Warren County, IA News Articles

Joseph K. Annington

Joseph K. Annington, formerly of St. Johnsbury, was burned to death at Hartford, Iowa, on the 29th ult. by the explosion of a kerosene oil lamp.

[Daily Messenger St. Albans, Vt., Published August 20, 1861, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Bad Fire in Iowa Town

Greater Part of Business Section of Norwalk Destroyed, With Loss of $20,000

Des Moines, Ia., Jan. 31.—A disastrous fire broke out in the village of Norwalk, twenty miles south of Des Moines, at an early hour today, consuming the major portion of the business section.

H. S. Trusler’s harness shop, the Norwalk Journal, Wells drug store and Simon Casady’s bank were the principal losers.

The total loss is $20,000, partly covered by insurance.

[Omaha World Herald, Published February 01, 1902, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Blown to Death in Church

Carlisle, Iowa, April 4.—Andrew Vanscoyk went to look for a gas leak in the Methodist Church cellar with a lighted lantern during the prayer meeting last night. A moment later an explosion blew in one side of the building and Vanscoyk’s body was found about thirty feet from the church badly mangled. None of the other worshippers were injured.

[Philadelphia Inquirer, Published April 05, 1914, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Death At County Fair

Four Killed and Many Hurt When Lightning Strikes Tent

Indianola, Iowa, Sept. 14.—Four men were killed, six seriously injured and a dozen more stunned by a bolt of lightning which wrecked a crowded poultry exhibition tent at a country fair here today.

The tent was crowded at the time by people who had gone into it to escape the rain. Lightning bolts struck the tent pole and split it, lightning radiating over the tent and tearing it into shreds. Four occupants were instantly killed, a half dozen burned perhaps fatally and a dozen men, women and children were stunned. Thousands of chickens in coops were killed.

The dead:
Ray Anderson, Indianola
Carl Peterson, Indianola
Theodore Young, Indianola
Blain Wright, Pleasantville

[Dallas Morning News, Published September 15, 1905, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Grave Robbing In Iowa

Excitement at Carlisle—Body of a Young Woman Found in a Medical College at Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. 26.—The little town of Carlisle, a few miles south of this city, has been greatly excited over a flagrant case of grave-robbing.

Miss Maude Hull, aged about 17, daughter of the late Dr. Hull, died quite suddenly and was buried on the 20th instant in the Carlisle cemetery. A day or two afterward discovery was made that the grave had been desecrated and the body stolen. The town was aroused, and diligent efforts were made to find the remains.

A brother of the deceased, who is a physician, came to this city and made inquiry at the medical college, but without avail. Private detectives were then employed, and last night they discovered a fresh subject on the table of the dissecting room at the Iowa College of Physicians and Surgeons. It was the body of a young girl, and the face and scalp had been removed. The family at Carlisle were notified and today they established the identity beyond a doubt and carried the remains home.

Dr. Schooler, of the College, afforded every facility to the friends, and claims that the body was procured of parties who represented that it was honestly obtained. The case has caused considerable excitement and it is likely that a judicial investigation will result.

[Daily Inter Ocean, Chicago, Illinois, Published December 28, 1886, submitted by CD=FOFG]

John Hossack

News was received in the city that a farmer living near Medford, south of here in Warren county, was found dead in his yard on Sunday He had been slugged and robbed and in the fight with the robbers was killed.

MURDERED WHILE SLEEPING

Iowa Farmer Stealthily and Mysteriously Killed In Bed by Blow from Ax

DES MOINES. Dec. 3 – (Special Telegram.) - The murder of John Hossack, a prominent farmer of Warren county, occurred about midnight Saturday night. He was sleeping beside his wife; when he was struck twice. The first blow by blade of ax, which crushed his skull, and the second time was by a blunt instrument. His wife did not awaken in time to see the assassin and there is no clue. Hossack was both prominent and wealthy and had lived there many years.

[Omaha daily bee., December 04, 1900, submitted by Dawn Minard]

Iowa Pastor Takes His Life

Lacona, Ia., April 15.—Rev. Samuel Krell, pastor of the Methodist church here, and who served two years in the Philippine islands as a private soldier in the Fifty-first Iowa volunteer regiment, committed suicide last night.

He was despondent over his inability to secure a larger attendance at his church meetings.

[Omaha World Herald, Published April 16, 1902, submitted by CD=FOFG]

Work of The Wind

Gentle Zephrys Take a Whirl Through Lacona, Iowa, and Leave It Slightly Dilapidated

Des Moines, Iowa, May 5.—A storm of wind struck the little village of Lacona, Warren county, demolishing a two-story building used as a store and burying in the ruins a farmer named Leonard Wilson. He was dead when taken from the debris. Two boys who were in the store just before it fell are missing. Two other men were slightly injured. Several buildings were unroofed.

[Grand Forks Herald, Published May 05, 1888, submitted by CD=FOFG]