This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Davenport Beginnings and LeClaire’s City Rise in Iowa
The article chronicles the 1830s Davenport and LeClaire partnership founding a town opposite Rock Island, the Davenport hotel and early commerce, the county seat contests with Rockingham, and Antoine LeClaire’s key role in development and public works including LeClaire House and LeClaire Hall, plus early churches and growth to over 11 thousand by 1860. It notes notable figures like General Scott, Governor Reynolds, and LeClaire’s cross-river influence. Next week previews Council Bluffs origins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mississippi River
Rock Island
Black Hawk
Winfield Scott
John Reynolds
Illinois
Richard Bache
Antoine LeClaire
Marguerite LePage
George Davenport
Ana
Scott
LeClaire
Iowa
Russell Farnham
Marguerite LeClaire
Rock Rapids
Black Hawk Purchase
Mississippi
William Gordon
Thomas Smith
Alexander McGregor
Levi S. Colton
Philip Hambaugh
James May
William Goran
Harrison Street
Seventh Street
Warren Street
St. Louis
Davenport
Stephenson
Rockingham
Rock River
D. C. Eldridge
Scott County
Cedar County
Dubuque
A. Logan
Iowa Sun
McGregor
Bennett
Rodolphus Bennett
E. C. Gavit
Upper Mississippi
New Orleans