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Category Archives: Local History
The Importance of Women
Without women, the Davenport Public Library would not be here today, and this space would be taken up with a lament on the city’s shocking illiteracy rates. Sure, Andrew Carnegie was the one who challenged Davenporters to vote for a … Continue reading
History’s Mysteries : General Houston (part four) : the rest of the story
Forty-four year old General Houston, having been pardoned on murder charges and divorced by his wayward wife, married for a third time February 28, 1884 in Burlington, Iowa. Sarah (Proctor) Leslie had a child, Ada, from her previous marriage. The … Continue reading
History’s Mysteries : General Houston (part three) — And the verdict is . . .
. . .‘Guilty in the second degree.’ (Muscatine Daily Journal , 6Sept1876, p. 4) “Gen.” Houston, the murderer, on being arraigned for sentence, made a statement alleging that Kelly pursued him with an axe before he shot him—that the first … Continue reading
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Tagged African-Americans, Court Trials, General Houston, Houston Smith
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Happy Birthday, Buffalo Bill! From your biggest fan, Samuel F.
As every Buffalo Bill-ophile should know, William F. Cody was born in (or rather, near) LeClaire, Iowa on February 26, 1846. So, to celebrate the birth of this illustrious Scott County native son, why not visit the library and read … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Aviation, Buffalo Bill, Samuel Franklin Cody, William F. Cody
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History’s Mysteries : General Houston (part two)
When last we blogged, General Houston’s life was taking a tragic turn. The devastating Hill’s Block fire in February 1876 must have been a terrific blow to him both professionally and personally and no doubt created hardship within his marriage. … Continue reading
Posted in Local History
Tagged Court Trials, Fires, General Houston, Hill's Block, Houston Smith
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New Genealogy and Local History database available!
Local newspapers are one of the primary sources for many types of historical research. They are treasure troves of information about the events that have shaped our current lives – from floods to earthquakes to wars and space exploration. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Genealogy, Local History
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History’s Mysteries : General Houston
Part One On February 22, 1876 one of the first truly disastrous fires in Davenport began when fourteen buildings, including what was known as Hill’s Block, went up in flames. In less than two hours, a half block of Brady … Continue reading
St. Valentine’s Day and Marriage — a Shot in the Dark?
Valentine’s Day is a time of romance. We think about flowers, candy, and cards non-stop for weeks in advance (probably thanks to the many commercials and ads we see). The legacy of Valentine’s Day was already well-known in the United … Continue reading
Davenporters of Note: Milton Howard
Mr. Milton Howard, an African-American, was a man with a unique story. He was born as a free person in Muscatine, Iowa about 1845 (different sources offer different dates). However, as a child, he and his family were kidnapped and … Continue reading
