Iowa Old Press

Davenport Times
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Monday, Feb 5, 1900

Death of Mrs. Wittenmyer
Well Known in this City as the Founder of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home.

     Mrs. Wittenmyer is dead. She had been given 72 years of life and in
that time she has crowded much that is helpful, that will be remembered and
for which she will be revered. Among these works of her life none is more
conspicuous to the people of Iowa and Davenport in particular than the
establishment of the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home for which she labored and
planned. Mrs. Annie Turner Wittenmyer was born in Sandy Springs, O. and came
from ancestry of Irish descent. One who knew her well gives this sketch of
her career.
     "She had three sons in the civil war and her own part in the struggle
was no small one. Mrs. Wittenmyer was married in 1847 and in 1850 removed
with her husband to Keokuk, Ia. There were no schools then so she leased a
building and hired a school teacher and soon had 200 pupils on the roll at
her school. When the civil war broke out she was one of the first to assist
in organizing a soldiers' aid society, and early in 1861 went to the army
camps to personally see what the boys in blue needed. Aid societies all over
the state sent her supplies for the soldiers and during the war she
distributed $160,000 worth of needed articles. In 1862 she was appointed a
sanitary agent for the state by the legislature and from then on until the
end of the war she worked night and day for the soldiers. She visited the
camps, battlefields, and hospitals and whenever an Iowa boy was in need of
anything she did her best to get it for him. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home
mainly owes its existence to Mrs. Wittenmyer, and the special diet kitchen,
now an important adjunct of the army hospitals, was conceived by her. The
world lost one of its noblest women when Annie Wittenmyer died."

Davenport Democrat
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Feb 8, 1900

COGAN
     William S. Cogan expired at his home 810 Swits street, Wednesday
afternoon as the result of a stroke of apoplexy sustained as he was walking
along 4th street near Iowa. He was taken into Heibig's butcher shop and
given sympathetic attention there, and then was taken to his home where he
died at 5 p.m.
     Mr. Cogan was a native of Sligo, Ireland, born in 1833, and had lived
in Davenport for 40 years. He is survived by his wife, Mary, a son and three
daughters, Mrs. John F. Higgins, Mrs. Charles Smith, William and Kate.
     The funeral will be held at 9 o'clock Friday morning with services at
St. Anthony's Church and burial in St.Marguerite cemetery.

Davenport Democrat
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Feb 19, 1900

KANE
At the age of 80 years, James Kane died Saturday at his home in Big Rock. He
is survived by a son and a daughter, Murt Kane and Mrs. Thomas Harrington of
Big Rock. A funeral service at Big Rock this morning was followed by the
interment at St. Mary's cemetery, this city.

[transcribed by C.J.L.]