RURAL TOWNSHIP
The first settlers of Rural, which formerly formed part of Coal Valley Township, were Thomas and Davis Goodlow,
brothers, who built the first house on section 29. John Farlow being the second, who came from Pre-emption Township,
at which place he was the first settler. He built the small house on section 30 of this township. The first child
born was a son of John Farlow, in 1839. The first marriage was that of David Goodlow and Nancy Farlow.
Before the year 1840 the following persons came to this township: A. L. and A. N. Sayre, J. M. Wilson, Capt. J.
A. Jordan and Daniel Valentine. Capt. Jordan and Mr. Valentine lived just over the line in Pre-emption, but most
of their land being in Rural they finally built in this township. The first school was taught by Seth Trego, in
a private house. The first school house was built in 1846, by contributions from the following persons: Capt. J.
A. Jordan, Albert N., Alonzo S. and M. Sayre, J. M. Wilson, Daniel Valentine and William Crist. These persons also
contributed money to secure the first teacher, Mr. Shedd.
Robert Middleham, Patrick Campbell, Henry Brown, Charles Wilkinson, Michael Ballman, Philip Deal and Alexander
Gordon, all of whom had families, arrived in what is now known as Rural Township, about the year 1848. At that
time the nearest habitation was six miles, at Milan (Camden Mills at that time.) Rock Island then was the nearest
postoffice.
Alexander Bailey, who won the appellation of "Old Satan" among his neighbors, was also among the early
Rural settlers. He squatted on and held the southwest corner of section 1. His place was soon known as "Satan's
Kingdom" and even to this day the land he held as a squatter is called "The Kingdom."
In 1850 Francis Bailey settled on a farm in section 11, and soon thereafter a school house was built on his land,
which is still known as the Bailey School House.
In 1851 William and Charles Bailey, with their families, lived in the only log house in what is now Coal Valley.
John C. Bailey relates that when he arrived in Rock Island, in 1849, that he labored for $4.00 per month and got
a grocery order for pay. The family settled in Rural Township in 1851. They broke prairie for several years with
oxen of from four to six to a plow. Upon one occassion they broke forty acres of ground for a neighbor and received
as remuneration the munificent sum of $80.00 all in silver 50 cent pieces. At another time they broke a like number
of acres for the same money and considered that they were making money rapidly.
Source: "Historic Rock Island County : history of
the settlement of Rock Island County from the earliest known period to the present time : embracing references
of importance, and including a biography of Rock Island County's well-known citizens."
Rock Island, Ill.: Kramer & Co., 1908
©2006 K. Torp
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