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Margaret Mary Watson was born on October 20, 1910 in Omaha, Nebraska to James P. and Mary Alberta Watson. She moved to Iowa in the early 1020’s. Later in life Margaret attended Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa and graduated with an Registered Nursing degree in 1932. Upon graduation, Margaret worked at Mercy Hospital in Davenport (now Genesis West) for three years. From 1935-1937 she was employed as a private nurse in the Davenport area.
She married Edwin T. Kautz on November 27, 1937 and moved to the Kautz farm in Buffalo, Iowa. The 300-acre farm was originally purchased by Edwin’s father and mother, Theodore and Carolyn Kautz in 1880. Being of German decent, the Kautz farm was very diversified, consisting of livestock, grain, 35 acre orchard (including apples, cherries, plums, and peaches), 2 acre vineyard, and vegetable truck farm.
Edwin Kautz, the youngest of 8 children (5 boys and 3 girls) operated the Kautz Farm and Orchard along with his brother, Rupert Kautz and his sister Claire Kautz. Edwin Kautz headed the orchard operation with the help of his wife, Margaret. Rupert Kautz handled the livestock and grain portion of the farm. Claire tended to the chicken operation on the farm. She ran a freshly churned butter and egg rout weekly.
Upon the death of Edwin Kautz in 1967, Margaret leased the farm ground and buildings, but remained living in the farmhouse.
The Kautz family was parishioners of the St. Peters Catholic Church in Buffalo, Iowa. Theodore and Carolyn Kautz donated the ground for the church to be built on, along with the additional ground for the Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Iowa.
For over nine decades, the Caroline Kautz family, Rupert, Claire, Edwin, and Margaret were very caring, sincere people who were active in their community. They assisted their friends and neighbors with support in many ways over the years. Edwin and Rupert were officers and directors with the Buffalo Savings Bank for 3 decades, providing financial support in the community.
Edwin and Margaret have two children – John E. Kautz, Muscatine, Iowa and Robert J. Kautz, Atlanta, Georgia. Robert currently manages the farm operations for the Kautz family. Margaret is one of the oldest residents of Scott County and still resides on the family farm.
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