April 28, 1879 Chicago, April 27. An indictment has been found against Mark Gray, the young man who attempted to kill Edwin Booth. Mrs. Gray, his mother, who lives in Keokuk, Iowa, says she was never on the stage and never say Mr. Booth. She said she had been 32 years in this kounthry and niver was I inside a thayater or circus." The mother utterly repudiates the insinuation in regard to the existence of any relationship between Mr. Booth and his would be murderer. As for her son, she pronounces him crazy. 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. 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. August 25, 1886 Deaths DARLING. At Fort Madison, Iowa, Aug 11, H. Glassford, son of Thomas and Isabella Darling, Aged 34 years. July 22, 1889 Kirksville, Mo., July 21. About two years ago James Sylva and Miss Buckalew, daughter of a well known citizen of Kirksville, were married and removed to Keokuk, Iowa. About six months ago, Mrs. Sylva returned to the parental home, stating that her husband would not support her. Yesterday she received a telegram from Sylva saying that he would be there today to kill her. He kept his word, arriving this morning and going to his wife's father's house. His wife came to the door, and he said "Allie will you return to me?" The young women replied in the negative, whereupon Sylva fired at her and she fainted. Thinking that he had killed his wife, Sylva turned the weapon upon himself and sent a ball into his brain. He will die. Mrs Sylva was not hurt. 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. August 14, 1891 Keokuk, Iowa, Aug. 13. _ A terrible wind and rain storm visited Keokuk this afternoon. Half of the shade trees of the town were blown down, and the small buildings moved from their foundations. Lighting struck the amphitheatre at the fairgrounds. Ben B.. Jewell, bookkeeper of the savings bank, received a shock, at first thought to be fatal. There was a general panic throughout the city.;;;; 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 ill treated 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, none 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. 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.. November 5, 1898 London, Nov. 4. Mr. Frederick B. Norman of Keokuk, Iowa, was run over and killed yesterday evening in Holborn. The body of the deceased is at the King's College Hospital. An inquest will be held Monday, after which the U.S. Consul General will bury the body, unless Mr. Norman's friends are heard from in the meantime. August 19, 1899 Keokuk, Iowa, August 18. John N. Irwin, who was the most popular Mayor Keokuk ever had, will accept the appointment of Minister to Portugal tendered him by President McKinley and is preparing to leave on his mission. He will be accompanied by his family. He was Mayor for several terms, is an ex-member of the Iowa Legislature and was twice Territorial Governor by Presidential appointment, one of Idaho and another time of Arizona. September 28, 1904 LOSSES BY FIRE Keokuk, Iowa. _ The Collins-Healslip wholesale carpet house was destroyed by fire today, the origin of the blaze being a bolt of lighting. Loss was $250,000. January 28, 1908 John C. Hubinger, said to be the inventor of elastic starch, died last night of pneumonia at Keokuk, Iowa. He was some years ago an extensive telephone promoter, owning numerous lines and exchanges from Keokuk to Minneapolis. He finally became interested in so many projects that he lost all his fortune. February 16, 1916 The wedding of Miss Mildred Anne Joy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde R. Joy of Keokuk, and Hugh J. Robertson of Iowa took place yesterday afternoon at the Hotel St. Regis.The Rev. J. T. Stocking of Upper Montclair, N.J. officiated. Mrs. Ralph B. Joy was the bride's attendant. Harold Covington Pond was best man. A dinner, followed by dancing, was held after the ceremony. The couple left for California on their honeymoon. January 2, 1920 Annapolos, Md., Jan. 1. Midshipman Carroll Joy, of Keokuk, Iowa, a member of the second class at the Naval Academy, died today from a bullet wound accidentally inflicted by M. G. Thompson, a classmate, while target shooting in the woods near here last Tuesday. A third midshipman was in the party. Thompson had fired at the target, and while attempting to adjust the safety catch of his revolver the weapon was discharged. Compiled by Sally Youngquist