Hi, List, I am looking for any information about the families of Giles and John Martin, b. abt. 1825 in England or Scotland, and their daughter Mary Laura, b. 1838 in England, m. Thomas C. Clark in Burlington in 1856. In the 1856 Iowa census, the Martins and two young men named Robert and James Graham, probably Mary's cousins, were living in Burlington. The Graham boys are listed as born in New York, though I believe the Martin and Graham families both came from the border counties of Scotland/England. In addition, I am trying to pin down the relationship between Thomas and James Clarke, b. PA in 1812, founder of the Burlington Gazette and 3rd territorial governor of Iowa. James, his wife Christiana Dodge, and their son all died in a cholera epidemic in 1846. Barbara Archer

I am searching for the parents of John H. RITCHEY (Various spellings). John H. RITCHEY was born 4/10/1800 in Princeton, Livingston / Caldwell Co. Ky. under the name RICHIE. He married Margaret DRENNAN in Sangamon Co., Il. on Feb. 10, 1825, under the name RITCHIE. The following of their children were born in Des Moines Co., Ia. - Martha Ann RICHIE, b 1842 - William RICHIE, b 1846 - Mary RICHIE, b 1847 - Jane RICHIE, b 1849. John H. RITCHEY, d on 12/19/1869 @ Mt. Pleasant, Ia. - Margaret Drennan RITCHEY, d 6/1/1873 @ Mt. Pleasant, Ia. Both John H. RITCHEY and Margaret Drennan RITCHEY are buried in Carter Cemetery, Des Moines Co., Ia. Any / all information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Cliff - E- Mail Threethumbs@webtv.net

Greetings! I would like to introduce myself as the new List Administrator for the Des Moines County, IA mailing list. I have been researching in the county for about 8 months so I'm sure there are a few things some of you could tell ME about Des Moines County. My ggg-grandfather, Joachim Christian Drebenstedt (b 1824-d.1894), immigrated to Benton township from Prussia/Germany with his wife and 4 children. Most of the families that his children and grandchildren married into were settled in Des Moines Co. and many of his decsendants pretty much stayed in the area and live there still. I was born about 10 miles from his farm. Anyway, I'm digging in and will probably be here for awhile! We have about 61 subscribers to the list and I'll do my best to recruit however I can. The more people we can get on the list the greater our chances of running into a cousin. Here are my surname interests in Des Moines Co: Drebenstedt Groehe Koenig Eckermann Dravis/Drevis Young Boesch McVey Stolba Cummings Thye Pritchett Kindig Rice Thie Cramer Lucas Bischoff Kent Grone Frank I'll pass on helpfull genealogy hints/resources that I run into with my own research and try to help anyone I can. I urge you all to do the same. Now let's go out there and find our ancestors! Sincerely, Tina Tina@trancorpinc.com

Searching for the desc of Lawson Bridges (born ca 1822/3) and Melinda Porltock. They were married 1 Jan 1849 in Des Moines County, IA Known children: Sanessa ??? [name is unreadable on census] Roxanna Oliver Lucie The last reference I have found for this family is the 1860 Des Moines County, IA census-washington Twp. Any help greatly appreciated Julie Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

Searching for the desc of Hezekiah Miller born 1841, and Elzora Portlock, born ca 1842. Both born in Des Moines County, IA. Later moved to Hamlin, Audubon County, IA. Known children: Lillian John L. Sarah Cora Lulu Jennie Jerome David Any help appreciated. Julie Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

Searching for the desc of Iven P. Lee born 1839 died 1894 married Sarah C. Portlock 12 Nov 1871 in Des Moines COunty. Sarah daughter of David and Sarah Portlock. She was born 1841 and died 1882. Children: David P. Truel Elsa Jane 1880-1963 married Charles R. Funk 1878-1961 Any help appreciated. Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

John W. Ratliff born ca 1830 married 19 Sep 1855 in Des Moines County, IA to Amanda Portlock. It is believed that this couple moved to Bald Mountain, Gilpin County, Co. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Julie Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

Searching for desc of John Otten born 28 May 1821 to Claus and Adeline Otten. Married Elizabeth Portlock 1847 in Des Moines County, Iowa. Elizabeth born 1826 died 1912 in Chicago, IL. Known children: Sarah born 1850 died 1852 Mary 1852 married G. V. Markham John ca 1855 worked for the Santa Fe railroad Hattie ca 1860 married James Edwards Any help appreciated. Julie Dresser Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

Searching for the desc of two brothers, Barnet (1794-1842) and David (1809-1865) Portlock. Barnet was married to Sarah Lines (1808-1852) Children David (1825-1910) Elizabeth (1826-1912) Willis (1831-1907) Melinda (ca 1830/1-???) Warren Walter (1834-1901) Mary Etta (1836-1857) Amanda (ca 1835/40-???) Elzorah (ca 1842-???) David married Sarah Scott (1809-1885) Children Mary Ann 1827-1851 Jonathan 1832-??? Milton ca 1834-1851 Munroe 1836-1847 Sarah 1841-1882 Any help would be greatly appreciated. Julie Portlock webpage at http://www.owc.net/~julie Julie JRDresser@aol.com ============================================================ "Dwell on the past, and you'll lose an eye. Ignore the past, and you'll lose both of them." Old Russian Proverb "What the Son wishes to forget, the Grandson wishes to remember." Marcus Lee Hansen

I want to know where in Sweden an Andrew Carlson is from and what ship he and his family may have come on. I know that he immigrated with wife Anna to US in 1850 or 1851. At one time he lived in Des Moines Co (1853 or 54) and I have reason to believe that he was naturalized there on Oct. 1, 1859. Will the naturalization papers tell me any of that information and where would I be able to get a copy of those papers. A researcher that I talked to said that the application for naturalization will give more of that data. If I suspect that he was indeed naturalized in Des Moines Co. IA then what is my next step? Any guidence would be greatly appreciated! Judy Richardson

Hello, I'm new to the list and am searching for decendents of the following ancestors of mine. Susan Basham, born abt. 1839 in Rome, Ia. Died abt. 1878-79 in Mahaska Co.Ia. Married W. E. Williams, making her my gr. grandmother. Can't find relatives, or where she is buried etc. Also, decendents of James William Flanders, Jonathan Flanders, and Azariah Flanders who all originally homesteaded in Mahaska co., Ia in the 1840's. Also the Kinkade decendents of David Kincaid, b abt 1770, Augusta Co, Va., had a son John Hodge Kinkade(he changed the spelling of Kincaid), b. abt. 1803-1806. Died Henry Co. Ia abt 1860. Looking for the decendents of his children, Vinton, b. 1839; Seth b. 1843; Benjamin "Frank", Franklin b. 1849, Martha, b. 1831, Abigail, b 1833. Other surnames, Houghtaling Hodge, Hamilton, Rhodes, Mead, Covey, Schultz, WILLIAMS. Any assistance on the above would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!! JHOE432@AOL.COM

Thanks for the reply to my query. Sorry, I dont understand exactly what your message meant. Do you mean there is no death record of Wm LEE in Des Moines County 1903?????? Or do you mean there is no one there to get a death record for me? Is there a index of deaths in Des Moines county? On William Lee's 1902 Civil War pension record it states that his son E C Lee of Des Moines Iowa was granted guardianship of his father William Lee because William was "old and feebleminded" William died 1903 and is buried in Clarke Co Iowa. I am trying to locate William Lee's death record to document who his parents were. I think he is my ggggrandfather's brother. William was born 1829 in Allegany Co Maryland married and died in Iowa. Both he and his brother John served in the 33rd Iowa Infantry. Edie Chaney ----- Original Message ----- From: <DGra946735@aol.com> To: <echaney@ix.netcom.com> Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2000 9:00 AM Subject: Re: LEE death certificate > Sorry no info here, Keep looking someone knows

Hi, New list for me and I am trying to locate records of the William LEE family WILLIAM LEE died 1903 in Des Moines --veteran of Civil War and is buried in Clarke Co Iowa. His wife was Margaret (WHITE) LEE I would like to find someone to get his death certificate for me and I am willing to pay someone to do this for me. Children were: James E Lee born 1857 John W Lee 1859 Luisa Lee 1862 William Dudley Lee 1867 Annie L Lee 1869 E C Lee 1871 E B Lee 1873 Thanks Edie Chaney

I am a SPERRY family researcher and am in search of information which would identify the SPERRY family members who were responsible for the naming of a community after them in Des Moines County. I know that several SPERRY family members lived in western Illinois, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, and perhaps the history of SPERRY, IA, could assist me in researching those families. I would be most appreciative of any information and reference material which would give me the details of the history and naming of the town of SPERRY. Thanks in advance. Jim Wright, Huntington, WV Email: Jhwham@aol.com

Hi Linda This is what I have on my Joy family Eli Joy b. 16 Feb 1825 in Washington Co, Pa and migrated to Louisa Co, Iowa around 1838. He married Ann Hamilton on 23 Dec 1847 in Louisa Co, Ia. and they lived in Florence Twp, Louisa Co, Iowa in 1850. I computed Ann's birth from her date of death as 25 Jun 1829 and she died 26 Apr 1852 in Louisa Co and is buried in Bethel Cemetery. Her father was Samuel H Hamilton. Eli and Ann had 2 children, Edgar b. 1848 in Iowa and Mary Samantha b. 1850 in Iowa. Mary married Oliver E. Shipman on 13 Feb 1870. Eli later married Mary Ann Phinney on 8 Sep 1853. I assume that he had moved to Yellow Springs Twp, DesMoines Co, Iowa some time after Ann's death as that is where the Phinney family lived. I assume the wedding took place there also. Eli and Mary had 5 children: Lydia Ann b. 1856 in Iowa. She married Samuel Kerr on 22 Apr 1875 James E. b. 15 Oct 1857 in Iowa. He married Martha Ann Heizer on 20 Feb 1879. He died 4 July 1935. James and Martha are buried in Northfield Cemetery next to Eli and Mary. I have a picture of each of their gravesites. A female initial J. b. May 1860 in Iowa Catherine Julia b. 1862 in Iowa Martin Luther (my gr grandfather) b. 22 Sep 1865 in Iowa m. Nellie Olive Clark on 13 Feb 1895. Martin died 26 Nov 1924 in Mt Pleasant, Iowa I have more info on the Joy's but nothing earlier than Eli. If you want more, let me know. Ron Garmoe PapaRG@aol.com

I am doing a research for my wife. Her Gr Gr Grandfather was John Harlan Ritchey. There has been some question on the middle name. This was taken from relatives scratch pads. John H. RICHIE was born on April 10, 1800 in Princeton, Caldwell/Livingston Co. Ky.. Under the name RICHIE. He married Margaret DRENNAN in Sangamon, Co. Il. on Feb. 10, 1825, under the name RITCHIE. He died in Mt. Pleasant, Ia. on Dec. 19, 1869 and is buried in Carter Cemetery under the name RITCHEY. I would like to find the parents and brothers and sisters (If he had any) of John H. RICHIE. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Ritchey & Margaret Drennan's Children & Grand children: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Children of Robert Richie and Martha Webster: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ William D. RICHIE, b 7/16/1854 Emily RICHIE, b 10/21/1855 John RICHIE, b 5/7/1857 James RICHIE, b 12/5/1858 Margaret RICHIE, b 4/29/1860 Asa RICHIE, b 1/18/1862 Robert RICHIE, b 10/28/1864 Henry RICHIE, b 9/10/1868. ================================= Children of Chester S. Richie and Elizabeth Jarrett: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary Ann RICHIE, b 1847 Alyphine RICHIE, b 1848                         Francies RICHIE, b 1854 Minerva RICHIE, b 1859 (None lived past childhood) ================================== Children of Chester S. Richie and Elizabeth Simpson: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Martha Jane RICHIE, b 11/2/1866 Welcome S. RICHIE, b 3/3/1868 Carrie L. RICHIE, b 11/12/1872 Cora B. RICHIE,  b 3/21/1878 ================================== Mary Jane RICHIE, b 1830 was married 3 times. Changed the name to RICHEY on one of her marriages. Married to William DESPAIN - William Henry LOVELESS on Nov. 26, 1863 in Il., the name LEMERY has been mentioned in this marriage - ????? on the 3rd one. No information on children from any of them. ================================== Children of Thomas Richie and Lenora Roberts: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John R. RICHIE, b 11/   /1863 Leroy RICHIE, b 11/   /1873. =================================   Martha Ann RICHIE, b 1842 Married to George F. DARWIN on Oct. 15, 1860. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ No info. on children ================================= Children of William Richie and Anna Rowe: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Calvin RICHIE, b 1869 James RICHIE, b 1871 ================================== Children of Welcome S. Richie and Sophia C. Markman: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John C, RICHIE, b 9/27/1892 Jud RICHIE, b 8/21/1895 Ila RICHIE, b 9/20/1898 Harry RICHIE, b 10/20/1902 Laura Kress RICHIE, b 11/24/1905 Leonard RICHIE, b 3/30/1908 Jesse RICHIE, b 3/20/1911 David RICHIE, b 6/29/1913 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks, Cliff

I am seeking to connect with anyone who is researching these surnames in Des Moines County, 1850-1900. Specifically, I am looking for the family of Mary Laura Martin, b. 1838, appears in the 1856 Burlington cenesus with two MARTIN males, Giles and John, both in their forties, two teenaged males, John and Robert GRAHAM. Mary m. Thomas Christopher Clark, b. 1831, in Burlington in 1857; their first son, Horace M., was born 1857/8 in Burlington. Their other children were Frederick, William, Oscar, Walter, and Luella. Frederick and William may also have been born in IA. Thomas joined the 8th IA Cavalry unit of Appanoose County in 1861. I do not think the family lived in that county, however. Would appreciate any leads. Barbara Archer bcarcher@earthlink.net

Greeting! I am researching the surname DREBENSTEDT in Des Moines and Lee Counties. My ggg-grandfather Joachim Christian Drebenstedt came to the US ~ 1870-71 from Prussia/Germany with his wife Mary (Maria?Marie?) and their 4 children:Friedrich 12, Dora 10, William 8 and John 4. They later had Mary b~1872 and Louisa b~1874. I am descended from Friedrich. He married Anna Maria Magdalena Koenig in 1885 in Burlington. They had the following children: Joachim Friedrich Wilhelm b 21 jul 1886, married Estella McVey Else Maria Helene b 25 Sep 1888, married John Stolba Wilhelm Andreas b 27 Apr 1891, d 17 jul 1903 Charles Eduard b 4 Nov 1893 Anna Maria b Sep 1896, d 22 May 1990, Married 1. Hermann Smith 2. John E. Cummings (6 Mar 1940) Arthur Albrecht b 11 Feb 1899, mayor of Burlington Oscar Heinrich b 5 Jun 1901 Hermann Milton b 16 Oct 1903, d 24 Aug 1905 I would love to find a connection with another person on this list :o) Sincerely, Tina McCain-McGarry Research Interests: McVey, Lillard, Guseman, Mitts/Metts/Metz

My grandmother, Elva Jane George, was born 17 Jan 1878 in Des Moines, IA. I don't know if it was DesMoines Co. or City. I need some record of her birth. Her parents were John Lewis George and Mary Elizabeth Bentley. They were Quakers, if that would help. Hope someone there can search some local records for me. If so, I'm thankful. I'm in Kitsap Co. Washington if you need a lookup. Lois

Elizabeth thanks a lot,i appreciate the help. farnell vaughn