My link is Duncan Campbell Eldridge, born 3 August 1801, Woodbury, Gloucester, NJ, to Josiah and Sarah Middleton Eldridge. Duncan, bricklayer and cooper, married Rachel Brown(e) 22 January 1823 in Haddonfield, Camden, NJ. They had my 3rd g-grandfather, Jacob Mullen Eldridge, the only child of 4 to survive. Rachel, born ca 1800, died in 1827.
He and 2nd wife Rebecca Elizabeth Lippincott Eldridge came from Rochester, NY, to what would become Davenport, Scott, IA. Davenport was not in existence yet, but a coal-mining town, Rockingham, was surviving. It would haul out over 60,000 tons of bituminous coal, referred to as "by2minutes" because it burned quickly with heavy black smoke.
The question came as to the Scott County seat.
Since Rockingham had been in existence, it was the heavy choice.
Duncan, mover and shaker, took a horse and buggy to the Wisconsin territory capital, Dubuque, Iowa, rounded up the German, Welsh, Cornish miners, promised all the beer and alcohol they could drink, and food, if they would come with him to Scott County downriver, say they were residents, and vote for Davenport as the county seat.
It failed and Duncan was admonished by the Judge.
It came up for a vote again, Duncan again went to Dubuque and brought miners to Davenport. The vote failed and Duncan was again admonished.
The third time worked. Davenport, Scott, IA was named the county seat. Davenport was platted in 1839 with Scott County, already in existence, named after Gen. Winfield Scott, as the county seat. Duncan helped build the courthouse, since demolished and replaced with its 3rd iteration over time.