I work on genealogy so I know that unless you have a "Story", all you become is a name and date on your Grand-kids family chart. So Marie, for your descendants, for those who "didn't ask", about your life . I will do my best to tell your story...
Fondly, your Daughter in law, Collene
-------
MARIE HANNAH MASS / HARKER / KENYON passed away on Feb. 11 2017, at the age of 96, simply of old age. She was ready for her next journey. Marie requested, cremation, and no fuss, same is how she lived ..with no fuss.
Marie Hannah Mass was born at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa on Dec 26 1920. Daughter of LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. and MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG.
She comes from a line of early German settlers to Davenport, Iowa arriving before 1885.
Her Grandfather, John Peter Mass, worked as a teamster for Van Patton & Marks groceries, also ran the Turnverin Society hall, now the Walcott Coliseum a community center. The Turnverin was a German Society that promoted "A Strong Mind, A Strong Body".
John Peter Mass moved to Davenport again and in 1898 was the proprietor of the St Louis House, hotel/boarding house and saloon. The St. Louis house was a favorite stopping place for farmers that hauled produce from the country in horse drawn wagons and usually stayed in Davenport overnight before making the long slow trip home.
Saving his money, in 1901 he built a stately 4 flat which also housed his business at 702 West Third at the cost of $19,000. He picked a choice location that overlooked Washington Park, the center of the German community. On the banks of the Mississippi River, it was the place of arrival of the new emigrates. Welcomed by the rich soil of Scott Co. Iowa and a new life in America.
JOHN PETER MASS was now proprietor and owner of the "Independent Malt Beer" Sampling Room". He served Independent Beer, one of the many companies which he invested in with German friends.
The tavern, I believe it to be oldest continually ran business in Davenport, as it is still in operation today, 2022, now the Gate Way Pub. A picture of he and his establishment hangs on its wall today after 100 years . I own 2 original beer glasses .
.
He was also the Alderman of the 3rd ward in the original City of Davenport, 1908-1912.
John arrived to Minnesota coming to Davenport Iowa about 1882, from Schleswig-Hostein. Later he helped bring over his brother Friedrich wife Ida Anne Linde, sister Maria/Mrs. Henry Mohr, and Mother Anna Margarette MATZEN Mass arriving about 1891.
Anna and daughter made their home in Janesville, Mn., brother Heinrich J. stayed in Germany.
His father ASMUS died in 1889 at Schweltholm, Germany.
John Peter Mass on Nov 5 1887,married MARIA CATRINA VOLLSEN, daughter of Peter Vollsen and Antje Margaretha Rohivedder, she arrived about 1883, along with her brother PETER Rathman Vollsen wife Annie Sebelen, two sisters Christina W./married Henry Bauer and ANNA MARGRETHA/ married John Hansel.
From what they say, Maria Vollsen Mass had a volatile temper, an acid tongue.
All are buried in Fairmount Cemetery.
Peter Rathman Vollsen arrived about 1880, In 1898 he ran the livery, in a stone building in back the ST.Louis House.
Johann Peter Mass and Maria Catherina Vollson had 5 children;
LOUIS JOHN SR, married Martha C. Wesenberg
Worked for the city of Davenport Engineering Dept.
had 3 children Marie, Paul , Louis Jr.
JOHN NICK m Rose A. Kruse ,
worked for Victor Animatography, Voss Washing Machine Co. he was always building and inventing even had a couple of patents.
3 sons, Jerry , Romer, Kenneth
HARRY m Louise Czaks, a Davenport Police Man.
WILLIAM m Martha Busch,
after WW1, a machinist at the Rock Island Arsenal
2 children William, and Mary louise[ George Goodner]
ELLA married HANS C.REUTER
a top ranked gymnast in the German Turnverin Society. Hans later became physical education Professor at University of Wisconsin, and has a Hall named for him on campus.
2 daughters, Marianna [ Osborne Moe], Ellyn [ James Ash]
and twins LILLIE and HILDA, died as infants
All the Mass boys had the gift of engineering minds.
The basement of the Saloon was used as their work shop. They were always building, planning, reinventing.
Stories of the boys antics;.. "Lighting Flash" a plank bobsled that carried 30 people they started at 8th St.coming down Gaines St. hill at the bottom hitting rail road tracks, in a shower of sparks the bob sled would become airborne, bucking like a bronco, then make a low level flight of about 200 feet, if the the river was frozen it was allowed to coast on frozen the Mississippi. Yes, built and operated by the Mass boys. ..
or that of the home built ..a "Air Boat", something never seen before. Built from the fathers Pope car engine and a hand carved wooden propeller. The boys made beer runs across the frozen Mississippi,it was prohibition, crowds gathered on the river banks to watch the boys make their run from Davenport, Ia. to Harms Bar in Rock Island IL., bringing back the "minnow buckets" of beer...it caused quite a stir.
or John Louis SR. ride across country on his Pope motorcycle before there were road maps.
Oh, those boys must have been an handful!!
Marie's father, LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. a handsome man 6'tall, blue eyes and and black hair, of excellent character as stated on his a WW 1 veteran discharge .
He was a stared as a surveyor helper for the City before being called to duty.
He served in the Army as a 1st Lt.Field Artillery.
He returned to work for the City of Davenport Engineering Dept. (1911-1952). He help lay out much of the City including plotting out his own land, the Mass Addition, now north side of Lombard St. from St. Ambrose College.
The flag at City Hall flew at half-mast on his death.
His wife, MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG ,her sisters Betholdine and Johanna came from Germany to Iowa in 1894 with their parents, HERMAN JOHN WESENBERG and JOHANNA SCHULTZ. Her grand parents Wilhelm Wesenberg and Wilhelmine Pieschke also came to Iowa. All buried in Davenport Fairmount cemetery.
Herman worked in the Silvis Rail Yards in Illinois. Before coming to American Herman served in the Prussian army under Bismarck, chancellor of Germany. He served on the Danish and Russian fronts..
Martha had 7 siblings;
BETHOLDINE WILHELMINE 1889-1965 unmarried
JOHANNA MARIA FREDERICKA m Albert Fabricius 1891-1966
HERMINE 1896-1928 unmarried
HERMAN "Hum" BERTHOLDE m Nellie Watterson 1898-1936
OTTO AND OTTHILE twins 1902-1903/4
RAY WALTER m Esther Anderson 1911-1979
In 1924 Louis and Martha brought a big old farm house that was build about 1860s(?) out on the farm, far from town, with about of 11 acres of land, that was Paul Peterson Dairy located at Gaines and Lombard Street.
The home later owned by her Grand son Michael Harker .( 2020 now owned by her great grand son Joel Simms )
Louis and Martha raised their 3 children here. Marie and her two brothers, Paul and Louis Jr, were happy here, lots of land to play in ,big trees to climb, a garden, a goat, chickens, all with the freedom to roam as kids did in those days
Marie also raised her 4 children here. They loved the place in the same way
This place Marie spoke of so fondly even in her last days.
My husband [Al] still speaks of Grandma Martha's house, at times, smelled of her sauerkraut, or trying to serve a plate of fried brains, maybe swatsauer (blood soup)...
ah, No Thanks..
Martha was lucky if she could stretch to 5 foot tall, she spoke her mind and ever so fiesty! Which was so comical at the time, being that her sons were 6'1' and 6''4...brother Ray 6"7" . Don't mess with Grand Ma ! . The grand kids loved her sass.
Martha worked as a switch board operator for Parkers Department Store, Hotel Blackhawk and St. Luke's Hospital. In 1943 at the Rock Island Arsenal, she worked in a machine shop driving a fork lift, at the time women were called to duty working for the War effort. In 1950s was a bartender at Spectors Bar in Rock Island, Ill. She did enjoy those 5 cent beers served there.
Marie Hannah Mass attended Grant elementary school, J.B. Young junior high, then Davenport High, graduating in 1938. Marie was tall, dark haired , bright and had spirit. She liked bowling, played string bass in the orchestra, on the basketball, rifle, and speed skating teams.
She had learned to skate on the pond at Central Park, now Van DerVeer park near her home. :Later skating and winning or placing in several Silver Skates events. Marie placed second in her last Silver Skates competition at Davenport's Credit Island, far ahead until her legs gave out a the last moments: now she was 43, a mother of nine, and only 3 months after birth of her last child, Kathy.
At 95 years of age while reminiscing she said to me.."I wish I could ice skate one more time"
I found a newspaper clipping in 1954 with her on the womans local Brammer Manufacturing basket ball team winning the city championship.
Marie didn't want to help Mother with the house chores. She wanted to do all the things the boys got to do!
Marie wanted to Fly , but "that was for boys" , Mother said. Her two brothers Paul and Louis Jr. became pilots in WW II, learning to fly at Davenport's Cram Field before the war.
Paul Ray Mass (1923-1988)..awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf clusters,a Flying Ace of the Army Air Corps, piloting a P-38 Lighting he completed 52 missions with the 15th Air Force in Italy. A portion of Tyndall Air Force Museum is dedicated to his accomplishments in WW 11.
He retired as a supervisor in the electrical dept at Alcoa.
Married Helen Roberta Goode , daughter Colonel Marta Lou, son Allen.
Lt. Louis Mass Jr.,(1922-1981).. Army Air Corp. Aviator WW II, stationed in Waco Texas instructing for P51 and P47s, for Navy and Army.
He got his degree in journalism and cinematography at the University of Southern California after his stint in the war. Louis worked as a technical writer and film producer for the goverment-franchised jet propulsion laboratory before hearing the "Call of the Wild"
Read a full page story of his life as a Bush Pilot in Alaska, Quad City Times, Jan 4 1976.
Married Beverly Ross, daughter Christine R. Mass [Daniel Young] , son Louis III,
later married Bonnie Hanson,son Timothy Mass (Hawkins).
These Uncles were Hero's to Maries' children. The boys could hardly wait for their visits and hear their stories of adventure. They still speak of them with admiration.
Marie married Richard Franklin Harker in 1941; he was a free-lance commercial illustrator for advertisements, Time-Life books, and Vogue record. He couldnt seem to stick with one woman. They later divorced.
Marie mother of 4 , married ARTHUR HAROLD KENYON son of Edward Arthur Kenyon and Violet Isabella Rademacher .
Met Marie while working at Brammer Manufacturing; their love of sports brought them together. They played on the company's respective basket ball teams.
Right out of high school ,Art in 1949 , signed a baseball contract with the Boston Braves out of High School he was pursued by the Pirates, Cubs and Braves. He signed with the Braves and received a sign on bonus of $4,500.
He brought his first car, a creamed colored 1949 Dodge convertible.
He played from 1949 to 1952.
Art pitched the first "Perfect game" in Iowa's high school playoffs history. He was a south paw, age 16 and played for Davenport High School,
He received letters in baseball, basketball and football.
They married in 1951 and raised nine children. Art always worked two jobs to support the big family, there were no extras. . He became a Fireman and worked his way to District Chief for the City of Davenport working 31 years before retiring in 1987.
He was good, honest man, and man of few words.
He died in 2000 of a heart attack, walking off the softball field playing in the over 60 league in Apache Junction Arizona.
Marie worked for Bell Telephone in the forties, returning later for AT&T after her children were grown , until her retirement.
Marie was humble, a private person and respected that of others.. She read her newspaper cover to cover, did the crosswords and sudoko, loved numbers, enjoyed a game of cards or farko , and, of course Bingo. She was a bit stubborn, a quick mind, a procrastinator, and always thrifty. She was up to date on local politics, an Election Official for thirty years and enjoyed the Fireman's Auxilary.
Marie lived her life with Integrity.."Doing the right thing even when no one is looking"
Daughter Mary Lou for the last 15 years was Marie companion, and lovingly cared for her to her last day.
Marie leaves eight children, Mary Lou, Alfred, Michael and Nancy HARKER; Sherry, Arthur, Donna and Kathy KENYON .
She has 20 grand children, 32 great grand, and 12 great great grand children.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Arthur, in 2000, and her son Edward Patrick Kenyon in 2016, he died in a motorcycle accident killed by a teenager that crossed the center line on a long lonely highway near Globe Arizona .
brothers Paul and Louis Jr..
Because I do not wish for Marie to be forgotten, I have written my memory of Marie, my Mother in Law. Others may have seen or known her differently. If you would like to add to her memorial please let me know., just push the edit button at the top of the page..I would love to include your input.
Collene Root Harker
Fondly, your Daughter in law, Collene
-------
MARIE HANNAH MASS / HARKER / KENYON passed away on Feb. 11 2017, at the age of 96, simply of old age. She was ready for her next journey. Marie requested, cremation, and no fuss, same is how she lived ..with no fuss.
Marie Hannah Mass was born at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa on Dec 26 1920. Daughter of LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. and MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG.
She comes from a line of early German settlers to Davenport, Iowa arriving before 1885.
Her Grandfather, John Peter Mass, worked as a teamster for Van Patton & Marks groceries, also ran the Turnverin Society hall, now the Walcott Coliseum a community center. The Turnverin was a German Society that promoted "A Strong Mind, A Strong Body".
John Peter Mass moved to Davenport again and in 1898 was the proprietor of the St Louis House, hotel/boarding house and saloon. The St. Louis house was a favorite stopping place for farmers that hauled produce from the country in horse drawn wagons and usually stayed in Davenport overnight before making the long slow trip home.
Saving his money, in 1901 he built a stately 4 flat which also housed his business at 702 West Third at the cost of $19,000. He picked a choice location that overlooked Washington Park, the center of the German community. On the banks of the Mississippi River, it was the place of arrival of the new emigrates. Welcomed by the rich soil of Scott Co. Iowa and a new life in America.
JOHN PETER MASS was now proprietor and owner of the "Independent Malt Beer" Sampling Room". He served Independent Beer, one of the many companies which he invested in with German friends.
The tavern, I believe it to be oldest continually ran business in Davenport, as it is still in operation today, 2022, now the Gate Way Pub. A picture of he and his establishment hangs on its wall today after 100 years . I own 2 original beer glasses .
.
He was also the Alderman of the 3rd ward in the original City of Davenport, 1908-1912.
John arrived to Minnesota coming to Davenport Iowa about 1882, from Schleswig-Hostein. Later he helped bring over his brother Friedrich wife Ida Anne Linde, sister Maria/Mrs. Henry Mohr, and Mother Anna Margarette MATZEN Mass arriving about 1891.
Anna and daughter made their home in Janesville, Mn., brother Heinrich J. stayed in Germany.
His father ASMUS died in 1889 at Schweltholm, Germany.
John Peter Mass on Nov 5 1887,married MARIA CATRINA VOLLSEN, daughter of Peter Vollsen and Antje Margaretha Rohivedder, she arrived about 1883, along with her brother PETER Rathman Vollsen wife Annie Sebelen, two sisters Christina W./married Henry Bauer and ANNA MARGRETHA/ married John Hansel.
From what they say, Maria Vollsen Mass had a volatile temper, an acid tongue.
All are buried in Fairmount Cemetery.
Peter Rathman Vollsen arrived about 1880, In 1898 he ran the livery, in a stone building in back the ST.Louis House.
Johann Peter Mass and Maria Catherina Vollson had 5 children;
LOUIS JOHN SR, married Martha C. Wesenberg
Worked for the city of Davenport Engineering Dept.
had 3 children Marie, Paul , Louis Jr.
JOHN NICK m Rose A. Kruse ,
worked for Victor Animatography, Voss Washing Machine Co. he was always building and inventing even had a couple of patents.
3 sons, Jerry , Romer, Kenneth
HARRY m Louise Czaks, a Davenport Police Man.
WILLIAM m Martha Busch,
after WW1, a machinist at the Rock Island Arsenal
2 children William, and Mary louise[ George Goodner]
ELLA married HANS C.REUTER
a top ranked gymnast in the German Turnverin Society. Hans later became physical education Professor at University of Wisconsin, and has a Hall named for him on campus.
2 daughters, Marianna [ Osborne Moe], Ellyn [ James Ash]
and twins LILLIE and HILDA, died as infants
All the Mass boys had the gift of engineering minds.
The basement of the Saloon was used as their work shop. They were always building, planning, reinventing.
Stories of the boys antics;.. "Lighting Flash" a plank bobsled that carried 30 people they started at 8th St.coming down Gaines St. hill at the bottom hitting rail road tracks, in a shower of sparks the bob sled would become airborne, bucking like a bronco, then make a low level flight of about 200 feet, if the the river was frozen it was allowed to coast on frozen the Mississippi. Yes, built and operated by the Mass boys. ..
or that of the home built ..a "Air Boat", something never seen before. Built from the fathers Pope car engine and a hand carved wooden propeller. The boys made beer runs across the frozen Mississippi,it was prohibition, crowds gathered on the river banks to watch the boys make their run from Davenport, Ia. to Harms Bar in Rock Island IL., bringing back the "minnow buckets" of beer...it caused quite a stir.
or John Louis SR. ride across country on his Pope motorcycle before there were road maps.
Oh, those boys must have been an handful!!
Marie's father, LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. a handsome man 6'tall, blue eyes and and black hair, of excellent character as stated on his a WW 1 veteran discharge .
He was a stared as a surveyor helper for the City before being called to duty.
He served in the Army as a 1st Lt.Field Artillery.
He returned to work for the City of Davenport Engineering Dept. (1911-1952). He help lay out much of the City including plotting out his own land, the Mass Addition, now north side of Lombard St. from St. Ambrose College.
The flag at City Hall flew at half-mast on his death.
His wife, MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG ,her sisters Betholdine and Johanna came from Germany to Iowa in 1894 with their parents, HERMAN JOHN WESENBERG and JOHANNA SCHULTZ. Her grand parents Wilhelm Wesenberg and Wilhelmine Pieschke also came to Iowa. All buried in Davenport Fairmount cemetery.
Herman worked in the Silvis Rail Yards in Illinois. Before coming to American Herman served in the Prussian army under Bismarck, chancellor of Germany. He served on the Danish and Russian fronts..
Martha had 7 siblings;
BETHOLDINE WILHELMINE 1889-1965 unmarried
JOHANNA MARIA FREDERICKA m Albert Fabricius 1891-1966
HERMINE 1896-1928 unmarried
HERMAN "Hum" BERTHOLDE m Nellie Watterson 1898-1936
OTTO AND OTTHILE twins 1902-1903/4
RAY WALTER m Esther Anderson 1911-1979
In 1924 Louis and Martha brought a big old farm house that was build about 1860s(?) out on the farm, far from town, with about of 11 acres of land, that was Paul Peterson Dairy located at Gaines and Lombard Street.
The home later owned by her Grand son Michael Harker .( 2020 now owned by her great grand son Joel Simms )
Louis and Martha raised their 3 children here. Marie and her two brothers, Paul and Louis Jr, were happy here, lots of land to play in ,big trees to climb, a garden, a goat, chickens, all with the freedom to roam as kids did in those days
Marie also raised her 4 children here. They loved the place in the same way
This place Marie spoke of so fondly even in her last days.
My husband [Al] still speaks of Grandma Martha's house, at times, smelled of her sauerkraut, or trying to serve a plate of fried brains, maybe swatsauer (blood soup)...
ah, No Thanks..
Martha was lucky if she could stretch to 5 foot tall, she spoke her mind and ever so fiesty! Which was so comical at the time, being that her sons were 6'1' and 6''4...brother Ray 6"7" . Don't mess with Grand Ma ! . The grand kids loved her sass.
Martha worked as a switch board operator for Parkers Department Store, Hotel Blackhawk and St. Luke's Hospital. In 1943 at the Rock Island Arsenal, she worked in a machine shop driving a fork lift, at the time women were called to duty working for the War effort. In 1950s was a bartender at Spectors Bar in Rock Island, Ill. She did enjoy those 5 cent beers served there.
Marie Hannah Mass attended Grant elementary school, J.B. Young junior high, then Davenport High, graduating in 1938. Marie was tall, dark haired , bright and had spirit. She liked bowling, played string bass in the orchestra, on the basketball, rifle, and speed skating teams.
She had learned to skate on the pond at Central Park, now Van DerVeer park near her home. :Later skating and winning or placing in several Silver Skates events. Marie placed second in her last Silver Skates competition at Davenport's Credit Island, far ahead until her legs gave out a the last moments: now she was 43, a mother of nine, and only 3 months after birth of her last child, Kathy.
At 95 years of age while reminiscing she said to me.."I wish I could ice skate one more time"
I found a newspaper clipping in 1954 with her on the womans local Brammer Manufacturing basket ball team winning the city championship.
Marie didn't want to help Mother with the house chores. She wanted to do all the things the boys got to do!
Marie wanted to Fly , but "that was for boys" , Mother said. Her two brothers Paul and Louis Jr. became pilots in WW II, learning to fly at Davenport's Cram Field before the war.
Paul Ray Mass (1923-1988)..awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf clusters,a Flying Ace of the Army Air Corps, piloting a P-38 Lighting he completed 52 missions with the 15th Air Force in Italy. A portion of Tyndall Air Force Museum is dedicated to his accomplishments in WW 11.
He retired as a supervisor in the electrical dept at Alcoa.
Married Helen Roberta Goode , daughter Colonel Marta Lou, son Allen.
Lt. Louis Mass Jr.,(1922-1981).. Army Air Corp. Aviator WW II, stationed in Waco Texas instructing for P51 and P47s, for Navy and Army.
He got his degree in journalism and cinematography at the University of Southern California after his stint in the war. Louis worked as a technical writer and film producer for the goverment-franchised jet propulsion laboratory before hearing the "Call of the Wild"
Read a full page story of his life as a Bush Pilot in Alaska, Quad City Times, Jan 4 1976.
Married Beverly Ross, daughter Christine R. Mass [Daniel Young] , son Louis III,
later married Bonnie Hanson,son Timothy Mass (Hawkins).
These Uncles were Hero's to Maries' children. The boys could hardly wait for their visits and hear their stories of adventure. They still speak of them with admiration.
Marie married Richard Franklin Harker in 1941; he was a free-lance commercial illustrator for advertisements, Time-Life books, and Vogue record. He couldnt seem to stick with one woman. They later divorced.
Marie mother of 4 , married ARTHUR HAROLD KENYON son of Edward Arthur Kenyon and Violet Isabella Rademacher .
Met Marie while working at Brammer Manufacturing; their love of sports brought them together. They played on the company's respective basket ball teams.
Right out of high school ,Art in 1949 , signed a baseball contract with the Boston Braves out of High School he was pursued by the Pirates, Cubs and Braves. He signed with the Braves and received a sign on bonus of $4,500.
He brought his first car, a creamed colored 1949 Dodge convertible.
He played from 1949 to 1952.
Art pitched the first "Perfect game" in Iowa's high school playoffs history. He was a south paw, age 16 and played for Davenport High School,
He received letters in baseball, basketball and football.
They married in 1951 and raised nine children. Art always worked two jobs to support the big family, there were no extras. . He became a Fireman and worked his way to District Chief for the City of Davenport working 31 years before retiring in 1987.
He was good, honest man, and man of few words.
He died in 2000 of a heart attack, walking off the softball field playing in the over 60 league in Apache Junction Arizona.
Marie worked for Bell Telephone in the forties, returning later for AT&T after her children were grown , until her retirement.
Marie was humble, a private person and respected that of others.. She read her newspaper cover to cover, did the crosswords and sudoko, loved numbers, enjoyed a game of cards or farko , and, of course Bingo. She was a bit stubborn, a quick mind, a procrastinator, and always thrifty. She was up to date on local politics, an Election Official for thirty years and enjoyed the Fireman's Auxilary.
Marie lived her life with Integrity.."Doing the right thing even when no one is looking"
Daughter Mary Lou for the last 15 years was Marie companion, and lovingly cared for her to her last day.
Marie leaves eight children, Mary Lou, Alfred, Michael and Nancy HARKER; Sherry, Arthur, Donna and Kathy KENYON .
She has 20 grand children, 32 great grand, and 12 great great grand children.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Arthur, in 2000, and her son Edward Patrick Kenyon in 2016, he died in a motorcycle accident killed by a teenager that crossed the center line on a long lonely highway near Globe Arizona .
brothers Paul and Louis Jr..
Because I do not wish for Marie to be forgotten, I have written my memory of Marie, my Mother in Law. Others may have seen or known her differently. If you would like to add to her memorial please let me know., just push the edit button at the top of the page..I would love to include your input.
Collene Root Harker
I work on genealogy so I know that unless you have a "Story", all you become is a name and date on your Grand-kids family chart. So Marie, for your descendants, for those who "didn't ask", about your life . I will do my best to tell your story...
Fondly, your Daughter in law, Collene
-------
MARIE HANNAH MASS / HARKER / KENYON passed away on Feb. 11 2017, at the age of 96, simply of old age. She was ready for her next journey. Marie requested, cremation, and no fuss, same is how she lived ..with no fuss.
Marie Hannah Mass was born at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa on Dec 26 1920. Daughter of LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. and MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG.
She comes from a line of early German settlers to Davenport, Iowa arriving before 1885.
Her Grandfather, John Peter Mass, worked as a teamster for Van Patton & Marks groceries, also ran the Turnverin Society hall, now the Walcott Coliseum a community center. The Turnverin was a German Society that promoted "A Strong Mind, A Strong Body".
John Peter Mass moved to Davenport again and in 1898 was the proprietor of the St Louis House, hotel/boarding house and saloon. The St. Louis house was a favorite stopping place for farmers that hauled produce from the country in horse drawn wagons and usually stayed in Davenport overnight before making the long slow trip home.
Saving his money, in 1901 he built a stately 4 flat which also housed his business at 702 West Third at the cost of $19,000. He picked a choice location that overlooked Washington Park, the center of the German community. On the banks of the Mississippi River, it was the place of arrival of the new emigrates. Welcomed by the rich soil of Scott Co. Iowa and a new life in America.
JOHN PETER MASS was now proprietor and owner of the "Independent Malt Beer" Sampling Room". He served Independent Beer, one of the many companies which he invested in with German friends.
The tavern, I believe it to be oldest continually ran business in Davenport, as it is still in operation today, 2022, now the Gate Way Pub. A picture of he and his establishment hangs on its wall today after 100 years . I own 2 original beer glasses .
.
He was also the Alderman of the 3rd ward in the original City of Davenport, 1908-1912.
John arrived to Minnesota coming to Davenport Iowa about 1882, from Schleswig-Hostein. Later he helped bring over his brother Friedrich wife Ida Anne Linde, sister Maria/Mrs. Henry Mohr, and Mother Anna Margarette MATZEN Mass arriving about 1891.
Anna and daughter made their home in Janesville, Mn., brother Heinrich J. stayed in Germany.
His father ASMUS died in 1889 at Schweltholm, Germany.
John Peter Mass on Nov 5 1887,married MARIA CATRINA VOLLSEN, daughter of Peter Vollsen and Antje Margaretha Rohivedder, she arrived about 1883, along with her brother PETER Rathman Vollsen wife Annie Sebelen, two sisters Christina W./married Henry Bauer and ANNA MARGRETHA/ married John Hansel.
From what they say, Maria Vollsen Mass had a volatile temper, an acid tongue.
All are buried in Fairmount Cemetery.
Peter Rathman Vollsen arrived about 1880, In 1898 he ran the livery, in a stone building in back the ST.Louis House.
Johann Peter Mass and Maria Catherina Vollson had 5 children;
LOUIS JOHN SR, married Martha C. Wesenberg
Worked for the city of Davenport Engineering Dept.
had 3 children Marie, Paul , Louis Jr.
JOHN NICK m Rose A. Kruse ,
worked for Victor Animatography, Voss Washing Machine Co. he was always building and inventing even had a couple of patents.
3 sons, Jerry , Romer, Kenneth
HARRY m Louise Czaks, a Davenport Police Man.
WILLIAM m Martha Busch,
after WW1, a machinist at the Rock Island Arsenal
2 children William, and Mary louise[ George Goodner]
ELLA married HANS C.REUTER
a top ranked gymnast in the German Turnverin Society. Hans later became physical education Professor at University of Wisconsin, and has a Hall named for him on campus.
2 daughters, Marianna [ Osborne Moe], Ellyn [ James Ash]
and twins LILLIE and HILDA, died as infants
All the Mass boys had the gift of engineering minds.
The basement of the Saloon was used as their work shop. They were always building, planning, reinventing.
Stories of the boys antics;.. "Lighting Flash" a plank bobsled that carried 30 people they started at 8th St.coming down Gaines St. hill at the bottom hitting rail road tracks, in a shower of sparks the bob sled would become airborne, bucking like a bronco, then make a low level flight of about 200 feet, if the the river was frozen it was allowed to coast on frozen the Mississippi. Yes, built and operated by the Mass boys. ..
or that of the home built ..a "Air Boat", something never seen before. Built from the fathers Pope car engine and a hand carved wooden propeller. The boys made beer runs across the frozen Mississippi,it was prohibition, crowds gathered on the river banks to watch the boys make their run from Davenport, Ia. to Harms Bar in Rock Island IL., bringing back the "minnow buckets" of beer...it caused quite a stir.
or John Louis SR. ride across country on his Pope motorcycle before there were road maps.
Oh, those boys must have been an handful!!
Marie's father, LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. a handsome man 6'tall, blue eyes and and black hair, of excellent character as stated on his a WW 1 veteran discharge .
He was a stared as a surveyor helper for the City before being called to duty.
He served in the Army as a 1st Lt.Field Artillery.
He returned to work for the City of Davenport Engineering Dept. (1911-1952). He help lay out much of the City including plotting out his own land, the Mass Addition, now north side of Lombard St. from St. Ambrose College.
The flag at City Hall flew at half-mast on his death.
His wife, MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG ,her sisters Betholdine and Johanna came from Germany to Iowa in 1894 with their parents, HERMAN JOHN WESENBERG and JOHANNA SCHULTZ. Her grand parents Wilhelm Wesenberg and Wilhelmine Pieschke also came to Iowa. All buried in Davenport Fairmount cemetery.
Herman worked in the Silvis Rail Yards in Illinois. Before coming to American Herman served in the Prussian army under Bismarck, chancellor of Germany. He served on the Danish and Russian fronts..
Martha had 7 siblings;
BETHOLDINE WILHELMINE 1889-1965 unmarried
JOHANNA MARIA FREDERICKA m Albert Fabricius 1891-1966
HERMINE 1896-1928 unmarried
HERMAN "Hum" BERTHOLDE m Nellie Watterson 1898-1936
OTTO AND OTTHILE twins 1902-1903/4
RAY WALTER m Esther Anderson 1911-1979
In 1924 Louis and Martha brought a big old farm house that was build about 1860s(?) out on the farm, far from town, with about of 11 acres of land, that was Paul Peterson Dairy located at Gaines and Lombard Street.
The home later owned by her Grand son Michael Harker .( 2020 now owned by her great grand son Joel Simms )
Louis and Martha raised their 3 children here. Marie and her two brothers, Paul and Louis Jr, were happy here, lots of land to play in ,big trees to climb, a garden, a goat, chickens, all with the freedom to roam as kids did in those days
Marie also raised her 4 children here. They loved the place in the same way
This place Marie spoke of so fondly even in her last days.
My husband [Al] still speaks of Grandma Martha's house, at times, smelled of her sauerkraut, or trying to serve a plate of fried brains, maybe swatsauer (blood soup)...
ah, No Thanks..
Martha was lucky if she could stretch to 5 foot tall, she spoke her mind and ever so fiesty! Which was so comical at the time, being that her sons were 6'1' and 6''4...brother Ray 6"7" . Don't mess with Grand Ma ! . The grand kids loved her sass.
Martha worked as a switch board operator for Parkers Department Store, Hotel Blackhawk and St. Luke's Hospital. In 1943 at the Rock Island Arsenal, she worked in a machine shop driving a fork lift, at the time women were called to duty working for the War effort. In 1950s was a bartender at Spectors Bar in Rock Island, Ill. She did enjoy those 5 cent beers served there.
Marie Hannah Mass attended Grant elementary school, J.B. Young junior high, then Davenport High, graduating in 1938. Marie was tall, dark haired , bright and had spirit. She liked bowling, played string bass in the orchestra, on the basketball, rifle, and speed skating teams.
She had learned to skate on the pond at Central Park, now Van DerVeer park near her home. :Later skating and winning or placing in several Silver Skates events. Marie placed second in her last Silver Skates competition at Davenport's Credit Island, far ahead until her legs gave out a the last moments: now she was 43, a mother of nine, and only 3 months after birth of her last child, Kathy.
At 95 years of age while reminiscing she said to me.."I wish I could ice skate one more time"
I found a newspaper clipping in 1954 with her on the womans local Brammer Manufacturing basket ball team winning the city championship.
Marie didn't want to help Mother with the house chores. She wanted to do all the things the boys got to do!
Marie wanted to Fly , but "that was for boys" , Mother said. Her two brothers Paul and Louis Jr. became pilots in WW II, learning to fly at Davenport's Cram Field before the war.
Paul Ray Mass (1923-1988)..awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf clusters,a Flying Ace of the Army Air Corps, piloting a P-38 Lighting he completed 52 missions with the 15th Air Force in Italy. A portion of Tyndall Air Force Museum is dedicated to his accomplishments in WW 11.
He retired as a supervisor in the electrical dept at Alcoa.
Married Helen Roberta Goode , daughter Colonel Marta Lou, son Allen.
Lt. Louis Mass Jr.,(1922-1981).. Army Air Corp. Aviator WW II, stationed in Waco Texas instructing for P51 and P47s, for Navy and Army.
He got his degree in journalism and cinematography at the University of Southern California after his stint in the war. Louis worked as a technical writer and film producer for the goverment-franchised jet propulsion laboratory before hearing the "Call of the Wild"
Read a full page story of his life as a Bush Pilot in Alaska, Quad City Times, Jan 4 1976.
Married Beverly Ross, daughter Christine R. Mass [Daniel Young] , son Louis III,
later married Bonnie Hanson,son Timothy Mass (Hawkins).
These Uncles were Hero's to Maries' children. The boys could hardly wait for their visits and hear their stories of adventure. They still speak of them with admiration.
Marie married Richard Franklin Harker in 1941; he was a free-lance commercial illustrator for advertisements, Time-Life books, and Vogue record. He couldnt seem to stick with one woman. They later divorced.
Marie mother of 4 , married ARTHUR HAROLD KENYON son of Edward Arthur Kenyon and Violet Isabella Rademacher .
Met Marie while working at Brammer Manufacturing; their love of sports brought them together. They played on the company's respective basket ball teams.
Right out of high school ,Art in 1949 , signed a baseball contract with the Boston Braves out of High School he was pursued by the Pirates, Cubs and Braves. He signed with the Braves and received a sign on bonus of $4,500.
He brought his first car, a creamed colored 1949 Dodge convertible.
He played from 1949 to 1952.
Art pitched the first "Perfect game" in Iowa's high school playoffs history. He was a south paw, age 16 and played for Davenport High School,
He received letters in baseball, basketball and football.
They married in 1951 and raised nine children. Art always worked two jobs to support the big family, there were no extras. . He became a Fireman and worked his way to District Chief for the City of Davenport working 31 years before retiring in 1987.
He was good, honest man, and man of few words.
He died in 2000 of a heart attack, walking off the softball field playing in the over 60 league in Apache Junction Arizona.
Marie worked for Bell Telephone in the forties, returning later for AT&T after her children were grown , until her retirement.
Marie was humble, a private person and respected that of others.. She read her newspaper cover to cover, did the crosswords and sudoko, loved numbers, enjoyed a game of cards or farko , and, of course Bingo. She was a bit stubborn, a quick mind, a procrastinator, and always thrifty. She was up to date on local politics, an Election Official for thirty years and enjoyed the Fireman's Auxilary.
Marie lived her life with Integrity.."Doing the right thing even when no one is looking"
Daughter Mary Lou for the last 15 years was Marie companion, and lovingly cared for her to her last day.
Marie leaves eight children, Mary Lou, Alfred, Michael and Nancy HARKER; Sherry, Arthur, Donna and Kathy KENYON .
She has 20 grand children, 32 great grand, and 12 great great grand children.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Arthur, in 2000, and her son Edward Patrick Kenyon in 2016, he died in a motorcycle accident killed by a teenager that crossed the center line on a long lonely highway near Globe Arizona .
brothers Paul and Louis Jr..
Because I do not wish for Marie to be forgotten, I have written my memory of Marie, my Mother in Law. Others may have seen or known her differently. If you would like to add to her memorial please let me know., just push the edit button at the top of the page..I would love to include your input.
Collene Root Harker
Fondly, your Daughter in law, Collene
-------
MARIE HANNAH MASS / HARKER / KENYON passed away on Feb. 11 2017, at the age of 96, simply of old age. She was ready for her next journey. Marie requested, cremation, and no fuss, same is how she lived ..with no fuss.
Marie Hannah Mass was born at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa on Dec 26 1920. Daughter of LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. and MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG.
She comes from a line of early German settlers to Davenport, Iowa arriving before 1885.
Her Grandfather, John Peter Mass, worked as a teamster for Van Patton & Marks groceries, also ran the Turnverin Society hall, now the Walcott Coliseum a community center. The Turnverin was a German Society that promoted "A Strong Mind, A Strong Body".
John Peter Mass moved to Davenport again and in 1898 was the proprietor of the St Louis House, hotel/boarding house and saloon. The St. Louis house was a favorite stopping place for farmers that hauled produce from the country in horse drawn wagons and usually stayed in Davenport overnight before making the long slow trip home.
Saving his money, in 1901 he built a stately 4 flat which also housed his business at 702 West Third at the cost of $19,000. He picked a choice location that overlooked Washington Park, the center of the German community. On the banks of the Mississippi River, it was the place of arrival of the new emigrates. Welcomed by the rich soil of Scott Co. Iowa and a new life in America.
JOHN PETER MASS was now proprietor and owner of the "Independent Malt Beer" Sampling Room". He served Independent Beer, one of the many companies which he invested in with German friends.
The tavern, I believe it to be oldest continually ran business in Davenport, as it is still in operation today, 2022, now the Gate Way Pub. A picture of he and his establishment hangs on its wall today after 100 years . I own 2 original beer glasses .
.
He was also the Alderman of the 3rd ward in the original City of Davenport, 1908-1912.
John arrived to Minnesota coming to Davenport Iowa about 1882, from Schleswig-Hostein. Later he helped bring over his brother Friedrich wife Ida Anne Linde, sister Maria/Mrs. Henry Mohr, and Mother Anna Margarette MATZEN Mass arriving about 1891.
Anna and daughter made their home in Janesville, Mn., brother Heinrich J. stayed in Germany.
His father ASMUS died in 1889 at Schweltholm, Germany.
John Peter Mass on Nov 5 1887,married MARIA CATRINA VOLLSEN, daughter of Peter Vollsen and Antje Margaretha Rohivedder, she arrived about 1883, along with her brother PETER Rathman Vollsen wife Annie Sebelen, two sisters Christina W./married Henry Bauer and ANNA MARGRETHA/ married John Hansel.
From what they say, Maria Vollsen Mass had a volatile temper, an acid tongue.
All are buried in Fairmount Cemetery.
Peter Rathman Vollsen arrived about 1880, In 1898 he ran the livery, in a stone building in back the ST.Louis House.
Johann Peter Mass and Maria Catherina Vollson had 5 children;
LOUIS JOHN SR, married Martha C. Wesenberg
Worked for the city of Davenport Engineering Dept.
had 3 children Marie, Paul , Louis Jr.
JOHN NICK m Rose A. Kruse ,
worked for Victor Animatography, Voss Washing Machine Co. he was always building and inventing even had a couple of patents.
3 sons, Jerry , Romer, Kenneth
HARRY m Louise Czaks, a Davenport Police Man.
WILLIAM m Martha Busch,
after WW1, a machinist at the Rock Island Arsenal
2 children William, and Mary louise[ George Goodner]
ELLA married HANS C.REUTER
a top ranked gymnast in the German Turnverin Society. Hans later became physical education Professor at University of Wisconsin, and has a Hall named for him on campus.
2 daughters, Marianna [ Osborne Moe], Ellyn [ James Ash]
and twins LILLIE and HILDA, died as infants
All the Mass boys had the gift of engineering minds.
The basement of the Saloon was used as their work shop. They were always building, planning, reinventing.
Stories of the boys antics;.. "Lighting Flash" a plank bobsled that carried 30 people they started at 8th St.coming down Gaines St. hill at the bottom hitting rail road tracks, in a shower of sparks the bob sled would become airborne, bucking like a bronco, then make a low level flight of about 200 feet, if the the river was frozen it was allowed to coast on frozen the Mississippi. Yes, built and operated by the Mass boys. ..
or that of the home built ..a "Air Boat", something never seen before. Built from the fathers Pope car engine and a hand carved wooden propeller. The boys made beer runs across the frozen Mississippi,it was prohibition, crowds gathered on the river banks to watch the boys make their run from Davenport, Ia. to Harms Bar in Rock Island IL., bringing back the "minnow buckets" of beer...it caused quite a stir.
or John Louis SR. ride across country on his Pope motorcycle before there were road maps.
Oh, those boys must have been an handful!!
Marie's father, LOUIS JOHN MASS SR. a handsome man 6'tall, blue eyes and and black hair, of excellent character as stated on his a WW 1 veteran discharge .
He was a stared as a surveyor helper for the City before being called to duty.
He served in the Army as a 1st Lt.Field Artillery.
He returned to work for the City of Davenport Engineering Dept. (1911-1952). He help lay out much of the City including plotting out his own land, the Mass Addition, now north side of Lombard St. from St. Ambrose College.
The flag at City Hall flew at half-mast on his death.
His wife, MARTHA CHRISTINE WESENBERG ,her sisters Betholdine and Johanna came from Germany to Iowa in 1894 with their parents, HERMAN JOHN WESENBERG and JOHANNA SCHULTZ. Her grand parents Wilhelm Wesenberg and Wilhelmine Pieschke also came to Iowa. All buried in Davenport Fairmount cemetery.
Herman worked in the Silvis Rail Yards in Illinois. Before coming to American Herman served in the Prussian army under Bismarck, chancellor of Germany. He served on the Danish and Russian fronts..
Martha had 7 siblings;
BETHOLDINE WILHELMINE 1889-1965 unmarried
JOHANNA MARIA FREDERICKA m Albert Fabricius 1891-1966
HERMINE 1896-1928 unmarried
HERMAN "Hum" BERTHOLDE m Nellie Watterson 1898-1936
OTTO AND OTTHILE twins 1902-1903/4
RAY WALTER m Esther Anderson 1911-1979
In 1924 Louis and Martha brought a big old farm house that was build about 1860s(?) out on the farm, far from town, with about of 11 acres of land, that was Paul Peterson Dairy located at Gaines and Lombard Street.
The home later owned by her Grand son Michael Harker .( 2020 now owned by her great grand son Joel Simms )
Louis and Martha raised their 3 children here. Marie and her two brothers, Paul and Louis Jr, were happy here, lots of land to play in ,big trees to climb, a garden, a goat, chickens, all with the freedom to roam as kids did in those days
Marie also raised her 4 children here. They loved the place in the same way
This place Marie spoke of so fondly even in her last days.
My husband [Al] still speaks of Grandma Martha's house, at times, smelled of her sauerkraut, or trying to serve a plate of fried brains, maybe swatsauer (blood soup)...
ah, No Thanks..
Martha was lucky if she could stretch to 5 foot tall, she spoke her mind and ever so fiesty! Which was so comical at the time, being that her sons were 6'1' and 6''4...brother Ray 6"7" . Don't mess with Grand Ma ! . The grand kids loved her sass.
Martha worked as a switch board operator for Parkers Department Store, Hotel Blackhawk and St. Luke's Hospital. In 1943 at the Rock Island Arsenal, she worked in a machine shop driving a fork lift, at the time women were called to duty working for the War effort. In 1950s was a bartender at Spectors Bar in Rock Island, Ill. She did enjoy those 5 cent beers served there.
Marie Hannah Mass attended Grant elementary school, J.B. Young junior high, then Davenport High, graduating in 1938. Marie was tall, dark haired , bright and had spirit. She liked bowling, played string bass in the orchestra, on the basketball, rifle, and speed skating teams.
She had learned to skate on the pond at Central Park, now Van DerVeer park near her home. :Later skating and winning or placing in several Silver Skates events. Marie placed second in her last Silver Skates competition at Davenport's Credit Island, far ahead until her legs gave out a the last moments: now she was 43, a mother of nine, and only 3 months after birth of her last child, Kathy.
At 95 years of age while reminiscing she said to me.."I wish I could ice skate one more time"
I found a newspaper clipping in 1954 with her on the womans local Brammer Manufacturing basket ball team winning the city championship.
Marie didn't want to help Mother with the house chores. She wanted to do all the things the boys got to do!
Marie wanted to Fly , but "that was for boys" , Mother said. Her two brothers Paul and Louis Jr. became pilots in WW II, learning to fly at Davenport's Cram Field before the war.
Paul Ray Mass (1923-1988)..awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf clusters,a Flying Ace of the Army Air Corps, piloting a P-38 Lighting he completed 52 missions with the 15th Air Force in Italy. A portion of Tyndall Air Force Museum is dedicated to his accomplishments in WW 11.
He retired as a supervisor in the electrical dept at Alcoa.
Married Helen Roberta Goode , daughter Colonel Marta Lou, son Allen.
Lt. Louis Mass Jr.,(1922-1981).. Army Air Corp. Aviator WW II, stationed in Waco Texas instructing for P51 and P47s, for Navy and Army.
He got his degree in journalism and cinematography at the University of Southern California after his stint in the war. Louis worked as a technical writer and film producer for the goverment-franchised jet propulsion laboratory before hearing the "Call of the Wild"
Read a full page story of his life as a Bush Pilot in Alaska, Quad City Times, Jan 4 1976.
Married Beverly Ross, daughter Christine R. Mass [Daniel Young] , son Louis III,
later married Bonnie Hanson,son Timothy Mass (Hawkins).
These Uncles were Hero's to Maries' children. The boys could hardly wait for their visits and hear their stories of adventure. They still speak of them with admiration.
Marie married Richard Franklin Harker in 1941; he was a free-lance commercial illustrator for advertisements, Time-Life books, and Vogue record. He couldnt seem to stick with one woman. They later divorced.
Marie mother of 4 , married ARTHUR HAROLD KENYON son of Edward Arthur Kenyon and Violet Isabella Rademacher .
Met Marie while working at Brammer Manufacturing; their love of sports brought them together. They played on the company's respective basket ball teams.
Right out of high school ,Art in 1949 , signed a baseball contract with the Boston Braves out of High School he was pursued by the Pirates, Cubs and Braves. He signed with the Braves and received a sign on bonus of $4,500.
He brought his first car, a creamed colored 1949 Dodge convertible.
He played from 1949 to 1952.
Art pitched the first "Perfect game" in Iowa's high school playoffs history. He was a south paw, age 16 and played for Davenport High School,
He received letters in baseball, basketball and football.
They married in 1951 and raised nine children. Art always worked two jobs to support the big family, there were no extras. . He became a Fireman and worked his way to District Chief for the City of Davenport working 31 years before retiring in 1987.
He was good, honest man, and man of few words.
He died in 2000 of a heart attack, walking off the softball field playing in the over 60 league in Apache Junction Arizona.
Marie worked for Bell Telephone in the forties, returning later for AT&T after her children were grown , until her retirement.
Marie was humble, a private person and respected that of others.. She read her newspaper cover to cover, did the crosswords and sudoko, loved numbers, enjoyed a game of cards or farko , and, of course Bingo. She was a bit stubborn, a quick mind, a procrastinator, and always thrifty. She was up to date on local politics, an Election Official for thirty years and enjoyed the Fireman's Auxilary.
Marie lived her life with Integrity.."Doing the right thing even when no one is looking"
Daughter Mary Lou for the last 15 years was Marie companion, and lovingly cared for her to her last day.
Marie leaves eight children, Mary Lou, Alfred, Michael and Nancy HARKER; Sherry, Arthur, Donna and Kathy KENYON .
She has 20 grand children, 32 great grand, and 12 great great grand children.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Arthur, in 2000, and her son Edward Patrick Kenyon in 2016, he died in a motorcycle accident killed by a teenager that crossed the center line on a long lonely highway near Globe Arizona .
brothers Paul and Louis Jr..
Because I do not wish for Marie to be forgotten, I have written my memory of Marie, my Mother in Law. Others may have seen or known her differently. If you would like to add to her memorial please let me know., just push the edit button at the top of the page..I would love to include your input.
Collene Root Harker
Family Members
See more Harker Kenyon or Mass memorials in:
- Find a Grave Harker Kenyon or Mass
