L. R. Fifer

I have spent some time telling you about Louis Riley Fifer, but I have only told you of his death and not much of his life. I can only guess at some of it, but I will tell you what I know.

“Grandpa Louis” was born on February 20, 1866, in the town of Montrose, Iowa. When he was born, he already had 3 older sisters, Mary Belle(1860), Retta Elma (1863)and Rose Ella (1864). A younger brother, William Albert, would be born in 1869. His father was William Riley Fifer and he was 30 years old at the time of the birth of his first son. Louis’s mother was Sarah Jane (Smith) and she was just 34 years old at his birth.

Iowa in 1866? What was life like in those times? Well, Montrose is located directly on the shore of the Mississippi River and directly across the river from Nauvoo, Illinois. Nauvoo has an interesting history and it must have had some effect on its neighbor across the river; although the river is almost a mile wide at this point.

http://www.nauvoo.net/history/

You have to remember that Iowa was on the frontier in 1866. The Indian wars continued in the neighboring states of Missouri and Nebraska. The Civil war was finally over, but the nation was still bitterly divided. No town or village had been spared the effects of that war.

And today? Here is a sample of what Montrose has become.
http://www.city-data.com/city/Montrose-Iowa.html