Chapter 16 will have 10 parts and then a narritive from Rev. John O. Foster Part 1.... CHAPTER XVI LOOKING BACKWARD J. M. D. BURROWS, MERCHANT, MILLER, PACKER, HANDLER OF PRODUCE, LOOKS BACK OVER HIS BUSY LIFE AND TELLS SOME INCIDENTS - DAVENPORT A HAMLET OF FIFTEEN HOUSES - A REMARKABLE CAREER - HUMMER AND HIS BELL - REV. JOHN O. FOSTER TELLS OF BOYHOOD DAYS IN ROCKINGHAM - THE VIEW FROM THE DECKER HOME - A RELIC OF CREDIT ISLAND BATTLE (Picture included with this chapter are:  Pioneer Settlers of Scott County - View in Central Park) On the 27th day of July, 1838, I was on board the magnificent steamer Brazil, Captain Orrin Smith, my destination being Stephenson, now Rock Island, Illinois.  When I arose in the morning the steamer was just landing at Buffalo, Scott county, Wisconsin territory, now Iowa.  The scene upon which I gazed enchanted me.  The sloping lawns and wooded bluffs, with the sea of beautiful wild flowers, were a picture of loveliness such as I never had beheld before.  The remainder of the trip I spent on the guards of the boat, enraptured with the beauty of the ever changing scenery. We arrived early in the day at the village of Stephenson.  Before night my business was accomplished.  My landlord, of the Rock Island House, informed me that I could not be able to get a boat until the return of the Brazil, some two days later.  I will say here that the Rock Island House was a credit to the town and a much better hotel than I expected to find in this then new country.  On the next day, after partaking of a good breakfast, I decided to cross the river and examine the lovely little hamlet of about a dozen houses, which looked so cozy, nestled under the bluff.  At that time the ferry was run by that veteran, Captain John Wilson, and consisted of two steamboat yawls and a flat-boat.  There were several passengers besides myself, and as soon as we left the shore, the old gentleman began to collect his fares.  I noticed that each passenger paid 25 cents.  I tendered my quarter, when I was informed my fare was 50 cents.  I demurred of course, and was surprised as well as somewhat amused to be told that for "citizens" the fare was 25 cents, but for strangers it was 50 cents.  I replied, "Oh! that is the way you do it here, is it?  Where I came from, they treat strangers the best." On landing I found a beautiful little hamlet of fifteen houses, with a population of about 150 persons.  I did not expect to see any one that I had ever seen before, but I soon met a man whom I had known well in Cincinnati - a carpenter - B. F. Coates.  He received me warmly and introduced me to D. C. Eldridge and several more Cincinnatians.  The little town was settled mostly by people from Cincinnati.  They all insisted that I should close up my business in Stephenson, and wait in Davenport until my boat returned, and they would spend the time in showing me the most beautiful country the sun ever shone upon.  I consented and Mr. Coates took a horse and buggy and drove with me out some five or six miles in different directions. It was just the time of year when the country showed to the best advantage.  The prairies were covered with wild flowers and the beautiful landscape was unsurpassed.  I said to myself, "This shall be my home." On the return of the Brazil I left with the intention, if possibly could, to emigrate.  As soon as I returned to Cincinnati.  I advertised my place for sale and in a few weeks found a purchaser.  I then determined to return immediately and to make a more thorough examination of the country before taking such an important step.  Both the Ohio and Mississippi rivers were at that time (October), very low and navigation tedious.  I decided to make the trip by land, so purchased a horse and buggy and was making arrangements for the journey, when I was called upon by John Owens, whom I had never seen before.  After introducing himself, he said he understood I intended to make a trip to Wisconsin territory, and he wanted to go along.  He offered to take a half interest in the outfit.  He was not quite ready to go, and I agreed to wait ten days for him.  At last the day arrived, and lo! it was a Friday.  Owens said he would not begin so important an enterprise on Friday and insisted that we should wait until Saturday, which I opposed, on the ground that it was too late in the week.  We were both anxious to be off, so we agreed to start on Thursday evening, and go two or three miles, which we did, setting out about sundown and driving some three miles.  We found the roads through Indiana very rough and tedious, a great share of them being what was called "corduroy;" but through Illinois they were excellent, although there was a great want of bridges and in fording streams we found it quite dangerous. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L