Muscatine post
Hello,
I am looking to find out more about some for my Muscatine ancestors, with the Russell, Kebort, Thompson, Dwyer, and Thornton surnames.
My top goal at the moment is trying to confirm the birth parents of Frank Russell, my third-great grandfather, who was born 1868 in Fairport, Iowa but later raised in Muscatine city by Jacob Kebort and Harriet “Hattie” L. Kebort (née Thompson). Some details/theories below. I’d be interested in other information about my other Muscatine ancestors as well - they are summarized below.
- Frank Russell, reportedly born about 1868 in Fairport, Iowa; married Maggie A. Dwyer in Muscatine on April 18, 1888. He left Muscatine around 1915 for St. Paul, where he spent the rest of his life.
- Frank’s adoptive father Jacob Kebort and Jacob’s wife Harriet “Hattie” L. Kebort (Thompson). Jacob was reportedly born October 13, 1854 around Irwin Station in West Morland County, Pennsylvania, likely came to Muscatine as an adult around 1875, died April 27, 1915 in Muscatine, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Hattie was born September 2, 1851 in Vermont, supposedly moved to Muscatine as a child around 1865, died April 22, 1930 in St. Paul, and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. They were married May 5, 1877 in Muscatine.
- Frank’s birth parents. His census records indicate that at least his mother was born in Vermont (they are inconsistent about whether his father also was). Jacob is referred to as Frank’s step or foster or adoptive parent and Frank was born before Jacob was in Muscatine, so he does not appear to be Frank’s father. References to his mother are less clear, so it is possible that Frank is Harriet’s son from a prior marriage. There is a Frank Russell of the right age living in Fairport with Jacob J. Russell (age 38 and born in Indiana) and Lydia H. Russell (age 23 and born in Vermont) on the 1870 census, so it is possible it is them. Jacob J. Russell and Lydia H. Thompson were married in Muscatine on November 24, 1866 and appear to have divorced. (I’d be interested in their divorce records which might mention the children.). Lydia H. and Hattie L. have the same maiden name and birth state, so may be sisters or perhaps even the same person with first and middle names swapped.
- Margaret “Maggie” A. Dwyer, reportedly born August 1870 in Muscatine. Not to be confused with her slightly younger sister Mary A. Maggie appears to have died between 1910 and 1920, since Frank is reported as a widower on the 1920 census. Not sure when/where/how she died or where she is buried.
- Maggie’s parents Patrick Dwyer (born about 1844 in Ireland) and Mary Ann Thornton (born about 1852 in Rhode Island or Massachusetts). I am not sure of their parents, when/where they married, when they came to Muscatine, or when/where/who they died. Patrick may have been a saloonkeeper.
- Frank and Maggie’s children, all born in Muscatine: Hazel F. (born about 1888), Jacob (born about March 1890), Loren James (born May 3, 1892), Louis (born about 1894) and Harriet “Hattie”).
(views: 130)