News Articles from Iowa Old Press (IA Gen Web Project)
July 5, 1849 - August 28, 1893


Burlington Hawk Eye
Burlington, Des Moines co. Iowa
July 5, 1849
Keokuk -- The Cholera is very bad in Keokuk. It is reported that ten persons died there on Sunday last. This must be a mistake. We have a letter from there dated Monday. It says that there were eight cases on the day previous, and that by using the sulphur remedy only two of these died, and they under Thompsonian treatment. The sulphur, the letter states, was first used on a Mr. Jones, who was in a collapsed state. By giving him a pill of 4 grains sulphur and one of Charcoal every 15 minutes for two hours, he recovered.
Submitted by S. Ferrall

DIED -May 18th, 1857, at her residence in Denmark, Lee county, Iowa, of hemorrage from the nose and mouth, Mrs. Maria Vanderpool Edwards, consort of the Rev. Morgan Edwards of the above place.


Burlington Weekly Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, July 8, 1857
Sarah, wife of John Moran, was stabbed Tuesday morning at Keokuk by her husband's brother, Patrick Moran, and died in about three huours. She left a child four months old.


Hawk-Eye
Burlington Des Moines co. Iowa
October 19, 1858
H.G. Stuart, of Lee County, also exhibited ten head of short horns,
thorough bred. Mr. S. is one of the most enterprising and public spirited
farmers in the State. He is always on hand at Fairs, and never fails to
carry away a full proportion of premiums


Weekly Times
Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
Thursday, May 24, 1860
LEE COUNTY - Arresting Fugitives - The Keokuk Gate City states that a man of the name of Grab, and some accomplices recently spent a good portion of the Sabbath in storing their minds and filling their hearts with the teachings of the Doctor of the South American Tract Society and the Democratic party, and sallied forth with their rifles in the after part of the holy day to put their principles into practice by the arrest of four men who were seeking to regain their freedom. The Grubbers received a reward of five hundred dollars for the Sunday job.
LEE COUNTY - Awful Death- The Keokuk Gate City learns that a little daughter of a Mr. Fox of that city, four or five years of age, fell into the vault of a privy on the 13th inst., and was suffocated before she could be taken out.


Weekly Times
Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
December 5, 1861
ROBERT FINARTY, of Company C, of the Iowa 7th, who was mentioned in yesterday's paper, died at the Hospital on Thursday night. His remains will be sent home to his parents in Marion county.--[Keokuk Gate City.


Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
Jan 11, 1877
The first fatal railroad accident in Denmark occurred on Wednesday. Nine persons were killed and thirty injured


Burlington Hawkeye
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa
Thursday, Jan 25, 1877
Eight prisoners walked out of the Lee county jail on Wednesday evening, among them, Mike Flynn, confined for murder.
Monday, Jan. 22
Thomas Fagan, Frank Martin, and James Keller, three of the recently escaped prisoners from the Lee county jail, were arrested at West Point, Illinois, on Saturday.
CAUGHT
Burlington Police Nab the King of the Crowd Who Broke Out of the Lee County Jail.
Yesterday morning the dispatches in THE HAWK-EYE announced that a jail delivery had occurred at Keokuk, whereby eight prisoners were set at liberty, and among them Mike Flynn, and old offender and desperate character, who had served one term in the penitentiary for murder and was in jail under indictment for another. While THE HAWK-EYE readers were perusing their favorite paper over their breakfast coffee the sequel was transpiring at the union depot in this city.
Conductor Dave Blackburn, of the Keokuk branch of the C.B. & Q. recognized Mike Flynn among his passengers on the up train yesterday morning and telegraphed to John Rider, the depot policeman, to look out for him. John called to his aid the faithful Mike Lavelle the two cops prepared for business. So confident was Flynn that he would reach Burlington unnoticed that he remained in the car through the yards and the officers had a fine opportunity to take him, which they did not hesitate to improve. His arrest was a decided surprise to himself and gives the sheriff of Lee county considerable occasion to rejoice. Charles Cullaton, another of the jail birds, was on the train also, and Rider and Lavelle gathered him in too, and together they will go back this morning in charge of Sheriff Higgins, of Lee county, and will, let us believe, be kept in a safe place.


The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
May 8, 1879
Mark Gray, a young man about 23 years of age, who with the exception of a slight interval has been for the past five years an employee of Younkers Bros, Keokuk, on Wednesday night last at McVicker's Theater, Chicago, attempted to assassinate Edwin Booth. He fired two shots from a revolver, neither of which were successful. He was then arrested and is now held under $20,000 bail to answer the charge. He is undoubtedly insane.

Mark Gray, a young man about 23 years of age, who with the exception of a slight interval has been for the past five years an employee of Younkers Bros, Keokuk, on Wednesday night last at McVicker's Theater, Chicago, attempted to assassinate Edwin Booth. He fired two shots from a revolver, neither of which were successful. He was then arrested and is now held under $20,000 bail to answer the charge. He is undoubtedly insane.


The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
May 15, 1879
TESTIMONIALS
To the Citizens of Mt. Pleasant and surrounding country, I offer the following testimonials:
Medical College Hall, Iowa University,
Keokuk, Iowa, Feb. 11, 1864.
This will certify that the bearer W.C. Wiggins, M.D., attended two full courses of lectures in this institution and graduated creditably and honorably.
He is a gentleman of excellent moral character and of good talents, which with application will yet place him prominently in the profession.
Let me bespeak for him that confidence in him as a man and physician which he so richly deserves and which he will repay. Very truly yours,
D.L. McGUGIN, M.D.
President of the Faculty.
ACKWORTH, Iowa, Jan 24, 1879.
I have been personally acquainted with Dr. Wiggins and his practice as a physician in Lee and Henry Counties and consider him pre-eminently successful. His skill in the management of difficult chronic cases, would have given him a state reputation had he been identified with the so-called regular practice. As an act of kindness to suffering humanity I take pleasure in recommending him to the confidence of all requiring the attention of an intelligent and skillful physician.
E.W. BEARD, Prin. Ackworth Institute.

We concur in the testimonial of Prof. Beard:
Elisha McMillan, Pilot Grove, Lee county.
H.L. Hicks, Pilot Grove, Lee county.
T.J. Osborn, Pilot Grove, Lee county.
J.L. Lessenger, Pilot Grove, Lee county.
Henderson Hampton, Pilot Grove, Lee Co.
Jonathan Phelps, Pilot Grove, Lee county.
J.A. Frazier, Salem, Henry county.
Elizabeth Hampton, Salem, Henry county.
M.F. Clauson, Salem, Henry county.
Nathan Bond, Salem, Henry county.

WEST POINT, Lee Co., Iowa, Feb. 1, '79.
I hereby certify that my wife had been afflicted with piles, growing worse for twenty years. Employing a number of physicians and using various patent medicines until nine years ago, she then being reduced almost to a skeleton and had to take to her bed as we supposed for the last time, we almost gave up in despair; when through the advice of friends we were persuaded to send for Dr. Wiggins with the following result: In one week she was able to sit up a part of the time, and in two weeks she could do light work.- Advice for treatment was kept up from that time to time for four years. Since that time she has been very well. Respectfully.
GEO. S. BOUGHTON

My treatment of all cases is strictly hygenic. No charge for consultation. Circulars and terms for treatment will be sent to any person on applying.
Respectfully, W.C. WIGGINS, M.D.


The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
May 22, 1879
A SAD ACCIDENT
Death of Eli McMillan
Caused by a Kick from a Horse
On last Saturday, May 17th, Elisha McMillan, of Pilot Grove, came up to Salem and after stopping awhile in town, drove to his brother Eli's, where his horse, a very good natured, gentle animal, was stabled and fed. Shortly after 1 o'clock on stepping into the porch they noticed two of their horses out of the stable; whereupon they went out and each caught his own horse and was leading them to there places in the barn, engaged the while in pleasant conversation. The first stall being occupied, Elisha led his animal into the second; but just as he was going to tie it, it gave a high, hard kick with both feet, speaking to the animal he led it forward and tied it before knowing that his brother, who was passing into the next stall, was struck and was lying unconscious in the passage way. So sure had been the blow that no sound was made. After trying in vain to rouse him, he dragged him from the stable, then found that the wound was on the left side of the head just above the ear, and was bleeding freely. Fortunately a neighbor was passing on horseback and speedily went for relatives and medical aid. Upon examination Dr. Pharr found that the skull was broken and Dr. Siviter was sent for to assist in dressing the wound. The readjusting of the fractured part failing to give relief, he remained unconscious until a few minutes before 10 o'clock and quietly passed away.
The funeral services, held at the house, on Monday 19th, was largely attended. After prayer by Mrs. Hart, of Mt. Pleasant, Rev. Jonathan Ozbun addressed the audience from the text, "They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth forever-" Psalms cxxv:1, after which James Maddock engaged in prayer. Then after leave taking the large procession moved to the Cemetery south of the Friends church, where the remains were interred in the family lot.
Mr. McMillan was born Feb. 19th, 1799, in York county, Penn., where he resided until 1829 when he moved to the Wabash Valley Ind. and engaged in merchandising and grazing for five years, then he moved near Primrose, Lee Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming and stock raising, which he continued with good success until 1866 when he moved to Mt. Pleasant Iowa and lived a retired life until the spring of 1874, when he removed to his late residence one mile south of Salem. In anti-slavery times he was an active worker in the cause often having many fugitives concealed on his premises at the same time.
In 1839 he married Caroline Vale of York Co Penn. who survives him. They had two children, one of whom is now living, Mrs. Emily D. Bell widow of the late John M. Bell, who died last August, and two grand-children also four brothers and one sister, Mrs. Edward Wichersham of Summitville Lee Co., all of whom by their silvery hair show that they have stood the frost of many winters.
He was a member of the Society of Friends and in his own quiet, unpretentious way, did his alms, not to be seen of men, but we trust, recognized by God to whom he often said he felt nearer when alone among the trees of his orchard, than in the crowded church. Lee county papers please copy.


The Free Press
Mount Pleasant, Henry, Iowa
June 5, 1879
Obituary.
KETCHUM- may 21st 1879, of consumption, Edward Ketchum, in the 52nd year of his age.
Mr. Ketchum began suffering about nine months since, with that insidious disease consumption. During the last month of his life he was unable to quit his bed, suffering severely at times. About a month previous to his death, he professed faith in Christ, accepting him as his Savior, uniting with the M.E. church, the Rev. Dr. L.J. Rogers coming to his house and administering the rite of baptism.
The funeral discourse was delivered by Dr. L.J. Rogers from Psa., 34:6 to a large concourse of friends. The remains were then taken to Pilot grove, Lee county Iowa and interred, followed by a number of friends from this community, and was met by a number of sympathising friends of Pilot grove, who united in paying the last tribute of respect to our deceased friend and neighbor. Deceased leaves a wife and four children t o mourn the loss of a husband and father.


Iowa State Register
Des Moines, Polk co. Iowa
October 10, 1885
FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION
Keokuk, Oct. 9. -- Special to the State Register. -- A flue in one of the six boilers of the Anderson, Felt & White saw mill, Montrose, gave way this afternoon and steam and water were carried 200 feet by the force of the explosion. The brick wall of the boiler room was thrown down and John Baten, of Nauvoo, was scalded so badly that he will die. Another man was also injured.


DeWitt Observer
DeWitt, Clinton, Iowa
Friday, May 13, 1887
- The oldest Federal Judge, in point of service, in this country is J.M. Love, of Keokuk, who was appointed by President Pierce in 1856.


LeMars Sentinel
August 28, 1893
OBITUARY:
Frank C. Brown, whose sad death was mentioned in this paper, was born in DuPage county, Illinois, September 23, 1848, moved to Lee county, same sate,
where he lived on a farm with his parents, Daniel and Adelaide J. Brown, until February, 1865, when he enlisted in the 43rd Illinois Cavalry, remaining to the end of the war, after which he accompanied his regiment to the far west, engaged in Indian warfare. He was mustered out of service at Springfield, Illinois, November 1865; returning home, he soon after married Miss Jennie Hathaway. After residing in Illinois three or four years, he moved to Ellsworth county, Kansas, and took up a homestead, where he resided
until he came to Seney, Plymouth county, in 1889.
CARD OF THANKS.
Mrs. Frank C. Brown and family desire to return their sincere thanks to the members of the Grand Army and to other friends who aided them during their last sad bereavement, and for the many attentions shown to Mr. Brown during his last days of life.