The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-21
FARM RESIDENCE
BURNED DOWN
Fire in Kitchen Stove Probably Origin
of the Blaze Which
Destroyed Gray
Home.
NEWS FROM VAN BUREN,
iRumor That Rock Island Passenger
Train Win be Succeeded
by a Mixed
Freight.


about half past II o'clock Monday
morning of this week Guy Gray's
house, a few miles east of Keosauqua
was noticed to be on fire and the
flames at that time were so far along
that practically nothing could be saw
ed. The origin of the fire is not
known. Mrs. Gray, who had been
busy at some work out doors, had
started fire in the kitchen stove and
started dinner to cooking. She not
feeling well had gone to a bed room
to take a short rest when one of the
children told her something was burn
ing. Mrs. Gray thinking that some
thing on the stove was the cause Of
odor fastened to the kitchen and on
opening the door was met with a rush
Of smoke and fire. Mr.. Gray, who was
not far away, was summoned and he
was soon joined by some neighbors,
but nothing could be saved except
some lard which was gotten out of the
cellar. By hard work the garage con-
tanning the car and some other out
buildings were saved. The house was
well supplied with new furnishings in
Guiding a range, rugs and a player
piano. There was some insurance on
amount was not known at the time as
the policy was lost in the fire. The
loss, however, will be quite large.
The service at the Congregational
church in Pennington last Sunday
morning was an anniversary occasion.
The church at that time was seventy
eight years old. 1t was organized on
June "A, 1910 by Asa: Turner and Rev.
Clark of Fit. Madison. Asa Turner
made visit to this vicinity in April
of 1886 and preached in the home Of
Ia Mr.. Brftton No organization was
made at that time because no minis
tiers could be had to supply the
churches That sermon in April was
probably the second one by Congre-
gational minister until 1S43 when Rev.
Harvey Adams became pastor when
the famous Iowa band, body of young
Andover students, came to settle in
this territory and work together to
build the church of their faith. The
last Of this band was Rev. VIM. Salter
of Burlington, who served his church
sixty-eight years. These men are gone
but their work still goes on in church,
school and colleges. Rev. J. II. Wal
ley, the present pastor of the Congre-
gational church, preached a sermon
last Sunday which was very approp-
riate and fitting for the 18th anniver-
sary of the church.
Miss Chaminade Blackford is at
home from the State university at
Iowa City and will spend the. summer
at her home here.
On July l., Hon. j. c. Calhoun, one
of the best known and most able law
years in Van Buren, county, will close
his law Office in KeosauQua and will
leave for New York City, and it is now
understood will sail from there to
somewhere in France" He has en-
listed as one of the secretaries of the
Y. NJ. c. A. and will take up his duties
at once on arrival at the place to
which he has been assigned. Mr.. Cal
houn is in every way capable for the
important work he has taken up and
his host of friends in Van Buren, coun-
ty wish him a safe voyage and a future
return to his home. While he is away
Mrs. Calhoun will make her home with
their daughter, Maude, who will teach
the coming year in the high school at
Garden City, Kansas.
Mrs Elsie Stemple has returned to
her home in South Bonaparte. She
was ACCOMPANIED home by her grand
daughter, Miss Ruth Brown. Since
the death of Mr.. Stemple several
months ago, Mrs. Stemple has been
making her home in Ft Madison with
her son Clyde Stemple and wife and
with her daughter, Mrs. John A. Brown
and family
Ross Saddler of FIT. Madison come
Thursday morning for short visit
with his parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Saddler, before leaving in the next
draft for Camp Dodge. He will return
to TT. Madison and go from there with
the Lee county boys next week.
Mrs. George Beeson and son. of
Pennington, visited here Thursday
with their aunt, Mrs. Elsie Stemple.
Anna Louisa Rowley, daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Benz. B. Vance of South
EKeosauqua, Iowa, was born on what
is known as the Matheson farm in Des
Moines township. Feb. %, 1876, and
died suddenly of heart disease a little
after nine o'clock Monday forenoon,
June 10, 1918, while conversing with
ia lady neighbor. who had called at her
home in Des Moines Her age was
AZ years, 3 months and 81 days. She
had not been in the best of health for
"a year or more, but attended to he-
household duties and she or members
of her family thought her condition
not serious, which made her sudden
call from this life terrible shock 20
the husband, children and other re.a-
tives.
She was a faithful member of the
Christian church, with which she unit
ed in South Keosauqua Nov. "a, 1888.
On November Is, 1893, she became the
wife of Frank W. Rowley, and they
made their home in keosauqua until
February, 1906, when they moved to
Des Moines, which has since been
their home. Two daughters. Fac and
Henrietta, were born to this union.
both of whom survive She is alsn