I'm very grateful for the addition of this newspaper article to the website because it answers some of the questions I've had about transportation in Iowa before the railroads "crossed the river" The only date within the article, however, is 1886, the date Mr. Schick died. Does any one know when he might have actually arrived in Davenport and begun setting up his business? Some of my ancestors arrived similarly, by ship, at New Orleans and came up the river in the 1836. Others landed in New York and got to Davenport, overland through Pennsylvania, c1846-1848. Would anyone who knows early Davenport history better than me be willing to make a guess at the date when the population had reached 8000, the railroad had reached Rock Island, there was no bridge, and Davenport was a one bus, stage coach town? Thanks, Mary Jane Researching the PORTER and STEWART families. > "SCHICK EXPRESS" EARLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF PIONEER DAVENPORT > > Before the good citizens of Davenport began to bother their heads with > "traction problems"; before even the remote and dilatory horse-car rumbled its > unwieldy way thru the muddy streets of the infant city, Davenport had a > "transportation system." > It is a small but unforgotten chapter in the early history of Davenport, > then a thriving little frontier town of 8000 inhabitants, a town without a > railroad but with five stage lines running to other settlements in Iowa. The > history of the first transportation system is contained in Davenport's first > city directory-a small but ambitious volume. > In this little directory, which looks like a little primer compared to the > big, thick volumes necessary at present, we read as follows: > "Davenport Express- a splendid omnibus, bearing this designation, runs to > East Davenport, leaving the corner of Second and Brady streets at 10 o'clock and > 6 1/2 o'clock a.m. and at 2 and 6 p.m.; makes trips every morning and evening to > Rock Island depot in time for the cars. Private parties can also be > accommodated. On Sundays will run from the above corner to the Bluff.- John > Schick, Propr." > > A Pioneer Leader. > john Schick was the father of Joe, Charles, John and Julius Schick, all > well-known Davenport business men. He was one of the pioneer residents and > industrial leaders of Davenport. A native of the village of Niederklein > Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, he came to the United States, when a young man, to > make his fortune. The journey was made in a sailing ship and was a long, tedious > voyage lasting several weeks. > Landing at New Orleans, the young German immigrant took passage on a > Mississippi river steamboat and started on the journey upstream to Davenport. It > was flood time on the Mississippi and as Mr. Schick was carried slowly upriver > he saw houses washing down the river and great trees swirling along in the > current. On some of the houses chickens were perched. The boat rescued many > people from drowning in the inundated lands. > > Bus Cost $1,000. > Arriving at St. Louis, the young immigrant purchased an omnibus, the best he > could buy. It cost him $1,000 in gold, a large part of the savings he had > brought with him. Coming to Davenport, he put the rest of his savings in four > iron-gray horses, and splendid animals they were. His young wife decked them out > with red, white and blue ribbons, and they made a splendid appearance. Old > residents of Davenport say it was the finest omnibus that the city ever boasted. > At that time the railroad stopped at Rock Island. But here in Davenport > there were numerous hotels and there was a large travel to and from the city. > There were three passenger trains a day from Rock Island to Chicago, one at 9:15 > a.m., one at 7 p.m. and one at 6:45 a.m. The first arrived in Chicago at 8 p.m. > and the second at 4:30 a.m. Ten hours and thirty-five minutes to make the trip > from Davenport to Chicago! The time card is given in the first Davenport > directory. > > A Real Stage Town. > Davenport was a real stage-coach town in those days. There was the stage to > Iowa City, one to Cedar Rapids, one to Dubuque, and two to LeClaire. And the > Schick omnibus, in addition to making the trip to Rock Island to carry > passengers from the end of the railroad line to Davenport, also ran the > transportation to East Davenport. > East Davenport was a village, then, if you please, not a suburb of > Davenport. It was located about a mile and a quarter east of the city of > Davenport. When the Burtis house, then a magnificent hotel opened up business > for the first "Bridge Line" grew. There was no bridge across the Mississippi at > first, and the bus did not run every day in the year. > In the summer time the bus was driven on the ferry boat and carried across > the river. In the winter, the bus crossed on the ice. Sometimes the ice near > shore melted and the stage was driven through the water sometimes two to three > feet deep until the solid ice farther in the stream was reached. > > Bus Didn't Pay. > But the first transportation system in Davenport was not a paying venture. > Mr. Schick lost all of the money he put into it. It was at that time that a gold > rush to California was on and the young Davenporter joined the stream of gold > seekers. He drove an ox team from here to Denver, walking all the way on foot. > Shortly after arriving at Denver he started back home, disillusioned, penniless, > and alone. He was to walk back across the plains to his home and wife in Iowa. > Had he not been an exceptionally strong man, Mr. Schick would never have > completed his journey, he often told his family in the days afterward. > The Indians were his best friends he said. They gave him things to eat and > directed him from one camp to another. When eventually he did arrive in > Davenport, half starved but with a crust of bread in his pocket and a beard > seven inches long, his appearance was so changed that his wife did not know him. > He then entered the drug business, "staked" by J.M. Selle, a boot merchant, and > followed the occupation until he died in 1886.

Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 "SCHICK EXPRESS" EARLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OF PIONEER DAVENPORT Before the good citizens of Davenport began to bother their heads with "traction problems"; before even the remote and dilatory horse-car rumbled its unwieldy way thru the muddy streets of the infant city, Davenport had a "transportation system." It is a small but unforgotten chapter in the early history of Davenport, then a thriving little frontier town of 8000 inhabitants, a town without a railroad but with five stage lines running to other settlements in Iowa. The history of the first transportation system is contained in Davenport's first city directory-a small but ambitious volume. In this little directory, which looks like a little primer compared to the big, thick volumes necessary at present, we read as follows: "Davenport Express- a splendid omnibus, bearing this designation, runs to East Davenport, leaving the corner of Second and Brady streets at 10 o'clock and 6 1/2 o'clock a.m. and at 2 and 6 p.m.; makes trips every morning and evening to Rock Island depot in time for the cars. Private parties can also be accommodated. On Sundays will run from the above corner to the Bluff.- John Schick, Propr." A Pioneer Leader. john Schick was the father of Joe, Charles, John and Julius Schick, all well-known Davenport business men. He was one of the pioneer residents and industrial leaders of Davenport. A native of the village of Niederklein Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, he came to the United States, when a young man, to make his fortune. The journey was made in a sailing ship and was a long, tedious voyage lasting several weeks. Landing at New Orleans, the young German immigrant took passage on a Mississippi river steamboat and started on the journey upstream to Davenport. It was flood time on the Mississippi and as Mr. Schick was carried slowly upriver he saw houses washing down the river and great trees swirling along in the current. On some of the houses chickens were perched. The boat rescued many people from drowning in the inundated lands. Bus Cost $1,000. Arriving at St. Louis, the young immigrant purchased an omnibus, the best he could buy. It cost him $1,000 in gold, a large part of the savings he had brought with him. Coming to Davenport, he put the rest of his savings in four iron-gray horses, and splendid animals they were. His young wife decked them out with red, white and blue ribbons, and they made a splendid appearance. Old residents of Davenport say it was the finest omnibus that the city ever boasted. At that time the railroad stopped at Rock Island. But here in Davenport there were numerous hotels and there was a large travel to and from the city. There were three passenger trains a day from Rock Island to Chicago, one at 9:15 a.m., one at 7 p.m. and one at 6:45 a.m. The first arrived in Chicago at 8 p.m. and the second at 4:30 a.m. Ten hours and thirty-five minutes to make the trip from Davenport to Chicago! The time card is given in the first Davenport directory. A Real Stage Town. Davenport was a real stage-coach town in those days. There was the stage to Iowa City, one to Cedar Rapids, one to Dubuque, and two to LeClaire. And the Schick omnibus, in addition to making the trip to Rock Island to carry passengers from the end of the railroad line to Davenport, also ran the transportation to East Davenport. East Davenport was a village, then, if you please, not a suburb of Davenport. It was located about a mile and a quarter east of the city of Davenport. When the Burtis house, then a magnificent hotel opened up business for the first "Bridge Line" grew. There was no bridge across the Mississippi at first, and the bus did not run every day in the year. In the summer time the bus was driven on the ferry boat and carried across the river. In the winter, the bus crossed on the ice. Sometimes the ice near shore melted and the stage was driven through the water sometimes two to three feet deep until the solid ice farther in the stream was reached. Bus Didn't Pay. But the first transportation system in Davenport was not a paying venture. Mr. Schick lost all of the money he put into it. It was at that time that a gold rush to California was on and the young Davenporter joined the stream of gold seekers. He drove an ox team from here to Denver, walking all the way on foot. Shortly after arriving at Denver he started back home, disillusioned, penniless, and alone. He was to walk back across the plains to his home and wife in Iowa. Had he not been an exceptionally strong man, Mr. Schick would never have completed his journey, he often told his family in the days afterward. The Indians were his best friends he said. They gave him things to eat and directed him from one camp to another. When eventually he did arrive in Davenport, half starved but with a crust of bread in his pocket and a beard seven inches long, his appearance was so changed that his wife did not know him. He then entered the drug business, "staked" by J.M. Selle, a boot merchant, and followed the occupation until he died in 1886. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/

Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa July 20, 1924 Davenporters' Thirst Was Satisfied Decade Ago by 200 Saloons Two hundred saloons flourishing in Davenport was the highest point of municipal saturation reached here in the old days before the successive waves of reform eliminated old "Bucktown" and turned that old resort district into wholesale and business section. Before the reform Davenport was known throughout the country as one of the wettest and most wide-open cities in America. Most of those saloons ran wide open the year 'round, never closing for a single hour day or night. When the midnight closing law was first put into effect, many of the proprietors had to rush to the locksmiths to order keys, never before having occasion to lock their doors. But there was something worse than saloon. There were things far worse. There was "the dump" operated under the disguise of a saloon, which was no more than a rendezvous for thieves and other criminals. There was the all night wine room, harboring men and women and girls and boys of tender years. Painted women freely roamed the streets of the city. Gambling houses and assignation resorts ran openly and without restraint. It was these conditions that led the late Bishop Cosgrove during a visit to Chicago, to term Davenport the wickedest city in the world. And it was under such conditions as these that the Mabray gang made its headquarters here for several years, swindling their dupes out of millions on fake horse races, prize fights, land deals, false tips on the stock market, etc. It was Rev. Giglinger, at that time secretary to Bishop Cosgrove, who demanded the first reform. He confined his efforts to what he considered the greatest evil-the wine room. Under threat of enforcing the prohibition law, he compelled "Brick" Munro, "Jock" Manwaring, "Perl" Galvin, "Clay" Woodward, and other east-end saloon keepers to suppress their wine rooms and bar women and girls from their places of business. As Rev. Ginglinger had no organization behind him, the effect of his reform was but temporary. Davenport's Latin quarter, variously called Bucktown and the Red Light district, included most of the region west of Perry street to the government bridge, and extending from the river to Third street. It is estimated that in its most flourishing days Bucktown contained no fewer than 40 saloons and almost as many houses of ill repute. The latter also sold liquor. In addition to its saloons, "dumps" and sporting resorts, "Bucktown" contained a number of variety theaters. There was the Standard, the Bijou, and the Orpheon. They operated wine rooms and drinks were served throughout the performances. The "programs" as they were called oftentimes continued until the early hours of morning. At Brick's Pavilion the lights burned merrily and the "bear cat", the Cubanois glide," and other "classics" were in full swing from 8 o'clock at night until 7 o'clock in the morning. The whole east end after nightfall was one blaze of lights and the sounds of revelry, of discordant orchestras, mechanical pianos, broken-voiced sopranos, and shuffling feet floated upon the night air. For years, Brick Munro was known as the King of Bucktown. His famous pavilion, according to his own statement, oftentimes entertained as many as a thousand people on a single night. His weekly receipts it is said, never ran short of $2500 and generally exceeded this sum. To use his own words, his place was a gold mine. Davenport's gambling houses were also famous all over the west. There was the Eldorado, the Senate, the Saratoga, the Ozark and many others. Continuous poker games running three to four days and at times as long as a week were not infrequent. Bert Smith, who in later years made and lost a fortune on "bookmaking" at Hot Springs was generally the promoter of these games of endurance. Among the best known "boss" gamblers were Sam Stucky, "Smokey" Reese, Hughey Corrigan, Ike Gray, "Cully" Flannigan, Charlie Gordon and Os Reynolds. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WILLIAMS Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2658.3.1 Message Board Post: Thanks Elaine. I had previously looked at the Iowa genweb for Scott County, but I find nothing on the orphanages for the very end of 1930 or early 1931 through 1940s. Am I missing something? All I find are histories-- and census records up to 1930. The children were with their parents and grandmother and recorded on the census with them---until the grandmother's Sept.29, 1930 death---at some point very soon after that they were placed in the orphanage. I need a list of residents for a non-census year. Yesterday, I wrote the Diocese archivist as suggested in another posting reply . . . no response yet, but maybe I'll hear something from them. Thanks again---still open for any more suggestions . . . Audrey Williams Stanaland

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2658.3 Message Board Post: You might also try the IAGenWeb Scott County page at: http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ We have placed large amounts of information on these both these homes there. We have also transcribed censuses for both the Annie Wittenmyer Home and St. Vincent's Home for the time frame you're wondering about. Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott County

The "Iowa Soldiers Orphans Home" and "Annie Whittmeier Home" were the same place. The other Orphanage in Davenport was "St. Vincents Home". I was a Campfire Girls Leader there in the late 1940s while I was a student at Marycrest College. Bev Hannigan, Houston, Tx.

The Iowa Soldiers Orphan Home and The Annie Wittenmyer home are one and the same.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WILLIAMS, HOOK, TOOMER, RHODE, ROHDE, RODE, SKEMP Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2658.2.1 Message Board Post: Yes, they were Catholic---thanks a million for the St. Vincent's tip. I will contact the archivist--and I'll post the results here. Thanks again! Audrey

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2658.2 Message Board Post: Was this family catholic? If they were they may have been at ST. Vincents Home in Davenport. It is now the office for the Diocese of Davenport .The archivist can be reached at http://www.davenportdiocese.org/ddo-offices/ Email [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2661 Message Board Post: Los angeles Times Orange county Edition May 16 2004 Derderian,Harry Born March 25, 1926 in Davenport Iowa, passsed away May 14. He served in the Navy and was a loyal employee of TRW. Loving father of Georgette Cooper and grandsons Jarryd and Jack cooper. Service will be hald on Monday, May 17th at 5:00 American Brotherhood Bible church, 1536 E. Washington Blvd. Pasadena (6260794-8717

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2434.1.1.1.2 Message Board Post: judith can you please email me at [email protected] every attempt I have made to email you has failed , thanks cheryl

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2434.1.1.1.1 Message Board Post: judith can you please email me at [email protected] every attempt I have made to email you has failed , thanks cheryl

There was a Iowa Soldiers Orphans home, Davenport Iowa. Major M. B Cochran Superintendent. I do not know much about this place. James M. Dodd and William L. Dodd (brothers) was there 10/1864-01/1867. Their father d. 1864 (Civil War), They were not orphans their mother d. 1913.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2434.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Cheryl, if you e-mail me personally and give me your address I will send you everything I have which is too much to do here. I can't believe my fortune at finding you. I have been unable to remember Anna's last name. Are you Susie's daughter? Was Floyd a full blooded brother to Anna? I believe so. I think Ruth was Irene's daughter since she was born 4 months before they got married. Would you like a picture of grandpas tombstone? It has the wrong date on it but that is not unheard of. People make mistakes giving info when they are grieving. He died of prostate cancer. Grandpa had 6 brothers and one sister but you will never find any of this until I explain some things to you. Judy

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McBride Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2660 Message Board Post: Mrs Ellen McBride, a resident of Davenport for the past 23 years, died at her home 2012 Bridge Avenue, at 6 a.m., yesterday after a five weeks illness. Mrs. McBride was born in Belfast, Ireland on April 23, 1854 and came to America when a young woman. She had resided in Davenport since 1905. Surviving are two sons. John of Davenport and William of Chicago; four daughters, Mrs Thomas Barron and Mrs Loretta Secor of Davenport, and Mrs John Hellman of Evergreen Park, Ill. and Mrs David Topping of Berwin, Ill; 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The funeral will be from the late home at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and at St. Paul the Apostle Church at 9 a.m. Burial will be in St. Marguerite's Cemetery. Davenport Democrat Jan. 21-1928

The actual buildings are still there but the home is not. It is a facility for trouble children and I don't if it is connected to an county or state agency. The records became ward of the state when the orphanage was disbanded. Cheryl

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WILLIAMS, SKEMP, HOOK, TOOMER, ROHDE, RHODE, RODE Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2659.1 Message Board Post: I see that you are a Volunteer posting ---but please keep your eyes open for anymore RHODE family info---that perhaps might be a lead for me. I was checking a message posted this week, when I was surprised to see this posting for George ROHDE. That name has been on my mind and lips frequently as I try to discover what happened to my dad's sister, Dorothy WILLIAMS, born about 1926 or 27 in Iowa---Dubuque I think. Dorothy's parents were Ivy Laura SKEMP WILLIAMS and Joseph Henry WILLIAMS of Dubuque. Ivy Laura and two daughters were living in Farley, Dubuque, Iowa on the 1930 census---Joseph Henry and two sons in Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa with his mother Magdalena WILLIAMS in a rooming house--. When her parents could no longer pport a family, Dorothy's mother apparently gave Dorothy to a HOOK family member --before the 1930 census ---namely a Susie HOOK TOOMER. Or Susie married Geo. TOOMER later. But Dorothy was not with Susie and Geo. in Nebraska on the 1930 census. Knowing that Dorothy's siblings ended up in a Davenport Orphanage at the end of 1930 or earIy 1931, I find it quite interesting to read that George RHODE lived in Davenport, Iowa. Perhaps Dorothy was also placed in that orphanage --or maybe with a RHODE family . . ?? Hmmm. Perhaps the family story about Dorothy is a bit mixed up (as family stories often are)----but her sister Catherine does know that Dorothy was married to a man named ROHDE (RODE ? ) at Catherine's marriage in 1940 to Herbert HOOK in Delaware County. Catherine WILLIAMS HOOK was in touch with Dorothy for awhile--long enough to know that she had a couple children and married again after her ROHDE marriage. Then she just disappeared, but her sister Catherine and all Catherine's family have lived for more than 60 years in Manchester and Earlville, Delaware County, Iowa. Catherine died Dec. 2003. I tried hard to find Dorothy for her, but no luck. Now only 2 of the WILLIAMS children are still alive. Barbara (in a "home" in Dubuque) and Donald, living in Des Moines. Thanks for posting this obit ! Audrey Williams Stanaland

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: WILLIAMS, RHODE Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2658.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you Judith-- I found some references to The Annie Wittenmeyer Home --the former Soldiers and Sailors Home I think. I suppose there are no "lists" of former residents available. Perhaps I'll have some luck if I contact the home--I don't recall if it is still in existence, but I'll see what I can find. Thanks. Audrey

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2434.1.1 Message Board Post: Thomas Boardwell was my great grandfather my grandmother was anna boardwell and george was her half brother I think by Thomas's second marriage, to Irene gates my great grandmother was caroline keppy,I would be greatful for any information you have on Thomas since I keep hitting a brick wall with him , thank you and please email me asap .

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Yl.2ADE/2646.1 Message Board Post: I HAVE TWO PAUL NORTON WATER COLOR PAINTINGS ONE IS CALLED STEAMER LONE STAR AND THE OTHER IS CALLED GRANT SCHOOL MOLINE PLEASE IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE PICTURES OR VALUE OF THEM PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [email protected] OR CALL 1563-324-7882 THANKS IN ADVANCE