Tom London Muscatine Hermit

Muscatine had a famous hermit at the turn of the century. Tom London, novelist Jack London’s half-brother, moved there in 1889 or 1890.

 He lived the life of a 20^th century recluse, staying away from people. He built a wooden shanty in the sand wastes of the Cedar River bottoms, and spent his life raising chickens, some 300, if the stories are correct. Now and then, he would talk about his brother, “Little Johnny,” but only for a few moments before he’d send you on your way.

 

When he was younger, Tom traveled with the circus. When he was tired of that, he moved to Muscatine, where his mother was born, and lived a solitary life.