The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
In 1833 S.S.Phelps had been joined by his brother Alexis, who made Oquawka his home until his death.
After the close of the Black Hawk War they decided to improve the town.
The little log house gave way to the building long known as The Pioneer.
S.S.Phelps had the large columns which supported the front, hewn of solid logs and ornamented by hand in St.Louis, brought up the river on a boat.
(Imagine what it must have been like to the settler living in a log lean-to come into the settlement and see such a fancy building!)
In 1836 the town of Oquawka was laid out and made the county seat of Warren County with S.S.Phelps being the first sheriff.
1882 History of Henderson County