On Christmas eve, we lost a dear friend, volunteer, colleague, and supporter, Gerri Bowers. We are deeply saddened by this loss, which will be felt by us at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center and across our community. She was involved in activities in the Village of East Davenport and was instrumental in preserving the legacy of Bix Beiderbecke.
Her dedication to preserving the past was demonstrated through her work with the Bix Memorial Jazz Society, the Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archives, and the Davenport Public Library. Gerri volunteered with the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections for several years until 2020 when she needed to stay home with her husband, Kent. Even if she couldn’t attend an event, her presence was felt through the support she gave. One memorable instance of this was when she was unable to attend a genealogy night potluck event, but she still made a dish for sharing! It was a tasty salad! Starting in 2018, Gerri supported the first Quad Cities Archives Crawl by representing the Bix Museum and giving a detailed and interesting presentation on the life and works of Bix Beiderbecke. She gave another fascinating program on Bix the following year at the reimagined Quad Cities Archives Fair.
Geraldine “Gerri” Bowers was born February 15, 1939, in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, to Daniel Wesper Hurt and Lucille Foster. She was one of eight children. Daniel and Lucille married on January 12, 1920, in Centerville, Iowa. Daniel passed away on December 1, 1942. In 1954, when Gerri was fifteen, Lucille remarried Ralph McKinley Boyer. He died on September 8, 1956.
1940 United States Federal Census
1950 United States Federal Census
1950 United States Federal Census
According to the 1940 United States Federal Census, Gerri was living with her father, mother, paternal uncle, James, and her siblings, Joseph, Dorothy, James, Lester, Elmer, Howard, and Franklin. Her father was listed as a laborer with a birthplace of Missouri. Her mother’s birthplace is Iowa. Appanoose County is along the border of Iowa and Missouri, so it would make sense for individuals living in this region to meet and start a family.
The 1950 census documents the Hurt household as composed of Lucille, Howard, Franklin, and the eleven-year-old Gerri. Daniel passed away two years after the 1940 census. Lucille is listed as a maid at a hotel.
Gerri attended both Centerville and Davenport high schools. According to the Davenport City Directories from the mid-1950s, she lived with Joseph, her brother, and his wife, Edna.
According to a newspaper article “Davenport woman loves her ‘living history room'” by Alma Gaul, Gerri met Kent Bowers, her husband, when they were 14 and 16 years old in Lindsay Park. Kent Louis Bowers was born to Cecil O. “Bud” Bowers and Wilhemenia Schlapkohl in Davenport, Iowa, on August 29, 1936. They married on June 29, 1956, at Our Savior Luthern Church at 2524 Central Avenue in Bettendorf, Iowa. Gerri was 17 years old, and Kent was 19.
The Daily Times June 22, 1956, page 23.
Morning Democrat June 30,1956, page 12.
Gerri worked as a waitress at Walgreens Drug Co. located at 201 West 2nd Street. Her new husband, Kent, worked for the Harvey Construction Company of Bettendorf.
1956 Davenport City Directory
1960 Davenport City Directory
Before her marriage, Gerri lived at 921 West 3rd Street or True Apartments. Kent was residing at 2012 East 11th Street in the Village of East Davenport. Their first home together was at 1424 Sturdevant Street. According to the 1960 City Directory, they moved to 1125 1/2 West 8th Street, and Kent was listed as a carpenter for Harvey Construction.
“Civil War Buffs have a Ball,” Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), Aug. 18, 1980, page 7.
As the couple began to have their own family, Gerri and Kent developed their own hobbies and interests. They both enjoyed participating in community events, antique collecting, and more. The article, “Civil War Buffs have a Ball,” boasts a picture of Gerri wearing a civil war period dress made of willow green antique satin and apricot sleeves as part of the Civil War Muster and Mercantile Exposition in the Village of East Davenport. Gerri was the chairman of the event which would be limited to 750 people!
The invitation to the ball is a copy of “an 1885 East Davenport Social Club card” or a dance card, that was used by Kent Bowers’ great-aunt, Sophie Schlapkohl who was born and raised on East 11th Street. The article mentions the other festivities planned along with more details about the ball.
“Comforts of home,” Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 17, 2000, page 77.
“Davenport Woman loves her ‘living room history’,” Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), Sept. 17, 2000, page 78.
In the two Quad City Times articles published on September 17, 2000, Gerri’s interest in family history is showcased by the insightful words of Alma Gaul. It shared that Gerri researched and collected not only her own family history but also her husband’s. They dedicated a room in their home to display their finds.
“Bowers,” Quad City Times (Davenport, IA), Jun. 25, 2006, page 95.
In 2006, Gerri and Kent celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They had three daughters: Stephanie, Melissa, and Stacey. The article lists the hobbies and activities they participated in.
Gerri will live in our memories, but she also has a lasting legacy as a historian with her contributions of Bix Beiderbecke Genealogyand BIX: The Davenport Album, co-written with Rich J. Johnson and Jim Arpy. Both these titles are available for use in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. If you would like to learn more about Gerri Bowers, Jonathan Turner of OurQuadCities.com wrote an article highlighting her life and all her work with preserving Bix Beiderbecke’s history.
In 2022, we lost other treasured volunteers and colleagues we would like to recognize. One that we will miss dearly is Leonard “Len” Stevens. Len volunteered with the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center for a number of years. He would work 2-3 desk shifts a month. He always checked to see how things were going with you and would make great recommendations on community events to attend. He also loved helping people research their family histories. We were fortunate enough to work with him as a volunteer and as a board member of the Scott County Genealogical Society. Len passed away on February 5 after a long battle with health issues. To read more about his life, please follow this link to his obituary: https://www.hmdfuneralhome.com/obituaries/len-stevens.
Len Stevens at the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections service desk.
We also lost Miss Rochelle Murry and Mr. Marvin Lee. Please follow the links below to learn about the lives of these individuals.
While looking for holiday items in the archives we found this festive poem in our ephemera files. It was written in December 1957 for members of The Davenport Club, a social organization active between 1945-1993.
The poem starts with the familiar “‘Twas the night before Christmas” line from “A Visit from St. Nicholas” published in 1923 by Clement Clark Moore.
'Twas the Night before Christmas,
When all thru the Club,
No lights were burning,
Not one single bulb.
The tinsel and pine boughs,
Were hung with great care,
As the image of members,
Appeared everywhere...
The poem then lists over 400 club members’ last names from A-Z in a rhyming pattern. Some familiar names include Adler, Bawden, Bettendorf, Bechtel, Figge, Foster, Lagomarcino, Landauer, Lujack, Mueller, Palmer, Priester, Richardson, Ruhl, Runge, Sunderbruch, Von Maur, and Waterman.
The Davenport Club was incorporated on January 29, 1945. Warren L. Langwith, a Pontiac-Cadillac-Packard car dealer, was president. Kirk A. Hills of General Electric Co. was vice president, and Kenneth C. Hartman of the Davenport Bank & Trust Co. was secretary-treasurer. Other members of their board of directors included Hamlet C. Hall of Equitable Life Insurance Co., lawyer Edward A. Doerr, George Kirby of the J.C. Penney Co., Thomas J. Frank of Frank Foundries Corp., Charles Gilchrist of the Alden Coal Co., L.J. Dougherty of the Occidental Life Insurance Co., Albert Uchtorff of the Uchtorff Co. (metal stamping, tool and die works), and Wallace P. Peterson of the Peterson Paper Co.
They leased space in the basement of the Chamber of Commerce building at 402-404 Main Street and hired Seth J. Temple to design the club’s headquarters. The club rooms included a private dining area for its 300 members to network and entertain visitors.
In September 1979, The Davenport Club moved to the 11th floor of the newly remodeled Blackhawk Hotel. The new space featured panoramic views of the Quad-City skyline with a large bar and dance floor, the Grill Room, a library, and various meeting rooms. Club membership jumped from 531 to more than 750. Members paid an initiation fee of $750 and annual dues of $525.
With the move, Anthony Kowalczyk was named executive chef in 1980. Chef Tony had been executive chef at The Bakery in Chicago for 12 years before coming to the Quad Cities in 1979 to work at a restaurant called Huffs in Milan, Illinois. He was the first chef in the Quad Cities to be certified by the American Culinary Federation and organized the Chefs de Cuisine Association of the Quad Cities.
After 14 years at the Black Hotel, The Davenport Club disbanded and closed its restaurant in August 1993. There were many reasons why the club failed at that time. There was the loss of the noon luncheon business after Northpark Mall was built and businesses moved from downtown. The riverboats opened in 1991 and many of the club members entertained visitors there instead of at the club. The flood of 1993 made parking even more difficult than it already was and the new municipal parking ramp had not been completed yet. The Club never made a profit from the food it served and depended on the bar sales instead, but people’s drinking habits changed. The kitchen equipment was outdated and not set up for healthier cooking techniques, and the club could not afford to replace it. The air conditioner and windows needed to be replaced but the hotel did not plan to make an investment in updating the physical plant.
In our collection, we have a menu from The Davenport Club dating from 1992. It features a variety of meal options for its members and guests.
Menu, ca. 1992
The Davenport Club letterhead, 1993
The Davenport Club was a gathering place for the business owners of the city for many years, but with all the changes it could not compete. Other organizations and societies have taken The Davenport Club’s place to help local business owners network. Now we are seeing businesses coming back to the downtown district but too late to help the club. This development has helped revitalize and preserve downtown Davenport. Organizations like the Downtown Davenport Partnership are attempting to provide downtown businesses with opportunities to collaborate and network but without the delicious eating spot.
(posted by Cristina)
Sources:
‘Twas The Night Before Christmas At The Davenport Club, December 1957
The Davenport Club menu, ca. 1992
Kamp, Thomas N. Letter to Davenport Club Members with question-and-answer sheet. November 11, 1993
“Davenport Club Files Incorporation Papers.” The Daily Times, January 29, 1945
“New Club Signs Lease for C.C. Sub-Basement.” Davenport Democrat, February 1, 1945
“Named Directors, Committees for Davenport Club.” Davenport Democrat, April 18, 1945
“Davenport Club Gets A Lift.” Quad-City Times, September 14, 1979
“Lure Great Chef to Quad-Cities.” Quad-City Times, May 6, 1979
“The view from the top…” Quad-City Times, August 25, 1981
“The créme de la créme.” Quad-City Times, June 4, 1991
“Davenport Club ends 48-year run.” Quad-City Times, August 25, 1993
The Allen County (Indiana) Public Library’s Genealogy Center is rich in resources for the family historian, not the least of which is the Periodical Source Index (PERSI) maintained by its staff. It is a subject index to articles on local history and genealogy topics published in the vast numbers of newsletters, magazines, journals, and other serial publications held by the Center.
The publications themselves are largely U.S.-based, though countries across the globe (particularly ethnic groups emigrating to English-speaking locations) are represented in the indexed articles. The ACPL Center’s recently-introduced, easy-to-use online search interface makes finding the most useful citations for your research a snap.
You can search by location, article title keyword, and even surname! Click on the “Research Techniques” button to search for “how to” articles on using specific types of records to find the information you need, such as census records, church records, court records, wills, deeds, etc.
You can search to the county level with a U.S. location search. Here is the list of topics (and the number of citations for articles about each) for Scott County, Iowa:
Naturally, the Scott County Iowa Genealogical Society’s Scott County Iowan is the source of many of these articles. Those from other periodical titles in the RSSC Center’s collection, such as the Annals of Iowa, the American/Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society Newsletter, and perhaps titles in other genealogical periodical collections close to you, are also indexed in PERSI.
PERSI is not a full-text database (meaning you won’t be able to view entire articles reproduced online), but the chance to find that one key piece of information not available on Ancestry.com or FamilySearch is well-worth the ACPL Genealogical Center’s small article copy fee!
Recently we came across this picture from the November 30, 1929, Daily Times newspaper.
The Daily Times, November 30, 1929. Pg. 2
We can only imagine how much fun it was to have cold enough weather to freeze the lagoon at Vander Veer Park that early in the skating season.
It was so early, in fact, that the Chrysanthemum show was still going on in the greenhouses at Vander Veer on the same day. This November event started in 1899 soon after the greenhouses were completed. A popular winter flower, the Tri-City Florists’ Association had held a Chrysanthemum show for several years until 1898 when they decided to end the tradition for financial reasons.
Due to the flower’s popularity and with the ability to grow them in their own greenhouses, the park board decided to start their own show the next year. One of the exciting features in those early years were the electric lights inside the new greenhouses that allowed for nighttime viewing of the flowers.
Fortunately, we have color slides from the Grover C. von der Heyde Collection to help us capture those long-ago moments in time. These images from 1949 – 1954 capture the beauty of past flower shows in the Vander Veer Park greenhouses along with scenic pictures taken throughout the seasons. To learn more about the history of the greenhouses and to see images from the von der Heyde Collection featuring the Poinsettia shows please click here.
We hope you enjoy these images from Chrysanthemum shows of Vander Veer Park’s past!
‘Tis the time of the year to warm our fingers, loosen our tongues and sharpen our minds to craft a delightful turkey note. Turkey notes are an annual tradition in the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center. Like many activities observed and dishes made, the turkey note has its stalwart fans and its fierce detractors. Are you curious about the history of this turkey-themed poem? We have a number of blogs about this poem including a few that touch on its story such as in our “Turkey Notes” blog post.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we also got the curiosity bug about these silly poems. In searching our Davenport newspapers, we discovered a few articles about the “turkey note” we would like to share with you all.
In 1937, Harry Downer, the author of History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa and a number of other titles about Davenport, received an astoundingly long turkey note measuring 3 feet long comprising 76 different verses. The poems touched on topics ranging from autumn landscapes to scenes from the Friendly House playroom. The article shared one of the poems in this epic turkey note opus. It is a fun thought to ponder what the other poems contain.
“Downer Receives ‘Turkey Note’ 3 Feet Long,” The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 26, 1937, 9.
This seemingly unrelated article to our topic notes captures an interesting trend in the 1930s to announce a recently engaged couple’s wedding date through the medium of the turkey note. A party was held at the bride’s home located at 1923 College Avenue where the announcement of Miss Gladys Hilbert and Mr. Wilfred Blaser’s engagement and the wedding date was formally made. In attendance were a few of Gladys’ friends who enjoyed, “an evening of games. There were covers for eight laid at the dinner table where the green and gold bridal colors were in decoration, with individual miniature chocolate turkeys as favors, containing tiny ‘turkey notes’ revealing the wedding date.” What a unique way to share special news with friends and family!
The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 24, 1935, 11.
In this 1940 Daily Times article, the author shares some traditions around turkeys that girls and boys partook in over the years such as wrapping their turkey notes in colored crepe paper with fringes and ribbons for extra adornments. Davenporters have celebrated this tradition for years, but have other cities or states ever scribbled turkey notes? A small survey of locals shows that the turkey note can only be found in Davenport, Iowa, not Wisconsin, Illinois, or South Dakota.
“Turkey Notes,” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA,), Nov. 21, 1940, 3.
Local columnist, Bob Feeny, wrote in his column, Homemade Hooch, about some of the specifics relating to turkey notes. He shares some fine examples in the newspaper clipping below.
Feeny, Bob, “Homemade Hooch,” The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 23, 1939, 25.
Feeny, Bob, “Homemade Hooch,” The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 23, 1939, 25.
Turkey Notes of 2022
Offered below is a selection of staff-created turkey notes for your reading pleasure. We hope you enjoy them and feel inspired to create your own. Please share your turkey notes with us in the comments!
Turkey high,
Turkey low,
Turkey tastes great!,
Don’t you know.
Turkeyraptor
Turkeysaurus
Did you know that turkeys
are saurischian dinosaurs?
Turkey flip,
Turkey flap,
Turkey says,
You're not a flop!
Turkey corn,
Turkey cob,
Turkey says,
Have a CORNtastic day!
Turkey old, Turkey new,
Turkey borrow, Turkey blue,
Turkey says,
I do!
Turkey swims,
Turkey floats
It’s hard to write
These turkey notes.
Turkey tik,
Turkey tok,
Eatin' turkey
'round the clock.
Turkey trots,
Turkey twirls,
Watch out for the turkey's tail.
Turkey Hall,
Turkey Oates,
Katie hates writing
Turkey notes.
Turkey knock,
Turkey who,
Turkey says,
Owl see you soon!
Turkey sing,
Turkey sung,
Turkey says,
Turn up the turkey song!
Stuff your turkey
Put him in the oven.
But bake too long and your
Turkey’s overdone.
Turkey Here,
Turkey There,
Turkey Everywhere,
Except in my stomach.
Turkey dancers,
Turkey troupe,
Slipped and fell on turkey poop.
Turkey bakes
Turkey toasts
Turkey loves stories
About local ghosts!
Turkey gobble,
Turkey trot,
I’m eating turkey while it’s hot.
Sources:
The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 24, 1935, 11.
“Downer Receives ‘Turkey Note’ 3 Feet Long.” The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 26, 1937, 9.
Feeny, Bob. “Homemade Hooch.” The Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, IA), Nov. 23, 1939, 25.
“Turkey Notes.” The Daily Times (Davenport, IA,), Nov. 21, 1940, 3.
It was November 2014, and I was investigating documents in one of our manuscript collections, #X-09, that was described as having documents pertaining to building the Poor House in 1883. Among the documents was a petition signed by 38 people from Pleasant Valley Township requesting the Scott County Board of Supervisors to provide feet for John Sandstrom who had “recently lost his feet by freezing”. I was immediately curious!
From Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Archive and Manuscript Collection #X-09
In case you are having difficulty reading the handwriting, it states in part “he has lived and been a resident of Pleasant Valley Township about 15 years, during that time he has proven himself to be ingenious, honest and a useful man. He is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor we know but we think he will reform and we believe if he should be provided with feet he would yet earn his own living, and to this end we most earnestly pray your honorable body to furnish him with the same.”
I, of course, had two questions. Did the Board approve the request? If so, what would have been available in the line of artificial feet in 1883? A quick search brought up a patent for artificial limbs.
Marks, George Edwin. A treatise on Marks’ patent artificial limbs with rubber hands and feet. New York, A. A. Marks, 1889. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/07007299/>.
So evidently there were options available for rubber feet. Did the Committee on the Poor make a recommendation?
A Gazette published on March 4, 1886.
Hmm. No further info regarding how that turned out. Oh well. Maybe I could find out how he lost his feet if I tried. More newspaper searching.
On trial for murder? What?? In 1881 there are articles about Sandstrom being sentenced by a Grand Jury. It seems that in the fall of 1880, Sandstrom was indicted for assault with intent to commit murder. The intended victim? Robert Carr whom he accused of being involved somehow in his divorce from his wife.
The Davenport Democrat (Davenport, Iowa), February 11, 1881.
Okay, this provides a few clues. John Sandstrom was an onion farmer. He’s divorced. Perhaps that document would tell me something more in depth. We have Divorce Packets in our collection, so I turned to those and found that his wife Mary/Maria had filed for divorce and asked for custody of their three children in 1879.
Scott County, Iowa District Court Records-Divorce Packets
The handwriting here is challenging to read, but according to the first page of the petition, the couple married in Sweden December 18, 1864. Since that time John S. Sandstrom has become addicted to habitual drunkenness and treats her and her children cruelly. Page two continues with examples. He turned them out into the cold weather without sufficient clothing. She was compelled to go to the neighbors with her children for protection from his violence. He has drawn a knife and threatened to kill the plaintiff a number of times and threatened her. He has beaten the children and threatened their lives as well. She asks for alimony and sole custody of the children.
Divorce granted. She received right and title to personal property described in an attached writ in place of alimony. That amounted to 3 cows, 2 calves, 3 hogs, about 200 bushels of onions, a lot of wood, and household and kitchen furniture in Pleasant Valley Township. In other words, everything they owned. John didn’t show up for the hearing.
Really haven’t found what I wanted yet, but know John S. Sandstrom’s seemed to have a weakness for alcohol.
So, divorced in 1879, in jail fall of 1880 into 1881. Next record I could check would be the Iowa 1885 State census. No luck finding John. Mary and the kids were in Pleasant Valley Township living next to Louis Clemons, the very first person to sign the 1886 petition for the artificial limbs.
No luck finding out how he lost his feet, other than they were frozen and amputated per this article from the Davenport Weekly Republican, November 22, 1899.
Davenport Weekly Republican (Davenport, Iowa), November 22, 1899.
Okay, well he is doing well enough to establish a chicken ranch. Maybe he really did reform. The 1900 census lists him in Pleasant Valley as a head of household, so perhaps the ranching business worked out for him!
Oh, snap.
Davenport Democrat and Leader (Davenport, Iowa), March 17, 1907.
Poor guy. He just can’t stay away from that habit of wandering in the cold. Finally, information on how he lost his feet in the first place. The death record said Cause of Death was exposure while intoxicated. Pretty obvious I suppose. To be sure, I tracked down the Coroner’s Report in our collection.
Scott County, Iowa Coroner’s Reports
Witness testimony of Harvey Blackman states John S. Sandstrom was seen March 16, 1907, lying dead in the northeast corner of Dodds farm west of Valley City. He was lying on his back, his pants and artificial feet off… a bottle beside him greatly imply consuming whiskey. No marks of violence. Had no enemies that I know of. Was a hard drinker.
Witness O.G. Baumbagh states he saw Sandstrom Monday night. He was drunk. Offered me drink. Went toward home when he left me at about 5 p.m. did not see him alive since.
The funeral notice was brief.
The Daily Times (Davenport, Iowa), March 19, 1907.
I checked available records but could not find a location within the Pleasant Valley cemetery for him. He is likely in an unmarked grave. It seems sad. His neighbors tried so hard to help him, going so far as to petition on his behalf for artificial limbs, hoping against hope he could “redeem himself” and kick the liquor habit.
I looked for his family and found them in Marshalltown along with the newsiest article of all from the Evening Times-Republican in Marshalltown, Iowa from Monday, March 18, 1907.
He was tenant on a small part of the Clemons farm. The amputation was indeed done in a Davenport hospital after a drinking binge. Mr. Clemons must have been a kind soul to spearhead the petition, allow John to rent farmland, be a good neighbor in spite of all he had seen Sandstrom go through.
I take some comfort in thinking John’s daughter corresponded with him occasionally. The kindness of the postmaster in Pleasant Valley is also a ray of light.
I have often thought of John S. Sandstrom, the Swedish farmer with two artificial feet for these eight Novembers since I found him in that record. Now, you can, too!
In honor of Veterans Day, we wanted to share a sampling of portraits of men in uniform taken by J. B. Hostetler at his photography studio in Davenport in 1918. These images have been digitized and uploaded to our Upper Mississippi Valley Digital Image Archive.
John Frederick Ackerman
Glass Plate Negative No. 17520, Hostetler Studio Collection
John Frederick Ackerman was born October 22, 1889, in Rock Island, IL to John and Augusta (Neuendorf) Ackerman. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 19, 1917 and was discharged on November 27, 1918. He was in the hospital corps at Camp Bowie in Fort Worth, TX and was a sergeant in Company F Infantry at the officers’ training school at Camp McArthur, TX. He worked as an automobile salesman and manager for the Horst & Strieter Co. for 27 years. John married Mabel Grace Bulger on October 18, 1924, at Sacred Heart Church in Rock Island. He was a member of Rock Island post No. 200 of the American Legion and The Last Man’s Club in Rock Island. He died January 26, 1942 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Rock Island.
Claude Darrell Evans
Glass Plate Negative No. 17554, Hostetler Studio Collection
Claude Darrell Evans was born June 14, 1900, in Chicago, IL to Edwin Claude and Lida (Gilliland) Evans. He attended Monroe School and the Davenport High School. He was a sergeant with the 34th Infantry Division, 126th Field Artillery, Headquarters Company Field Artillery. He spent 11 months overseas in the Ambulance Co. and was discharged on January 20, 1919. He worked as a salesman for the Comenitz News Agency. Claude married Mary Myrtle Moses on May 15, 1919, at the Methodist Church in Aledo, IL. The couple lived at 1736 Grand Ave. in Davenport. They divorced on April 18, 1928. Claude married Martha E. Rudolph on April 3, 1929, in Los Angeles, CA where his parents had moved to in 1923. Claude married Audrey B. Braddick on December 13, 1939, in Carroll County, IA. The couple is listed in the 1940 Census for Los Angeles, CA and the City Directory for San Diego, CA for 1942. We could find no information for Claude after his WWII Draft Registration Card dated February 14, 1942, in San Diego. CA.
Max Reinhold Rudolph
Glass Plate Negative No. 17564, Hostetler Studio Collection
Max R. Rudolph was born February 16, 1888, in Leisnitz, Saxony, Germany to Reinholdt and Wilhelmina (Chow) Rudolph. The family moved to Wisconsin in 1893 and to Emington, IL in 1910. Max married Rose Lena Bertoncello on May 12, 1915, in Livingston, IL. He was a carpenter and owned a general contracting business for 50 years, retiring in 1957. He was active in the Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts. Max R. Rudolph died March 1, 1977, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Davenport.
John Stewart Kittilsen
Glass Plate Negative No. 17626, Hostetler Studio Collection
John S. “Jack” Kittilsen was born on September 14, 1892, in Moline, IL to Edward and Corilla (Stewart) Kittilsen. The family moved to Rock Island in 1908. He was captain of the football team at Rock Island High School and prominent in independent football. He was commissioned 2nd lieutenant with the 150th Regiment U.S. Infantry on August 25, 1918, at the officers’ training school at Camp Shelby, MS. John married Gwenola M. Connell on June 29, 1921, in Rock Island. He worked for the Strieter Motor Co. in Davenport for 30 years and was later a salesman with the Howard B. Connell Agency of Rock Island for 4 years. John S. Kittilsen died on November 14, 1969, at Lutheran Hospital in Moline.
John J. Martin
Glass Plate Negative No. 17668, Hostetler Studio Collection
Dr. John Joseph Martin was born on May 7, 1895, in Chicago, IL to P.J. and Mary (Rourke) Martin. John married Marcella Geraldine Costello on October 3, 1917, in Davenport. He enlisted on May 30, 1918, as a Private First Class in Machine Gun Company of the 41st Infantry 10th Division and was discharged on January 4, 1919. Dr. Martin was an optometrist and former American Legion commander. He served in the Boys Scouts of American Buffalo Bill Council and was chairman of the Boys State activities in Davenport. He served as president of the Te Deum, international Catholic organization and served on various committees of the Rotary Club. Dr. John J. Martin died April 1, 1965, at Mercy Hospital in Davenport.
22-year-old Rose Gendler left her part-time job at M. L. Parker Co. in downtown Davenport a little after 9:00 p.m. on December 21, 1932. She had worked a full day in the toy department and still had to catch the Bridge Line streetcar to Rock Island. She had an important dress fitting scheduled before heading home for the night.
The Davenport Democrat, December 22, 1932. Pg. 1
Rose’s friend, Maurice “Morris” Meyer, was unable to pick her up that night from the store located at 104 W. 2nd Street. Rose was seen on the Bridge Line streetcar by a neighbor and her daughter. The pair got off the streetcar before Rose’s stop. The daughter turned and waved to Rose as she stepped off.
Rose soon stepped off the streetcar at her usual stop at Fifteenth and Third. She then vanished into the cold, dark December night.
Rose Gendler was born October 16, 1909, in Russia. She immigrated to the United States with her parents Kalmen and Ella Gendler about 1914 and settled in Rock Island, Illinois. We know Rose was one of five children born to Kalmen and Ella. She was the only child to survive into adulthood. Rose’s father died May 25, 1919, after a short illness. Her mother remarried in July 1920 to widower Jacob Mark.
Rose, her mother, stepfather, and two stepbrothers lived at 820 11th Avenue in Rock Island after the marriage. Rose attended and graduated from Rock Island High School in 1927. She was a popular and serious student. She participated in speech and debate; numerous intellectual and benevolent organizations associated with school and Beth Israel synagogue; and was noted for her musical talents including her beautiful soprano voice.
After graduating high school, Rose took on temporary jobs and continued to take part in benevolent societies. She was deeply involved with her synagogue including sharing her musical talents in performances and leading pageants for children. Rose was said to have had many unofficial suitors to escort her to outings, but centered her life around her family, friends, and religious societies.
Rose had relatives throughout the United States and spent time visiting them in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York City after graduation. In 1930, Rose moved to Chicago to work and live with relatives. She came back frequently to visit and attend weddings of family and friends. She was even maid of honor for one of her closest friends, Sally Jane Meyer, in August of 1931.
The Meyer family included parents Soloman (Sol) and Anna (also immigrants from Russia) and their children Edith, Maurice, Sarah (nicknamed Sally), and Arnold (found in some records as Abe). Rose was particularly close to Sally who was two years younger than her and Maurice who was a year older. It was not unusual for Maurice to pick Rose up from her part-time job, spend time reading and discussing books with Rose at her house, and be invited over for meals. He was even one of Rose’s unofficial suitors to events.
Jacob Mark is listed as a peddler and Sol Meyer as a junk dealer in census and directories of the time. Maurice had embarked on his own career as owner of the Ideal Overall Cleaners at 1614 23rd Avenue in Moline, Illinois. Rose filled in at the M. L. Parker department store in Davenport during their busy times and volunteered at synagogue and in the community. Rose and her mother had some savings in the bank from property left to them after the death of Kalmen Gendler. Not much but rumored to be about $2000.
Neither family was wealthy, but they seemed to be surviving the Great Depression through hard work and close friendships.
Rose had only been living back at home for a few weeks before she disappeared on December 21, 1932. It was late November when she returned to take on her part-time job. There was a secret Rose and her family kept from all but their closest friends. Rose was engaged to Mr. Jerry Gordon from Chicago. The dressmaker was working on Rose’s trousseau and the engagement was to be announced on New Year’s Eve.
When Rose had not returned home by 10:00 p.m. that night, her mother became worried. She called the dressmaker to find that Rose had never shown for her appointment. Ella Mark quickly called the Meyer family and spoke to Maurice. He told her he was unwell and had stayed in all night, but to let him know if Rose didn’t return. Maurice said he knew she would come home soon.
As the hours passed, Rose’s mother panicked. She kept walking to the streetcar stop looking for Rose. Jacob and Ella then called their good friends the Meyer family for help. The Meyer house was at 1015 11th Avenue near the Mark home. Sol and Anna quickly arrived about 2:00 a.m. Sol noticed a piece of paper on the screen door as they walked in, but thought it was an advertisement someone had placed there.
The frantic household telephoned the police about 3:00 a.m. to ask about accident victims with no success. It wasn’t until daylight that the note was once again noticed on the outside screen door. It read “We have your Rosie. We want $2,000 ransom. Don’t worry, she’s all right. Don’t tell the cops.” A relative of the family took it to police even though family was against it.
The Moline Dispatch, December 23, 1932. Pg. 1
It was about 10:00 a.m. on December 22, 1932, that Hugo Freed aged 16 and Jack Rahn aged 12 left their Moline homes to hike to the town of Coal Valley. They had to walk across a bridge that spanned the Rock River on their way. They noticed drops of what looked like blood on the wooden bridge planks. Curious, they peered over the railing. They were horrified to see two legs sticking out of a burlap sack on the ice below. Panicked, they quickly located Harry Beck who was camping nearby. The police were summoned, and newspaper reporters swarmed the crime scene as well.
The Davenport Democrat, December 22, 1932. Pg. 1
It was the body of Rose Gendler. She was lying face down on a sheet of ice. She had wounds to her skull, a gag in her mouth that was tied in place with a tie, her face and neck were wrapped in rope, with her arms tied behind her back. Her shoes had scuff marks as though she had been dragged.
Dr. Paul Youngberg did the autopsy. He found a six-inch skull fracture at the base of her skull, a broken neck, lacerations of the face and scalp, and internal lacerations causing her right lung to collapse along with a laceration of the liver. It was his belief that Rose was alive when she was dropped off the side of the bridge. The heat from her body had caused the ice to melt a few inches before she was found causing difficulty when her body was removed by the police.
The police noted the ice that Rose landed on was the only portion of the river not completely covered with snow. In the dark, it would have appeared to have been an open area on the river. Whoever had done this intended for Rose’s body to sink in the water and be covered until Spring, if it was found at all.
Who would have done this to Rose and why? Was it kidnappers who heard rumors about Mrs. Mark and Rose’s bank account?
The Rock Island Argus, December 22, 1932. Pg. 1
The burlap sack had “Decatur Milling Company” stamped on it and the ransom note was identified as the type of paper used for newspapers. A co-worker at the Parker store said Rose used the telephone during her break at 6:30 p.m. and had a conversation with a male asking if he was picking her up that night. The response appeared to have been no and Rose caught the streetcar home.
The police began to question the family and quickly cleared them. Both of Rose’s stepbrothers were older and lived outside of the home by 1932. Rose had a cordial relationship with her stepfather. While not overly affectionate, Jacob Mark was devastated by the murder of Rose. Her mother Ella became bedridden from the shock and a nurse was hired to attend to her along with extended family. The police obtained Rose’s diary but found no clues inside it.
On December 25, 1932, Rose Gendler’s body was taken to her family home for a brief service. The service was kept simple due to the Chanukah holiday being celebrated. Rabbi Solomon L. Levitan conducted the service at the gravesite at the Tri-City Jewish Cemetery in Davenport. Newspapers reported that Rose’s mother was so distraught at the gravesite she attempted to jump into the grave. Before then, she repeatedly demanded the coffin be reopened to see and kiss her Rosie. Over 600 people were reported to have attended the funeral and burial.
Rose’s headstone bears the inscription “Dear Daughter Rose Gendler 1910 – 1932. Young Virgin of Purist Heart. Died a Violent Death December 21, 1932“.
The case soon went cold. The burlap sack was traced to Mr. S. Boxerman of Rock Island. He bought a batch of them from the Ucano Candy Co. of Davenport. His occupation was reselling sacks and he sold about 13 of the 25. The bags were mixed in with other sacks making it harder to trace where they went.
The Rock Island Police Department decided to bring in new scientific equipment to help solve the murder. The lie detector had been in use since 1921, but not used by local departments. Many of Rose’s family and friends were brought in and questioned using the machine. Originally Rose’s stepfather was called in for a second questioning and then passed. Family friend, Maurice Meyer, was also called in for further questioning after he declined to answer certain questions in the first round. When they went to locate him for further questioning, the police found that he had cashed his checks and left the state in a rented automobile on January 12, 1933. His father paid the owner of the car $200 when it was not returned which is why a report with the police was never filed for it being stolen.
Maurice was eventually stopped by police in Abilene, Texas for a traffic citation. Instead of being placed in jail, the police agreed he could spend the night in a local motel and appear in court the next morning. By the next morning, Maurice was gone.
He went to California after fleeing Texas. At the pleading of his family, he returned to Chicago to visit his brothers-in-law who were both attorneys. He then returned on February 14th, 1933, to Rock Island where he went straight to the District Attorney. He was taken to the police station and after many hours of questioning, Maurice finally told his story of Rose’s last night alive.
The Rock Island Argus, January 25, 1933. Pg. 1
Maurice stated he was not feeling well during the day of December 21st. He went home at about 5:00 p.m. from work, ate dinner, and then rested. Around 8:30 p.m. he got up and went to the Hickey Brothers cigar store at 19th Street and 3rd Avenue in Rock Island. He happened to see Rose getting off the streetcar and offered her a ride home. When she got into the car, Rose asked to see a picture Maurice had told her about of Maurice’s niece. Maurice said it was at his store and drove them there to get it. He and Rose talked about Christmas presents along the way. He went into his shop to grab the picture and his watch which he left there earlier in the day while Rose waited in his work truck.
Upon leaving the shop he found Rose lying next to his truck. They had parked in the back alley and Maurice presumed she had gotten out of the truck for some reason then slipped and fell. It appeared to him that Rose hit her head on the side of the building as she fell.
Maurice quickly took her back into his shop to try to awaken her. He couldn’t feel her pulse or hear a heartbeat (he admitted never opening her coat while listening). He panicked that he would be blamed for her death. He shoved a rag into her mouth, tied her head and neck with rope, tied her hands and legs (though her legs were not tied when found), and took her to his truck. He found the burlap sack and placed her in it to move her more easily. He began to drive around and eventually found himself on the bridge.
It was difficult to get her body over the railing and he lost his grip. He heard Rose’s body strike the metal supports as she fell. Maurice stated he then returned to his shop and cleaned the blood off his truck and the shop floor as Rose’s head wound had been bleeding. He grabbed a piece of paper and wrote the ransom note. Then he drove near the Mark’s home and placed it on the screen door. Maurice then went to a diner and had a hot lemonade because he felt his cold was getting worse. After that he returned home and went to bed.
The police said that Maurice went to the Mark’s home later during the day on the 22nd and helped her cousins search the outside of the house for any evidence of who left the note. He even sat with Rose’s mother and talked about who could have hurt her Rosie.
The police asked Maurice if it was true that he had tried to borrow over $700 from Rose the night before her murder which she turned down. He denied that had happened along with denying his shop was in trouble from lack of business as the police had discovered during the investigation.
A grand jury was quickly convened and indicted Maurice Meyer on 15 counts including the murder of Rose Gendler. He did not go before a jury trial but was tried in front of a judge. The trial was moved from the city of Rock Island, Illinois to the nearby town of Cambridge at the request of his lawyer.
While in Rock Island County jail, Maurice was caught twice passing notes. Once to his brother Arnold and another time to two inmates who were recently released from the same jail. Both times the notes begged them to smuggle in a gun to him. Maurice said both times it was to commit suicide and not to escape. Jail officials felt he was trying to get a gun to use to escape the jail.
By the time of the trial, six of the charges were dismissed leaving nine charges Maurice faced. A packed courtroom waited for the trial to begin on April 10, 1933. The main question seemed to be if Rose Gendler was dead before or after she was thrown by Maurice Meyer off the Rock River bridge. Was this a case of accidental death and a young man panicking or was it premeditated with a cold-blooded killer disposing of Rose’s living body onto the ice of the river below where she ultimately died.
The prosecutor brought in Rose’s family and friends. They testified to Rose and Maurice’s friendship, Maurice’s behavior before and after the murder, and knowledge of the financial troubles Maurice was having. The prosecution showed Maurice bought mixed bags from Mr. S. Boxerman and unused newspaper paper for his business regularly. The doctors testified that all evidence showed Rose was still alive when thrown from the bridge and most likely the fall caused her death.
The defense tried to show that Maurice had no financial issues and Rose’s death was a simple tragedy that temporarily caused Maurice to respond in panic. Maurice testified on his own behalf of the terrible accident that had happened. Their doctors testified that the fall at the shop was most likely the cause of Rose’s death and that she was deceased before she was thrown off the bridge.
The Rock Island Argus, June 10, 1933. Pg. 9
When both sides rested, Judge Leonard E. Telleen had to consider a verdict including the death penalty. On May 9, 1933, Maurice Meyer was found guilty on just one count. Count Nine was that Meyer had inflicted mortal wounds on the head and body from which Rose Gendler died. The Judge sentenced Maurice to 90 years in state prison. In June of 1933, he was moved to the Illinois State Prison in Joliet to serve his sentence.
Maurice appealed his conviction and lost. He then tried over the years for executive clemency. In 1949, Governor Adlai Stevenson did lower his sentence to 85 years after Meyer participated in a malaria study in prison.
Meyer was granted parole in October 1961 after twelve attempts at clemency. He eventually settled near his siblings in Broward County, Florida. We found two marriages for Maurice Meyer. To Gilda Kaplan on December 1, 1977, in Broward County, Florida. She died on March 20, 1987. Another marriage was to Seena Kramer on January 7, 1989.
Maurice Meyer died July 30, 1995, in Broward County, Florida. He is buried next to his wife Seena Meyer in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens North in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Many people believed that Maurice Meyer willingly murdered his childhood friend, Rose Gendler, for money. When Rose turned him down for a loan on December 20th, Maurice came up with the plan to murder her and send a ransom note to her parents. Knowing how loved Rose was by her mother; he would have had no doubt Ella would have turned the money over for Rose’s life. Rose could not live as she would be able to identify him as her kidnapper.
With Rose’s body in the Rock River trapped beneath the ice, Maurice may have thought he would get away with the plan. The plan fell apart as Rose’s body landed on the ice and was discovered the next day.
Or was it as Maurice’s family always believed? A horrible accident made worse by the panicked actions of a heartbroken young man.
Happy Halloweeen from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library!
A recent donation has filled our trick-or-treat bag with some items that are most certainly like candy to us local history librarians: little advertisements for Davenport businesses of old. Take a gander at these three goodies we’re adding to our ephemera collection:
First is this 4.5″ x 3″packet of sewing needles, compliments of the Phoenix Milling Company.
The “Maud S” type of flour milled from Dakota Hard Spring wheat by C. H. Juergensen is the subject of the humorous (if dated) poem on the back cover. Perhaps this offering sold more product than the slogan in the newspaper ad: “It has been tried for 30 years and proved to be alright.” (Davenport Democrat and Leader, 9 Jun 1907)
There is also this similarly-sized 1908-1909 pocket calendar, courtesy of the Ballard Drug & Dental Company on West 2nd Street.
In addition to the “Great Corn Sheller” demonstrated on the back cover, Ballard’s had Emerson’s Bromo-Seltzer for sale. Each of the blank day-of the-week pages reminded you that this potion could cure headaches; German- and Italian-speaking customers could also read of its benefits.
The “useful information” in this booklet also included a pages of poisons and their antidotes, and another of measures to take in the event of an accident. Modern sensibilities — thinking of Halloween — may find these treatments quite scary!
The Security Fire Insurance Company of Davenport advertised its services by handing out this tiny blank notebook. It is an especially delicious treat for a librarian/archivist because it was actually used by an area farmer (for a short time – less than a page’s worth) to keep his accounts. In addition to information about the company, we now know that the going rate for hiring grubbers (farm hands helping to clean up the fields after the harvest?) in November 1893 was $20 per acre, as well as the prices of various foodstuffs. Sadly, we’ve had no luck finding either Peter or Emil Nilsen in local records.
Our thanks to all who donate historical materials like these to the RSSC Center. We so appreciate receiving treats all year ’round without having to go door-to-door in a costume. This Halloween we hope you’ll brave those spooky attics and basements and find more Davenport memorabilia to share with your community via the library!
