Charles Keever

KEEVER, ASHBY

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 3/5/2021 at 07:54:00

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, October 7, 1897

The coroner's jury was called to consider the death of Charles Keever, which occurred Saturday night. It seems that Charley, his brother John and one or two other chums went across the river to Keithsburg Saturday to procure the necessary stimulant for a dance to be held that night at the home of a friend in his township, Jefferson. All had indulged quite freely in beer and kindred drinks while in Keithsburg and bought liberally of alcohol and whiskey for home consumption. On their way back they stopped at Oakville and proceed to bowl up again. Charley was drinking alcohol, slightly diluted and had just finished his sixth glass when he sank back to the floor in what his companions supposed to be a drunken stuper. This was after dark, and those able for service loaded him into the wagon and came on across the Iowa to the dance. by this time others of the party became helpless, and a doctor was called, we learn, to look after them, Charley, meanwhile being left in the wagon and partly forgotten. After the other had been attended to he was looked after and found to be stark and stiff dead. A jury was empanneled by Coronor Saunders consisting of Messrs. McFadden, Coleman and Vance, who, assisted by Dr. Grimes, brought in a verdict of death from excessive use of alcohol. Keever was a man of 28 or 30 years of age and leaves a wife and two children. He has been addicted to drink from his youth. Funeral occurred Monday.

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Wapello, October 6- Charles Keever, of near Oakville was found dead in his wagon, last Saturday night, at the home of James Ashby in Jefferson township. Keever had been at Keithsburg during the day and started home with a keg of beer and a jug of alcohol.