Fritz Rann Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. To view the picture of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Rann that accompanies this biography, please go to the main Scott county, Iowa page at: http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ and click on Pictures/ Documents section. Surnames: Rann, Rusch, Stearhmann. A valuable farm of two hundred and ten acres in Cleona township still pays tribute to Fritz Rann, although he has put aside the active work of the fields and is now living retired in Davenport. He was for many years busily engaged in tilling the soil and his labors brought him the success which enables him now to rest from further effort. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, September 6, 1844, and is a son of Frederick and Louisa Rann. The father was a laborer there and remained in his native country until 1872, when he and his wife came to America, joining their son Fritz, who had some time before crossed the Atlantic. They both died in Davenport, the father when eighty-seven years of age, the mother when about fifty-five years of age. In their family were three children: Fritz; Peter, who is a retired farmer living in Muscatine, Iowa; and Henry, whose home is in Omaha. Fritz Rann attended school in Germany and afterward learned the cooper's trade, but followed farming in Germany until he came to the United States. In 1870 he landed at New York and made his way direct to Davenport. Soon he secured employment as a farm hand in Scott county and worked inthat way for about five years, after which he went to Nebraska, where he rented a farm. Two years later, however, he lost all of his money and returned to Scott county. Here he again worked as a farm hand in Cleona township and they lived thereon for about two years, after which they removed to Davenport, where Mr. Rann has since made his home. Mr. Rann has been married twice. In 1880 he wedded Miss Minnie Rusch, who died in 1895. In the fall of the same year he wedded Louisa Stearhmann and unto them was born one child, who died in infancy. Mr. Rann now rents his farm and from it derives a good income, so that he does not have to resort to active labor for a livelihood. He is a member of the Claus Grothe Gilde and is well known among the German-American citizens of the county. All entertain fro him confidence and good will. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES