New York Times News  1882-1890

Compiled by Sally Youngquist  September 2009

New York Times
May 22, 1882
Keokuk, Iowa, May 1 _ A special dispatch from Fort Madison, Iowa, says that Polk Wells, the train robber, escaped from the penitentiary this morning with two accomplices named Fritzgerald and Cook, by chloroforming the attendant in the hospital, breaking through the iron roof and overpowering the hospital guards. John Elder, one of the latter, died from the effects of his injuries and the chloroform. Pursuit has been organized, but no trace of the fugitives has been found yet.
 

New York Times
June 5, 1885
ADAMS - WEAVER _ At the Victoria Hotel, on the 4th day of June, by the Rev. Dr. Robert Collyer, A. G. Adams, of Burlinton, Iowa and Laura C. Weaver, of Fort Madison, Iowa.


New York Times
August 25, 1886
Deaths
DARLING. _ At Fort Madison, Iowa, Aug 11, H. Glassford, son of Thomas and Isabella Darling, Aged 34 years.
 

New York Time
December 30, 1897
Ottumwa, Iowa, Dec. 29 _ At Pleasant Ridge Township, Lee County, in the south eastern part of the State, "Abe" Balm was shot and killed in an encounter between a mob and the three Balm brothers. It has been charged that the Balm boys illtreated their aged father, who lived near by in abject poverty. A few days ago he died,, it is said, of starvation.

The refusal of the sons to succor him or even to go to his funeral or pay the expenses, although they are well to do, angered the neighbors, and last night twenty masked men went to the sons' house and knocked for admission. When the brothers saw the mob they locked the front door, and, arming themselves, went out by the back door and opened fire. Three men were hurt, non mortally. The fire was returned and "Abe" Balm fell fatally wounded. The mob went away.

Before "Abe" died this morning he named seven men whom he said he recognized. His brothers got warrants, but they have not yet been able to have them served. The county is much excited over the affair, and the two Balm boys say they will avenge their brother themselves if the law does not do it for them.


New York Times
December 31, 1897
Ottumwa, Iowa, Dec. 30 _ Further particulars from Pleasant Ridge Township, Lee County, regarding the Balm boys for alleged ill-treatment of their father state that "Abe" Balm, who was shot, is still alive, but cannot recover.

The seven men who he identified as among the assailants of himself and brothers are John Schantz, William Schantz, Joseph Sanderson, William Van Sycle,John Wellington, Tice Enslow, and Frank Fonner, all prominent and wealthy farmers. They were arrested and will have a hearing tomorrow at Denmark. All these men proclaim their innocence, and it is doubtful if a jury ever could be secured in this county to try them.

The trouble between the Balm boys and their aged father started four years ago when the father married the third time against the boys wishes. At that time the old man was wealthy, and owned a fine farm. The boys had him sent to an insane asylum and compelled to deed to them his property, which they appropriated, throwing the wife out in the street.

At the end of fourteen months Mr. Balm was released and returned to live with his wife at the old home. The boys had taken away all of the furniture, and damaged the house so that Mr. Balm and his wife hardly could live in it.

For three years Mr. & Mrs. Balm existed on food given by charitable neighbors, the boys positively refusing to give any help.

Sunday, Mr. Balm died from paralysis, and the sons refused to take care of the body. The enraged neighbors, decided to rid
the neighborhood of such ungrateful creatures , and Tuesday night,s tragedy was the result..


New York Times
October 18, 1890
The funeral of the Hon. John Van Valkenburg, Past Supreme Chancellor of Knights of Pythias of the world, will take place at Fort Madison, Iowa, tomorrow afternoon under the auspices of the Order of the Knights of Pythias, assisted by the fraternity of Odd Fellows.


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