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Herwig, Justus died 1903

HERWIG, WHITE

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 2/17/2013 at 21:27:30

Postville Review, Fri., 6 Nov. 1903.

A CLAYTON COUNTY TRAGEDY.

On Thursday morning when some men employed by R. D. White, a farmer living two miles from Volga City, went out to do some work they discovered that a large stack of hay in the field had been destroyed by fire during the night. They started an investigation and made a grewsome find. In the ashes were found the bones of a man. Most of the flesh had been burned off the body and identification was impossible, but in a grip found near the fire were articles that proves almost conclusively that the man who met his death in the burning haystack was Justus Herwig, who formerly resided in that locality, but had lived at Dubuque of late. There is a suspicion that the man had been killed and his body then carried to the haystack and cremated to hide the crime. Mr. White, on whose farm the hay was burned, is the son of the late Thos. White, formerly of Postville.

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From articles in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Oxford Mirror and Waterloo Courier, between 30 Oct. and 5 Nov., 1903, the following is learned.

Justus Herwig formerly resided in Clayton county and was well known. About three years prior to his death he had troubles with his wife and they separated, she staying on the farm and he going to Dubuque, Iowa. He was last seen alive in Dubuque, Iowa, with a grip and headed to his former home in Clayton Co., reason unknown. His skull was found to have been fractured and a blunt instrument was suspected to have been the cause. No money or valuables were found at the scene. The inquest verdict was death by unknown reasons.

This appears to be the end of this affair and any connection to the White families and/or Mrs. Herwig with regard to this incident is unknown. There is no further information.

----
Note: See also the obit of Thomas White.

Submitter is not related.

___________________________________________

Added by Joy Moore 11/15/2019:

Source: Decorah Republican Nov. 12, 1903 Page 4 Col 2

Is it a Murder ?
A grewsome story is told in the Elkader papers of the finding of a human skeleton in the burned ruins of a hay stack near Volga City last week. The skull shows a crack such as a blunt instrument might make, and that points to a murder. From the partly burned contents of a grip found near the body it is guessed that it may be the body of one Justus Herwlg, who formerly lived in Clayton county. Three years ago a quarrel caused him to leave his wife, and he went to Dubuque and remained until last spring. He took a grip with him, and that was the last that was heard or seen of him.

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