George Washington Bawden

BAWDEN, TERRILL, ELDRIDGE, ILES, GRANT, FICKE, HIGH, WILLIAMS, CHENOWETH, IRWIN, CRAWFORD, BROOMHALL, PHELPS, LISCHER, NEAL, THUENEN, ADLER, RAMBO

Posted By: Carol Bawden (email)
Date: 4/9/2007 at 14:46:34

GEORGE WASHINGTON BAWDEN born 9 May 1859, Norristown, Montgomery County, PA, son of Stephen and Mary Terrill Bawden. He attended Davenport public schools and graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1880. After the death of his father in 1881, George and his mother moved to Davenport to live with George’s sibling, widowed Mary Bawden Iles at 614 E. 13th St.

George joined the law firm of Judge Grant. Later he joined C. A. Ficke for 2 years.

On 14 March 1885, George married almost twenty-year-old Jennie Eldridge in her family home at 1530 Farnam St. Jennie was born 15 July 1865 in Davenport, Scott County, IA to Jacob Mullen and Mary High Williams Eldridge whose parents were early settlers of Davenport.

An article in the Davenport Democrat 5 March 1885, front page, describes the Eldridge-Bawden marriage: “A couple who are native to our town and who have the friendship and esteem of all who know them, were married last evening at the home of the bride’s parents, Miss Jennie Eldridge, daughter of J.M. Eldridge, Esq., and George W. Bawden of Muscatine. 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, Third 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 businessman 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.” And Jennie’s account, “George, a brilliant orator and public speaker, remained with his sister when in Davenport until his marriage. The wedding taking place in her old home, Farnam St. and Kirkwood Blvd. At that time, it was 16th St, not acquiring the dignified name of Kirkwood Blvd until many years later. Just a quiet family wedding about 60 relatives and friends at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Anna Crawford playing the wedding march. Then a wedding supper. Ed Irwin was Mr. Bawden’s best man, Nettie Chenowith my brides’ maid. Aunt Minnie being general hostess as Mother could only be seated through all the festivities being an invalid for many years. Then we took train at 7 p.m. for Muscatine, where a lovely apartment was awaiting our occupancy.”

For the next 12 years, the Bawdens made their home in Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA where George practiced law with Allen Broomhall. In 1886, he became vice president of the Iowa Mortgage Co., of which uncle J.B. Phelps was president.

In 1895, George returned to Davenport to form a partnership with Julius Lischer. In 1895 after graduation from law school, George’s nephew Stephen Phelps Bawden joined. In 1901, Fred W. Neal joined the firm which dissolved in 1902 at Julius Lischer’s death. George next formed the firm of Bawden and Thuenen. Henry Thuenen became junior partner.

Also in 1895, Jennie’s father gave George and Jennie 80 ft. of land on Kirkwood Boulevard to build a home. (now 511 Kirkwood Blvd).

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 3rd term, as well as the nomination for mayoral candidate. He was vice president and counsel for the 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 which published the Daily Times newspaper under the direction of E. P. Adler. George was Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the Davenport Turner Society.

He suffered from diabetes. In the Spring of 1905, he went to Excelsior Springs, Lafayette County, MO, to regain health where he died 23 March 1905 at age 46. After George’s death, Jennie and their 3 sons, Albert Ralph (A.R.), George Ray (Ray), and Harry Eldridge lived in this home until 1911. They later lived at 1203 E. Second Avenue (9th St) with Jennie’s sister-in-law Edna Bawden, widow of Stephen Douglas Bawden. originally Nathan M. Rambo’s home. Jennie lived there until 1928.

Jennie died 1 April 1959 in the Davenport home of her daughter-in-law, “AR’s” wife, “Tess” Bawden at 29 Edgehill Terrace. Jennie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving 2 terms as president of the Ladies Society. Both she and George are buried in Davenport’s Oakdale Memorial Gardens Sect 1 Lot 158.
They had 3 sons: Albert Ralph, George Ray and Harry Eldridge, all born in Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA.