IN THE BEGINNING The immigration this year was but small, only some half-dozen families coming in.  The first hotel or tavern was put up this year, and opened by Edward Powers.  It was located on the corner of Front street and Ripley.  It was put up by Messrs. Davenport and LeClaire, and was called "Davenport Hotel" - in honor of the "city".  The first saloon was also started this year by an old sea captain, John Litch.  It was a log house, and stood on Front street.  It was long a favorite resort for the politician and those who felt the necessity of using a "little wine for the stomach's sake and their often infimities."  The captain did not always live up to the letter of the law and the matter of license was probably contrary to his convictions of right, as he was on more than one occasion taken in hand by the board of county commissioners. In October, 1836, James McIntosh opened a small stock of goods in a log house, built by A. LeClaire, on the corner of Ripley and Third streets.  In D ecember following D. C. Eldridge also opened a large stock of goods, and claims to be the first to keep a general assortment, with the intention of making it a business. In the fall of 1836 a son was born unto Levi S. Colton, the first birth in the new village.  The first female child born was a daughter of D. C. Eldridge, in the spring of 1837. The town of Davenport was incorporated by the legislature in the winter of 1838-9, and the first election for township officers was held April 1, 1839.  Rodolphus Bennett was elected mayor; Frazer Wilson, recorder; and Dr. A. C. Donaldson, D. C. Eldridge, John Forrest, Thomas Dillon and John Litch, trustees.  The town council held its first meeting April 20.  James M. Bowling was appointed treasurer; William Nichols, street commissioner; and W. H. Patton, marshal. 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