Roscoe E Zerwekh

ZERWEKH, WHITING, VAN WERDEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/20/2011 at 16:00:01

A Narrative History
of
The People of Iowa
with
SPECIAL TREATMENT OF THEIR CHIEF ENTERPRISES IN
EDUCATION, RELIGION, VALOR, INDUSTRY,
BUSINESS, ETC.
by
EDGAR RUBEY HARLAN, LL. B., A. M.
Curator of the
Historical, Memorial and Art Department of Iowa
Volume IV
THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Inc.
Chicago and New York
1931

ROSCOE E. ZERWEKH, superintendent of the Iowa Soldiers Orphans Home at
Davenport, spent many years in newspaper and other lines of publicity work. In
handling the affairs of the state institution, with more than 600 children
entrusted to the care, Mr. Zerwekh has the active cooperation of his wife,
and together they are real parents to their large household, coming in
direct touch with the boys and girls comprising this model community one of
fifteen state charitable institutions, which since 1898 has been under the
direction of the board of control.

In 1865 homes for the children of Union soldiers were established in Iowa
through private enterprise and in November, 1865, 150 children were moved
to Davenport and quartered in the comparatively new barracks of Camp Kinsman,
one of the old Civil war training camps. The barracks and the land were
secured for the home by a special act of Congress. In 1866 the Legislature
took over the control of the home and since that time it has been under
state control. In 1875 two other similar homes were closed and all of the
children concentrated at Davenport. The old army barracks were many years
ago dismantled and in their stead a score of two-story brick cottages have
been erected. Children of Union soldiers long since ceased to need the care
of the state, and since 1875 the home has been open to other children whose
parents or relatives were unable to give them the advantages of home or
school. The institution at the present time includes not only an adequate
plant of buildings for housing the children, but also two school buildings, a
hospital, gymnasium, farm and dairy and simple opportunities for practical
vocational instruction.

Mr. Zewrwekh was born at Stuart in Guthrie County, Iowa, August 20, 1878,
son of G. J. and Maria (Whiting) Zerwekh. His parents' moved to Iowa in
the early '70s from Peoria, Illinois, and his father is still living, at the
age of eighty-five, making his home with his son Roscoe. he was for
forty-four years an engineer on the West Iowa division of the Rock Island
Railway. he ran a construction train while this part of the road was being built,
and at the time he retired he was the oldest engineer on that division.

Roscoe E. Zerwekh attended grade and high schools at Stuart and in 1894
entered the newspaper business at Valley Junction in Polk County. From 1899
to 1916 he published the Advertiser at Perry in Dallas County, and after
leaving the newspaper business spent nine years in Chamber of Commerce work
and also conducted an insurance and loan agency.

Mr. Zerwekh has been superintendent of the Iowa Soldier Orphans Home at
Davenport since November 1, 1926. He married, April 15, 1900. Miss Edna Van
Werden, who was born at Ottumwa, Iowa. She grew up at Stuart,, where she
and Mr. Zerwekh were schoolmates. They have no children of their own, but
they have made the 600 children of the Orphans' Home the object of their
parental care and devotion and are giving a splendid administration of the
institution as a whole.

Both of them have been prominent in fraternal and club work. Mr. Zerwekh
is a past grand patron and Mrs. Zerwekh a past grand matron of the Order of
the Eastern Star of Iowa. He is a past master of Otley Lodge No. 299, A. F.
and A. M., at Perry, a past high priest of Palmyra Chapter, Royal Arch
Masons, at Perry, is a past commander of Girard Commandery of the Knights
Templar, and a past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 407, B. P. O. Elks. While
living at Perry he was secretary of the school board and during the World war
was secretary of all the Liberty Loan drives and also of the War Chest
committee in Dallas County. Mr. and Mrs. Zerwekh are members of the
Congregational Church.