A violent home invasion in rural Warren County in 1877 left a young Iowa woman dead and sparked one of the most dramatic vigilante incidents in the state’s history.
Nineteen-year-old Augusta Kading was shot during a masked home invasion at her family’s farm near Milo on October 31, 1877. According to historical accounts, Augusta was sitting with her younger sisters while her father and brothers were away when three masked men entered the home.
Rather than retreat, Augusta confronted the intruders. She grabbed the gunman’s revolver and tore the mask from his face before he fired, striking her in the chest. Despite suffering serious wounds, Augusta managed to force the attackers from the house and secure the doors before collapsing…