| Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings |
| In and around the Rock Island Co, Illinois area. |
| Port Byron Globe, Rock Island Argus, Milan Independent. |
| 1826- Two brothers, Robert and Thomas Syms, sons of a Kentucky Methodist minister, settled in what is now Port Byron. They established a wood yard to supply wood to steamboats. |
| 1828 - Settlers in the area included Archibald Allen, Conrad Leek and George W. Harlan. |
| 1830 - New settlers included Thomas Hubbard, H. East, and Mr. Britton. A son was born to Mr. & Mrs. Conrad Leek, the first white child in the township. |
| 1831 - Archie Allen took his family to Fort Armstrong for safety during the Black Hawk War, and he joined the Rock River Rangers. Upon his return home, he put in a claim for goods destroyed by the Indians, including: 25 muskrat skins, valued at 20 cents each; one Scotch theatrical picture of unknown value; one first-rate penknife; and a dollar's worth of vinegar, this claim cut in half by the return of the 50-cent jug. |
| 1832 - Edmund A. Philleo was killed by John McKinely, the result of a quarrel over claims and possession of land. McKinley was sentenced to prison for several years but later was pardoned. |
| 1833 - Rev. Asa McMurtry, a Methodist Episcopal minister from Rock Island, conducted the first church services in Port Byron. |
| 1834 - Settlers arriving included Walter, Phillips, George R. Allen, Harry M. Smith and Presley Quick. George Allen established a brick yard; Smith and Quick farmed. |
| 1835 - Archie Allen's brother, Samuel, came to the area wife his wife, Candace. They ran a grocery store and hotel. Other new arrivals were Wm. McKenney and Mr. Hathaway. |
| 1836 - New settlers in the area included Moses Bailey, the first blacksmith, Rufus B. Chase, who manfacturered the first white lime for which Port Byron became noted, Nathaniel Belcher, Addison N. Philloe, Astimus Philleo, and his daughter Lucretia. |
| 1836 - In August of 1836 the town of Port Byron was laid out by Samuel Allen, Nathaniel Belcher, Moses Bailey of the area, and Dr. Patrick Gregg of Rock Island. The town was named by Nathaniel Belcher, an admirer of the poet, Lord Byron. |
| 1837 - New arrivals included: Nathaniel Dorrance, who was engaged in farming and later built a steam saw and grist mill; Warren Wilcox, a carpenter; Silas Marshall, George S. Moore, and Misses Susan and Harriet Dodge. Miss Harriet Dodge taught school in a log cabin near the river. She later married George S. Moore. |
| 1843 - A brick schoolhouse was built and paid for by subscription. Sunday school was also held in this building. |
| 1844 - Pierce Barber built the first steamboat, naming it the NAIAD. It ran to Galena and Black River Falls. |
| 1846 - The Holmes family came to Port Byron from Vermont. There were seven daughters in the Holmes family. |
| 1849 - The Congregational Church was organized under Rev. A.L. Bullen. Members included: William C. Pearsoll, Jesse Maxwell, Isaac Hollister, Martha Hollister, Mrs. W.C. Pearsoll, Mr. A.N. Maxwell, Mrs. C. Mulhollen, Mrs. Robert Hilton, and Martha Jennings. |
| 1877- The following officers served: George D. Moore, George McNeal, James W. Simonson, Jesse Maxwell, T.J. Zeigler, F.S. Gates, all trustees; E.H.Hunt, Police Magistrate; D.J. Chinn, Village Clerk; Enos Blinn, Village Marshall; George D. Moore, President of the Board. |
| Other early settlers to the Port Byron area included: Pierce Barber - Justice of the Peace William H. Devore - Mercantile business Capt. George Dodge - Mercantile business Wilbur A. Durfee - Merchant and coal dealer Dr. Wilson Fleming - Physician Frederick S. Gates - Lumber business Robert Hilton - Carpenter Moses L. Hobart - Hardware business Isaac Hollister - Carpenter Hon. George E. Holmes - County judge Hon. Edwin H. Johnston - Lawyer Jessie Maxwell - Merchant and Hotel owner David S. Metzgar - Manufacturer of white lime Dr. Erastus E. Rogers - Physician and banker Henry Saddoris - Wagon maker T.C. Temple - Saw mill and grist mill Tillotson Temple - Mercantile business William Tilbrook - Butcher and cattle dealer Capt. Henry C. Trent - Wagon maker John C. Wainwright - Carpenter |
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| 2003 |