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The first legal execution took place in Dubuque County on June 30, 1834, when Patrick O'Connor went to his death for the murder of one George O'Keefe!
The second legal hanging took place in Keosauqua on May 13, 1845, as a love triangle slaying. William McCauley was executed.
Two men were hung in 1845 for a double murder committed near West Point, Iowa. This was the first double hanging in the territory and the victims were Illinois brothers, William and Stephen Hodge!
The fifth, William Hinkle had the dubious honor of being the first man executed in the new state - August 13, 1858 at Orleans, after conviction for the murder of his wife.
F. Gillick was executed on April 27, 1860 for murder.
N.A. Johnson walked the gallows on May 18, 1860 for the murder of Andrew Ostland! A little town of Delhi, Iowa became the scene of the sixth execution.
Clifford Daniel at the age of 22 was executed on October 19, 1860 for Robbery/Murder.
Benjamin McComb was executed on February 17, 1865 for Murder.
1865 DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED
Chester Bellows a 29 year old individual was executed on December16 1887 for Murder. He was the first to be executed under the new re-enactment death penalty law.
1878 DEATH PENALTY RE-ENACTED
Henery Schmidt a 19 year old was executed on January 15, 1888 for Murder.
The seventh execution was Benjamin A. McComb of Rockford, Illinois, the last man to be executed before the law was abolished. He was hung in Ottumwa on May 17, 1865 for the murder of Laura J. Harvey.
Murder.
J. K. Cumber, February 8, 1895 -
Double murder.
Joseph C. Smith, April 20, 1906 -
Murder.
John Jenkins, July 29, 1910 -
Murder.
Robert Johnson
Fred Allen
Stanley Grammell -
Iowa's only triple hanging took place at Camp Dodge on July 5, 1918. These men were soldiers and were found guilty of rape, by an army court martial.
Ira Pavey, September 8, 1922 -
Murder.
Eugene Weeks, September 15 , 1922 -
Murder.
Orrie Cross, November 24, 1922 -
Murder.
William Olander, September 7, 1923
Murder.
Earl Thorst, March 9, 1923 -
Murder.
Roy Maupin, January 18, 1924 -
Murder.
Archie Burris, January 2, 1925 -
Murder.
Harland "Gabe" Simons, November 16, 1925 -
Murder.
C.A.R. Altringer, November 6, 1931 -
Murder.
Pat Griffin, June 5, 1935
Elmer Brewer, June 5, 1935
Murder. Iowa's first double execution. These men were found guilty of the murder of a deputy sheriff.
Murder.
John M. Mercer, January 24, 1938 -
Murder.
Allen B. Wheaton, January 24, 1938 -
Murder.
Marlo Heinz, April 19, 1938 -
Murder.
Franz A. Jacobsen, April 19, 1938 -
Murder.
Walter "Dusty" Rhodes, May 7, 1940 -
Murder.
Ivan L. Sullivan, November 12, 1941 -
Murder of a prison guard.
Stanley M. Kaster, December 29, 1944 -
Murder.
William Jarett, February 23, 1945 -
Murder.
Philip Heincy, March 29, 1946 (72)
William Heincy, March 29, 1946 (45)
These menn were father and son and had been convicted of the murder of an Iowa resort owner.
Corlis R. Bruntlett, July 6, 1949 -
Murder.
Edward James Beckworth, August 4, 1952 - Murder.
Charles Edwin Kelly, September 6, 1962 -
Murder.
Charles Noel Brown, July 24, 1962 -
Murder.
Victor Henry Feguer, March 15, 1963 -
Murder and Kidnapping, Federal execution.
about the gallows inside
Fort Madison
walls
"The Presidio"
1960
Death Row Inmate Hawkins
Day of
Commutation
Abolished In Iowa