A Follow-up to the Family Story

One of the parts of my genealogy hobby I've enjoyed over the years is the camaraderie there is among family researchers, no matter what the level of expertise. Everyone has something to add; everyone has a photo or story or first-hand knowledge to add to the family history.

I've been fortunate over the years to find people descended from the siblings of Olof Olofson, to have exchanged information with people descended from the Linns, to have found people willing to do a look-up in a local library or archive for me, often at no cost. Just to be helpful. And I've been sent copies of photos that I never would have had without the generosity of other people.

And sometimes, one story, one ancestor, can inspire a person to find that bit of information or to follow up on a person's life, to find their grave, or a photo, or a land record, or a will. I've truly enjoyed having people pass in and out of my life, sometimes for just a brief time to exchange information or answer a question. And a few people have become friends.

The John Linn family story post from 2 weeks ago inspired additional help from two sources, my brother Myron, and a webmaster for the Polk County Genweb site.

I first corresponded with the webmaster a couple of weeks ago, asking if she might know where the dam would have been built in 1852-53 or where the hill might be located. This was a part of her answer: " I'm wondering if the hill in your records is Sherman Hill where Iowa Methodist Medical Center is.... It could also possibly be where Woodland Heights and Woodland Cemetery are."

She sent a link to google maps where she thought the dam would have been located, and it turned out to be at the end of Center Street. This was the impetus for my looking more closely at the area, learning about the flooding and then the need for dams at various points along the Des Moines river. Looking more closely at the maps led me to follow Center Street west where it became clear that Sherman Hill might just be the hilly area referred to in the land offer to John Linn.

That was my best guess for the blog two weeks ago. And then, entered Myron.

He works with an attorney who has a map of Des Moines from 1871 hanging on his wall. Below is a copy of that map:

Des Moines in 1871 - dam in middle of page

In case you cannot enlarge or see the dam itself, I've cropped a portion of it and added it below where the "dam" is clearly marked.

Center Street Dam across Des Moines River

To the west of the Des Moines River and Center Street Dam, Center Street would have run through the middle of Sherman Hill, a hilly area of Des Moines where, in the 1870's and later, large, stately homes were built, just what Mr. Z. Hill had said would happen.

Area on left designated as Sherman Hill with Center Street cutting through, originating in the 1800's at the Des Moines River

With this additional help, I feel more certain that the dam John Linn worked on was, in fact, the Center Street Dam, and the land he was offered was located in Sherman Hill, not far west of the dam.

I love being a family history detective, and I'm so very grateful for the help I've gotten over the years to find more information about our ancestors. If you have a piece of family history, no matter how small, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, will you please share it? A copy. A photograph. A letter or will. A postcard or odd piece of china. All of it is a hint. Every item is a piece of the puzzle. And I promise to share what I have through this blog.