Disease Was the Worst Enemy of the Boys in Blue
The article recounts the 1895 Cuban uprising, the Maine explosion, McKinley’s push for action, and the 1898 Spanish American War including Dewey’s Manila victory, the Santiago fleet destruction, and Rough Riders exploits. It notes mobilization, port of Porto Rico negotiations, and the resulting territorial outcomes. It then begins Story of Pella Boys with Thornton B. Boyer linking to Rock Island railroad service and band duties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boys In
Blue
Spain
General Weyler
Blanco
United States
Cuba
Maine
Havana
McKinley
Congress
Dewey
Manila
Philippine Islands
Schley
Sampson
Cervera
Santiago
San Juan Hill
Rough Riders
Santino
Porto Rico
Philippines
National Guard
Pella
Thornton B. Boyer
Keokuk-Des Moines
Rock Island
Cox C.R.I & P
Pella Spanish American War veterans recalled in Des Moines
The article sketches life of Pella boys in Jacksonville and Des Moines during 1898 service. It notes illness from typhoid and embalmed beef, tight food storage, and Mosquitoes from a swamp. It highlights Charley Le Cocq, John Kempkes, John Pos, and Dan de Vries through camp pranks, duties, and postwar life, ending with memorial ties to the Gox CRI& band and Spanish American War veterans.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cuba Libre
Kempkes
Pella
Jacksonville
Charley le Coeq
le Goeq
John Kempkes
Des Moines
Pos
le Cocq
Frederick Goedecke
Burlington
Iowa
Pas
LeCocq
Charley
John Pos
H. F. Bousquet
Johnny
Dan de Vries
Dan
Jean
American Legion
Early tuberculosis warning aims at spotting cases before symptoms
Des Moines April 10 a bulletin from the Iowa Tuberculosis Association and county units promotes an April nationwide campaign to find cases early. It urges testing for those exposed, especially children, with tuberculin tests and chest X rays, noting TB remains a leading death cause for ages 15 to 45 and also affects the elderly. Free educational materials are available from local Christmas Seal groups or the Town Tuberculosis Association in Des Moines.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Des Moines
Iowa Tuberculosis Association
Iowa
The
Tuberculosis Association
Town Tuberculosis Association
Keokuk Band Members Enlist for 50th Iowa at Camp Cuba Libre
After the April declaration of war, Keokuk residents from a local band joined the 50th Iowa National Guard en route to Jacksonville Florida. Charley LeCocq, John Kempkes, Dan De Vries, Adrian Luyden, John Post, and Philip Van der Meide enlisted, trained in Davenport, then joined 19 others for the Florida encampment. The camp, named Cuba Libre, housed 29,000 men in tents with jungles and swampy terrain nearby.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa National Guard
Jacksonville
Florida
Mr. Boyer
Charles LeCocd
Rock Island
Charley
John Kempkes
Dan de Vries
Adrian W. Luyden
John Postrombone
Boyer
Keo
Keuk
Army
Philip van der Meide
Signal Corps
Davenport
50Th
Iowa
Cuba Libre
Also Mentioned on This Page
Charles LeCocq
Fred Carpenter
Washtella
Henry Held
Udell Hendricks
LeCoca
F. I
Carpenter
P. I
A. Findley
Charles le Coe
Adrian Luybens
Philip Vander Meide
Dan de Vrit
Charley le Cocq
Keables
Firestone Champion
Firestons
Richard Crooks
Margaret Spinal
Everet
Mitchell Itervinon
Cogmon
O. & P. Tire & Battery Service
Coes A
ETS
Keokuk
West Pellas Tulip
Shell
Super Shell
Golden Shell
Northwest Corner
Elgin
Hamilton
Bulova
Gruen
Tao A
Square Pella
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!