The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-04
BIRMINGHAM
CHURCH BURNS
Fire OF Unknown Origin Completely
Destroys Methodist House Of
Worship Sunday After
noon.
LOSS MORE THAN $4,000
Former Soldiers Save Service Flag Of
Eighty Stars Which Was in
Danger of Burn
ing.

BONAPARTE, Dec. 4.-F1re Of UNI
known origin completely destroyed
the Methodist church at Birmingham
last Sunday afternoon. The loss is
estimated to be between $4,000 and
$1,000. 1t was impossible to save any
of the contents OF the church. There
was insurance OF $4,000 carried on
the building and fixtures. The lire
is supposed to have started in the
furnace room Of the church. Serv-
ices had been held in the building in
the morning as usual, and whether
the fire started from overheated
pipes or from some other cause is
not known. Persons living across
the street from the church were the
first to discover the fire and gave
the alarm at once. The people
turned out quickly to fight the fire,
trying to save the building itself
Failing at this, they tried to save the
contents Of the building, but the fire
had burned so rapidly that all the
contents were soon consumed. A
new piano, tables and chairs were
among the furniture burned. A spec
tacular feature of the fire was the
saving of large service flag. con-
tanning eighty stars, five of which
were gold Several soldiers made an
unsuccessful effort to save it ON ac-
count OF the terrific heat and smoke.
A ladder was finally placed in win
dow near where the flag had been
put away after the rehabilitation
some time ago. and two Birmingham
soldiers brought the flag out OF the
burning church. This is the second
church to be burned on this site, the
first one being destroyed in April,
1890. A movement has already been
begun to build new church. Mem
bers Of the congregation have ex-
pressed themselves as willing to
finance the immediate construction
of new church to be the equal OF
the one destroyed last Sunday. The
members Of the burned church gath
cred in the Presbyterian church and
resolved to build a new church as
soon as the weather would permit.
The Bonaparte town team and the
high school basket ball teams and
the Stockport and Bonaparte girls
basket ball teams staged a double
header at Rees hall on Wednesday
of this week.
Charles Cresap, of Denver, Colo,
has been visiting here with his uncle,
DR.. R. N. Cresap, and family.
Jesse Fletcher and family, Of OF
tumwa, visited here several days last
week with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
William Fletcher and other relatives
and friends.
LYLE Murphy, who has been en-
ployed in the produce house Of E. c.
Miller G. Son, has gone to Fort Madi-
son, where he expects to be en-
ployed.
w H. Roberts and wife are stay
ing at the George Leffler home near
Stockport while Mr.. and Mrs. Leffler
are attending the international live
stock show in Chicago.
Miss Mary Cresap, who attends
Parsons college at Fairfield, visited
during the Thanksgiving vacation
with her parents, DR.. and Mrs. Il. N.
Cresap. She was accompanied by
her friend, Miss Vera THE. OF Medi.
apolis, Iowa.
Miss Laura Covert, of Cherokee.
Iowa, came last week for a visit with
her mother, Mrs. Mary Hogan, and
other relatives and friends.
Born, to Mr.. and Mrs. Marion
Culp, of Wyoming, H., on November
%, q daughter Mrs. Cuip is better
known here as Miss Edna Steadman,
a former Bonaparte girl.
George Johnson, former Bona
parte man and well known by all
older Bonaparte people, had stroke
of paralysis while at work in the
railway office at Fort Worth, Texas.
Mr. Johnson is superintendent OF
division, with headquarters at Fort
Worth. He was formerly train dis
hatcher for many years and is one
of the best posted railway men in
the country. His many Bonaparte
friends were pleased to learn that
he was a little improved at last re-
ports. He is a brother of J. A. John
son president Of the Bonaparte
Farmers and Traders State bank.
Misses Mamie and Marion Ross &C.
companied Miss Bessie Harris here
for a visit at the Mrs. Anna Meredith
home. last week. These young ladies'
are all teachers in the Troy schools.
Born. to Mr.. and Mrs. Don Mitchell,
on Thanksgiving day, November n,
1919, daughter.
All persons interested in the Bona
parte Presbyterian church are In
vited to attend the jubilee and basket
dinner which is to be held at the
church here on Wednesday, Deem
Der 10. This big event is celebra-
ton of the fiftieth anniversary of the
founding Of the Bonaparte church. A
program will be given at 2:30 in the
afternoon and in the evening at 1880.
Mrs. James Shipley, of Silver City,
N. NJ. came last week for a visit with
her sister, Mrs. s. p. Miller. and
other Bonaparte relatives and her
MANY friends. Mrs. Shipley formerly
lived here for many years, but now
L, with hnr. dan OH