[1][2] The home is associated with Henry Lischer, the owner and publisher of one of Davenport's German-language newspapers, Der Demokrat.

Lischer, who still had a financial interest in the paper, returned to Davenport and became its sole owner for the next 40 years.

After the Civil War, editorials in the paper fought the prohibition of alcohol, which was supported by the Republican Party.

Even after the state of Iowa successfully passed prohibition laws in 1882, Scott County remained defiant with the support of the paper.

In 1874 Lischer and his son-in-law and next door neighbor Frederick G. Clausen built the stone wall and the staircases that led from the sidewalk to their respective residences.