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Le
Claire Iowa
River
Men (and Women)
Le Claire Rivermen
Georgeann McClure
&
Sue Rekkas
BISSICK OLIVE
1880
Census
LeClaire
Township
,
LeClaire
City
Lancaster
E. J. Head
age 53 Steamboat
Captain
Lancaster Helen wife age
35 House wife
Lancaster Olive Dau
age 20 cook
Lancaster Alice Dau
age 17 student
Lancaster
Edna Dau
age 14 at
school
Lancaster Hymie Son age
12 at school
Lancaster
Lee Son
age 8
at school
Lancaster
Lucas Son
age 5
at school
Lancaster Harold Son
age 3
at home
Lancaster Venice Son
age 0
at home
Times - Democrat, Tuesday,
July 20, 1965, page 15.
MRS.
WILLIAM BISSICK
Mrs. William
H. Bissick, of the Vale apartments,
210 E. 4th Street
,
Davenport
, died this morning in St. Luke’s Hospital after a brief illness.
Born in
LeClaire, the former Olive Lancaster was married to Mr. Bissick and he died in
1950.
Until
returning to
Davenport
three years ago, Mrs. Bissick had resided in
St. Louis
for 40 years.
There are no
immediate survivors.
Private
funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in McGinnis Chapel,
Davenport
, and cremation will follow.
Visitation
will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
BUCHHEIT FRANCIS A.
Bridging The Past And Present, page 117.
“Among the
river boat cooks were Francis A. Buchheit, Sam Craig, George Shannon, Doris (Schickling)
McCauley.”
The Davenport
Democrat And Leader, Friday Evening, July 1, 1921, page 17.
AGED LE CLAIRE RESIDENT
DIES THIS MORNING
_________________
LeClaire
,
Ia.
, July 1.--(Special.) - S. A. Buchheit, aged resident of LeClaire, passed away
at 7:30 o’clock this morning. Death
followed a lingering illness. Mr.
Buchheit was born in LeClaire, Sept. 17, 1820, and has resided here most of his
life. His marriage to Fannie
Morrison took place Sept.18, 1903.
Surviving to
mourn his loss are his wife, three sons, Fransie, John and Lewis, all of
LeClaire, and one sister, Mrs. Alice Cox of
Arcola
,
Iowa
.
Funeral
arrangements have not been completed.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Sunday Morning, July 3,
1921, page 3.
FUNERAL OF F. A. BUCHEIT
WILL BE TODAY
_________________
LeClaire
,
Ia.
, July 2.-(Special.)- Funeral services for F. A. Bucheit of LeClaire, whose
death occurred at 7:30 o’clock Friday morning, will be held from the home
Sunday afternoon. Burial will be in
LeClaire, Cemetery.
The sad death
of Mr. Buchiet took place following a lingering illness.
He was born in LeClaire, Sept. 17, 1870, and has resided here most of his
life. His marriage to Fannie
Morrison took place Sept. 18, 1903.
Surviving are
his wife; three sons, Francis, John and Lewis, all of LeClaire; and one sister,
Mrs. Cox, of
Arcoia
,
Ill.
Bridging The Past And The Present, page 116.
“Fritz
Fedderson held a master pilot license from the U. S. Coast Guard during the
World War II years.”
Quad-City Times, Thursday, September 9, 1999, page 2M
OBITUARIES
Fedderson Frederick
DAVENPORT
- Frederick Fedderson, 97,
Davenport
, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at his home after a lengthy illness.
There will be
no services or visitation.
Cunnick-Collins
Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Fedderson
retired in 1986 after 19 years at the former J. I. Case,
Bettendorf
.
He was born
Sept. 26, 1901, in
LeClaire
,
Iowa
.
During World
War II, he served in the Coast Guard.
A memorial
fund has been established.
Survivors
include his caregiver, Rosemary Bolton,
Davenport
.
Frederick Fedderson
Gault
* The Gault men were all rivermen
GAULT DAVID
The Daily Times, November 8, 1916, page 7.
FORMER
LECLAIRE
RESIDENT
IS DEAD
_____________
DAVID A. GAULT SUCCUMBS TO PARALYSIS AT OKLAHOMA HOME
_____________
LE CLAIRE, Ia.,
Nov 8.--(Special)--Word was received today by relatives of the death of David A.
Gault, for many years a resident of Le
Claire, at his home in Bartlesville, Okla., following a prolonged illness of
paralysis. Mr. Gault was born in Le
Claire 55 years ago and in late years had resided in
Oklahoma
.
He is survived
by his wife, his aged mother, Mrs. M. A. Gault, two brothers, William A. and H.
D. Gault and one sister, Mrs. W. S. Adams, all of LeClaire.
H. D. Gault
leaves tonight for
Oklahoma
to make arrangements for the funeral. It
is not yet known whether the remains will be brought back to
Iowa
for burial.
The Daily Times, November 13, 1916, page 7.
DAVID A GAULT
IS LAID TO REST
________________
Le Claire, Ia.,
Nov. 13.--(Special) The body of
David A. Gault, whose death occurred Wednesday morning at his home in
Bartlesville, Okla., arrived in Le Claire Saturday at eleven o’clock
accompanied by his wife and brother, H. D. Gault.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at three o’clock from the home of
his mother, Mrs. M. A. Gault, conducted by Rev. M. E. Krotzer of the
Presbyterian church. A Choir
composed of Mesdames J. A. Teeter,
W. Rathmann
, J. H. Clark and Miss Anna Laird sang beautiful songs.
Interment was
made in LeClaire cemetery, the following friends acting as pallbearers;
F. H. Kitchen, F. P. Schworm, A. H. Dawley, J. A. Meyer and C. B.
Hitchcock and C. W. Disney. Floral
offerings were many and beautiful.
David A. Gault
was born in
Ohio
November 14, 1852. He grew to
manhood in Le Claire, was educated in Le Claire and when he became of age went
out for himself and has always been successful in business.
He was married to Miss Fannie Walker of
Joplin
,
Mo.
Feb. 15, 1892, and to this union a son was born who died in infancy.
He is survived by his wife and aged mother, one sister and two brothers.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, November 13, 1916, page
13.
GAULT FUNERAL
HELD AT LE CLAIRE
______________
Le Claire, Ia.,
November 13, 1916.-- (Special)-- The remains of D. A. Gault who passed away
Wednesday morning at his home at
Bartlesville, Okla., arrived in Le Claire Saturday,
accompanied by his wife and brother, H. D. Gault, of LeClaire.
Funeral
services were held Sunday afternoon from the home of his mother, Mrs. M. A.
Gault, conducted by Rev. M. Krotzer. Hymns
were sung by Mrs. J. H. Clark, Mrs. J. A. Teeter, Miss Annie Laird and James
Suiter.
The remains
were laid to rest in Le Claire cemetery, borne by the following friends:
F. P. Schworn, F. H. Kitchen, C. W. Disney,
J. A. Meyer, C. B. Hitchcock and A. H. Dawley.
Many out of
town friends of the family were in attendance.
GAULT HARRY
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 19, 1936, page
9.
Obituary
Harry D. Gault.
Harry D. Gault,
71, life resident of Le Claire and retired bank cashier, died at his home in Le
Claire at 8:45 a. m. today, following a lingering illness.
For seven
years he had served as the assistant cashier at the Le Claire bank, and for 18
years was cashier at the Princeton bank, retiring in 1931.
The body was
removed to the Hill and
Fredericks
mortuary where it will remain until returned to the Presbyterian church at Le
Claire at 12 p. m. Thursday for funeral services at 2 that afternoon.
Burial will be in the cemetery at Le Claire.
He is survived
by one sister, Mrs. Wilson Adams of Le Claire.
His parents and two brothers preceded him in death.
The Daily Times, Monday, October 19, 1936
HARRY D. GAULT,
LIFE RESDIENT OF
LECLAIRE, DIES
___________
Harry D. Gault, life resident
of Le Claire, died at his home there at 8:45 a. m., today after an extended
illness.
He was born in
Le Claire on March 28, 1865. He was
assistant cashier of the Le Claire bank for seven years, previous to acting in
the same capacity in the Princeton bank for 18 years.
He had been retired since 1931.
Surviving is
one sister, Mrs. Wilson F. Adams of Le Claire.
His parents and two brothers preceded him in death.
The body was
taken to the Hill & Fredericks mortuary.
Thursday noon it will be taken to the Presbyterian church in Le Claire
for funeral services at 2 p. m. Burial
will be in the Le Claire cemetery.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 23, 1936, page
15.
Obituary.
The Gault Funeral
Funeral
services for Harry B. Gault were held at the Presbyterian church at Le Claire
Thursday at 2 p. m. with the Rev M. E. Crotzer officiating.
Mrs. J. W. Richards and Mrs. J. W. Clark accompanied by Mrs. Edith DuVon
sang two hymns. Burial was in
Glendale
cemetery at Le Claire.
Bearers were
J. J. Ryan, Tom Kennedy, Ed Davenport, E. Von Hein, Irve Morey and Gene Youngers.
·
Harry was a steamboat man at one
time.
GAULT
1880 Census
Illinois
Rock Island
Moline
3 Wd
Gault W. F. 58 Hotel Keeper …………..Penn
Gault M. J. 48Keeping
House …………
Ohio
Gault David A. 28 Clerk on Steamboat….Ohio
Gault W. A. 22
Steamboat Hand ……….Iowa
Gault Harry 15 At
school ……………….Iowa
Gault Carrie 6
daughter…………………..
Iowa
1900 Census
Iowa
Scott Le Claire City
Gault W F 78 Head
Retired…………………….Penn
Gault M J 68
Wife House wife
………………..
Ohio
Gault W A 32 Son
Steam Boat Engineer ………
Iowa
Gault H D 34
Son Clerk on Boat
………………
Iowa
Adams Carrie 26 Daughter
Music teacher………..
Iowa
GAULT WILLIAM
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 1, 1930, page 5
WILLIAM GAULT,
LIFE RESIDENT
LE CLAIRE, DIES
_________________
Retired Marine Engineer, Succumbs After Extended
Illness.
_________________
William Adrian
Gault, retired marine engineer and life resident of
Le Claire
,
Ia.
, died at 9:30 a. m. today at his home in LeClaire after an extended illness.
Mr. Gault was
born in
Le Claire
,
Ia.
March 25, 1857. He was employed as
a marine engineer on the
Mississippi
for more than 30 years, retiring 15 years ago.
Surviving are
one sister, Mrs. Carrie Adams and a brother, Harry D. Gault, both of
Le Claire
,
Ia.
The body was
taken to the McGinnis funeral home and will be removed to the McGinnis chapel at
Le Claire Friday morning where funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Friday.
Burial will be made in the Le Claire cemetery.
The Daily Times, Wednesday, October 1, 1930, page 8.
WILLIAM A. GAULT,
LIFE RESIDENT OF
LE CLAIRE, IS DEAD
_________________
William Adrian
Gault, a life resident of Le Claire, died today at 9:30 a. m. at his home in Le
Claire from a long illness.
He was born in
Le Claire on March 25, 1857. He was
a marine engineer and was employed on the river boats for about 30 years.
Surviving are
one sister Mrs. Carrie Adams, and one brother, Harry D. Gault, both of Le
Claire.
The body was
taken to the McGinnis funeral home in
Bettendorf
and will be removed to the McGinnis funeral chapel in Le Claire Friday at 2 p.
m. when funeral services will be conducted there.
Burial will be in the Le Claire cemetery.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, October 5, 1930, page 9.
FUNERAL SERVICES
FOR WILLIAM GAULT
HELD AT LE CLAIRE
___________________
Funeral
services for William A. Gault were held Friday afternoon at the McGinnis chapel
in Le Claire. The Rev. C. E.
Thompson officiated. Burial was made
in
Glendale
cemetery.
Pallbearers
were James Ryan, Charles Thompson, Gene Youngers, James Brown, Ed Davenport, and
Carl A. Newton
GILBERT LEROY
engineer
The Democrat and Leader, Thursday, March 25, 1948, page 15.
LEROY GILBERT, LIFE
RESIDENT OF LECLAIRE, DIES
___________
Le Roy
Gilbert, 74, an engineer on the Mississippi river boats a number of years and
later owner of a sand and gravel business in Le Claire, died in St. Luke’s
hospital at 1:40 p. m. Wednesday. He
had been ill two months.
A life
resident of Le Claire, Mr. Gilbert was born Sept 25, 1873, son of the late
Philip and Martha Gilbert. He
attended the Le Claire schools and was married to Anna Dittmer March 26, 1900.
The couple would have celebrated their 48th wedding
anniversary Friday.
An engineer on
the river boats many years, he later operated a sand and gravel business in Le
Claire for 30 years before retiring a number of years ago.
Surviving are
the widow; a daughter, Mrs. Vern McDonald, Wheatland; two sons, Robert C. and
Arthur W. Gilbert, Le Claire; a brother John Gilbert, R. R. No. 1 Princeton, and
five grandchildren.
The body will
be taken from the McGinnis funeral home to the Le Claire Presbyterian church at
noon Saturday for services at 2 p. m. Burial
will be in
Glendale
cemetery, Le Claire.
HITCHCOCK
HITCHCOCK SAMUEL R
Captain
Capt
Samual Hitchcock
1870
Scott
County
Federal Census Le Claire city
Hitchcock Saml 30 M W Raft Pilot 1,000 .
Iowa
.
Hitchcock Lizzie 23 F W Keeps House . .
Iowa
.
Hitchcock Minnie 2 F W . . .
Iowa
. . . .
Hitchcock Willie 8/12 M W . . .
Iowa
A
Raft Pilot's Log by Capt. Walter A. Blair
1929-Arthur H.
Clark
Company
Transcribed
by Joan Bard Robinson
Some
of the Men Prominent in the Rafting Industry, 1840-1915
Walter Blairs “A Raft Pilots Log” Clark Co.
Publishers 1929
SAMUEL HITCHCOCK
238
In old floating days Sam Hitchcock stood high as an easy, skillful pilot.
He had rare knowledge of the draft of water at different stages and with
his quiet manner and low voice he had excellent control of his crew.
When towing rafts came in vogue, Sam soon got the hang of that, and always
had choice positions,
Ex-governor Van Sant writes me this about him: "Sam Hitchcock took to
steamboat rafting very quickly and was a good handler as well as a good
upstream pilot.
"In 1874, when I began running rafts on contract, I
239
hired Sam Hitchcock for the 'D.A. McDonald,' agreeing to pay him one-third the
net profit after all expenses were paid out of earnings.
'I have had a good many good pilots in my time but none ever did better
work and I learned much from him about the business that helped me greatly.
At the end of the season I paid him $2650.00 as his share. That
was good pay then for six months' work, but he earned it. He was an
even-tempered, pleasant man to work with. Captain Hitchcock was on the
towboat
'
Minnesota
' with Captain A.R. Young of
Stillwater
many years.
" His last work was with me on the 'Last Chance' in 1882 and got off on
account of illness that soon took him off."
transcribed by Joan Bard Robinson
The
Davenport
Democrat
July 28, 1881
Pg.
1
Steamboat
Movements
The War Eagle,
from
St. Paul
, went south yesterday,
The Josephine
left for
St. Louis
at three o’clock this afternoon, taking 250 barrels of onions.
The Jo- je (?)
leaves for
St. Paul
to-night.
Alex Mitchell
left for
St. Paul
at 2:30 this afternoon with a good load of freight and passengers.
The Jas. Fisk,
Jr. struck the bar in Coon slough the other day and broke her raft to pieces.
With the assistance of the Le Claire Belle the raft was reconstructed in
a day and a half, but about $850 worth of logs were lost.
His many
friends on the
Upper Mississippi
will regret to learn that Capt Sam Hitchcock now of the oldest and best
pilots on the river and head pilot on the fast raft boat Kit Carson for the past
few years has become demented. The
first symptom of his aberration were noticed some days ago when the boat with
her raft was lying opposite Eagle Point, and the raft was being split in two
pieces preparatory to running thru the bridge. Sam then inquired of the second
pilot, who was on duty. “What are you splitting the raft for!” the second
pilot replied that he was going to take one piece through the bridge. “Why,”
replied Sam, “Don’t you know that bridge has grown since we were here
last?” This remark caused one of
the owners of the boat, who was aboard, and the second pilot, to doubt Sam’s
mental soundness. When the boat
reached New Boston, about 50 miles above
Burlington
, Sam moved the raft from the dead water, where he originally landed it, to the
swift water a short distance below. This
action and other manifestations during the trip, convinced his friends that he
was laboring under temporary aberrations. A
friend has taken him to
Colorado
in the hope that the climate of that region will restore his health and senses.
Over exertion is the cause to which his misfortune is attributed.-
Dubuque Telegraph.
The
Davenport
Democrat, Tuesday, May 4, 1886, page 1.
OBITUARY.
_________
HITCHCOCK
The venerable
pilot, Samuel R. Hitchcock, is dead--and day before yesterday he was placed in
his lowly bed of rest and peace. Hitchcock
was pilot on the upper
Mississippi
for more than twenty years, and a good one.
In the fall of ‘84 he became melancholy--and seemed to dwell on the
borders of black despair. One day in
June last, there came a complete change to him; he brightened up and became
jolly and cheerful over the idea that he was immensely wealthy, owned silver
mines and gold mines in
Colorado
, and a dozen great farms in the county. Expected
dividends did not arrive, and he became violent; and his sorrowing wife and
relatives had all they could do to keep him from destroying his own house.
Mrs. Hitchcock was skillful at bottoming chairs, and one evening she
requested him to carry a couple she had finished to a neighbor.
He went away with the chairs, and staid so long that Mrs. H. went in
search of him. He could not be found
that night, and the next day he was discovered twelve miles from town--had been
out all night in the rain. He would
give no account of himself whatever. The
next day he was brought to
Davenport
for examination by the county commissioners, who sent him to
Mt.
Pleasant
hospital--and there he died last Friday. Mr.
Hitchcock was 51 years of age. He
was well known by all steamboat men in the upper river trade.
His wife is childless.
HULET JAMES ‘PERCY’
OUR STORY
Bridging The Past And The Present, page 117.
“ Percy Hulet’s name must be mentioned as he worked on
the river and helped in the building of the
LeClaire
Canal
.”
Quad-City Times, Saturday, November 13, 1982, page 4.
Obituaries
James Hulet
Services for
James “Percy” Hulet, 87, of
219 Wisconsin St.
, LeClaire, will be 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire.
Burial will be in
Glendale
Cemetery
.
Visitation is
2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at McGinnis Funeral Home.
Memorials may
be made to the LeClaire Volunteer Fire Department, or First Presbyterian Church,
of which he was a member.
Mr. Hulet died
Thursday at his home.
He retired in
1956 from Rock Island Arsenal. He
also was a former postmaster for LeClaire.
Mr. Hulet
married Inez Cope in 1931 in
Davenport
.
He was an Army
veteran of World War I.
He was a
member of Snow Lodge 44, Silver Creek Order of Eastern Star; a charter member of
the Buffalo Bill Museum Board and LeClaire Cemetery Association, and former
director of both; a member of Davenport Consistory; Kaaba Shrine, Davenport; and
World War I Barracks.
He was a
charter member of the volunteer fire department and served 10 years as chief.
Mr. Hulet was remembered as the person who drove the town’s first
motorized fire truck off the flatbed railroad car when it was shipped in 1924.
He also had
been a member of the first organized basketball team at
LeClaire
High School
.
In 1978 he was
honored by the LeClaire Business Men’s Association for 68 years of community
service.
Survivors
include his wife, nieces and nephews.
McCraney
This is the link to a picture of Elmer Mc Craney from Le
Claire
http://www.umvphotoarchive.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/scdpl&CISOPTR=543&REC=1
MCCAULEY
DORIS
Bridging The Past And Present, page 117.
“Among the
river boat cooks were Francis A. Buchheit, Sam Craig, George Shannon, Doris (Schickling)
McCauley.”
Quad-city Times, Friday, October 13 1989, page 39.
LeClaire
Doris McCauley
LeClaire
,
Iowa
- Doris M. McCauley, 71, died Thursday at her home.
Services will be 11 a. m. Saturday at
Glendale
Cemetery
, LeClaire.
Visitation is
5-9 p.m. today and 8:30-11 a.m. Saturday at Nelson Funeral Home, LeClaire.
Doris Thompson
married Russell McCauley in 1946 in
St. Louis
.
She and her
husband owned and operated the Lone Star Inn, LeClaire, from 1956-1977.
She was a
member of
Buffalo
Bill
Museum
.
She enjoyed
bowling and was an avid card player.
Memorials may
be made to the family.
Survivors
include her husband; daughter-in-law, Sharon Schlickling,
Camanche; two grandsons; two great-grandsons; and a brother, Edward,
St. Ann
,
Mo.
Her son,
Richard “Wimp” Schlickling died in August and her sister, Lois Henson, died
Dec 13, 1988.
MACCAULEY
RUSSELL
Bridging The Past and the Present, page 117.
“Russell
McCauley is still actively engaged as master pilot on the “James P.
Pearson,”
He began working on the river in 1944.
He was issued a Mate license on steamboats and now operates on diesel
powered boats.”
Quad
City
Times, February 2, 1997, page 4M.
LeClaire
Russell McCauley
LeClaire
,
Iowa
- Services for Russell L. McCauley, 72, of
Moline
, formerly of LeClaire, will be 11 a. m. Monday at Nelson Funeral Home, LeClaire.
Burial will be in
Glendale
Cemetery
, LeClaire.
Visitation is
3-6 p.m. today at the funeral home with a Masonic service conducted at 6 p.m. by
Snow Lodge 44 AF and AM.
Mr. McCauley
died Thursday, January 30, 1997 at
Manatee
Memorial
Hospital
,
Bradenton
,
Florida
.
He owned and
operated the Lone Star Inn, LeClaire, from 1956-77.
He then was employed by Moline Consumers as a barge pilot from 1977-89.
He was born
August 25, 1924, in LeClaire, to James and Myrtle (Roberts) McCauley.
He married Doris Thompson in 1946 in
St. Louis
. She died in 1988.
He married Eugenie Cone on January 4, 1992, in Argo.
He was a
member of Snow Lodge AF and AM, LeClaire. He
enjoyed fishing and golfing.
Survivors
include his wife, Eugenie McCauley, Moline; step-daughters, Marilyn Arp,
Davenport, Paula Lang, East Moline, Karen Poquet, Moline Il., and Teresa Carver,
Milan, Il.: two grandsons: 11 step-grandchildren; sisters, Winifred McKannon,
Milan, Betty Burkhamper, Princeton, Iowa, and
Mary O’Brien, Kewanee, Il., and brothers, Wilford “Bob” McCauley,
LeClaire, and Daniel McCauley, Vancouver, Wash.
He was
preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris, a sister and a brother.
Nesbitt Newton
Pilot
Davenport Morning Tribune, April 18, 1891, page 4.
SHE MEANT TO KILL
__________
MRS. NEWTON NESBIT
ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT A DOUBLE CRIME
__________
A Sensation for Le Claire -- A Woman Shoots Her Husband
and Then Turns the Revolver on Herself.
__________
The little
village
of
Le Claire
is having more than its share of sensation of late.
It was only a week ago that a night watchman was shot by a riverman and
now comes another shooting, more sensational and which may have more serious
result than the first. This time it
was a family affair, a wife shoots her husband then attempts yesterday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt became involved in a quarrel at the breakfast table
when Mrs. Nesbitt ended it by shooting her husband and then herself.
Nesbitt is a riverman and last year was employed as a
fireman on the rafter
Stillwater
. During the past winter, however,
he had been attending bar in Le Claire. His
wife objected to this avocation, and that is what led to the trouble.
He persisted in the last pursuit, though his wife repeatedly entreated
him to give it up and at last it came that every mention of the matter involved
a quarrel. One of these not
infrequent unpleasant occurrences took place at the breakfast table yesterday
morning. In the course of the
animated conversation, Nesbitt was paternally offensive and his wife suddenly
producing a revolver fired. The ball
struck Nesbitt in the back of the neck and he fell unconscious.
The woman then turned the revolver on herself and fired twice.
The first ball entered two inches below the ear and the second made
merely a scalp wound. Neighbors
attracted by the shooting rushed into the house and found Nesbitt and his wife
lying on the floor, but the woman was still conscious.
Nesbitt, too, was soon revived, but he is in a precarious condition, and
while the woman may be saved, it is not improbable that both will die.
Physicians have probed the wounds of both for the bullets, but so far
have failed of success in both cases.
Nesbitt is 24
years of age and was born in Le Claire. His
wife is about the same age and has lived here in all but twelve years.
Nesbitt Lawrence (Larry)
Engineer
The Daily Times, July 30, 1926, page 28.
LAWRENCE NESBITT OF LE CLAIRE DEAD
__________
LE CLAIRE, Ia., July 30.--(Special)--Lawrence M. Nesbitt, 47 years of
age, died at his home at 10:45 p. m.
yesterday after an illness of
short duration of gallstones.
Mr. Nesbitt was born in Le Claire Sept. 23, 1878, and had spent his
entire life in Le Claire and
vicinity. He was known as Larry by his
many friends in Le Claire and
Princeton
.
He married Miss Cora Thompson, daughter of Charles Thompson of
Princeton
in November 1905. He was a member of the Woodmen of the
World and of the
Davenport
aerie of the Eagles. He had been employed
for a number of years on government
work on the river.
Surviving are his wife and his mother, Mrs. H. G. Noddle of Dixley,
O. Funeral services will be
held from the home at 1 p. m., Sunday.
burial will be in
Glendale
cemetery.
LAWRENCE M. NESBITT, LE CLAIRE, DIES AFTER ILLNESS
_________
Lawrence M. Nesbitt died at his home in Le Claire Thursday at 9:30 p.
m. after a short illness.
He was born Sept. 23, 1878 in Le Claire and received his education
there. He was occupied as a
U. S.
engineer on the government river
boats. On Nov. 29, 1906 he was
married to Miss Cora Ellis Thompson at
Princeton
, who survives.
Mr. Nesbitt was a member of the F.
O. E. and the Woodmen of the World.
The funeral will be held Sunday at 1
p. m. from the late home.
Interment will be in
Glendale
cemetery, Le Claire.
NESBITT WILLIAM
riverman
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, page 2.
AGED LE CLAIRE
RESIDENT DIES
_________________--
LEcLAIRE
,
Ia.
, March 9.--(Special to the Democrat.)--William Nesbitt, one of the oldest and
most respected residents of this city, passed away at his home this morning
after a lingering illness due to the infirmities of old age.
Mr. Nesbitt was born in
Ireland
on Feb, 14, 1822. He was
united in marriage with Miss Margaret Shannon, in
Scotland
, in 1849, and the couple came to Le Claire in 1855, living here since.
Mrs. Nesbitt’s death occurred on Feb. 19.
Mr. Nesbitt was a civil war veteran, having served in the Twentieth Iowa
regiment, Company K.
The funeral
will be held from the home, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
Interment will be made in Le Claire.
Rambo William
Rapids pilot
The Daily Gazette,
January 27, 1871, page 4.
DEATH OF WM. RAMBO
Wm. Rambo, one of the oldest settlers of the county, died
at his residence in Le Claire, last Wednesday evening.
He was about sixty years of age, a good neighbor and an exemplary
citizen. He had been twice married,
the last time about one year ago, and was the father of a numerous family.
He was a skillful Rapids pilot, having been engaged in that business more
than thirty years. At times he was
somewhat conspicuous in local political matters, having been an ardent Democrat.
Many citizens of Scott county will be grieved to hear of his decease.
The Daily Gazette, January 30, 1871, page 4.
OBITUARY.
The citizens
of Le Claire were gathered by the toiling bell to the
Methodist
Church
, on Friday, Jan. 27th, to honor the memory and remains of an old and
respected neighbor, Mr.
Wm. D. Rambo.
Deceased was
born December 30th, 1814, in Beaver county,
Pennsylvania
, where he grew up to manhood, and in April, 1832, married Miss Jane Peterson.
In 1848 he moved to the “West”, stopping
one year in
Illinois
, and finally settling in
Le Claire
,
Iowa
. Here he engaged in business in a
mill, of which he was part owner,
continuing therein for some five or six years.
Afterwards, he engaged in business in the river trade, and for many years
past has been known as a pilot of the first class.
In July of 1857, his wife closed an exemplary Christian life, and dying
as only a Christian die, given the fixedness of death to the luster of a
faithful life, which has been like a pole-star, to her husband and children in
every vicissitude, in all their wanderings.
Thirteen years from her death saw the youngest of eight children nearly
grown to womanhood, when he again married, and now, after but about four months
of wedlock, Mrs. Mary Fullmer Rambo mourns his decease.
Bilious colic,
malignant and baleful from the start, not only baffled the skill of the four
physicians called, but fixed upon his mind the belief that it was the clutch of
death. But he declared himself ready,
ready thought the merit of his redeemer. Six
of his children, with sons and daughters-in-law gathered with his wife around
his death bed. He spoke to them
severally; admonishing, advising and encouraging them to a pious life and a
reunion in heaven. Having prayed for
them, he delivered to them his dying charge.
His last words were. “We are going.”
He had become
a member of the M. E. Church in
Illinois
, in 1843 or ‘44, and had maintained religious principles and instructions of
Methodist type in his family ever afterwards, although he, through
troubles of a private business character, had voluntary ceased to exercise the
privileges of a member in the church for several years previous to his death.
Mr. Rambo was
a man of strong physical constitution, was regarded by his fellow citizens as a
quiet, honest, dignified gentlemen, and as an affectionate husband and father
commanded the love and reverence of his family to the last.
A crowded
audience attended the funeral solemnities, and the universal sorrow of the
community attested the attachment of the “old settlers“, the reverence
of the young, and the unnamed grief of his family circle.
Whatever were his good acts and qualities, he trusted, not in them, but
in the Savior of sinners, in whose name he sleeps by the grave of his sainted
wife, awaiting the “better resurrection.”
Sanford
William
Engineer
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Wednesday Evening, June 18, 1924, page 9.
RESDIENT OF LE CLAIRE
DIES IN
DAVENPORT
__________
William J. Sanford,
Marine Engineer for 20 Years, Passes Away.
__________
William J.
Sanford, 49 year-old resident of Le Claire, and for 20 years a marine engineer
connected with the Mississippi river boats, died at St. Luke’s hospital,
Davenport
, at 5:45 o’clock this morning, after a short illness.
However, he had been in poor health for some time.
He was born
October 15, 1874 in Le Claire, and received his education there.
In December, 1896, he was married to Miss Laura M. Thies in Le Claire.
Deceased was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Mystic Workers and of the Modern
Woodmen.
Surviving are
the wife, one son, Charles and a brother, Benjamin Lee Sanford, all of Le
Claire, and one sister, Mrs. M. L. Hire, of
Princeton
,
Iowa
.
Funeral
services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home in Le
Claire. Interment will be made in
Glendale
cemetery, at that place.
The Daily Times, Wednesday, June 18, 1924, page 6.
WILLIAM J. SANFORD OF LE
CLAIRE DEAD; FUNERAL ON FRIDAY
_________
William J.
Sanford of Le Claire, for the past 20 years an engineer on the
Mississippi river
, died at 5:45 o’clock this morning at St. Luke’s hospital following a brief
illness. He was 49 years old at the
time of his death. He was born in Le
Claire, Oct. 5, 1874, where he received his education.
He was united in marriage in December, 1906, to Miss Laura E. Thies of Le
Claire.
He was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Le Claire, the Mystic Workers of the
World, and Modern Woodmen of America. The
survivors include his wife, his son, Charles Sanford, at home; a brother,
Benjamin Sanford of Le Claire, and a sister, Mrs. M. L. Hire of
Princeton
.
Mr. Sanford
was well known in Le Claire and his death is a shock to a large number of
friends. He was at work until a few
days ago and his condition had been critical only since Sunday.
Funeral
services will be held from the family residence at Le Claire Friday afternoon at
2 o’clock. Internment will be in
Glendale
cemetery, Le Claire.
The Davenport Democrat and Leader, Sunday Morning, June 22,
1924, page 15.
OBITUARY
________
The
Sanford
Funeral
Funeral
services for William J. Sanford were held from the home in LeClaire, Friday, at
2 o’clock. Interment was made in
Glendale
cemetery. Rev. W. E. Green
officiated at the home and the grave and Mrs. Green and Miss Green sang the
songs, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” and “Jesus Knows Who Cares”.
Pallbearers
were Jake Meyers, Andy Slichter, Joe Bissick, W. Adams, Edward Stichter and
James Ryan.
SCHARFF
FRANK
OUR STORY
Bridging The Past And The Present, page 117.
Frank
“Pete” Scharff was with the Corps of Engineers from 1921 to 1964, a licensed
launch operator, for channel inspection. He
is also licensed for 15 years, 1st class all gross tons operator.
Pete positioned buoys for a section of the rapids before the dams were
built.
Quad
City
Times, Wednesday, June 21, 1995, page 4M.
Obituaries
LeClaire
Frank Scharff
LeClaire, Iowa
-- Services for Frank P. “Petey”
Scarff, 89, will be 1 p. m. Friday at McGinnis Chambers and Sass Funeral Home,
Bettendorf. Burial will be in
Davenport
Memorial Park
.
Visitation is
4-8 p. m. Thursday and noon to 1 p. m. Friday.
Mr. Scharff
died Tuesday at his home.
He retired as
a navigator specialist after 43 years at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Rock Island
.
He married
Sylvia Fritz in 1927 in
Rockford
,
Ill.
She died in 1984.
He was a
member of National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
He enjoyed hunting.
In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be made to American Red Cancer Society or Bettendorf Red
Cross.
Survivors
include daughters, Phyllis Haecker, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Nancy Snyder,
Phoenix; a son, Pete, Davenport; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren;
and a half brother, Ralph Siebel, Stockton.
He also was
preceded in death by a granddaughter, Judy Haecker.
SHANNON
ADA
MAY
Ada
May
Shannon
George Shannon and his wife,
Ada
, worked as cooks on the river together.
The Daily Times, Tuesday, May 6, 1958, page 4.
Death Notices
DAVENPORT
MRS. ADA MAY
SHANNON
Mrs. Ada May
Shannon
, 74, of
828 Vine St.
,
Davenport
,
Ia.
And formerly of LeClaire, died at 1:30 p.m. Monday after a long illness.
She was born in Prairie Du Chien,
Wis.
And married George W. Shannon there. He
preceded in death in 1951.
Surviving are
four daughters, Mrs. Ethel Newland, Davenport, Mrs. Letha Couch, Cincinnati,
Ohio, Mrs. Viviane Craig, LeClaire, and Mrs. Gladys Cade, Dundee, Ill.; two
sons, Lawrence M. and George W., both of Davenport; one brother, Emery Fuller,
Marquette, Ia. 21 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Services will
be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the McGinnis Funeral Home,
Bettendorf
. Burial will be in
Glendale
Cemetery
, LeClaire.
Shannon John
Le Claire
,
Iowa
, Sept. 17, 1908
Obituary
Thursday
afternoon, Sept. 10th, at four o’clock at his home in the north
part of town, occurred the death of John Shannon after a lingering illness from
stomach trouble. He was born in
County Donegal
Ireland
and came to
America
, locating in Le Claire in 1852. A few years later he was married to Miss Lizzie
Michedly also of
Donegal
,
Ireland
. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K., 20th, Iowa Infantry, with which he
fought until the end of the war, when he received his discharge.
He is survived
by three sons and one daughter as follows: George W. of Le Claire, James of
North McGregor, John and Kate of
Davenport
; also three brothers: James and Robt. Of Le Claire and Hugh of Rock Island, and
one sister Mrs. William Nesbit Sr. of Le Claire.
The funeral
services were held at the home Sunday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. O. B.
Chassell of the
M.E.
Church
. The interment was made in the family lot at Jack’s Cemetery. The burial
services were in charge of the John R. Bushman Post and the following members of
his company bore the remains to their last resting place: Geo. Leamer, T. Y.
McCall, J.D. Barnes, Jas. H. Wilson, S.W. Kylor, John Port.
The out of town
relatives in attendance at the funeral were Hugh Shannon, Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Dodds and children, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Shannon of
Rock Island
, Mr. and Mrs., John Beyers of Clinton, Mrs. Caroline Schneider and Mrs. Mary
Schneider of
Guthrie Center
,
Ia.
SHANNON GEORGE
The Daily Times, Monday, September 17,1951, page 2 A
George Shannon, Sr.,
Believed LeClaire’s
Oldest Native, Dead
George W.
Shannon, Sr., 83, believed to have been the oldest native of LeClaire residing
in that community, died at 9:35 p. m. Saturday in
Mercy
Hospital
. He had been ill about five months.
Born in
LeClaire Jan. 15, 1868, Mr. Shannon married Ada McGowan Dec 18, 1899, in Prairie
du Chien,
Wis.
He was a retired stone mason.
Mr. Shannon also was an honorary member of LeClaire Dad’s Club.
Survivors
include his wife; four daughters, Mrs. Eythl Newland, Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Letha
Couch, Cincinnati; Mrs. Vivian Craig, LeClaire, and Mrs. Gladys Cade, Princeton;
two sons, Lawrence, of Davenport, and George W. Shannon, Jr., of LeClaire; 20
grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
The body was
taken to McGinnis funeral home, and will be taken to LeClaire Full Gospel
Tabernacle at noon Wednesday, where services will be held at 3 p.m.
Burial will be in
Glendale
cemetery, LeClaire.
The Democrat And Leader, Monday Evening, September 17,
1951, page 9.
George W. Shannon, 83,
Oldest Native-Born
LeClaire Resident, Dies
George W.
Shannon, Sr., the oldest native of LeClaire, died at 9:35 p. m. Saturday in
Mercy
Hospital
, following an illness of five months.
Born in
LeClaire, Jan. 15, 1868, he was a stone mason his entire life, until recent
retirement. On Dec. 18, 1899, he
married Ada McGowan in Prairie du Chien,
Wis.
He was an honorary member of the
LeClaire Dad’s Club.
Surviving
besides his widow are four daughters; two sons; 20 grandchildren, and 3
great-grandchildren. Two brothers
and a sister preceded him in death.
The body was
taken to the McGinnis funeral home, where it will remain until noon Wednesday.
At that time it will be taken to the Full Gospel tabernacle, LeClaire,
for services at 3 p. m. Burail will
be in
Glendale
cemetery, LeClaire.
The Democrat And Leader, Wednesday Evening, September 19,
1951, page 15.
THE
SHANNON
FUNERAL.
Funeral
services for George W. Shannon, Sr., oldest native-born resident of LeClaire who
died Saturday in Mercy hospital, were held at 3 p. m. Wednesday in the LeClaire
Full Gospel tabernacle, with the Rev. K. E. Matscholat officiating, Finley
McGinnis sang, accompanied by Vivian Moore.
Burial was in
Glendale
cemetery, LeClaire.
Bearers were
Roy Long, Earl Tipzenberger, Ben Youngers, Jim Roberts, Francis Buchiet and
Arthur Newton.
* Note from Larry Shannon about his grandmother
Ada
Shannon
Oh
my gosh, thanks for the picture of my grandmother. She practically raised
me, and when I saw the picture it brought tears. She was a little woman,
but the absolute strength of the family. Stood about 4ft 10inches tall and
never topped a 100 pounds in her life. When we were growing up we knew
we'd reached a milestone when we got bigger than grandma. Everybody did,
of course, but the real thing is that whenever anyone had a problem we could
talk to her and go away with a wise solution. Every human being needs an
Ada
in their background. Thanks so very much!
Larry
ps.
So far, we haven't figured out how to open the obit, so maybe we can ask for it
again. Will let you know. I remember her and my grandfather cooking
on a steamboat while on their honeymoon---maybe not the cruise most folks would
think as a honeymoon, but what works works.
Van Duzer
The Daily Times
Wednesday, Dec. 21, 1910
Page 11
Obituary
Van
Duzer
James Jefferson Van Duzer, for many years a resident
of Le Claire, Ia., but for the last two years living in the tri-cities, died at
10:30 o’clock last evening at St. Luke’s hospital after a few days’
illness. He was taken sick last Sunday, and went to the home of his brother, E.
H. Van Duzer in
Rock Island
. Tuesday, pneumonia developed and he was taken to the hospital in
Davenport
, where he passed away, paralysis of the heart being the direct cause of death.
He was born February 23, 1858, and hence was 52 years, 9 months and 28
days of age at the time of his death. His birthplace was in Le Claire Township,
and there he lived continuously until about two years ago, when he came to the
tri-cities. For many years, Mr. Van Duzer was employed on the steamboats on the
Mississippi river
. During the last three months he had been employed in construction work at the
new plant of the Rock Island Plow Company.
He is survived by one brother, E. H. Van Duzer of
Rock Island
, and the following half-brothers and half-sisters: A. P. Van Duzer of
San Francisco
,
Cal.
, Frank Van Duzer of
Denver
,
Colo.
, Ed Van Duzer of
Boise
,
Idaho
, T. F. Long of
Dubuque
,
Ia.
, William Long of Le Claire and Mrs. Jane Cox of
Baltimore
,
Md.
The
deceased was a member of Trinity cathedral parish in
Davenport
.
The funeral arrangements have not been completed but it is thought that
the body will be sent to Le Claire tomorrow morning for burial.
The
Davenport
Democrat and Leader
Wednesday Dec. 21, 1910
OBITUARY
Van Duzer
James Jefferson Van
Duzer, brother of Harry E. Van Duzer of
Rock Island
, died at 11 o’clock last evening of heart trouble at St. Luke’s hospital.
He was past 52 years at the time of death. He had only recently recovered from
an attack of pneumonia and believed, was an indirect cause of death.
He was born in Le Claire Dec. 20, 1858, and ha lived in
Davenport
a number of years. Besides his brother in
Rock Island
he is survived by relatives in Le Claire and surroundings.
The body will be taken to Le Claire tomorrow morning, where interment
will take place in the afternoon.
The Daily Times
Dec.
23,1910
page 12
Van Duzer
The remains of James J. Van Duzer, who died at St.
Luke’s hospital Tuesday morning were sent over the I.& I. to Le Claire
yesterday afternoon where the funeral services were conducted at 2 o’clock by
Rev. B. S. Bailey, of the M. E. church from the home of Wm. H. Long. Music was
furnished by a quartet composed of Mrs. Alice Trombly, Miss Anna Laird, Jas. P.
Suiter and Wm. Laycock. Burial was made in the Le Claire cemetery.
RECIPE FOR MURDER
Researched and Transcribed
By Sue Rekkas
The
Davenport
Democrat, Wednesday, October 6, 1875, page 1.
MURDER AT LECLAIRE
__________
A Quarrel Between two
River Men, Which ends in the Murder of one of Them.
___________
A couple of
river men, named respectively James Russell and Charles Herman, both of whom
reside in Le Claire, were in this city Tuesday, and it is believed were on a
little spree together. Both took
passage on the Red Wing, which left here for the north, about noon the same day.
During the trip up they both got into a quarrel, and a short time before
the boat landed at Le Claire, their quarrel culminated in Herman sticking
Russell in the face. When the men
went ashore at Le Claire, about 7 o’clock, Herman proceeded to the Galt House,
took a chair on the porch and went to sleep, and Russell soon after reached the
hotel, and went up to his room but returned to the porch where Herman was very
soon afterwards. How the scuffle
that ensued commenced, no one appears to know at present, or who was the
attacking party, the first intimation of it to Mr. Galt and others in the hotel
was hearing the report of a pistol shot, and a voice saying, “I’ll shoot you
now,” followed by another pistol shot. These
shots soon attracted a crowd to the scene of the scuffle on the porch, where
Russell was seen lying, and Herman with a pistol in his hand pointing right at
him. As soon as the latter saw Mr.
Galt come to the door he started and went down street.
Russell was then picked up and borne into the hotel, when
it was found that he was dead. Dr.
Gamble was immediately sent for, who examined the wound, and it was found that
he was shot though the neck--the jugular vein being severed.
When picked up, the blood was pouring from him in a stream and running
off the porch on to the sidewalk.
Officer Van
Duzer soon after arrested Herman on the street, who was also wounded, a pistol
shot having taken effect in the nose, the ball going downwards.
The wound was probed, but the ball had not been found up to the last
accounts. When arrested, Herman said
to the officer, “When you shoot a man, shoot him dead!”
Russell had
been employed as a cook on the raft steamer Le Claire Belle, was well known on
the river, and had resided for sixteen years in Le Claire, and is spoken of as a
quiet, peaceful man.
Herman was
cook on the raft steamer, Van Sant, and made his home for the past season or two
in Le Claire.
When arrested
he had a pistol on his person, with two empty chambers.
No pistol was found on the person of Russell, and there seems to be a
mystery connected with the shooting of Herman--whether he accidentally shot
himself, or whether the pistol belonged to Russell and he fired the first shot,
and then the pistol was taken from him by Herman.
Some incline to the later opinion. Coroner Grant was notified of the
affair last night, and went to Le Claire this morning to hold an inquest.
(Note-the spelling is the
way it was written.)
The Davenport Daily Gazette, Wednesday Morning, October 6,
1875, page 4.
A DEADLY DEED.
_________
Fatal Quarrel in Le Claire.
__________
One Man Killed
Instantly-The Slayer Wounded.
__________
When the
steamer Red Wing put out from this port for the north yesterday noon, she had
two passengers named James Russell and Charles Herman, who went on board here,
ticketed for LeClaire, where they were residing.
Herman had been cook all season on the raft steamer Van Sant, and Russell
was cook on the raft steamer LeClaire Belle until about four weeks ago when he
left and took board at the Galt House. It
is believed both had been drinking in Davenport--at any rate, they had a quarrel
on the Red Wing just before they landed at LeClaire, and Herman slapped Russell
in the mouth. They left the steamer
separately. Herman went into
Hitchcock’s salon, drank a glass of beer, went on up to the Galt House, took a
chair on the front porch and fell asleep. Russell
called at Hitchcock’s twenty minutes after Herman did, and also took a glass
of beer and walked to the Galt House, to his room upstairs but came right down
and went on the porch.
This was about
half past six o’clock.
Soon Mr. Galt
and others in the house heard a scuffle on the porch, followed by a pistol shot.
Then a voice said,
“I’LL
SHOOT YOU NOW,”
and another report was heard.
Mr. Galt stepped to the front door. There
was Herman on the porch with revolver in hand, pointing right to the door, and
muttering a threat, while Russell
lay right along the front of the still. Herman
turned, when he saw Mr. Galt, and went down the street.
Mr. Galt stooped to Russell, and saw the blood running from him in a
stream, and flowing across the porch; he felt of the prostrate man, and found
that
HE
WAS DEAD.
Other parties
came out, and the corpse was borne into the house.
Dr. Gamble was sent for, and it was found that Russell had been shot
through the neck, the jugular vein being severed.
Officer Van
Duzer was called, and he soon found Herman on the street and arrested him.
He was
COVERED WITH BLOOD
and it was still flowing from a wound in his nose, just
between the eyes. Dr. Gamble
examined the wound. It had been made
by a pistol shot, the ball going downward. It
had not been found when our informant left.
All that Herman said after being caught was when in the doctor’s
office, “When you shot a man, shoot him dead.”
BOTH
PARTIES
to the deadly affray were single white men.
Russell was well known on the upper river, having been employed on
steamboats for sixteen years. He has
made Le Claire his home when not thus engaged, for several years.
He was about thirty years of age. He
was a quiet, peaceful man, and was well liked in Le Claire.
Herman is not
considered a resident of Le Claire, but has been stopping there now and then
during the season.
Of course the
town was very much excited last evening.
NOBODY SAW THE AFFRAY,
nobody knows the cause.
All that is known is that a citizen has been killed.
No revolver
was found on Russell, but Herman had one with two chambers discharged:
Did Russell shoot Herman first, and have the revolver taken from him and
get shot in return? That was the
supposition last night.
John Morrison
and Jacob Berger came to
Davenport
in the night for Coroner Grant, who will go to Le Claire this morning to hold
an inquest.
Davenport Daily Gazette, Thursday morning, October 7, 1875,
page 4.
THE MURDER.
_________
The Coroner’s Inquest.
_________
All About the Affray and
Death.
_________
The Murderer’s Statement.
_________
Verdict of the Jury.
_________
Yesterday
morning Coroner Grant went to Le Claire and held an inquest over the body of
James Russell, an account of whose death, on Tuesday evening, at the hands of
Charles Herman, was given in yesterday’s Gazette.
And the testimony showed that Gazette’s report was correct in the main,
the only point of difference being in the fact that Herman contradicted his
assertion, made after his arrest, that Russell shot him first.
The
Coroner’s jury was composed of three prominent citizens of Le Claire--W. B.
Hall, C. C. Applegate and
Laurel
Summers.
The inquest
was held at the Gault House, where Russell’s body was lying.
The room was crowded, and a large number of people gathered about the
hotel.
THE
TESTIMONY
was listened to with a great deal of interest.
The first
witness was W. F. Gault; proprietor of the Gault House.
He testified that Russell had boarded with him about a month; that he
left for Davenport Tuesday morning, and returned in the evening, on the streamer
Red Wing; that Herman came to the house at 6 p. m., and went to sleep on the
porch, witness supposing him drunk; he said he wanted no supper, and would
rather sleep, but was not ready to go to bed.
Russell had been there, and returned in about twenty minutes.
About 6:30 witness heard a pistol shot which seemed to be on his porch,
and in a few seconds heard another. There
was a little noise on the porch, and he opened the door and Russell was lying
across the still. Herman was
standing against a post on the porch, with a revolver in his hand.
Witness told him he had better put up his revolver.
Herman said, “He struck me first, and I shot him“
Marshall Van Duzer appeared now, and arrested Herman.
J. Davenport,
who keeps a saloon in Le Claire, testified that he came up from
Davenport
on the Red wing on Tuesday, and Herman and Russell were on the stearmer
intoxicated. They had a quarrel, and
were talking about cooking. (Both had been cooks on the river.)
Witness saw Herman strike Russell in the mouth in the mouth with his flat
hand, and Russell kicked him. Captain
Haight interfered and stopped them, but before arrival at LeClaire, the quarrel
and blows were repeated. The two had
played cards on the boat with a couple of other men, but there was no quarrel
then.
Captain Sam
Van Sant testified that he was a passenger on the Red Wing; that both were
drunk, and were constantly engaged in talking about cooking, but observed no bad
feeling between them while they were playing cards.
They played for the drinks.
Dr. McCleery
testified as to seeing Russell’s body, and described the wound.
George
Williams said he heard Russell say, in Hitchcock’s saloon, between 6 and 7
Tuesday evening, that he would “be even with that man that struck him, if it
cost him his life.” Russell drank
a glass of beer there.
Sam R.
Hitchcock testified as to
Russell’s calling at his saloon. Russell
said a man struck him in the mouth on the boat, and he would have his
satisfaction.
Marshal Van
Duzer testified as to Herman’s arrest. He
was hurt, and said he was shot by Russell and then shot Russell.
Herman said he had made his will.
He was out of his head.
Charles
Lillabage testified that he saw Russell before he was shot, and he said a ---
--- - ----- struck him in the mouth, and he would get even with him.
Witness found $20 in Russell’s pockets.
D. A. Gault
testified that after the firing he found two pieces of brick on the porch, about
1 ¼ inches thick.
HERMAN’S
OWN STATEMENT
before the
Coroner will be read with interest. It
was as follows:
Charles
Herman, sworn: I am aged 23;
live at St. Louis; father and mother are from Switzerland; mother living in
Missouri; I have known James Russell about four years; known him intimately for
two years; up to this time I have been cook on the steamer Van Sant; left
Davenport for this place yesterday; James Russell and I came up here on the Red
Wing as passengers; we had a quarrel about cooking; he said he was the best cook
on the river; I laughed at him, and he hit me with his fist and kicked me;
I returned the blow with my
hand, striking him in the mouth; the barkeeper and Capt. Hight parted us, and we
all drank together, and we had not more trouble on the boat.
After we
landed I came to the Gault House--put my carpet sack away or rather handed it to
Mr. Gault, and then went out on the porch and sat down in a chair.
I was about half asleep and in about 15 minutes Russell came up and
struck me with a brick or rock, I should judge, which knocked me off the chair,
and struck me again after I fell. As
soon as I could pull my pistol from my pocket, he standing near me, I shot him.
He at once started to run and I arose and shot him again, and he fell in
the doorway. Neither of us said a
word during the whole time. I gave
myself up to the
Marshall
when he arrived and came up to me. I
thought he was going to kill me, and I killed him to prevent it.
I never had any trouble with him before.
I felt my liquor, but was not drunk--knew what I was doing.
The pistol was a Smith & Wesson 6 shooter.
Herman was
unable to write his name, and so made a mark.
THE VERDICT
of the jury was that James Russell came to his death “by
a pistol shot in the neck, severing the carotid artery of the right side, at the
hands of Charles Herman, and feloniously.”
Marshall Van
Duzer had Herman in charge, and will bring him to
Davenport
jail today.
The theory
that Russell shot Herman first is dispelled--Herman did all the shooting.
Russell may have hit him with a brick.
He is a large, coarse, heavy man and has a bloated, repulsive face.
Coroner Grant
made search for the ball that killed Russell--opening to the right carotid
artery; but the ball could not be found.
The
Davenport
Democrat, Thursday, October 7, 1875, page 1.
THE MURDER AT LECLAIRE
______________________
The Coroner’s Inquest--
Herman Held for the Murder--His Statement.
______________________
Coroner Grant
proceeded to LeClaire Wednesday morning to hold an inquest over the body of
James Russell, the cook, on the raft steamer LeClaire Belle, who was shot on
Tuesday night on the porch of the Galt House by a man named Charles Herman, a
cook on the steamer Van Sant. The
details of the tragedy were given in the Democrat last evening, and very little
additional was elicited at the inquest.
The jury was
composed of W. B. Hall, C. C. Applegate and Hon. Laurel Summers.
There was a large crowd in attendance at the investigation, which was
held in the Galt house, where the murdered man boarded, and which was the scene
of the tragedy. J. Davenport and
Capt. Van Sant, who were passengers on the Red Wing with the murderer and his
victim, testified as to the quarreling of the parties on board between this city
and LeClaire, and to the striking of Russell in the face by Herman.
They had been playing cards on the boat, but the quarrel did not
originate in that, but they believe, over the merits of each as cooks.
S. R. Hitchcock testified as to Russell’s coming into his saloon, and
telling him a man struck him in the mouth and he would have satisfaction for it;
and George Williams testified that he heard Russell say in Hitchcock’s saloon
that “he would be even with that man that struck him, if it cost him his
life.” Dr. McCleery testified as
to the nature of the wound that caused death.
D. A. Gault
testified that after the firing he found two pieces of brick on the porch.
After some further unimportant testimony, the prisoner made the following
statement:
Am aged 23;
live in St. Louis; father and mother are from Switzerland; mother living in
Missouri; I have known James Russell about four years; known him intimately for
two years; up to this time I have been cook on the steamer Van Sant; left
Davenport for this place yesterday; James Russell and I came up here on the Red
Wing as passengers; we had a quarrel about cooking; he said he was the best cook
on the river; I laughted at him, and he hit me with his fist and kicked me; I
returned the blow with my hand, striking him on the mouth; the bar-keeper and
Capt Hight parted us, and we all drank together, and we had no more trouble on
the boat.
After we
landed I came to the Gault House, put my carpet-sack away, or rather handed it
to Mr. Gault, and then went out on the porch and sat down on a chair.
I was half asleep, and in about 15 minutes Russell came up and struck me
with a brick or rock, I should judge, which knocked me off the chair, and struck
me again after I fell. As soon as I
could pull my spitol from my pocket, he standing near me, I shot him.
He at ounce started to run, and I arose and shot him again, and he fell
in the doorway. Neither of us said a
word during the whole time. I gave
myself up to the
Marshall
when he arrived and came up to me. I
thought he was going to kill me, and I killed him to prevent it.
I never had any trouble with him before.
I felt my liquor, but was not drunk; knew what I was doing.
The pistol was a Smith & Wesson 6-shooter.
The jury
returned the following
VERDICT:
That James
Russell came to his death by a pistol shot in the neck, severing the carotid
artery of right side, at the hands of Chas. Heramn, and feloniously.
Her was
brought to this city this afternoon, and turned over to the Sheriff.
He is somewhat reticent, but feels confident that he will be acquitted.
The papers in the case were given into the hands of the grand jury and
they will proceed at once with their investigation.
Davenport Daily Gazette, , Friday Morning, October 8, 1975,
page 4.
DAVENPORT
BRIEFS
Charles
Herman, who killed James Russell at Le Claire, and was adjudged guilty of murder
by the Coroner’s jury, was brought to jail yesterday morning by Marshall Van
Duzer of Le Claire. He has engaged
W. A. Foster as counsel.
The
Davenport
Democrat, Tuesday, February 1, 1876, page 1.
DISTRICT COURT
____________
The Murder of James
Russell--Arrangement of Charles Herman, Account of the Crime--He Pleads “Not
Guilty”-The Names of the Jury.
____________
At 2 P. M. the
case of Charles Herman, indicted for the murder of James Russell, was called.
The prisoner with his counsel, Mr. W. A. Foster, was in court.
On being arraigned, a plea of “not guilty” was entered.
The work of
empanelling a jury was at once begun, and there being but little objections
offered, and only a few challenges, twelve men were secured by three o’clock.
Their names are as follows:
Leander Lambert ………………………..
Davenport
Henry Madden ……………………………Winfield
Adam Abt ………………………………..
Davenport
Wesley Van Duzen ……………………….Princeton
C. E. Pickering …………………………..
Davenport
G. F. Kuestmann …………………………
Davenport
Jno. Brosck ………………………………
Davenport
Herman Trimer …………………………..
Davenport
T. T. Manbe ………………………………
Davenport
Chas. Bell ………………………………...
Davenport
Dexter Yale ……………………………….Davenport
Frank Mason ……………………………..
Davenport
Our readers
will recollect that the deceased and Chas. Herman--both of them cooks on raft
steamers,--were on the day of the murder last summer, drinking together in this
city, and towards evening, both went aboard of one of the packet steamers to go
to their homes in Le Claire. On the
way up they had a quarrel as to which of them was the best cook on the river,
resulting in the lie being passed, and a blow being struck.
The parties boarded at the Galt House in Le Claire and it was on the
front porch of the hotel that the final rencontre took place, ending in the
death of Russell. The coroner’s
jury rendered a verdict that death was caused by a pistol ball fired from a
revolver by Chas. Herman, and the prisoner was removed to the jail in this city.
He was subsequently indicted by the grand jury--they finding a true bill.
The District
Attorney, Ellis, read the indictment to the jury at 3 o’clock, and made the
opening speech for the State.
Dr. McCrary
was examined by the prosecution to show the death of defendant, and the cause of
the same. He also testified to an
injury received by defendant, his nose being broken with some blunt instrument,
probably a brick or stone. At the
conclusion of his evidence the court adjourned till to-morrow morning at 9 A. M.
Davenport Daily Gazette, Wednesday Morning, February 2,
1876, page 4.
THE HALLS OF JUSTICE
___________________
Opening of the February
Term of the District Court-
Prompt Commencing of business-
Docket Called-Juries Impanelled.
____________________
TRIAL FOR MURDER
____________
A MURDER
TRIAL was then commenced--the case of the State vs. Charles Herman, indicted for
the murder of James Russell. The
tragedy occurred at LeClaire on the night of the 5th day of last
October. Full particulars were given
in the Gazette of the next morning, and the facts are familiar to nearly all our
readers.
Herman and
Russell were both professional cooks--on raft steamers.
The afternoon on the day named, they left this city on the steamer Red
Wing for Le Claire. Both became
intoxicated and had a fight on the boat. After
dark, Herman took some drink at a saloon in LeClaire, and soon after went to
sleep in a chair on the porch in front of the Gault House.
Soon the inmates heard a pistol shot, the landlord ran out, and there was
Russell lying across the door still, dead and Herman standing facing him,
covered with blood, and with revolver in hand.
He was arrested, brought here to jail next day, and has been confined
ever since.
The jury was
empanelled and sworn as follows:
Frank Mases
Dexter Yale
Charles
Bell
F. T. Rasbe
Herman Trimer
John Branch
Geo. F. Knostman
C. F. Pickering
Wigley Van Duzen
Adam Abt
Benny Madden
Leander Lambert
District
Attorney Ellis presented the theory of the prosecution.
W. E. Foster, counsel for the prisoner--with Jackson Hirschl as
associate--presented the theory of the defense, which was that the killing was
done in self defense; that Russell came up and commenced an assault upon Herman,
with a brick.
The first
witness was Dr. McCrary who was at the Gault House a few moments after the deed
was committed. He testified as to
the pistol ball wound in Russell’s neck, which killed him, and as to the wound
in Herman’s nose--a three cornered hole, the bones being fractured so that he
could run his probe right down through the nostrils.
The wound might have been made with a brick.
Court
adjourned till 9 this A. M.
The
Davenport
Democrat, Wednesday, February 2, 1876, page 1.
District Court.
Three witness
were examined up to the noon adjournment, in the Russell murder case, vis:
W. G. Gault, John Davenport, and Jacob Bergan.
The testimony enlisted was relative to the quarrel of the men on the
“Red Wing,” what was said by Russell and Herman in the saloon at LeClaire on
their way to the Gault House; the fact of the shooting, and Herman’s admission
that “I shot him because he shot at me, “ and a few other points, as to
Herman being sitting on the porch in front of the Gault House, asleep, when
Russell came down stairs, etc.--all of which is about the same as
published in the Democrat at the time of the tragedy.
It was expected that the testimony for the State would be concluded this
evening.
The Davenport Daily Gazette, Thursday Morning, February 3,
1876, page 4.
THE TRIAL FOR MURDER!
__________________
The Character of the
Evidence Yesterday--Herman’s Innocence of the Crime Made Very Clear--The Jury
Render a Verdict Without Leaving Their Seats.
__________________
The trial of
John (Charles) Herman for the murder of James Russell was resumed yesterday
morning, with the court room full of spectators.
The prisoner, a well built, fine looking man, was accompanied by his wife
and young child, who had arrived from
Hannibal
, thier home. The lady’s face
indicated a good deal of suffering from care and anxiety.
She eyed every witness closely, and followed the testimony with intent
interest.
There is no
need on giving a synopsis of the testimony.
The facts were detailed by the witnesses for the State substantially as
heretofore given in the Gazette. None
of the witnesses offered any evidence of deliberate, premeditated killing--on
the contrary every fact stated was against such theory, while the testimony made
it very clear that Herman shot Russell in self defense.
It was shown that Russell, ugly drunk, had pondered over the quarrel on
the steamboat till thoroughly enraged, and then went in quest of Herman, utter
threats against him in the ears of all his acquaintances who met him.
For instance, Wesly Rambo testified that he met Russell near the Gault
House, and that the latter said, “I’ll fix the --- -- - -----, or similar
words; witness went into the Gault House, and two minutes after two shots were
fired, and then followed the discovery of Russell dead on the porch, and Herman
standing over him. All the
circumstances went to prove Herman’s statement--that he was asleep in a chair,
that Russell came up and either shot him or mashed his nose with a brick; that
he started up from his sleep, pulled his revolver, and fired at Russell, not
knowing who he was, for it was quite dark.
At the
conclusion of the testimony, at 4 o’clock District Attorney Ellis said to the
jury that no evidence had been offered that convinced him that Herman was guilty
of murder, and he shouldn’t ask the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty.
He hinted that he believed that Herman did what he did in self-defense.
Judge Hayes said there was no necessity of any instructions from him, he
presumed they were unanimous in their opinion; each member of the jury responded
affirmatively, and the verdict of not guilty was returned forthwith, none
of the jurors leaving their seats. Mrs.
Herman’s face lighted up with joy--in two minutes she seemed different from
the woman who entered court in the forenoon.
Herman’s acquaintances crowded up for “a shake” which was given
heartily, and everyone seemed pleased.
Herman and his
wife left for
Hannibal
last evening.
The
Davenport
Democrat, Thursday, February 3, 1876, page 1.
CHARLES HERMAN ACQUITTED.
It was very
evident to all who heard the testimony in the Russell murder case yesterday,
epically in the afternoon, that Herman would be acquitted on the grounds of self
defense, of the murder of James Russell, in LeClaire, on the 5th of
October, 1875. There was nothing
tending to show that it was a premeditated affair, but strongly pointing to the
deceased as the aggressive party in the fatal recontre which resulted in his
death. At 4 o’clock, when all the
testimony for the prosecution was in, and before a single witness for the
defense was called, District Attorney Ellis addressed the jury, telling them
that as no evidence had been elicited tending to establish the crime of murder,
it was unnecessary to proceed further in the cse.
They did not need any instructions from the him.
Judge Hayes also thought it was unnecessary for him to charge them, under
the circumstances, as he presumed they already had their minds made up, to which
they responded in the affirmative. Without
leaving their seats they returned a verdict of “not guilty,” and Charles
Herman was declared a free man once again. His
friends immediately crowded around to congratulate him, prominent among them
were his counsel, Messrs. Foster and Hirschl, while his wife, who, with the
their little daughter, sat beside him during the trial, was almost overcome with
the sense of relief, joy beaming in her face, while tears of gladness streamed
down her checks. Mr. Herman and
family left for
Hannibal
last evening, their former home.
Davenport Daily Gazette, Tuesday Morning, October 5,
1875, page 4.
DAVENPORT
BRIEFS
Good Captain Mitchell, of the Lone Star, is down with the
rheumatism, and Captain Ruby is
running the
Davenport
,
Buffalo
and
Andalusia
packet.
on the same page under Rock
Island Items.
The steamers Red Wing,
Minnesota
and Diamond Jo are expected up
today and the Belle of LaCrosse
down. The Savanna also starts for
St.
Louis
with three barges pf lumber.
An amusing scene on the ferryboat,
last evening: the persevering
but futile attempt of two ladies to
obtain a drink of water from a
Babcock fire extinguisher that stood
in one corner of the cabin.
The
Davenport
Democrat & Leader
June 28, 1924
Pg. 15
Capt.
Bledsoe Dies In
St. Louis
Hospital
Well Known on Boats All Down the
Mississippi River
Captain
William Bledsoe age ____ years, and a former resident of
Davenport
, died Monday morning at 2:45 o’clock at the
Marine
Hospital
in
St. Louis
. He had been ill for some time.
Deceased is the son of Mrs. J. P. Bledsoe of
1630 Harrison street
,
Davenport
.
Captain
Bledsoe was born in 1877 in
Davenport
and left the city when a young man, and since then has been on many boats, up
and down the
Mississippi river
. He ha also traveled extensively in
South America
,
Alaska
, and the
United States
. At the time of his death he was Captain on a liner on the Yucan river.
Surviving
are his mother and two sisters, Mrs. W. J. Elston and Miss Clara Bledsoe of
Davenport
, and three brothers, Earl and Edward of Davenport and Ernest of La Crosse, Wis.
The
remains will be brought to
Davenport
tomorrow morning, and taken to the Runge Mortuary. Funeral services will be
held from the Runge chapel Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock and interment will
be in Oakdale cemetery.
FRIDAY
EVENING – THE
DAVENPORT
DEMOCRAT AND LEADER – FEBRUARY 1, 1924
Bledsoe Funeral
The
William H. Bledsoe funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at Runge chapel
at 2 o’clock.
Dr. Frank Court
officiated and interment was made in Oakdale cemetery.
Mrs. C.M.
Gustine and Miss Eva Six sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere” and “Jesus,
Savior, Pilot Me”.
Pallbearers
were H.E. Garner, F.D. Steen, F.W. Garstang, D.W. McDermand, Alva Rice and E.F.
Epply
Carl Managan
Davenport
Democrat & Leader
April 8, 1923
Carl Managan Predicts Good river Season
Traffic Manager of the Streckfus Line Visiting Old House
Here.
The out look for a good excursion boat season on the
Upper Mississippi
was never better than it is now. Declared
Carl Managan, genial traffic manager of the Streckfus line of steamboats.
This company owns the four palatial steamers, Captiol.,
St. Paul
, J. S. and Washington.
The
Washington
will open the season here with a moonlight excursion on Saturday evening May 2,
The St. Paul will open on the same date in
St. Louis
. During the early season the J. S.
will give several excursions in this vicinity and will then on to
St. Louis
for the summer. The Capitol which
is now plying in the excursion business at
New Orleans
, will come north in June.
Captains
assigned to the various stressful boats this season are:
J. S. - John Streckfus
St. Paul-Hilmar Lax
Capitol-Con McGee
Capt. Walter Blair of
Davenport
will be pilot on the Capitol.
Mr. Managan is
spending several days at his old house in
Davenport
. He returns to
St. Louis
Monday.
Sue
Rekkas
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