Popular+Nineteenth+Century+Agriculturalists+of+Rock+Island+County

Original Author: Andrew Demeulemeester, ENG340 FL10 Revision Author:
 * Popular Nineteenth Century Agriculturists of Rock Island County**

Before the Quad Cities area became the Quad Cities, many individuals flocked to this newly acquired area to begin a life of agriculture. This fertile land next to the Mississippi proved to be the perfect area for business life, as well as settling down with a family. Below are a few individuals who came to the area in hopes of leading successful lives, but by helping themselves they helped to shape Rock Island county as well as the counties surrounding.

Benedict Laflin was the son of Parley Laflin who came to live in Rock Island in 1840 and purchased 160 acres of land. After the development of his land he began to raise cattle and take them to markets in the Chicago area. He then tried his hand in “general farming” and continued to farm until the day he died in May, 1850. Benedict and his brother Charles Laflin came to the Rock Island area when they were only fifteen years old and settled and farmed land of their own, which they held around the area of their father’s farm. Benedict Later married Miss Eliza Phares and they later came to raise four children. Mr. Laflin later came to participate in politics and did everything in his power to ensure the welfare of his county and state (Clarke 124-25).

“Charles H. Perrin, one of the active and enterprising business men of Moline, holds the responsible position of purchasing agent for the Moline Plow Company…” (Clarke 125) He was born in March 1845 in Massachusetts to his father H. A. Perrin. H. A. Perrin and his family moved to Henry county, near what is now known as Geneseo in 1855. It was in Henry county that Mr. Perrin had his first agricultural encounter. “He opened up and developed a valuable farm, which he cultivated for a number of years and then removed to Wyanet, Bureau county, where he spent his last years in retirement.” (Clarke 125) When Charles’ parents moved to Henry county, he stuck with them. While staying with his parents, “he assisted in improving and cultivating the home farm…In early life [he] successfully engaged in teaching during the winter season, while in the summer months he assisted in the work of the farm.” (Clarke 126) He later went began a job with Deere & Company where three years later he accepted a position as purchasing agent. He later took a position as purchasing agent for the Moline Plow Company (Clarke 126).

Le Ray Hoskins can also be credited with improving the agricultural well being of Rock Island county. According to Mr. Hoskins way of thinking,

the common-place duties of life, trivial though they may seem to the casual observer, demand for their proper fulfillment the same admirable qualities of character which in a higher degree and under other certain circumstances attract universal notice and approbation. However it may seem to the superficial mind, our rural communities furnish an excellent field for the development of the traits which go to making of good citizens and one purpose of this work is the preservation of records which show the innate worth and dignity of such a life. (Clarke 136)

Mr. Hoskins’s father and mother both passed away before he came to live in Rock Island county. While still alive, his father developed a two hundred acre farm in New York, which made him one of the most prosperous agriculturists in the area. Following his parents death, Hoskins paid off all debt incurred by his family and moved to Illinois. In 1865 he sold his old home farm and came to Rock Island county, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of bottom lands on Rock river. His first home was a small residence which he occupied while opening up his farm, but this was later replaced by a large substantial dwelling. Good barns and other outbuilding were also erected and the place was converted into one of the most desirable farms of Moline township. (Clarke 137)

Mr. Hoskins continued to purchase land until he had nearly four hundred acres of land. He also began to dabble in dairying until he built enough money to retire. While living in Rock Island county Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins had three children. Two of which grew up to be involved in agriculture and dairying in Rock Island county (Clarke 137). The last individual to commemorate is Joseph King from South Moline township. Joseph was a “prosperous and substantial farmer and dairyman… [from] Bavaria, Germany…” (Clarke 180) Joseph’s parents moved to Rock Island county in 1852 and bought a 200-acre plot of land and began to cultivate it right away. After the death of Joseph’s father, the land was passed to two of his sons. Joseph spent his childhood helping his father cultivate the farm. Before starting his farm life, Mr. King worked for a brewery and after for a hotel. It was after Mr. King experienced a burn out in the hotel business that he began to farm. He finally settled down on a 75-acre plot of land and began to work. Many individuals credit Mr. King with being an expert agriculturist, always commenting on his neatly plowed fields. In 1894, he began to embark on his dairy farm which also proved to be very lucrative to him (Clarke 182). For almost half a century Mr. King has been actively identified with the growth of the and development of the county…[and] through his own efforts he has succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence, and is recognized as one of the most reliable and valued citizens of his township. (Clarke 183)


 * Works Cited**

//The Biographical Record of Rock Island County, Illinois //. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1897. 124-83. Print.

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