CHAPTER XXIII CITY OF DAVENPORT ALWAYS NOTED FOR STRIKING BEAUTY OF SITUATION - THE MAYORS OF THE CITY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE 1910 ELECTION - THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS - A SPLENDID STREET CAR SERVICE - WATER SERVICE OF EQUAL MERIT - THE PARKS OF THE CITY - WHAT THE CITY OWES AND OWNS - A FEW DOLLARS EACH WAY FOR EACH MAN WOMAN AND CHILD (Pictures included with this chapter are:  Davenport Mayors - All the following are on one page - Rodolphus Bennett, 1839; John H. Thorington, 1840; Jonathan W. Parker, 1841; Harvey Leonard, 1842; James Thorington, 1843, 44, 45, 46; James M. Bowling, 1847,48; Johanthan Parker, 1849; James Hall, 1850 - Davenport Mayors - All the following are on one page - Charles Weston, 1851; John Jordan, 1852; John A. Boyd, 1853; James Grant, 1854; Enos Tichenor, 1855; G. C. R. Mitchell, 1856; Geo. B. Sargent, 1857; Ebenezer Cook, 1858, 59 - Davenport Mayors - The following are all on one page - Hiram Price, 1859; James B. Cladwell, 1860; Geo. H. Fench, 1861, 62; John E. Henry, 1863 and 1881; Robt. Lowry, 1864; John L. Davies, 1865, 66; Michael Donahue, 1867, 68; James Renwick, 1869 - Davenport Mayors - The following are all on one page - John M. Lyter, 1870; John C. Bills, 1871, 1882, 1892; A. H. Bennett, 1872; J. H. Murphy, 1873, 1879; John W. Stewart, 1874; Roderick Rose, 1876, 77; T. T. Dun, 1878; John W. Thompson, 1879, 1883 and Nicholas Fefervary) The early history of Davenport has been already gone over in these pages, and a repetition here would only tend to tire the reader and consume unnecessary space.  Since the beginning of things in Davenport great changes have taken place, however, and in order to keep in mind the treand of events since 1863, when Mr. Barrows ended his recital of the salient features pertaining to the infancy of the seat of government of Scott county, it may be well to recapitulate here and there.  It will be remembered that at the close of the Black Hawk war General Winfield Scott conferred with representatives of the Sacs and Foxes upon the site of the present city of Davenport, for the purpose of making a treaty with them.  By that treaty a section of land was reserved and by the Indians given to their friend and interpreter, Antoine LeClaire.  Part of the city of Davenport now stands upon that reserve.  Long before this section was settled the beauty of its scenery, the fertility of the soil, its pure, sparkling water, salubriousness of climate and natural advantages for habitation and the building of a city gave rise to enthusiastic comment on the part of the traveler.  Note the following: "At the foot of the Upper rapids is one of the most picturesque scenes that we recollect to have beheld.  On the western side a series of slopes are seen rising one above another for a considerable distance, until the background is terminated by a chain of beautifully rounded hills, over the whole of which trees are thinly scattered.  On the other side of the river is a broad, flat plain of rich alluvion, several miles in length, and more than a mile in breadth, and terminated by a range of wooded hills.  On this prairie is a small village of the Sac and Fox Indians, composed of rude lodges, scattered carelessly about.  In the front of the landscape, and presenting its most prominent feature, is Rock island, the western shore is washed by the main current of the Mississippi, while the eastern side is separated from the main land by a narrow channel, which is fordable at low water.  The southern point of the island is elevated about forty feet above the ordinary level of the river, and is supported by a perpendicular parapet of rock.  Here stands Fort Armstrong, a strong and very neat work, garrisoned by two companies of United States troops; and here will be one of the most desirable sites for a town on the upper Mississippi.  Rock river, which enters the Mississippi a few miles below the island, is a rapid stream, which may be easily rendered navigable, and which affords abundant waterpower for the propulsion of any kind of machinery.  The whole of this region is fruitful, healthful and aggreable to the eye." 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