USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 21
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
The Twelfth Iowa Infantry, his second regiment, was organized at Dubuque and mustered into service November 25, 1861. They moved to St. Louis, Novem- ber 28, and were on duty at Benton Barracks until January 27, 1862. Proceeding to Cairo, Illinois, they thence went to Smithland, Kentucky, and were on duty with the First Brigade, Second Division of the District of West Tennessee, from February until April, 1862; with the Union Brigade, District of Corinth, Depart- ment of Tennessee, to December, 1862; First Brigade, District of Corinth, Six- teenth Army Corps, of the Tennessee, to January, 1863; Third Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, April to December, 1863; Third Brigade, First Division, right wing Sixteenth Army Corps, to November, 1864; Third Brigade, First Division, detachment Sixteenth Corps, to February, 1865; Third Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Corps, Army of the Gulf, service ; expedition up Tennessee river, February 5-6, 1862; capture of Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 6; Fort Donelson, Tennessee, February 13-16; duty at Fort Donel- son until March 12; moved to Pittsburg Landing, March 12-21 ; battle of Shiloh, April 6-7; advance and siege of Corinth, Mississippi, April 26 to May 30; pur- suit to Brownsville, May 31 to June 12; duty at Corinth until December 18 ;. battle of Corinth, October 3-4; pursuit to Ripley, October 5-12 ; ordered to Daven- port, Iowa, December 18; defense of Jackson, Tennessee, December 20, 1862, to January 4, 1863; moved to Davenport, Iowa, January 4-7, and on duty there until March 27th; thence to Duck Port, Louisiana, April 9-14; movement on Bruensburg and turning Grand Gulf, May 2-12; Jackson, May 14; Big Black river, May 17; siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 18- July 4; assault on Vicks- burg, May 19-22; surrender of Vicksburg, July 4; advance on Jackson, July 5-IO; siege of Jackson, July 10-15; Brandon, July 19-20; camp at Big Black river until November expedition to Brownsville, October 16; moved to Mem- phis, November 7-12; on general duty to January, 1864; moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi, February 1-6; expedition to Canton, February 25-March 4; on veteran's furlough, March and April; moved to Memphis, April 28-May 2; Smith's expedition through Mississippi, June 16-July 18; Pontotoc, July II ; Harrisburg, July 13; Tupelo, July 14-15; Old Town Creek, July 15; expedition to Oxford, July 31-August 23; Tallahatchie river, August 7-9; Abbeville and Oxford, August 12; Hurricane, August 13-14; College Hill, August 21-22; Abbeville, August 23; moved to Duvall's Bluff, September 1; pursuit of Price through Missouri, September 7-November 15; moved to Nashville, Tennessee, November 23-December 1 ; battle of Nashville, December 15-16; pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee river, December 17-30; duty at Clifton, Tennessee, and East- port, Mississippi, until February 7, 1865; moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, February 7-22 ; thence to Dauphine Island, Alabama, March 7-8; siege of Span- ish Fort and Fort Blakely, March 25-April 8; Fort Blakely, April 9; capture of Mobile, April 12; march to Montgomery, April 13-25; duty there until May 12; moved to Selma, May 12, and duty there and district of the Talladega until De- cember ; and detached at Selma for duty in the organization of the Freedman's Bureau.
Such in brief is the history of Dr. Morgan's connection with the Union army but it tells little of the long, hard marches, the difficult sieges and the long and weary waiting in winter quarters. All the experiences meted out to the soldier
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were his, but never did he falter in the performance of any duty and from first to last was at the front valiantly defending the Union cause.
Upon leaving the army Dr. Morgan returned to the pursuits of civil life. In the fall of 1866 he began attending lectures at Rush Medical College, of Chi- cago, with the intention of making the practice of medicine his profession. After attending one course of lectures he decided to take up the study of dentistry and accordingly entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was grad- uated in 1868. The same year he came to Davenport, which has since been the scene of his professional activities. On the Ist of June, 1869, he purchased the office and practice of Dr. Gunckle, and the forty years of his labors here make him the oldest dentist in the three cities which are linked by common interests. He is not only the dean of the profession but has remained throughout the years a foremost representative in all that indicates progress and capability. Reading, research and study have kept him in touch with the onward march of the pro- fession, his methods of practice today being utterly dissimilar to those which were in vogue when he started out four decades ago. His office is equipped with the latest appliances and at all times he has enjoyed the highest regard of his fellow practitioners as well as the general public.
On the 28th of September, 1871, Dr. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Minnie C. Harris, a native of Sag Harbor, New York. He has long been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the Loyal Legion and of the Union Veterans Union, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is indeed a wonderful man for his age, faithful, cheerful and vigorous, as fond of a fishing trip or outing as many a one of fewer years and enjoying life with the full zest of his juniors. He stands high both profession- ally and socially and in citizenship is as loyal to his county as he was when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields.
ANDREW WASHINGTON BOWMAN, M. D.
Dr. Andrew Washington Bowman, who in the years of his connection with the medical fraternity of Davenport was one of the city's most busy, capable, successful and respected practitioners, was born in Andalusia, Rock Island county, Illinois, in January, 1847. His father, Edward H. Bowman, was also a physician and, locating in Rock Island county in 1843, became a prominent representative of the medical fraternity there, enjoying a large and growing practice for many years. He filled the office of circuit clerk of that county and served with dis- tinction as an army surgeon throughout the Civil war. He also spent several years in mining in California following the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, and for a considerable period was Indian agent in the Indian Territory.
After completing his literary education Dr. Andrew W. Bowman traveled through California and Mexico before deciding upon the calling or profession which he wished to make his life work. When in Mexico an epidemic of small- pox broke out where he was staying and thus he had an opportunity of using the knowledge of medicine he had obtained in connection with his father's prac-
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tice. He treated several hundred cases with success and received numerous in- ducements to remain, but he had decided to become a physician and follow the profession in the United States, for he did not naturally like the surroundings and environment of a Mexican home. He then entered Ann Arbor for a course in medicine and afterward studied in the Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated with honors in the class of 1878. In 1880 he came to Daven- port and almost immediately was accorded an extensive practice, which grew with the passing years until he was one of the city's most busy and respected physicians. He was very careful in the diagnosis of a case and in the applica- tion of remedial agencies. Moreover, he was familiar with the component parts of the human body and every phase of anatomy and his conscientious performance of duty marked an improved epoch in the standard of medical service in this city.
On the IIth of August, 1879, Dr. Bowman was married to Miss Marie Max- well, a daughter of the late Dr. A. S. Maxwell, a former resident of Daven- port. He was a long-time member of the Masonic fraternity, the beneficent principles of which he exemplified in his life, finding ample opportunity to dem- onstrate his belief in the brotherhood of man. He died July 16, 1906, at the age of fifty-nine years, and a useful career was thus brought to a close. His friendly and courteous spirit and his kindly disposition had made him esteemed by all who knew him and most of all where he was best known.
M. L. SIEBENGARTNER.
Among the German citizens of the little village of Bettendorf who have proved that though America is not their native land it commands from them the most effective loyalty is M. L. Siebengartner, a retired farmer. He owns five acres within the boundaries of the town, this constituting his place of resi- dence, and other real estate here. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, Septem- ber 19, 1840, a son of Marcus and Theresa (Shoenmaier) Siebengartner, both of whom spent all their lives in their native country.
Mr. Siebengartner was well advanced in years before he sought a home in America. After having, received the fundamental education provided by the public schools of the fatherland he attended college at Naunten, Germany, there- after devoting himself to agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of his birthplace. It was not until the 28th of July, 1884, that he reached Davenport, having brought his family to the United States with him, and there he found work as a team- ster. Three years later he removed to Bettendorf, where he rented a tract of land and later bought the place on which he now lives. He has cultivated the soil with profit to himself and has intimately identified himself with public in- terests for he is a man of progressive ideas and large public spirit so that every enterprise which is calculated to advance the welfare and better the conditions of the community has received his support.
While living in Germany, October 2, 1865, Mr. Siebengartner married Miss Francise Hrabmaer and they have had seven children. Barbara, who married
11 '2. Fielengartner
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George Weinzell and lives in Germany, has five children, George, Max, Mary, Anna and Joe. Michael, a business man of Chicago, Illinois, married Allenia Dipple and they have four children, Elizabeth, Max, Alma and Clara. Marcus was ordained a priest of the Catholic church at Regensburg, Bavaria, and is now a professor of theology in a Catholic academy in his native land. Francise mar- ried John Holzner and lives at Bettendorf. Frank C. has remained at home and has followed in the footsteps of his father as regards interest in public affairs, being identified with some of the more important organizations of the village. He is vice president of the Bettendorf Savings Bank, is commissioner of the streets, assessor, secretary of the Bettendorf fire department, and treasurer of school board. Louis M. lives at home and assumes the management of the farm. Emma married Michael Flashman, a farmer of Davenport township.
Mr. Siebengartner was one of the men who was instrumental in building the Catholic church of the village. It was erected in 1901, with Father Dr. George Ginglinger as pastor. There were only ten Catholic families there at the time, most of them German, but the little congregation has prospered largely through Mr. Siebengartner's efforts, for besides contributing to its support he has under- taken to care for the church. He was also one of the first of the councilmen of the village and served three terms as treasurer of the school board. His inter- est in educational matters is especially keen, for, being a product of the German schools which enjoy an international reputation for their excellence, he is anx- ious to raise the standard of the local institutions of learning as high as possible. In the quarter of a century in which he has lived here his influence has been felt in many ways and, being wholly worthy, he enjoys the utmost confidence of those who have watched his life from day to day.
WILLIAM WATTS.
William Watts, who in former years was prominently connected with building operations in Davenport, conducting an extensive business as a contractor, is now living retired. Like many of the residents of the city of an older generation, he is of foreign birth, the place of his nativity being Norfolkshire, England, and his natal day the 31st of August, 1837. He has, therefore, passed the seventy- second milestone on life's journey. His parents, Robert and Matilda (Gower) Watts, came to the United States in 1848, landing in New York, after which they made their way westward by the canal to Buffalo and took up their abode upon a farm near that city.
William Watts had begun his education in the schools of his native country at the time the family crossed the Atlantic to the new world and continued his studies in the Empire state. He resided upon the home farm in the vicinity of Buffalo until 1856, when, at the age of nineteen years, he left home, believing that he would have better opportunities to more quickly secure a competence in the middle west. He then left the Empire state and came to Scott county, Iowa, where his brother, Robert J. Watts, was then living, having arrived here in the spring of that year, while William Watts established his home in Davenport in
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the fall of 1856. He had learned the wagon maker's trade in the east and after coming to the west began work at the carpenter's trade, being first employed on a house on Lucust street between Brady and Main streets, which is still stand- ing. He was afterward employed in the shops of the Rock Island Railroad Company as coach builder for about fourteen years and has also aided in the construction of a large number of buildings in Davenport, including the Metro- politan hall. During the panic of 1857, he went south to Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained for a year, and during the period of the Civil war he assisted in building Camp McClelland. He has built about twenty houses for himself and also many others, and his business as a speculative builder has proven very profitable. He still owns considerable property, from which he derives a sub- stantial annual income. His investments have ever been judiciously made, while the evidences of his handiwork have secured to him a liberal patronage as a gen- eral contractor.
On the 6th of June, 1859, Mr. Watts was united in marriage to Miss Ma- tilda Parsonage and unto them were born seven children: Sidney, who is living in Benton county, Iowa, married Hattie Southerland and they have four chil- dren: Guy, Ray, Jessie and Hazel. Mary, the second of the family, is deceased. Emma is the widow of D. M. West, who was an attorney of Council Bluffs, and she now lives with her father. Anna L. is also at home. William A., of Dav- enport, married Lillian De Foy and they have three children: Margaret, Helen and Clement. James E., of Mason City, married Helen Johnson. Jessie G. com- pletes the family. The wife and mother, who was born in December, 1839, died on the 26th of March, 1879.
Mr. Watts has been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, never faltering in his allegiance to the party because he believes its platform to contain the best principles of good government. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Davenport and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence here has been uniform and rapid. He has persevered in the pursuit of a per- sistent purpose and has gained a most satisfactory reward.
CLAUS HELL.
Claus Hell, a retired agriculturist residing in Davenport, has made his home at No. 705 West Sixth street for the past thirty-six years. For many years he was actively identified with general agricultural pursuits and is still the owner of a tract of two hundred acres of fine farm land, eighty acres of which lies in Cleona township, Scott county, and one hundred and twenty acres in Cedar county. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, on the 17th of June, 1837, his parents being John and Anna Hell, who spent their entire
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lives in that country. The father was a laborer and also engaged in farming on a small scale.
Claus Hell obtained his education in the schools of his native land and after putting aside his text-books worked as a farm hand for about a year. In 1854, when a youth of seventeen years, he set sail for the new world in company with his brother John, landing at New York after an ocean voyage of fifty-two days. Another brother, Moses Hell, had emigrated to the United States the previous year and had established his home in Davenport, Iowa. Mr. Hell of this re- view therefore made his way at once to this city and, securing employment as a farm laborer, thus worked for about two years. Then he and his brother John purchased ten steers and broke prairie for various agriculturists of the community for about six years. On the expiration of that period, in 1862, the two brothers bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Cleona town- ship, broke it up and erected a small house thereon. They lived together for about a year and then divided the farm and conducted their interests separately. Claus Hell was married in 1865 and continued to reside on his place of eighty acres until 1869, when he purchased and located upon a tract of fourteen acres of improved land in Davenport township near the city of Davenport., At the end of five years he disposed of the property and took up his abode in his pres- ent home at No. 705 West Sixth street in Davenport, where he has lived contin- uously since 1874. He won a gratifying and commendable degree of prosperity in the conduct of his agricultural interests and is now enabled to spend his re- maining days in well earned ease without recourse to further labor. As above stated, his holdings include two hundred acres of highly improved and valuable land, which, though lying in both Scott and Cedar counties, is all in one body.
On the 7th of February, 1865, Mr. Hell was united in marriage to Miss Kath- rina Schmaucher, a daughter of Jasper and Minnie Schmaucher, both of whom passed away in Germany. Mr. Hell has resided with the borders of Scott county for fifty-six years and is a valued member of the German Pioneers Society. Ar- riving in the United States with no capital save a stout heart and willing hands, he realized the fact that while in this country labor is unhampered by caste or class it is only by unfaltering diligence, guided by sound judgment, that success can be secured. Through the exercise of these qualities he made steady progress and is now one of the substantial and respected citizens of his community.
KASPER WACHTER.
Kasper Wachter, who has lived retired in Davenport since 1887, was for- merly actively and successfully identified with agricultural interests in this county. He was born in Mels, Switzerland, a little town at the foot of the moun- tains of which he still has a picture. His birth occurred on the 4th of August, 1834, his parents being Frank and Barbara Wachter. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, brought his family to the United States in 1845, reach- ing New York a month after leaving the land of the Alps. The journey from
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the Empire state to Iowa likewise consumed about a month, the family traveling via the lakes to Chicago and thence to Davenport, Scott county, by prairie schooner. After arriving here Frank Wachter purchased eighty acres of prairie land near the present site of the poorhouse and also bought an old log cabin at Rockingham, which he moved to his farm and in which he took up his abode. In 1852 he remodeled the dwelling and continued to reside therein until called to his final rest in 1856, when fifty-four years of age. His wife, whom he survived for a decade, passed away in 1846. Their children were seven in number, namely: Antone, who died in California; Frank, a resident of Wisconsin; Anna, whose demise occurred in 1849; Kasper, of this review; Joseph, who lives in Kentucky ; Barbara, the wife of Bernhard Huskey, of Davenport; and Amanda, who passed away in 1868.
Kasper Wachter, who was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, attended school in Davenport for a time but his advantages in this direction were somewhat limited. He studied under` the preceptorship of Father Pelamourgues, an early priest of the com- munity. After putting aside his text-books he was busily engaged in farm work until October, 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army, joining Company G, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, at Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The regiment was equipped at Milwaukee, camped there for a time and subsequently marched all the way to Huntsville, Alabama, arriving at that place in the month of May. Mr. Wachter participated in the battles of Perryville, Kentucky, and Stone River and in the latter engagement was shot through the left shoulder, thus sustaining an injury which necessitated his removal to the regiment hos- pital. He was later transferred to a hospital near Cincinnati and when he had recovered was sent back to his regiment at Murfreesboro, where he was hon- orably discharged in May, 1863. After returning to Scott county he once more turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and following his marriage, which was celebrated in 1864, he took up his abode on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres on Lost Grove road, to the operation of which he devoted his energies throughout the remainder of his active business career. In 1887 he dis- posed of the property and has since lived retired in Davenport, having won a competence that enables him to spend his declining years in well earned ease without recourse to further labor.
Mr. Wachter has been married twice. On the 31st of May, 1864, he wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Freund, the widow of Paul Freund, and their union was blessed with seven children, the record of whom is as follows. Carrie, who is the widow of Jacob Gittion, has three children, namely: Lillian, Leonard and Francis. Katherine is the wife of Rudolph Shepler, of Davenport, by whom she has four children ; Clara, Agnes, Aloysius and Bernice. Kasper L. Wachter has passed away. Antone, who resides in Davenport, wedded Miss Clara Court and has one child, Marie. Edward makes his home in Davenport. The other two chil- dren of the family died in early life. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 8th of December, 1899, and on the IIth of May, 1901, Mr. Wachter was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Emma Wilson, whose parents were Noah and Leah Rudy, of Pennsylvania. Her first husband, Seth Wilson, of New York, died in 1894. By him she had two children, namely:
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Clara, living in Pasadena, California ; and Luella, who married Frank Ruefer, of Davenport, and has four children: Gertrude, Georgia, Marie and Raymond.
Politically Mr. Wachter is a stanch advocate of the democratic party and- while living on the farm he capably served his fellow townsmen in the capacity of road supervisor and also as a school director. In religious faith he is a Catholic. He has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey and receives the veneration and respect which should always be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has ever been upright and honorable. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county which has remained his home for almost two-thirds of a century and of the growth and development of which he has been an interested witness.
EDWARD J. DOUGHERTY.
In the development of the natural resources of Iowa and in the promotion of business interests which have had much to do with the upbuilding and ad- vancement of Davenport and the state at large, Edward J. Dougherty took ac- tive and prominent part and came to be recognized as most influential in the pro- motion of business interests, as a leader in financial circles and as a promoter of various mining projects. The extent and importance of his work well entitled him to rank with the representative residents of this city. Mr. Dougherty was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, March 17, 1846, a son of William Dougherty, who in 1851 bade adieu to the Emerald isle and with his family sailed for the. new world. Becoming a resident of Davenport, he started the first brickyard in this city. Two years later he established his family upon a farm on the Utica road and there Edward J. Dougherty remained until twenty-six years of age, his youthful experiences being those that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. He acquired his education in the public schools and through the summer months worked in the fields.
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