Princeton River Men - Obits and Other Info

Rivermen

Princeton Iowa

Compiled by
Georgeann McClure & Sue Rekkas

Drennan James

Follmer James

Raft Pilot

Hanks S. S

Capt.

Captain S. S. Hanks first cousin to Abraham Lincoln, Mississippi river pilot for forty years, and resident of Princeton for the greater part of his life, died at 4:50 this morning at the home of his son S. L. Hanks 1512 Grand Avenue Davenport by reason of infirmities of old age. He was about 95 years of age.

The father of Captain Hanks was a brother to Nancy Hanks, mother of Abraham Lincoln, who the captain had met on several occasions during the terms of his stay in the White House. Capt Hanks was born in Kentucky not far from where Lincoln was born and in his boyhood days lived in Creston County coming to Illinois when he was 12 years old.

His interest in steamboat traffic dates back to this seventeenth year when he took his first ride on a Mississippi steamer, thereafter being taken on as an apprentice pilot by Captain smith of “the Iron City ”. Before he was 21 years he had earned his pilot license and except for years spent during the gold rush spent the remainder of his life on the Mississippi until his advanced age necessitated his retirement.

At one time he became a pilot of the Gypsy, a circus boat that took trips up and down the river. One of his brothers S. B. Hanks was also well known as a river pilot. He lived to be 91 years of age, dying four years ago. Mrs. Hanks died six years ago.

Surviving are four sons D. W. Hanks, S. L. Hanks of Davenport and Mrs. Wilbur Smith of Quincy Illinois . Four grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive.

Lancaster George

The Davenport Democrat & Leader
Nov. 27, 1936
Pg. 11

Princeton Man Dies at age 86, in Buhl, Idaho

George Lancaster, 86, a resident of Princeton for the past 60 years and father of Harvey Lancaster of Davenport, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harvey Stichter, in Buhl Idaho, Thursday. He had been visiting with his daughter for the past two months.

He was born in Ohio , Dec. 24, 1849 and in 1874 he married Miss Julia Yohn in Princeton . For 39 years he had worked as an engineer on the river barges and rafts.

The body will arrive in Davenport Saturday morning and will be taken to the McGinnis funeral home, thence to Princeton cemetery where short burial services will be held at 1:30 Sunday.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Stichter of Buhl, Idaho ; Mrs. Louis Morey of Le Claire; his son, Harvey of Davenport, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Coble of Columbus , Neb. His wife preceded him in death in 1934.

Davenport & Leader
Nov. 30, 1936
Pg. 11

Lancaster Funeral

The body of George Lancaster was taken from the McGinnis funeral home at 1 p, m. Sunday to the cemetery at Princeton for services and burial. Mrs. Harvey Stichter, daughter of Mr. Lancaster officiated.

Bearers were John Hire, John Suiter, Frank Norton, Elmer Carber, Charlie Shaw and Ed Pietscher.

Maines P. M.

Martin Peter

Nannah Russ

Pope Robert

Capt/ Agent

Biographical History and Portrait Gallery of Scott County .
1895: American Biographical Publishing Co

Robert Harper Pope

The subject of this sketch was born in Broome County , New York , May 2, 1821. His parents were Esquire S. and Sally (Angel) Pope, who were also natives of that state. Robert received a common school education, and after the death of his father in 1842 he came to Scott County and settled in Pleasant Valley Township on a farm. In 1851 he embarked in the mercantile business in Pleasant Valley , but only remained there about six months. He then moved to Le Claire and opened another store, carrying on a successful business in that city for two years. At the end of that time he moved to Princeton , where he erected a large stone and brink hotel, which was the pride of the village at that time, at a cost of five thousand dollars. The first story, or ground floor, he used for his store, and the two upper stories for a hotel. He continued in the mercantile business until 1862, when he became the owner of a most advantageous landing for boats, which was known as Pinnacle Point. This was the only safe place for boats to land during low water in Princeton . Mr. Pope established two warehouses there, and was appointed steamboat agent for all the lines running on the river. The old original line was the Keokuk & St. Paul Packet Line, then the White Collar Line and then the Diamond Joe Line. For more then forty years he acted as agent for various steamboat companies, though he was not actively engaged in the warehouse business until the year above mentioned. In 1852 he was one of the trustees appointed to lay out the town of Princeton , and from that time to the present he has always taken an active interest in town affairs.

Mr. Pope was united in marriage to Miss Angeline H., daughter of Bishop and Hannah (Comstock) Stebbins, on February 25, 1852. To them were born six children: Alvaretta married Henry Garber, Adelbert died August 27, 1856, Clarence, also deceased, Frank married Miss Fannie James, Fred is single and makes his home with his father, Winfield S. married Miss Ida Beckel. Mrs. Pope died in March of 1885, and the following December Mr. Pope was United in marriage to Miss Mattie G., daughter of Moses N. and Jane R. (Nichols) Griswold, who were natives of New York. They emigrated to Michigan in 1833, where they lived until 1859, when they moved to Hannibal , Missouri . Mr. Griswold was a soldier in the late war, receiving injuries from which he died. Mrs. Griswold is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Pope.

Mr. Pope has served as an alderman in the Princeton City Council; also as township trustee. In political matters he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is one of the old and highly respected citizens of Princeton . He is a man of pleasing manners, his cordiality being one of his marked characteristics. He is liberal and always willing to spend his time, influence and money to promote the interest of his town or the public in general.

1870 Princeton City Federal Census transcribed by Paul Pruden

Pope Robert 49 M W Boat Agent NY
Pope Angeline 41 F W Keeps House . . Ohio . .
Pope Alvetta 17 F W At Home . . Iowa .
Pope Frank H. 10 M W . . . Iowa
Pope Frede 6 M W . . . Iowa
Pope Scott 3 M W . . . Iowa

1860 Princeton township Scott County Federal Census

Pope Robert H 37 M . Steam Boat Captain New York .
Pope Angeline 32 F . . . . Conneticut . .
Pope Alveretta 7 F . . . . Iowa .
Pope Frank 1 M . . . . Iowa

Rook Charles

Rook Charles
The Daily Times
May 11, 1938

Charles Wesley Rook, 82, a retired rivermen, died at his home in Princeton at 1:30 p. m. Tuesday following an illness of nine months.

Mr. Rook was born in Princeton and lived there during his entire life. For many years he worked on various river steamers and was also actively engaged in logging and rafting activities on the Mississippi . He was unmarried.

Surviving are two brothers, Capt. John Rook, a former riverboat captain, and Frank W. Rook both of Princeton .

The body was removed to the McGinnis funeral home and will be returned to the family home in Princeton where services will be held at 10:20 a. m. Friday. Burial will be in Princeton cemetery.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
May 15, 1938

The Rook Funeral

Funeral services for Charles W. Rook, who died Tuesday, were held in the family home in Princeton at 10:30 a. m. Friday with Rev. A. W. gable officiating. Finley McGinnis sang. Burial was in Princeton cemetery.

Bearers were A. S. Allen, John Wilson, B. L. Morgan, William Brown, William Kevern and Thomas O’Toole.

Rook John

Capt.

Capt John Rook
(Mormon)

The Democrat and Leader, Davenport , Iowa
March 27, 1917

Capt. Rook, Colorful figure of Stagecoach and
Steamboat Days, Dies at the Age of 98

Capt. John Rook, 98, Princeton, a colorful figure in the stagecoach era, died at 3:30 P. M. Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Jess Lego, 2333 North Eighth street , Clinton , Iowa after a month’s illness.

Capt. Rook was born on the family homestead along the Wapsi, Sept, 13, 1848, and moved to Princeton with his parents in 1854. He resided there the rest of his life.

At the age of 17 he drove a stagecoach carrying mail from Maquoketa to Osage, Ia. He gave up the route after a few years and began his river career as a laborer on a lumber raft boat plying the Mississippi river from Davenport to Beef Slough, Minn. He was made a mate on two rafts and later was promoted to a full fledged river captain.

He retired from the river service 40 years ago after having served as a pilot for 35 years Until recently he had operated a small dairy farm at his home in Princeton.

He married Lena Ebert June 2, 1875, at Lyons , Ia. And the couple celebrated their 67^th wedding anniversary preceding the death of Mrs. Rook on Nov. 20, 1942.

Surviving are two sons, John N. and Charles F. Rook, Princeton: two daughters, Mrs. Logo of Clinton and Mrs. Frank Rook, Davenport ; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. A son and a daughter preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held in the Mc Ginnis funeral home at 2 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. R. Bruce West officiating. Burial will be in Oakridge cemetery, Princeton . Sue Rekkas

The Daily Times
March 27, 1947
Pg. 2

Capt. John Rook, Mississippi River Pilot for Many years, dies at 98;
Funeral services are Set Saturday.

“ Lacking any new excitement which Capt. Rook was constantly seeking., he abandoned the stage coach run and like other adventure-loving young men of his time, he left Iowa to seek gold in the west. Upon reaching Texas he decided the country was too rough for him and he returned to Iowa and to the stage coach run.”

Rook Funeral
The Daily Times
March 29, 1947

The funeral of Capt. John Rook, 98, was held at 2 p. m. today at McGinnis funeral home, the Rev. R. Bruce West officiating, R. M. Barclay was at the organ.

Pallbearers were Capt. John F. Suiter, Henry W. Boll, Allen Elliott, Zack Suiter, James Hirl and Homer Brunner. Burial was in Oakridge cemetery Princeton .

Sue Rekkas researcher

Shaw Daniel

Capt.

Times Democrat
Jan 30, 1967
Pg. 15

Ex-Riverboat Captain’s Rites Are Planned

Daniel Webster Shaw Sr. 71, Le Claire, a Mississippi riverboat captain for 38 years, died late Saturday night at Osteopathic Hospital , davenport, after an extended illness.

Services will be 1 p. m. Tuesday in McGinnis chapel Bettendorf , with burial in Glendale Cemetery , Le Claire. Visitation will be at the chapel after 3 p. m. today.

After his retirement from riverboating in 1952, Capt. Shaw was employed as an inspector for Pioneer Central Division, the Bendix Corp. until 1960.

He was born in Princeton , Iowa , Dec. 11, 1895. he was a World War 1 veteran and a member of the Buffalo Bill Post, American legion, Le Claire.

His second marriage was to Laura Lake of Muscatine, in 1956.

Besides his wife, Capt. Shaw is survived by daughters, Mrs. Jack (Jean) Lyons, Le Claire; Mrs. Harry (Wilma) Causey; Muscatine , and Mrs. Larry (Betty) Farren, Santa Monica , Calif. And a son, Daniel W. Jr. Sands Clara, Calif; 10 grandchildren; one great grandchild; sisters, Mrs. Ray (Pearl) Carlock, Moline; Mrs. Andrew (Ada) Wieland, Rock Island, and Mrs. Ray (Anna) Wilson Spokane, Wash; and brothers, Benjamin, of Princeton, and Arthur, of Wheatland.

Shaw Henry A. (Dell)

The Democrat & Leader
April 7, 1947
Pg. 9

Henry Adelbert Shaw, 90, a life resident of Princeton and at one time a river captain on the Mississippi , died in St. Luke’s hospital at 6:15 a. m. Sunday after a week’s illness.

Funeral services will be held in the McGinnis funeral home at 3:45 p. m. Wednesday with the Rev. Fred E. Motskus officiating. Burial will be in Oakridge Cemetery , Princeton .

The son of William and Elizabeth Shaw, he was born May 29, 1866; received his education in the schools of Princeton, and was married to Julia M. Nay, Nov. 23, 1880, in Rock Island . She died Jan. 15, 1941.

Surviving are five sons, Howard, Charles a.m. and Benjamin H., all of Princeton, Art W., Eldridge and Daniel W., Le Claire; three daughters, Mrs. Anna Wilson, Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Ada Wieland, Rock Island and Mrs. Pearl Carlock, Moline; two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Slichter, McCausland and Mrs. Maggie Chandler, Mr. Pleasant; 23 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

The Daily Times
April 7, 1947
Pg. 6

H. Adelbert Shaw, 90, veteran Mississippi River Pilot, Is Dead

Henry Adelbert “Dell” Shaw, 90, veteran Mississippi river captain, and pilot, and lifelong resident of Princeton , died at 6:15 a. m. Sunday in St. Lukes hospital after a week’s illness.

Mr. Shaw was born in Princeton May 29, 1856, and married Julie Ney in Rock Island , Nov 23, 1880. She died Jan 15, 1941,

Survivors are five sons, Howard, Charles A., and Benjamin H. all of Princeton, Art W., Eldridge, and Daniel W. Shaw, Le Claire, three daughters, Mrs. Anna Wilson, Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Ada Wieland, Rock Island, and Mrs. Pearl Carlock, Moline, two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Stichter, McCausland, and Mrs. Maggie Chandler, Mr. Pleasant; 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The body was removed to McGinnis funeral home, where services will be held at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Rev. Fred E. Motzkuks, pastor of Princeton Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Oakridge Cemetery , Princeton .

The Daily Times
April 10,1947
Pg. 2

“Pallbearers, all grandsons of the descendent; were Marvin, Harold D., Arthur and Ben Shaw, Jr., Bob Phillips and Edward Harmon.

Shaw William
Boat Watchman . .

Thompson Stephen

Walker John

Princeton Census 1870

Walker John      49    Ferryman

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Oct. 13, 1933

John L. Walker, Once Princeton Resident, Dead
Dies at Home Here Thursday Following Five Weeks’ Illness

John Lincoln Walker, 66, of 2123 Bridge Ave. , died at his home at 4:20 a. m. Thursday following an illness of five weeks’ duration, the result of a heart attack.

Born Oct. 14, 1867, in Princeton , he was educated in schools there. He was married on May 25, 1897, to Miss Emma Woomert in Princeton . He served for many years as an engineer on raft, packet, and excursion boats between St. Lois and St. Paul . His father, John W. Walker, owned the ferry boat which operated between Princeton and Cordova.

In 1913 Mr. Walker became an engineer for the Crescent macaroni company, which position he has held since that time.

His wife preceded him in death ten years. Surviving are two sons, Earl of Davenport, and John 11 at home; three daughters, Mrs. L. L. Potts, Miss Hettie Walker, and Miss Lola Walker, all of Davenport; three sisters, Mrs. Quisenberry of Le Claire, and Mrs. Catherine Henry of Maplewood, Mo; and two grandchildren.

The body was taken to the Hill and Fredricks funeral home, and will be removed to St. John’s Methodist church at 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Funeral services will be held there at 2:30 o’clock Sunday. Internment will be made in Oakdale cemetery.

Sue Rekkas

                                              Photo McClure

May the waters that took you away, bring you back to me.