvis Bros. operating in the southern part of the township.
Joel Thompson was the first postmaster, -and received his appointment in
the winter of 1837. Lucius Wells taught the first school, in a log cabin,
in 1833 and 1834. Elihu Wells was the first teacher under the school laws.
In the years of 1833 and 1834, Henry McNeal furnished all the wood for the
Mississippi River steamboats above the Des Moines rapids, and for forty
years thereafter Hampton was one of the principal points for furnishing
coal and wood to the river steamers. Henry McNeal owned the first tax
receipt issued in Rock Island County for taxes paid. Hampton Township is
well supplied with railroads: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.; the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, and the
Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern traversing her territory.
Tippecanoe
Tippecanoe Village was platted and filed for record the 2d day of September, 1839; the formality of going through the necessary forms of recording was done, and on February 18, 1840, was approved by the county commissioners. The plat was six blocks long an two and one-half blocks wide; recorded by Joseph Cox, Samuel Cox and David Jennings the 17th day of February, 1840. It was located between Rapids City and Hampton, on the Mississippi River, about opposite Sycamore Chain. A very few people know of its ever having had an existence. It evidently was a paper town.
Village Of Hampton
The Village of Hampton, in Hampton Township, was surveyed and platted
soon after the organization of Rock Island County. Among the earliest
business men were Joel Thompson, Alonzo P. Clapp, Dower and Hammond,
Samuel and David Lambert, M. W. Wright and Francis Black, followed by L.
F. Baker, H. F. Thomas, H. O. Norton, Dr. George Vincent, S. L. Brettun,
and Wm. B. Webster. The first post office was established in the winter of
1837, Joel Thompson being commissioned postmaster, followed by Francis
Black, Samuel Heagy and L. F Baker. From the earliest settlement Hampton
was one of the principal points for sup-plies for the farmers in the upper
end of the county, and even considerable territory in Henry County. Here
they brought their grain and sold their pork, which was packed by M. W.
Wright and Francis Black, and shipped down the river by the steamboats. In
after years the coal interests were the principal business reliance; Heagy
and Stoddard and Taylor Williams being extensive operators. In 1884 Heagy
and Stoddard were succeeded by the Northern Mining & Railway Company, who
ceased operations about fifteen years ago. The educational interests of
the village are well attended to, having a good school house and good
instructors.
The oldest person born in the township, if not in the county, now living,
is George McNeal,- who was born in 1834 in a log cabin which stood just
south of the town hall in the same block in which he now resides.
The assessors' plats show there exists in the Village of Hampton, an old
village called Milan, which was platted in 1837. The plat showing about
thirty blocks. In this district at the present time are only four or five
houses. In that year the post office department at Washington, D. C., was
petitioned for a post office at this place to be called Milan. There being
a post office of that name already in the state, the department
established the post office under the name of Hampton, from which name the
township and village derive their names.
Barstow
Barstow is not an incorporated village. When the Sterling branch of the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was completed through Hampton
Township, a station was established on land owned by Joel G. Franklin, and
named Franklin Crossing, a post office being soon after established and
given the same name as the railroad station, and Mr. Franklin being
commissioned its first postmaster.
When the main line of the railroad was run to this place, the name was
changed to Barstow, and shortly afterwards the name of the post office was
likewise changed. A large transfer in mail, passenger and freight business
is done here, to and from the Sterling branch, and despatched and received
to and from the main lines to St. Paul and St. Louis. The village now
comprises about twenty-five buildings and houses, an eating house, depot,
restaurant, a general store, blacksmith shop, school house and post
office.
Village Of Watertown
Is located in Hampton Township, and was platted in 1857. The first
store was started that year by Lucius Curtis, who became the first
postmaster. The Western Illinois Hospital for the Insane is located there.
On the 14th day of March, 1905, fifty-one legal voters . of a district
prescribed, petitioned the county court for the organization of the
Village of Watertown. The 15th day of April, 1905, was set apart for an
election to be held at the M. W. A. hall to vote for or against village
organization; the result being sixteen votes for incorporation and
forty-four against.
April 24, 1905, another petition was presented to the county court by
forty-five petitioners for village organization and an election day
appointed for the 13th day of May, 1905; the result being sixty votes for
village organization and thirty-eight votes against organization.
An election held the 17th day of June, 1905, for village trustees,
resulted in the election of Frank H. Sovey, John Rah, Henry C. McNeal and
David Y. Allsbrow. A tie vote occurring of forty-nine votes for Eric
Bowman and Henry Hillberg. Each came into court on the 23d day of June,
1905, and agreed to decide by lot. One of the officers of the court was
blindfolded, two slips of paper with each candidates names written thereon
were placed in a hat, and the officer drawing therefrom, Eric Bowman was
declared elected the sixth trustee.
Village Of Carbon Cliff
The village of Carbon Cliff lies in the south part of Hampton Township,
and is principally noted for its pottery and tile works.
November 13, 1906, thirty-seven legal voters of Hampton Township, desiring
village incorporation, petitioned the county court for same. The court
ordered an election to be held on the 8th day of December, 1906, for or
against village organization, the election to be held at Hennegan's store.
The result of said election was fifty-five votes for village organization
and twenty-eight votes against same. An order was issued calling for an
election for six trustees of the village the 12th of January, 1907. W. R.
Carey, William Gearhardt, J. A. Hennegan, Claus F. Hansen, R. V. O'Donnell
and P. N. Hennegan being elected.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908