Bawden4 on Family Tree Circles
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Category: THE ELDRIDGE SIDE
ELDRIDGE: Duncan CHALLEN, son of Micajah LIPPINCOTT and Maggie BERRY, becomes the clock man
Duncan CHALLEN was born 21 May 1868 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa and was named for his father and the pastor who married his parents.
After attending Davenport schools, "Chal" as he was called, began at age 17, blueing guns at the Rock Island Arsenal where he worked through three wars.
He left for other employment but returned to the Arsenal in 1898 at the time of the Spanish American War. During WWI, he was in charge of all the clocks on the Island, and each day synchronized and wound by hand, more than 200 time pieces.
In 1925 he left the Arsenal to become the "Clock Man" for the Rock Island Lines, keeping all the self-setting and self-winding clocks in repair. Chal became known as one of the most expert clock repairmen in America, maintaining railroad clocks from all over the country, including the large clock in the tower at the La Salle Street Station in Chicago.
During WWII, he returned to the Arsenal, not to work on clocks but as an inspector of springs for machine guns. At his retirement, he had served the United States for more than 30 years.
Duncan married Annette HUTCHINSON on 4 Apr 1901 in Davenport by the Minister of the Christian Church. She was the dtr of Joseph and Elizabeth WALKER HUTCHINSON. She was born 29 Mar 1869 in Cambridge, Guernsey, Ohio where she attended school. She died 21 Jul 1949 in Davenport. She and Duncan are buried in Davenport's Oakdale Memorial Gardens.
Duncan was an active member of the Masons, the Presbyterian Church and the National Council of Presbterian Men. He died 6 Feb 1951 in Davenport.
Duncan and Annette had a daughter.
Ethel born 27 Nov 1904 in Davenport, attended Davenport schools and graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. In 1924, with an A.B. degree, she taught English, Latin, drama and literature in the high school at Armstrong, Iowa, until 1935 Ethel married Leroy Melvin VANDENBURGH who was born 11 Sept 1907 in Armstrong, Iowa, son of George B. and Anna STOKER VANDENBURGH. Leroy attended Armstrong schools, Estherville Junior College and was trained as a mortician at Minneapolis, Minnesota.
They lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Leroy worked in the mortuary where the body of President Franklin D. ROOSEVELT was prepared for burial.
On 12 Jan 1954, while working as a chemical salesman, Leroy was killed in an automobile accident at rural Wallace, Franklin, Arkansas. The cause of his death was unusual. Bottles of embalming fluid which Mr. VANDENBURGH carried inhis car, broke and the fumes from the fluid caused his death. Ethel died 18 Mar 1981 in Oklahoma City, Payne, Oklahome. They are buried in Grove Cemetery in Armstrong, Emmet, Iowa. They had one son, Leroy Melvin VANDENBURGH, JR.born 8 Dec 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was killed in an automobile accident near Stillwter, Payne, Oklahoma, on 22 Apr 1966 and was buried with is parents in Armstrong, Iowa.
ELDRIDGE: Jacob MULLEN, father of 9, real estate developer, railroad developer, insurance agent, gson Harry BAWDEN repeats stories
The Eldridge-Bawden Families: The Ancestry and Descendants of Duncan Campbell Eldridge and Stephen Bawden, Scott County, Iowa; author-compiler Alice Richardson Sloane, C.G. (dec 2011), commissioned by John Duvall Bawden (dec 1992), Bettendorf, Iowa; Anundsen Pub Co., Decorah, Iowa , 1986, pps 254-255, 290 pps, no copyright, no ISBN, in the personal library of this writer.
Harry BAWDEN's family history:
Jacob was an active member of the First Christian Church and for many years offered a silver dollar to any Sunday school child that had a perfect attendance for one year. On the first Sunday of every year, Jacob would come to Sunday school with a bag of silver dollars which brightened the hearts of many children.
Jacob's first job was a teamster. He loved horses. He purchased his own horses. His last horse was 'Dan'. His real estate office was located at 5th & Brady STreet. Jacob worked hard and long hours and after closing his office he would get in his buggy and Dan would pull him home while he took a nap and woke up when Dan stopped in the barn.
Jacob was a lover of squirrels and would pay us [grandsons and granddaughters] 5? a bushel to pick up the nuts in his yard and store them for winter food for squirrels.
Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN wrote the following about her father:
He later bought a farm on the Jersey Ridge Road where he married Mary WILLIAMS - our mother. And all of our family were born in this lovely home - it was a considerable fruit farm - I remember after we had moved into Davenport, almost every Sunday afternoon in nice weather we would drive out there. Mother, Father and Minnie, George and myself. All quite young children. Always had a nice large carriage - would come home with lovely apples and I suppose other fruit from the old home. Father loved it but he was in the real estate business in Davenport and as we all became school age, we would ride in every day with him to school - at least the older children. When father fought the house on 16th [Kirkwood Blvd] and Farnam I was about 3 or 4 years of age. George even 2 years younger. John DILLON purchased the house net to ours on Farnam. The 3 houses being alike at that time - the three homes in the whole block. We had beautiful grounds with lots of fruit trees - grapes, etc. Father added the bay window, also the large porch - and a large summer kitchen. We all married from that home.
Author-compiler Alice Richardson-Sloane writes in the appendix on p. 255:
Scott County Deed Record Book 37, p. 507, 558, 22 Apr 1868 records the bankruptcy in which Jacob is forced to sell a portion of his Jersey Ridge Road land in order to settle his debts. Apparently moving into town so the children could get to school was not the primary reason for leaving the fruit farm.
ELDRIDGE: Jennie tells family stories about life in Davenport, and some are repeated about her
The Eldridge-Bawden Families: The Ancestry and Descendants of Duncan Campbell Eldridge and Stephen Bawden, Scott County, Iowa; author-compiler Alice Richardson Sloan, C.G. (dec 2011), commissioned by John Duvall Bawden (dec 1992), Bettendorf, Iowa; Anundsen Pub Co., Decorah, Iowa , 1986, 290 pps, no copyright, no ISBN, in the personal library of this writer.
These come from the appendix of the above vinyl-bound family history.
A couple who are native to our town and how have the friendship and esteem of all who know them, were married last evening at the home of the bride's parents. Nettie B. CHENOWETH was the bride's companion at the altar and Mr. Ed IRWIN of Muscatine was the groom's best man. The bride is a young lady of charming graces and elegancies, and the young husband is greatly respected here in his native city and in his practice of law. The Journal (Muscatine newspaper) remarks that Mr. and Mrs. BAWDEN will take up their abode in the Spring residence, 3rd Street hill, which has been handsomely furnished for the reception of the bride. Muscatine society will extend a warm welcome to the estimable young couple. Mr. BAWDEN, during his two-year residence in this city, has won the high personal esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, and has proven himself a business man of fine abilities. The bride is one of Davenport's brightest and loveliest young ladies and will quickly win a place in the hearts of a whole host of friends in Muscatine.
Davenport Democrat 5 Mar 1885 Front page
The Jennie BAWDEN and [sister] Minnie SCHLEGEL families for years celebrated Christmas and the Fourth of July at each others home. Often the BAWDEN boys would throw bisquits at the SCHLEGEL girls. Between courses, [Minnie's dtr] Claire would lead us kids out doors and run around the house to make more room for the food to follow. At Christmas each family had large Christmas trees lighted with candles and we all sang [sic] O Tanabam.
Harry BAWDEN's Family History about the Minnie ELDRIDGE SCHLEGEL family.
I5t's difficult for most Davenporters to imagine Indians wandering through the yards of homes in the vicinity of Kirkwood Blvd and Farnam St.
However, Mrs. Jennie BAWDEN, 29 Edgehill Terrace, doesn't have a difficult time imagining such occurrences. She remembers them! Mrs. BAWDEN who celebrated her 90th birthday this week recalls many equally fascinating experiences in early Davenport.
Daughter of J.M. (Jake) ELDRIDGE, prominent Scott County real estate man for whom the community of Eldridge is named, Mrs. BAWDEN spent her early years inthe family home at Kirkwood and Farnam. One of her earliest recollections is seeing the Indians walk through her yard. A tree onthe property bore the markings of an Indian trail. They stopped to greet members of her family.
I had such black hair, they thought I was a papoose, and they always begged mymother to let them hold me, the sprightly little lady says.
Mother would usually offer them a pie, fresh from the oven, and they'd be on their way, she added.
Jennie married George Washington BAWDEN, then a recent graduate of the Iowa University Law School, in 1885. The couple lived in Muscatine for several years and their first son Albert was born there. Another memorable experience was pushing Albert in his baby buggy across the then 'new' bridge spanning the Mississippi River at Muscatine (Iowa).
The First Presbyterian Church was located in the 600 block on Brady St. in what is now part of the Davenport Public Museum. Construction of the present church in what wasw then considered suburban Davenport (Kirkwood and Iowa) is vivid in the memory of the 90-year-old woman.
When effects of the church were transported to the new building in a procession, the BAWDEN's 14-year-old son, Albert had the distinction of carrying the Bible, his mother reported. [ed note: I read where noted jazz cornetist Bix BEIDERBECKE had the same honor.]
Bicycling and canoeing were 2 popular sports for young married couples in Davenport such as the BAWDENs.
Another vivid recolletion for Mrs. BAWDEN is the advent of the 'horseless carriage' on Davenport streets. It seems one of the first automobile owners was Harry RYAN [George's nephew]. Mrs. BAWDEN recalls embarrassment the day Mr. RYAN was a caller in her home and they looked out the window in time to see her teenage sons, Ray and Harry, and chum, Dana WATERMAN taking a spin down the boulevard in the new limousine.
ELDRIDGE: Emily M., 9th and last child of Jacob MULLEN and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, dies of diptheria at the age of 6
Emily M. (MULLEN?) ELDRIDGE born 23 Jan 1870 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa died 23 Oct 1876 and is buried in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery.
ELDRIDGE: Jennie, 7th child of Jacob MULLEN and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, marries attorney George Washington BAWDEN,
Jennie was born 15 July 1865 on the Jersey Ridge Road fruit farm, 3 miles outside of the Davenport boundaries, as were her siblings. Jacob declared bankruptcy, built a house at the southwest corner of Farnam and Kirkwood Blvd, and raised his family. All the girls were married in this family home. It was convenient for school and getting groceries.
On 14 Mar 1885, George Washington BAWDEN married 19-year-old Jenny ELDRIDGE in her family home at 1530 Faram St. For the next 12 years, the BAWDENs made their home in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa where George first practiced law with Allen BROOMHALL. In 1886, he became vice-president of the Iowa Mortgage Co. Brother-in-law-to-be, J. B. (John Baker) PHELPS was the president.
In 1895, the family returned to Davenport where George formed a partnership with Julius LISCHER. Jacob ELDRIDGE gave Jennie and George 80 ft of land to build a house on Kirkwood Blvd. In 1916 Jennie ELDRIDGE BAWDEN moved her family, including widow Edna HASKINS BAWDEN, to 1203 E. 2nd Ave. (9th St. now) Edna was the wife of George's nephew, Stephen Phelps Bawden. Jennie lived here until 1928.
Jennie probably welcomed many people to their home and at many social events. George was an active member of the Republican Party and was prominent in Davenport politics. He was elected to 2 terms as 5th ward alderman (he declined a thrd term as well as nomination for candidate for Davenport mayor). He was vice-president and Counsel for Iowa and Illinois Railroad at the time of the building of the interurban line between Davenport and Clinton. In 1902 George became a stockholder and president of the Times Corporation, under the direction of E. P. (Phillip) ADLER who published the Daily Times newspaper. He was a Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Davenport Turner Society.
George suffered from diabetes and in the Spring of 1905, went to Excelsior Springs, Missouri to regain his health. Friends and family told him the trip wasn't going to give him any relief but he went anyway. He died there 23 Mar 1905 at the age of 46.
Jennie died 1 Apr 1959 in the Davenport home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Albert Bawden. She was a member of teh First Presbyt;erian Church where she and the boys rented pew #32 for 25? a year along with her annual tithe. She served 2 terms as president of the Ladies Society. They are buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport on the Jacob and Mary ELDRIDGE lot.
They had the three Bawden brothers in Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa:
1. Albert Ralph b 6 Aug 1886,
2. George Ray b. 27 Nov 1890
3. Harry ELDRIDGE b 8 Sept 1894
ELDRIDGE: Minnie, 6th child of Jacob MULLEN and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, marries pharmacist, head of drug stores, Carl SCHLEGEL
Minnie was born 20 Jul 1862 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa. She attended Davenport schools. She married Carl Edward SCHLEGEL 20 Oct 1886 in her family home on Farnam, southwest corner of Kirkwood Blvd.
Carl SCHLEGEL was born 30 Jan 1862 in Davenport, son of Gustav A. and Emelie Fredriche LERCHEN SCHLEGEL. Gustav came to the United States from Saxony, and in 1850 established a drug store in Davenport. Gustav SCHLEGEL loved music and brought the first piano to Davenport. He placed the piano in the back of his drug store on 2nd Street and gave piano lessons to children in his spare time.
After graduation from Davenport High School, Carl attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy where he graduated in 1885. He returned to Davenport to work with his father in the drug store. After Gustav retired in 1900, Carl became the owner.
At his death 27 Jan 1940, Carl owned 12 drug stores located in Davenport, Bettendorf, (Iowa) and Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois, and Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa. He was interested in the welfare of his community, and he was a member of community organizations, professional, fraternal and social, as well as being a tustee of the Davenport Public Library for over 30 years. Carl and Minnie loved music, he played the piano, and she sang; both were members of First Presbyterian Church choir for many years. When Carl died, they had been married 54 years.
Minnie ELDRIDGE SCHLEGEL died 1 Jan 1947 in their home at 218 Ridgewood Avenue and is buried with the SCHLEGEL family in Davenport's Oakdale Cemetery. They had 4 children all born in Davenport:
1. Leo Edward born Feb (no date) 1888, died 15 Sept 1888 at 7 mos of convulsions. He is buried in Oakdale.
2. Claire born 21 Aug 1889
3. Lura born 22 Mar 1892
4. Paula Jeanette born 27 May 1899
ELDRIDGE: George Wallace, 8th child of Jacob MULLEN and Mary HIGH WILLIAMS, makes a name in Wynne, Arkansas
GEORGE WALLACE ELDRIDGE was born 16 January 1868 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. He attended Davenport schools and the Davenport Business College.
George married Sue KELLY, 1 March 1899 in Wynne, Cross County, Arkansas. She was born 13 February 1875 in LaGrange, Lee County, Arkansas, dtr of John and Cynthia (maiden?) KELLY.
After their marriage, they lived in Wynne where George was an agent for New York Life Insurance Co.
He organized the Wynne Federal Savings and Loan Association and Wynne-Dixie Finance Co, and was a leader in community improvements.
The streets of Wynne were paved, street lights installed and a deep well for city water was dug. He organized a business college in Wynne, as well as the Crowley?s Ridge Country Club and a residential area, ?Eldridge Court?. They were members of the Methodist church.
George died 4 February 1943 in Wynne. Sue KELLY ELDRIDGE died 29 December 1963 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee. They are buried in Coghill Cemetery in Wynne, Arkansas.
They had, in Wynne, George WALLACE ELDRIDGE, JR. born 1899.
ELDRIDGE: Theodore FORTNER marries notable LeClaire, Scott, Iowa family, Anna Francis "Fanny" PARKHURST
Theodore Fortner born 12 Jun 1841, first child of John and Mary Ann ADAMS ELDRIDGE to be born in Davenport, Scott, Iowa.
He married Anna Francis "Fanny" PARKHURST in the old First Baptist Church on 7 Sept 1865 in LeClaire, Iowa, town named from Duncan Campbell ELDRIDGE. Fanny was the dtr of Lemuel and Mary PARKHURST. Lemuel and his father Eleazer settled in the area now called LeClaire in 1836, naming the town Parkhurst.
Theodore began his business career in 1863 as a drug clerk for his brother-in-law, Dr. William Wallace PARKER. In 1867, he went into partnership with his brothers, Joseph an dBowman to form the ELDRIDGE Brothers bakery, confectionery, restaurant, ice cream soda and oyster saloon" at 3rd & Perry Streets in Davenport. This business was in operation until 1892, after that, Theodore joined the W. H. SNIDER and Son Insurance and Real Estate Co. Theodore constructed in 1894, one of Davenport's first apartment buildings, the Cora-Lee-Roy Apartments, at 602 Brady, named after 3 of his 4 children who lived.
He suffered from tuberculosis and spent a lot of time in New Mexico and California trying to recover his health. He died 16 Jun 1908 in Davenport. Fanny served several terms as president of the Scott County Pioneer Association (still exists 2011 open to relatives who settled in Scott County up til 1840. This writer served as 5th vice-president. Fanny died 26 July 1937 and they are buried in Davenport's Oakdale Memorial Gardens. (see Find-a-Grave).
Children all born in Davenport:
1. Cora M. born 8 Sept 1869 (1880 census 11 yo). She attended Davenport schools, graduated from the Chicago Music School. She did not marry but lived with her mother and taught music. She was a member of Davenport's First Presbyterian Church and Scott County Pioneer Assn. She died 16 Aug 1955 of 'heart disease' and is buried in Oakdale.
2. Pearl C. born 4 Jan 1873, died of croup 4 Dec 1874, buried Oakdale
3. Lee Earl born 10 Oct 1876, began his business career in the family insurance business. On 1 Sept 1906 in Detroit Lakes, Becker, Michigan, he married Ada May SCHOONMAKER, born ca 1886 (no date) in Perham, Otter Tail, Minnesota. She was a graduate of Minnesota State Normal College. She is mentioned in 21 Jun 1905 census, parents Abraham and [sic?]Ursla MOREY SCHOONMAKER. Abraham was previously married to Mary WEBSTER. In the 1920 census, she is 34 yo and living in Douglas County, Neraska (Omaha is county seat). She is not in the 1930 census. (Ada and Lee marriage certificate in Becker County, #E-0097)
Lee and Ada lived in Des Moines, Polk Iowa where he worked for the Home Insurance Co. of New York, Scottish Union, and National Fire Insurance Assoc of Philadelphia. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge inDes Moines.
He died 26 Jan 1928 in Davenport and is buried in Oakdale. They had no children.
4. Roy Edwin born 16 Apr 1879 in Davenport where he attended public schools. He worked with his father in the real estate and insurance business. In 1902 he moved to Chicago where he worked in the Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. map department.
On 23 May 1905, his body was found floating in the Chicago River. The Davenport Democrat reported 'no theory as the the manner of the young man's death can be advanced. The probability of self-destruction is decidedly slight and can almost be disregarded. The two remaining theories are accident or assault, and nothing can be said in regard to either until after the coroner's inquest in Chicago'. He was buried in Oakdale. He did not marry.
ASHER: Charles William m. Martha NITSCHMANN / NITCHMAN; they enjoy hospitality / restaurant work together
Charles William was born 23 June 1889 in Missouri (no location), middle child of Lewis Micajah and Agnes NOBLE. He returned to Davenport with mother Agnes who filed for divorce for Lewis' dissertion. Charles attended public schools until age 17 when he began working for the Arthur J. WILEY Grocery Store as a clerk.
Charles married Martha NITSCHMANN on 3 June 1913 in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha, South Dakota. Martha was the dtr of Herman August and Wilhelmina GREUSCH NITSCHMANN, born 15 Apr 1893 in Elgin, Kane, Illinois. At age 20, Martha went to Sioux Falls to work at the Sherman Hotel where she met Charles ASHER.
The ASHERS returned to Davenport where Charles worked as a waiter in the Hill Cafe until 1915. They moved to Michigan where they owned restaurants in several cities in the Detroit area.
During WWII, Charles worked for the Ford Motor Company in the bomber plant at Ypsilanti, Michigan in the executive dining room. After the war, he transferred to the Ford Rouge Plant executive dining room at Dearborn, Michigan where he was employed until his retirement in 1954.
The ASHERS also owned a small hotel in Wayne, Michigan for several years. They were members of the Methodist church. They had 6 children.
Charles died 1 Nov 1958 in Green Bay, Brown, Wisconsin while watching his grandson play football. Martha died 12 May 1975 at Garden City, Wayne, Michigan. They are buried in Roseland Park Cemetery at Berkley, Oakland, Michigan.
1. Charles William, Jr. born 2 Jun 1918 in Washington, D.C.
2. Robert Burdette born 13 Aug 1919 in Highland Park, Michigan
3. LeRoy Lewis born 22 Nov 1921 in Detroit, Michigan
4. Daughter, born 18 Feb 1923 in Detroit, buried 20 Feb 1923 in Evergreen Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan
5. Twin sons, born prematurely after 1923, died at birth
6. Howard Henry born 22 Apr 1926 in Fordson, Michigan.
Information given by Mrs. Willadene STOLDT ASHER of Garden City, Michigan, Dec 1985
ASHER: Gertrude May, dtr of that scoundrel Lewis Micajah and wife Agnes NOBLE
Gertrude May ASHER was born 26 Mar 1887 in Davenport, Scott, Iowa. She attended Davenport public schools and worked as a bookkeeper for the Arthur J. WILEY grocery store on Brady St.
She married Frederick Bird COX of East Moline, Rock Island, Illinois on 25 Nov 1910 in her mother and stepfather's home on East Locust St. in Davenport. (Agnes divorced Lewis for dissertion and married Fayette M. JONES). Frederick was born 26 Nov 1883 in Jasper County, Iowa (no city) son of Jason J. and Hattie ARCULARINS COX. He worked on the railroad. After their marriage, they lived in Moline, Rock Island, Illinois.
She and Frederick seperated in about 1922 (no date). Gertie worked as a clerk or salesperson for various Davenport and Rock Island businesses.
She died from cancer 2 Oct 1932 in Davenport and is buried in Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport. She was a member of St. John's Methodist Church. They had 2 sons:
In the 1930 federal census, J. Reed and dad Fred lived at 1522 15th St. Moline, Illinois.
1. Robert Burdette COX b 10 Sept 1911 in Moline, Rock Island, Ilinois, d 10 Jan 1998 in Carson, Los Angeles, California
2. Jason Reed COX b 14 May 1914 in Moline, Illinois. 1920 and 1930 census as J. Reed Cox d. 28 Mar 1995 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
References are on page 81, rather than 61 - typo.
