Sigourney / Keokuk county (Iowa City, Ottumwa, Johnston: homes, schools, living)

[R Johnston]

What can you tell me about Sigourney and Keokuk? Impressions, community, weather, schools? I would appreciate more information on this area.
Thanks so much!!

[jaimiekatie]

Originally Posted by R Johnston

What can you tell me about Sigourney and Keokuk? Impressions, community, weather, schools? I would appreciate more information on this area.
Thanks so much!!

I grew up there-from 1st grade thru 10th grade and have all positive memories: Girl Scouts, Town Square, cow pastures, bike-riding, Little League, Dairy Queen...it's Small Town America with the best of the best (and a few of the bad)... Can't go wrong--I'm raising kids in southern california now and totally miss Sigourney.......

[primalclaws1974]

I live close to there, have had friends there. I do not mean to sound critical to disabled people, but there are many, many diabled people there for a town less than 2,000 people! They have a large office for just this purpose (and I have heard, though I can't verify) that many people that are independent living but are not mentally stable enough to handle things are their own are suggested to move there to be closer to the facilities.
It's a tiny town with 3 gas stations, a liquor store and a very high priced tiny grocery store. The nearests towns of any size are 25-30 miles away and those towns are only in the 10,000 people range. It's really in the middle of nowhere, 80 miles from des moines, 50 from Iowa City, 40 from Ottumwa. If you weren't originally from thsi area I wouldn't understand why you would want to move there.

[hannah200234]

Hello I am searching for a Scotty Gene Skeens that was born in keokuk Iowa either in 1976 to 1978, His parents names were Eugene and Jeanette Skeens . If anyone has any information that could help me find him it would be greatly appreciated. thanks

[JBoughton]

Keokuk is in Lee County, not Keokuk County.

[LarryAndy]

Just researching and browsing for family history. Is there a researcher in the area that could help? I have families that were in Keokuk, Washington Co. and Sigourney from early 1800, as early as 1830 on some lines, as Hiatt and Anderson, Quakers. Other lines also later on Hiatt, Renfro/Rentfro, last known I believe, in Sigourney when the families moved to Montana early 1900. In Brighton, Washington Co., I have names of interest as Hiatt/Pickens/Eddy/Streeter, etc. Would love to find cousins, families and researcher that may be interested to pick thru data there.
I have a diary of a grandfather that came out of Buffalo, NY to Keokuk, then to Brighton to file a homestead in 1851, Pickens, had a grist mill, saw mill, made bricks, etc. on the Skunk River until after the Civil War when this family departed to Sidney, Fremont Co., Iowa. The diary is very interesting, gives lots of data, names, etc. This is also where the families of Hiatt went thru to go to Peru and Winterset where Jesse Hiatt developed the Delicious Apple, lots of stories and history but like to know more of this area. Daniel Pickens also mentions a river boat he was on that exploded just below Keokuk. ANYONE HAVE IDEAS OF HOW TO FIND INFORMAITON on early families? Larry Anderson, LarryAndy@aol.com

[jmgg]

I don't understand the correlation between Sigourney and Keokuk. The two towns are a long distance from each other.

I've been to Sigourney several times to visit a customer I have there and I can tell you it's as cute of town as I've seen. As posted earlier, it's Americana as most of us want to think of it.

I've never been to Keokuk. I've heard from several people that it's a town with "issues". I know that's a vague term, but what I was told about the town wasn't flattering.

[duster1979]

Originally Posted by jmgg

I don't understand the correlation between Sigourney and Keokuk. The two towns are a long distance from each other.

Sigourney is in Keokuk County. I think the OP was wanting to know about Sigourney specifically and Keokuk County overall, not the cities of Sigourney and Keokuk (which is in Lee county, by the way).

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by duster1979

Sigourney is in Keokuk County. I think the OP was wanting to know about Sigourney specifically and Keokuk County overall, not the cities of Sigourney and Keokuk (which is in Lee county, by the way).

Got It

[LarryAndy]

I am clueless, no idea from this point as to where and what the places are like or where, need to take a trip. Have a very fun diary of Daniel Pickens, from Buffaloe, NY, filed a claim for land in 1851 in Brighton, Washington Co. He talks of the trip, of a boat blowing up and killing quite a few, of another that nearly blew but did not hurt anyone. The families of Pickens and Eddy moved into their homestead, had a grist mill, made bricks, sawed lumber, etc. In the diaries the Eddy family departs to OR to avoid the Civil War, 1863, in departing a large sum of money was buried before leaving, never found, no idea where but must be close to home? Fun treasure hunt someday. Another family of Steven Streeter comes into play by 1864. Also in this area are the Hiatt, Stout, Taylor, etc. families, the Rentfro intermarried, Daniel Pickens family moved out to Sidney, Fremont Co., Iowa while Lucy Jeanette Eddy and Steven Streeter went to Minnisota. The Hiatt and Rentfro familes in Keokuk Co., were there longer, many inter relationships to Centerville, Moravia, etc. and to the Delicious Apple Tree families of Hiatt in Winterset/Peru. Many ties to Iowa need help with, Anderson, Welch, Hiatt, Pickens, Eddy, Scott, etc. have very large data base I have worked on abt 30 years, glad to share, ties to Mayflower, Hugonots, Quakers, early Presbyterian, Dunkards or Primitive Baptist called Penn's Dutchmen, etc. I need help to find families, ties, records and cousins.