I have a copy of an obituary for my gg-grandmother stating that she was born in 1858 near Lamatown in Des Moines County. I've tried several Internet resources but can't identify the location. Any help would be appreciated.

I have never heard of Lamatown. What newspaper is the obituary from? There is a Tama Township in Des Moines County, but that's the only thing I can think of that would be close.

The newspaper was the Oakville Sentinel, Louisa County. The obituary was published in 1926. Perhaps I might find the family listed in a census from Des Moines County - I'll try Tama township first. It may be more than a coincidence that Tama Town(ship) is very close. Thank you.

I would like to know where Tamatown (Des Moines County) is. I haven't been able to find anything about it....any help is deeply appreciated!! Thanks!!

Tamatown is probably meaning Tama Township in Des Moines County, Iowa. If you need infor I live in Burlington, Iowa in Des Moines County and can research it at the Library let me know.

HI..thanks for your reply!! I have found that Tamatown probably does mean Tama township...I believe it was located around Burlington...somewhere around highway 99 possibly. I have ancestors that lived there when they married. I live in Wapello (not so far)..never been to the BIG library in Burlington. Don't go out of your way for me...but IF you happen to find anything about it...please let me know...I am going on "hear-say" information.
Thanks again!!!

On a recent trip through Burlington to Wapello, I spotted a road sign which pointed to "Tama Beach" along Route 99, not far north of US 34. Perhaps that was the site of the original settlement.

Also, I received the following through an email from Lynn Kopatich -

"I found several references to Tamatown in the Dan Dustman 1978 (or so ) book, Times to Remember, Benton Twp. Rural.

There is a story about an 1894 triple drowning in the Mississippi of 3 men from Tamatown, telling that all were members of the M.E. Church at Tama. The names of those who drowned were Silas Walker, Martin Walker, son of Silas, and Thomas H. Walker.

There are also several references to Tamatown men playing baseball against Oquawka men, as well as going through Tamatown, then Stony Hollow to go fishing.

According to the book, Benton township was originally named Tama and changed to Benton in 1842. "The township was divided by the bluff into what was called Lower and Upper Tama Town Prairie. It is said that Lower Tama Town was located on the east side of Route 99 or toward the river. Upper Tama town was later known as the Walker settlement. The story being that the people flooded out of Lower Tama moved up to the high bluffs and called it Upper Tama Town."

"South of the (Yellow Spring) creek was called Tamatown or the Walker settlement, West of the Walker area was Latty."

"A territorial road ran in a northwesterly direction from Tamatown. Along it the early settlers made their homes. Among them were names of Latty, Cornic, Eads, Penny, Pool, Howard, Jackson, Steinrod and a Walker family from Virginia."

As I read this, it is in Benton Twp. where the Walker settlement is today. Looks like Sections 21, 22, 27, 28 area."

Hi,

Do you happen to know if there is such a place as Tama Island, north of Burlington? I recently acquired my gg-grandfather (John J. SATER)'s pension papers and his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sintha Ann SATER list their street address as Tama Island. At first I thought the T could've been a J or the M a W until I came across this post. Sintha also refers to the island where she lives as SATER('s) Island.

Reading that information about the EADs being early settlers of Tamatown made me think that Tama was right, because the pension papers also list Henry EADs as being a neighbor to John SATER, and I imagine the SATER family lived relatively close to one another.

If anyone has any information about Tama Island or the SATERs, please let me know. Thanks!

I have a sister who lives in that area, I will check with her and get back to you about the area you inquire about.

Hi, I might be able to help with this ? you have. I have recently found that I have an Eads cousin in Burlington Iowa. Have found out that there was a Henry Eads in our Family. The cousin I speak of is in his elder years & his wife has an excellent memory of things there. If you want me to look into this; about Tamatown or Tama Island, let me know. I will also be willing to ask them about any memories of the Saters. Here is my email: eadsferret@yahoo.com. Look forward to hearing from you.

I found yet another reference to Tama Town - sort of answering my own question now. It related to the history of Henderson county, Illinois, which was then a part of Warren county, Illinois, and the Indian uprisings during the 1830's which culminated in the Black Hawk war. An article I read mentioned Chief Tama and his settlement across the Mississippi River in Iowa, adjacent or otherwise near Oquawka. Chief Tama was considered friendly towards the settlers, and opposed Black Hawk and violence. It's been a while since I read the article now, but I believe the article was a bit more specific in it's description of Tama Town. That article dated back to the 1870's, and does shed a bit more light on the subject.