Mrs. Kathryn W. Bluedorn >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 Kathryn W. Bluedorn 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: Bluedorn, Petersen, Hencher, Kurt, Schumacher, Sepke, Specie, Eggers. Mrs. Kathryn Bluedorn, who owns a valuable tract of one hundred and fifty-nine acres in Davenport township, is the widow of Frederick O. Bluedorn and a daughter of August and Kathryn Petersen, who were among the very early German settlers of Scott county. They came from Germany in 1843 and upon their arrival here took up from the government the tract now occupied by their daughter. It was prairie land, and had never known the touch of plow or harrow, so that it was a difficult task that confronted the family when they set out to make their home in the new world. Mr. Petersen broke the land, prepared it for cultivation and instituted some of the improvements which now adorn the property. On this homestead, Mrs. Bluedorn began her life, April 30, 1850. She was enrolled as a pupil in the district school of the locality, but owning to the death of her father, while she was still a child, she was forced to leave her lessons before well advanced in her studies and assist with the great amount of work there was to be done at home. She was but little more than eighteen years of age when, on the 10th of November, 1868, she gave her hand in marriage to Frederick Bluedorn, who had been born in Germany in 1840 and had come to this land with his parents, Charles and Louisa Bluedorn, when he was about fifteen years of age. He settled first in Davenport, where he worked at the trade of a cabinetmaker and later engaged in farm labor in the township of Davenport. After his marriage he assisted in the operation of the farm belonging to his wife but was called to his final rest in 1892. Mrs. Bluedorn became the mother of eleven children. Emelia married Vernard Hencher, of Davenport, and they have two children, Adolph and Florence. Gustave, who is residing in Sheridan township, wedded Miss Anna Kurt, and they have three daughters, Norma, Mildred and Malinda. Rosie became the wife of William Schumacher, of Davenport township, and they have on daughter, Rosie. Rudolph married Miss Rosie Sepke. They live in Walcott, Iowa, and have four sons, Herbert, Rudolph, Edgar and Carl. Theodore, who lives in Sheridan township, wedded miss Emma Kurt, and they have three daughters and one son, Edna, Ermal, Hilda and Stella. Emanda married Adolph Specie, of Davenport township, and they have one daughter, Ella. Fannie became the wife of John Eggers, of Davenport, Iowa. Frank lives at home and operates his mother's farm. The other three children died in infancy. Mrs. Bluedorn has experienced the many hardships which fell to the lot of those courageous men and women who sought to make a home for themselves in this country in the early years of its settlement, but she has also surmounted all the trials of that period and in addition to being well situated now she has the satisfaction of knowing that her children have grown to a useful maturity and, having profited by her teachings, hold honorable positions in their respective communities. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES