Rock Island, Illinois, named All American City by Life magazine in 1955, is a mighty river town that prides itself on its leadership and sense of community. In every house on every street, there is a story to be told of how the residents came to be a part of this unique city. A few Rock Islanders can trace their roots back to the first white settlements of Farnhamsburg and Stephenson; fewer still go even further back than that, to the villages of Wappello and Keokuk and the Sauk warrior, Black Hawk. In Rock Island: All American City, the authors invite us to join them on a visual tour that explores the area’s earliest neighborhoods, from Spencer Square to Broadway, Greenbush, and Old Chicago, from Longview and Highland Park to Keystone and Douglas Park. Discover how the Mississippi and Rock Rivers helped to shape the lives of area residents and how they have shaped its course; meet some of Rock Island’s first families, including the Weyerhaeusers and Denkmanns, who arrived in Rock Island with little more than a dream and left their legacy in the area’s landscape, architecture, and culture. Also learn the stories of the “regular folks” and unsung heroes who contributed in their own special ways to the city’s rich history.

Rock Island (Images of America: Illinois)

Arts & Photography

Collins, David R.

Johnson, Rich J.

Elsner, B.J.

Pierce, Bessie J.

Photography & Video

Arcadia Publishing

With more than 200 historic photographs, Moline: City of Mills offers an overview of this dynamic river town located on the southern shore of the mighty Mississippi River. This book helps to celebrate 150 years of Moline’s history, beginning with its incorporation in 1848. The city’s history is closely tied to the Mississippi River. The name Moline comes from the French word “moulin,” meaning “mill.” The river, together with some famous entrepreneurs, helped industry flourish in Moline. John Deere and his steel plow turned the city into the “agricultural implement center of the world.”
During its lifetime, Moline has experienced steady growth, welcoming a variety of peoples and cultures. Continued commercial prosperity and a bright future are sure to allow for another interesting 150 years for Moline. Found within the pages of this volume, a special birthday gift from three longtime Moline residents, is a look back in time and an up-to-date panorama of people and places.

Moline: City of Mills (Images of America)

When you start listening to a Bix record, in particular to one of his solos, you never know what is going to happen next. The same effect occurs when reading BIX: The Davenport Album. You read a section, and you have no idea of what is going to follow. The process of discovery is magnificent. After reading Rich Johnson's book, one has the impression of having met Bix, the individual, knowing about his family; about his early years growing up...BIX: The Davenport Album is the embodiment of the famous phrase repeated across the world: "Bix Lives."

Bix: The Davenport Album

Biographies & Memoirs

Arpy, Jim

Bowers, Gerri

Regional U.S.

Razor Edge Press

Rock Island, Illinois, named All American City by Life magazine in 1955, is a mighty river town that prides itself on its leadership and sense of community. In every house on every street, there is a story to be told of how the residents came to be a part of this unique city. A few Rock Islanders can trace their roots back to the first white settlements of Farnhamsburg and Stephenson; fewer still go even further back than that, to the villages of Wappello and Keokuk and the Sauk warrior, Black Hawk. In Rock Island: All American City, the authors invite us to join them on a visual tour that explores the area's earliest neighborhoods, from Spencer Square to Broadway, Greenbush, and Old Chicago, from Longview and Highland Park to Keystone and Douglas Park. Discover how the Mississippi and Rock Rivers helped to shape the lives of area residents and how they have shaped its course; meet some of Rock Island's first families, including the Weyerhaeusers and Denkmanns, who arrived in Rock Island with little more than a dream and left their legacy in the area's landscape, architecture, and culture. Also learn the stories of the "regular folks" and unsung heroes who contributed in their own special ways to the city's rich history.

Rock Island: An All American City

History

Elsner, BJ

Americas

Arcadia Publishing Library Editions

Moline: City of Mills

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Books by Johnson, Rich J.