South Moline Township, Illinois
Village Of Silvis
November 14, 1906, thirty-six petitioners representing over 300
resident population, petitioned the county court of Rock Island County,
Illinois, for the organization of the Village of Silvis. An election was
ordered to be held December 1, 1906, for or against village organization.
The corporate limits of said village to be as described in petition, about
two square miles. Result of election was seventy-nine votes for
organization, and six votes against. An election for six trustees was held
January .12, 1907. R. Walsh, J. W. Pike, James Shannon, Wm'. Emmert, F. J.
Ball and Herbert Love being elected. The general railroad shops of the C.,
R. I. & P. R. R. are located here employing from 1,500 to 2,000 men.
Village Of East Moline
On the 22d day of November, 1902, forty-two legal voters of the
district petitioned the county court for the organization under the
general law, of a village to be named the Village of East Moline. The 20th
day of December was appointed as an election day to vote for or against
village organization; election to be held at John Deere school building.
The result of said election was forty-seven votes for organization and
seven votes against. December 23, 1902, the votes were canvassed by the
judge of the county court and two justices of the peace, and announced and
adjudged for village organization.
January 17, 1903, Andrew L. Mills, Thomas J. Gorman, Albert E. Bergholtz,
Frank E. Palmer, August G. Schipper and James B. Hock were elected
trustees.
This is a rapidly growing village, and famous for its number of
manufactories. At present the village is unable to accommodate the
hundreds of working men who are employed there and at Silvis, a few miles
above, and where the Rock Island shops are located. The employees of the
gigantic shops are compelled to live in Rock Island, Moline and Davenport,
for the most part owing to the fact that not a sufficient number of houses
have been erected for their occupancy.
East Moline was incorporated as a village December 23, 1902. It is
situated in South Moline Township, seven miles east of Rock Island, and
four miles east of Moline.
The Rock Island System, the C., M. & St. P., the D., R. I. & N. W.
Railroads and the Mississippi Valley Traction Company electric line enter
the village.
This village offers unprecedented opportunities for investment and factory
locations. The population is now about 600. It has telegraph, express and
telephone facilities.
The village of East Moline was incorporated as a city in January, 1907.
Coaltown
What was considered old Coaltown was more of a locality than a village, embracing a territory contingent to numerous coal mines in the southeast portion of the present township of Hampton and a small part of South Moline Township, and a very active locality it was in the early days. At one point where Samuel Bowles, who came to this county in 1835, discovered the first coal bed in this vicinity, and at one time built a church there. The vicinity was called Bowlesburg; another vicinity Tinkerville. The Silvis mines are still running, and a branch of the D., R. I. & N. W. Railway run there.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908