Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 2, Number 3, September 1992 Page: 161
[56] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Rock Island Reader
to each) Altair and Cheatham, the first house having been erected by Mr. Black
in that month, this year.
The Rock Island Land and Colony company secured about 42,000 acres of
railroad lands, and have sold about one-half this amount up to this time, the most
of it to actual settlers, some of whom came in this year in time to make a crop,
and, even during the untoward season, amateur cotton growers were enabled to
raise a half bale per acre. The best of it is that the settlers who have been there
a year are well pleased with the change of residence, and especially with the
genial climate. The productiveness of the land, under their mode of culture, deep
plowing and keeping their crops clear of weeds, is better than heretofore credited
to that section. Rock Island at present contains within its limits about thirty-five
families, say a population of two hundred, all energetic and industrious in building
up new homes. The town and vicinage supports a splendid school, with an eight
months' free term, under the conduct of Prof. S. L. Miller, an accomplished
gentleman and fine scholar. There are sixty pupils, and the building is fine for
its size, being furnished with the latest modern furniture, and very comfortable
for pupils. The school building is also used for church purposes, no church
building having been erected, but will be in the near future. This school is the
best advertisement for the town.
A depot is soon to be erected, the arrangements having been made. In
business we noted the general merchandise store of Mr. D. A. Black, the drug
store of Dr. Woodruff, the hardware and implement store of Mr. N. C. Rigg, who
also acts as depot and express agent, the cosy little hotel of Mr. John Baxter,
the feed store of Mr. H. A. Brown, the lumber yard of Messrs. Seymour & Waugh,
the livery stable of Mr. Foley, the gin of Mr. Smothers, and the land office of Mr.
Charles Peterson, with Mr. J. W. Tinkler as Adjutant. Mr. Smothers is also
preparing to put in a blacksmith shop of more enlarged capacity. A public well
with an wind mill attached, furnishing an abundant supply of excellent water,
with conveniences for the citizens and troughs for stock, graces the center of the
place.
Outside the town limits the land is divided into tracts of twenty and forty
acres, to bring it into reach of all immigrants, any one of whom can buy one or
more of the tracts, if desired. Seven or eight houses near town are in course of
construction, three of them of two stories, showing that a good class of
immigrants are coming in. They are building up that section right along, and are
adding materially to the wealth and prosperity of Colorado county.
December 31, 1896 Rock Island Ripples: Our excursion of December 17th was a complete success,
as nearly every one purchased land, aggregating nearly three thousand acres. ...
Two immigrant cars belonging to Mr. Sam A. Crockett and Rev. Henry Eubank
arrived last night. This makes six cars of this kind received here this week. ...
Farm houses are making a splendid show upon the bosom of our vast prairie, and
in a few months more this magnificent stock region of Colorado county will have
been transformed. The plow, the great civilizer, is turning over the soil
preparatory for a crop. These people come from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and
Missouri. They are industrious and energetic and will be an important factor in
the development and advancement of our material prosperity. ... Prof. S. L. Miller
having closed his school for the holidays, and the citizens of Rock Island thinking
it would afford amusement for the children, decided to have a Christmas tree.161
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 2, Number 3, September 1992, periodical, September 1992; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151386/m1/33/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.