The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-28

~PIRITUALISM tiourished in keo
kuk as early as 1851. About It's
- introduction here there is quite
a story. Sensation followed, sensation
until finally two of the disciples were
brought to trial and on behalf OF one
of them the plea of insanity was made
a defense for the first time in any
important criminal trial in Lee coun-
ty.
Dr.. Margrave, the first s~piritualist'
is described as a tall, slender, pale
faced, hungry, dispeptic looking man,
a lean C~assius, whose digestion was
bad, which enabled him to dream
dreams and see visions. He was an
herb or steam doctor Of the Thomp'
sonian Or dog fennel order, with dark
hair and, pale furtive eyes. His SIS
ter Mary Margrave. was a medium.
Physically. she does not seem to have
been any more attractive than her
brother. An early writer speaks OF
her as a brunette, tall, slender, dark
hair and black eyes, with a Ions race
and rather thin visage. He says she
was not pretty o young and tender
and in rather severe language thus
says: "a voluptuary in admiration OF
the female form would not select her
as a model for statuary; h had not
the classic outlines Of the Greek slave
whose faultless figure has won the
admiration of the world" However,
though wanting in beauty or charm,
she is given credit for being a marked
success as a first class imposter.
Converts Come Easy.
Taking them together the Mar
graves were needy adventurers, spirit
ualism was new and strange, and as a
first attracted attention
and soon after made its converts.
Mary held frequent seances, and got
monied contributions on which the
Margraves lived. This was their only
source Of revenue, as Dr.. Margrave
had no property, except a little frame
house which was not paid for. his
practice as a dog fennel doctor being
small and among the lower classes.
yielding him little. But their fame
spread, at least Mary's did, and she
went on swimmingly-it was the town
talk on the street corners and at fam
ily Preside, and in all the hotels and
places Of public resort. Converts and
devotees to spiritualism increased at
home and abroad, we are told, and
tipping tables, holding communica-
tions with deceased friends In the
spirit land, was the order of the day
To quote: GAS the right man In tor
ment lifted up his eyes to Lazarus in
Abraham's bosom, and the followers
of the cross turn theirs to the blue.
eyed Madonna above the altar, the
wondering eyes Of all those ready to
believe in any new and strange doc
trine, no matter how absurd, were up
turned towards this Mary. and came
as followers of Mahomed to the shrine
of Mecca, first doubling and went
away believing in the doctrines OF
spiritualism."
Prominent Men as Disciples.
And, now as to those who accepted
the cross of the Margraves. We are
told that Of the first two n was
General Ralph P. Lowe, who came
here from Muscatine, and later rose
to prominence because of his talented
legal mind. Lowe became judge OF
the district court, governor Of Iowa,
supreme judge and chief justice. An
other was Rev. Hummer, a noted Pres
byterian minister OF Iowa City, a man
of much talent and force, who came
here about the same time as did Gen.
Lowe.
The Margraves got on we'll. They
resolved to build a house together,
the minister and the lawyer, where
brethren could dwell together in
unity. The place was selected, a lot
on Concert street, between Second
and Third, now a populous part of the
city. Before they built they consulted
Mary Hargrave. Mary consulted the
spirits, and the spirits told her they
should build it Of brick, one story
high. Mary had another revelation;
it vas to be completed with wood,
and they went on under her inspira'
tons, and the carpenters carried out
their instructions. adding two stories
in wood. when Mary communicated