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Category Archives: Local History
The Small, Pretty Wedding of Jennie E. Grieve, Schoolteacher of this City
On March 14, 1901, Jennie E. Grieve, former schoolteacher of the brand new School #11 (later renamed Taylor Elementary) married Alexander Shadbolt, the owner of a stock farm outside of Brooklyn, Iowa, in Poweshiek County. Aren’t they a lovely couple? … Continue reading
Living Memory History: The Winter of 2013-2014
We decided to blog this week about the weather because after a winter of freezing cold and permanent snow . . . it’s still cold and still snowing. And while that makes us a little sad, we thought it was … Continue reading
Chronicling America: The Bystander
It’s no secret that newspapers can be a wonderful resource for history and genealogy, but many early newspapers—ones from smaller communities or with shorter or less frequent publishing runs— have remained secrets, or at least inaccessible, to the average researcher. … Continue reading
Davenporters of Note: Charles William Toney
Charles William Toney was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on August 23rd, 1913 to Wilber and Stella Toney. He attended Clinton High School in Clinton, Iowa, and was on the swim team. This led to his first fight for civil rights … Continue reading
It’s all about the records . . .
Today the Quad-Cities are enjoying a record-breaking cold temperature of -21 degrees, surpassing the old 1885 record of -15 degrees. Meanwhile in Sochi, Russia Olympians are attempting to perform their best and earn their way into the record books as … Continue reading
Posted in Library, Local History
Tagged A. J. Preston & Co, Andrew J. Preston, new resources, Steamboat Bills of Lading
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A Simple Ceremony: The Wedding of Elsa Petersen and Phillip Sonntag
The wedding of Elsa Gertrude Petersen and Phillip Arthur Sonntag was a quiet affair. The couple was married in the evening of February 22, 1910, at the home of the bride’s mother. Only family were invited; in fact, the officiant, … Continue reading
By the Light of the Moon (Law)
When Iowa entered statehood, many cities were granted Special Charters to help them with municipal administration while the Iowa State Legislature was still trying to get off the ground. The Charters regulated everything from elections to street maintenance, city clerk … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Davenport (Iowa), Ernst Wenzel, Ficke & Ficke, Iowa, laws, Moon Law, Prohibition, Special Charter Cities
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Spanning the Years: the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge
Preparations for the new 1-74 bridge across the Mississippi River have been making headlines in our area newspapers lately, so we thought it was time to take a look at the bridge that’s been connecting the two halves of the … Continue reading
A Gold Star – or Badge: The Davenport Police Department’s 175th Anniversary
We were excited to see an article in the January 16, 2014 Quad City Times about the Davenport Police Department’s 175th Anniversary. What a monumental occasion. In celebration, current officers are sporting badges reminiscent of those worn by their predecessors in the … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Local History
Tagged City Marshal, Davenport Police Department, George Colt, Police Badges, W. H. Patton
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Simple Beauty: The Wedding of Miss Blanche Boggess and Frank Edwin Gorman
On January 10, 1912, Blanche Elizabeth Boggess married Frank Edwin Gorman in a ceremony at the Rock Island home of her parents, 926 Seventeenth Street. Miss Boggess was an active member in the social circles of Rock Island, Illinois, while … Continue reading
