USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume II > Part 46
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Mr. Sieg was twice married. His first wife died April 19, 1883. They had no children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Alice Camille, on whom they bestowed every care and attention of loving parents. On the 24th of April, 1884, Mr. Sieg was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Victoria Robirds, nee Burleigh. They had two children, Minnie and Martha. The parents of Mrs. Sieg were southern people, her father being at one time a wealthy and prominent man of Louisiana. His earlier years were devoted to journalism as an editor and later he became a merchant. One of his sons, a brother of Mrs. Sieg, was captain in the Union army and served as aid-de-camp on the staff of General Rosecrans. Mrs. Sieg was first married in Pekin, Illinois, to George Ro- birds. There is one son of this marriage, George Lawrence Robirds, who pur- sued his education in the military academy at Orchard Lake, Michigan.
GODHARDT MOELLER
MRS. GODHARDT MOELLER
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The death of Mr. Sieg occurred November 27, 1890, and his demise was greatly unexpected, the news therefore causing a great blow to his many friends. In his death Davenport lost one of its most valued citizens. In manner he was quiet, unostentatious and unassuming and cared not to figure before the public in any relation save that of a successful business man. He always refused office and political preferment, yet he was recognized as one of the worthiest citizens of the city. He was a man of very positive character and his position was never an equivocal one. On the contrary he stood fearlessly in defense of what he believed to be right and was a man of determination and unflinching integrity. No one ever questioned the honesty of his expressions or his actions. Moreover, he possessed a spirit of broad humanitarianism that prompted him to recognize the rights and interests of others and his employes, business associates and all with whom he came in contact in every relation of life knew him to be not only a good and just but also a generous man. Because of his innate modesty and re- tiring spirit he was thought by some to be reserved, but those who knew him best and came within the closer circle of his friendship entertained for him the high- est regard. His best traits of character, however, were reserved for his own fireside and he cared nothing for the social allurements which would take him from his family. He stood for all that constitutes high and honorable manhood and at his death left a memory that is cherished by all who knew him.
WILLIAM AUGUST MOELLER.
Among the early German residents of Scott county was the Moeller family, of which William August Moeller was the eldest of eight children. He arrived in Davenport in his sixth year and from that time forward continued his resi- dence in this county most of the time, devoting his energies to agricultural pur- suits. He placed his reliance upon the safe, substantial qualities of indefatigable effort and unfaltering perseverance and as the years passed his financial resources increased until the poor little German boy became a man of considerable wealth, possessing valuable property interests from which he annually derived a sub- stantial income. It is a fact worthy of note that some of the strongest char- acteristics of the German race have been dominant factors in the substantial up- building and development of Davenport and Scott county. William August Moeller was among the number of German citizens who aided in the pioneer de- velopment of this section of the state. He was a little lad five years of age at the time of his arrival here in 1848.
His birth had occurred at Propstei, Germany, November 16, 1842, his parents being Henry and Anna Moeller, who on crossing the Atlantic to the United States with their family landed at New Orleans in 1847. They made their way up the Mississippi river as far as St. Louis and remained there through the winter but in the spring of 1848 continued their journey to Davenport. The father worked as a laborer for about a year, after which he purchased forty acres of land in Davenport township at the usual government price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Upon this claim he built a small house and at once began improving
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the fields, making his home there until 1855, when he sold that place and bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land in Lincoln township at fifteen dol- lars per acre. He thereon erected a residence, fenced the land and made all the other improvements. Year by year he carefully tilled the soil and as his financial re- sources increased he extended the boundaries of his place from time to time until he was the owner of about four hundred acres when his death occurred, Novem- ber 17, 1872. He had for eleven years survived his wife, who passed away July 23, 1861. They were the parents of eight children.
William August Moeller, the oldest of the family, acquired his education in the district schools of Scott county, was reared to the occupation of farming and throughout his entire life carried on general agricultural pursuits. When he started out on his own account he at first rented a part of his father's farm and when his close economy and unfailing industry had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to become the owner of a farm he invested in two hundred and forty acres in Lincoln township. There he lived for a long number of years and the place is still known as the old homestead. He also bought two hundred acres in Sheridan township and two farms near Donahue, Scott county, of one hun- dred and sixty acres each, but later sold those tracts to his sons. He also be- came the owner of a farm in Ida county, Iowa, where his daughter now lives. Year by year he prospered, making good use of his time and opportunities and in all of his farm work he was practical, diligent, determined and therefore suc- cessful.
Mr. Moeller was married twice. He first wedded Miss Doris Fick, now de- ceased, and they had five children. Anna, the eldest, is the wife of Herman Ewaldt and they have eight children : William, Henry, Herman, Rudolph, Arnold, Albert, Meta and Hugo. Henry Moeller married Meta Koch and they have three children: Roy, Henry and May. William married Anna Klindt and they have two children, Clarence and William. Meta is the wife of Gust Wiese and their five children are Howard, Ruth, Arthur, Stella and Erma. Laura, the youngest of the family, is the wife of William Ottsen and has one daughter, Lo- rena. For his second wife, Mr. Moeller chose Magdelina Sorensen, a daughter of Henry and Louise Sorensen, who came to Scott county in 1883 and are now living at Eldridge. Mrs. Moeller came to this county in 1881. She was born in Schleswig, Germany, April 28, 1862. She has five children : Rudolph, living in Lincoln township, married Amanda Hinze and has four children-Hertha, Elton and infant twins. Clara is the wife of Herman Rohlf, of Davenport, and they have two children, Wilbert and Bernice; Amanda, Arnold and Helen are at home.
During the years of his residence upon the farm Mr. Moeller served in a number of local offices, including that of township trustee and school director. He was ever loyal to the best interests of the community and cooperated in many measures for the public good. He held membership with the Turners at Eldridge and was a man of social, genial disposition who won friends wherever he went. He continued to reside upon the farm until November, 1906, when he removed to Davenport, where his death occurred on the 29th of March, 1907. His widow still owns the old home place of two hundred and forty acres in Lincoln township and the two hundred acre farm in Sheridan township, besides fine city property, having been left in fairly comfortable financial circumstances by her husband. Mr. Moel-
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
ler was a man of many good qualities and his life moreover illustrates the value of industry and close application in the attainment of success. As the architect of his own fortunes he builded wisely and well.
E. O. FICKE, M. D.
One of the more prominent of the younger physicians of Davenport is Dr E. O. Ficke, one of the city's native sons, whose birth occurred February 23, 1880. His father, H. E. Ficke, was born in Hamburg, Germany, but came to the United States when only a child. He grew to manhood in Iowa and here mar- ried Miss Louise Voeght, who was a native of Kiel, Germany, and like her hus- band came to this country when a mere child. She is still living, but Mr. Ficke passed away August 19, 1908.
Dr. Ficke was the youngest of the three children born to his parents. He was reared in this city and began his education as a pupil at what is now known as Har- rison, No. 8, school. Later, having completed all the requirements, he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, Illinois, from which he re- ceived his medical degree and his license to practice his profession in 1903. He went straightway to Buffalo, Scott county, Iowa, where he remained about two years. In 1907 he was appointed physician for the county, being reappointed in 1908 and 1909 and holding the office to the present, for he has acquitted him- self with honor and enjoys the confidence of those who have watched his administration.
Dr. Ficke is a member of the Scott county, the Iowa State and the American Medical Associations and often attends their meetings. He is a young man of ambition, high ideals and skill in his chosen field, and the success which has crowned his previous efforts is an indication of what is in store for him. He has no reason to be discouraged with the present or despair of the future.
WILLIAM MARLETTE CHAMBERLIN.
William Marlette Chamberlin, a lawyer who for twenty-four years has prac- ticed at the Davenport bar, is today enjoying the success which comes as the result of a large clientage of an important character. He was born in Princeton, Scott county, Iowa, August 24, 1862, and comes of ancestry represented in Amer- ica from colonial days. Both the paternal and maternal lines were represented in the patriot army in the Revolutionary war. The parents of our subject were Levi S. and Lucy A. (Marlette) Chamberlin, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in Susquehanna county and in 1836 came with his parents to Scott county. His father, Josiah Chamberlin, first settled in Rock Island county, Illinois, and soon afterward removed to Pleasant Valley, where he engaged in farming. His was one of the pioneer homes of the district and the first church services in the county were held in his house. He sought to
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aid in the work of public progress in every possible way and was among those who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which the later prosperity and growth of the county were built. Levi S. Chamberlin was reared to farm life and for a number of years engaged in general agricultural pursuits but afterward turned his attention to merchandising in LeClaire, Iowa, and was also a partial owner of a boatyard there. He likewise acted as pilot on the river for a few years and his varied activities brought him into close contact with the public life of the community. He died in 1885, at the age of sixty-three years, and was long survived by his wife, who passed away in May, 1909.
In their family were three children, including W. M. Chamberlin, who was educated in the public schools of Princeton, and afterward engaged in teaching in this county for three years. He regarded this merely as an initial step to further professional labor, however, for it was his ambition to become a member of the bar and to this end he devoted his leisure hours, while engaged in teaching, to the study of law. Later he entered the State University, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1886. He was an earnest student and gained comprehen- sive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, so that when he entered upon active practice his equipment was unusually good. He has served for one term as county attorney, which has covered the extent of his service in political office, but he has always been active in politics since attaining his majority.
On the 5th of September, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Chamber- lin and Miss Helen C. Galvin, of Davenport, a daughter of Martin Galvin, one of the old residents of this city. They have one child, James Marlette, born August II, 1899. Fraternally Mr. Chamberlin is connected with the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and his name is also on the membership roll of other societies. He is likewise identified with organized movements for the city's benefit, including the Business Men's Association and the Commercial Club.
JACOB M. ELDRIDGE.
Jacob M. Eldridge, arriving in Davenport in 1845, became an active and valu- able factor in the business interests of the city and at the same time his opin- ions carried weight and his labors produced substantial results in financial cir- cles. While he won success, his interests were never so self-centered that business excluded participation in projects and measures of progressive citizen- ship. On the contrary he was ever alert to the best interests of the community and his cooperation constituted a valuable force in inaugurating measures which were of public benefit. A native of New Jersey, Jacob M. Eldridge was born at Haddonfield, November 20, 1824, a son of D. C. and Rachel (Brown) El- dridge. His father was the first postmaster of Davenport. The mother died when her son Jacob was but four years of age and the boy then went to live with his grandparents. His father, having remarried, came west and had conducted a store in Davenport at the time of the death of the grandfather. Jacob M. El- dridge, then a boy of thirteen years, was thrown upon his own resources and soon afterward commenced teaming. Carefully saving his earnings, it was not
JACOB M. ELDRIDGE
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
long before he was able to purchase a team and in that field of activity he con- tinued to labor for some time. Later he turned his attention to clerking and, actuated by the laudable ambition which was ever one of his strong character- istics, he soon made it possible to become the owner of a mercantile enterprise. This he conducted until 1845, when he came to Davenport, his attention having already been directed to this city by the fact that it was the place of his father's residence. He arrived in Rock Island on the 23d of December after a two months' journey from Philadelphia and spent Christmas eve in Davenport. The next spring, however, he returned to the east to settle up his business affairs in that section of the country and in the succeeding fall again came back to this city. He had entered land from the government about three miles northeast of Davenport, for which he paid the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. The improvements which he placed upon it and the natural rise in value conse- quent upon the rapid settlement of this section of the country enabled him in 1874 to dispose of that farm for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. He was one of the first land agents of this city and followed that pursuit during much of his life. His keen judgment and sagacity enabled him to make judicious investments and profitable sales and at the same time he contributed to the sub- stantial improvement of this section of the state by his careful manipulation of realty interests.
At all times Mr. Eldridge was mindful of his opportunity to promote public progress and was actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good that was manifest in many tangible ways. He was prominent in the movement that extended the Chicago & Rock Island road to the river and continued its con- struction across the state as the Mississippi & Missouri road. The second line afterward consolidated, forming the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Mr. El- dridge was also a member of the company that secured the franchise for the second railroad bridge and he put forth earnest effort wherever he believed it possible to secure the adoption of a project that promised material benefit to the city, county and state. The town of Eldridge was laid out by him and the city of Eldridge, North Dakota, was named in his honor. It was through the in- fluence of Mr. Eldridge that Frank P. Blair became a resident of this city and a most important factor in its later upbuilding.
In the field of politics Mr. Eldridge was equally well known and prominent. He was a delegate to the convention held in Iowa City in 1855, which led to the organization of the republican party in this state. In 1872 he was sent as a delegate from Iowa to the convention of liberal republicans that nominated Hor- ace Greeley for the presidency. He regarded it as the duty as well as the privi- lege of every American man to uphold by his ballot and his influence the prin- ciples in which he believed and, while he never sought nor desired office for him- self, he stod stanchly in support of those issues which he regarded as vital to good government. He conceived and instituted the idea of placing a memorial tablet in the rotunda of the courthouse in honor of the Scott county pioneers- a tablet which will preserve for future generations the names of several hundred residents who came here prior to 1848. He was one of the oldest and most faith- ful members of the Christian church, to the support of which he contributed generously, while in its various activities he took helpful part. One of the most
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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY
honored members of the Old Settlers' Association, he filled all of its offices, including that of president. He was also president of the Board of Trade at one time and instituted various projects which were accomplished through the medium of that association.
In 1848 Mr. Eldridge was married to Miss Mary L. Woodward, who passed away eighteen months later. In June, 1851, he married Miss Mary H. Wil- liams, and on the 28th of September, 1866, he wedded Agnes Smith, who sur- vives him. She was a daughter of Robert Smith, a farmer by occupation, who retired in 1861 and established his home in Davenport, where he spent his re- maining days, dying at the age of eighty-eight years. The six children of Mr. Eldridge were all born of the second marriage, namely : George W., Mrs. R. F. Eldridge, Mrs. S. L. Glaspell, Mrs. Carl E. Schlegel, Mrs. George W. Bawden and Frank.
The death of Mr. Eldridge occurred June 8, 1892, and brought a sense of personal bereavement to a large majority of Davenport citizens, for during the many years of his residence here he was honored and respected by all who knew him. The value of his public work cannot be overestimated and his record fur- nishes a splendid example for emulation in its public-spirited devotion to the gen- eral good. As the architect of his own fortunes he builded wisely and well and did equally good work for the city, his name being on the roll of the representa- tive men whose labors have constituted the chief elements in progress and im- provement here.
GUSTAVE A. KOESTER.
Perhaps no history in this volume better illustrates the power of industry and the force of character than does the record of Gustave A. Koester, who, thrown upon his own resources by the death of his parents when ten years of age, has since made his own way in the world and now, at the age of three score years and ten, is numbered among Davenport's men of affluence. His business meth- ods, too, have never required nor sought disguise. There has been no esoteric phase in his career, for in the legitimate lines of trade and business activity he has won his success.
He was born in Germany on the 13th of November, 1838, and was a son of Ernest and Mary Koester, the former a prominent attorney of the fatherland, whence he sailed for America with his family in 1841. Landing at New Orleans, he proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, where he engaged in the prac- tice of law until 1848, when his life's labors were ended in death. He was the owner of a coal mine near the arsenal at St. Louis, called the Grove mine, and during the period of his residence in that city was a prominent and influential man there. He brought with him to America Messrs. Schulenberg and Beckler, who were then studying law under him in Germany and who afterward became prominent lumbermen of St. Louis. His wife died in 1847. In their family were eight children. Otto, who was appointed burgomaster of Soest, Germany, and
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later received appointment as chief burghmaster over all others from Emperor William, died in his native land in 1908. Fritz died in St. Louis in 1866. Julius is a practicing attorney of Carlinville, Illinois, now seventy-eight years of age. Mary died in 1907. Emily, of Cairo, Illinois, is the widow of Dr. Leach. Gus- tave A. is the next of the family. Mollie, who died in 1904, was the wife of George Schaeffer, a wholesale druggist of Fort Madison, Iowa. Elizabeth died in 1847.
The educational opportunities of Gustave A. Koester were somewhat limited owing to the early death of his parents, whereby he was left an orphan when not yet ten years of age. For a brief period he attended the German Institute con- ducted by General Siegel at St. Louis, but was a student there for only about a year and then for only about four half days each week. After his parents' death he and three other children of the family went to live with an uncle, Conrad Reise, at Muscatine, Iowa.
Soon afterward, however, Gustave A. Koester left his uncle's home and began selling papers, blacking boots and doing other such work as he could secure in order to provide a living. He came to Davenport in 1856 and was first employed as a bell boy in the hotels. He afterward worked in different restaurants and at different places, where he learned to cook, and when the Civil war broke out he went to the front as cook for the Twelfth Missouri Infantry under Colonel Osterhouse. He also cooked for the Thirteenth Missouri Infantry. He had a brother-in-law, Captain Steinburg, with the Twelfth Missouri Infantry and Mr. Koester remained with that regiment until June, 1863, when he went south and witnessed the battle of Helena, Arkansas.
In the fall of 1863 Mr. Koester returned to Davenport, where in connection with Claus Houck he engaged in the grain business, which they carried on for four years. They then dissolved partnership and became agents for the Moline Flour Mills, buying all the wheat used in their plant and also acting as sales agents for their flour. In 1867 Mr. Koester engaged in business for himself in the same line, dealing in all kinds of grain, potatoes, onions and other farm products. In this undertaking he prospered and as the years passed by he extended the scope of the business by establishing branch houses at Eldridge, Long Grove, Donahue, Mount Joy and Durant, Iowa, where he had the largest .elevator on the Rock Island Railroad. The years chronicled his growing success, resulting from his earnest purpose, his close application, his undaunted energy and his reliable busi- ness methods.
At length Mr. Koester retired from that business in 1888 and was then em- ployed by large real-estate companies to organize and conduct excursions, taking land seekers to new territory. He thus handled considerable land, selling as high as five thousand acres per day. In 1890 he purchased considerable land in Iowa and Minnesota from an English syndicate and became his own real-estate agent, handling his own property with headquarters and office in Davenport. He con- tinued in business alone until 1896, when he admitted Charles Martin to a part- nership. They were thus associated for four years, at the end of which time the business relation was dissolved, after which Mr. Koester sold out to his son Gus- tave, who conducted the business for about a year. Since then Mr. Koester has been selling lots in the Norwood addition to Davenport, which he owns, but has
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practically retired from active life to enjoy a rest which he truly earned and richly deserves.
Mr. Koester was married twice. He first wedded Miss Mary Smith. They had three children : Gustave A., who is married and lives in Davenport; Katie, the wife of Alex Eskie, of Colorado, by whom she has one son, Adolph; and Toney, of Davenport, who married Miss Maude Krider, and has two children. For his second wife Mr. Koester chose Kathryn Anderson.
Fraternally Mr. Koester is connected with the Elks lodge, No. 298, of Daven- port, and is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Schuetzen Verein. . He is one of the directors of the Union Savings Bank and his name is an honored one on commercial paper in this city. His business interests have been of an important character and, carefully managed, have brought to him sub- stantial success, so that now in the evening of life he is very comfortably situated financially.
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