Untimely Deaths

Life and death are balanced on the edge of a razor.  ~Homer, Iliad

Transcribed by Cathe Ziereis & Editor Jim Glasheen

Shawano County Advocate

19 Apr 1921 

Funeral Held Saturday

Remains of Oscar Reinhard Reached Here On Friday

It is nearly a year ago that Oscar Reinhard passed away in the wilds of northern Canada.  It is not known exactly when he died, but the news of his death reached here a few weeks ago, it was published in the Advocate.  It appears that he was about 400 miles from the Pass, in northern Canada.  The remains were found by a trapper, who had to break into the cottage where Mr. Reinhard had been living.  He found the remains last October and the news was telegraphed as soon as he reached the pass.  Geo. Reinhard and nephew, Clarence, went to Duluth a month or so ago and saw the man who found the remains.  Arrangements were made for him to go to the place and bring the remains to the Pas and ship them to Shawano.  We have been informed that it rook this gentleman 23 days with a dog team to go to the place where Mr. Reinhard died and return to the Pas. He accompanied the remains to Shawano and arrived here Friday.  The funeral was held at Garfields on Saturday afternoon Rev. McGreaham officiating.  The pallbearers were Ed. Iwen, F C Nommensen, A H Engel, I J Weeks, R G Williams and Wm. Meyer, interment was in Woodlawn cemetery.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 4 Aug 1921

 

Commits Suicide at Morgan Siding

George Shomin Tired of Life ends it by shooting Himself in the Head

George Shomin committed suicide at Morgan Siding yesterday by shooting himself in the head with a forty-fur rifle.  The entire upper part of his head was blown off, and death was instant.

He had come to Morgan Siding from Crandon where he had been working.  He was to have gone to work for Dan Tousey today.  Monday he bought some canned goods at the Morgan Siding store and went to the home of Charley Brown.  He told Brown about some trouble he had had and which seemed to prey upon his mind, but he left the impression with Mr. Brown that the trouble had been settled.

When Mr. Brown got up to go out from the house, he said “Well, good bye, I’ll see you later,” and Shomin replied, “When you see me again it will be all over with me.”  Brown had gone but a few rods from the house when he heard the shot and rushed back to the house and saw the body in a pool of blood.

W.H. Garfield was called to review the case, and upon investigation the nearest relative was found to be a sister who lives in Brooklyn.  Shomin was a man about thirty years old and was unmarried.  The burial will take place at Morgan Siding.

 

 

Advocate

Thurs 9 Aug 1921

Committed Suicide

Wednesday Afternoon at Morgan Siding, Funeral Thursday

George Schoman, aged about 55 years, committed suicide in a small building at Morgan Siding on Wednesday afternoon of last week and was found the same day.  He has been around Dan Tousey’s place for some time and it is understood that he was an Oneida Indian, and was a painter by trade.  He shot himself with a revolver in the head, killing himself instantly.  Very little is known about him.  Coroner Garfield and Dist. Atty. Brunner were called to Morgan Siding Thursday morning and they decided that it was a case of suicide and no use of holding an inquest.  He was buried Thursday afternoon.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 20 Oct 1921

 

Joe O’Connor of Neopit returning from White Lake fell from a freight train and several cars passed over his body from which he received injuries, which later caused his death

 

 

Advocate

Tues 25 Oct 1921

Suicide by Hanging

Homer Clauss of Birnamwood committed suicide Sunday afternoon, by hanging himself in the Chas. Fish lumber yard at that place.  He was about 60 years of age and had been ill for some years.

 

Shawano County Advocate

Tuesday, May 16, 1922

John Glawe Killed Friday

While on Way Home From Milwaukee Truck Went Over Embankment

Another auto accident happened Friday in which one of Shawano’s citizens was the victim.  Thursday Fred Siebur, Herman Zahn and John Glawe accompanied Highway Commissioner Meyer to Milwaukee, the three to drive trucks back for highway work.  At West Bend they were making a relocation of route 55 so as to pass some steep hill.  At Barton they are making a big cut in one of the hills and did not have the detour properly marked.  Mr. Siebur, who was driving the first truck, asked the way and made a turn.  Mr. Glawe was second but did not make the turn as he should and Mr. Zahn was third.  When Mr. Siebur looked back he saw Mr. Zahn but not Mr. Glawe so turned around to see where he went.  He went down the hill, asking a man living near the road if he had seen a truck pass by, and was told that he had.  Mr. Siebur could not see the truck anywhere so walked down the road and there saw the truck down the side of the hill, it going down a twelve foot embankment.  Mr. Glawe was not going over eight miles an hour when the accident happened.  The truck was turned completely over and Mr. Glawe was pinned under the steering wheel.  Mr. Siebur went to the village hall which was only a few blocks, got help and called a physician.  He told the people of the accident and they took Mr. Glawe out as soon as possible but it was seen that he was killed instantly.

Mr. Meyer was soon on the scene and took charge of affairs and notified Hubert Mittlestadt of this city.

It is said that the road was poorly marked and that no warning sign was placed where the cut was being made.  About an hour before a man driving a Buick with his wife and several children came very near going over the same embankment, stopping within ten feet of the place.

An inquest was held on Saturday and that evening the remains were brought to Shawano.  Mrs. Glawe is standing the great shock very well.  The funeral was held this afternoon at two-thirty o’clock at the St. Jacobi Lutheran church and the church was crowded with friends of the deceased, work being stopped on all road work in the county for the afternoon and many from all parts of the county were here to attend the funeral, Rev. Kissling officiating.

Mr. Glawe was born in Germany fifty years ago last December.  He has been in this country many years and on June 25, 1902 was married to Miss Kattie Mittlestadt.  They have always made this city their home.  He owned the Shawano grist mill for about fifteen years and sold the same a few years ago as the inside work did not agree with him.  For the past two years he has been driving a truck for the highway commissioner and was a very careful driver and very competent.  He was well liked by all he had any dealings with.  Was a man of quiet disposition and was a man who thought a great deal of his home.  Besides his sorrowing wife he leaves one brother who lives in Caroline and one brother who is still in Germany.  The entire community extends their sincere sympathy to the bereaved widow and all of the relatives in this hour of sadness.

 

The Tigerton Chronicle

March 10, 1923

Injuries Prove Fatal

 Jacob Lehman, one of the best know farmers in this community, and for 25 years a resident of the town of Germania died Saturday afternoon in a Wausau Hospital to where he had been taken following an accident which he sustained on the preceding Thursday afternoon.  He had been doing his usual work about the farm and had completed the afternoon  chores when as he was about to leave the barn he noticed that some young stock had scattered the hay under their feet; he therefore stepped in between the 2 young animals in order to pick up the hay and replace it in their mangers, although no one else was present in the barn at that time, it is presumed that as he was in a stooped position between the animals they crowded towards him with the result that he was crushed by them.

Having for years been afflicted with a breach, it is believed that as a result of being crushed between the animals injuries were sustained to the breached portions and other internal injuries also caused.  On account of no one being present in the barn when the accident occurred, he is thought to have fallen under their feel and remained there until such time as he sufficiently revived to crawl on his hands and knees to the outside of the building where he called for help from members of the family who were in the house a short distance away.  When found by members of the family, he was in terrible agony from his injuries and as soon as possible he was placed on a cot and removed to this village and taken to the office of Dr. A J Gates, where it was found that his condition was extremely critical and that his removal to a hospital where he could be operated upon would be the only course to pursue.  Accordingly he was taken to Wausau the same evening.  At the hospital it was found upon examination that nothing could be done to save his life, as the injuries sustained, in connection with his previous condition, were fatal.  He lived until Saturday afternoon.  The remains were brought to this village following his death and taken to J C Ruppenthal’s undertaking parlors. 

Jacob Lehman was born in Russia in 1864 and resided there until 1884 when he came to this country and located in Arkansas where he remained for 5 years after which he came to the town of Germania and had since been a continuous resident.  He was united in marriage to Ernestina Kurtz while still in Russia.  To this union 9 children were born, 7 of whom survive him.  Two daughters and 5 sons, with their mother, are left to morn his untimely death.  The children are Mrs. Sam Raiman of Kenosha; Emma, the youngest child, at home; Ludwig, Emil, Paul, of Germania; Adolph of Marion and William of the town of Grant.  One daughter and a son preceded their father in death.  The deceased was one of the best known and progressive farmers in this community and has held in esteem by all of his neighbors and friends.  He enjoyed the confidence of all with whom he had any business associations and his morals were such as to stamp his a man of inestimable value to his community. 

The funeral services were conducted at St. Johns Luth. Church, of which he was a member, Tuesday afternoon, and the large number of friends and neighbors who were present gave ample evidence of the esteem in which he had been held.  Rev. F. Siebrandt officiated at the sad rites at the church and grave.  Herman Spiegel, Otto Sengstock, August Hoeft, Chas. Hoeft, Fred Laars, and Carl Neuman were the pall bearers who bore him to his final resting place in the union Cemetery in this village.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

 

Thurs 2 Jan 1924

 

Charles Getschow Fatally Injured When Car Skids Off From Road

Charles Getschow of Pella, was fatally injured about noon Sunday when the automobile in which he was riding with his son-in-law, Henry Horn, skidded off the road and tipped over about a half mile north of New London.  Mr. Getschow lived about ten minutes after the accident.

Mr. Getschow had been visiting in New London with his daughters, Mrs. Henry Horn, and Misses Marion and Rene Getschow and was being taken home by Mr. Horn.  The car was traveling slowly, but, unequipped with chains, it skidded off the concrete into a deep ditch and overturned, pinning the unfortunate man underneath.  He was taken back to New London but died before a physician could be summoned.

The Getschow family lives about two miles north of Pella, between that village and Leopolis.  Because of the drifted roads, it is uncertain when the body can be taken to Pella, and funeral arrangements have therefore not been made at this writing.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 15 May 1924

Tigerton Girl Takes Own Life

The final chapter in the story of an unrequited love was written Tuesday when a girl signing her name, Miss Ida Smith, to a note, turned on the gas, and committed suicide in a Milwaukee rooming house.  The note was evidently intended for publication, as it contains the phrase, “I hope he reads this in the papers and I hope he is sorry for what he has done.”

Other notes were addressed to “Dear Daddy” at Tigerton, but gave no clue to the reason for the girl’s act other than “I loved him.  He does not love me.”

The girl whose age was estimated at 17 years had resided at a rooming house at 131 Seventh Street, where her lifeless body was found last Tuesday afternoon, in her room, filled with gas from an open jet.

The girl gave no clue to the identity of the man who failed to return her love other than to say “They call him Harry K. but Howard is his right name.”

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 5 June 1924

Laney News

Eddie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Rudnick was killed Thursday jumping off from a truck.

 

 

 

Shawano County Advocate

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1924

(Tilleda)

It was the sad fate that befell our neighbor, Albert Herman last week, when by assisting in sawing wood with a power outfit; his clothes got tangled up with a shaft and unmercifully whirled him around causing death in a few hours.  All possible medical aid was immediately rendered but there was no possible chance as the skull was mortally hurt.  This is an extreme unfortunate loss to the family as he was a loyal citizen, a good neighbor and an affectionate father.  We can safely say that if the world had more such typical men there would be more happiness and peace amongst people in general.  He was formerly our blacksmith in Tilleda for a good many years and had a good business, but decided to move on a farm near Hatton Siding No. 2 north of Tilleda.  He was buried Monday at the Peace Church here, Rev. Stubenvoll officiating.  An immense crowd of friends and relatives attended the funeral to pay the last tribute to a splendid man who left us never to return.  He is survived by a large family and his wife who mourn his loss.

 

 

Shawano County Advocate

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1924

Killed Himself Christmas Day

Fred Eggers of Town Of Seneca Cut His Throat in Morning

Last Wednesday afternoon, Fred Eggers, a farmer of the town of Seneca, living near Hatten Siding No. 2, returned home to spend Christmas with his family.  He had been working in the woods in the northern part of the state.  It is said that he got up about 7:00 on Christmas morning and had his underwear on.  He took the razor from the shelf where it was kept, and went out on the porch and cut his throat, almost severing the head from the body.  Dist. Atty. Fisher and Coroner W H Garfield were called there on Friday and made an investigation and found that it had been a case of suicide, and no inquest was necessary.

The deceased was about 61 years of age and was well known in that neighborhood.  He was a hard working man and always pleasant to those whom he met.  He gave the very best of satisfaction to those whom he worked for and it’s said he was always pleasant.  It is thought that domestic troubles were the cause of his rash act.  He leaves a wife and several grown up children.  The funeral was held in Gresham Saturday afternoon.  It was largely attended, which showed the esteem in which he was held.

 

The Wausau Pilot

Thursday, March 5, 1925 

Foreman of Lumber Mill Is Killed By Flying Piece Of Wood

Joseph J Herback was instantly killed early Sunday morning at the B. Heineman Lumber Company mill where he was employed as night foreman.  At the time he was operating an edger, taking the place of Fred Betrowski, the regular operator, who had left his machine to get a drink of water.  A board was caught by the saw in some manner and thrown backward from the machine, striking Mr. Herback on the chest.  The force of the blow was sufficient to crush his ribs and death was instantaneous.  Corner George W. Krueger was called, but as death was clearly the result of an accident, no inquest was held.

Joseph Herback was born in this state June 14, 1885, and had lived in Wausau for a number of years.  He enlisted with the Wausau contingent for service in the World War and was a member of Talbot Montgomery Post of the American Legion.  After his return from service he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cerveny of this city.

Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at St. Mary’s Church, the Rev. Father J B Hauck officiating.  The pall bearers were Frank Fara, Leo Crooks, Ernest Kaiser, Mike Milanowski, Ed Schulta and Carl Dahlinger.  The American Legion furnished an escort for the body, which was laid to rest in St. Joseph’s cemetery, and a firing squad fired a volley over the grave at the conclusion of services at the cemetery.

The deceased is survived by his wife, a daughter, Angela Herback, and six sisters, Mrs. Martin Klement, and Mrs. L Brei of Shawano, Mrs. John Bohr of Appleton, Mrs. Little of Arkansas, Mrs. Jos. Herback of Wakefield, Michigan and a sister residing in California.

Shawano County Journal

Tuesday, May 25, 1926

Dies From Gunshot

 

I. S. MacNichol today received a telegram announcing the death of his brother Capt. J. H. MacNichol of Seattle, at Osaka, Japan.  The message stated that Captain MacNichol died May 17, as the result of an accidental shooting with a revolver on May 12.  Details were not given.  Captain MacNichol was in charge of a ship in the merchant marine.  He was 57 years of age and is survived by his wife and daughter.  His only son was lost at sea during the world war.  He had visited in this city, having been here two or three years ago. ---Oshkosh Northwest.  The above was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thos. MacNichol and lived here during his boyhood days.  He went west many years ago.  He will be remembered by many of the old settlers

Advocate

Tue 25 May 1926

Dies From Gunshot 

I.S. MacNichol today received a telegram announcing the death of his brother Capt. J. H. MacNichol of Seattle, at Osaka, Japan.  The message stated that Capt. MacNichol died May 17, as the results of an accidental shooting with a revolver on May 12.  Details were not given.  Capt. MacNichol was in charge of a ship in the merchant marine.  He was 57 years of age and is survived by his wife and daughter.  His only son was lost a sea during the world war.  He has visited in this city, having been here 3 or 4 years ago.—Oshkosh Northwestern.  The above was a son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Thos. MacNichol and lived here during his boyhood days.  He went west many years ago.  We will be remembered by many of the old settlers

 

Shawano County Advocate

Tuesday, July 6, 1926 

Drowned Last Tuesday

August Stuebs, a young farmer of the town of Belle Plaine, was drowned between 7:00 and 8:00 Tuesday evening in Long Lake, one of the Clover Leaf Chain, 10 miles southwest of here.  Stuebs and a brother a few years younger than he went to the lake to bathe after the day’s work on the farm was done.  At the time of the drowning the victim was splashing about in water not over 3 feet in depth, while his brother watched from the bank.  Several other persons were in the immediate vicinity.  As the brother watched, August suddenly fell down and disappeared from view beneath the water.  It is said the accident was so sudden that the brother stood in horror until a women rushed over to the spot, when the body was immediately recovered, but a hasty examination disclosed that life was already extinct.  A physician was immediately called and expressed the opinion that the young man had been seized with cramps and rendered powerless to help himself.  The deceased is survived by his parents, 5 sisters and 3 brothers.  He had always lived on the home farm.  Burial took place from the Belle Plaine church Friday afternoon, the day would have been the young man’s 25^th birthday.  Interment was in the Belle Plaine cemetery.

 

The Clintonville Tribune

Friday, Aug. 20, 1926

Embarrass Boy Was Drowned last Sunday While Swimming

Carl W Kriewaldt, age 15, drowned in the Embarrass river between the wagon bridge and the sight of the old dam in the village of Embarrass last Sunday afternoon.  It is believed he was seized with cramps.

He had gone to the river to swim with other friends after having eaten considerable candy and ice cream.  Although he could swim, he jumped from the spring board and came to the surface only once when he called to a chum.  Remaining under water assistance was immediately summoned.  The drowning took place at about 5:00 in the afternoon just after the baseball game and such assistance was immediately available.  Bob Fenn and Ray Donaldson dove in repeatedly after him but were not able to locate him.  Others also made attempts.  A long pole and hook was secured and with this instrument the body was brought to the surface by George Fergot after it had been in the water about 20 minutes.  Medical attention had been summoned but Carl had passed away.  It is believed that death was due to cramps rather than actual drowning because Carl was able to swim.

The body was taken to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kriewaldt from where funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon followed by service in the Zion Lutheran church in Embarrass.  Burial was in the Lutheran cemetery in Embarrass. 

Carl Was born April 1, 1911 at Embarrass.  He attended the parochial and public schools at Embarrass and the past summer had been employed on a farm near his parent’s place.  He was a faithful and dependable worker and had many friends among the young people of Embarrass and vicinity.  He was a member of the Zion Lutheran church and its young people’s society.

He is survived by his parents, one sister, Lydia and three brothers, Herbert, Gilbert, and Louis.  The pallbearers at the funeral were school friends, Hubert Krubsack, Leonard Theime, Wm. Barkow, Lorenz Kriewaldt, Paul Dumke and Louis Gehrt.

 

Clintonville Tribune

Friday, Oct. 28, 1927

Caroline Man Killed In Blast On His Farm

Albert Tews Found Dead In Field Where He Was Blasting Stones—Cause Of Death Unknown

 Albert Tews, prominent and prosperous farmer near Caroline for the past 35 years was accidently killed in a dynamite explosion last week Friday while blasting stones on his farm.  His shattered body was discovered by the family after he did not return home for dinner.  He had gone to the field to blast stones at about 10:00 a.m. and when he did not come home for dinner his children went out to call.  His body was found with life extinct, part of his head and jaw blown off and also a torn abdomen.  No one was present when the accident happened to tell how the terrible accident occurred.

Funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon from the Lutheran church at Caroline and burial was in the Caroline Lutheran cemetery.

Mr. Tews was born Sept. 1, 1869, at Ironridge, Wis., and came to the town of Grant at the age of 4 years.  He was married to Anna Grunewald in 1895, she having preceded him in death 5 years ago.  Nine children were born to them of which 4 died in infancy.  He had never had any trouble and made friends with everyone.  He is survived by 5 daughters; Hildegard, Dorothy and Gladys at home; Mrs. Wm. Stuhr of Marion, and Mrs. Clarence Uecker of Grant.  Two brothers, Bernard of Tilleda, Robert of Belle Plaine; 4 step-brothers Julius, Carl, Paul and Emil, all of Tilleda.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 2 Feb 1928

Pulaski Woman Takes Own Life

Jumps from Hospital Window in Dementia, Leaves a New Born Baby

After giving birth to a child in a hospital in Green Bay, Mrs. Simon Kuklinski of Pulaski, committed suicide by jumping from a window in the third story of the building.  It is thought that she was out-of- her-head when she made the fatal leap.  The baby was four days old and the mother forty-seven.

Mr. Kuklinski had called for a nurse a few minutes before her leap, and requested that a glass of water be brought to her.  The nurse returned with the water, and just a few moments after she had left the room visitors at the hospital, looking out of another window, saw Mrs. Kuklinski wiping snow from the window-sill of her room and apparently making ready to jump.  They called to the nurse and told her to hurry into the room, but she was unable to get to the window before the woman leaped. 

She was carried into the hospital, and relatives were summoned, arriving a few minutes after her death.  Physicians said that death was caused by a cerebral embolus, or blood clot in the brain.  The extent of her other injuries was not ascertained.

Mrs. Kuklinski had a slight fever, attendants said, but appeared mentally normal when the nurse visited her a few moments before the tragedy.  Corner Frank Hodek announced that there would be no inquest.

Mrs. Kuklinski is survived by her husband, five children, the youngest the four-day old infant and the oldest 17 years of age, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Novak, Pulaski, and three sisters and three brothers.

 

 

S.C.A.

Wed 8 Feb 1928

 

Mrs. Simon Kuklinski, 37 year old, Pulaski lady, died on Friday, Jan 27, as a result of injuries received when she leaped from the window of a Green Bay hospital.  Funeral services were held the following Monday at St. Mary’s Church in Pulaski.

 

S.C.A.

Wed 25 Apr 1928

 

Theo J. Haufe, Marion Cashier Puts Bullet Through Self Yesterday at 2 P.M.

 

Marion was completely shocked yesterday afternoon when the report came to the town that Theodore J. Haufe, cashier at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, had shot himself.  Suicide took place two miles from Marion while Haufe was driving his car.  A revolver bullet pierced the man’s head on the right, came out just above the ear on the left, and went through the car door to the left of the driver.

Chas. Black, of the Howe and Black Sales Stable was one of the first ones on the scene.  The accident occurred near the Roy Churchill farm, and help was called from that farm.  Life had completely passed out before assistance could be had.  Evidently, a Marion resident had been to the scene before Black passed the car of the dead man, as most of Marion was on the road before Chas. returned to the scene.  When Black first saw the dead man, he believed that someone had shot him, but upon close investigation, he saw a revolver clutched in his right hand.  The shooting took place about 2 p.m.

To date the cause of suicide is not entirely known.  Haufe was a man who was very well liked and thought of in Marion as well as Shawano County.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 17 May 1928

Insane Man Kills Self With Chisel

Carl Dedert, an inmate of the Shawano County Asylum, committed suicide Thursday morning by cutting his throat with a chisel.  He carefully chose his time and advantage.  To avoid early suspicion from blood, he placed himself over a cuspidor so that the blood would drop into that vessel.

He has been a very good patient, and trusty about the institution.  He was a lover of flowers and devoted much of his time in summer to taking care of the flower garden.  He was given the use of such tools as he needed and had never before made the first intimation of such rash idea.  Had he so chosen he could have taken his life in the same manner on any of thousands of occasions.

He had an obsession that the county board is all powerful, that they can commit a man to the asylum or let him out, that they approve or disapprove of the work the inmates have to do.  On this day the board was coming to make the annual inspection.

It is believed that Dedert was fearful that the county board would not approve of his work and he had not the nerve to withstand their supposed criticism.  Of course these false ideas were all of his own fabrication, for the board has absolutely nothing to do or say about the inmates.

He was buried in the asylum cemetery on the flat of the hill near the school house.  He is the 76^th person to be buried in that cemetery.  A brother and a son came to see the old man and decided not to claim him, so the county attended to the burial.

Mr. Dedert was twice in asylum.  He came to Shawano County Institution in 1921.  Fifteen years before he had been released from the Northern Hospital near Oshkosh.  He was a typical insane case with obsessive fear of authority.

 

 

 

The Tigerton Chronicle

Dec. 21, 1928

Injury Brings Death

Mrs. Henrietta Vollmer died Tuesday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Watters, near Caroline, with whom she had been making her home for the past several months.  Last week Mrs. Vollmer fell from her bed and sustained a fracture to one of her legs and the injury, at her advanced age is thought to have been a direct attributing cause of her death.  Mrs. Vollmer was born in Paetzen, Germany on March 2, 1837, and had therefore reached the age of 91 yrs. 9 months and 16 days.  For many years she was a familiar figure in this community by virtue of her many trips here with her aged husband, who preceded her in death by little more than a year.  The aged couple lived in the town of Fairbanks since 1893.  They were wed in 1867, and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1917.  Four sons, Paul, Frank, and Joe reside in this community; Leopolis, a former resident here now resides in Oshkosh; the daughters are: Mrs. Mary Watters, with whom she lived, Caroline and Mrs. Mrs. Johanna Schugert, Seattle, Wash.  A large number of grandchildren also mourn her.  The funeral services will be held this afternoon at St. John’s Luth. church at 2:00.  Interment at Union cemetery.

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 14 Feb 1929

Embarrass Boy Killed by Police

Bob Fenn, Well Known Here, Shot While Holding Up an Oil Station

 

Bob Fenn, aged 20 years, was killed by a Milwaukee policeman Friday night when he tried to escape arrest after an attempted hold-up of a filling station.  The young fellow, it was afterwards learned, had been implicated in four different hold-ups.

His foster parents at Embarrass heard of the event over the radio and went immediately to Milwaukee.  After the boy was shot by the police, he was taken to the Emergency hospital.  He lived several hours and Mr. and Mrs. Fenn got to his bedside before he died and while he yet knew them.

The Fenns have a general store at Embarrass and a potato warehouse at Clintonville.  They have done everything that heart and hand could devise for that boy, but he seemed to be unappreciative.  Some time ago he skipped out and went to Arizona, and his parents did not know where he was until they heard the report of the Milwaukee event over the radio.

Many of the Shawano young fellows knew Bob Fenn.  He frequented the dances at several dance pavilions and was also interest in baseball.  Those who knew him and have expressed themselves to us are very much surprised to learn that he came to such an end.

This is the story of the hold-up and capture of Fenn, as told by the Milwaukee Sentinel:

“Walking into a police trap set for him four days ago, a daring 20 year old bandit was shot and critically wounded by a policeman while in the act of holding up a filling station attendant. 

As he faced the leveled pistol of the officer who surprised him, the bandit attempted to escape.  His own pistol, unloaded, he tossed away.  As be turned to flee the first of the policeman’s five bullets pierced his abdomen.

His blood spotting the snow-covered street, the boy bandit ran a block, pursued by the patrolman, and then collapsed.

He first gave his name as Robert Collier and said he was from Kenosha.  Before he went under the knife and upon being told that he might die, he admitted that he was Bob Fenn, 20, of Embarrass, Wis.

It was his first hold-up attempt, he insisted.  But a few minutes later he was identified by his victim in one previous Milwaukee filling station hold-up, and partially identified by another. 

Patrolman Alfred Hoerst, 38, of 1032 Sixth Street, is the hero of the capture.  For the past four nights he has been in hiding at the Standard Oil Station at Third Street and Reservoir Avenue as part of the police department’s desperate attempt to break up a series of filling station hold-ups. 

F.J. Lejois, 24, of 165 Thirty-Fifth Street, is the night attendant at this station.  He was alone in the main room, writing at his desk, at 7:15, when the young bandit entered.

He did not hear the man come in, but turned to face his drawn pistol, a .32 caliber automatic. 

“Throw up your hands,” growled the hold-up man.  Lejois complied.  With the weapon in the attendant’s stomach, the bandit pushed him back toward the washroom.  Behind the washroom door stood Hoerst, listening and waiting.

Lejois knew the cop was there, and realized he was directly in the line of fire.  As he approached the door he stepped to one side and flattened himself against the wall.  Hoerst kicked the door open with his foot.  His pistol aimed at the bandit, he shouted: “Now you hold up your own hands.”

Completely taken aback, Fenn hesitated an instant, then swung about and faced the patrolman, leveled his gun at him and pulled the trigger.  There was no explosion.

Simultaneously Hoerst fired.  Fenn bent over in pain.  He turned heel and fled through the open door.  Four more bullets spattered around him as Hoerst kept firing.”

The body was brought back to Embarrass and the funeral was held there, among the boy’s old friends.

 

Advocate

Tues 14 Feb 1929

 

Funeral services for Robert Fenn, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Fenn of Embarrass were held on Wednesday afternoon at one o’clock from the home and at 2 o’clock from the Embarrass Congregational Church.

Robert Fenn was born at Antigo, May 8^th.  He passed away at the Emergency Hospital at Milwaukee on February 10^th, 1929 where he was taken on Friday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Fenn brought his remains home on Monday evening.  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Ben Plopper of Shawano.  Vocal music was furnished by Mrs. Conrad Koeller and Kathleen Baker accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Silas Ford.

Those serving as pall-bearers were Guy and Ray Donaldson, Ed. Groth, Frank Much, Clarence Gehrt Albert Palmer.  Interment was made in the cemetery at Embarrass.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 16 May 1929

 

The body of Mrs. Anna Ratz, 76 year old resident of Maple Valley, in Oconto County, was found near the Gillett Swamp, about three and one-half miles from her home, last Thursday.  The lady had wandered away from her home on Monday, and her whereabouts were unknown until her lifeless body was found.  A coroner’s verdict asserts that she died from exposure.

 

 

Advocate

Tues 30 May 1929

Morgan

Morgan---The funeral of Mrs. Leonard Schmidt was held at the Presbyterian Church in Red Springs, over crowded with friends and relatives who attended the funeral of the young wife ho meet death at the hands of her husband, Mr. Schmidt who then shot himself.  He was buried in the same cemetery, Saturday afternoon.

Mrs. Schmidt leaves a 3 year old son, father and mother.  Mr. and Mrs. Avery Miller, at Roosevelt, one sister Mrs. C. Lind, two brothers, Ernest and Roy all of Morgan, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Rev. Westphal preached the funeral sermon.  Burial took place in the public cemetery.

Sympathy of the entire community is extended to the relatives of both Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, July 4, 1929 

Birnamwood Youth Drives to His Death

Death came to the Kortbein family in the town of Birnamwood in a most heart-rending manner.  When Fred Kortbein, father of the family, drove to the cheese factory Monday morning, he saw beside the road the wreckage of an overturned automobile against a telephone pole at the side of the road.  He stopped his own milk truck and investigated.  He lifted the wreckage as best he could, and saw under it the body of a man.  Taking hold of his shoes, he hauled out the body and turned it over, and looked into the dead face of his own son, Erwin Kortbein, aged 19.  The boy had gone out to a dance the evening before and had not returned when the family got up to do the morning’s milking.  The milking was done without his aid and the father took the milk to the factory, instead of the boy taking it, as he usually did.  Even the all-night absence was not looked upon with great concern for Erwin had stayed with friends before, so when the body was found under the car Monday morning, it was like a stroke of lightning hitting the father.  Investigation was made by the coroner and it was decided that death came purely from accident.  The boy, coming home late, had evidently lost control of the wheel and had run into the telephone post at rather high speed.  The condition of the car and that of the telephone post indicated that the impact had been hard.  The accident happened sometime after midnight.

 

 

 

Advocate Thurs 25 July 1929

Woman Is Killed In Home By Bolt 

Daughter Is Also Burned Badly As Two Sit Near Chimney 

Father and Second Girl on Porch 

Mrs. Herman Sperberg, Thornton, was instantly killed at about 5:30 p.m. in her home yesterday when lightning struck the chimney of the home.  The woman was sitting in a rocking chair near the chimney in the home when the bolt struck.  A little daughter, who was sitting with her, was badly burned.  Mr. Sperberg and a second daughter sat on the porch as the bolt struck.

The bolt shattered the chimney and three corners of the house.  The northeast, northwest and southwest corners of the house were split apart by the terrific jar.

Louise Radke Sperberg was born in the town of Richmond on January 12, 1891.  She lived in Shawano County all of her life.  She leaves a husband and three daughters, ages 12, 9, and 4.  One brother August Radke, and four sisters, Mrs. Albert Wolf, and Mrs. Herman Zahn of Shawano, Mrs. Robert Debban, Waukechon, and Mrs. Muscavitch of Belle Plaine survive the deceased.  Her mother, Mrs. Radke of Shawano also survives.  Funeral services will be held at the Methodist German church at Red River on Saturday afternoon.

 

SCJ Thurs 25 July 1929

Mrs. Herman Sperberg Killed Last Night By Bolt Of Lightning

Mrs. Herman Sperberg was killed by lightning last night at about five-thirty during the electrical storm that disrupted the lighting service and telephone.

She was seated near the chimney corner and her little daughter, Mildred, age 10, was seated in a rocking chair near her, huddling close because of fear of the storm.

The lightning hit the chimney and followed down the metal corners on the roof and entered the house from the southeast corner.  There it followed the wires in the wall and the contact that caused Mr. Sperberg’s death was from a nail head in the wall just back of her chair.

When her husband hurried to her he found the stocking and dress afire, but this was readily extinguished.  Death was instantaneous.

The little girl was burned about the foot and leg.  Her escape was miraculous.  It is believed Mrs. Sperberg’s foot was on the radiator, making a perfect contact, and because the mother received the main shock the child was saved.

The house was considerably shattered.  Plaster is off in the parlor and is badly broken up in the pantry.  The chimney is broken down and here and there about the house is evidence of the horrible visitor.

Outside the radio wire is burned and a furrow is plowed through the ground from the house to the fence.  The Sperberg's live in the second house on the left hand side of the road going north from Thornton.

The body was immediately brought to the Korth Mortuary and relatives took care of the children.  The husband, Herman Sperberg, is a nephew of the couple who celebrated their golden wedding last week.

Mrs. Sperberg’s maiden name was Louise Radke.  She was born in the town of Richmond in 1891.  She was taken away when only thirty-eight.  On July 5, 1915, she was married to Mr. Sperberg.

There were three children, all girls, Viola, aged twelve, Mildred, aged 10, and little Marion, aged five years.

Mrs. Albert Wolf, Mrs. Herman Zahn, Mrs. Joe Muskavitch, and Mrs. Rob Debban, were all her sisters.  Fred Radtke of Richmond is an only brother.

The young mother was a woman of fine Christian character.  She was a member of the Evangelical church at Red River and was held in very high repute.  The entire community is very shocked and grieved over her untimely death. 

The funeral is to be held Saturday afternoon in the Evangelical church at Red River.

Advocate

Thurs 1 Aug 1929

Arthur Haefs Passes Away At Neenah Hospital

Death claimed one of Navarino’s fine young men after his long and hard fought battle to recover from serious injuries received in an auto accident, proved futile.  Arthur Haefs, a lad of only twenty years, was the victim.

Arthur August Haefs was born in Navarino, Feb. 27^th, 1909.  He was confirmed in the Navarino Norwegian Lutheran Church, July 9^th, 1922.  The last year and a half he had worked in Menasha at the Woodenware factory and at the Gilbert Paper Co.  The auto accident in which his right leg was broken in three places occurred on the highway between Winchester and Neenah on June 13^th, 1929.  He was brought to the Theda Clark Hospital where he was given attention.  Infection and blood poison set in, so in trying to save his life his leg was amputated on Saturday, July 13^th.  On Friday, July 19^th, his parent and brothers and sisters were called to his bedside, since he realized that he had but a short time left in this life.  Friday evening Rev. J. G. Pohley, a Lutheran pastor, of Menasha was called and administered to the dying young man the Lord’s Supper.  He breathed his last at 10:40 o’clock.  Friday evening, July 18^th, and was therefore 20 years, 4 months and 22 days of age.  He leaves to mourn his loss, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Haefs, two brothers and two sisters; Mrs. Esther Schulke and Elmer Haefs of Menasha, Mrs. Mildred Olson of Lunds, and Norman at home, his grandmothers Mrs. Haefs and Mrs. Reif and a host of other relatives.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. E.N. Halvorson at the Navarino Norwegian Lutheran Church which was filled to capacity, on Tuesday July 23^rd.  The pallbearers consisted of the following young men: Charles Westgor, Leon Hilliker, Earl Fenn, Harlow Baker, Harvey Mathison and Lester Colling.  The flower girls were June Fenn, Edna Eng, Esther Amundson, Selma and Irene Nelson and Edna Erickson.  Among the many people that attended the funeral services there were several people from Neenah, Menasha, Appleton and Green Bay.

 

Advocate

Thurs 1 Aug 1929

Mrs. Otto Balke Suffers Severe Explosion Burns

Starts Fire in Stove With Kerosene Can in Hand.  Little Girl Badly Burned But Will Survive

Mrs. Otto Balke, Red Springs, mother of six small children, was fatally burned last Thursday shortly afternoon when she attempted to light a fire in the kitchen stove to prepare the noon meal.  The woman used kerosene to start the fire, but before she had an opportunity to light the kerosene the oil in the stove and in the can had exploded.  The clothing of the victim was saturated with the oil, and before she could be rescued, the fire had burned deep into the flesh.

One small daughter was with the mother when the accident happened.

The girls clothing caught fire after which she ran into the yard to her father.  The clothing of the child was torn from her.  Her burns were severe yet not at all fatal.  Upon seeing smoke rushing from the house Mr. Balke went to the rescue of his wife.  He carried her to the open air, tore her clothing from her, and then returned to extinguish the fire in the house.  The mother was rushed to a Green Bay hospital, nut her burns were fatal.

The family had just returned from Gresham before the accident.  Mrs. Balke was hurrying to get the meal while Mr. Balke was doing a few chores.  Several theories are given for the explosion, but the most probable one is that coals were still alive from the morning fire and a bit of gas had formed in the top of the can during the hot forenoon.

Friday the body was brought to the home of Mrs. Allison Sears, Neopit, mother of Mrs. Balke.  Funeral services were held from the Lutheran Church in Red Springs, Saturday afternoon.  The young mother leaves six small children, her husband, mother and many relatives and friends who deeply mourn here early departure from them.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 1 Aug 1929

Uses Kerosene to Build Quick Fire

Husband and Family Mourn for Mrs. Walter Beilke, Victim of Flames

A terrible tragedy broke the usual happiness and quietness of the Red Springs community Thursday evening and took a mother from six young children when Mrs. Walter Beilke was burned to death from the flames of Kerosene, used to hasten a kitchen fire.

The family has been in Gresham Thursday morning to transact business.  They were a little late in getting home and when Mrs. Beilke looked at the kitchen clock she saw that it was half after twelve.  Dinner was that much late.

She started the kitchen fire, then took the kerosene can and poured kerosene onto the wood.  The flames burst forth and set Mrs. Beilke’s clothing on fire.

A little daughter, who stood beside her mother, rushed out of the house, her clothes too, aflame.  She called to her father in the barn and he ran to her and tore off her clothes.  He then ran into the house and tore the clothing from his wife.

But she was badly burned, so badly that even then it was evident that she had but little chance.  Dr. Schroeder made a speedy trip to the afflicted household and seeing the situation took the burned victim to a hospital in Green Bay.  She died that evening, Thursday, at about eight o’clock.

Mr. Beilke’s hands were badly burned in the process of ripping the burning clothes from the little daughter and his wife.  The little girl’s injuries are not permanent, nor are they serious.

The funeral was held in the Mission Church Sunday afternoon.  Mrs. Beilke, who was in middle life, was mother of six children, some of them quite small.

The family lives about a mile from the Lutheran Mission at Red Springs.  The house caught afire, and in the confusion of saving the victims, the flames got quite a start, but the neighbors gathered in time to extinguish the flames before they did any considerable damage to the dwelling.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 1 Aug 1929

Funeral of Lightening Victim Held Saturday

The funeral of Mrs. Herman Sperberg, who was killed by lightening last Wednesday night, was held Saturday afternoon at the Evangelical Church in Red River.  The church was filled with sorrowing friends and neighbors.

The pallbearers were Fred Greub, William Sperberg, Jr., Albert Buettner, Louis Sperberg, William Carter, and Ed Greub.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 22 Aug 1929

 

George Koepsell Accidentally Shot

Little Chum Pulls Trigger Thinking Revolver Was Not Loaded

A children’s game of “playing cowboy” terminated in tragedy Monday afternoon when George Koepsell, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Koepsell, was shot and instantly killed by his playmate, Harvey Redman, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Redman.

The two boys, together with little Lucille Redman, Harvey’s five year old sister, had been playing together, and had an air gun with which they had been harassing workmen employed at the power house.  George had gone home, frightened, and told his mother that some men had threatened to cut his ears off because he had been shooting at them with his air-gun.  Mrs. Koepsell took the gun away from the lad, and he later went out to play again.

Going to the Redman home, they played for a time, and after Mrs. Redman had gone down town, the three children went into the house.  In a drawer of a dresser they found a .32 caliber revolver, and went upstairs to play cowboy.  Harvey had the gun, and without aim, pulled the trigger.  The bullet pierced the arm of his sister Lucille, and entered the body of Harvey’s chum, George, going through the heart, and out of the body under the shoulder blade, thence through the bed clothing and mattress of a bed.  The accident happened at the top of the stairs, and the Koepsell boy fell down the stairs and into the living room on the first floor.

Harvey and his sister ran into the yard, screaming, and attracting the attention of men at the power house, who rushed to the scene of the accident and learned what had occurred.

Medical attention was summoned and the authorities were notified.  After questioning Harvey, the officers decided that the tragedy was purely accidental and that no inquest was necessary.

George Koepsell was born in Shawano on June 7, 1921.  He had attended the St. Joseph School, and would have entered the third grade this fall.  Besides his parents, he is survived by three brothers, Victor, Arnold, and Roger, and one sister, Magdalen.

The funeral is being held this afternoon from the Karth Undertaking Parlors at 1:30 and from the St. Jacobi Church at 2:00 o’clock, Rev. Uhlig officiating.

The sympathy of the community goes out to this bereaved family, and to the Redman family as well, more-so on account of the nature of the tragedy which took this young life.

 

Advocate

Thurs 22 Aug 1929

George Koepsell Shot By A Gun Thought Empty

Little eight year old George Koepsell, son of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Koepsell, was fatally wounded here Monday afternoon at about 3:30 when a playmate, Harvey Redman, shot him with a .32 revolver.  Harvey’s sister, Lucille, was wounded as the boy was shot.

The three children had been at the Koepsell home during the afternoon playing with an air gun.  When the boys got somewhat careless with the gun, Mrs. Koepsell forbade them to play with it.  The three then went to the Redman home where Harvey had remembered that a revolver was hidden in a drawer.  They found the home empty, and, shortly after, the gun.

Harvey took out the chamber and seeing no bullets decided that the gun was empty.  One shell remained in the barrel.  As he was putting the chamber back, the gun exploded, sending the bullet through the left arm of his sister, Lucille, and through the left side of George’s chest.  The bullet pierced the bed clothing and pad and lay on the mattress of the bed.  The accident occurred just at the head of the stairs, George falling face down into the living room below.  The other children fled to the power house to explain to their father what had happened.  The Redman home is the first house east of the city power plant.

District Attorney R. H. Fischer hastened to the scene, but no inquest was held.  Harvey and George had always been the best of friends, and had often played cowboy Indian, or hold-up.  It is needless to say that Harvey is heart-broken over the death of his little pal.  Harvey is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Redman, while George was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Koepsell, owners of the Shawano Book and Specialty Co.

Funeral services for the little boy will be held this afternoon at the Karth Funeral home at 1:30 and at St. James Lutheran Church at 2:00.  Rev. Uhlig will officiate.  Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.  Pallbearers at the service will be school boys of George’s acquaintance.  They are Marvin Steinke, Orville Teetzen, Edward Reichel, Arnold Felton, Paul Uhlig, and John Carl Wirch.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Oct. 3, 1929

 

Farmer Crushed Under Machine

Frank Bartelt, Jr. Instantly Killed

Potato Digger Causes Death of Young Man With Bright Prospect

Frank Bartelt, Jr., aged 21 years, was killed at his farm home near Gresham Friday afternoon at about 3:00 when a potato digger fell onto him from off his wagon and crushed him to death.  The heavy machine struck Mr. Bartelt in the back and fractured his spinal column.  The unfortunate man fell between the wagon and his horses.  The horses became frightened and ran forward and dragged the potato digger over Mr. Bartelt’s body.

He was driving out in the field with the digger, preparing to start potato digging.  He was standing up in the front part of the wagon and when he drove over a rough place, the potato digger slid down toward the front, knocked the driver off the wagon and under the horses’ feet.  There was an ugly gash in the back of his head.  When he was found by members of the family he was dead, and physicians were of the opinion that he had died almost instantly after his injury.  The horses ran away and attracted attention of other members of the family.

Mr. Bartelt was born in Gresham Feb. 18^th, 1908, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bartelt.  His father died about 10 years ago.  He grew up in Gresham country and attended school in the district school house near the farm home.

On May 14, 1928 he was married to Miss Evelyn Hoppe of Pella.  He leaves the young wife and an infant daughter, Grace, besides his mother.

There are six sisters, Martha, Mrs. F Jeske, of town of Herman; Amelia, Mrs. George Seyler, Gresham; Alvina, Mrs. Ed Cole, Muskegon, Mich.; Ella, Mrs. J Sandborn, Milwaukee; Alma, Mrs. A Woldt, Bonduel; and Gertrude, Mrs. Ed Raisler, Gresham.  There is one brother, Paul.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon at the residence on the farm.  Rev. F G Cassin, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church conducted the services.  The pall bearers were Ernest Schwartz, Eddie Schwartz, Charles Schwartz, Walter Otto, Harry Otto, and Arthur Jeske.  The first five named are cousins of the deceased.

The death has saddened the entire Gresham community.  The young man was well liked, had a wide circle of friends, and had just launched upon what promised to be a happy healthful and helpful life.

Interment was made in St. Elias Lutheran cemetery.

 

Advocate

Thurs 17 Oct 1929

Wood Saw Injury Is Fatal to Boy

William McKenna Was Victim of Jumping Saw While Aiding Wood Sawing Bee Saturday

William Richie McKenna, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard McKenna, town of Waukechon, was fatally cut across the right side of the head last week by a wood saw shortly after noon Saturday.  The boy was helping his father and several other men saw up a quantity of wood for the family’s winter fires.  The saw stuck in a piece of wood and the sudden stop of the whirling circle caused the entire frame to jump.  The boy was throwing away from the saw, thus being close enough to come in contact with the ugly teeth as the entire framework jumped.

Young McKenna was given the aid of a physician at once, but the accident was beyond hope and he died shortly after three-thirty that same afternoon.

William McKenna was sixteen years of age at death.  He was born in the town of Richmond and attended the rural schools of that township.  Later his folks moved to Waukechon where the boy attended the Porter School.  He was a fine, clean cut young chap and well liked by the boys of his community.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the home at 1:30 and at the Methodist Church here at 2:00.  Rev. Ben Plopper officiated at the services, and Alfred and Bernie Pleshek, and Ernie Zieman, Richmond, and Kenneth Mosher, Alfred Pluedeman, and Bennie Pluedeman, Richmond, acted as pall-bearers.

Surviving are his parents, three brothers, Vernon, Stephen, Ralph, and one sister, Violet.  A very large number of neighbors, friends, and relatives attended the funeral.

Mr. and Mrs. McKenna in an interview with this newspaper, asked us to express their appreciation for the offering collected by Ralph Baldwin from the citizens and business men of Shawano.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 17 Oct 1929

Flying Wood Saw Takes Boy’s Life

William McKenna of Waukechon Victim of a Most Terrible Accident

It seems that Shawano has to report more gruesome and terrible deaths from accidents than most towns of our size.  In the wake of the death by fire of the popular Waukechon girl last week, comes today the report of the death of William Richie McKenna, Jr., in a most saddening death.

William was sawing wood on the home farm Saturday afternoon when he was literally sawed to death by the buzzing saw.  He was taking away the wood from the saw.  There came a large piece which failed of being cut clear off.  In some way the heavy stick twisted around and pulled the lad into the saw.  The frame tipped forward pushing the saw still farther.

The gash went down through the young man’s head, deep across his ear.  But he did not die immediately.  Schweers ambulance was called from Shawano, and Dr. Schroeder came earlier with his car.  The Doctor saw that the boy would not live to the hospital and aid was administered at the McKenna home.  The boy lived only a short time after.

William was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Richie McKenna.  He was born in Angelica.  His grandfather was the late Alexander McKenna who was chairman of his town for several years.

He was one of five children n the family.  Besides his parents he leaves three brothers, Vernon, Stephen, and Ralph, and a sister Violet.

Because of the sympathy felt by the community, business men contributed to a funeral fund solicited for him by Ralph Baldwin.  Schoolmates of the unfortunate youth also contributed toward this fund.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at the Methodist Church in Shawano.  Rev. Ben Plopper officiating, a solo was sung by a girl from high school.  The pallbearers were three from Waukechon and three from Richmond, schoolmates and friends of the deceased.  Interment was in Woodlawn cemetery.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 5 Dec 1929

Underhill Painter Dies in Automobile Accident

The body of Albert Hintz, aged 45, of Underhill, was found Saturday morning in his Ford car, which had evidently crashed through the railing of the Leetown Bridge, spanning a branch of the Oconto River.

People living in that vicinity heard a crash about 5:30 P.M. Friday, but could not perceive anything amiss and did not investigate.  In the morning the top of the car was noticeable above the water.  Rescue work was begun immediately.  When the body was recovered, there was a large gash in the man’s head, and the body showed the effect of the water and cold.  It was surmised that life had been extinct for a number of hours.

Mr. Hintz was a painter by trade.  He is survived by a wife and two children.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Dec. 12, 1929

Pella Girl Dies as Results of Burns

Malinda, 3 year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Schmidt, town of Pella farmers, died after much suffering, following burns received when a pail of hot water tipped over on the kitchen floor due to the children playing.  The little girl suffered intensely until Saturday afternoon, when she was relieved of her suffering by death.  The accident occurred on Friday.

Shawano County Journal

Thurs 19 Dec 1929

Embarrass Barber Meets Violent Death

William Koehn is Killed by Automobile in the City of Milwaukee

A little black satchel, wedged in between the bumper and the radiator of an automobile, figured prominently in the arrest of two men who, last Friday night, ran into and killed William Koehn, a barber who comes from Embarrass, and who is well known to many of the brother-members of his profession in this locality.

After striking Koehn, the two men stopped, according to report, viewed the prostrate figure of the barber and then told each other “We didn’t kill that man.”  Then they drove on without attempting to give aid to their victim.

People who saw the accident obtained the license number of the automobile, and reported to the police.  Investigation revealed that the car belonged to Herman Schwartz of 541---50^th street, Milwaukee.  Upon visiting the home of Schwartz, and then looking over the automobile, police found the bag of tools and the shears-sharpening outfit of Koehl wedged between the bumper and radiator of the automobile.  Schwartz and his companion, Henry Wagenknecht, who lives but two doors from Schwartz, were taken into custody and held without charge pending inquest.  Koehn was a Spanish-American war veteran and also served in the World War.  He at one time ran a barber shop in Belle Plaine, but later became an itinerant barber, moving frequently from shop to shop, working a good share of the time in Milwaukee.  When tiring of barbering he was wont to take his outfit and go out and sharpen barber shears, and it was this sharpening outfit that was in the black bag at the time Mr. Koehn met his premature death.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Feb 13, 1930

 

Ernest Kugel Meets Accidental Death

Ernest Kugel, 23 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Kugel of the town of Waukechon, was killed in an accident 1 mile out of Caledonia, Ill., Tuesday morning.  Ernest left Shawano just 2 weeks ago to go to Illinois to work for the Western Union Telegraph company on one of their construction crews.  On this day they were working on a cable near a trolley line.  They had two hand cars lashed to the trolley car.  The men had just strung a wire and there remained a long end which had been cut off.  As Ernest stood in the hand car winding the cable on his hand and forearm to get a neat roll, the car started, the loose end of the wire caught on a spike in the track and pulled Ernest off.  He struck on his head and his neck was broken.  The body was brought to Shawano and the funeral will be held Saturday afternoon in the Waukechon church.  Ernest was born in the town of Waukechon on the home farm and has lived there all his life.  He had recently been working in one of the Wallrich camps at lily, which place he left when he got the position with the Western Union.  He went to school in the district school at home and has worked on the farm up to the present year.  He was a man well liked and a good industrious citizen.  His untimely death is mourned by all his acquaintances in Waukechon.  Besides his parents he leaves a brother, Frank, two sisters, Mrs. Frances Nachtwey and Miss Anna Kugel.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, May 1, 1930 

Mattoon Man Suicides at Home Of Sister

Chas. Lenss, aged 49 years, committed suicide Wednesday night at about 11:00 at the Otto Kasten home a mile south of Green Valley.  Some time ago he left his wife and children and went to the House of David at Benton Harbor, Michigan.  He tired of that a few years ago and returned to this county about three years ago.  He had been working at a mill at Mattoon the past winter, but came to the Kasten home about a month ago.

He had been to the Hampel home Wednesday evening, bur returned to the Kasten home about 10:00.  Here an argument arose over his attentions to his niece, the 15 year old daughter of the Kasten family, and he was requested to leave the house, whereupon he drew out a very sharp jackknife and slashed his throat, severing the main artery.  After committing the act he took a chair from one side of the house to the other and sat down, falling from the chair to the floor.  He liveed for about an hour after committing the deed.

Dr. Baldwin of Gillett was called and the coroner from Shawano was also summoned.  No inquest was deemed necessary.

Mr. Lenss was buried at Mattoon last Saturday afternoon, the Methodist minister from that place officiating at the cemetery.  The funeral was in charge of Undertaker Blum of Mattoon.

Those from Green Valley and vicinity who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Otto Kasten and Tressa; Earlyand August Hampel; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hampel, Clifford and Anita; Mr. and Mrs. L.F. Hampel.  Also Mrs. Ralph Smith of Milwaukee; Mrs. Geo. Lenss and daughter of DePere; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillips and children of Sturgeon Bay.  Two brothers, Willie and George preceded him in death.  He is survived by seven sisters, Mrs. Rosa Claus, Mrs. Henry Driess, of Mattoon, Mrs. Celia Hampel and Mrs. Otto Kasten, of Green Valley; Mrs. Crystal Sengstock of Bowler and Mrs. Tressa Phillips of Sturgeon Bay.

There are also his wife, a son and a daughter, whose whereabouts are unknown.

 

The Leader Advocate

Thursday, Oct. 23, 1930

Youth Shot When Gun Discharges

Ira Lutzow, 19, son of Mr. & Mrs. Albert Lutzow was shot and fatally wounded when his gun accidently discharged while hunting Monday.  Ira had gone into the swamp to hunt ducks with his brother and had put the gun, with the barrel pointing upward, against a log.  In an attempt to get on top of the log he slipped and the gun discharged sending the bullet through his abdomen and upward to the heart.  He was rushed immediately to the St. Vincent hospital at Green Bay where he died 24 hours later.  The body was brought to the Karth funeral home to be prepared for the burial.

Funeral services will be held at the Tilleda Lutheran church tomorrow afternoon with Rev. C Stubenvoll officiating, and interment will be made at the Tilleda cemetery.

Besides the parents the deceased is survived by four brothers.

LA

Thur 8 Jan 1931

INJURIES OF FALL KILL MRS WILMARTH

BIRNAMWOOD – Dale Cannon received a message Wed of the death of Mrs Carrie Wilmarth who passed away that morning at a hospital in Oshkosh from injuries she suffered several weeks ago as the result of a fall.  The deceased was a Birnamwood resident for over 25 years, previous to 3 years ago when she moved to Oshkosh.

 

 

LA

Thur 15 Jan 1931

A DUFFEK, 44, MATTOON MAN, IS A SUICIDE

Antone Duffek, 44, Mattoon father of 9 children, committed suicide at 3 AM Mon morning with a 16 gage single barrel shot gun.  Duffek placed the barrel under his chin and blew off his entire face.

Duffek went from his bedroom to the kitchen after talking to his wife about 3 o’clock in the morning.  Mrs Duffek left the bedroom and approached the kitchen as the shot gun was discharged, seeing her husband fall to the floor.  Duffek was said to be despondent over being out of employment, with such a large family to support.  Seven children remain at home while two are married.  The youngest child is but 2 years old.

It is said that Duffek was subject to despondency when hard going fell his way and the large family with no work seemed to weigh heavily upon his mind.

Coroner Walter Garfield and District Attorney Louis Cattau motored to Mattoon early Mon morning where they investigated the suicide after which no inquest was held – there being sufficient proof that nothing but suicide was possible.

 

SCJ

Thur 22 Jan 1931

ENRAGED BULL CAUSE OF FATAL PNEUMONIA

Funeral services for Frederick Lemberg, aged 63, a well-known farmer in the town of Hartland, were held Tue afternoon at 2 o’clock from St Paul’s Lutheran church, Bonduel.  The Rev W J Plischke officiated with interment in Lutheran cemetery.

About 2 weeks ago, while Mr Lemberg was working in his barnyard, he was badly injured by an enraged bull.  In some manner the bull stepped on the chain from his nose, which caused him to cease his attack on Mr Lemberg, the delay giving Mr Lemberg a chance to get over the fence and back to his home.  His injuries proved to be serious and later pneumonia developed, which caused his death.

The deceased was born in Augusta, Germany, Jan 18, 1867.  He came to America with his parents when less than a year old, and settled in the town of Hartford, establishing a substantial farm home, where he has lived until his death.  He was married to Miss Clara Busch, April 15, 1898.  Survivors are his wife and 1 son, John of Bonduel, and 4 daughters, Mrs Eugene Handrasch and Mrs Howard Falk, Milwaukee; Emma and Violet at home; also 3 grandchildren, 2 brothers and 1 sister.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 12 Feb 1931

RUTRH KROENKE KILLED INSTANTLY; OTHERS DIE

 

Three town of Richmond young people met death at the railroad crossing on County Trunk M near Shawano a few minutes before ten last Sunday evening and set practically the entire county in mourning.

One Killed Instantly

Ruth Kroenke, 18, was killed instantly as the coupler of the passenger train crashed the right side of the Ford Coupe in which she, her sister, Norma, 16 and a friend, Herman Nuske, 18, were riding.  Norma and Herman were rushed to Green Bay to the Bellin hospital, but both died from internal injuries and fractures.  Norma Kroenke bright little high school girl, who would have graduated in June, died at 2:30 am while young Nuske passed away at 12:45 Mon noon.

The accident occurred when the 2 girls and a boy were on their way to Shawano after having left a dance at Pella.  The young folks were out for a good time, -- and as chums, a good time was being had as only young folks can have a good time, -- when the accident happened.  Young Nuske was following a second party of friends and a third party was following Nuske.  The first car cleared the track, and evidently the unfortunate lad and his 2 friends felt safe enough in following the first car across.

Many Street Stories

Street talk about the city has it that the cars were racing; but that seems to be only street talk; as the parties in the three cars were the only witness.  The entire party, it is understood, was traveling together and had followed each other closely from Pella.  That a race was on has not been verified by the Leader-Advocate; and all such stories have been heard on the streets by those who were many blocks away from the accident it happened.

Passenger train No 109 of the Northwestern line had just pulled out of the Shawano station and was traveling about 25 miles an hour when it reached the County M crossing.  Engineer M E Hayes, who ran the engine, saw the danger was in sight and that the second and third cars might be victims.  He whistled but it was too late.  The Ford coupe of Herman Nuske was hooked over the coupled and the death of 3 very fine young Shawano County people was the results.

Come From Largest Families

Without exception, the 3 young people come from the largest families in Shawano County.  Scarcely can you discuss the subject anywhere without learning that the person you talk to is in some way, directly or indirectly, related to the 3 young folks.  They were all from the best and most respectable farm homes.  The 2 girls were said to be distantly related to the Nuske boy.

Today, the funeral will be held for the 3 at the St James Lutheran church in Shawano.  Undisputedly, the funeral is expected to be the largest that has ever been held in Shawano.  The large church in Shawano is being used because of the hundreds of friends and relatives who will jam the church in which the last rites will be held.  The relatives alone will fill the church, according to friends, who know the Kroenke and Nuske families well.

Norma Bright Girl

Norma Kroenke, was considered a very bright girl at Shawano High School, being only 16 and eligible for graduation from Shawano High School next June.

Ruth and Norma Kroenke were the daughter of Mr and Mrs Gus Kroenke of Red River and were born and raised on a farm in the town of Richmond.  They were the oldest children in a family of eight.  Besides their parents they leave to survive the following brothers and sisters, Doris, Marvin, Wilbert, Ethel, Roy and Ordas.

Herman Nuske is survived by his parents, Mr and Mrs Nuske, Red River, 3 sisters, and 1 brother, Sarah, at home, Mrs Dora Dallman, of Caroline, Mrs Louis Ringle, who lives on County Trunk M, and George of Antigo.

Rev Cassens Officiates

Rev F G Cassens, pastor of the Stony Hill Congregation will officiate at the services this afternoon.  By holding the last rites at the Shawano church, it is hoped that there will be sufficient room for relatives and friends to find seating space.

Pallbearers for the Kroenke girls will be Ruben Engel, Frank Engel, Harry Katzenmeyer, Roman Pingel, Clarence Beversdorf, Herbert Beversdorf, Arnold Beversdorf, Elton Beversdorf, Bennie Habeck, Emil Habeck, Rolland Habeck, and Rueben Springhorn.  Pallbearers for Herman Nuske will be Edward Justman, Rueben Wolf, Harry Martens, Harrison Buettner, George Huebner and H Schumacher.

 

SCJ

Thur 12 Feb 1931

 

HOLD TRIPLE FUNERAL TODAY FOR KROENKE SISTERS AND HERMAN NUSKE

A fatal accident in which 3 young people lost their lives, occurred Sunday evening, when Northwestern train Number 107 struck the coupe in which they were riding, killing 1 instantly, and injuring the others to an extent that they died later in the Bellin hospital at Green Bay.

They young man, Herman Nuske, Jr, aged 19, and his companions, Miss Ruth Kroenke, 19, and her sister Norma, 16 had gone to Pella, according to reports, to attend a dance.  Not finding there the companions they sought, they decided to return to the Pleshek pavilion, and it was while on route to this place that fate overtook them and ended their lives.

The accident occurred at the grade crossing just west of the paper mill, on county trunk M.  Here the ill-fated car, a Ford Coupe, was struck by the Northwestern passenger train, going, it is said, about 25 miles an hour.  The coupe was struck just behind the right front wheel, and the occupants of the car were pinned in the wreckage, from which they never had a chance to escape.  Norma, the younger of the 2 sisters, was seated on the side struck by the locomotive, and suffered several fractures and contusions, which resulted in her death early Mon morning, at the Bellin hospital.  Ruth, seated in the

Middle of the car, was dead when taken from the wreckage, and the driver was so severely injured that he died shortly after noon on Monday.

Almost immediately after the accident, the injured persons were rushed to the hospital in the Schweers ambulance and the body of the older of the two sisters was placed in the baggage car of the train and taken back to the station, from whence it was removed to the Karth funeral home.

All 3 of the victims of the accident were born in the Red River district on route two out of Shawano, and have lived their lives there.  They were popular and well thought of young folks, who enjoyed home, life, and who had hosts of friends.  Norma was a senior in Shawano high school, where she was considered an excellent student, as is evidenced by the fact that she would have graduated in Jun at an age exceeding 16 years by only a few weeks.

Ruth Kroenke was born on Dec 5, 1912, the daughter of Mr and Mrs G E Kroenke.  Norma’s birth date was Mar 23, 1915.  They are survived by their heart-broken parents, and 4 brothers and 2 sisters.  The bothers are Marvin, Wilber, Roy and Ordas.  The sisters are Doris and Ethel.  Sharing their sorrow are Grandfather Kroenke, Grandmother Erdmann, and a wealth of friends who feel most keenly for the stricken family.

Herman Nuske is the son of Mr and Mrs Herman Nuske, Sr, and was born on Sep 21, 1912.  He is survived by his parents, 3 sisters, Mrs Dora Dallman, of Caroline; Mrs Louis Ringle, who lives near Shawano on county trunk M, and Sarah, who lives at home; and one brother, George, who operates a cheese factory near Antigo.

The 3 young people are being laid to rest today, Thur, in a triple funeral, services being held at the respective homes at about 1 o’clock, and at the St James Lutheran church in this city.  Rev F G Cassens officiating.  The pallbearers for the sisters are: Ruben Engel, Frank Engel, Harry Katzenmeyer, Roman Pingel, Clarence Beversdorf, Herman Beversdorf, Arnold Beversdorf, Elton Beversdorf, Bennie Habeck, Emil Habeck, Roland Habeck and Ruben Springborn.  The pallbearers for the Nuske youth are Edw. Justman, Ruben Wolf, Harry Martens, Harrison Buettner, George Huebner and Harvey Schumacher. 

 

LA

Thur 19 Feb 1931

THOUSANDS ATTEND FUNERAL OF THREE TRAIN VICTIMS

On Thursday, Feb 12, the bodies of the 3 young victims of the terrible R. R. crossing accident were accompanied to their last resting place by a host of relatives and friends.  The Lutheran church at Stoney Hill, of which these young people had been members and deemed too small for the large gathering, so the ceremonies were held at St James Lutheran church in Shawano.  Even here the crowd standing outside was larger than that which found room inside.  The Rev Frank Cassens of Stony Hill officiated, basing his words of comfort to the bereaved mourners, in the German language, on Gen. 37, 34, 35, and addressing the large gathering in a short English sermon on the words of Rev. 9, 12.  After the service an endless stream of friends and acquaintances paid their last respects to the deceased by filing past the 3 biers.  It was 6 o’clock before the processions reached the cemeteries at Stony Hill and Red River.

 

SCJ

Thur 26 Feb 1931

RONALD NISCHKE INSTANTLY KILLED, TWO OTHER ARE BADLY HURT IN CRASH

Ronald Nischke, 17, was killed and his brother, Norbert, 21 was seriously injured, when their car, collided with that of Edward Mayer, 25 on the “Pleasant Valley” corner, about a mile east of Advance, shortly be for 9 o’clock Wed morning.  Mayer received minor injuries.  All 3 lived on farms in that vicinity.

The Nischke brothers were driving north from their home in the township of Green Valley, to a neighboring farm.  Mayer was coming east on County Trunk E, on his way to the village of Green Valley and collided with the Nischke car at the intersection, where Highway 32 joins the county trunk.  According to witness, the Nischke car turned over twice and finally landed in the ditch, a mass of wreckage.  Norbert who was driving, lay on one side of the road, having been thrown out, and Ronald was on the opposite side.  He was killed instantly.

Mayer was hurled through the windshield of his car, as it swerved around into the Edward Winter cheese factory which is located on the northeast corner.  The car was jammed under the intake platform of the factory.  It is reported that the plaster on the inside of the side wall of the factory was cracked by the impact.  The driver received severe cuts and bruises and was taken to a doctor’s office at Gillett to have his wounds dressed.  His home is near Advance, where he lives on a small farm with his parents.

LA

Thur 26 Feb 1931

ROLAND AND NORBERT NISCHKE CRASH WITH CAR WEDNESDAY

Roland Nischke, 17, son of Mr and Mrs Paul Nischke of Mud-town, near Green Valley, was killed instantly when the truck in which he and his brother Norbert were riding, Wed morning collided with a Ford coach driven by Ervin Meyer at the Mud-town Cheese Factory.

Brother May Recover

Roland was driving the car while his brother, Norbert was in the seat beside him.  Norbert was rushed to the Oconto Falls hospital where they found that his collar bone was broken and that he had received a badly fractured skull.  It is expected, however, that he will recover.

Ervin Meyer, son of Fred Meyer, who lives one-half mile east of Boozetown, was taken to Gillett to have scratches and bruises cared for.  Meyer is 23 years old.

Crash at Crossroad

The accident happened when the 2 cars approached the cheese factory belonging to Ed Winters which is at the road crossing in Mud-town and is known as the Pleasant Valley Cheese Factory.  Robert and Norbert Nischke were coming from the south going to the Ellefson farm to tap maple trees.  Ervin Meyer, coming from the west, was going to Morgan, Oconto County, to help his brother make cheese.  Meyer drove a new Ford coach and Nischke drove a small Ford mild truck.  The Meyer car struck the Nischke truck on the left side directly where the driver, Roland, was seated, and the 17 year old lad was killed instantly.  The front of the Meyer car was badly smashed and the Nischke car was found 50 feet from the corner.

It is reported that there are no stop signs shown either way on the intersection and apparently neither driver saw the other.  Both intended to cross the intersection without turning.  The Meyer car struck the Winter Cheese factory taking off 5 2x4’s and stopped when it hit an intake tank at the receiving end of the factory.

Life Was Gone

Life was gone when Roland Nischke was rescued from the smashed wreck.

The Nischke family was notified yesterday noon that Norbert would probably recover from the accident.

Roland Nischke, born Mar 20, 1913, is the son of Mr and Mrs Paul Nischke of the Town of Green Valley.  Roland spent his entire life on the farm where his parents had moved one year previous to his birth.  He leaves to mourn his parents and 5 sisters, Esther 20, Marie 16, Marcella 19, Adeline 8, Alice 6; and 4 brothers, Norbert 19, Elmer 14, Water 12, and Paul 2.

Arrangements Not Yet Made

The funeral arrangements have not yet been made but will undoubtedly be conducted at the house and church near the Pleasant Valley Corner.  The church is in charge of Rev Schroeder.

Both District Attorney Louis Cattau and Corner Walter Garfield were called from Shawano to make account of the accident.

 

SCJ

Thur 5 Mar 1931

 

HOLD FUNERAL SERVICES FOR ROLAND NISCHKE

Funeral services for Roland Nischke, 17, who was killed in an auto accident on Feb 25^th, were held from the home at 1:30 pm Monday and from the St John’s Lutheran church near Advance at 2 o’clock.  The Rev Schroeder delivered the funeral sermon.  Burial was in the church cemetery.

Roland is survived by his parents, 4 brothers and 5 sisters: Esther, Norbert, Marie, Elmer, Walter, Marcella, Adeline, Alice and Paul, all at home.  He is survived by his grandparents, Mr and Mrs Henry Werner, and a large number of other near relatives.

His was one of the largest funeral ever seen in the town of Green Valley; not one-half of those who attended were able to get into the church.

The floral tributes were many and beautiful.  Cousins of the deceased were pall bearers.  Our heartfelt sympathy is with the parents in this sad bereavement.

Norbert Nischke, who was also seriously hurt is reported to be slowly improving, now having longer intervals of consciousness, and is now able to realize that he met with an accident,

 

 

LA

Thur 12 Mar 1931

Elmer Eleffson Dead When Found By Woman

Elmer Eleffson, 56, woodsman and lumberjack, was found dead beside the road near Thayerville Tue night about 6 o’clock.  The death came after a somewhat shady association of the afternoon, but physicians and county officials blame the loss of life to alcoholic poisoning.

Had Cashed $60 Check

Eleffson, who had worked in the woods for his brother Ed, of Wittenberg, during the winter, had cashed a check of about $60.00 in Antigo Sat night and returned Sun to his brother’s home.  Tue afternoon, while at the Wissman Horse Barn, 2 friends from Antigo appeared on the scene to buy horses.  One of the men apparently know Eleffson and had worked in the woods with him.  The two proceeded to drink liquor and in due course of time were badly under the influence of alcoholic drinks.  No one in Wittenberg know the names of the 2 men, however, the faces had been familiar around the town.

At 5 o’clock the barn foreman told the 2 strangers to take Eleffson to the home of his brother.  It seems that the Ed Eleffson home must have been hard to find for the 2 men and the car were later seen at the Wissman barn where one of the strangers tried the door and it was thought that they were planning to leave Eleffson there.  The other stranger had proceeded to journey to Antigo, walking.  It is thought that the strangers were taking Eleffson to Antigo with them and that Eleffson must have demanded that he get out and walk back to Wittenberg.  He was found beside the road near the Bill Quirk saloon at Thayerville between Eland and Wittenberg.  A sister of Quirk found the man lying beside the road.

Physician Is Called

Dr Everson from Wittenberg was called and the doctor pronounced the man dead.  This was at 6 o’clock and a half hour after the 2 intoxicated men had been seen at the Wissman barn.

Corner Garfield and District Attorney Louis Cattau were called to the scene of the death, but upon cross examination there was no evidence of foul play of any kind.  Brothers of the deceased claimed that he had some money with him on Tue morning, but only 26 cents was found in Eleffson pocket.

Heart Trouble, Booze Blamed

After careful investigation, Dr Everson pronounced the death due to heart trouble.  He stated that Eleffson had been troubled with his heart and high blood pressure and that the death was caused by alcoholism.

It is thought that the 2 men with whom Eleffson was drinking, returned to Antigo; although they have not been located at the present time.  They were both quite badly intoxicated, the one starting to walk by himself to Antigo.  It was thought that the one with which Eleffson was more friendly finally overtook the other one, both returning to their homes in their Ford.

Foul Play Not Evident

Further evidence stated that Eleffson was not robbed as employees around the Wissman barn heard him ask for money during the afternoon, proving to some extent that he must have been broke from buying liquor.

 

 SCJ

19 Mar 1931

ESTHER OLSON MEETS DEATH WHEN CAR CRASHES INTO BRIDGE NEAR NEOPIT

Miss Esther Olson was killed and Jerome Grignon, Jr was slightly injured in an automobile accident on the Phlox road early Mon morning, between the hours of 12 and 1 o’clock.

The 2 young people had been at Antigo to attend a picture show.  People from Neopit saw them leave the Antigo theatre after the second show at 11:15 Sun night.

They took their car, a coupe, and started home to Neopit.  At the concrete bridge which covers the West Branch of the Wolf, their car cut down several of the posts at the turn, turned a complete somersault and landed on the opposite side of the River.

Marks showed that the car, after cutting down 5 posts hit the concrete abutment of the bridge, which is located between Zoar Settlement and Phlox,

Jerry went back to Phlox for help.  He found Mr Meating, proprietor of the garage, and the 2 came back to the scene of the accident, but the 2 men could not lift the car.  They rushed on to Neopit and got help.

When the rescuers arrived they found Miss Olson dead, a bruise on her forehead, and her body submerged in the water.  The cushion of the car was over her face.

Miss Olson would have been 21 years old the 27^th of the present month.  For the last year and a half she had been private secretary to George C Hammer, superintendent of the Neopit government mills.  Her father is dead.  Her mother lives in Shell Lake, Wisconsin.  She has a brother in Superior who came immediately upon receipt of the news of the terrible accident.

Jerry Grignon is a graduate of the Shawano high school with the class pf 1929.  He was a prominent athlete having been captain of the football team and also captain of the basketball team during his career.  He was known over the Northeastern district as a star athlete.  He was very slightly injured and will have no permanent physical set-backs...

Miss Olson’s body was brought to the Garfield chapel where services were held Mon evening Rev Plopper officiate.  He has been the young lady’s pastor at Neopit.  The remains were sent to Shell Lake for interment. 

Miss Olson was a beautiful girl, of very likable personality, smart, capable and faithful.  Her most untimely death is a distinct shock to the many friends she has acquired in the year and a half of life in this vicinity.

 

 

LA

Thur 19 Mar 1931

ESTHER OLSON, 21, VICTIM IN CAR ACCIDENT

Miss Esther Olson, 21, stenographer in the Government office at Neopit was instantly killed at I o’clock Mon morning when the car in which she and her companion, Jerry Grignon, young Menominee Indian, were riding crashed into a ditch on highway 47, 7 miles south of Phlox.  All evidence shows that the girl was killed instantly.

Returning from Show

Jerry Grignon and Miss Olson were returning home from a moving picture show in Antigo when the accident happened.  According to Grignon the car struck some loose gravel at the approach of a bridge on 47 over the Wolf River.  The car swerved to the side and tore off 4 poles which were guarding the embankment.  The car landed in the water at the edge of the river.  It was at first thought that Miss Olson was drowned from being locked in the car.  However, later examination showed that the girl was evidently killed from injury and not from drowning.  It is rumored that either of the 2 were driving the car at the time of the accident.

Grignon managed to free himself from the Essex sedan, which he had been driving for the last year.  After being unable to free the girl from the car, half dazed, he started walking to Phlox to summon help.  The help he got was unable to turn the car over and a wrecker was brought and the car was raised from the river with Miss Olson inside.  Young Grignon was so upset that he was given a hypodermic in order to quiet him down.

Remains Brought Here

The remains were brought to the Garfield undertaking parlors at Shawano from where they were shipped to Shell Lake for burial.  A short service was held at the Garfield Chapel at 7:30 Tue evening with Rev Ben C Plopper officiating.

Jerry Grignon is well known and popular among Shawano sport fans and high school students.  He was a former star on Shawano High School’s basketball team and captain of the high school basketball team for 2 years.

 

 

SCJ

26 Mar 1931

ROYALTON MAN ENDS LIFE BY HANGING SELF

Emil Stillman, 36, Royalton farmer living about a mile and a half south of the village, was found dead in the barn on his farm, a suicide by hanging.

His lifeless body was discovered suspended from a beam in the barn by his brother William who went in search of him after he had been missing for some time.  Sheriff Arthur Steenbock and Undersheriff James Hanson of Waupaca were called and an inquest ordered.  Adam Schider, Coroner, returned a verdict of suicide.

Despondency over ill health was blame for the act.

Stillman had seemed exceedingly disturbed mentally throughout Monday and in the evening had become abusive and threatening to members of his family.  The following morning a physician was called and according to reports ordered Mr Stillman to Waupaca for a mental examination.

Sometime Tue afternoon Mr Stillman left his home and when his absence was noticed his brother, William of Fremont, who was visiting at the Stillman home that day, made a search for him.

 

LA

Thur 2 Apr 1931

Prominent Business Man Is Buried Monday

Fred Bocher, 45, prominent Cecil business man and mortician, committed suicide early Thur morning when he hanged himself in the basement of his store.  He was found by his son John at about 11 o’clock.  The body was still warm, leading to the belief that the act had been committed only a short time before.

Mr Bocher arose early in the morning and following his usual custom went to the basement of the store.  It was believed, to build a fire.  He failed to appear in the store or at home and the family thinking that he was out on business, made no search for him.  Later his son John upon entering the basement, found the body of his father hanging on a rope suspended from the ceiling.

No Motive Known

No facts have been disclosed proving that the act was premeditated nor is any motive known for committing the suicide.  Mr Bocher has always enjoyed good health and as far as is known, his business was good.  He succeeded his father in the hardware and furniture business in Cecil and in connection was funeral director at Cecil for the past 25 years.

The deceased was born at Cecil in Sep, 1885 and has been a lifetime resident of that village.  In June, 1908 he was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Leeps.  For the past 10 years he and a brother-in-law, Ed Zachow, took over the management of his father’s business known as the H Bocher and Son Store, in which the former still holds an interest.

2 Sons Survive

Besides his widow, he is survived by his parents, Mr and Mrs Herman Bocher, and 2 sons, John, 20, and Fred, Jr 18, all of Cecil.  Three sisters, Mrs Paul Gross, Mrs Ed Zachow, Cecil; Mrs Rueben Paulson, Riley and 2 brothers, Herman, Philadelphia, Pa, and Walter of Advance, also survive.

Funeral services were held Mon afternoon at 1 o’clock from the residence with Rev Recht of the Evangelical church of Cecil officiating, and burial took place at the Woodlawn cemetery at Shawano.  Pallbearers were Alb. Baehr, Gust Thieme, Henry Schultz, Wm Goers, and Henry Reisner.

The funeral was attended by a large and sympathetic circle of friends and relatives, who came from far and near to pay their last respect to the deceased.  Mr Bocher, through his business connections, was widely known throughout the county and surrounding communities, and his tragic death came as a blow.

The church was filled to capacity, the aisles, the basement, the stairs, and yet, there were many outside the church.  Among those from out of town attending were: Mr and Mrs Henry Luebs, Mr R Schmelze, Wausau; Mr and Mrs Wollschlegel, Coleman; John Luebs, Gillett; Mr and Mrs Gust Bocher, Rev and Mrs Rumpf, George Husman and family, Emil and Leo Thibaudeau and families, Gillett.

 

SCJ

Thur 2 Apr 1931

FRED BOCHER HANGS HIMSELF IN BASEMENT OF CECIL HARDWARE STORE

The Cecil community and the whole eastern half of the county was greatly shocked Thur when the news came like lightning out of a clear sky that Fred Bocher, a prominent Cecil business man and undertaker had taken his life by hanging.

His son John, aged 19, went down into the basement of the hardware store to get some materials for a customer upon whom he was waiting.  There he found the body of his father hanging on a rope attached to the ceiling.  This was shortly before noon.  Dr Terlinden of Bonduel was called and he said that Mr Bocher had been dead not more than 2 hours.  The body was still warm.

It was evident that death had taken great will-power, for the position showed that Mr Bocher had stood upon the floor and leaned against the tight rope deliberately until life was extinct.  He could have changed his mind and saved himself by simply standing erect.

The cause of his act is believed to be worry over ill health.  He was convinced that he had a cancer or some other extraneous growth that would slowly lake his life, and his worry about his condition, which he kept secret, grew from week to week.

He was son of one of the oldest families in the Cecil community.  His father, Herman Bocher, is a pioneer hardware man of Cecil, in fact, a pioneer for the county business.  Ten years ago, Fred Bocher and Ed Zachow, who had married Fred’s sister, took over the business from the senior Mr Bocher, and have conducted the hardware store.

Twenty-three years ago Mr Bocher took up the undertaking profession and has conducted it in connection with his hardware business.  Soon after entering the undertaking sphere he married Miss Hulda Leeps, of the town of Hartland.  There are 2 children, Frederick and John, both of whom are alumni of the Shawano high school.

Mr Bocher was a member of the St John Evangelical church in Cecil.  He was also a member of the Elks Lodge at Green Bay.  He found his best love for sports in fishing and hunting.  He was a very kindly man and was very well liked by the people who knew him best.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon.  The pallbearers were Wm Baehr, Albert Baehr, Henry Reisner, Gust Thiemer, Wm Goers and Henry Schultz.  The body was brought to Shawano for burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The funeral was held at the Evangelical church of which Mr Bocher was a member.  The services were conducted by the Rev George Recht, pastor of the church.  Music was rendered by the choir.  It was one of the largest if not the very largest funerals ever held in that church.

 

 

LA

Thur 2 Apr 1931

FARMER HANGS SELF BY ROPE TUESDAY A.M.

The body of Richard Krueger, 62, well known town of Washington farmer, was found hanging from a rope in the upper story of his granary Tue noon.  He left the house shortly after 8 o’clock in the morning and was not seen by the family since that time.  His son, Dewey had gone to the woods to cook maple syrup and the remainder of the family assumed that the elder Mr Krueger was with him.  He failed to appear at noon and Dewey, upon making a search, found his father strangled to death in one of the farm buildings.

Ill Health Blamed

Mr Krueger had been in ill health having recently suffered a nervous breakdown and it is believed that his condition prompted him to commit the act.   

The deceased, a former resident of Shawano, was born in the town of Washington in 1868 and lived with his parents on a farm in that vicinity until the time of his marriage to Miss Matilda Groonwald, when the couple located in the city of Shawano where Mr Krueger was employed for a number of years.  Upon the death of his mother in 1900, he returned with his family to the homestead farm in the town of Washington.  He assisted his father on the farm until 10 years ago when he again came to live in his home in this city, removing to the farm in 1930.

Leaves Aged Father

Besides his wife, he leaves an aged father, Fred Krueger of this city, one son Dewey on the home farm and a daughter, Mrs Albert Ebert of Bonduel.  Two brothers, Fred, Berry Lake, Art, Shawano and 5 sisters, Mrs Annie Hartman, Oshkosh, Mrs August Marohl, Mrs Fred Retzlaff, Shawano, Mrs William Goers, Cecil, and Mrs Robert Marohl, Underhill also survive.

Funeral services will be held Sat afternoon at 2 o’clock from the home and interment will take place at the Woodlawn Cemetery.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, April 9, 1931

August Teetzen Dies As Result Of Burns

August Teetzen, one of the pioneer residents of the town of Richmond, died at the home of his son, Monday morning at 6:00.  Several weeks ago he was helping to burn brush in the woods and his clothing caught fire.  He was severely burned and suffered greatly from the misfortune.  Later an infection set in which resulted in his death.

Mr. Teetzen was born in Germany on Jan. 31, 1853.  In 1875 he came to America, coming directly to Belle Plaine, where he lived for several years and then moved to Richmond.  Here he established one of the finest farms in the county.  Throughout the years he has lived in Richmond he has ever been ready to be of assistance to his neighbors and friends.

About 2 years ago his wife died and since that time his son has made his home on the farm with his father.  Left to survive are his son, Louis, one daughter, Mrs. Esther Buettner, and 2 sisters, Mrs. Wm. Krueger of Pella and Mrs. Wm. Bareknecht of Richmond.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the St. Jacobi church in the town of Richmond, where Mr. Teetzen and his family have been lifelong members.  Many people came from throughout the county to pay their respects to their venerable pioneer friend.

 

LA

Thur 9 Apr 1931

Burns Are Fatal To Town Of Richmond Farmer

Critically burned Mar 11 while burning brush, August Teetzen, 78, passed away at the home of his son in the town of Richmond early Mon morning.  Mr Teetzen had gone to the swamp to burn brush, his clothes caught fire and before members of the family could reach the spot, fire had spread over half his clothing and had severely burned his body.  A physician was called immediately but due to his weakened condition and his advance age, he failed to respond to medical treatment and on Apr 6 life passed from him.

Born in Dannenberg, Pommerania, Germany on Jan 31, 1853, the deceased came to America at the age of 20, locating in Belle Plaine where he purchased a farm.  In 1881 he was united in marriage to Bertha Raasch who preceded him in death.  The couple then moved to the town of Richmond and for the past 38 years, Mr Teetzen has resided on a farm, now operated by his son, Louis with whom the deceased has made his home.

Two children survive, Louis on the homestead farm and Esther, now Mrs Buettner of Shawano.  One brother, William and 2 sisters, Mrs Willian Barfknecht, Town of Richmond and Mrs Wm Krueger, Belle Plaine also mourn his death.

Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the St James Church in Richmond following a brief service at the home.  Rev W C Baumann will conduct the service and interment will be at the adjoining cemetery.

LA

Thur 9 Apr 1931

H KING DIES FROM LACK OF AIR, BELIEF

Harry King, 55, town of Almond farmer died early Sun morning from an automobile accident which occurred about one-half mile west of Five Corners, when he was returning from Bowler with 2 companions.

Starts to Walk Home

Mr King had started to walk home from Bowler and was picked up by Walter Spiegelberg and Louis Schnoor who were also returning from town and who live near the King home.  It was between 12 and 1 o’clock when they arrived at the Spiegelberg home and drove on to take King to his home which is located about one and one-half miles further down the road.  It is believed that the Ford truck which they were driving struck a wash out in the road and the driver lost control of the car, causing it to tip over into a kettle hole some 15 feet deep.

The 3 occupants were pinned beneath the wreckage and were not found until 7 am when Frank Uttecht passed the scene on his way to the cheese factory.  He summoned help immediately and the 3 men were recovered from beneath the truck.  King had died at the break of day, according to physicians.  Had he been able to free himself from beneath the load, it is believed that he might have lived, but due to the position in which he was lying and the weight continuously pressing down upon him, suffocation ended his life.

Schnoor Remains Conscious

Schnoor remained conscious and made every effort to free himself that he might help his companion, He managed, with one hand, to dig a hole in the sand large enough to allow him to crawl from beneath the truck, only to find that the other arm was caught and he, too, was obliged to await help.  Besides a badly injured arm he received various cuts and bruises about his body.  Spiegelberg sustained only minor injuries and suffered mostly from exposure.  Both however, are confined to their homes.

Funeral services were held on Wed afternoon for Harry King who had reached the age of 55 years, 1 month and 16 days.  Besides his wife he is survived by 2 daughters and 3 sons.  Both the daughters are married and the sons range in age from 8 to 17 years.

SCJ

Thur 9 Apr 1931

HENRY KING AND TWO OTHERS WERE PINNED UNDER CAR FOR NEARLY 6 HOURS

Henry King, 56 year old farmer living about 3 miles north of Bowler, died while held captive under his over-turned automobile Sunday afternoon, while his 2 companions, Walter Spiegelberger and Louis Schnorr, who were also pinned under the car, escaped serious injury.

It is claimed that the 3 men had been celebrating the Eastertide at Bowler, and had partaken liberally of intoxicants.  They started on their way home, with Spiegelberger driving, and had nearly reached the (?)ing, when the driver lost control of the car while going up a slight incline and the car overturned into the ditch.  The 3 men were pinned under the car and were held prisoners for 6 hours before a milk-truck driver drove along the unfrequented highway about 7 o’clock in the evening, and released the 2 who were still living.  They estimated that King had died about an hour previously.

The deceased member of the party was well known in the western part of the county, where he had lived all of his life.  He is survived by a widow and 3 children.

 

LA

Thur 16 Apr 1931

ACCIDENT VICTIM IS LAID TO REST WED.

Mr Harry King, who passed away while pinned underneath a small truck was laid to rest in the Town of Almon cemetery Wed.  Rev Legget officiated at the services while John Gresen, Frank Lepke, Richard Magewske, Ed Guenther, Fred Felskie, and Albert Leiskow acted as pallbearers.  Flower girls were Lorrain and Elsie Radun, and Lillian and Helen Felske.

Harry King was born Feb 20, 1876 in Berlin, Germany.  He came with his parents to America, settled in Philadelphia.  Harry later moved to Shawano County and on Apr 8, 1901 was united in marriage to Clara Parker at Birnamwood.  The couple spent their entire married life in the Town of Almon.

Mourning the deceased are his wife, 3 children, Mrs Walter Westphal, Wausau; Mrs Jay Plopper, Hammond, Ind; Mrs Henry Wendt, Poysippi, Wis; 3 sons, George, John and Walter; 2 brothers, Fred and Edward of Philadelphia; 2 sisters, Mrs Anna Rekow, Town of Almon, and Miss Emma King, Philadelphia.

Out of town friends and relatives at the funeral were Mr and Mrs Plopper, Hammond, Ind; Mr and Mrs Walter Westphal, Wausau; Mr and Mrs Henry Wendt, Poysippi; Mr and Mrs John Asher, Shawano; Mr and Mrs Frank Asher, Birnamwood; Mr and Mrs Frank Page and Ione, Gresham; Mr and Mrs Ed Rekow, Suring; Mrs Albert Bastil, Mr and Mrs C Westphal, Mrs Ehman, and Mr and Mrs F Krull, all of Birnamwood; and Mrs F Nearing of Eland.

 

LA

Thur 30 Apr 1931

LOG ROLLS OVER H PLUDEMAN, DIES AT WAUSAU HOSPITAL

Injuries sustained when a log rolled over him, were fatal to Herman Pludemann, resident of Whitcomb who passed away at a Wausau hospital Sun morning.  The accident occurred Sat following which he was immediately rushed to the hospital.  His wife and brothers, William of Shawano and Charles of Bonduel were at his bedside when death claimed him.

The deceased is survived by his aged father, his widow and 5 brothers, William, Shawano, Charles, Albertona, Lewis, Bonduel, John and one sister.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Pludeman home and burial was in the Woodlawn cemetery.  A Wittenberg minister officiated at the last rites.  Pallbearers were 6 nephews, Henry and Lewis Pludeman, Emil, Eddie, Walter and Adolph Pludeman of town of Richmond.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 18 Jun 1931

MARTIN PETERS ATTEMPTS SUICIDE

Martin Peters some time during the night of Mon made a so-far unsuccessful attempt to take his life.  Just when he committed the rash act is not known, but it was either Mon night or Tue morning.  He is now in the Shawano hospital and it is thought that he probably will recover.

Early Tue morning one of John Hansen’s boys found Mr Peters lying unconscious on the road near the Hansen farm.  The farm is out west of Shawano and is known as the John Hansen milk depot.  Mr Hansen established a milk route from that farm a few years ago.  Since his recent death Mrs Hansen has carried on the business.  Peters worked for Hansen for some years, and his wife still lives at the Hansen farm.  The Peters have not been living together for some time.

The Hansen boy upon the discovery of the prone body, called Oliver Clark.  They thought he was helplessly intoxicated and brought him to the sheriff office.  He was cleaned up, and it was found that there was blood in his cap.  At this juncture the Hansen boy brought in a 22 caliber pistol which he had found near where Peters was discovered.

Doctors were called and a small wound not much larger than a pin hole was noted in his forehead.  The man was taken to the Cantwell offices for an x-ray and the negative showed plainly that the bullet had gone the entire length of the brain and was lodged in the back part of the head at the base of the brain.

The injured man was taken to the hospital and is still living and it is possible that he will recover.

Peters has just been released from a 10 day sentence for drunkenness.  He had also been charged with issuing bad checks.  District Attorney Cattau’s investigation shows that the pistol was purchased just the day before at the Farmers Hardware store.  It is a little target pistol and was bought, so Peters said, for target practice.

The following note was found in his pocket, written to his estranged wife.

“Say Mary: Give my watch to Elroy and the deed of the cemetery, you will find in my red pocket-book in my coat.  I hope you will think of me sometimes, so goodbye forever.”

He had gone the day before to Gresham and had secured the deed from Walter Schmidt.

 

18 Jun 1931

Thursday Shawano Leader Advocate

Submitted by DEBORAH WALSH

        Man of Sixty Shoots Self Thru Head
        Twenty Two Bullet Lodges In Brain of Victim
        Leaves Note to Wife
        Buys Gun and Shells at Farmers Hwd. Monday

       

Martin Peters, 63, Shawano farm hand, shot himself through the head with a rifle Monday night and now lies in the Shawano Municipal Hospital with a bullet in the rear portion of his brain.
       

Condition is Serious
       

Early in the week, Peters was not expected to live, but late yesterday county officials after conferring with physicians reported that the wounded man was in an improved condition.
       

Peters came to Shawano Monday noon and bought a gun and some shells at the Farmers Hardware Store. He then went to Gresham to make arrangements for a cemetery lot, after which he returned to Shawano. He shot himself sometime Monday night and lay beside the road near the Hanson farm where he was found Tuesday morning in a stupor, after which he was removed to the hospital.
       

Family troubles were said to be the cause of the suicide attempt. Peters had been living in Shawano recently while his wife, Mary, lived at the John Hanson farm where she worked. A note left for his wife contained the following:
       

Writes Note to Wife
       

"Say Mary, give my watch to Elroy, and the deed of the cemetery you will find in my red pocket book in my coat pocket. Hope you will think of me sometime, so goodbye forever." The note was written on white wrapping paper and held no signature.
       

The bullet entered the front of the skull and lodged in the brain in the rear portion of the head. Authorities are rather surprised to see improvement in the man's condition.
       

Peters was formerly a mail carrier at Lyndhurst years ago. Definite reasons for the attempted suicide have not been learned.

 

From Jeanne Rognlie: Either this was just written up for family or this was submitted to newspapers quite a few weeks after Rutger died:
 

Rutger Martin Peters, born 1868 and died June 18, 1931.
       

R. Martin Peters was born at sea to Henry R. and Mary Annie Peters, who were of Dutch descent, while immigrating Holland to the USA.
       

He was united in marriage March 16, 1893 to Mary Ann Sperberg, who was born in Ontario, Canada, daughter of August and Maria Sperberg. They were married in Belle Plaine by Rev. James Cooper, a Methodist minister.
       

After their marriage the couple lived in the Gresham area. Mr. Peters worked for the United States Postal Service and later on the section crew for a railroad.
       

The couple was blessed with six children, all of them survived at the time of their parent’s death. He is buried on the cemetery east of Gresham on Cherry Road.
 

 

 

SCJ

Thur 25 June 1931

New London Men Fall Dead From Poisoning

 

Tests of the stomachs of Henry Kopitzke and Louis Hoffman, the two New London men who died in great agony at a dance between New London and Weyauwega Sat evening, were reported on today, and it is found that both stomachs contained strychnine.  County officers are putting forth every effort to find how the poison was administered.

Tragedy stilled the merriment at a barn dance near New London late Sat night when 2 of the celebrators fell victim to a mysterious malady, in the midst of an old fashioned square dance and died within 5 minutes.

The dead are Harry Kopitzke, 48, a widower and the father of five children and Louis Hoffman, 35, a World War Veteran and father of 3 children.  Both men were New London Laborers.  Coroner Adam Schider and Sheriff Arthur Steenbock of Waupaca County launched an immediate investigation, but Sun night both officials said they were baffled as to cause of the deaths.

Inquest Is Baffled

The coroner promptly impaneled a jury and an inquest was conducted early Sunday, but was continue until Jun 29 when it was deemed essential that the stomachs of the victims be sent to Madison or Milwaukee for a chemical analysis.

Rigidity of the bodies, the coroner said, indicated to him that there was a possibility of Strychnine poisoning.  But no facts were brought to light bearing on the source of such poison.

Kopitzke, Hoffman, and Hoffman’s wife arrived at 10 pm at the barn on Harold Douglas’ farm, where the dance was under way.  Two hundred persons were on the floor.  It is on County Truck Highway X, between New London and Weyauwega, 6 ½ miles from New London.

Wife Denies Drinking

Neither man had been drinking Mrs Hoffman said later and testimony of other dancers bore out that statement.  Nor had they had anything to eat for several hours before going to the dance, the woman told Sheriff Steenbock.

Kopitzke was Mrs Hoffman’s Partner in the square dance when he was seized with violent cramps about 11:15 pm.  Almost at the identical time, Hoffman, who was sitting out the dance, was similarly attacked.

Within 5 minutes Hoffman lay dead.  Kopitzke, who had been taken outside, died 2 or 3 minutes later.  The horrified dancers were thrown into an uproar; the music was silenced and all grouped around the suffering men as they writhed in the throes of death.

Attempts to administer first aid appeared to have no effects, and the men were dead long before help could be summoned. 

Coroner Schider took charge of the bodies and brought them to Waupaca, the county seat, where the inquest was held.

The witnesses at the inquest were unable to throw any light on the cause of the deaths.  It is one of the most puzzling cases in Waupaca county annuals and both the sheriff and the coroner confessed Sun they had not developed a theory as to whether the deaths were accidental or otherwise.

The possibility of a suicide pact between the 2 men was abandoned when it was learned from Mrs Hoffman there was no reason for such a move.  Both men were employed, neither had financial difficulties and the widow declared there was no quarreling at all during the evening, she insisted.

SCJ

Thur 25 Jun 1931

MARTIN PETERS BURIED AT GRESHAM MONDAY

Martin Peters, who last week tried to take his life, by shooting himself died at the city hospital on Sat morning.  Mr Peters had sometime during the night on last Mon, made which was thought to be an unsuccessful attempt to take his life.  His body was found lying unconscious on the road near the John Hansen farm, by one of the Hansen boys and nearby a twenty-two caliber pistol was discovered.

The doctors were called and a small wound not much larger than a pin hole was noted in his forehead.  After examination it was found that the bullet had gone the entire length of the brain and was lodged in the back of the head at the base of the brain.  The injured man was taken to the city hospital where he lived until Fri morning.

Mr Peters was born on May 13 in 1861 in transit coming from Holland.  His parents settled in Shawano County.  For some years Mr Peters conducted a mail route thru Lyndhurst but gave this up and went to farming.  For the past 4 years he has been employed at the John Hansen farm out west of Shawano, which is known as the John Hansen milk depot.

He is survived by his wife, 5 daughters and 1 son.  The daughter are: Mrs G Kunschke, Mrs Ed Kunschke, and Mrs Wm Juedes of Shawano; Mrs John Miller, of Black Creek; and Mrs Arno Steinberg, of Tilleda, and son Edward, of Lyndhurst. 

Funeral services were held Mon afternoon at the Presbyterian Church at Gresham, with burial taking place in the church cemetery.

The pallbearers were John Kunschke, Ben Pace, Fred Schmidt, Gust Holm, Fred Holm, and Henry Otto.

 

LA

Thur 25 Jun 1931

NINETEEN YEAR OLD LAD IS KILLED WED

Louis Reinke, aged 19 years and 29 days, formerly of Town of Angelica, died Wed, Jun 17, in Marinette from injuries received while driving a truck for the John Reinke Construction Co, who are working near Niagara, Wis.  He was brought to a hospital in Marinette, where he died 5 hours later.

His body was brought to Angelica and buried Sun afternoon in the cemetery of the Lutheran St Paul’s church.  Rev Haberman officiated.  A very large crowd attended the funeral.  He is mourned by his parents, Mr and Mrs John Reinke and 3 brothers, Albert, Robert and John and other relatives.

 

SCJ

Thur 25 Jun 1931

LOUIS REINKE IS KILLED AT WORK ON ROAD

Pulaski Youth Crushed By Dump Truck Box at Marinette

Louis Reinke, 19, a truck driver employed on the grading operations on state trunk highway 64, and son of Mr and Mrs John Reinke, Pulaski died in the M and M hospital at 2 pm yesterday from injuries received when the box of his dump truck accidently fell, pinning him between the box and the frame of the truck at 9 o’clock am yesterday.

The accident occurred about 5 miles from the city limits, when Reinke, attempting to correct a faulty brace in the truck box, had climbed beneath the box.  His body was badly crushed and he was brought critically injured to the local hospital.

The dead man’s father is the senior member of the firm of John Reinke and sons, Pulaski, sub-contractors on the present highway improvement.  The contract is held by Koepke Brothers Construction Co, Appleton.

Relatives of the dead man arrived in Marinette Wed afternoon to take the body to Pulaski for burial.

Reinke is survived by his parents, Mr and Mrs John Reinke and 3 brothers, Albert of Pulaski; John, Route 3, Pulaski and Robert, Route2, Bonduel.  Funeral arrangements have not been entirely completed but he is expected to be buried either on Sat or Sun from the Zachow Lutheran church, the Rev Habermann officiating.

 

 

LA

Thur 25 Jun 1931

MRS SURBER KILLED WHEN HIT BY AUTO THURSDAY

Mrs Oscar Surber was fatally injured last Thur when hit by an auto driven by Ed Hildeman of Belle Plaine, while she was watching cows on the roadside.  The Schweers ambulance was called and she was immediately rushed to the local hospital but was reported dead upon arrival.

The accident occurred about 3 o’clock in the afternoon on highway 22, 3 miles west of this city where the Surber family resides.  Mrs Surber had been watching cows and crossed the road when struck by the Hildeman car and carried for a number of feet along the highway before the car came to a stop.  Her head was severely cut and her skull fractured.  It is believed that she died of loss of blood before the ambulance was able to reach the hospital.

The body was removed to the Karth Funeral Home and Monday morning funeral services were held from the Sacred Heart Catholic church with the Rev J J Loerke officiating.  Funeral was at the Woodlawn cemetery.

The deceased was seriously injured Apr 20^th when hit by a milk truck at the Surber farm and had just about recovered when this accident occurred.

Mrs Surber, nee Pauline Schilowsky, was born in Germany on Sep 5, 1870 and came to America in 1903.  She was married to Oscar Surber a few years later following which the couple located on a farm in the town of Belle Plaine.

Besides her husband, she is survived by 3 daughters, Mrs Arthur Froemming, Shawano; Mrs Lorenz Sieboldt, Marion, and Martha, at home; 2 sons, George and Rudolph at home, and a brother, Henry Schilowsky of Fond du Lac.

Roman and Joe Muscavitch, Charles Piehl, Frank Vierbicher, J Ready and Frank Achten were the pallbearers.

 

SCJ

Thur 25 Jun 1931

MRS SURBER DIES WAS HIT BY TRUCK

Mrs Oscar Surber was fatally injured last Thur afternoon when she was struck by the car, which was driven by Edward Hildeman, treasurer of Belle Plaine.

Mr Hildeman was driving along on highway 22, 3 miles west of the city near the county asylum, when he sighted a group of cows which were being driven across the road.  He immediately did all in his power to stop the car, and in doing so failed to avoid hitting Mrs Surber, who was driving the cows across the road into pasture.

The Schweers ambulance was immediately called and members of the family summoned.  She was rushed to the city hospital but was pronounced dead upon entering the building.

The accident occurred at about 4:30 in the afternoon, almost directly in front of the Surber home.

Several weeks ago Mrs Surber was injured when she was struck by a milk truck near her home.  She had just recovered from these injuries when she met death in another accident.

Mrs Surber was born in Germany and came to America about 30 years ago, settling in Belle Plaine, where she has since lived on a farm.

She leaves to survive her husband, 3 daughters: Mrs Arnold Froeming of this city; Mrs Lorenz Sieboldt, of Marion; and Martha at home; 2 sons: George and Rudolph at home and 1 brother, Henry Scheleski, of Fond du Lac.

The funeral was held Mon morning at the Sacred Heart church, where Rev J J Loerke conducted the service.  Burial took place in the Catholic cemetery.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 2 Jul 1931

POISONED WHISKEY CAUSES TWO DEATHS

 

Whiskey contained the strychnine poison which killed Louis Hoffman, 32, and Henry Kopitzke, 46, at a barn dance here Jun 20, it was revealed today after analysis of a contents of a bottle of toxicologists at Madison.

Eight practically empty bottles found outside the barn of Harold Douglas after the dance were sent to Madison.  In half a thimble full of whiskey found in one, the toxicologists discovered .011 gram of strychnine.

“Finding of the poison refutes all previous theories that the men died accidentally.”  Undersheriff James Hanson declared after reading the report.  “We will continue our investigation in the belief that both Hoffman and Kopitzke were murdered by a common enemy.  The strychnine was deliberately placed in the whiskey before it was given them to drink.”

Search for Strychnine in the bottles was prompted by a report of Dr Edward L Miloslavich, Milwaukee, pathologist, who examined vital organs of the men.  He found a large quantity of the poison in Kopitzke’s stomach and a lessor amount in Hoffman’s.

 

SCJ

Thur 2 Jul 1931

 

TWO YOUNG BOYS LOSE LIVES WHILE SWIMMING IN CREEK NEAR STEPENSVILLE

Sadness prevails in the home of Mr and Mrs Arthur Dey for through childish play 2 of the Dey boys were drown Sun, while visiting an aunt in the little village of Stephensville.  The Deys had motored to that village to visit for the day.  Victor and Willard age 8 and 10 years decided to go swimming around noon.  They ran off to Bear Creek which runs through this little town, without asking the consent of their parents.  As they were headed for the swimming hole, Lloyd Levezow, Jr, of Stephensville, a neighbor boy living near their aunt’s home and only 6 years of age, decided to follow the 2 strange boys.  He didn’t go into the water but sat on the bank watching them.  For a while they thrashed around in the water having a great time, but after about half an hour they disappeared under the water.  Lloyd sat around awhile waiting for them to come up, but he decided that something was wrong and went to his father.  The youngster is reported to have said, “Two boys went under water at the swimming hole and didn’t come up.”  A search was started immediately and the bodies of the two were found at the bottom of a six-foot pocket in the swimming hole.

The lads were 2 bright little fellows.  Victor had been promoted to the fourth grade and William to the Third.  Both of them attended the Sacred Heart School.

Funeral services were held Wed morning at the Sacred Heart church at 8 o’clock and burial took place in the catholic cemetery at Gresham.  The most beautiful floral offerings bespoke of the love that was held for these fine boys.  The sympathy of the entire community out to the bereaved parents.

Mr and Mrs Dey are left to survive with 3 of their other children.

 

LA

Thur 2 Jul 1931

TWO SHAWANO BOYS DROWN IN CREEK SUN.

Victor 11, and Willis 10, the 2 young sons of Mr and Mrs Otto Dey, Smalley Street, were laid to rest early this morning in the Gresham cemetery, following funeral services at the Sacred Heart church conducted by Rev J J Loerke.

While the Dey family was visiting with the children’s grandmother, Mrs Josephine Kronser, at Stevensville, last Sun the 2 boys, tempted by the creek which runs through the village, and although forbidden to go swimming, silently made their way to the swimming hole.  They were accompanied by Lloyd Levezow, Jr, 6 of Stevensville, who watched the boys jump in and fail to re-appear.  He notified is father and a search was started.

The bodies, however, were soon recovered by older boys who were swimming near the spot and pul-motors were used in an effort to resuscitate the victims.

Surviving he boys are their parents, 2 brothers, Lester and Anthony, and a small sister.

 

LA

Thur 9 Jul 1931

Birnamwood Man Is Fatally Injured Near Antigo Fri

Herman Gehm, 48, died at the Antigo Hospital Fri shortly after being brought there following an automobile collision late that evening.  His lungs were punctured by a rib as his chest was crushed.

The car in which Gehm was riding collided with another driven by Herman Carlson at what is known as the Jones corner, the intersection of County Highway B and a town of Price road.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 9 Jul 1931

POISON MURDER NEAR SOLUTION

Ed Riske under Arrest for Death of New London Victims

Solution of the mystery of the poisoning of Henry Kopitzke and Louis Hoffman at the barn dance on county highway between New London and Weyauwega 2 weeks ago nears completion.

Last Sun Mrs Hoffman committed suicide by drowning in the Wolf River between New London and Northport.  The Journal editor happened to be at the scene when the body was taken from the river.  The banks were lined up with cars for 2 miles, each car filled with people curious to know whether or not Mrs Hoffman had really thrown herself into the river.  

The Fri before District Attorney Lloyd Smith had given Mrs Hoffman and her paramour Ed Riske, a grueling siege of questioning.  Riske was held thereafter in the Waupaca county jail without charge.

Sat night Mrs Hoffman stayed with a relative.  Early in the morning, about three, she complained that she could not sleep and told her relative that she was going to get a drink of water.  The relative went back to sleep and when she awoke at 8 o’clock, Mrs Hoffman was missing.

She gave the alarm and search for Mrs Hoffman began.  Her tracks led to the river, and a posse of New London people searched from 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon when the body was found floating on the water and caught in some bushes.

On the following day the hearing was held.  The hearing resolved itself into an examination of Riske.  It started in the city hall but the crowd outside demanded entrance and the hearing was removed to Jack Hickey’s Opera House.  The house holds 700 people, but at that the crowd outside was as large as that within the building.

Things look bad for Riske.  It was brought out that last year Mrs Hoffman’s husband went south with a truck in search of work.  He was gone several months and during his absence Riske and Mrs Hoffman kept company.  After Hoffman’s return the trouble began for the friendship started in his absence did not cease upon his return.

We knew Ed Riske when he was a boy and went to school with him in Manawa.  There were 2 of the boys, Frank and Ed and no one would ever believe that either of them could come to the present situation and predicament.  He worked for some years for Wm Ritchie and was a trusted employee on that farm.

Recently he worked for Charley Specht, a former Manawa man who now owns a farm near New London.  Specht testified that a bottle of rat poison similar to that found in the stomachs of the 2 dead men was missing from his granary since the night of the tragedy.

New London physicians believe that Mrs Riske also took poison before she cast herself into the river.

On various occasions lately she had asked friends if drowning were a painful death, and had also asked when dawn came.  She was the mother of 3 children.

Some Shawano people were at the hearing in New London Monday and they tell us that Riske appeared like a broken-down old man.  He is 48 years old but looks much older.

He is now under arrest for Murder and will be tried in the Sep term of court in Waupaca.

 

Thur 16 Jul 1931

 

Parents believe Kurt Schuettpelz Did Not Hang Himself

 

Kurt Schuettpetz a 15 year old boy was found hanging in his father’s barn Sun evening, at Suring.  He is the son of Fred Schuettpelz, who owns a cottage on North Beach of Shawano Lake and consequently the family is well known here.  They are very well known by Nettie Morton and the Gilsons.

The corner of Oconto County, Clyde Jones, empaneled a jury to make an inquest.  This jury returned a verdict of death by suicide, but the parents do not believe the verdict at all and suspect foul play.  There was absolutely no motive for suicide because the boy was happy and well and had no enemies.

Kurt’s parents, his brother, Alfred, and 2 sisters, Gertrude and Lillian, went on a picnic Sunday morning, and Kurt was invited to an outing with his uncle, Frank Schuettpelz.  He did not go, however, and nothing is known of his where about during the day.  When the family returned home from the picnic, they found things misplaced in the house as if someone had been rummaging about. 

The body was discovered a short while later when Mr Schuettpelz and son went to the barn to throw down hay.  The fact that the rope was only 2 feet long and tied in a peculiar knot led relatives to believe that the boy had been dead before the hanging.  The examining physician declared that the boy had been dead 3 hours.  There were no marks of violence on the body.

 

 

LA

Thur 6 Aug 1931

 

Eighteen Year Old Youth is drowned

 

SUNNY VALE - A sad accident occurred at Bakers Lake Wed evening.  A number of young people from Aniwa came there to enjoy themselves bathing and Lawrence Steckfauer went out a little too far in the water and suddenly went down and did not come up anymore.  The rest of the boys saw this but none of them could swim.  When help was had it was too late as Lawrence was dead.  He was a young fellow about 18 years of age.

 

SCJ

Thur 13 AUG 1931

CAROLINE WOMAN USES KEROSENE-GASOLINE MIXTURE TO HASTEN FIRE

 

In spite of the many warnings from her husband not to use the mixture of gasoline and kerosene which he had prepared for his tractor.  Mrs August Haase, of Caroline, in attempting to start a fire with the mixture, lost her life, and her husband is in the Shawano hospital suffering from severe burns received in beating the fire from her clothing.

The tragic accident occurred last Wed morning, when Mrs Haase attempted to start the fire in the kitchen range.  Her husband was sleeping on the davenport in the next room, and was awakened by the noise of the explosion.  He immediately jumped up, but before he reached the kitchen his wife was standing, in the doorway, enveloped in flames.  Mr Haase managed to put out the fire on her clothing, and then took the unfortunate woman out-of-doors, and went back into the house and rescued the children from the burning building.  Neighbors, seeing the fire and hearing Mr Haase’s cries, rushed to the scene, and immediately took Mr and Mrs Haase to the hospital where everything possible was done to relieve them.  Mrs Haase died at 4 o’clock Wed afternoon.  It was for a time feared that Mr Haase would also lose his life as a result of the tragedy, but recent reports give him an excellent chance of recovery.

The farm home was burned to the ground, and the neighbors were helping in attempting to save any of the furniture or clothing.  The building is covered by insurance.

Mrs Haase was but 24 years of age, and leaves, beside her husband, 3 small daughters, Lillian, Angeline and Laura.  She was born in Chicago but came to Wisconsin when she arrived at womanhood and was married to Mr Haase 4 years ago.

The funeral was held Sat afternoon at Caroline.  This is the most tragic event that little village has ever experienced and the entire community as well as the people of surrounding communities extended their sympathy to the bereaved husband and the children.

 

LA

Thur 13 Aug 1931

MRS AUGUST HAASE FATALLY BURNED AS GAS EXPLODES

Mrs August Haase, 22, town of Bartelme, died Friday evening and her husband is in a precarious condition at the city hospital as the result of burns sustained when she attempted to light a fire and used gasoline instead of kerosene.

Uses Wrong Oil

It is believed that Mrs Haase took the can in which her husband had drained gasoline from the tractor, and thinking it was kerosene, poured it in the stove to light a fire.  Flames shot forward and spread rapidly about her face and body.  Her husband who was present at the time made every effort to put out the fire and in so doing was badly burned about his hands and face.  After he had extinguished the fire on both himself and his wife he ran to the neighbors for help.

Fire had already blazed through their small home and before sufficient help count be gotten the house in a mass of flames crumbled to the ground.

Rushed To Hospital

Julius Gentz, a nearby neighbor, who had been summoned by Mr Haase, rushed the 2 victims to the hospital where later that day Mrs Haase passed away.  Her husband is still confined to the hospital.

Funeral services were held Mon from the Uttermark Undertaking Parlors at Marion with Rev Paul Stubenvoll officiating and she was laid to rest in the Marion cemetery.

Mrs Haase was formerly Aurelia Dieck of Marion.  She leaves to mourn, her husband and 3 small children ranging in age from a year and a half to 5; 2 sisters and her mother, Mrs William Jeske, of Bowler.

Following their marriage, Mr and Mrs Haase lived for several years at Caroline, later moving to Bowler they operated a farm 3 miles east of the village, on which the accident occurred.

 

SCA

Thur 20 Aug 1931

 

FORMER CASH WAY MANAGER KILLED WED.

Carl Woempner, 42 former manager of the local Cash Way Store, was instantly killed in an automobile accident last Wed at Calumet, Michigan.  The car in which he was driving hit loose gravel and turned over resulting in the death of Mr Woempner, fatally injuring a companion and another occupant is in the hospital suffering from severe lacerations.

Lived in Chicago

Mr Woempner spent his younger life in Chicago and after his marriage to Miss Mary Mervyn of British Columbia resided there for several years, coming to Shawano to manage the local Cash Way Store. He left this city several months ago.

Surviving are his wife, Mary, 1 daughter, Lillian, his mother, 2 sisters, Mrs Edward Mumm, Appleton and Rose Woempner, and a brother, Walter, of Chicago.

Funeral services were held August 15^th at the Masonic Temple at Appleton at 10 am.  Rev Supke officiated and he was given a Masonic burial, which took place at the Riverside cemetery, Appleton.

Attend Funeral

Among those from out of town at the funeral were Walter Woempner, Chicago; Louie Mumm, Brillion; Joe and Norman McDonald families, Green Bay; Mr and Mrs August Ninman and Ellenor, Mrs Harry Boardman and Tom Mervyn, Belle Plaine.

 

SCJ

Thur 20 Aug 1931

 

CASHWAY MANAGER KILLED IN ACCIDENT

Carl Woempner, who for about a year, was local manager of the Cashway Store in Shawano, was instantly killed last Wed night, when the automobile in which he and 2 companions were riding, tipped over.  One of the 2 companions died the following day from his injuries, and the other occupant is still in the hospital at Calumet, Michigan, near where the accident occurred.

The 3 men were riding in a Ford coupe, and it is conjectured that they had reached the end of the concrete road when they went onto gravel, the car skidding and turning over.

Mr Woempner left here some few months ago, going to Appleton, and later to Calumet, where he assumed the management of the Cashway store in that city.  His wife was formerly Mary Mervyn, of British Columbia, and is a cousin of the Mervyn girls of Belle Plaine.  A sister, Mrs Edward Mumm, of Appleton, and wife of the director of the 120^th Field Artillery Band.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 26 Aug 1931

SUICIDE DISCLAIMED; SUSPECT FOUL PLAY

Recent Disclosures Point to Probability of Murder in Suring Case

 

You will recall that on the 12^th of Jul, Kurt Schuettpelz, of Suring, was found dead, hanging from a rafter in the barn, when the family returned home from an outing.

Every appearance indicated that the young boy had killed himself by hanging, but the parents insisted that there must be foul play.  The coroner’s jury returned a verdict of death by hanging, self-inflicted, but even then the parents clung to the other theory.

Shawano people were interested because the parents are pretty well known here.  They have a cottage of North Beach and spend some time there each summer.

Now new evidence has come up which leads to the belief that the parents were right – that the boy was killed.  A sweeping investigation is to be made of all the incidents surrounding the death.

Finger prints have been found which show that someone other than the boy was at the scene and far-reaching investigation will be made to run down these finger-prints.

 

 

 

LA

Thur 27 Aug 1931

Man Killed While Blasting Stones

Albert Huebner, brother of William Huebner, Belle Plaine, was found dead at noon last Fri in a field on his farm near New London, where he had been blasting stones.  He failed to come home for dinner and his family found him an hour later 75 feet from the place where he was dynamiting.  Exactly how it occurred is not known, but it is believed that, being too near to the lighted dynamite, he was thrown into the air.

Funeral services were held Sunday at New London and he was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.  Surviving are his wife and 6 children, 2 of whom are not married, besides other relatives.

The deceased was born on May 2, 1877 at Reedsville, Waupaca County, and since his marriage has lived on a 240 acre farm in the town of Liberty, 9 miles from New London, which he operated together with a son.

 

SCJ

27 Aug 1931

WOMAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT ON 26-29

Mrs Esther Baer, of Chicago, was killed in an auto accident at the intersection of routs 26 and 29 out from Wittenberg, Saturday.

She was a passenger in a car driven by her son-in-law, who with the family were returning from a 2 week sojourn in Northern Wisconsin.

A car about to come onto the arterial was stopping at the intersection and the driver of the Chicago car jammed full-on into the car.  The road is wide and it is conjecture why he did not stop, but the supposition is that he had momentarily fallen asleep.

Corner Harvey Stubenvoll together with Dr Schroeder of Shawano and Dr Jones of Wausau, held an inquest and made autopay.  There was not a scratch on the woman’s body but the autopay disclosed a busted spleen, three broken ribs, and a broken vertebrae.

The victim of the accident was 71 years old.  No one else in the cars were seriously injured.

 

LA

Thur 27 Aug 1931

                MAN KILLED WHILE BLASTING STONES

Albert Huebner, brother of William Huebner, Belle Plaine, was found dead at noon last Friday in a field on his farm near New London, where he had been blasting stones.  He failed to come home for dinner and his family found him an hour later 75 feet from the place where he was dynamiting.  Exactly how it occurred is not known, but it is believed that, being too near to the lighted dynamite, he was thrown into the air.

Funeral services were held Sun at New London and he was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.  Surviving are his wife and 6 children, 2 of whom are not married, besides other relatives.

The deceased was born on May 2, 1877 at Reedsville, Waupaca county, and since his marriage has lived on a 240 acre farm in the town of Liberty, 9 miles from New London, which he operated with a son.

 

LA

Thur 17 Sep 1931

W KIRBERGER KILLED WHEN BLASTING WED

Funeral services for William Kirberger, 57, a resident of Wittenberg, whose tragic death came as a blow to that community, were held Sun afternoon at the home and at the First Lutheran Church in that village.

Mr Kirberger had gone to one of his farms near Wittenberg Wed forenoon to blast stumps on a forty which he was clearing.  He had lunch with neighbors working in a nearby field after eating resumed his work.  When he failed to return at supper time in the evening, the men with whom he had lunch at noon went to the place where Mr Kirberger was dynamiting, only to find the body lying on a log near the edge of the clearing, with the upper part from the waist up, blown to pieces.

As near as can be determined the accident must have occurred when Mr Kirberger returned to lighted fuses which had failed to go off and upon reaching the spot, the dynamite suddenly exploded, hitting him with terrific force.

 

LA

Thur 10 Sep 1931

Conrad Dey Dies after Train Wreck

Several hours after suffering injuries when his automobile hit a moving train, Conrad Dey, 41, passed away at the Shawano Municipal hospital Thur.  He received a broken arm, fractured skull and left leg and a crushed shoulder.

Returning From Village

Mr Dey, who lives on a farm in Hermansfort 4 miles west of Gresham, was returning from the village when the accident occurred.  He did not see the train at the crossing on County Trunk A, three-quarters of a mile from Gresham and the train being electric, gave off no smoke as a warning of its approach.  Mr Dey’s machine crashed into the side of a passenger car and was tossed into the ditch, with the driver pinned beneath the wreckage.

Walter McAllister of Gresham, who was driving a truck behind Mr Day and witnessed the accident, picked up injured man and took him to the city hospital.  It was about 11 o’clock in the morning when the casualty occurred and late that evening Mr Dey succumbed.  Corner Harvey Stubenvoil was called to investigate the matter and no inquest was held.

Here Only 8 Years

Mr Dey was born in Germany on Dec 13, 1889 and came to America 8 years ago, locating in Marion until 3 years ago when he purchased a farm in Hermansfort.  He leaves to mourn a wife and 3 children who came here 2 years ago.  His children are Ericka, 17, Elsa, 3 and Erwin, 10.

Funeral services were held Sun at the St John’s Church with Rev Martin Strassen officiating.  Mr Karth had charge of the funeral arrangements while Victor Malueg, Wm Huebner, Albert Huebner, August Timm, John Timm and Christ Jahnke acted as pallbearers.

Misfortune seems to be the lot of the Dey family, as only a week ago last Mon morning their barn burned to the ground.  The fire was caused from a thrashing machine.  Most of the grain was still in the barn and was consumed by the fire.  The loss, however, is said to be partially covered by insurance.

 

SCJ

Thur 10 Sep 1931

                                                                             Conrad Dey Meets Death near Gresham

Conrad Dey, prominent farmer of the town of Herman, died Thur night from injuries received that morning when he drove his car into the side of a Chicago & Northwestern train near Gresham.  The train was the gasoline-electric train plying between Green Bay and Eland, which reaches Shawano about 9:30 in the morning.  The crossing on county highway A, where the accident occurred is one which permits of obscure vision of the tracks, and the supposition is that Mr Dey neither saw nor heard the train until he was upon it.

Walter McAllister, of Gresham, who was driving behind Mr Dey and witnessed the accident, picked up the injured man and brought him to the city hospital, where it was found he had sustained a broken arm, a fractured left leg and a crushed shoulder.  It was about 11 in the morning when the accident occurred and late that evening Mr Dey passed away.

Corner Harvey Stubenvoll was called and made investigation, but deemed an inquest unnecessary, and none was held.

Conrad Dey was born in Germany on Dec 13, 1899, and came to America 8 years ago, locating on a farm in Hermansfort.  He leaves to mourn, a wife and 3 children who came here 2 years ago.  His daughters are aged 16 and 3 years respectively, and the boy is 11 years old.

 

 

LA

Thur 10 Sep 1931

IRVING JESKE, CLAIMED BY DEATH SHORTLY AFTER ACCIDENT

When leading a bull to water Sat morning Irving, 11 year old son of Mr and Mrs Frank Jeske, was fatally injured when the animal suddenly turned upon him and pinned him against the wall of the barn.

The boy’s head was severely crushed and it is believed that he was injured internally.  A Leopolis physician was called and the boy was rushed to the hospital where he died only 2 hours later.  Attempts to revive him were fruitless.

The Jeske family reside near Leopolis and the father of the boy is reported to have been attending the Wisconsin State Fair at Milwaukee during the time of the accident.

Funeral services were held Tue afternoon at the Elias Church with Rev Stubenvoll officiating.  Burial took place at the church cemetery.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 17 Sep 1931

CHILD KILLED WHILE PLAYING IN STREET

Ruth Thies, the 6 year old daughter of Mr and Mrs Ervin Thies, of Clintonville, was instantly killed Sat morning in that city, when a passing truck ran into her as she was crossing the street.

The accident occurred near the Marson Hotel as the little girl, with a neighbor boy, were coasting down the pavement in their coaster wagons.  The girl was running along with her wagon, at a rapid rate, and attempted to cross the street.  A motorist with a passenger car barely avoided hitting her, but a truck coming from behind the auto, could not avoid the child, and ran into her crushing her little body.  The truck was driven by Leonard Wagner, a farmer living near Clintonville.

Ruth was the only child in the family and had just started the fall term in kindergarten.  Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at the home.  Little school mates acted as pallbearers.

 

SCJ

Thur 12 Nov 1931

RISKE CONVICTED OF BARN DANCE MURDER

 

The most famous trial in Waupaca County came to an end late Saturday when a jury brought in a verdict of guilty against Ed Riske, who was charged with the murder of Louis Hoffman at a barn dance on Weyauwega road last June.  The story was published in all the papers throughout the United States at that time.

When the trial was going on last week, the weekly papers in Waupaca County and in the towns south of Waupaca County were published.  Every one of these papers indicated that the general impression was that the jury would bring in a verdict of not guilty, so the reverse was a great surprise.

The jury was out sixteen hours.  At first the vote stood 7 for conviction and 5 for acquittal.  Three times the jury sent out for more information.  The last time the vote stood 10 for conviction and 2 for acquittal.  It was a weary and tired out jury which brought in the verdict.  Riske’s lawyers are now preparing a plea for another trial, and Judge Parks has granted all the time necessary in which to draft this plea.

 

SCJ

29 Oct 1931

ADVANCE

Funeral services for Benjamin Gross, 28, were held at Advance M E Church Sunday afternoon, with interment in Green Valley Union cemetery.  Ben was the son of Mr and Mrs Frank Gross, of Green Valley.  He was instantly killed on the evening of October 17^th, when the car in which he was riding with a companion, ran into a wrecking car which was pulling another car out of a ditch.  Another auto, coming behind the car in which deceased was a passenger, also struck them.  The wrecker is alleged to have been operating without lights.  The accident occurred on Illinois highway 42, opposite Shore Acres golf club.  The deceased had a position as chauffeur near Highland Park.  He was a most estimable young man of sterling character.  His bereaved parents have the sympathy of all who know them.

 

SCJ

Thur 19 Nov 1931

WEDDING PARTY IN FATAL ACCIDENT

Waldemar Brown, the son of Mr and Mrs Wm Brown of this city, and Miss Irene Gehm, the daughter pf Frank Gehm, of Gillett, were married last Thur afternoon at Menominee, Michigan.

The young couple drove to Menominee with Miss Angeline Barr of Cecil, and Rudolph Brown accompanying them.  The ceremony was performed in that city and the young people returned in the evening.

Mr Brown is employed at Ramlow’s Restaurant in the bakery department, and he and his wife plan to make their future home in this city.

While on their way to be married, the wedding party were participants in an automobile accident in which Lester Delware, a well-known farmer living near Oconto, was killed.  Waldemar was driving the car and as he tried to avoid hitting the man he swerved into the ditch, turning his car over several times.  When they were able to extricate themselves, they found the man they had hit lying near the ditch, unconscious.  With the help of the man who was with Mr Delware at the time of the accident, they took Delware across the road to his home, and it was here, that he died.  The accident occurred near Oconto, in front of the farm home.

Mr Delware was 58 years of age, and a farmer who had been residing near Oconto for many years.  He leaves a family of grown children, and his wife.

After everything had been settled the wedding party borrowed another car and proceeded to Menominee where the wedding took place.  Mr Brown seemingly did everything possible to avoid striking the unfortunate victim of the accident, even to endangering the safety of himself and his companions by swerving to the ditch to avoid striking the man.

 

 

 

SCJ

Thur 3 Dec 1931

CLAIM CECIL RESIDENT DIED OF ALCOHOLISM

 

Albert Braun, 79, a resident of Cecil, Wis, died at Suring as a result of a heart attack brought on by acute alcoholism, the investigation of Coroner Clyde M Davis, of Oconto county, has determined.

Braun had attended a party given at the Thomas Wright home on the outskirts of Suring Thanksgiving day.  The coroner’s investigation shows the aged man brought his own supply of liquor with him.  He became ill late that night and died at the Wright home 6 pm Fri.  Dr J S Dougherty, Suring, made an examination on which the coroner’s decision was based.

Braun will be buried Wed at Cecil.

 

 

SCJ

Thur 19 Dec 1931

 

GEORGE ANDREW WAS OWNER OF ONE OF BEST FARMS IN EAST PART OF COUNTY

A hunting trip which had been enjoyed by George Andrew, of Rose Lawn, and Wally Schreiber, of Cecil, ended in a most tragic manner when, upon returning home their car went over an embankment on what is known as Nine Mile Hill between Lily and Langlade, resulting in the death of Mr Andrew and severe in injuries to Mr Schreiber.

The men had been up north on a hunting trip and were on their way back home when their car skidded on the icy road and was forced over the embankment.  The accident occurred about 4:00 Tue morning.  Mr Andrew was killed almost instantly, but the Schreiber boy, after regaining consciousness managed to crawl out of the wreck, and was found at the scene of the wreck by a motorist who passed some time later.  The boy’s father was notified and the injured man was taken to an Antigo hospital where it was found his spine was injured and he was suffering from internal injuries, which made his condition critical.

George Andrew was known to many people in our city for he has visited here upon several occasions.  His son Bert is a school teacher near Cecil and it is through the acquaintance of the boy with the Schreiber family that Mr Andrew came to know young Wally.  Their love of hunting started the mutual friendship.

Mr Andrews, was 59 years old and had been a resident of the village of Rose Lawn for the greater part of his life.  He was born in this country and his parents settled in that community, where he was married and where he had lived all these years.  He owned one of the largest and best equipped farms in that part of the country and his leadership and personality won him a place in the community that was above reproach.  He was a lover of the out-of-doors and like nothing better than to spend hours in the woods.  The hunting trip on which he had gone with so much pleasure would have been a long talked of event with him.

Mr Andrew was a brother of Mrs Frank Amel and Mrs K N Phillips, of this city.  He was the uncle of Roy “Tammy” Andrews, who played on the Marquette University basketball team for 3 years and who was one of Shawano high school’s ball team for 3 years and who was one of Shawano high school’s outstanding stars.  He leaves to survive his widow and 5 children, Mrs Ed Fockel, Seymour; Mrs Walter Delemater; Mrs Herbert Nelson, Rose Lawn; Bertrand Andrew at Cecil and Elwin, at home.  There are 4 sisters, Mrs Amel and Mrs Phillips of Shawano; Mrs Kessler, who lives near Oconto Falls, and Mrs Hodzein, of Green Bay; and 1 brother, John, Green Bay.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed as we go to press, but it is probable that the funeral will be conducted by a minister of the Methodist faith, to which Mr Andrew has adhered for years, and that burial will be at Seymour.

 

L A

Thur 17 Dec 1931

 

GEO ANDREW KILLED INSTANTLY IS BELIEF

One Shawano County man was severely injured and a second killed instantly Tue afternoon at 4:30 when an automobile in which the two were riding slipped off Nine Mile Hill on Highway 55, north of Langlade in Langlade County and plunged something near 145 feet to the treetops below.

Lived Life at Rose Lawn

George Andrew, life-long and prominent Rose Lawn farmer is the dead man, while a pal of his son, Bert, now lies in the Antigo hospital in a doubtful condition,  Andrew was thought to have been killed instantly.

After remaining mingled in the wreck for some time in an unconscious condition, Walter Schreiber, 18, the second man crawled up the top of the embankment and hailed a truck to the scene of the accident.  A Shawano ambulance rushed to the scene and took the body and the injured boy to Antigo.  Schreiber is a resident of Tracy Corners.

Circumstance Indefinite

The exact circumstance of the accident is indefinite as Schreiber is in no condition to explain the matter.  It seems that the railing which protects traffic from the embankment is in poor condition, according to reports from near relatives, and the car apparently had no trouble crashing through the guard.  The machine belonged to the Schreiber boy.

The 2 had gone to Pine River to lay plans for a wolf hunt which was to have taken place in the near future.  It was decided that Mr Andrew and young Schreiber should go to the scene and lay plans after which they would return with Bert Andrew and possibly others to make the chase.  The men were on the way home from the inspection trip when the accident occurred.  Young Schreiber and Bert Andrew, the son of the decease, are said to be very close friends.  Schreiber is a well-known athlete in the eastern part of the county, having caught ball for Bonduel last summer.

Managed Farm at Fifteen

George Andrew is a native of Shawano County, having been born at Rose Lawn 59 years ago.  At the age of 15 years his father died and he was obliged to act as the head of the household in supporting the family and managing the farm.  Later he took over the ownership of the farm where he lived his entire lifetime.

George Andrew was an ardent community worker and was highly respected throughout the entire county.  He is one of the few people who have spent their entire life within its bounds.

Five Children Survive

Surviving the deceased is his widow; 1 son Bert, and 4 daughters, Mildred, Orell, Ethel, and Eilene.  The first and the last named child reside at home, while the other 3 daughters are married.  One brother, John Andrew of Green Bay, and 4 sisters, Mrs Frank Amel, Shawano, Mrs Ernest Hodgins, Gillett, Mrs R Kesler, Kelly Brook, and Mrs Emma Phillips of this city and Milwaukee, also survive.  He also leaves 3 grand-children.

Funeral services will be held at the home in Rose Lawn Sat afternoon at 1:00. After which services will be held at the Seymour Methodist Church.  Burial will be in the Seymour cemetery.

 

SCJ

Thur 28 Apr 1932

BIRNAMWOOD LADY COMMITS SUICIDE

Aged Mother Hangs Self in Attic As Daughter Makes Neighborhood Call

Mrs Marcella Heckor, 79 years old, was found in the attic of her daughter’s home in Birnamwood where she had taken her own life by hanging.

Since the death of her husband Mrs Heckor had been making her home with her daughter.  She was in a seemingly good state of health but did suffer from a poor mental condition.  He daughter had left the home in the morning to attend to some neighborly duty when she returned she failed to locate her mother.  A search was made and neighbors were notified, who found her in the attic.

The doctor and coroner were called to the scene and after examination the coroner pronounced death due to suicide while temporarily insane.

The aged mother leaves several children to survive her.  Funeral services were held at Wisconsin Rapids where she was laid to rest beside the body of her husband.

 

The Leader Advocate

Thursday, Aug. 4, 1932

 

Twins Die in Fire as Barn Burns on The R Schultz Farm Sat.

Farmer Rescues Two Charred Bodies of Children

Mother Was Shopping

Fourteen-Year-Old Brother Unaware Of Danger

Fire, which took its toll in farm buildings and homes though out the vicinity of Shawano and surrounding community during the past week, Saturday afternoon took human toll and caused the tragic death of 4 year old twins, whose charred and lifeless bodies were discovered in a blazing barn after the flames had almost completely devoured the building.

The fatality occurred on the farm house of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Schultz, in the town of Herman just off count trunk M about 9 miles west of Shawano.  Mrs. Schultz, mother of the twins had gone to Shawano to shop while the father was assisting with the threshing at the home of a nearby neighbor.  Victor, 14, oldest child of the Schultz family, was left at home to care for the children.  He was tending the six month old twins in the house when he discovered smoke and rushed to the barn, led horses from their stables and frantically searched for his four year old brother and sister, Oscar and Opal.  Neighbors rushed to the scene but the bodies of the small children were not discovered until intense heat caused the boards of the hay loft to give way, revealing the burned bodies of the children.

Exactly how the fire originated has not been proven, but it is thought that it came about either from the children playing with matches or from spontaneous combustion which is frequently caused from heat given off from damp hay packed into tight quarters.  Victor, unaware of the fact that the children were inside the barn, rushed first to free the horses and then, when the older twins could not be located, stricken with horror and freight, he called and searched in vain for the children.

The remains of the small bodies were brought to the Karth Funeral home and funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon, first from the home and at 2:00 from the Hermansfort Lutheran church.  Burial took place at the church cemetery.  The funeral was the largest held in recent years in that community.  Four neighbor boys acted as pallbearers and six girls as flower girls.

The twins, Oscar and Opal, leave to mourn, their parents, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Schultz, a brother Victor, 14, a sister, Lila, 7, and baby twins, age six months.

Mrs. Schultz reached home about 20 minutes after the fire was discovered by the threshing crew, who were working on the Ed. Springborn farm.  The men encircled the barn calling and searching for the children and when the wall gave way revealing their bodies, George Brei, a neighbor, covered himself with wet blankets and went into the heat, bringing with him the burned bodies of the children.  Apparently the children had retreated away from the fire as there was no hay at the spot in which they were found.

The mother returned to her home at 3:00 in the afternoon and when met with the sight of the burning barn, which had only that morning been filled with the harvest that required a year of toil, she began to lament over their loss, little thinking that two of her children had been consumed in the flames.

The Schultzes have only a 60 acre farm and the barn which burned was built by neighbors in 1929.  Mrs. Schultz and her son, Victor, had worked all morning hauling oats into the barn.  Their crop of hay had also been placed in the barn as was their best machinery.  A concrete silo was also destroyed in the blaze.  No livestock was lost.

The family has lived on the farm in the town of Herman for the past 12 years.  Their many neighbors, whose deepest sympathy have been extended to the grief stricken family, are standing ready to help the Schultzes in this moment of sorrow and grief.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 5 January 1933

 

Lake Claims First Victim of Year

Warren Brooks Meets Death As Result Of Plunge in To the Icy Waters

Shawano Community was shocked and saddened with the advent of the New Year, when it was learned that Warren Brooks, city mail carrier, had come to an untimely end, presumably on Sunday morning.  Only an inkling of his fate had been gleamed last Sunday afternoon, when his car, a Chevrolet coach, was found in Shawano Lake, near the Gumaer Resort, and it was presumed that he had drowned.  The manner of his death was revealed Monday morning, when his frozen and lifeless body was discovered by Richard Gumaer, who was aiding in preparations to drag the lower end of the lake, in the vicinity in which the car was found.

While the exact story will never be known, from the facts gleaned here and there and pieced together to form a whole, the most plausible conclusion is as follows.

Warren left Shawano about four o’clock Saturday afternoon, wearing his old clothes, and disclosed to his parents his intention of going to the lake to do some fishing, after which he was to be joined by some companions, and was going to a New Year’s Eve dance.  That he went to the lake and to the Brooks cottage on North Beach is evidenced by the fact that he had prepared his supper and had eaten it, and there is evidence also that he had set some fish lines.

Roland Cummings and Harvey Aderman who were to have been his companions at the Watch Night Ball, went to the cottage between nine and ten o’clock to join Warren.  They found the cottage closed and locked but looking through the windows they saw the dying ambers of a fire, and, decided that Warren, weary of waiting for them, had gone on to the dance, they returned to Shawano.

From here on the story is mostly conjecture.  It is thought that Warren later returned to the cottage, and probably slept for a time, then doffed his good clothes and again put on his heaver clothing; then got into his car and started for home.  It has been the custom for people going to North Beach to drive to West Shore and then go on across the ice, instead of driving around the road.  Presumably Warren was returning that way, and either lost his way on the ice, or mistook the lights from Gumaer’s for the Mader lights on West Shore.  He drove much to the east and to the south end of the lake where his car went into the lake in open water.  Either jumping from his car as it hit the open channel, or getting out of it after it had sunk, he found it necessary to swim some little distance before he could touch bottom, and get out onto land.  Here he landed on a small sand bar, almost an island, and again was forced to take to the water to reach the mainland.  Had he gone east from this point, he would have reached the Gumaer Resort in a very short distance, but in apparent confusion, he swam west, across the channel, and reached the mainland in the southwest part of the lake, below the Upjohn cottage.  His tracks in the snow show that he must have been nearly exhausted from the swimming and his heavy clothes on, as he stopped, leaned against a sapling and took out his handkerchief, which he dropped at this point.  He went but a short distance from this point when he was again compelled to stop and rest, and from here he walked but a scant ten yards when he fell, never again to arise.

Albert Schneider and a companion noticed a bit of the car projecting from the water, late Sunday afternoon.  They went to the Upjohn cottage, where they were joined by Robert Upjohn and his son, Charles, who notified local authorities.  The highway department employees and officers went to the scene, and after determining the ownership of the car, and finding that Warren was not inside, assumed that his body was in the lake.  Darkness precluded any possibility of trying to locate the body that night, so the men returned to town and made preparations to start with daylight Monday morning, to drag the lake for the body.  Early the next morning, Blaine Page, Stanley Tischer, Eddie Remmel, Louis Cattau, Fred Sieber and Harvey Stubenvoll went to the lake and prepared to start dragging.  Boats were secured and the ice was being broken so as to give room for the dragging process.  Richard Gumaer, in his anxiety to help, started for home to get his boat, and while crossing the land, found the lifeless body where it lay.

An examination revealed that Warren’s watch had stopped at ten minutes after five, probably Sunday morning, and as near as can be ascertained, that is probably about the time he was forced to swim in the icy water.  Death probably occurred within a reasonably short time after that hour.

Warren was born in Shawano, December 26^th, 1900, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brooks, who are numbered among Shawano’s early settlers.  He attended the schools of this city, and in 1919 was graduated from the Shawano high school.  He entered government service as a city mail carrier, and held the first position of that kind in this city.  Later he took a leave of absence, and for three years attended the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in business administration.  At the end of these three years he reentered the postal service, and has since been employed in Shawano as a carrier of the mails.  He was a good workers, was efficient in his position, and while of a more or less reticent nature, he made many friends.  He was notably kind to his parents, and since the family grew up and the older children went out into the world, Warren has been the sole solace of this aged pair.  Fraternally he was a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and was a member of the Shawano Methodist church.  He was the youngest of three children in the Brooks family, the eldest being a brother, Ogden, of Aberdeen, Washington; the other a sister, Mrs. Ed Aderman, of Elgin, Illinois.  These, with the parents, constitute the immediate survivors.

The funeral will be held Friday afternoon from the Methodist church, with Rev. Ben Plopper officiating.  The Masons will exemplify their ritualistic ceremony, and the Odd Fellows will provide an escort to Woodlawn Cemetery where the mortal remains will be laid to rest.

 

Shawano County Advocate

9 Jan 1933

Tigerton Man Falls Dead Cranking Car

John Hanson, Sr. 75 fell dead while cranking his car in the street near his home near Tigerton a week ago Monday.  Heart failure was believed to have been the Cause

Mr. Hanson was a well known farmer of the town of Morris.  He was married twice, his second wife having died under similar conditions.  Mrs. Hanson suffered a stroke when returning to her home from an afternoon visit with a neighbor.  She was found unconscious by the roadside and failed to regain consciousness.

Funeral service for the deceased was held Saturday at Eagle River with interment taking place there.  Surviving are three sons, John, Jr., Robert, and Tom at home.  Mrs. F Birkholz and Mrs. M Jensen, Minocqua, and two brothers, Henry, Minocqua, and George, Eau Claire.

 

 

S.C.A.

Thursday 2 Feb 1933

Indian Is Seen Last On Dec 3

Search for William Tucker, a Menominee Indian of Neopit, who was last seen on December 3^rd is still underway, but to date no clues have been revealed.  Government officials on the Keshena Indian Reservation believe that the old man has either been murdered or died of exposure.

Had no enemies.  However there has been no reason to believe that the Indian was the subject of hatred or suspicion.  A widower and a man of 63 years, Tucker made his home with relatives and lead a peaceable life on the Reservation as far as can be determined.

It was not until shortly before Christmas that the Indian was reported missing and a check-up then revealed that he was last seen on December 3^rd.  Only a few days before his mysterious disappearance he had borrowed $7 from Peter Lookaround, a storekeeper and had spent $2 for a money order to purchase goods with which to start a little business.

Attended a party.  On the evening of December 2^nd he joined a party of friends in a get-to-gather and according to reports left the affair in a somewhat intoxicated condition.  The following afternoon he was seen for the last time on the outskirts of the town, apparently on his way to country, near the house in which he had spent the previous evening.

It was customary for Tucker to take long walks into the country, lodging for the night at the home of a relative who lived nearest the spot to which he arrived at darkness.  His failure to return to the place he had left in the morning caused the anxiety and it was not until weeks later that his complete disappearance was discovered.

Beyer directs search.  A search under the direction of W R Beyer, government Indian Agent was immediately instigated with no results and comparatively few clues.  Although no motive is known, murder is generally believed to have been the fate of Tucker.  Indians around Neopit believe the body will be found after the season of spring melting.

The Indian has only one daughter, Pauline, who is married but who does not reside with her husband.  The father occasionally visited his daughter, but so frequently that his absence at her home caused no uneasiness. 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 3 Feb 1933

 

William Tucker Last Seen Alive On Afternoon of December Third

Searching parties from Keshena and Neopit have been scouring the Reservation for the past six weeks in the hope of finding William Tucker, Menominee Indian, who disappeared from his home on December 3^rd.  The mystery of what fate has befallen this happy-go-lucky member of the tribe continues to absorb tribesman officials of the Reservation and department of justice.

Tucker, who is a widower, was last seen alive near Neopit on the Reservation.  On Christmas day, when no trace of him had been found, after it had been disclosed that Tucker was not working at a logging camp.  W. R. Beyer, Indian Agent, sought the aid of the United States district attorney’s office and the bureau of investigation of the department of justice.

Operatives of the bureau investigated the case.  The logging camp and the mill on the reservation were shut down for a time so that the 125 men employed might join the members of the tribe in an intensive hunt for Tucker.

Each shack, deserted farm building, shed and logging camp on the 235,000 acres of the reservation was searched but no trace of the missing man could be found.

Tucker lived alone and led a quiet life, having been on friendly terms with all the people of the reservation, so far as agents have learned.

A few days before the disappearance Tucker borrowed $7 from Peter Lookaround, storekeeper, and got a money order for $2, stating that he intended sending to a small mail order house for a stock of perfumes and scented soap which he planned to sell to women of the tribe.  He had hopes of building up a small business.  It is not known whether the money order was ever sent.

On the night of December 2, he attended a mixed gathering and considerable “firewater” was consumed according to some of those who were at the party.  Tucker, they said, was pretty well under the influence of liquor when the affair broke up.  That afternoon other Indians said they saw Tucker trudging along away from town, a short distance from the house which was the scene of the party.  From that time to this there has been no trace of him.

It has been previously stated that the Indian on several occasions, suffered from a lapse of memory and remained in that wandering state for some time.  Authorities believe he might have suffered from such an attack and drifted off into the woods where he froze to death.  Rumor, too, has spread, and some believe he might have been murdered and that the spring thaws will disclose his body.

Mr. Tucker is a brother of Mose Tucker, and has a daughter, Pauline.

 

 

The Tigerton Chronicle

Friday, Aug. 4, 1933

Mrs. Frank Woods of Regina Killed Sunday

As a result of a bad auto accident where county Trunk J crosses Highway 29 at Gjermundson store in the town of Morris, one lady is dead and several others received many cuts and bruises Sunday, when the car driven by Frank Liskau of Bowler, accompanied by Mr. & Mrs. Frank Woods of Regina, was hit by a Ford coupe driven by John Murray of Rollingstone, Minn.  When the cars hit Mrs. Woods was thrown through a rear window onto the pavement and was killed almost instantly.  Her husband was taken to the Shawano hospital suffering from deep gashes on his head and face.  John Murray of Rollingstone and Frank Burgoin of Minneapolis had been at Murray’s home at Dean Lake, Ont., Canada, for a visit with his patents. The gentlemen left Canada Saturday night accompanied by Murray’s sisters, Peggy and Catherine, bound for Minneapolis, where the girls attend school.  The Murray party passed the Gjermundson corner about 8:00 Sunday morning and when about 2 miles beyond the store, the driver lost control of the car and it tipped over.  After rolling over once the car righted itself again.  One of the girls received a bad gash over her right eye, which bled profusely and they decided to return to Shawano to a doctor.  As they neared the intersection again, the Liskau car was crossing and before it could get across it was hit on the right side by the Ford, which was traveling at a good rate of speed in their haste to get medical aid.  The two Murray girls received many bad cuts and bruises about the face, likewise did Mr. Liskau.  Murray and Burgoin escaped with only minor scratches and body bruises.  The Studebaker car of Liskau’s was badly damaged and the Ford Coupe was badly wrecked as a result of the two mishaps.  Coroner Stubenvoll of Shawano was called immediately and he decided to hold an inquest and assembled a coroner’s jury.  After hearing the evidence of both sides and eye witnesses, they decided that Murray was not criminally negligent in the death of Mrs. Woods.  Mr. & Mrs. Woods were coming to Tigerton with Liskau to visit their son, who operates a filling station in the former Malueg cheese factory in Germania.  The deceased was about 48 years of age.

SLA

2 Nov 1933

 

Last Rites for First Hunting Season Victim

 

Funeral rites for Joseph Weber, 36, who died in the local hospital at 12:15 Oct 24, as a result of injuries received when the gun which he was carrying while hunting Friday, Oct. 20 was accidentally discharged, were held Friday, Oct 27, at ten o'clock at St Mary's Church at Gresham. Rev Fr. Grill read the services.

Pallbearers were Henry Nordwig, John Paiser, Wm. Eckes, Arnold Letzan, Raymond Arndt and Emil Blankshien, Internment was at the Catholic Cemetery at Gresham.

 

Mr. Weber was carrying the gun through the woods Friday morning when it was accidentally discharged blowing off the first joint of his thumb and the bullet entering the abdomen. He dragged himself to the road and a passer by picked him up and rushed him to the Municipal hospital in this city. He died three days later.

 

Joseph Weber was born August 3, 1897 at Lyndhurst, Shawano County. He was united in marriage to Miss Viola Scherbarth on March 1 1923 at Milwaukee, The young couple made their home near Leopolis where Mr. Weber ran a tavern and grocery store.

 

Besides the bereaved widow, there survive two children, Joyce 9 and Joseph Jr. 5. One daughter, Elizabeth Jane died in infancy, Nine sisters and two brothers also survive, Mary. Mrs. Alfred Dorand, Appleton, Lena, Mrs. Guimina, Appleton, Teresa, Mrs. Joe Stoehr, Jr., Gresham; Anna, Mrs. Andrew Siegert, Dorchester; Katherine, Mrs. R. Schweitzer, Barton; Helen, Mrs. Sherman Smith, Barton; Isabel, Mrs. Wm Brennan, Milwaukee; Ida, Mrs. George Buss, Mattoon, Tillie, Mrs. Art Schabow; Gresham; and Frank of this city and Michael on a farm near Gresham.

 

 

SCJ

26 Oct 1933

 

Joe Weber, who accidentally shot himself while hunting ducks last Saturday, passed away at the Municipal hospital Monday morning. The accident occurred when Mr. Weber had finished reloading his gun. He had only one arm and this caused him much difficulty. However, after he had finished he put the gun on the ground and it was then that the trigger was pulled and the gun discharged, the shot entering his stomach and tearing the flesh. His thumb also was shot off.

 

Mr. Weber had gone hunting alone and lay injured for over an hour before he was found. Another hunter who happened along rushed him to the hospital in this city. Due to exposure, his condition became critical and he passed away early Monday morning.

The deceased owned and operated a tavern called Happy Corner out on highway 29 near Leopolis. He leaves his widow and three children to survive. Funeral services were conducted at Leopolis on Wednesday.

 

 

Antigo Daily Journal

Monday, Jan 22, 1934

Crushed To Death By Falling Hoist

Edwin Brehmer of This City Killed In Accident At Birnamwood Saturday

Funeral services will be held here tomorrow for Edwin Brehmer, 1129 Seventh Avenue, Antigo, who died Saturday at Birnamwood from injuries he suffered when a large, heavy hoist fell on him at Kraft-Phenix Dairies, Inc., plant.  At the time of the accident he was engaged with a crew of men in dismantling machinery for shipment from Birnamwood.  Brehmer was removing a vacuum pan when a chain broke, allowing the hoist to fall on him.  Two brothers, William and Clarence Brehmer were helping him.  He died instantly, suffering severe internal injuries.

Mr. Brehmer was 36 years old and unmarried.  He was born in Antigo, and during the World War served with company E of the 165^th infantry.  He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Rose Brasch and Mrs. Lillian Reeves, and three brothers, William, Clarence and Melvin.

The funeral will be held Tuesday at 2:00 pm at the home and at 2:15 at Unity Evangelical Synod church, the Rev. C F Hammen officiating.  Interment will be in the mausoleum.

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Feb. 8, 1934

Man and Wife Perish In Lake Winnebago

The Rev. and Mrs. E Stubenvoll and the Rev. and Mrs. Emil Stubenvoll of Clintonville went to Oshkosh Friday to attend the funeral of Irvin Malitz and his wife, who were drowned in Lake Winnebago.  The bodies were recovered after being in the lake for 56 hours.  The Stubenvoll families from Tilleda and Caroline also attended the last sad rites.

Mr. Malitz was a brother of Mrs. E Stubenvoll, Sr.  He was 24 years old and his wife 20.  Death came to them when their automobile broke through the thin ice while they were pleasure riding on the glare ice of the lake.

Recovery of the car was made with great difficulty.  The thin ice made the work hazardous.  Several times the car was brought to the surface and then slipped back through the hole.  There was no possibility whatever of saving the victims of the accident.  Mr. Malitz and his wife were last seen when they left a fishing shanty on the lake to drive ashore.  They had stopped at the fishing shanty to get warm.  It must be that they lost their way or became confused, for they drove directly into an open space in the lake.

Mr. Malitz formerly lived in Bowler for several years.  He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Malitz, who have a farm on the outskirts of Bowler.  The young man went from Bowler to Chicago, where he was a professional on a golf course.  When he married he went to Oshkosh and ran his father-in-law’s farm.

The services were held Friday afternoon.

 

S.L.A.

Thursday 15 Feb 1934

Leo Schultz Dies in Crash Near Theresa

Death rode in the Chevrolet coupe of Hugo Pahlow Monday night when on route to Milwaukee on business accompanied by Leo Schultz, the car plunged into the ditch on highway 41 near Theresa, this side of Fond du Lac instantly killing Leo Schultz and injuring seriously the other two occupants of the car.  The people were rushed to the Fond du Lac hospital where it was found that Pahlow had sustained a broken jaw and suffered body bruises.

It is now known how the accident happened but when the accident was noticed by passing motorists, Schultz was found to have gone through the windshield.

Mr. Pahlow is expected at the end of the week.  The car is in a garage in Theresa.

Mr. Schultz and Mr. Pahlow left here on a business trip to Milwaukee.

The families of both men left for Fond du Lac as soon as they received word of the accident.

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 22 Feb 1934

Horse Kick Is Fatal To Larsen Farmer

Peter Larson, 54, route 1, Larsen, Farmer, died in Theda Clark hospital of a fractured skull suffered several hours before when he was kicked in the head by a horse.  Larson was cleaning the animal when it kicked him.  He was found some time later by his wife lying unconscious in a pool of blood on the barn floor.  He is survived by the widow, two sons and a daughter.

Larsen is the town to which W K Porter went from First National bank at Shawano to become cashier of the bank in that village.  The town is on the old New London road to Oshkosh.  Mr. Porter, You will recall, sang for many years in the Shawano Methodist choir—a deep base singer.

 

S.L.A.

Thursday 28 June 1934

Edward Dey Killed In Fall Tuesday

Grief has stunned the Emil Dey family of Shawano and the neighbors and friends who knew the Dey’s only son Edward, 4 years old, for Tuesday morning at ten o’clock Edward passed away following injuries received when he fell from the second story window of the Orthopedic Hospital at Madison. 

About a year ago Mr. and Mrs. Dey sent their son to Madison for treatment for a crippled hip and he was in a cast for ten months at the end of which time he was sent home and was getting along nicely.  Last week Edward and his Dad went back to Madison where Edward was examined and left there for another six weeks treatment.  Tuesday morning about six o’clock, shortly after the nurse had made the rounds, Edward shoved his bed up to the window, crawled on top of the bedstead and opened the latch on the screen.  He lost his balance and plunged down to the sidewalk.  Mr. Dey was called but he did not reach there in time to see his son alive.

Funeral services will be held Friday at one o’clock from the home and from the St. James church with the Rev. Bauman officiating.  Besides the grief stricken parents there is left to mourn sister, Elaine, a year and eight months old.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 5 July 1934

Body of Red Springs Indian found In Creek

Alex Smith, an Indian who lived in the town of Red Springs, was found dead in a small creek near his home Tuesday afternoon.  Coroner Harvey Stubenvoll reported that he had died from a heart attack, although it was at first believed that he had drowned.

He was 77 years old and lived alone in a small shack.  It is believed that he had gone to the creek to get water and dropped dead from exertion.

The Indian had been a county charge for some time.  He has no living relatives.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 16 August 1934

Weyauwega Man Stung By Bees, Drops Dead

Stung by bees about 1:30 Sunday afternoon while he was taking care of them at his home in Weyauwega, Henry F Pagel, 59, died about two hours later at Twin Lakes camp, the Oshkosh Boy Scout camp where he and his wife were cooks.  After having been stung several times about the head and on one temple, he drove his car back to Twin Lakes and dropped dead while changing his clothes.

Pagel had gone to Weyauwega Sunday to attend a dinner at the fair grounds and after the dinner went to his home to attend to his bees.  They attacked him, stinging him about the head and face.

Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Alvina Pagel, one daughter, Mrs. Henry Havemann, Hillside, Ill., his step-mother, Mrs. Ferdinand Pagel, Weyauwega; four brothers, Alfred of Birnamwood, Edward of Miami, Fla., Adolph of Ladysmith, and Leo of Washington, D.C., besides seven sisters, one of them Mrs. Emma Domke of Royalton.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Weyauwega, with the Rev. Max Hensel in charge.

 

Shawano Leader

Wednesday 22 Aug 1934

Death Results of Dive for M Lotto, 20

Green Valley Youth Fatally Injured Friday 

Shawano County citizens were shocked Saturday to learn of the accidental death of Mitchell Lotto, 20 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Lotto, Green Valley, who while diving from the springboard at a swimming hole on the Oconto river, struck his head on a rock and received a fractured skull, succumbing to the injuries a few hours later without regaining consciousness.  Lotto was in company with several friends who had used the spot which is about two miles northeast of Pulcifer, as a swimming place during the summer.  A doctor was summoned following the accident but nothing could be done.

The twenty-year old youth was one of the leading baseball players in this part of the state and had been pitcher for the Cecil team this summer during which time he brought them to the top rung of Land O’ Lakes league.  Last Sunday he pitched for Cecil and struck out 18 men though Cecil lost to Pulaski for the second time this season by a score of 2 to 0.

Lotto was know very well in Shawano and had won for himself many friends here.  When Cecil baseball team gather again, the tall young chap will be missing from the pitcher’s mound, and the boys will long remember him, not only as a team-mate but as a pal.

Survivors are his parents, four sisters, Mrs. Ernest Bob of Two Rivers, Mrs. Matt Kimball of Gleason, Mildred and Marie at home, and five brothers, Jerome, Clement, Cyril, Gerald and Marvin at home.

Mitchell Lotto was laid to rest in the local cemetery Tuesday.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 23 Aug 1934

Mitchell Lotto, 21, Is Fatally Injured

Skull Was Fractured When He Struck a Rock While Diving

Striking his head on a rock in the Oconto river after diving from a springboard at a swimming hole Mitchell Lotto, 21 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Lotto, Green Valley, received a fractured skull last Friday evening and died a short time later.  Lotto was in company of several of his friends who had used the spot, about two miles northeast of Pulcifer, as a swimming place during the summer.  Although a doctor was summoned, he didn’t regain consciousness.

Mitchell John Lotto was born in Suamico on September 26, 1913.  He is survived by his parents and the following brothers and sisters; Mrs. Ernest Bob, Two Rivers; Mrs. Matt Kluball, Gleason; Jerome, Clement, Cyril, Mildred, Gerald, Marvin and Marie, all at home.  Funeral services were conducted at the home Tuesday Morning at 9:00 o’clock.  Burial was in the family plot at Krakow.  The pallbearers were fellow teammates of the Cecil team, Reuben Schmidt, Donald Wege, Hollis Reinhammer, August and Kenneth Heller, Marvin Bartles, Louis Kroll, Frank Dittman, Billy Goers and Joe Peterman.

One of the leading baseball pitchers in this part of the state, Mitchell had hurled the Cecil team to the top of the Land o’ Lakes league.  On Sunday, Aug. 12, he was defeated the second time by Pulaski, 2-0, although he struck out 18 men.  He had won all of his other league starts for the Cecil team.

He had the making of a professional and was at the beginning of a brilliant and promising career.  It is believed that he would have been recognized by the big leagues.  He displayed good sportsmanship in every game he played.  A likeable fellow, admired by a large circle of friends.  His death is a great loss to the Land o’ Lakes league.

Shawano Leader

Saturday 22  Sept 1934

Witnesses in Manslaughter Case Testify

Court to Decide If Infant Died Of Starvation

Nine Witnesses testified in the case before Judge E V Werner this morning of the State vs. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Williams of Red Springs who face a charge of manslaughter arising from the death of their baby supposedly from lack of food on July 31.

Wallrich and Aschenbrener are the attorneys for the defense and Ralph Wescott, District Attorney, is the prosecutor, E V Werner, circuit judge, is presiding on the bench.

Those who testified were Oscar Burette, Alfred King, Dr. F L Leutze, Dr. C F Stubenvoll, and Mrs. Wm. Sperberg who sold milk to the Williams.  Mr. Sperberg who had been to a dance with the Williams, Ervin Hahn, a member of the FERA Crew of which Mr. Williams was a member and he testified that Williams received .45 per hour working six hours a day two or three times per week, and Frank Dahlinger who testified that he had gone over to the Williams home at the request of the oldest girl and found the baby in the back seat of a car by the house and it seemed to him the child was dying so he returned to his own home and called the doctor and the outdoor relief office.

The case continued this afternoon and as this paper goes to press the trial was not over.

Shawano Leader

Wednesday 26 Sept 1934

Mrs. Harry Jack Victim as Truck and Auto Crash

Neck Broken In Wreck “No Lights” Said To Be Cause of Accident

Husband, Milk Pool Head, Receives Minor Injuries on Way to Address

The second fatal automobile accident within a week in Shawano County snuffed out the life of Mrs. Harry H Jack, 47, Hortonville, last evening at 6:45 o’clock, when the car in which Mr. and Mrs. Jack were riding collided with a truck owned by the Bohemian Baking Company of Green Bay, and driven by Alfred Klaus.  The accident occurred about 4 miles south of Bonduel on Highway 47.

PINNED BENEATH TRUCK.  Klaus was pinned beneath the truck, which turned over following the impact, and was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital, suffering from internal injuries and in critical condition.

According to the story as related by County Sheriff Druckrey and County Corner Harvey Stubenvoll, who were called to the scene shortly after the accident occurred, Mr. and Mrs. Jack were driving north toward Bonduel, while the bakery truck was proceeding south.  Mr. Jack was scheduled to speak at Gillett and was enroute to his speaking engagement when the fatal accident took place. 

It was said that the truck driven by Klaus was handicapped by the Fact that the headlights were not in operating condition and that he was driving with only the aid of a flashlight.  The scene of the accident was on a curve in the road which was said to have approximately 35 feet of road bed.  It was claimed that the bakery truck was on the left side of the road at this point and the driver made an effort to swing to the right, but was unable to clear the Jack car striking it at the left front.

NECK IS BROKEN.  Both car and truck were badly damaged, Mrs. Jack being killed instantly, apparently from a broken neck.  A post-mortem examination last evening indicated that several bone breaks in the arms and legs.  Klaus was pinned beneath his cab in such a way that the weight of the truck rested across his midsection.  A Bonduel physician was called to the scene and pronounced Mrs. Jack lifeless and removed Klaus to the Green Bay hospital.  Mr. Jack was said to be suffering from a broken arm, a severe shaking up and bruises.

An inquest was expected to be held sometime today.

Mr. Jack is well known in this county as one of the leading Milk Pool Heads in the state.  He was selected as master of ceremonies by the county committee, and acted as such at the Milk Pool picnic held here recently.

An inquest was held this morning, and the six man jury found that Mrs. Harry Jack “was mot killed as the result of an automobile accident at approximately 6:50 pm; the immediate cause of death being a fracture of the 5^th cerebral vertebrae; that said death judging from physical facts and positions of the auto in question was due to the negligence of the driver of the Bohemian bakery truck.  The jury was composed of Ovid Strossenreuther of this city, Allen Garfield, Bonduel, Paul Senzig, Bonduel, R1, Raymond Simonson, Bonduel, R1, Palmer Simmonson, Bonduel, R1, and Norman Senzig, Bonduel R1.

 

 

Shawano Leader

Thursday 27 Sept 1934

Condition of Klaus Is Poor

Crash victim To Be Buried Saturday

According to information received early today the condition of Alfred Klaus, Green Bay, driver of the Bohemian Baking Company truck which collided with the car driven by Harry H Jack, Hortonville, in which Mrs. Jack was instantly killed Tuesday evening on highway 47, south of Bonduel, remains critical.  He is confined to St. Vincent’s hospital, Green Bay, and twice yesterday his relatives were called to the bedside, but he rallied on both occasions.

Klaus is suffering with a compound fracture of the pelvis, a ruptured bladder and other internal injuries which make his recovery doubtful.

Harry jack has been able to be about since the accident, having received a severely lacerated hand and painful bruises.  He is the progressive party candidate for assemblyman from the first Outagamie county district. 

Funeral services for Mrs. Jack will be conducted at St. Peter and Paul church, Hortonville, Saturday morning at 10 o’clock, with burial at the church cemetery.  Rev. Theodore Kolbe will officiate.  Survivors are her husband, two sons, Lloyd and Norbert, her mother, Mrs. Erwin Weiss, Appleton, three sisters and one brother.

 

 

Shawano Leader

Friday 12 Oct 1934

Dead Body of Rueckert Lad Found In Car

Fumes from Exhaust May Have Caused Death

Officers Investigate Suicide Theory

OCONTO;  Unrequited love was blamed today for the apparent suicide of Lester Rueckert, 21, Bonduel farm youth whose body was found in an automobile in a farmer’s field near Pulaski.  Death was believed to have been caused by monoxide poisoning.  An Angelica girl, now in training in a Green Bay Hospital, with whom Rueckert had been keeping company, attended the dance Wednesday night with another escort.  Rueckert left the dance about 10 p.m.  His body was found late yesterday.  

A murder theory was at first advanced because the motor of the car was not running when the body was found and the supply of gasoline was not exhausted.  Oconto authorities and the boy’s father today said they were satisfied the youth was a suicide after finding the muffler of the exhaust arranged to pour fumes into the car

The lifeless body of Lester Rueckert, 21 years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gust Rueckert, Bonduel, Route 1, was found by a farmer in the Rueckert’s Studebaker sedan, shortly after two o’clock yesterday afternoon in his field about four miles northeast of Pulaski.  The doors of the car were locked, the floor boards ripped out and the muffler taken off the exhaust pipe, the pipe bent to allow the fumes to enter the car, and Rueckert was sitting in the front seat but not behind the steering wheel.  The keys to the car were in the boy’s pocket.  The doctor who examined the body said Rueckert had been dead since midnight.

Oconto County was postponed until a further date and through indication point to suicide the officials of Oconto County stated today that they were making further investigations.  Vital organs from the body have been sent to Madison for examination and the findings will determine the results of the inquest it is believed.

Lester and his older brother, Ivan, went to a wedding dance at Pulaski Wednesday evening and the last time Lester was seen was about ten o’clock.  Ivan rode home from the dance with some friends when his brother did not return for him, but when Lester had not come home by morning, the sheriff of Shawano county, Otto Druckrey, was called and a search party went out looking for the boy.

The farmer who lives four miles northeast of Pulaski found the body of the boy about 2:15 o’clock when he investigated the car in his field.  He noticed the car at seven o’clock Thursday morning but he thought it belonged to a hunter.  Shortly after the noon lunch when he again noticed the car he went over to investigate, saw the body, and called authorities.

The Rueckert family doubts the idea of suicide and the Oconto county officials are waiting until further developments before completing the inquest findings.

 

Shawano Leader

Saturday 13 Oct 1934

Blast Suicide Theory When Facts Conflict

Family and Friends Scorn idea had Taken Own Life

Refusal of the suicide theory by the Rueckert families of Bonduel and hundreds of others who know the conditions of the death of Lester Rueckert, 21, who was found dead in his automobile Thursday afternoon, has led the entire community to believe that the solution of the case will not be reached until after a report is had on vital organs which have been sent to state authorities for examination.

MANY STORIES CONFLICT.  Conflicting and varied stories have been sent out during the past 24 hours.  One story which reached us from the press service yesterday stated that the father of the dead boy had practically admitted that the boy had committed suicide.  It has been found to be a fact that the elder Rueckert had believed and still believes that either something will be uncovered at an inquest in approximately two weeks or that a well covered crime has been committed.

From evidence obtained, Coroner Lloyd Davis of Oconto County, the Rueckert, and the neighbors of the families in Bonduel will not accept a suicide solution of the death.

One of the strangest pieces of evidence is that Lester Rueckert was found dead, apparently from poison gas from the exhaust of his car, and that the keys for the ignition were in his pocket.  The exhaust pipe was turned up into the car from underneath so that the fumes would be terrific from the engine---but the act of turning the exhaust into that position would have required that the dead boy crawl under the car.

ACTUAL FACTS INCONSISTENT.  The actual facts are that the clothes and also hands of Lester Rueckert were clean when he was found, thus practically blasting the theory that the lad bent the exhaust pipe which was to have shown that he had committed suicide.

Evidence has not and probably never will allow a conclusive suicide coroner’s jury verdict.  Mean while, clues will be sought by special state investigators as to possibilities of murder.

Yesterday’s U. P. report from Oconto stated that the father of the boy had admitted that the suicide theory might apply.  This is entirely erroneous according to Fred Rueckert, uncle of the boy, who went to Oconto yesterday with the boy’s father.

Today, it appears that there will be widespread dissatisfaction about the county in the solution of the case if additional clues are never found.  The girl friend who was reported to have been seen with another man at a dance was the companion of another Rueckert boy, thus blasting the theory that they had been at the bottom of the death.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 18 Oct 1934

Bonduel Young Man found Dead In Car

Body of Lester Rueckert Was Found In Parked Car last Thursday

Funeral services were conducted at Bonduel Monday afternoon for Lester Rueckert, whose untimely death came as a great shock to the community where he had lived his entire life.  He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Rueckert, route 1.  Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Rudolph, Sheboygan, and Ivan, at home, and three sisters, Alice of Chicago and Gladys and Marion at home.

Lester Rueckert was found dead in his automobile which was found parked in a field near Pulaski last Thursday afternoon.  A murder theory was at first advanced because the motor of the car was not running when the body was found and the supply of gasoline was not exhausted.  After an investigation it was discovered that the youth had died from monoxide poisoning.  The exhaust pipe on the car had been closed at the end by pinching it together, the muffler had been punctured and a floor board in the car had been torn up.  The ignition keys were found in the dead man’s pocket.  He was seated on the right side of the front seat and not in the driver’s seat.

The belief was expressed that he had raced the motor until the car was filled with gas and then placed the keys in his packet to await death.

Further investigation is being carried on, although a coroner’s verdict has been given.

 

Shawano Leader

Friday 2 Nov 1934

Report on Rueckert Death Is Received

Lester Rueckert, of Bonduel, who was found dead in his car in a farmer’s field four miles north of Pulaski on Thursday, October 11, after a search of 18 hours when he did not return home following a dance, died of monoxide poisoning according to the word received from Madison where the vital organs had been sent.  Sixty five percent monoxide poison was found in the lungs.

 

Shawano Leader

Monday 5 Nov 1934

Aged Pioneer Asphyxiated In Farm Fire

Grandad Hapke, 93, Town of Almon Is Victim

Grandad Hapke, ninety three year old settler of the town of Almon was asphyxiated early Saturday morning from the smoke originating from the fire in the little house in which he lived alone on the farm home that his son, Herman, is new managing.  The farm is located five miles out of Bonduel.

FIRE STARTS IN COUCH:  The fire started in a couch and was noticed by the son as he got up about three thirty o’clock Saturday.  He called to his son to go to Bowler for the fire department and rushed down to the house, hurried his father out and tried to revive him.  Fifteen minutes after the Bowler fireman received the call they were at the farm and while some fought the fire, others worked with artificial respiration on the elder Hapke and when a physician arrived he pronounced him dead.

Grandad was born in Germany in 1841 and immigrated to this county about seventy years ago.

He has lived on the farm settled when he first came to Shawano county and the town of Almon all his life.  His son has been managing the farm the last few years but Grandad preferred to live in a house by himself so rooms were fixed up for him.  He has always been very active and in fine physical condition.

Funeral rites will be held at the home at one o’clock Wednesday afternoon and at one thirty o’clock from the St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Bowler, the Rev. Neuchterlein officiating.

Mr. Hapke is survived by two sons, Herman, on the farm home, Paul, who is in the naval service and four daughters

 

Shawano Evening Leader

Monday Nov. 5, 1934 

Search Woods for Aged Belle Plaine Resident Missing

Fred Degner Missing Since Saturday Noon

Fred Degner, 81, who was residing at the home of his son, Mr. Alfred Degner in the town of Belle Plaine, wandered away from home at 1:30 Saturday afternoon and since that time no word as to his whereabouts has been received although a posse has been searching for him.  A group of 150 searchers headed by Sheriff Otto Druckrey tramped through a large wood near the Degner farm yesterday but failed to find the aged man.  The woods is a mile in width but every section of the piece of land was covered by the party.  The land in this section of township is very marshy and general belief is that if he was not picked up on the road by a passerby he wandered into the thick swamp and in that case is dead from exposure due to the intense rainfall and cold Saturday afternoon and during the night.  Alfred Degner, the lost man’s son, was in this city on Saturday afternoon when his father left home.  Grandmother Degner saw him walking down the road and it was too late for her to stop him.  At about 2:00 p.m. he was seen at Walter Vorpahl’s farm and from there he was seen at Herman Stibbs farm.  At the latter place he mentioned that he was going to go home and started off in the right direction but somehow must have walked right past the farm house and became lost.  Telegrams have been sent to all relatives so that they may be certain as to whether or not he wandered or was driven by a passerby to the home of his other children.  Because of extreme age, Mr. Dagner’s mind has not been as clear at times, and he has forgotten on various occasions to tell his family where he is going and worried them because he wandered off and was gone for long periods of time.  The aged man was a lifelong resident of Belle Plaine and is a member of the St. Martins Evangelical Lutheran church of Belle Plaine.

Shawano Evening Leader

Monday, Nov. 5, 1934 

Asphyxiated In Farm Fire

Grandad Hapke, 93, Town of Almon Is Victim

Grandad (John) Hapke, 93 year old settler of the town of Almon was asphyxiated early Saturday morning from the smoke originating from the fire in the little house in which he lived alone on the farm home that his son, Herman is now managing.  The farm is located 5 miles out of Bowler.  The fire started in a couch and was noticed by his son as he got up about 3:30 Saturday.  He called to his son to go to Bowler for the fire department, and rushed down to the home, hurried his father out and tried to revive him.  Fifteen minutes after the Bowler fireman received the call they were at the farm and while some fought the fire others worked with artificial respiration on the elder Hapke and when a physician arrived he pronounced him dead.  Grandad was born in Germany in 1841 and emigrated to the U.S. about 70 years ago.  He has lived on the farm he settled when he first came to Shawano County and the town of Almon, all his life.  His son has been managing the farm the last few years but Grandad preferred to live in a house by himself so rooms were fixed up for him.  He has always been very active and in fine physical condition.  Funeral rites will be held at the home at1:00 Wednesday afternoon and at 1:30 from the St. Paul’s Luth. Church at Bowler.  Mr. Hapke is survived by 2 sons Herman, on the home farm, Paul, who is in the naval service, and 4 daughters.

Shawano Evening Leader

Monday, Nov. 5, 1934 

Young Man Is Killed When Car Crashes

Wardie Mitchell, 28, died at the Shawano hospital at 11:20 Sunday morning from injuries sustained when the radius rod in the Model T Ford he was driving broke and he lost control of the steering wheel.  The accident occurred about 1:30 Sunday morning as Mitchell was returning to Shawano from the Rustic Resort.  The car rolled over twice.  Mitchell was picked up by a passing motorist from Pella and rushed to the hospital where he succumbed several hours later.  Many of his relatives were at the bedside.

Mitchell was born March 11, 1906 the son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Mitchell of Bowler and grew to manhood there.  For the past several months he has been employed at the Henry Zehren Farm.  He was not married.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7^th, at 10:00 from the Manning Funeral home and from the Catholic Church at Leopolis.

An aged father, Henry Mitchell, 5 brothers and 1 sister, Archie of Clintonville, Dewey and Hardie of Minneapolis, Harvey and Ray of Shawano, and Mrs. Marie Karolus of Shawano survive.  This is the second tragic death by accident in the Mitchell family for a year ago another brother, Lyle, was killed in an auto accident at Bonduel.

 

Shawano Leader

Monday 5 Nov 1934

Young Man Killed When Car Crashes

       Wardie Mitchell Dies at Hospital on Sunday

Wardie Mitchell, 28, died at the Shawano hospital at eleven twenty o’clock Sunday morning from injuries sustained when the radius rod in the Model T Ford he was driving broke and he lost control of the steering wheel.  The accident occurred about one thirty o’clock Sunday morning as Mitchell was returning to Shawano from the Rustic Resort.  The car rolled over twice.  Mitchell was picked up by a passing motorist from Pella and rushed to the hospital where he succumbed several hours later.  Many of his relatives were at the bedside.

Mitchell was born March 11, 1906 the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mitchell of Bowler and grew to manhood there.  For the past several months he has been employed at the Henry Zchren farm.  He was not married.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov 7^th at ten o’clock from the Manning funeral home and from the Catholic Church at Leopolis.

An aged father, Henry Mitchell, five brothers and one sister, Archie of Clintonville, Dewey and Hardie of Minneapolis, Harvey and Ray of Shawano, and Mrs. Marie Karolus of Shawano survive.  This is the second tragic death by accident in the Mitchell family for a year ago another brother, Lyle was killed in an auto accident at Bonduel.

Shawano County Journal

8 Nov 1934

Town Almon Pioneer Meets Tragic Death

John Hopke, Aged 93, died From Suffocation At Home near Bowler

A tragic end to a long and useful life came early Friday morning when John Hopke, 93, town of Almon pioneer, died from suffocation when the daybed on which he had been resting caught fire.

The fire was discovered by Mr. Hopke’s son, Herman, who awoke at an early hour that morning and, as was his habit, looked over to his father’s house, which is nearby, and noticed a flickering light.  He immediately hastened to the scene and found the house filled with smoke, which made it difficult for him to find his father.  He was, however, not near the fire but in an adjoining bedroom, near his bed, where he had died.  It is believed that he had been awakened by the fire, and in attempting to get out of the house had wandered into the bedroom, where he collapsed.  Mr. Hopke had been in good health and active in spite of his advanced age.

The deceased was born in Klein, Rodowitz, West Prussia, Germany, on June 17, 1841.  He was educated in Germany and married there to Miss Laura Schmalholz, who died following the birth of her first son.  He later married Pauline Heiman, who came to this country with him in 1885.  They settled in the town of Almon on a homestead which this pioneer developed into one of the finest farms in the county.  His wife and a son preceded him in death.  Mrs. Hopke having passed away 21 years ago.

He leave three daughters and three sons, Carl Hopke, Wausau; Herman, town of Almon; Paul, Palo Alto, California; Mrs. Henry Kolpack, town of Almon; Mrs. Harry Kolpack, Edgar, and Mrs. Lorne Durward, Wisconsin Rapids.  Also 24 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 at St. Paul’s church, Bowler, of which he was a devout member.  Rev. W G Nuechterlein officiated.

Shawano Leader

Monday 26 Nov 1934

Oneida Indian Girl Suicide Victim Sunday

Trouble with Sweetheart Cause of Shooting

“Heart” trouble was given as the cause of the suicide of Mary Jane Parker, 30 year Oneida Indian who took a .32 revolver that belonged to her sweetheart and shot herself through the head Sunday afternoon about four o’clock at the Philip Young farm, near Gresham.

Miss Parker was keeping company with a young man who also lived at the Young farm and there had been a quarrel last week Wednesday, when she returned to the farm with her sweetheart’s car, he asked to know where she had been.  A minor verbal quarrel ensued and he went upstairs.  The girl wrote a note that was found by her side, took up the revolver she had procured from another room which belonged to the sweetheart and sot herself.

Shawano County Sheriff Otto Druckrey was called to the scene of the accident at once.

The note which was found beside the body was addressed to the sweetheart and stated that she wished to thank him for the use of the gun and this way out of their trouble was the only way.

Shawano Leader

Monday 3 Dec 1934

Fred Elst, 21, Is Killed By Falling Tree

Lloyd Dabill Gored By Bull

Helgeson Is Suicide

Victims Leave Large Families

Accidental death strode through Shawano County Saturday and within an hour claimed the lives of three county people, Fred Elst, 21, who succumbed to injuries received when he was caught by a falling tree in Florence County: Lloyd Dabill, 48, was killed by a bull who attacked him in the farmyard: and Mike Helgeson, 60, who died by his own hand at the home of his daughter at Wittenberg.

FRED ELST.  Elst was employed by the Bay-shore Lumber Company in Florence County since Monday morning.  The men were felling a tree Saturday afternoon but it fell in a different direction than they anticipated and caught Elst.  He was rushed to the Stamboul, Michigan hospital where it was found he had sustained a skull fracture.  He succumbed two hours later at about three o’clock.

The Kleven funeral coach brought the body back to Shawano yesterday evening and funeral services have nave not been definitely arranged for as yet.

Survivors are the widowed mother, sisters, Dorothy, Mrs. Martin Clark; Julia, Helen and brothers John, Frank, and Lester.  Fred Elst was a fine boy say those knew him best and was a great aid to his widowed mother.

LLOYD DABILL.  Lloyd Dabill, 48, was walking through the barnyard Saturday afternoon pushing a wheelbarrow when a bull which was loose in the barnyard attacked the wheelbarrow and then turned on Dabill.  Mrs. Dabill rushed to his assistance but Dabill’s chest had been crushed and internal hemorrhages caused his death before his wife finally pulled him to safety.  He passed away about three thirty o’clock.

The bull was not considered vicious.

Dabill was born in the town of Hutchins, Shawano County, May 19, 1886 and grew to manhood there.  He was united in marriage with Mary Nichol, school teacher from Montello, April 24, 1917, in the town of Hutchins at the home of John Weyenerberger.  The young couple made their home on the farm on which they still reside.  To this union eight children was born, one dying in infancy.  Dorothy, 15; Eunice, 12; Florence, 10; Lawrece, 8; Lydia, 5; Phoebe, 2, and Joseph, 1.

Dabill was known as a fine man, with clean habits and a Christian.  He loved his family and provided well for them.  He had won the affection and friendship of those with whom he came in contact.

Besides the widowed mother and the seven children, there survive four brothers, Orville in Idaho; True in Pine River, Minn.; Kenneth in the town of Hutchins; Clarence in the town of Almon; and an aged father, W E Dabill, in the town of Hutchins.

Funeral services will be held at the W E Dabill home at one thirty o’clock Tuesday afternoon.  The pall bearers are to be six schoolmates of the deceased.

MIKE HELGESON.  General despondency was given as the cause for the suicide of Mike Helgeson, 60, at the home of his daughter Saturday at four o’clock in the village of Wittenberg.

Mike Helgeson was born in Norway and came to this country over thirty years ago.  He was united in marriage with Miss Martha Mielke in Wittenberg and to this union two children were born, Margaret, now Mrs. Tom Mason, and Herbert who is employed by the Michigan Power and Light Company.

The funeral services will be held at the Dobbert Funeral home at Wittenberg with Rev. Fierke officiating.  Interment will be at the Forest Home Cemetery.  The date and hour of the funeral has not been determined as yet since three of Mr. Helgeson brothers live in the west and word has not been heard from them as yet.  One sister lives at Wittenberg, Mrs. Karl Nelson.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 6 Dec 1934

Fred Elst Was Fatally Hurt By Falling Tree

Fred Elst, a resident of the town of Wescott, died at the Stambough, Michigan, General Hospital Saturday afternoon after he had been fatally injured by a falling tree near Long Lake several hours before.

Elst had been employed by the Bay Shore Lumber company at Long Lake for only four days.  He suffered a skull fracture when a tree in the forest fell on him, and died in the hospital four hours later.

He is survived by his mother, three brothers and three sisters, Dorothy (Mrs. M Clark), Julia, Helen, John, Frank and Lester.  The body was brought here to the Kleven funeral home.  Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at St James Lutheran church where Rev P Uhlig Officiated.  Burial was in Woodlawn cemetery.

 

 

Shawano County journal

Thursday 6 Dec 1934

Hutchins Youth Fatally Wounded While Hunting

Only one accidental death was reported for Shawano County during the past deer hunting season.  The dead is Charles Klemp, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Klemp town of Hutchins, who died at the Langlade County Memorial Hospital last Tuesday morning from loss of blood and shock as the result of a charge of buckshot in the accidental discharge of a shotgun which nearly blew off his leg.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of Alvin about 9:00 o’clock last Monday morning, when Charles and others comprising a hunting party was passing through the brush.  Arnold, his brother, was carrying the shotgun, one of the hammer type.  It is believed that the hammer or trigger caught in the brush, causing the discharge.  R K Monroe, operator of the Bonduel Oil company, an uncle of the boys, received a shot from the same charge in the legs, be received only a flesh wound.

Immediately after the accident, which happened two miles from camp, a brother applied a tourniquet to Charles leg in an effort to stop the flow of blood, and later a CCC boy administered first aid.

Surviving the unfortunate young man are his parents, nine brothers, Floyd, in a CCC camp at Clam Lake, Wisconsin; Arnold, Melvin, Gaylord, Lewis, Clyde, Robert, Dale and Raymond, living at home.

Funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Klemp home near Mattoon.  Burial was in the Hall cemetery. 

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday 6 Dec 1934

Man Commits Suicide

Mike Helgerson, aged 63, a widower, who made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mason, in the town of Wittenberg, committed suicide Saturday afternoon about 3:35 o’clock.

The deceased had been in ill health for some time and this is believed to have brought about a strain which caused him to take his own life.

Shortly after his son-in-law had left the home, Mr. Helgerson went into the basement and there placed the muzzle of a .22 caliber rifle in his mouth and shot himself, dying instantly.  The bullet penetrated the brain, piercing through the skull and lodging in a beam in the ceiling.  Harvey Stubenvoll, coroner, was called and made the investigation.  He reported the case as suicide caused by despondency.  No inquest was held.

Mr. Helgerson was born in Norway and came to this country about thirty years ago.  He married Miss Martha Mielke, Wittenberg, and two children were born to this union, Margaret, Mrs. Tom Mason, Wittenberg, and Herbert, who is with the Michigan Power & Light company.  Besides his children he leaves three brothers in the West and on e sister, Mrs. Karl Nelson, Wittenberg.

Funeral services were conduced Tuesday afternoon at Wittenberg, the Rev. Fierke officiating.  Burial was in Forest Home cemetery.

 

Shawano County Journal

6 Dec 1934

Farmer Gored By Bull

Floyd Dabill, 48, town of Hutchins farmer, was almost instantly killed Saturday afternoon about 3:00 o’clock when he was attacked by a four-year-old bull in the barnyard at his home.

Mr. Dabill had gone out to perform the evening chores, and as he was crossing the yard the bull, which was never considered dangerous, attacked him.  Mr. Dabill attempted to make his escape and ran toward the barn, but before he could reach the door the bull crashed into him and forced him against the side of the barn, where he gored and finally crushed his victim until he fell helpless to the ground.  Mrs. Dabill heard her husband cries for help and the angry bellowing of the enraged animal and ran to the barn where she witnessed the terrible scene.  She did all in her power to force the bull away, too late, however for the angry animal have succeeded in crushing the very life from her husband.  Mrs. Dabill managed to get him into the house, where he died a few minutes later.

Harvey Stubenvoll, coroner, was notified and he immediately made an investigation and found that death was accidental and no inquest was held.

The victim of the accident is survived by his widow and seven children, four brothers, Orville, Idaho, True, Pine River, Minn., Kenneth, town of Hutchins, Clarence, town of Almon, and an aged father, W E Dabill, of the town of Hutchins.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Dabill home.  The accident is one of the most tragic that has occurred in this county for some years.  The sympathy of the entire community goes out to this woman who made such heroic efforts to save her husband’s live.

Shawano Leader

Monday 17 Dec 1934

Unidentified Man Is Killed Sunday Night

George Stern Shot Self Accidently Yesterday

Three Youths Are In Hospitals

Two are dead by accident in Shawano County and three others are in critical condition following three week-end accidents, two occurring near Wittenberg and one near Bonduel.

An unidentified man was hit by a train in Wittenberg last night and the body was scattered one hundred feet along the track; George Stern of Bonduel was accidently shot and killed when his own gun was discharged near his home in the town of Hartland; and three Tigerton youths, Robert Odell, Lawrence Swanke, and Robert Way are in the hospital with serious injuries following an accident early Sunday morning when their car crashed into a culvert at the intersection of highway 26 and 29 near Wittenberg.

UNKNOWN MAN KILLED BY TRAIN.  An unidentified person was killed by a train about nine o’clock last night in the village of Wittenberg.  No marks or labels on the clothing gave any clue to who the dead person might be.  It is believed that he is an Indian

The body was entirely dismembered, parts of which were scattered for a distance of one hundred feet along the side of the track.  Identification was practically impossible except that the head resembled the general characteristics of that of an Indian.

Coroner Harvey Stubenvoll was called to Wittenberg early this evening to investigate the case.  The only mark of identification was a scar on the left fore-finger.

Coroner Stubenvoll is anxious to learn from anyone any particulars as to whom the dead man might be.

BONDUEL YOUTH ACCIDENTLY SHOT.  George Stern, 25 year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stern of the town of Hartland, one mile west of Bonduel was fatally wounded yesterday when as he was crawling through a fence near his home, the gun, a 12 gauge shotgun which he was drawing toward himself accidently discharged, the bullet entering the region of Stern’s heart.  The accident occurred about one fifteen o’clock.

George was born in Bonduel and grew to manhood there.  Besides the grief stricken parents, there survive two sisters, Mrs. Art Gritt, South Dakota and Mrs. Otto Rodder, Bonduel and two brothers, Alex at home and Ernest at Waukesha.

Funeral services have been tentatively set for Thursday, pending the word from the sister at South Dakota.  Rites will be held at the Lutheran Church in the town of Hartland with the Rev. A Haberman officiating.

Word received as this paper goes to press state that services will be held Friday.

Shawano County Journal

20 Dec 1934

Unidentified Man Killed By Train at Wittenberg

An unidentified man was killed Sunday evening at Wittenberg when he was struck by a south-bound train as he was crossing the tracks.  His body was entirely dismembered and pieces were scattered at least 100 feet along the tracks.

No marks or labels on the clothing gave any clue as to who the dead person might be and identification was practically impossible, except that the head closely resembled that of an Indian.  The only mark of identification was a scar on the left forefinger.

Coroner Harvey Stubenvoll was called to Wittenberg early Monday morning to investigate the case.

Latest reports are that the body is believed to be that of Chauncey Doxtator.  Doxtator, employed by James Stewart at Whitcomb, have been missing since Sunday.  Fragments of clothing picked up have been identified as those belonging to the missing man.  Coroner Harvey Stubenvoll has been asked to hold the body for several days for possible identification.

Circumstances indicate, according to information received, that the Indian was not hit at the crossing as at first supposed, by a south-bound freight train Sunday night, but that he fell from a west-bound train.  Division officials say there was no south-bound freight train through Wittenberg Sunday night.

 

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Feb. 28, 1935 

Red Springs Youth Meets Tragic Death

Clarence Beilke, the oldest son of Mr.  & Mrs. Chas. Beilke, of Red Springs, tragically met death Monday afternoon as he tried to catch a ride at Morgan on the outbound train for Neopit.  He was climbing onto a flat car as it moved from the station, when he slipped and fell, catching his coat in the truck of a refrigerator car.  The train dragged him about 500 feet and when picked up his neck was broken.  He was 22 years old.  The accident occurred about 10 minutes to 2.  Beilke was visiting his parents at Red Springs over Sunday and was on his way back to Neopit, where he is employed.  Sheriff Otto Druckrey and Coroner Everett Breitrick of Tigerton were summoned to Red Springs where the death was pronounced as accidental.  Survivors are his parents and 4 sisters and brothers.  Funeral services were held this morning (Thursday) at 9:00 at the home.  Interment will be in the Red Springs Cemetery

Shawano Evening Leader

Tuesday, March 26, 1935 

Belle Plaine

Fred Degner, 82, who disappeared and for whom upward of 1000 people hunted and searched, for whom blood hounds were engaged and all had seemed in vain, was found Sunday morning by Leonard and Ruben Vorphal on Emil Vorpahl’s farm, on a marsh 20 feet from a creek, lying on his back, apparently died of exposure.  The coroner and undertaker’s Karth were called who lifted the corpse and conveyed him to Karth’s funeral parlor.  Arrangements will be made to bury him in the St. Martin’s church cemetery.  Rev Potratz will officiate.  Interment will be Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Shawano County Leader

Thursday, March 28, 1935 

Boys Find Body of Belle Plaine Man

Solution of a 4 months old disappearance mystery came with the discovery Sunday morning of the body of Fred Degner, 81, who had wandered away from his son’s farm near Belle Plaine last Nov. 8.  Leonard and Ruben Vorpahl, sons of Emil Vorpahl, found the body on their father’s farm, which is about four miles from the farm of Degner’s son.  Sheriff Otto Druckrey and Coroner Everett Breitrick investigated and found that the aged man apparently had wandered to this spot, had collapsed there and died of exposure.  No inquest was held.  The body was lying under water, as the creek near where it lay had overflowed its banks this spring.  It was badly decomposed.  The body was removed to the Karth funeral home in this city.  At the time of Degner’s disappearance a widespread search was conducted without results, even bloodhounds being pressed into service in a fruitless attempt to locate him.  Mr. Degener was born in Germany on Jan. 22, 1854, and came to this country with his parents when he was about 5 years old.  The settled in Dodge county and later came up to this section and made their home in Belle Plaine, where the deceased grew to manhood.  In December 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Brose in the town of Bear Creek and the young couple settled on the farm in Belle Plaine, where they have since made their home.  Mr. Degener was an early pioneer in the town of Belle Plaine and always worked for that would tend to promote the county.  He was well liked and respected by all his many friends and neighbors, who, since his disappearance, have been much concerned.  He is survived by his widow and 4 sons, Albert, Fond du Lac; Herman, Henry and Alfred, Belle Plaine, and 5 daughters, Rose, Mr. Fred Seager, North Fond du Lac; Amelia, Mrs. Louis Berndt, Fond du Lac; Alma, Mrs. Otto Gehrt, Embarrass; Emma, Mrs. Alfred Koeller, Shawano, and Amanda, Mrs. Frank Schutt, Shawano.  Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at St. Martin Lutheran church in Belle Plaine.  Burial was in the churchyard cemetery.

 

Shawano Evening Leader

Friday, May 3, 1935

Town Of Almon Farmer Takes His Own Life

Ill health was given as the cause of the suicide of Fred Leiskau, 49, town of Almon farmer who was found in the basement of his home yesterday morning dead from a shotgun bullet which had entered through his left side, below the heart.  County Sheriff Otto Druckrey was called and he in turn called Coroner Everett Breitrick of Tigerton.  It was believed that Leiskau discharged the gun with the aid of a long stick for it would have been impossible for him to pull the trigger in the position the gun was in.  A long stick was found lying by the gun.  Survivors are the widow and 3 children and several brothers and sisters.  Funeral services are tentatively set for Monday.

Shawano County Journal Tuesday, May 9, 1935.  Town Of Almon Man Takes His Own Life.  Despondent over continued ill health, Fred Leiskau, 48, town of Almon farmer, shot himself through the chest with a .45 caliber revolver in the basement of his farm home Thursday morning.  Sheriff Otto Druckrey and Coroner Everett Breitrick were immediately called and pronounced death from suicide after an investigation.  The body was taken to the funeral parlor at Tigerton and funeral services were conducted at the Leiskau home on Sunday.  He is survived by his widow, 3 children, his father and 4 brothers.

 

 

Shawano Evening Leader

Saturday, Feb 12, 1938

 

Leopolis Man Is Accident Victim

Emil Steinke, 65, of Leopolis was accidently killed Friday afternoon near here by a falling log while out working in the woods with a sawing crew.  The victim’s skull was crushed when the log struck him and he died at Shawano about 2 hours later.  Steinke, with his son, Melvin, and Preston Arrity were in the woods cutting trees when the accident occurred.  While cutting a tree, they stopped for a moment while Mr. Steinke stepped over to the side to clear any obstruction.  At that point, the tree fell, striking Mr. Steinke and crushing his skull.  He was rushed to the Shawano Municipal hospital but the injury was fatal and he passed away at 5:20 p.m.  Emil Steinke was born in Germany on Nov. 1, 1872, and came to this country at the age of 18.  He settled near Leopolis, and in 1897 married Mary Kristoff at Leopolis, and sometime after her death in 1905 he was united in marriage to Emma Kristoff.  They lived near Leopolis until about 12 years ago, when they moved into the village and Mr. Steinke did lumbering and carpenter work.  Surviving is his wife, 3 sons: George of Pella, and Melvin and Allen at home; and 7 daughters, Mrs. Joe Reminger of Leopolis; Mrs. Joe Sazama of Lyndhurst, Mrs. Perlee Grove of Canton, Ohio; Mrs. Walter Wolf of Belle Plaine; and Irene, Loretta, and Mae, at home.  In addition there are 17 grandchildren, 2 brothers, and 4 sisters.

 

Shawano Evening Leader

Monday, Feb 14, 1938

Steinke Rites to Be Held Tuesday

Final rites for Emil Steinke, 65, who was fatally injured Friday, will be held Tuesday at 10:40 a.m. at the residence at Leopolis.  Burial will take place at Leopolis

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Aug. 4, 1938

Young Mother Drowns In River Near Tigerton

The 3^rd drowning of the season in this county occurred early Tuesday afternoon when Mrs. Alfred Minge, aged 22, accidentally met death while bathing in the south branch of the Embarrass river, about 2 ½ miles southeast of Tigerton.  The drowning occurred at 1:30.

Mrs. Minge, with her two children and Mrs. William Ryan, left their homes about 1:00 to enjoy a swim in the river.  The women left the children, a boy about 10 months and a girl, aged two years, playing in the sand on shore, while they entered the river.  They had been wading about for some time, when Mrs. Minge decided to wade farther into the river to ascertain just how deep the water was in that section.  Mrs. Ryan, did not follow her, but was soon startled when she saw Mrs. Minge struggling in deep water.  She had stepped into a hole and was unable to get back to shallow water.  Mrs. Ryan, who can swim, rushed to her aid.  However, Mrs. Minge clung desperately to her and Mrs. Ryan was unable to get her to safety.  Almost exhausted, she somehow managed to reach shore and called for help, which came too late to save Mrs. Minge life.  The body was recovered by Mr. & Mrs. Frank Lane and Louis Gipenthog, who appeared on the scene.  The children were taken to a nearby farm home.

Coroner Leonard Hartwig was called and pronounced death was accidental.

Mrs. Minge was formerly Myrtle Salzman.  She was born August 16, 1916, in the vicinity of Tigerton.  She leaves her husband and two children, Gloria and Arden.

The body was taken to the Ruppenthal funeral home in Tigerton and services were conducted Thursday.

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1937

Town Seneca Man Takes His Own Life

George H Kroll, aged 33, committed suicide at about 11:30 Wednesday morning.  Taking a long bladed butcher knife from his mother’s kitchen, he went to an outbuilding near the house and stabbed himself in the chest, striking the heart.  His mother found him there later when she went in search of him when he failed to come in for dinner. 

He had been in poor health and despondency over his condition prompted him to take his own life.  Several days before he committed suicide he told his mother he would not live many more days.

The deceased was born in the town of Seneca, July 18, 1903, the son of Mr. & Mrs. August Kroll.  When his father died he continued to live at home with his mother.

Survivors are his mother, Mrs. August Kroll, four sisters, Mrs. Edward Wetzel of Lyndhurst; Mrs. Carl Malitz of Bowler, Miss Clara Kroll of Chicago, and Mrs. Fred Habeck of Wilmette, Ill.

Undersheriff Otto Druckrey, District Attorney Louis Cattau and Coroner Leonard Hartwig were called to the scene and conducted the investigation

 

 

The Plymouth Review

Thursday, June 22, 1939

Attack by Bull Fatal To Farmer

Richard Buchholz, 61, well know town of Lyndon farmer, was fatally injured Wednesday morning when attacked by a bull in the farm yard at his home.  It is thought that Mr. Buchholz was leading the animal to the barn when the rope broke and the bull attacked, knocking him to the ground.  Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Buchholz, rushed to the yard and assisted by Alvin Steinke, who was passing, and Louis Mields, a neighbor and brother-in-law, and Oscar Breitzman, succeeded in driving the bull off and into the barn.  A physician was called and the injured man removed to the Plymouth hospital, where it was found his injuries consisted of a broken spine, broken ribs and internal injuries.  He passed away at the hospital at 2:00 in the afternoon.  Mr. Buchholz was born Feb. 13, 1878, in the town of Lyndon, the son of Jocham and Marie Buchholz.  He was married to Louise Mields on July 21, 1904 and for 12 years after his marriage made cheese at Spring Farm.  In 1917 he removed to the present farm home in the town of Lyndon.  He is survived by his wife; 2 daughters, Mrs. Phillip (Lomira) Sundet of Sheboygan Falls and Mrs. Elmer (Althea) Laack of the town of Plymouth; five grandchildren, Phyllis and Delores Sundet and Mavis, Vida and Hollis Laack; two sisters, Mrs. Theodore (Emma) Johanning, of the town of Plymouth and Mrs. Henry (Frieda) Miller of the town of Mitchell, and two brothers, Henry of the town of Lima and August of the town of Lyndon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. from the Wittkopp Funeral Home in this city and at 2:00 from the St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Cascade.  Burial will be in the Cascade cemetery.

 

Shawano County Journal

Thursday, Nov 2, 1939

 

Belle Plaine Lady is Fatally Burned in Fire At Home

Mrs. McKinley Porter (Margaret). Belle Plaine was fatally burned on Monday when her clothing caught fire while she was building a fire in the wood stove at her home.  The accident occurred about 6:30 in the morning.  She was rushed to the local hospital, where she passed away at 11:15 that same morning.

This was the second accidental death caused by burns to occur in this county within a week.

Mrs. Porter was in the act of reviving a fire, using paper to start a blaze.  In some manner her clothes caught fire.  Her husband, who had just left the house, heard her screams and rushed back, throwing a blanket about her to smother the flames.  Coroner Leonard Hartwig was called to the scene.

The deceased was born May 21, 1909, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Allender.  She married McKinley Porter in 1926 and had made her home in Belle Plaine since that time.

Surviving are her husband, parents, 2 children, Marilyn, 12, and Roy, 11, two sister, Mrs. Van Volis and Mrs. Ed Roberts, and 1 brother, Louis Allender.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 at the Kleven funeral home.  Burial was in Friendship cemetery.

SL

May 1940

Wesley Aaron

Second Victim of Auto Crash Dies

Two Others Are In a Critical Condition at the Hospital

A second death as a result of an automobile – train collision near Gresham Wed night occurred yesterday at the Shawano municipal hospital.  The victim was Wesley Aaron, Red Springs, who was in the accident that took the life of Marvin Sears, 13.

The condition of Myron Sears, 42, and Mrs Wesley Aaron is reported to be critical.  The elder Sears is suffering with severe lacerations, a crushed chest and broken leg, while Mrs Aarons, who at first was not believed seriously hurt is suffering from internal injuries.

Funeral services for Marvin Sears were held this morning at the Catholic Church in Gresham.  Funeral services for Wesley Aaron will be held Sun afternoon at the Red Springs Presbyterian Church with special rites by the Gresham post of the American Legion.  Rev Alberts will officiate. 

The car in which the two Sears and Aarons were riding collided with an east bound freight train a short distance north of Gresham around midnight Wed.  The Sears car crashed into the seventh car from the end of a freight train.

TC

12 Jul 1940

 

Julius Hille Is Killed By Bull

Angry Animal Attacked And Killed Aged Man In Farm Pasture

After viewing the body of Julius Hille, 80, which was taken from the creek which flows thru the Hille farm east of Highway 43 near the village limits, a coroner’s jury decided that Mr. Hille had been attacked and mauled by an infuriated bull.

According to accounts told the jury by members of his son’s family, Mr. Hille had gone into the pasture about eleven o’clock to look for a calf that had been born just previously.  Mr. Hille customarily lived alone in a small house on the Hille farm and often-time took his meals apart from the family, so he was not missed during the noon hour.

Late in the afternoon, when the cows came up from the pasture for milking, his absence was noted because he usually was present at milking time.  When he was still unaccounted for, after the milking was finished, a search was made and his body was found in the creek by his grandson, Ervin Hille.

There being no witnesses to the accident, it is supposed that the bull, which had always appeared gentle, became suddenly infuriated as Mr. Hille was searching near the creek for the new-born calf.  The animal rushed the man and knocked him down.  Inspection of the scene of the accident, showed evidence of how the injured man was rolled and crushed against the ground for nearly thirty feet until the animal had shoved him into the water.  Death was caused from injuries, the bull having had plenty of time to maul the defenseless man.

Mr. Hille was a highly respected and well known man in this community, and for many years was treasurer of the town of Fairbanks.  Everyone is shocked at the manner and violence of his death.

The funeral will be held Friday, July 12 at 1:30 pm from the home and at 2:00 pm from the Zion Lutheran church in Tigerton, Rev. G Nass officiating.

 

TC

12 Jul 1940

 

Services Held For Julius Hille

Rites Were Held At Zion Lutheran Church, Tigerton, Friday, July 12

Funeral services for Julius Hille, aged 79, who was the victim of an enraged bull, which attacked him in a pasture on the Hille farm, east of Tigerton, Tuesday July 9, were held from the home and Zion Lutheran church Friday 12, Rev. Gerhard Nass, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church officiating.  Interment was made at the Union Cemetery, Tigerton.  Julius Schlender, Julius Anderson, George Kriegel, Otto Dahlman, Albert Radtke and Fred Herrmann acting as pallbearers: J C Ruppenthal was the undertaker,

Julius Hille was born in 1860 at Branderburg, Germany, and came to this country at the age of 17 and settled first at Bear Creek, Wisconsin.  In 1900 he started farming near Tigerton.  He was married in 1885 to Ellza Nedden and has resided in the Town of Fairbanks many years, for 21 years serving as town Treasurer.

There are no children surviving except Max, an adopted son and his five children.  One brother survives William Hille, who lives at Saskatchewan, Canada.  Mrs. Hille had long been a member of Zion Lutheran church.  He was a well known and highly respected citizen of this community.

Relatives and friends from out-of-town who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mohns, Rockford, Ill.: Mrs. Wm. Wenzel, Janesville:  Mr. and Mrs. Albert Nedden, Mrs. Ed Nedden and Hugo Daebert of Antigo.