Baker, Gene (Eugene Walter) b. June 15, 1925 d. December 1, 1999 Major League Baseball Player. He was infielder for eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. Baker was named to the 1955 National League All Star Team and was a member of the 1960 World Champion Pirates. In a career of 630 games, Baker had 590 hits and a lifetime batting average of .265. After retiring as a player he was a coach with the Pirates during the 1963 season. (Bio by: C.S.) Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: Section L, Grave 16
Battle of Campbell's Island Monument d. July 10, 1814 Monument. Dedicated to ten U.S. Army regulars, four Illinois Rangers, one woman, and one child killed during the Battle of Campbell's Island during the War of 1812. U.S. forces (33 regulars and 65 Illinois Rangers), led by Lieutenants John Campbell, Stephen Rector, Jonathan Riggs, and John Weaver, clashed with pro-Britain Sac (Sauk) and Fox (Mesquakie) warriors led by War Chief Black Hawk. The Native warriors won the...[Read More] (Bio by: Dustin Oliver) Campbell's Island State Historic Site, East Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: near the river
Bellson, Louis Paul 'Louie' b. July 6, 1924 d. February 14, 2009 Jazz Musician. Regarded by many as being one of the greatest drummers of his era, he worked with such legends as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Harry James, during a career of more than 60 years. He was born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni in Rock Falls, Illinois and began to play the drums as a child. While a teen, he won a national contest held by Gene Krupa and joined Benny Goodman's band not long after. During the 1950s, Bellson gained wider recognition...[Read More] (Bio by: C.S.) Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: Family plot
Buford, Gen. Napoleon Bonapart b. January 13, 1807 d. March 28, 1883 Civil War Union Brigadier General. Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831, and resigned his commission in 1835. Joined the Union Army in August 1861, and saw service at the Battles of Belmont, Island No. 10, Corinth, and in the Vicksburg campaign. In April 1862 he was appointed Brigadier General, US Volunteers and commanded District of East Arkansas. His half brother was Major General John Buford of Gettysburg fame. (Bio by: Don Connelly) Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: Block 32, Lot 1
Cable, Ransom Reed b. September 23, 1834 d. November 12, 1909 Businessman. Served as president of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company. His uncle, Philander Cable, was president of the Rock Island-Peoria Railroad. Ransom donated to Rock Island its waterworks pumping station. Philander's son, Ben Cable, was a congressman from the Rock Island district for many years, after which time he spent some time living abroad. In 1891, while in France, he purchased a large bronze monument. This monument, designed and sculpted by Paul De Vigne, was...[Read More] (Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett) Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Deere, John b. February 7, 1804 d. May 17, 1886 19th Century American inventor and industrialist, best known for founding the yard, farm and earthmoving equipment company that bears his name. John Deere was born in Rutland, Vermont, on February 7, 1804, the third son of William Rinold Deere, a merchant tailor. In 1808, William sailed for England, in hopes of claiming an inheritance, but he was never heard from again, and is presumed lost at sea. Raised by his widowed mother on a meager income, John's education was limited to the primary...[Read More] (Bio by: Edward Parsons) Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: On Prospect at Concourse, North East corner of Cemetery overlooking the Mississippi River GPS coordinates: 41.5075493, -90.4919281 (hddd.dddd)
Denkmann, Frederick b. 1824 d. 1905 Frederick Denkmann, a native of Germany, was a pioneer Rock Island lumber man, who, with his brother-in-law, Frederick Weyerhaeuser, formed the Weyerhaeuser-Denkmann Lumber Company. In 1860, the two bought the failed Mead, Smith and Marsh sawmill in Rock Island and renamed it Weyerhaeuser & Denkmann. Mr. Denkmann managed the mill's day-to-day operations while Mr. Weyerhaeuser worked to build the business, especially by securing timber rights in the coveted white-pine forests to the north...[Read More] Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Dickens, Francis Jeffrey 'Frank' b. January 15, 1844 d. June 11, 1886 Francis Jeffery was the fifth son and third child of Charles and Catherine Dickens. He was named after his godfather, Lord Jeffrey, the editor of the Edinburgh Review. Like his brothers, Alfred and Sydney, Frank was educated in Boulogne. He considered studying medicine in France and Germany, but abandoned this with the intention of farming in Canada or Australia. However, this never materialised. His father found him a job on the magazine "All The Year Round", but Frank was unsuited to office...[Read More] (Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine) Cause of death: Heart Attack Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: East side of the cemetery
Giles, Warren b. May 28, 1896 d. February 7, 1979 Hall of Fame Baseball Executive. Born in Tiskilwa, Illinois, he began his fifty year career in baseball as president of the Moline Illinois Club in the Three-I League in 1919. From 1937 to 1951, he ran the Cincinnati Reds which included two pennant wins in 1939 and 1940. During his 18-year reign as chief of the National League (1951-79), he presided over several historic events, including the birth of expansion baseball, several franchise moves, and the construction of numerous new stadiums. He...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Hoffman, Gen. William b. 1807 d. 1884 Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. After graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1828. he fought in every major war until his death. During the Civil War he served first as Lieutenant Colonel of the 8th United States Regular Infantry, then as Colonel of the 3rd United States Regular Infantry before being placed in charge of all Union prisoner of war camps and hospitals. While in that capacity he contributed to the suffering of Confederate Prisoners by stifling...[Read More] (Bio by: T. Denardo) Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Mansill, Richard b. 1829 d. 1903 The monument is thought to represent the four pillars of the universe. Richard Mansill came to Rock Island with his parents from Staffordshire, England, at the age of 20. He first worked as a miner in Coaltown. He then, employing thrift and imagination, became involved in myriad interests, including a lumbar yard and coal mines of his own. He was also interested in countless matters concerning the natural sciences and was the author of many books about the origin and workings of the universe...[Read More] Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Memorial, Confederate Prison Camp b. December 3, 1863 Inscription: "In memory of the Confederate veterans who died at the Rock Island Confederate Prison Camp. May they never be forgotton, let no man asperse the memory of our sacred dead . They were men who died for a cause they believed was worth fighting for and made the ultimate sacrifice." This prison began accepting prisoners on Dec. 3, 1863. (Bio by: Mr. Denardo) Rock Island Confederate Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Moskala, Edward J. b. November 6, 1921 d. April 9, 1945 World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served as a Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 383d Infantry, 96th Infantry Division. On April 9, 1945 Pvt. Moskala’s unit’s attack on Kakazu Ridge, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands was halted by enemy concentrated machinegun and mortar fire. With utter disregard for his personal safety, Pvt. Moskala charged 40 yards through withering, grazing fire and wiped out 2 machinegun nests. When strong counterattacks and fierce enemy resistance from...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA Plot: Section E, Grave 293
Oliver, Gene b. March 22, 1935 d. March 3, 2007 Major League Baseball Player. Born Eugene George Oliver, he was a catcher, first baseman and outfielder for ten seasons (1959, 1961 to 1969) with the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. His best year was in 1965 when he had 106 hits with 21 homeruns. In 786 career games, Oliver had 546 hits with a .246 lifetime batting average. He died from complications after lung surgery. (Bio by: C.S.) Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Pfeffer, Edward Joseph 'Jeff' b. March 4, 1888 d. August 15, 1972 Major League Baseball Player. He was a right-handed pitcher for five teams in thirteen seasons in the major leagues. He pitched for the St. Louis Browns (1911), Brooklyn Dodgers (1913), Brooklyn Robins (1914 to 1921), St. Louis Cardinals (1921 to 1924), and finished with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1924). During his career, he played in 352 games. He was a starting pitcher in 280 games, compiling a 158-112 won-loss record. He had an earned run average of 2.77 and struck out 836 batters. In 1916 he...[Read More] (Bio by: Mel Bashore) Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Rich, Louis b. 1896 d. November, 1970 Businessman. He immigrated to America from Russia, arriving as a steerage passenger in 1906. Working as a Kosher butcher, he saved enough money to gradually bring his family to America, and open his own business. In 1921, he bought a truck and started the Rock Island Produce Company, in Rock Island, Illinois. His business sold chicken and eggs which he bought daily from area farmers. In the early 1940's, chicken farms started moving to the south, and the new supermarkets were buying their eggs...[Read More] (Bio by: Dustin Oliver) Hebrew Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Rodman, Thomas Jackson b. July 31, 1816 d. June 7, 1871 Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. An 1841 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he was a noted ordnance inventor and designer of several types of heavy cannon used by the Union Army during the Civil War. He invented the "wet chill", hollow-core system of cannon founding, which resulted in the strongest cast iron cannon ever made. He also invented prismatic and perforated-cake gunpowder, which allowed more consistent ignition in large cannon. His 15-inch...[Read More] (Bio by: John Klear) Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA
Thompson, Chester C. b. September 18, 1893 d. January 30, 1971 US Congressman. During World War I, he served as a Corporal in Headquarters Company of the 25th Coast Artillery. From 1922 to 1926, he was treasurer of Rock Island County, Illinois. He was mayor of Rock Island, 1927 to 1933 and member of the Democratic State central committee, 1930 to 1932. In 1933, he was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses, serving until 1939. Not a candidate for reelection, he was appointed chairman of the board of the...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA