23. Colonel Davenport, Margaret Davenport, Bailey Davenport, Susan Lewis Goldsmith Plot
23. Nearby is the resting place of Col. George Davenport, his wife Margaret, stepdaughter Susan Lewis Goldsmith, and his son Bailey. The Colonel, a veteran of the War of 1812, came to Rock Island May 10, 1816, and became an Indian trader. He was murdered in his home on what is now Arsenal Island on July 4, 1845, while his family was in Rock Island watching the holiday festivities.
Both he and his wife were buried close to his home, and the Indians erected a totem pole near his grave. Later, Bailey Davenport had their bodies moved to Chippiannock, where the monument and stone totem pole were erected. Bailey, many times Mayor of Rock Island, was owner of most of Rock Island and of thousands of acres elsewhere. He also owned coal mines, stone quarries and banks, and was one of the many organizers of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. He died at his home, “Bailey’s castle”, a house of 40 rooms and a block of porches, January 10, 1890.
