Iowa Old Press

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Thursday evening, July 23, 1925

OBITUARY

The Haase Funeral
     Funeral services were held for Mrs. Tillie Haase, wife of John J. Haase, from the late home, 1442 West Twelfth street, Davenport, today at 8:30 a.m. with services at 9:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's church. The Very Rev. Anthony Schoeningh celebrated a requiem high mass and pronounced the burial absolution. The Very Rev. Father Schoeningh also officiated at the burial in Holy Family cemetery.
     The funeral was very largely attended and there was a profusion of floral offerings. Members of the Christian Mothers, of which the deceased was a member, attended in a body.
     The pallbearers, all cousins of the deceased, were George and Ebertt Westendorf, Joseph, Edward, Clarence Westendorf and Frank Westendorf, Jr.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 24, 1925

HOOCH NEARLY CLAIMS LIFE OF DRINKER
W. Settle Found Near River in Unconscious Condition; Recovers.
    Hooch nearly caused the death of William Settle, 509 1/2 Brady street ,who was found in an unconscious condition last night near the ice house of the Davenport Ice Co, on the river road near Nahant. He was found lying a short distance west of the ice company's chutes near the river by Rockingham marshals who at first believed Settle had been slugged and robbed.
    Davenport police and Sheriff Martin's office were notified. Settle was rushed to Mercy  hospital and County Physician Dr. G.W. Doolen was called. The man was in a serious condition and it was only after prompt action that he rallied.
    Dr. Doolen said this morning that there was some indication that Settle might have taken poison, but there was nothing to prove this belief. He was unconscious and in a serious condition when taken to the hospital, but he had recovered and was discharged today.
    He has been involved in numerous police and court cases and has a record here and in Rock Island for intoxication, bootlegging and disturbing the peace.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 27, 1925

Alex Miller's Column
Washington County News and Comment on Current Events

     The Wayland News apologizes for overlooking the announcement of the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wenger at Indianapolis last week. Harry is John's son and the same issue of the News says John and his wife have gone back to make acquaintance of the new granddaughter. But rats, she won't pay any attention to them.

    Aunt Fanny McDowell is dead. She died after an illness of six weeks, induced by her extreme old age, and yet nobody ever thought of her as being old. And she never was old, if you consider her activities. She was mostly interested all her life in the United Presbyterian church and the W.C.T.U. One would have thought, judging from her zeal in working for prohibition, that her whole family died drunkards, but there was no such impelling motive. She simply hated liquor and all its works and worked untiringly for the eradication of the saloon and of the entire traffic. She read more prohibition literature and furnished more for the local papers than any other person that we ever knew. Sometimes her selections were timely, and sometimes we did not think they were, but that did not daunt her. She worked at her work, as she had strength to work, and never faltered or tired.
    She was born in Ireland, Sept. 15, 1840, so that she was almost 85 years old. But you would not have believed it. Her husband died in 1873, after having been married two years. A baby girl also died soon thereafter, and thus being left alone she seemed to center all her work in church activities and in fighting the saloons. She was an aunt to Mrs. John S. Wilson, with whom she lived for years, and nobody who knows them will say aught but that she was cared for just as if she had been Mrs. Wilson's mother. It was her home in all that the term implies. She was not merely an inmate of the home, but she was a part of it. And aunt Fanny, who will be conceded was quaint and odd and "different," yet she had a wonderfully keen sense of fun, and she had many good traits. And with all her opposition to things of evil, and with all her outspoken nature, she hadn't an enemy in the world. She did what she did, being imbued with the notion that it was her job to help make the world a little more decent than it had been before, and many of us could get valuable inspiration from Aunt Fanny McDowell who has gone to her reward after a long and busy life.

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
July 28, 1925

CHARGE AGAINST MELIUS DROPPED; WILL BE REOPENED

    A charge of assault and battery filed against Walter Melius, of Cook's Point, was dropped this morning, but is to be filed again later. E.M. Scheckler, who preferred the charge, is at the University hospital in Iowa City, where he is receiving medical aid and treatment following a fight in which both lower jaw bones were fractured by blows struck by Melius, who claims Scheckler insulted his wife.

Submitted by C.J.L., July & Dec 2005