Mary Edith Raff, 17 years old, was visiting friends in Davenport. She had been gone awhile and her family and friends in Muscatine were getting lonesome for her.~~ Muscatine July 11, 1900 My Dear Edith, I could not bear the thought of your returning home without having heard from me. Hence this postal. Your card to mama at hand this morning; your letters were also rec'd, and guess it was an oversight of mama that the receipt of them was not acknowledged. Am glad you are coming home soon as it is very lonesome and quiet around the house without you.-The family as well as neighbors will be at the landing Friday eve'ng on arrival of boat. Tell aunt Mary that the enumerator has completed his work and is feeling quite "coltish" again. Helen Bernthiesel has a little sister that came to her home yesterday. Mama wants Aunt Frank's house number: bring it down in your vest pocket without fail. Love, Papa-Kindest regards to all the friends. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES

Last of Chapter 16 REV. JOHN O. FOSTER ON EARLY DAYS When an old-timer begins to spin his yarns, people often say, "Let him alone, poor fellow!  He can't well help it, and if it will do him any good, just let him go on; it will not hurt us."  Now that is very knid, and if you will listen to the story for a few minutes, and then are not interested, throw the article aside and read something else. "Black Hawk Purchase!"  Whew!  How that brings up old memories .  Yes, father got the fever in 1837, and he talked about it day and night for nearly a year.  Then, in the spring of 1838, as soon as the grass was large enough for the teams, long lines of prairie schooners started for the Far west though Indiana was also the far west at that time, but neighbors were getting too thick around Michigan City, Indiana, and father decided to move to the Mississippi. The battle of Bad Axe, Wisconsin, had settled the controversy with the Indians, and the whole land once belonging to the Sac and Fox Indians was thrown open for settlers. The rush for the new lands was nothing like the tremendous boom of late years when new territories are opened, but for that day there was some excitement not to be overlooked.  The route lay, as we afterward learned, through Joliet, Ills.; thence over the long, bleak prairie, without the sign of habitation for miles and miles, save at certain crossings of rivers, like that at Dixon, where, if the waters were low enough, the streams were sure to be forded; if not then the new ferry was used, for which great prices were charged.  In due time our new home was made on the shore of the Father of Waters, about two miles below the town of Port Byron, Ills.  There the strong arms of the new comers soon threw up comfortable homes for the families destined to settle there and begin the battle of life for subsistence.  And it was a battle and no mistake, for every thing edible, such as salt, sugar, tea and coffee, and all articles of clothing, were held at exorbitant prices.  At our late home in Indiana game had been somewhat plentiful, but here it had been so generally killed off that there was no great supply left.  When you talk about fish, then the waters of the upper rapids, as this part of the river was known, could furnish enough to suppy the nation.  I have been at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, the straits of the great lakes, and have fished in the pools for bullheads when they were so plentiful that a tubful would not bring a dollar, but to describe the abundance of fish in this mighty stream at that time would stagger the credulity of any common believer. Think of a sixty-pound catfish, a ten-pound bass, a pike four feet long, and a muskellunge - well, no matter if he was never weighed or measured, for he was big enough and good enough for any of the freinds of Isaac Walton to admire.  Father set a trout line one night below the mill, and next day had fish enough to supply the neighborhood.  On a hot summer evening we used to go down to the bank and see the great fish jump up after flies, and it was a sight which has never faded from my memory.  Hundreds of great, gamy fish made this their feeding time, and when the water was a little low, the sight was marvelous.  It may be that something of the scene of other days may now and then appear, but the wanton slaughter of fish has gone on so long that they have become scarce in these later years. It was a bright day in 1840 when the great flat boat, a sort of scow, anchored just before our home, and the belongings of the family were put on board and we pushed off for the other side of the river, into Iowa territory.  That short voyage of a few miles made a deep impression on my young mind, for, like all other boys, I had a great liking for boats and this one, the Young Hickory was a model.  It was the year of the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison, and as he was called "Old Hickory," it was well to name this boat Young Hickory.  We landed in Scott county, and made our home in a beautiful grove about ten miles northwest of Davenport.  The little stream that ran through the grove seemed large enough for a mill-site, and here it was determined to build a mill.  But there were not enough inhabitants to support such an expensive undertaking, and so father sold out. A call came from a place called Rockingham, on the river just below Davenport, where there was a mill owned by Sullivan & Moyer, who wanted a steady blacksmith to whom steady employment would be given.  That was just the opening for father, and teams soon conveyed us to the place.  But like many other new towns, there was not a house to be had, not a shanty to be rented.  To be compelled to build a home on such short notice was something of a task, for, unlike many other places, there was no timber at hand, lumber was expensive, carpenters were not to be had, and the men at the mill wanted the blacksmith to go to work immediately.  That great steam saw and gristmill was something of a curiosity in the mighty west.  It was probably the largest of its kind on the river north of St. Louis.  It was a large building, not far from the bank of the river designed to saw logs or grind the grists of the farmers and do a general milling business.  The proprietors had spent thousands of dollars in the plant and, for some reason, the sawmill part of the works was not a success, probably as no good anchorage for logs could be made on that shore. Father thought it best to call on the proprietors as soon as possible and secure the proffered enployment.  He was pretty closely examined as the head man wanted one who could do almost anything in the blacksmith line from making a horseshoe nail to mending or reconstructing any of the complicated machinery.  He was taken through the mill and shown all the parts.  The new motor force of steam was fully explained, and he was assured that a man who could meet any special emergency when a break-down occurred, would find steady employment at $1.50 a day.  Father did not tell them that he had studied steam power from the day he saw Robert Fulton launch the Clermont, the first steamboat ever made, or that he was present at the foot of Fulton street, New York, when the boat started off upon her maiden trip for Albany, and the application of steam power to boats was an accomplished fact.  He had long desired a chance to see and work in machinery of this kind, for he had constructed a model locomotive in 1831 at Rob Roy, Ind., that was large enough to pull two men over the circular track laid within his large blacksmith shop.  The history of that first locomotive this side of the state of Massachusetts I have lately put in print. So John I. Foster sucured the job of blacksmith and general repairer of broken machinery for Sullivan & Moyer in the town of Rockingham, in the county of Scott, Iowa territory.  That same town was the county seat of Scott county at that time, and there was a young earthquake coming on, the mutterings of which were only a shade less than a cyclone.  Davenport was the candidate for the permanent county seat, and Rockingham declared she would fight for her rights to the death.  The mill men saw in the movement the ruin of their business.  The store keepers declared the change would bring disaster to them.  The farmers were content to go to Rockingham for their grists, and Davenport had not a corn cracker in its neighnorhood, and why should the county seat be moved?  There really was no call for the action. But there was one argument more powerful than all else combined and this was the theme on which Davenport had determined to win.  Back of Rockingham there was a swamp, a big, deep morass, and when the river was high, there was no way to get to the bluffs.  The city authorities saw the point, turned out en masse, and made a long, high causeway to the high ground back of the town.  But the Mississippi had a fashion of laughing at such jokes as that, and proceeded to wash away the obstruction during the next rise in the river.  The citizens fell to again, and made a more formidable embankment, fixed a bridge over the deepest place and in the end beat the river out of its old channel.  Once more the high water arose in its might and carried away the bridge, and I, poor fellow, happened to be over at David Sullivan's and had to stay there two days before I could get home; and then only by the kindness of the said Sullivan who took me over in a skiff.  It was painful to be in sight of home and mother and yet unable to cross the dark, deep strem flowing between me and the loved ones. The county seat went up stream, and the old town practically went out of existence.  The Rockingham hotel, the largest and finest hostelry on the upper Mississippi followed the departing greatness of the town and fell away piecemeal, to be seen no more.  And the mill-well, that stood the longest of all the original structures, for that stout frame bade defiance to winds and weather for many years.  The old engine was taken out and made to do service on a river steamer, and the building was left to decay. But to return.  The skillful mechanic heard of a vacant house down the river, nearly half way to Buffalo, owned by Joseph N. Robinson.  Thither Father Foster made his home and here ended his days. I have wandered over many lands, seen the sun rise over the plains of Lombardy, run through the whole length of France, skirted the Rivieri, climbed to the summit of Vesuvius and watched the play of lights and shades in the Alps, but where, in the wide world, can a more beautiful spot be found than that high bluff jutting down toward the river about four miles south of Davenport?  You, who are denizens of that land, go some day to the top of that beautiful hill where the modern house now stands and look for yourselves.  I have been there of late years and taken testimony from those who know how to judge, that this spot has some of the greatest attractions of any one in western lands.  Not a great mountain range, not the frayed edge of an ocean washed shore, not the beetling crags of Niagara's gorge, not the windings of Bonny Doon, but the cleanest sweep of beautiful vistas imaginable.  How did it look in those days?  Well I will tell you.  Here to the right down the stream was old Buffalo.  Over yonder was Camden.  Here to the left was the fading village of Rockingham.  Up the river, three or four miles, was the young city of Davenport.  With its long white row of soldiers' barracks close by the hill at the lower end of the village, across the river was Stephenson, now the city of Rock Island.  (Why was that name changed?)  And still farther up the stream was the little town of Moline.  In those days there were no great, dingy factories; no tall smokestacks to puncture the sky line, and no bridge to tie the states together.  And yonder, clear and white, was the fort at the lower end of the island with its old log block houses, stockade and loopholes, through which we used to crawl when we went picnicking over there, and the beautiful white house of William Cook about half way this side.  Then look at the islands, three in number:  Rock island, Credit island and Horse island, all in a row, covered with beautiful trees.  Then the winding river, with its broad sweep of more than a mile in width and fully ten miles in length; while over there almost in front, comes in the mouth of the clear, deep Rock river, from the northeast, while yonder, on that high tongue of land just above the mouth of Rock river is the old Indian camping ground which Black Hawk prized more than all his other possessions, and for which he fought till fully overpowered.  And here, just above old Rockingham, was where the troops had a bout with the redskins in an early day, where my sister found an officer's beautiful sword, somewhat rusty, yet just the thing for father to cut up and make three or four good butcher knives. Is this not enough to convince anyone of the beauty of the place where my father's pure spirit fled for the other and brighter world?  The owner of that home on the hill has not given me a reward for writing thus, but I wish he would send me an invitation to come some day and sit on his front porch and let me muse over the scenes of sixty odd years ago; then maybe I might learn his name and wish him as many pleasant memories as have come over the writer. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L

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/2327 Message Board Post: Looking to make contact with any Family of these 2 people. Descendants of Leo F. McKilligan & Naomi McGrath 1 Leo F. McKilligan 1895 - 1967 b: May 03, 1895 d: December 1967 in Davenport, Iowa . +Naomi McGrath 1894 - 1989 b: January 29, 1894 m: 1918 in Iowa d: June 09, 1989 . 2 Raymond L. McKilligan 1931 - 2002 b: August 26, 1931 d: January 23, 2002 in Davenport, Iowa ..... +Joy Hassler m: March 25, 1952 in Davenport, Iowa ...... 3 Julie A. McKilligan .......... +Robert Clark ...... 3 Kathleen J. McKilligan .......... +Shawn Kolthoff ...... 3 Patrick M. McKilligan ...... 3 Terrance L. McKilligan ...... 3 Ann McKilligan . 2 Mary Jo McKilligan ..... +Paul Ehlers . 2 Rita McKilligan ..... +Bernard McEvoy Maureen McKillican

Chapter 16 cont. One of the enterprises in which I was interested and which I recall with satisfaction because it will be a permanent benefit to the city of Davenport, is the establishment of Oakdale cemetery; and I propose to devote this chapter to a history of the undertaking, that the facts, never before all stated correctly, may be put on record. Some time after all the land in this section was supposed to be entered, I heard that the eighty-acre tract where Oakdale is situated had been overlooked.  This was about 1845, I think.  I sent up to the Dubuque land office and entered the tract.  A year later I sold it to John Mullen, an Irish drayman, for $5 an acre.  About ten years later (in 1856) some half-dozen gentlemen and myself agreed that Davenport ought to have better accommodations for her dead - something that would be an honor to the city in years to come.  The City cemetery was inadequate, besides being badly situated.  Pine Hill was a private speculation, which we did not approve.  We organized a company and looked about for suitable grounds.  After thorough examination we selected the ground now called Oakdale and bought half of it (forty acres) back from John Mullen, paying him $100 an acre.  George B. Sargent and myself contributed the largest amounts.  The company also borrowed $1,250 from some one in the east.  When we bought Mullen's forty acres, land near the city was high.  Davenport was having a "boom."  As we could not be incorporated until the legislature met, whch would be two years, the directors had Mullen deed the land back to me and I held it for the company until the legislature met, when I conveyed it to the company.  We employed an expert landscape gardener, of Washington, D. C., to lay out the cemetery and paid him $500 for his work.  He had planned and laid out some of the finest cemeteries in the United States.  The first two or three years our company was very much embarassed.  We were passing through the hard times of 1858-59 and were hard put to it to collect money for necessary expenses.  The loan of $1,250 had to be paid, as the lender threatened to foreclose.  George B. Sargent and myself each loaned the company $500.  The remaining $250 Antoine LeClaire, at my solicitation, loaned, us, I giving him my individual note for the money, as he would have nothing to do with the company.  I believe the affairs of the company have been very prosperous for several years. Oakdale is a beautiful place and will, from year to year, become much more beautiful.  All moneys received from sale of lots, with the exception of necessary expenses, are to be spent in beautifying and improving the grounds.  The originator and the most indefatigable man in pushing this enterprise was William H. F. Gurley, Esq., long since dead, and who sleeps, I believe, in the cemetery at Washington, D. C. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L

In the fall of 1845, after navigation was closed on the river, I found it would be necessary for me to go to St. Louis.  Prettyman said our sales had been large and we would be out of many leading articles before spring, and if I could mannage to get them here he wished I would buy some.  I told him to make up a list of dry goods such as he needed, about a wagon load, and I would bring them up.  I went over to Beardstown, on the Illinois river, by stage, and down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers by steamboat, to St. Louis.  In St. Louis, after my buuiness was transacted, I purchased Mr. Prettyman's bill of goods and shipped them by the river to Keokuk, as the boat was to go no farther.  We did not get there on account of ice, but the boat landed us four miles below, at a small town called Warsaw, on the Illinois shore.  When we left St. Louis it was dark and I did not see any one I knew on the boat.  The first thing I did in the morning, after breakfast, was to take a walk on the guards to get fresh air.  I soon heard familiar voices on the deck below and on going down saw seven young men from Pleasant Valley, customers of ours, among whom I can only remember George Hawley and two of the Fenno boys.  They had been down to St. Louis with two flat-boats loaded with onions, and were then in a delemma as to how they were to get home.  They wanted to know what I was going to do.  I told them I should hire a team to haul my goods, and would ride on the wagon.  When the boat landed us I found and hired a team.  The boys wanted me to let them put on their baggage.  The teamster said it would overload us; but they were so anxious, and being good customers or ours.  I told the teamster if he would carry their baggage I would walk with the men. We reached Carthage, the county seat, at noon, and stopped and got dinner, by which time a heavy storm of rain and sleet set in.  The men wanted to lay over until the next day, but I insisted upon pushing on; so we all put out during the afternoon and traveled until dark, when we put up at a farm house.  I overheard the boys, in the afternoon, saying I could not stand it long - that they would soon have "my hide on the fence."  I thought to myself, "We shall see."  We started out next morning in a snow-storm, calculating to make Monmouth that night.  When we got within five or six miles of that place the men began to give out, saying they could travel no farther.  George Hawley and myself were the only ones to get through, which we did about 9 o'clock that night.  I hired the landlord to send out a two-horse wagon and pick up the other men and bring them in.  He found them scattered along the road for miles, completely exhausted.  I said nothing but wondered whose hides ornamented the fence.  The next day we arrived home safely, having walked the whole distance in a heavy storm, all travel-worn, sore and weary.  It was about as hard a trip as the one I made form Prairie du Chien to Dubuque some years before. I had been packing considerable pork for a few years and I sold it mostly to the Fur Company and to parties filling Indian contracts.  The wheat I handled, from 1840 to 1845, that I did not get made into flour, I bought on commission for a large mill in Cincinnati - C. S. Bradbury & Company.  Our business had now (1847) become well established, large amounts of produce coming in from the counties of Cedar, Linn, Jones, Clinton and Jackson.  Our store was well patronized and we hardly ever closed until midnight.  In the forenoons the farmers in our county, from the Groves and points within a circuit of ten or fifteen miles, would come in with their grain, etc., and by the time they had unloaded and done their trading, another section would begin to arrive from Clinton and Cedar counties and the territory still farther distant - a big day's travel - and would not all get in until near bedtime.  They wanted to unload and do their trading, so as to start home early next morning, that they might reach home the same day.  This made our business very laborious. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McGrath Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Yl.2ADE/2326 Message Board Post: Patrick F. McGrath was born about 1874 in County Clare, Ireland. He emigrated to the US about 1897 and set up a store in Davenport, Iowa where he lived for the rest of his life. I know that for a while his sister, Mary McGrath born about 1879, lived with him. Patrick is my grandfather's uncle. I would love to share family tree information with anyone who might know anything about him.

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/2325 Message Board Post: Searching for any information on Floy (female twin) Vogt born July 20 1917. Floy and her twin brother Roy were living in Hulen, Comanche County, Oklahoma in the 1920 census. Their father was William "Bill" Vogt, but they were mostly raised by a foster family in Oklahoma named Hugh and Romilda Nolen. Floy married a man named Frick and is known to have died in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa August 25, 1991. Her brother Roy Vogt also died in Iowa in May of 1976. Does anyone know of a gentleman named Frick who married Floy Vogt and lived in Iowa?

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/2256.1.2.1 Message Board Post: HI Do you have dates when they left germany. I will check 1860 censes or 1845 and photo and email to you. My email is karmalot@aol. If you wnat other names photo shots let me know. i have taken about 70 from the 1835, 45 census. Lee

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/2256.1.1.1 Message Board Post: Hi M.C. KREBS is a son of my GGGrandfather Matthias Krebs B-1804.have access to Morman cneter here in Vegas and take photos of 1835 and 1845 census looking at church records now. Heading to Iowa in Fall to See relatives. and search records. His kids George B-1873, Louis B-1875, Anthony B-1876 and Herman B-1878. Take care Lee

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Lamb, Goble, Seidlitz Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2324 Message Board Post: >From the Quad City Times Davenport, Iowa (Scott County) Wednesday, January 5, 2000 Phyllis Lamb DEL NORTE, Colo. -- Phyllis Elizabeth Lamb, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2000, at Rio Grande Hospital. Del Norte. Services will be later at National Cemetery, Rock Island Arsenal. Stroymayer's Funeral Home, Monte Visa, was in charge of arrangements. Phyllis Goble was born Dec. 15, 1917, in Davenport, to Vester and Marie (Seidlitz) Goble. Mrs. Lamb was a member of the Order of Moose and United Food and Commercial Workers. She enjoyed traveling, cats, relaxing at home, cooking and being with family. Survivors include a son, Dennis R. Lamb, Alamosa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lester; her parents; and three children.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Clapp, Hawley Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Yl.2ADE/2323 Message Board Post: I am looking for information on the Alan Clapp Mortuary. The mortuary was in business in the davenport area ~1917-1932. Maybe earlier, maybe later. Family obits between 1917-1932 reference the clapps and the mortuary. Did the mortuary go out of business, or did another company buy them? Who might have their records? Thanks

Davenport Times Davenport, Scott, Iowa March 22, 1900 THE TIMES 20TH CENTURY DIRECTORY Errors in Names and Locations and Any Changes From the Way the Names Appear in The Times, Including Removals, Must be Reported to the Office or the Directory Manager in The Times Building Within 48 Hours From This Evening, as These Names Will go in Book Form Then. McCullough Building 122-124 w 3d McCullough, Francis J (T M McCullough's Sons) McCullough, Gilbert F, r 124 w 12th McCullough, Herman A collr The Times bds 215 w 4th McCullough, Julia wid Frank r 1110 Perry McCullough, Wm J wife Josephine M (T McCullough's Sons) 124 w 3d r 124 w 12th McCullough's Thomas Sons, (W J and F J) tailors 118 w 3d McCullum, Elmer J wife Marie motorman Tri-City Ry Co r 1022 w 3d McCune, Cyrus A wife Hannah M trav agt r 1202 Tremont McCune, Miss Eva M r 1202 Tremont av McCune, Fred W, wife Alice eng D R I & N W r 225 Perry McCune, Lee A r 1202 Tremont av McDaniel, Harlin W wife Cora blksmith r 1034 w 6th McDaniel, Henry wife Lillie switchman r 1111 w 3d McDarrah, Bridget wid Henry r 508 Harrison McDarrah, Miss Elizabeth r 508 Harrison McDarrah, Henry boilermkr r 508 Harrison McDarrah, John, detective r 508 Harrison McDarrah, Miss Rose r 508 Harrison McDermitt, Miss Nellie cook rms 205 e 2d McDermott, Michael wks U N Roberts Co bds 731 e 6th McDevitt, George carp Metal Wheel Co r 330 Harrison McDevitt, Miss Mary dom 323 e 11th McDevitt, Wm carp Metal Wheel Co bds 324 e 4th McDonald, Elmer B wife Maggie M driver Schick's Exp r 107 Ripley McDonald, James C wife Lena floor walker Petersen's Sons r 307 Harrison McDonald, John wife Clara L cigars 309 1/2 Perry r 603 w 16th McDonald, Mary wid J H r 1610 Harrison McDonald, Michael r Mercy Hospital McDonald, Paul J wife H Mae clk Barr & Co r 2134 Harrison McDonald, Wm B wife Minnie B blksmith r 318 e 12th McDonnell, Miss Edith wks C F Hansen r 1357 w 2d McDonnell, Frank wife Minnie wks Metal Wheel Co r 1357 w 2d McDonough, James B wife Mary wks Metal Wheel Co r 728 Division McDowell, Miss Bridie, r 105 w 18th McDowell, Miss Della M r 621 e 6th McDowell, Elmer A fireman Gas Co bds 517 Perry McDowell, James I mason r 621 e 6th McDowell, John T mason r 621 e 6th McDowell, Jonathan wife Rebecca D r 105 w 18th McDowell, Samuel R wife Josephine lab r 621 e 6th McDowell, W Grant wife Mina E r Middle rd nr limits McElmurray, Miss Eliza forewoman C O d Steam Laundry r 1048 w 3d McElroy, Mrs. Annie E dressmkr r 724 Rock Island McElroy, Charles M wife Belle foreman Tri-City Ry Co r 3d fl Franklin bldg McElroy, Francis tmstr Keding H & Co r 724 Rock Island McElroy, Miss Ida r 724 Rock Island McEnery, Daniel J printer Egbert, F & C bds Atlantic House McFadden, Joseph O porter D G Carr, r 301 w 2d McFadon, Ober E , D.O. wife Nellie H propr Tri-City Institute of Osteopathy, 47 48 and 49 McCullough bldg 124 w 3d r 9 Riverview pl Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm The Irish in Iowa http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm

Marie Antoinette Sanders letter to her daughter about 5 weeks after Nellie died. Davenport, March 19, '94 My dear Ella, I have been trying for sometime to make all things suit to write to you, but one thing after another would prevent and it is so long since I have written that I am so out of the practice, that I fear that you will not be able to decipher it, for I can only use one eye, and that is very defective. I have thought much about you and many times thought of writing, but I write so little now adays that I can not make up my mind to inflict my poor efforts upon you for I know you have many more correspondents that can give you more satisfactory letters than I can. I hope that you are recovering from the severe strain upon your nervous system as well as your fatigue of body & mind. And I hope that the kind Father will send you the comfort & strength you need to carry you through this and all the trials and troubles of the future, and that we may all be permitted to meet in the better home above, the dear ones who have been removed from our society here, and enjoy a more perfect comp! anionship above, "Where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." I have had the Oakdale lots on which Dear Nellie was burried transfered to you, as I am the only heir to it & I will send you the deed. When the spring opens up and you can come, we will go out to the Cemetery and get the lots put in order and set out some flowers & shrubbery. The grass & shrubbery are getting quite green and bright in our garden. In a few more days, some flowers will begin to peep above the earth. Josie has had trouble with her throat & head and been offered to stay out of school last week but has started in again today, we have all been troubled more or less with colds and influenza which are prevalent. I spent a pleasant afternoon and evening last week at Mrs. Bern's with some of the old ladies of the neighborhood, and had a very nice supper. How is Edith now? I hope she has survived her vaccination and Freddie his sprained ancle. Josie has recovered from vaccination and Catarrh and is in school again. We have all been through our several attacks of winter ailments, but are now convalescent and have been enjoying the evidences of springs return. I think we cannot make much complaint about the weather this winter and approaching spring. With much love to all. Affectionately, Your Mother M. A. Sanders

Recap: The last letter posted was written on Christmas Day, 1893, by my G grandmother, Ella Sanders Raff. My G grandfather, Almon Keeler Raff, was somewhere in western Iowa selling his farm implements and didn't expect to get home until mid February, if lucky. Ella was home alone in Muscatine with the three kids, the eldest, Nellie, was dying slowly of consumption. The rest of Ella's family lived in Davenport. Muscatine Feb. 8th, 1894 Dear Frank, Carrie telegraphed to you of Nellie's death, which occurred at noon today. The doctors have just finished a post mortem examination. I will tell you about that later. I have a great favor to ask of you and Monroe now. I would like to have her buried in Davenport, could he see Ma and make arrangements about the place of burial. We have not found where Keel is yet and don't know when he can get here, its being so late in the week and there being no Sunday trains, if the body can be kept until Monday it may be best to do so. I have consulted with no one but think if it can be arranged, the services will be held here in Muscatine. The people at the Dr's. are very kind and Carrie and Mrs. Dunsmore are taking charge of things at home. The body will be moved over home this evening. I can write no more at present, Please let me know soon if the arrangements can be made as I have spoken of or if you have any suggestions you think better please let me know. Love to all, Ella ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES

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/2322 Message Board Post: Mathias Siems found to have married in 1873 in Scott Co. Also, found in Scott Co., Cadda Twp in the 1892 Farmers. Would like death date and any other info re him, please. Looked under 1906-1911 death records and not there. Thankyou, Pat Sterner

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/2321 Message Board Post: Mathias Siems found to have married in 1873 in Scott Co. Also, found in Scott Co., Cadda Twp in the 1892 Farmers. Would like death date and any other info re him, please. Looked under 1906-1911 death records and not there. Thankyou, Pat Sterner

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/2320 Message Board Post: Looking for death date and any other info on this g'g'uncle of mine. He came to us in 1870's. Found to put in for naturalization in 1875. Found in the 1892 Farmers in Scott Co., Davenport TWP. Looked in death records 1906-1911 and not there. Was Born Apr 13, 1845, Averlak, Dithmarschen, Holstein. Thankyou, Pat Sterner

In the year 1841 I saw the amount of wheat and pork was going to be double as much as ever before, and I was very solicitous as to what I should do with it.  I saw in the St. Louis Republican that the government invited proposals for furnishing Fort Snelling and Fort Crawford with a year's supply of pork, flour, beans, soap, vinegar, candles and numerous othe articles.  I considered the matter and could think of no reason why Scott county could not furnish the pork, flour, beans, etc., as well as St. Louis, which had furnished them heretofore.  So I decided to put in a bid, if I could find any one to go on my bonds, which were heavy.  I interviewed Mr. LeClaire and Colonel Davenport, and told them what I was thinking of.  If I could accomplish it and get a contract and fill it from home production, it would be a grand thing for both the town and the county, and be a means of circulating a good deal of money, of which the people at that time were sadly in need.  Those gentlemen, always ready and anxious to do anything that would settle up and advance the prosperity of the country, were much pleased with my suggestion and said they would stand by me.  I put in bids for both forts, referring as to my responsibility to Colonel Davenport and Antoine LeClaire.  As I was going to Cincinnati I wrote to them that if my bids were accepted to address me there, as I wished to purchase in that market such supplies as could not be procured at home.  On my arrival I found a communication from the department at Washington, saying that my bid for Fort Snelling had been accepted.  On my return home I found that John Atchison, who had been the successful contractor of both forts for two or three years previous, had been in town three days awaiting my return.  I got home about dark.  My wife told me that Ebenezer Cook had left word that I had better avoid meeting Atchison until I had seen Cook; so after supper I walked down to Mr. Cook's house, about a mile on the Rockingham road.  He informed me that Atchison was very anxious to buy me out.  He did not care about furnishing the supplies so much as he did for the transportation.  The Atchison Brothers owned the largest and most magnificent steamboat on the upper Mississippi, called the "Amaranth."  They had been very successful in controlling both the government's and the Fur Company's freight and my success was a great surprise to them.  In the morning Atchison made his appearance.  I refused to sell, telling him my only object in taking the contract was to make an outlet for my winter accumulation.  After talking the matter over all day I sold out on these conditions:  he to pay me a bonus of $2,500, cash down;  I to furnish the flour, pork and beans, for which he was to pay me contract price, less the transportation, and pay me cash down on delivery to his boat, the next June, the time specified by the government.  I now went to work hauling my wheat to Rockingham mill and scouring the country for hogs.  My cooperage-pork, flour and bean barrels-I had all manufactured at home, giving employment to a number of coopers.  This, with the money I had received from Atchison and scattered among the farmers for hogs, wheat, beans, etc., gave our little village and the county a decided boom. About this time there was a prospect of brighter days.  Our German fellow citizens began to come to Davenport in large numbers and many of them possessed a good deal of money, which the country sadly needed.  They entered large tracts of land, which they immediately improved.  This year (1851) the cholera prevailed in Davenport and many of the German immigrants had ship fever among them.  They came by the way of New Orleans; every steamboat landing at our wharf left some.  There was much excitement on account of the cholera.  Many of our best citizens are dying.  A man would be well at bedtime and dead before morning.  Many immigrants could not get shelter and Burrows & Prettyman threw open their pork house and warehouse for use until the immigrants could put up shanties on the prairie.  Many men, now wealthy farmers, occupied our buildings until they could do better; among these I remember M. J. Rohlfs, since then treasurer of Scott county for ten years; also N. J. Rusch, afterward state senator and lieutenant-governor of Iowa.  I always have had a warm feeling for the Germans for their help in settling up Scott county, when help was so much needed.  It is astonishing to see what they have accomplished.  You can find scarcely a German farmer who is not wealthy.  The banks of Davenport contain about $6,000,000 of deposits (which, I believe, is as much as all the rest of the state claims to have), and half of the money is owned by Germans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L

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/2256.1.2 Message Board Post: Hi again, I was just scrolling through the old message boards and saw that you did write to me with the info on Margaret Hannemann and MC Krebs. I have found quite a bit of info since March when you wrote that to me...just wondering if you have any other info on Margaret, to see if she really is in my family branch. I have a Margaretha Catharina Hannemann, born on 03 June 1847 in Sulsdorf, Fehmarn. I think she came over to America with her brothers, Fritz (my ggg grandfather), Johann, and Heinrich. Thanks for your help and assistance! Kate

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hannemann, Krebs Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Yl.2ADE/2256.1.1 Message Board Post: Thank you for responding. I have done a considerable amount of research and have found some more information. Yes, all of my Hannemann ancestors are from the island of Fehmarn, Germany. However, the only Nicolas Hannemann I have found was born abt. 1713 in Magdeburg and died 08 April 1786 in Petersdorf, Fehmarn. His parents were Gottfried and Maria Hannemann. He married Catharina Gertz. With this info, I am not sure if we are talking about the same people. Here's a question for you...Do you have a Margaret Hannemann marrying a M.C. Krebs in Scott Co., on 07 June 1871? I have reason to believe that I am related to Margaret...any chance M.C. Krebs is in your family branch? Take care, Kate