Henry Thiese death 1903

THIESE, MARSH, KISTER, BIEDERMAN, SPOO

Posted By: Kelly D. Wernette (email)
Date: 1/10/2004 at 20:01:51

Postville Review
Posville, Allamakee Co.Ia
March 20, 1903

Henry Thiese Dead
Takes a potion of Carbolic Acid & Dies Hours Later.

Like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky came the news over the telephone from Monona last Monday Morning about 9:30 o'clock, that Henry Thiese had just died from the effects of a potion of carbolic acid self administered, and leaving behind no word, either verbal or written, as to the cause which lead him to this last sad act. The circumstances surrounding the case are as we learn them as follows:

On September last, after being a resident of Postville for quite a number of years, he bought the Eaton restaurant at Monona, and with his family moved there to take charge of the business. After being there but a short time he became dissatisfied and often times had expressed the wish they could sell out and go elsewhere, and perhaps he might feel better and do better, though he was not running behind in a business way and had always made a comfortable living. However, it was supposed that as he became better acquainted with the people he would be satisfied and things would take on a more roseate hue, and as he had never made threats of doing away with himself or anything of the kind, no attempt has bever been made to sell and it was supposed everything was going as best it could. Sunday evening last he sat in his home and talked and visited with Mrs E. R. Marsh, of this city who was there to spend Sunday, and played with his children as usual. When it came time to retire he said "good night" and with his son Willie, went to bed. But about 5:30 next morning the boy was awakened by his father's heavy breathing and severe struggle to get breath and noticed his hand drop to his side. Being unable to arouse him by speaking his name or shaking him, the boy called his mother from an adjoining room. She also being unable to wake him summoned a physician post haste, who on his arrival thought Henry in a fit and used the usual means to restore conciousness in such cases. Failing, Mrs. Thiese asked if she hand not best call another physician, but as the perspiration had started he thought the patient would soon come too and had no fear he could handle it alone. About this time Mrs. Kister, a neighbor across the way, who had come in, suggested to Mrs. Thiese that she let the boy open the restaurant and tend to the trade. Mrs. Thiese then went for the sack of change which Henry always put under his pillow at night, and as she reached under the pillow her hand came in contact with a bottle, which she drew.....(remainder cut off)

Postville Review
Postville, Alamakee Co. Ia
March 1903

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Thiese and Mr. and Mrs. John Biederman were up from Guttenburg & Mr. and Mrs. Steve Spoo of Oelwein, and Mr. and Mrs. Will Thiese of Farmersburg, were here to attend the funeral of Henry Thiese.

[note from submitter: My grandmother Stella Thiese, 1890-1958, was born in Postville Iowa in 1890. I was looking for information about her family in the newspaper when I came across this tragic story about Henry Thiese, who may have been the son of William Thiese of Guttenburg.]