Chapter 34 Cont. FEATURES OF EARLY HISTORY The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company was one of the chief features in the upbuilding of this section of the country, and anything relating to this great corporation and public utility is always of interest to Davenporters. Much valuable information relating to incidents connected with the early history of the Rock Island has been gleaned from the pages of the Democrat, published at the time they occurred, and a few extracts from that most valuable journal are here presented to the readers of this history: "September 1, 1853, after the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company had been incorporated, the first tie of what is now the western division of the Rock Island system was laid, with ceremony, on the corner of Rock Island and Fifth streets, in this city. Rev. A. Louderback, pastor of the old Trinity church on the southeastern corner of Rock Island and Fifth streets, existing until a few years ago, offered prayer. A. C. Fulton was officer of the day. Rapid construction followed and on July 19, 1855, at noon, the first locomotive reached Iowa, by way of the Mississippi, being ferried over in a flatboat, landing at Fourth and Front streets at a point almost directly south of the Wiley coal office, where it was unloaded. This first locomotive was christened Antoine LeClaire, because of that famous pioneer[s largess in donating yard room to the Mississippi & Missouri Company. It was built at Paterson, New Jersey. Erroneously it has often been stated and published that the Antoine LeClaire crossed the river on the ice. As the date o its arrival was about July 19, 1855, the mistake is obvious. But there was a locomotive towed across the ice. One month before the French colony came across the bridge on the first passenger train, the locomotive, John A. Dix, arrived at Rock Island. Instead of waiting for the completion of the bridge the engine and seven new freight cars were towed across the ice and taken north on Main street to the Fifth street tracks. It must be remembered that the John A. Dix was not one of our present locomotives. The Dix was illstarred. Sometime afterward her boilers exploded near the Duck creek bridge, killing the engineer. But previous to this the engine was remodeled and turned out of the shops in April, 1863, and was considered one of the gayest little machines that ever went on four drivers. On the head lamps were two splendid oil portraits of General Dix, and on the tender were painted two ocean scenes in medallion. The sand-box supported an American eagle and a gay ballet girl. The general painting was considered elegant in color and finish. The tender was done in a gold leaf in the richest style of scroll and line work, all done by the skillful hand of Charlie Fick, the best painter in the state. The General Dix was for several years the special pet of Mose Hobbs, the oldest engineer of the road, who took great pride in bringing out the General in the most imposing style. He thought he could take the "rag" off any machine that was then in existence." Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/